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VIJETA SERIES ClASS - 12TH

The Last Lesson Practice Sheet - 01

Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow. 6. Find the odd one out from the following.
(A) Opening and closing of desks
But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion (B) Franz's classmates sitting quietly in their
to get to my desk without being seen; but of course, that places.
day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. (C) M. Hamel's iron ruler rapping on the table.
Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their (D) Lessons being repeated in unison.
places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his
terrible iron ruler under his arm. Short Answer Type Questions
7. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for
1. Who is 'I' referred to in the extract above?
school that day? (Delhi 2011)
(A) The former postmaster
(B) Franz
8. What does M. Hamel mean when he says, "We've
(C) Hauser
all a great deal to reproach ourselves with"?
(D) Wachter
Or
"We've all a great deal to reproach ourselves with",
2. The usual atmosphere of the class was
said M. Hamel. Comment.
(A) very peaceful
(Delhi 2011; 2015; 2015 C)
(B) disciplined
Or
(C) tumultuous
Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning
(D) quite still
on the part of boys like Franz? (Delhi 2011)
3. The teacher M. Hamel is
(A) cruel and cunning Long Answer Type Questions
(B) cranky, but honest
9. "When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold
(C) hard working and ambitious
fast to their language it is as if they had the key to
(D) patriotic, but insensitive
their prison."
Comment on the basis of the story "The Last
4. Which among the following is true?
Lesson".
(A) The students are attending the last lesson in
German.
10. The story "The Last Lesson" is all about 'linguistic
(B) M. Hamel is frustrated at the behaviour of
chauvinism'. Comment.
students in the class.
(C) Students are sitting quiet because a special
Sunday prayer is organised at school.
(D) The narrator wished to enter the classroom
stealthily.

5. The phrase 'counted on' here means

(A) Expected
(B) Added
(C) Depended
(D) Continued counting
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Answer Key
1. (B) 4. (D)

2. (C) 5. (A)

3. (B) 6. (B)
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Hints and Solutions

1. (B) Franz M. Hamel, the French teacher, therefore appealed to
his countrymen to safeguard their language. He
2. (C) tumultuous knew that language had the immense ability to
nurture positive sentiments. He believed that if
3. (B) cranky, but honest people would hold on to it, they would be able to
pass on the spirit of freedom to their coming
4. (D) The narrator wished to enter the classroom generations. Then the war of liberation would
stealthily. continue and one day they would be free.

5. (A) Expected 10. Linguistic chauvinism is a negative trait which

grows out of excessive pride.) It nurtures the
6. (B) Franz's classmates sitting quietly in their tendency to display superiority by ridiculing others.
places. Acquisition of political power makes people resort
to methods like linguistic chauvinism to assert
themselves. The story "The Last Lesson" is an apt
7. That day Franz was expected to be prepared with the
example about linguistic chauvinism and its
lesson on rules governing the use of participles. His
damaging effects.
teacher, M. Hamel, had announced the previous day
Occupation of French territory during the 1870-71
that he would question the students on this topic.
war had made the Prussians so arrogant that they
But Franz had failed to learn his lesson and he
barred the learning of French and imposed German
feared punishment.
language in the invaded areas. It was an attempt to
dominate even the minds and hearts of the people
8. Through this remark, M. Hamel voices his
whom they had defeated. On the other hand, the
repentance at the lost opportunity to learn French.
identity of the
Adults were as much to be blamed as the children
French was under threat. They tried to salvage their
for preferring work at farms and mills over school.
position by utilising every minute of the last lesson.
Sometimes, even Hamel had sent children on
Their teacher attempted to pass on the linguistic
errands thereby making them miss lessons.
legacy to his students and they sincerely accepted
every bit of it.
9. Political enslavement is a curse for any nation as it
deprives it of its identity. The rulers dictate their
own terms and subject the natives to a restrained and
confined life within their own motherland. At such
times of enslavement, it is the mother tongue, which
keeps alive their identity and stands as a symbol of
national pride. It helps to preserve heritage and
culture uniting people against the invaders. It binds
them together, becomes a common source of hope
and thus becomes the key to their prison.

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