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Question
Notice the underlined words in these sentences and tick the option that best explains their meanings.
“When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.”
It is as if they have the key to the prison as long as they _______________ .
Options
do not lose their language
are attached to their language
quickly learn the conqueror’s language
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Solution
are attached to their language
RELATED QUESTIONS
Answer the following question in 120 − 150 words :
Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment. (The Last Lesson)
Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
- in great dread of
- counted on
- thumbed at the edges
- in unison
- a great bustle
- reproach ourselves with
What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
What had been put up on the bulletin-board?
What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
How did Franz's feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this mean?
“When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.”
Can you think of examples in history where conquered people had their language taken away from them or had a language imposed on them?
Find out about the following (You may go to the internet, interview people, consult reference books or visit a library.)
(a) Linguistic human rights
(b) Constitutional guarantees for linguistic minorities in India
Given below is a survey form. Talk to at least five of your classmates and fill in the information you get in the form.
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Languages you know |
Home language |
Neighbourhood language |
City/Town language |
School language |
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Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
When do the residents of Alsace realise how precious their language is to them?
Answer the following question in about 40-50 words.
What were Franz's feelings as he set out for school and why?
Mr. and Mrs. Agarwal of Pushp Farms, Kolkata, are hosting a party on the occasion of the twenty-first birthday of their daughter, Vinita. Write a letter of invitation to Sonakshi, their niece, giving details of the date, time and venue in about 50 words.
- How was this year for you?
- Are you happy with what you could study this year?
- What did you miss, or could not do?
- What do you plan to do about it- about the things you could not do/study well?
- What was the best moment for you this year?
Form groups of three. Write three sentences of three words each.
Who is M. Hamel?
In what time period does the story take place?
What is it like when your school begins? Tell it in short.
Why is the iron ruler said to be ‘terrible’?
Who is narrating the story?
Think and answer:
Is the school closing down?
Think and answer:
Why is it the last lesson?
Think and answer:
What subjects does Franz study in school?
Think and answer:
Why were the old men of the village attending school that day?
Why did M. Hamel not scold Franz?
According to M. Hamel, who are the people that did not take education seriously? What examples does he give to support his view?
Why does Franz understand his lesson well?
With the coming of the Prussians, will language be the only thing that will change? What other changes may take place?
Where does M. Hamel live? Who lived with him?
Guess why M. Hamel was leaving the country.
Find five words ending with ‘-ing’ and five words ending with ‘-ed’ from the lesson.
Find five examples of commonly used past participles from the story. For example, said, learnt.
What is the meaning of the following word and phrase in the passage? Choose the correct alternative.
______ was in great dread of
What is the meaning of the following words and phrases in the passage? Choose the correct alternative.
______ got a little over my fright
What is the meaning of the following word and phrase in the passage? Choose the correct alternative.
______ She put off learning tomorrow
Why was Franz sad?
What should people never lose even when they lose freedom?
Continue to write as many sentences as the number of students in the group, till you reach the number 10.
After that, go on forming bigger groups and writing sentences with as many words as the number of students in the group. However, you may write only one or two sentences at each step after 10.
See if you can make a sentence with as many words in it as there are students in your classroom.
Write the sentence in big letters on chart paper and display it in the classroom.
