Q1. [5]
To the assembled guests and the watching world, I said : Today, all of us do, by our presence here ..... confer glory and hope to newborn liberty. Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud. We who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil. We thank all our distinguished international guests for having come to take possession with the people of our country of what is after all, a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
- (i) A society that __________ was born out of human disaster. [1]
- (a) all humanity would be proud of
- (b) was full of extraordinary human disaster
- (c) was full of outlaws and fighters
- (d) hosts nations on their soil
- (ii) The former outlaws were given the privilege of _________. [1]
- (a) getting citizenship of their country
- (b) participating in a trade conclave
- (c) finalizing the foreign policy
- (d) hosting the nations of the world on their soil
- (iii) The speaker was overwhelmed with the sense of _________. [1]
- (a) gratitude
- (b) achievement
- (c) happiness
- (d) charity
- (iv) State whether the following statement is True or False:
The common victory was when South Africa did not become an independent nation. [1]
- (v) Select the word from the extract that means 'granting/bestowing'. [1]
- (a) conferring
- (b) confident
- (c) conference
- (d) configuring
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 2/5/1 Q6(A)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:14 · grounding stimulus+chapter
Model Answer
(i) (a) all humanity would be proud of
(ii) (d) hosting the nations of the world on their soil
(iii) (a) gratitude
(The speaker thanks the international guests and acknowledges the privilege given to them, showing a sense of gratitude.)
(iv) False.
The common victory was when South Africa became a free, democratic nation — a victory for justice, peace, and human dignity.
(v) (a) conferring
Source: Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Extract from the Inaugural Address
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Explanation
- (i) The extract clearly states "must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud" — directly matching option (a).
- (ii) "We who were outlaws… have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil" — matches (d) exactly.
- (iii) The speaker thanks the guests, showing gratitude. Examiners expect you to infer tone from context.
- (iv) The extract says it was "a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity" — implying South Africa did become independent, so the statement is False.
- (v) "Confer" means to grant/bestow. "Conferring" is the present participle form — the correct answer is (a).
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