This MCQ module is based on: Reading Comprehension — Sardar Patel’s Call to Youth
TOPIC 2 OF 9
Reading Comprehension — Sardar Patel’s Call to Youth
🎓 Class 10
English
CBSE
Theory
Ch 2 — Unit 2 — Nelson Mandela
⏱ ~19 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]
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Let's Begin — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
This unit connects to the First Flight chapter on Nelson Mandela and extends to Sardar Patel's convocation speech on freedom and responsibility.
Discussion Prompt: Nelson Mandela stated that freedom comes with responsibilities. Discuss with your partner: how do freedom and responsibility go hand in hand? Give two real-life examples.
Vocabulary Warm-up: Before reading Sardar Patel's speech, predict the meanings of: endeavour, obligation, precincts, unassailable, resurgence.
endeavour A serious attempt or effort to do something
obligation A duty or responsibility one is bound to fulfil
precincts The grounds or area surrounding a place (e.g., a university)
unassailable Unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated
resurgence A revival or renewed rise after a period of decline
Key Vocabulary — Sardar Patel's Speech
conferring
verb (present participle)
Granting or bestowing an honour or degree upon someone.
unassailable
adjective
Impossible to attack, question or defeat; completely secure.
comity of nations
phrase
The friendly and respectful relationship between different nations; the international community.
resurgence
noun
A revival or renewed strength after a period of decline or dormancy.
communalism
noun
Loyalty to the interests of one's own ethnic or religious group above the broader national interest — identified by Patel as India's greatest danger.
precincts
noun (plural)
The enclosed area or grounds of a building; here, the boundaries of the university campus.
Reading Comprehension — Sardar Patel's Call to Youth
MCQ Comprehension — Choose the Most Appropriate Answer
Q1. The occasion of Sardar Patel's speech here is —
Answer: (b) — Patel explicitly mentions "you have laid me under a heavy debt" (referring to the honour of being invited), and refers to "those who train citizens of tomorrow" and the university's role. The formal language and references to academic life confirm it is a convocation speech.
Q2. Patel feels that future generations will heap curses on us if —
Answer: (a) — Patel says: "if we fail to make the best use of our freedom... future generations will heap curses on us." He links the misuse or loss of freedom directly to this consequence.
Q3. The first and foremost thing Patel stressed to be done is —
Answer: (a) — "We must concentrate on one thing alone, viz., how to make our country strong and united." This is the central imperative of Patel's speech.
Q4. One major characteristic of university education, as Patel believes, is —
Answer: (a) — "The most essential requisite is character." Patel explicitly says that leaving university without developed character is "wasting an opportunity of a lifetime."
Q5. 'India abounds in resources of nature and manpower' means —
Answer: (b) — 'Abounds in' means 'is very rich in / has in abundance'. Patel is saying India has enormous potential in both natural wealth and human capital — but they need to be developed.
Q6. According to Patel, what is the greatest danger for India?
Answer: (c) — "The real danger of India lies in our disunity. That poison of communalism was spread in the past." Patel identified communal divisions as the greatest internal threat to free India.
Q7 (Long Answer). Based on your understanding of Patel's speech, what is the first and foremost duty of the young nation? (Write in 60–80 words.)
According to Sardar Patel, the first duty of free India is to consolidate and strengthen its hard-won freedom. Citizens must build the nation's administrative and moral foundations, eliminate communalism, and develop strong character. Young people especially must shoulder this responsibility with discipline and patriotism. Patel emphasises that freedom is not merely absence of foreign rule — it must be nurtured through unity, civic duty, and individual character. Failure to do so would dishonour the sacrifices made during the freedom struggle.
Grammar Visualisation — Use of Articles (a / an / the)
Grammar Workshop — Use of Articles
Key Rule: Use the when the noun is specific, has already been mentioned, or is unique. Use a/an for non-specific nouns. When the is used before proper nouns (names), it carries a special meaning — e.g., "The weapons of the World War" means a specific, known war.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks from Patel's speech (missing articles)
"______ weapons of ______ World War were: violence, brute force..."
The weapons of the World War — both use 'the' because we are referring to specific weapons used in a specific, known historical event.
"As ______ result of ______ churning of the ocean..."
a result (one possible result among many) / the churning (specific metaphorical churning being discussed).
"______ freedom that we have won is yet to be consolidated."
The freedom — referring to the specific freedom India just won, already known to both speaker and audience.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with a / an / the
(a) ______ boy and ______ girl were shopping. ______ boy was from Kerala and ______ girl was from Nagaland.
A boy and a girl (first mention, non-specific). The boy and the girl (second mention — now specific, already introduced).
(b) Can you turn off ______ light?
the light — a specific light both parties know about (the one in this room).
(c) He has taken ______ taxi to ______ station.
a taxi (any taxi) / the station (the known, specific station in town).
(d) Would you like to eat ______ apple?
an apple — 'apple' begins with a vowel sound, so 'an' is used. Also non-specific (any apple).
(e) He goes to the theatre once ______ month.
a month — 'once a month' is an expression of frequency. Here 'a' = 'each' or 'per'.
(i) This morning I bought ______ newspaper and ______ magazine. ______ newspaper is on my table and I forgot where I placed ______ magazine.
a newspaper, a magazine (first mention). The newspaper, the magazine (second mention — now specific, already known). This is the classic pattern: introduce with a/an, refer back with the.
Editing Exercise — Error in Each Line
Each line of the paragraph below contains one grammatical error. Identify it and write the correct word.
| Incorrect Line | Error | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| I don't mean that some peoples are born clear headed | peoples → incorrect plural (people is already plural) | people |
| and is therefore natural writers, whereas others | is → wrong number agreement with 'some people' | are |
| are naturally fuzzy and will never wrote well. | wrote → wrong tense after 'will never' | write |
| Thinking clearly was a conscious act that writers | was → wrong tense (general truth = present tense) | is |
| must forced on themselves, as if they were working | forced → modal 'must' needs base form | force |
| on any other project that requires logic: makes | makes → should agree with subject 'logic' or be a noun | making |
| shopping list or doing an algebra problems. | problems → 'an algebra problem' is singular | problem |
| Good writing do not come naturally, | do → wrong subject-verb agreement ('writing' is singular) | does |
| though most people seems to think it does. | seems → wrong agreement ('people' is plural) | seem |
| Professional writer are constantly bearded by | writer → missing plural; 'bearded' → wrong word | writers / beset |
| people who say they'd like to "trying a little | trying → wrong form after 'like to' | try |
| writing sometime" — meaned when they | meaned → wrong past tense form of 'mean' (irregular) | meaning |
This editing passage tests: Subject-Verb Agreement (people are/is), Tense Consistency (was/is), Modal Verbs (must + base form), Irregular Plurals, and Word Forms (trying/try, meaned/meaning). In CBSE Board exams, editing passages typically have one error per line and test these exact categories.
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Extract-Based Practice — Sardar Patel's Speech
"The most essential requisite is character. If your character is lacking and you leave the precincts of the alma mater without your character fully developed, you will be wasting an opportunity of a lifetime."
Q1. What does Patel identify as the most essential quality a student must develop?
L1 Remember
Sardar Patel identifies character as the most essential requisite for a student. He considers it more important than academic knowledge or skills.
Q2. What does the phrase 'precincts of the alma mater' mean?
L2 Understand
'Precincts' means the enclosed area or grounds. 'Alma mater' is a Latin phrase meaning 'nourishing mother' — used to refer to one's college or university. Together, the phrase means the grounds of one's university / the period of formal education.
Q3. Why does Patel call leaving without character development "wasting an opportunity of a lifetime"?
L4 Analyse
Patel believes university is the prime opportunity to shape one's moral foundation. Once this period passes, it cannot be recovered. Without character, even intelligence and professional success become hollow — a person may gain power but lack the moral compass to use it wisely. In a newly independent nation that needs principled leaders, this is especially critical. The 'opportunity of a lifetime' refers both to personal growth and to India's unique moment of nation-building.
Q4. Do you think Patel's views on character and freedom are still relevant today? Justify your answer. (5 marks)
L5 Evaluate
Yes, Patel's views are highly relevant today. In a democracy, freedom is sustainable only when citizens exercise it responsibly. Issues like corruption, communalism, and indifference to civic duty — which Patel warned against — remain challenges. His call for character development in education resonates with NEP 2020's emphasis on values-based learning. Freedom without ethical grounding becomes exploitation; character ensures that individual rights are balanced with social responsibility. A nation of principled citizens — as Patel envisioned — is the foundation of lasting democracy.
Vocabulary Activity — 'Freedom' and 'Responsibility'
Sardar Patel stressed two key concepts. Working in pairs, brainstorm words and phrases associated with each. Then write five sentences using these words.
Freedom
- independence, liberty, autonomy
- self-determination, emancipation
- rights, justice, sovereignty
- choice, expression, movement
Responsibility
- duty, obligation, accountability
- discipline, commitment, dedication
- citizenship, patriotism, integrity
- sacrifice, service, stewardship
Write five sentences using words from the lists above. One is done for you: "Freedom is not free — it demands the sacrifice of discipline."
1. Liberty without accountability leads to chaos in any democratic society.
2. True autonomy means making responsible choices for oneself and one's community.
3. Our obligation as citizens is to uphold the Constitution and respect the rights of others.
4. Discipline and integrity are the twin pillars of genuine freedom.
5. The sovereignty of a nation rests on the civic dedication of every individual citizen.
2. True autonomy means making responsible choices for oneself and one's community.
3. Our obligation as citizens is to uphold the Constitution and respect the rights of others.
4. Discipline and integrity are the twin pillars of genuine freedom.
5. The sovereignty of a nation rests on the civic dedication of every individual citizen.
Writing Task — Interview with Nelson Mandela
Work in pairs. One plays the interviewer, the other plays Nelson Mandela. Prepare questions and answers focusing on Mandela's life, his fight against apartheid, and his philosophy of freedom.
Interview Question Types
Personal: "What inspired you to join the freedom movement?"Historical: "Describe life under the apartheid system."
Philosophical: "What does freedom truly mean to you?"
Reflective: "What would you say to young people in India today?"
Comparative: "How do you compare your struggle with that of Mahatma Gandhi?"
Model Interview Exchange
Interviewer: Mr. Mandela, you spent 27 years in prison. How did you maintain your spirit?Mandela: "I told myself that if I could not change the situation, I would change my attitude towards it. Prison could confine my body but never my mind. I read, I thought, and I kept the vision of a free South Africa alive in my heart. Hatred exhausts the hater more than the hated. I chose to let go of bitterness and hold onto hope."
Comparative Study — Mandela, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr.
All three leaders fought oppression using non-violence as their primary tool. Gandhi championed Satyagraha (truth-force); Mandela and the ANC initially used non-violence, later adopting armed resistance before returning to negotiation; King used peaceful marches and civil disobedience. All three were imprisoned. All three changed the course of history through moral courage rather than military force. Their common belief: the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice.
Fun Fact — Idiom"Break the ice" — to end a conflict or commence a friendship. The phrase originates from the old practice of sending icebreaker ships ahead of trade vessels to clear frozen waterways, opening the path for communication and commerce.
Fun Fact — Comma UsageA comma can be used before a conjunction in a compound sentence: "She likes to read poems, and she likes to read fiction." This is the Oxford (serial) comma rule — always use it before coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) in compound sentences.
FAQ
What is Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela about?
Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela is a lesson from the NCERT English textbook covering important literary and language concepts with vocabulary, literary devices, and exercises.
What vocabulary is in Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela?
Key vocabulary words from Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela are highlighted with contextual meanings and usage examples throughout the lesson.
What literary devices are in Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela?
Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela uses various literary devices including imagery, symbolism, and figurative language identified with coloured tags.
What exercises are in Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela?
Exercises include extract-based comprehension questions, grammar workshops, vocabulary activities, and writing tasks with model answers.
How does Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela help exam prep?
Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 2: Nelson Mandela includes CBSE-format questions and model answers following Bloom's Taxonomy levels L1-L6.
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