CLASS 12TH FLAMINGO– Ashiq Sir English

TESLA COACHING INSTITUTE ZIRPARA BIJBEHARA

Prose Section
CHAPTER - I
The Last Lesson
Alphonse Daudet

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Ans: That day Franz was expected to be prepared with participles because M. Hamel had said that
he would question them on participles. Franz did not know anything about participles.

Q2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Ans: Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street.
But it was all very still that day. Everything was as quiet as Sunday morning. There was no opening
or closing of desks. His classmates were already in their places. The teacher’s great ruler instead
of rapping on the table was under M. Hamel’s arm.

Q3. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?

Ans: For the last two years all the bad news had come from the bulletin-board. An order had come
from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The Germans had put up
the notice on the bulletin-board.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans: M. Hamel had put on his best dress—his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and the little
black silk cap, all embroidered. The whole school seemed so strange and solemn. On the back
benches that were always empty, the elderly village people were sitting quietly like the kids.

Q2. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
Ans: Franz came to know that it was the last lesson in French that M. Hamel would give them.
From the next day they will be taught only German. Then he felt sorry for not learning his lessons
properly. His books, which seemed a nuisance and a burden earlier, were now old friends. His
feelings about M. Hamel also changed. He forgot all about his ruler and how cranky he was.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Q1. The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows
you this? Why does this happen?
Ans: M. Hamel told the students and villagers that henceforth only German would be taught in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Those who called themselves Frenchmen would neither be able to
speak nor write it. He praised French as the most beautiful, the clearest and most logical language
in the world. He said that for the enslaved people, their language was the key to their prison. Then
the people realised how precious their language was to them. This shows people’s love for their
own culture, traditions and country. Pride in one’s language reflects pride in the motherland.

Q2. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons’ what could this mean?
Ans: This comment of Franz shows a Frenchman’s typical reaction to the imposition of learning
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 CLASS 12TH FLAMINGO– Ashiq Sir English
TESLA COACHING INSTITUTE ZIRPARA BIJBEHARA
German, the language of the conquerors. Being deprived of the learning of mother tongue would
mean cutting off all bonds with the motherland. Teaching the pigeons to sing in German indicates
how far the Germans would go in their attempts of linguistic chauvinism.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Q1. “When people are en slaved, 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 a conquered people had their language taken away from
them or had a language imposed on them?
Ans: Mother tongue helps a person to express his feelings and thoughts most lucidly and
intimately. Conquerors try to subdue and control the people of the enslaved territory by enforcing
many measures such as use of force to crush dissent and imposing their own language on them.
From time immemorial the victorious nations have imposed their own language on the conquered
people and taken away their own language from them. The Romans conquered many parts of
Europe and replaced the local languages by their own language— Latin. Later on Spanish,
Portuguese, Italian and French developed from Latin. The Muslim invaders imposed Arabic and
Persian in the countries of Asia overpowered by them. In many Arab countries the local religion
and language have disappeared. In India, a new language Urdu developed from the mixture of
Persian and Hindi.

Q2. What happens to a linguistic minority in a state? How do you think they can keep their language
alive? For example:
Punjabis in Bangalore
Tamilians in Mumbai
Kannadigas in Delhi
Gujaratis in Kolkata
Ans. The linguistic minority in any state is easily marked and faces the same discrimination as the
religious, social or ethnic minorities. There is, however, a pronounced difference in the treatment
meted out and the level of acceptance displayed by the majority community in that region/city.
Some cities like Delhi, Mumbai are cosmopolitan in outlook.
The linguistic minority tries to preserve its identity through an intimate contact, interaction and
preservation of their language in social get-togethers, family functions and festivals of their own
region. Adherence to social customs and traditions in family gatherings/group meetings of
women also promote the unity between members of the linguistic minority.
In short, they create a mini-Punjab in Bangalore, mini-Chennai in Mumbai, mini-Bangalore in Delhi
and mini-Surat in Kolkata.

Q3. Is it possible to carry pride in one’s language too far? Do you know what “linguistic chauvinism”
means?
Ans. ‘Linguistic chauvinism’ means an aggressive and unreasonable belief that your own language
is better than all others. This shows an excessive or prejudiced support for one’s own language.
Sometimes pride in one’s own language goes too far and the linguistic enthusiasts can be easily
identified by their extreme zeal for the preservation and spread of their language. In their
enthusiasm, love and support for their own language, they tend to forget that other languages too
have their own merits, long history of art, culture and literature behind them. Instead of bringing
unity and winning over others as friends, having excessive pride in one’s own language creates ill-
will and disintegration. The stiff-resistance to the acceptance of Hindi as national language by the
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 CLASS 12TH FLAMINGO– Ashiq Sir English
TESLA COACHING INSTITUTE ZIRPARA BIJBEHARA
southern states of India is a direct outcome of the fear of being dominated by Hindi enthusiasts.
The result is that ‘One India’ remains only a slogan.

WORKING WITH WORDS

Q1. English is a language that contains words from many other languages. This inclusiveness is one
of the reasons it is now a “world language”. For example’.
Petite – French
kindergarten – German
capital – Latin
democracy – Greek
bazaar – Hindi
Find out the origins of the following words:
tycoon barbecue zero
tulip veranda ski
logo robot trek
bandicoot

Ans. Word Origin Word Origin

Tycoon Japanese Veranda Portuguese
Tulip Persian Robot Czech
Logo Greek Zero Arabic
Bandicoot Telugu Ski Norwegian
Barbecue Spanish Trek South African Dutch

Q2. Notice the underlined words in these sentences and tick the option that best explains their
meaning:
(a) “What a thunderclap these words were to me!”
The words were
(i) loud and clear.
(ii) Startling and unexpected.
(iii) Pleasant and welcome.
(b) “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
(i)do not lose their language.
(ii) are attached to their language.
(iii) quickly learn the conqueror’s language.
(c) Don’t go so fast, you will get to your school in plenty of time. You will get to your school.
(i) Very late.
(ii) Too early.
(iii) Early enough.
(d) I never saw him look so tall.
M. Hamel (i) had grown physically taller.
(ii) seemed very confident.
(iii) Stood on the chair.
Ans. (a) (ii) startling and unexpected.
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 CLASS 12TH FLAMINGO– Ashiq Sir English
TESLA COACHING INSTITUTE ZIRPARA BIJBEHARA
(b) (ii) are attached to their language.
(c) (iii) early enough.
(d) (ii) seemed very confident.
NOTICING FORM
[Link] this sentence:
M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles.( A participle is a word formed from a
verb which can be used as an adjective. It has two main purposes: 1. Turn the verb into an adjective
to modify noun. 2. Connect with auxiliary verbs to create different tenses, such as the present
perfect tense.)
In the sentence above, the verb form “had said” in the first part is used to indicate an “earlier past”.
The whole story is narrated in the past. M. Hamel’s “saying” happened earlier than the events in this
story. This form of the verb is called the past perfect.
Pick out five sentences from the story with this form of the verb and say why this form has been
used.

Ans. (i) For the last two years all our bad news had come from there.
Reason: The ‘coming’ of bad news happened earlier than the bulletin in the story.
(ii)Hauser had brought an old primer.
Reason: The event of ‘bringing’ happened earlier than Franz noticed it.
(iii) That was what they had put up at the town-hall!
Reason’. The ‘putting up’ of bulletin happened earlier. Now it is recalled.
(iv) They had not gone to school more.
Reason’. The action of ‘not going* happened much earlier.
(v) The hopvine that he had planted himself twined about the windows to the roof.
Reason’. The ‘planting’ of hopvine happened earlier than its twining about the windows.

WRITING
Q1. Write a notice for your school bulletin board. Your notice could be an announcement of a
forthcoming event, or a requirement to be fulfilled, or a rule to be followed. Ans:

GOVT GIRLS HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL BIJBEHARA

17/01/2026 NOTICE
OPPORTUNITIES AFTER SSCE
Noted counsellor Dr Ashiq Hussain will deliver a talk on opportunities after SSCE, as per details
given below:
Date: 20 /01/2026
Time : 11:45 am
Govt. Girls HHS Bijbehara
Restrictions:
(i) Classes XI and XII only
(ii) School uniform with blazer essential

Note: No entry after 11:00am

ABC
School secretary

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 CLASS 12TH FLAMINGO– Ashiq Sir English
TESLA COACHING INSTITUTE ZIRPARA BIJBEHARA

Q2. Write a paragraph of about 100 words arguing for or against having to study three languages at
school.

Ans: STUDYING THREE LANGUAGES AT SCHOOL

In most of the states in India, students have to study three languages at school. One of them is the
mother tongue, the second is Hindi (the national language) and the third is English (the
international or link language). In Hindi speaking region, a South or East Indian language—Tamil,
Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam or Bangla, Oriya, Assamese etc. is taught. The three language
formula helps in national integration by acquainting young students about the social customs,
rituals, culture and traditions of the various parts of the country. It also focuses on the principle of
unity in diversity. The only drawback in this system is that it puts an excessive burden on the
minds of the young learner. To alleviate their problem, the courses of study in the three languages
may be structured suitably.

Q3. Have you ever changed your opinion about someone or something that you had earlier liked or
disliked? Narrate what led you to change your mind.
Ans: Facts are sometimes stronger than fiction. Many occurrences of life come as eye-openers.
Such an experience occurred the previous day which led me to change my mind about our hostel
warden Miss Rohie. Overnight the terrible titan was transformed into a loving and affectionate
elder sister full of milk of human kindness. Now when I remember how I disliked her and invented
nicknames and pranks to tease her, I feel ashamed of myself. Yesterday, I had a terrible nightmare
and I cried and wept. My room-mate failed to console me and reported the matter to the warden.
God knows how long I remained unconscious! When I came to my senses I found my head in the
lap of Miss Rohie. Her eyes were red with tears. She had really proved an angel for me and saved
me.

THINGS TO DO
Q1. 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.
Ans: Extension Activity:

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 CLASS 12TH FLAMINGO– Ashiq Sir English
TESLA COACHING INSTITUTE ZIRPARA BIJBEHARA
Q2. Given below is a survey form. Talk to at least five of your classmates and fill in the information you get in the form.
Ans:

Classroom Activity: Do it yourself.

MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. Why do you think was little Franz afraid of being scolded?
Ans: Franz was afraid of being scolded that day especially because M. Hamel, the teacher, had
said that he would question them on participles. Franz frankly admits that he was totally ignorant
about the topic. His exact words are: “I did not know the first word about them.” Secondly, he had
started for school very late that morning.

Q2. “It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles.” What did Franz find ‘much more
tempting’? How did he finally react?
Ans: Franz found that it was a very warm and bright day. The birds were chirping at the edge of
woods. The Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open field at the back of sawmill. He could gladly
spend life out of doors. However, he had the strength to resist the temptation. Finally, he hurried
off to school.

Q3. “What can be the matter now?” says Franz. Why, do you think, did he make this comment?
Ans: There was a bulletin-board near the town-hall. When Franz passed by it, he noticed a crowd
there. He did not stop to look at it. He wondered what could be the matter then. For the last two
years they had received all the bad news from the bulletin-board—the lost battle, conscription and
the orders of the commanding officer.

Q4. Who was Watcher? What did he ask Franz and why? How did Franz react?
Ans: Watcher was a blacksmith. He was reading the latest bulletin. He asked Franz not to go so
fast to his school. He added that the little boy would get to his school in plenty of time. Watcher
had read the latest bulletin about teaching of German. Franz thought that the blacksmith was
making a fun of him. So, he ran to the school and reached there breathless.

Q5. What was the usual scene when Franz’s school began in the morning?
Ans: Usually, when the school began, there was a great bustle. The noise could be heard out in the
school. Students opened and closed their desks. They repeated the lessons together very loudly.
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