Question Bank — The Last Lesson

QUESTION BANK

The Last Lesson – Alphonse Daudet (NCERT Flamingo)

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

1. Why did Franz start for school late that morning?
   (a) He had overslept (b) He was in great dread of a scolding on participles (c) He wanted to watch Prussian soldiers (d) He had lost his books

2. What unusual sight did Franz notice on the back benches?
   (a) Empty benches (b) Village elders sitting quietly (c) New students (d) Prussian soldiers

3. What order had come from Berlin?
   (a) Schools would remain closed (b) Only German would be taught in Alsace and Lorraine (c) French would be made compulsory (d) M. Hamel would be promoted

4. Assertion (A): Franz suddenly found his grammar and history books precious.
   Reason (R): He realised it was his last French lesson.
   (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   (c) A is true but R is false.
   (d) A is false but R is true.

5. M. Hamel wore his fine Sunday clothes because
   (a) it was an inspection day (b) it was in honour of the last lesson (c) he was going for a prize distribution (d) the village elders had asked him to

6. Assertion (A): M. Hamel did not scold Franz for being late.
   Reason (R): He wanted to utilise every minute of the last French lesson.
   (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   (c) A is true but R is false.
   (d) A is false but R is true.

7. What sound replaced the usual noise of the classroom that day?
   (a) Sound of Prussian trumpets (b) Scratching of pens on paper (c) Children reciting in unison (d) Old Hauser spelling letters

8. “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What does this thought of Franz show?
   (a) His love for French (b) His hatred for pigeons (c) His fear of birds (d) His desire to learn German

9. Who among the following was not present on the back benches?
   (a) Old Hauser (b) The former mayor (c) The new German teacher (d) The former postmaster

10. What did M. Hamel write on the blackboard at the end?
    (a) “Vive La France!” (b) “Vive La Prusse!” (c) “Alsace, France” (d) “School is dismissed”

Section B — Reference to Context (3 extracts, 4 marks each)

Extract 1

“I jumped over the bench and sat down at my desk. Not till then, when I had got a little over my fright, did I see that our teacher had on his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt, and the little black silk cap, all embroidered, that he never wore except on inspection and prize days.”

1. Who is the speaker and what is the context?
2. Why was the teacher dressed in his best clothes?
3. Identify the literary device used in “beautiful green coat”.
4. What does the phrase “all embroidered” suggest about the occasion?

Extract 2

“My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.”

1. Who is speaking and to whom?
2. What news had come from Berlin?
3. Name the literary device in “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (from the following paragraph).
4. Why did the speaker want the children to be “very attentive”?

Extract 3

“Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk, and, bearing on with all his might, he wrote as large as he could — ‘Vive La France!’ Then he stopped and leaned his head against the wall, and, without a word, he made a gesture to us with his hand — ‘School is dismissed — you may go.’”

1. Who wrote on the blackboard and why?
2. What emotion does the gesture convey?
3. Identify the literary device used in writing the words “as large as he could”.
4. What does the final gesture reveal about M. Hamel’s state of mind?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

1. Why was Franz afraid of being scolded by M. Hamel?
2. What changes did Franz notice in the atmosphere of the school that day?
3. How did M. Hamel explain the importance of the French language?
4. Why were the village elders sitting at the back of the classroom?
5. What did M. Hamel blame himself and the parents for?

Section D — Long Answer (2 questions, 6 marks each)

1. Draw a character sketch of M. Hamel in 100–120 words highlighting his dedication, patriotism and emotional state on the last day.
2. “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.” Elaborate this statement with reference to the story.

Section E — Language and Writing (2 questions, 4 marks each)

1. Pick out five sentences from the story that use the past perfect tense and state why this tense has been used in each case.
2. Write a short diary entry (80–100 words) as Franz on the evening of the last French lesson, expressing your feelings about M. Hamel and the order from Berlin.