D.A.V.

PUBLIC SCHOOL, NEW PANVEL

Plot No. 267, 268, Sector-10, New Panvel,
Navi Mumbai-410206 (Maharashtra).
Phone 022-27468211, 27482276, 27451793
E-mail – davnewpanvel@gmail.comwww.davnewpanvel.com

2022-2023
Subject: ENGLISH Worksheet
STD- XII
LESSON NO1 THE LAST LESSON
SHORT QUESTION AND ANSWERS                                                                
Q1. Why were the elders of the village sitting in the classroom?
A: The elders of the village came to the classroom to attend the last lesson of French
in the school as a mark of respect to the French teacher Mr. Hamel who had been
teaching there for the last forty years. These ‘elders’ had not studied well and could
not read and write their mother tongue, French and so as it was the last opportunity
for them, they came to attend the class.
Q2. What is the message of the story the last lesson?

Ans: The message received from the last lesson is when we lose something then

we know it's importance as the Franz realise when he was studying the last lesson.
He never learn his language and at last day of French lesson he was regretting for
that. So always give respect to your language.

Q3. How is the title the last lesson appropriate?

Ans: The title ‘The Last Lesson’ by Alphonse Daudet is apt and appropriate. The
whole story focuses on the last lesson delivered by M. Hamel.The story highlights a
situation where the people of Alsace felt that there was plenty of time to learn
their lessons and so did not give due importance to school.

Q4. Who did M Hamel blame for not giving due attention to their language?

Ans: The French teacher, M. Hamel, blamed himself and the people of Alsace

for not giving due attention to their language and putting off learning till the next day.

Q5. How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson?
Ans: Franz was shocked and sad when he heard this news. Suddenly he developed
a liking for ‘his’ language and was keen to learn French. He was remorseful for not
learning well in the past and was sad that his teacher, Mr. Hamel would go away.
Q6. What did M Hamel write at the end of the class?

Ans: M Hamel wrote Vive la France on the blackboard at the end of his last class in

the school. It means- Long live France! He wrote this because he was deeply
saddened by the fact that Germans have come in their country and are imposing
German language on them.
LESSON NO-1 THE LAST LESSON

Q1. The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them.
What shows you this? Why does this happen?
 
A. When the village men realize that their mother tongue, French will no longer be
taught to them, they realize its importance. Suddenly, they develop an inclination
towards learning.
They attend the last lesson of French, bring their old, torn primers to learn the
language which shows their eagerness. They regret putting off learning French to the
next day. Now, finally, the last lesson has arrived, and they cannot read their own
language. They are ashamed of themselves and realize that the Germans have
overpowered them due to their lack of knowing their own language.
 
Q2. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What
could this mean?
A. Franz is disheartened when he comes to know that he can no longer learn his
language – French. Their district has been captured by Germany and now German
will be taught to them. Franz feels that mother tongue comes to a person naturally,
he is born with it and no one can snatch it away.
Just like the pigeons make the ‘coo’ sound, irrespective of the country from which
they are, similarly, human beings also communicate in their mother tongue. As the
Germans are trying to impose their language on the French, so similarly, Franz feels
that they will teach the pigeons also to ‘coo’ in German language. He has given this
example to highlight his point that language is a natural mode of communication and
it cannot be imposed.
Q3. Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M.
Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French.
A: When Berlin ordered that French language would no longer be taught in schools in
the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine, it stirred the otherwise lazy Frenchmen.
Suddenly, they all had a strong desire to learn how to read and write their mother
tongue. It was not only the children who went to school but also the elders of the village
who had not studied seriously in their childhood, putting off ‘unimportant’ works to the
next day. The day finally arrived as the last day of French language in the schools. They
become serious and keen to learn as they feel the German would laugh at them for not
knowing their own language. They are ashamed of themselves when the teacher says
that this lack of knowledge is the reason for their defeat to the Germans and asks them
to guard their mother tongue as being close to one’s language is the key to escape from
the prison of slavery.