Question 261 markMCQSection C

What is the tone Nelson Mandela is UNLIKELY to have used in his speech ?

(A) inspirational

(B) assertive

(C) conflicted

(D) direct

Long Walk to Freedom — First Flight (Nelson Mandela)
Tone identification — Long Walk to Freedom

Options

(A)inspirational
(B)assertive
(C)conflicted
(D)direct

Official answer

(C) conflicted — the speech shows unwavering resolve and certainty, with no trace of internal doubt or contradiction, so 'conflicted' is the one tone Mandela does not use.

Answer keywords:toneconflictedassertiveinspirationaldirectMandela's speech

Marking scheme

  1. 1.1 mark for correctly selecting option (C) 'conflicted' as the tone Mandela is unlikely to have used.

Hint

Read the question carefully — it asks for the tone Mandela did NOT use; look for the option that contradicts his confident, resolute style.

Quick oral answer

The answer is 'conflicted' — Mandela's tone throughout is confident and resolute, not torn or uncertain, so 'conflicted' is the tone he is unlikely to have used.

Common mistakes

  1. 1.Missing the word 'UNLIKELY' and selecting a tone that the speech DOES display (like assertive or inspirational).
  2. 2.Confusing 'conflicted' with 'assertive', not realising they are near-opposite in meaning.

Analysis and explanation

The question asks which tone Mandela is UNLIKELY to use, so the answer must be the one tone that does NOT match the speech.


Key points

  • The speech is spoken with total certainty and resolve ('never, never, and never again'), celebrating an achievement rather than showing doubt or internal contradiction.
  • (A) inspirational, (B) assertive, (D) direct are all present in the speech; only (C) 'conflicted' — implying uncertainty or a struggle between opposing feelings — is absent.

Common mistakes (exam caution)

  • In 'UNLIKELY/NOT' framed MCQs, candidates often pick a tone that IS present because they overlook the negative framing of the question.

Interesting facts

Mandela's speeches are frequently studied for their use of anaphora (repetition of 'never') to build rhetorical force and emotional certainty.

This same 'UNLIKELY/NOT' MCQ format testing tone is a recurring style in CBSE's extract-based reading questions from 2020 onward.

Question details

Q26 of 72 questions

Board
CBSE
Class
Class 10
Subject
English (Language & Literature)
Year
2026
Section
Section C
Marks
1
Type
MCQ
Chapter
Long Walk to Freedom — First Flight (Nelson Mandela)
Topic
Tone identification — Long Walk to Freedom
Bloom's level
analyze
Syllabus topic
First Flight: Long Walk to Freedom — Tone and rhetorical analysis of Mandela's speech
Author
CBSE
Reviewed by
Padhantu Academic Team

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Frequently asked questions

Why is 'conflicted' the correct answer and not 'inspirational'?

Because the question asks for the tone Mandela is UNLIKELY to use. 'Inspirational' is present in the speech, so it cannot be the answer; 'conflicted' (implying doubt or contradiction) is absent, making it correct.