Question 6 of 41intermediate💡 UnderstandShort Answer3 marks

What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?

Correct Answer

The highest military generals of the South African defence force and police saluted Nelson Mandela and pledged their loyalty to him.

Their attitude has changed drastically because, not so many years before, they would not have saluted him but would have arrested him instead. This shift from hostility to respect highlights a profound transformation.

This change occurred because the military was demonstrating its loyalty to democracy and to the new government that had been freely and fairly elected. They shifted their allegiance from the old oppressive regime to the newly established democratic system.

Exercise: Oral Comprehension Check | Q: 1 | (Page 6)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The question tests the student's understanding of the changing political landscape in South Africa as described by Mandela. The generals' act of saluting Mandela, a former prisoner, symbolizes the end of apartheid and the military's acceptance of the democratic transition. The context explicitly mentions their past action of arresting him versus their present action of saluting, driven by loyalty to the newly elected democratic government.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify what the generals did at the inauguration (saluted and pledged loyalty).

  2. Step 2: Contrast this with their past attitude (they would have arrested him).

  3. Step 3: Explain the reason for the change (loyalty to democracy and the new, fairly elected government).

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