Question

nelson mandela (1918 - 2013) was president of south africa from 1994 to 1999. in his inauguration - day speech, mandela refers to the end of apartheid, a south african social policy of racial segregation that lasted from 1948 to 1991. in 1963, the united nations encouraged countries to cut political and economic ties with south africa because of apartheid and the following year mandela received a lifetime prison sentence for his protests against apartheid. freed in 1990, he won the 1994 election. from in his own words inauguration as president address to the nation at the inauguration of nelson mandela as president of the republic of south africa. union buildings, pretoria. 10 may 1994. 1 today, all of us do, by our presence here, and by our celebrations in other parts of our country and the world, confer glory and hope to newborn liberty. out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud. 2 our daily deeds as ordinary south africans must produce an actual south african reality that will reinforce humanitys belief in justice, strengthen its confidence in the nobility of the human soul and sustain all our hopes for a glorious life for all. all this we owe both to ourselves and to the peoples of the world who are so well represented here today. 3 to my compatriots, i have no hesitation in saying that each one of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld. each time one of us touches the soil of this land, we feel a sense of personal renewal. the national mood changes as the seasons change. we are moved by a sense of joy and exhilaration when the grass turns green and the flowers bloom. 4 in south africa, we have a thing that we call ubuntu - the essence of being human. ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you cant exist as a human being in isolation. it speaks about our interconnectedness. you cant be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality - ubuntu - you are known for your generosity. we think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. when you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity. 5 we must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation - building, for the birth of a new world. let there be justice for all. let there be peace for all. let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfill themselves. 6 never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. (paragraph 13) what does the comparison of south africa to a skunk contribute to the passage? 1. it suggests that the international community is still wary of south africa. 2. it introduces an inappropriate image that tarnishes the celebratory occasion. 3. it contrasts the political ideas between the previous and present governments. 4. it emphasizes the negative reputation that south africa has recently overcome.

Explanation:

The comparison of South Africa to a skunk emphasizes the negative reputation it had due to apartheid, which it has now overcome as Mandela becomes president. The passage is about the end of apartheid and the new - found hope, and this comparison highlights the past negative image.

Answer:

1. It emphasizes the negative reputation that South Africa has recently overcome.