CBSE · Class 10 · English · First Flight: From the Diary of Anne FrankWhy was the entire class "quaking in its boots" and how did Anne react to it?

The entire class was "quaking in its boots" because the time for the teachers' meeting was approaching. In this meeting, the teachers would decide which students would be promoted to the next form and who would be kept back in the same class. This created an atmosphere of extreme nervousness and suspense among the students. Anne describes how she and her friend G.N. laughed at the two boys behind them, C.N. and Jacques, who had staked their entire holiday savings on their bets regarding the results. The students were constantly speculating about their future, with some being hopeful and others being completely pessimistic. Anne felt that about a quarter of the class were "dummies" who should be kept back, but she also acknowledged that teachers are the most unpredictable creatures on earth. Despite her own nervousness about math, she remained relatively confident about her other subjects and tried to stay calm while observing the chaos around her.