最後 and 終わり: the last item and the end of an activity
Compare the last person in an order with the end of a meeting, keeping a final presentation separate from the whole event’s ending.
The last item in an order
最後, read さいご, identifies the last item in an order. 最後の人が入室しました。 says that the last person entered the room.
最後に質問を受けます。 says that questions will be taken as the final step. It is not a past report that the question period has already ended.
An activity’s end or closing part
終わり, read おわり, means the end or closing part of an activity. 会議の終わりに資料を配りました。 says that materials were distributed at the end of the meeting.
映画は終わりに近づいています。 says that the film is approaching its end. It does not say that the film has already finished.
The end of an order and the end of a time span
最後の発表のあとに、休憩を取ります。 schedules a break after the final presentation. That presentation need not mark the end of the entire event.
これで今日の作業は終わりです。 says that this ends today’s work. Do not extend the completed scope to tomorrow’s work.
Does 最後の発表のあとに、休憩を取ります。 say the whole event ends with the final presentation?
Show the answer and why
No. It specifies a break after that presentation. The end of the entire event needs separate information.