Lesson 2. We’re
Not Afraid to Die...if We Can all Be Together
By Gordon Cook and Alan East
Short
Answer-type Questions
Q1. Tell
something about the narrator. What was his dream?
Ans. The
narrator is a 37-year-old businessman and he and his wife, Mary, had dreamt of
sailing in the manner of the famous British explorer James Cook. The narrator
and his wife had to spend several months in making a boat suitable to the
roughest weather in the sea.
Q2. What did
the narrator and his wife do to materialise their dream?
Ans. For
this, a lot of practice was done to train (hone) seafaring
(naval, nautical) skills and they spent a lot of their leisure time for that.
The narrator and his wife had to spend several months in
making it suitable to the roughest weather in the sea.
Q3. Describe
the boat which the narrator and his wife prepare for sailing in the manner of
the famous British explorer James Cook.
Ans. Both of them prepared a large boat ‘Wave-walker’,
which was 23 meter in length and 30 ton in weight. It was very beautiful and
professionally built boat and the narrator and his wife had to spend several
months in making it suitable to the roughest weather in the sea.
Q4. Describe
the narrator’s family who set sail for making their dream come true.
Ans. The
narrator, along with his wife Mary, son Jonathan of six years and his daughter
Suzanne of seven years set sail from Plymouth in United Kingdoms.
Q5. Who were
the hired crewmen? Why were they hired?
Ans. The narrator hired two crewmen from Plymouth in United Kingdoms, one Larry Vigil, an
American and the other, Herb Seigler, a Swiss. He hired them to tackle the
southern Indian Ocean, the world’s roughest seas.
Q6. As they
began their voyage from Cape Town and covered some distance, how was the
weather conditions?
Ans. The
narrator along with his family and two crewman were out of Cape Town and they
were facing strong winds which created waves as high as the mast, about 15
meters high.
Q7. What
dangers of the sea did the narrator and his family face on the dawn of the 26th
of January? What did they do?
Ans. The
fast flow of the wind and the spray created by the waves were very painful for
their ears. After that they dropped down the jib (a small sail) to decrease the
speed of the boat.
They also lashed (tied) a heavy mooring
(anchor) rope making a loop (ring) across the stern (back part of the
ship or boat). They also double lashed (tied) everything to ensure safety. They
put on (donned) oilskins (a special kind of suit worn by the sailors),
life-jackets and waited for the worst to come.
Q8. How did
the narrator and his family along with the crewmen do after a huge wave struck
the boat in the evening of the 2nd January? What was their
condition?
Ans. Ans. A
large amount of green and white water fell over the boat smashing
(HITTING) the narrator’s head into the wheel (steering wheel). Fortunately his
head came out (popped up) of the water.
Q9. What
immediate damage did the huge wave do the narrator and the boat on the 2nd
Jan.?
Ans. The Wavewalker (the boat) was about to
sink in water and her masts (big poles on which sails are supported) had nearly
become horizontal (flat in position).
Q10. What
did the narrator notice when he went down into the lower part of the boat to
take stock of the situation after Mary informed him that they were sinking?
Ans. On
reaching there, he saw:
(i)
Larry and Herb
were trying to pump water out of the lower part of the vessel (boat).
(ii)
He also saw that
so many broken pieces of timber were lying scattered here and there.
(iii)
The things like clothes, crockery, charts,
tins and toys were floating about in deep water.
Q11. How did
the narrator reach the children’s cabin? What was their response?
Ans. The narrator reached the children’s cabin facing
great difficulty. He asked them if they were all right. They answered in
positive. But Sue told him that her head had been hit by something and there
was a bump (swelling) above the eyes
Q12. What did the narrator do at once to
stop water that was coming in the Wavewalker?
Ans. After some time, he was able to find a hammer,
screws and canvas and reached the deck (upper part of a boat or ship)
with some difficulty. After some struggle, he could spread some canvas and put
waterproof hatch covers on the gaping (widening) holes.
Q13. After
checking the charts and making calculations, what did the narrator hope to find?
Ans.The narrator checked the charts, made some calculations
and found that there were also two small islands at the distance of a few
kilometers from there in the eastern direction.
Q14.
Describe the courage shown by the children during the disaster they had to face
during their voyage?
Ans. The narrator’s children showed immense (great)
courage even in the face of death-like situation. Sue’s head had swollen. There
was a deep cut on her arm also. She did not want to worry her father. She also
tried to cheer them up by making their caricatures and a card for them.
Q15. What
did Jon say to the narrator when he went in to comfort them?
Ans.The narrator went in to comfort the children. Then
his son Jon asked him if they were going to die. The narrator said that they
would succeed in reaching the islands. After that Jon said that they were not
afraid if they were all together: “…you
and mummy, Sue and I.”
Q16. What
kind of card did Sue make and what did she want to convey through it?
Ans. It was a beautiful card made by her. She made the
caricatures of her mother and father. She also wrote a message of hope for the
best on the card saying that her parents were the funny persons and she loved
them most.
Q17. When
did the Wavewalker reach the island which they had hoped? How was the narrator
given the information about it?
Ans. The wave-walker reached the shore of the island
in the evening at about 6 p.m. The narrator woke up suddenly and was afraid
that the boat might have left the island behind. But he was informed that they
had reached the island which was in front of them.
Q18.
Describe the island Amsterdom.
Ans. Amsterdam
seemed only a dark piece of volcanic rock, very less vegetation on it. It also
seemed to him the most beautiful island in the world.
Q19. How did
the narrator feel when he set his foot on the island? Who came to receive him?
Ans. He
was extremely happy to set foot on the earth’s surface. The inhabitants
(the people who lived there) of that island, who were 28 in number, welcomed
them on the shore.
Long Answer-type Questions
Q1. Describe
the disaster that reached the narrator and his family along with the crewmen at
6 p.m. on the 2nd of January.
Ans. It
was 6 p.m. on 26th January. The
wind completely stopped blowing.
The sky became overcast with dark clouds immediately.
Then they heard a roar that was increasing at an alarming speed. An enormous cloud seemed to chase the boat. It
was such a big wave that he had never seen before. It was twice the height of the other waves and rose up
perfectly vertical. It had a frightful breaking
crest.
The roar created by that wave increased as the stern
lifted up. The narrator thought for some time that they were going to ride the
wave.
But, immediately after that, a large amount of green
and white water fell over the boat smashing the narrator’s head into the
wheel (steering wheel) and he was fully aware of the fact that he was flying
overboard and sinking below the waves.
[Word-meanings: impending (usually unpleasant event that is sure to
happen, indication (hint, disaster (an event that causes a lot
of destruction, ominous (suggesting that something bad is
going to happen, enormous (very big in size), crest (top, peak).
roar (HUGE NOISE), stern (back part of the boat), smashing
(HITTING)
Q2. Describe
as to how the water was pumped out. How did the narrator manage all the
difficulties?
Ans. As he knew that some water was still flowing
below, but most of it was being deflected (diverted, moved to another
side). The debris (pieces of wood metal, plastic, etc.) was also
floating and it blocked the hand pumps.
The electric pump was also short-circuited. The level
of water was rising alarmingly. Then he found two spare hand pumps at the deck.
He also remembered that there was an electronic pump
at the chartroom floor. He connected it to an out pipe and it started working.
The narrator continued pumping water out, steering the wheel and working the
radio for the whole cold night. But no reply came for their Mayday (The
word is used for distress calls.) calls.
Q3. How was
the narrator able to survive the blow that the huge wave gave him on the 2nd
of January?
Ans. After being blown overboard by the huge
wave,aafter some time, a wave came and lifted the boat upright
(straight, vertical). The life line (rope) that was tied to the boat became taut
(tight, stiff) due to the pressure of water.
He had grasped
(clutched, grabbed) the guard rails. Then he was pulled back into the
Wavewalker. Now the sea waves tossed him around the deck like a ragdoll. His left rib was cracked in that tussle (fight,
struggle) and his mouth was full of blood due to the broken teeth. Luckily, he was successful in getting
the steering wheel, and lined up
(straighten up) the stern and waited for the next wave to come.
Passages for
omprehensions
Passage 1.
Read the questions given below the passage and then answer them very briefly.
On our second day out of Cape Town, we began to
encounter strong gales. For the next few weeks, they blew continuously. Gales
did not worry me; but the size of the waves was alarming — up to 15 metres, as
high as our main mast. December 25 found us 3,500 kilometres east of Cape Town.
Despite atrocious weather, we had a wonderful holiday complete with a Christmas
tree. New Year’s Day saw no improvement in the weather, but we reasoned that it
had to change soon. And it did change — for the worse.
Q1. When did
they start encountering gales?
Ans. They started facing gales on the second day of
leaving Cape Town.
Q2. What was
the size of the waves?
Ans. It was about 15 meters, as high as the main mast.
Q3. When did
they have a holiday and how did they celebrate it?
Ans. They had a holiday on Dec 25. They made a
chrismas tree and celebrated the day. The weather conditions were not
favourable on that day.
Q4. Give the
meanng of: 1. Gale 2. Atrocious 3.
Ans. 1. Windstorm
2. Dreadful
Q5 Name the
Lesson and its writer.
Ans. The Title of the lesson is: We’re Not Afraid to
Die...if We Can all Be Together
The authors are: Gordon Cook and Alan East
Passage 2
When I woke it was 6 p.m., and growing dark. I knew we
must have missed the island, and with the sail we had left, we couldn’t hope to
beat back into the westerly winds. At that moment, a tousled head appeared by
my bunk. “Can I have a hug?” Jonathan asked. Sue was right behind him. “Why am
I getting a hug now?” I asked. “Because you are the best daddy in the whole world
— and the best captain,” my son replied. “Not today, Jon, I’m afraid.” “Why,
you must be,” said Sue in a matter-of-fact voice. “You found the island.”
“What!” I shouted. “It’s out there in front of us,” they chorused, “as big as a
battleship.” I rushed on deck and gazed with relief at the stark outline of Ile
Amsterdam. It was only a bleak piece of volcanic rock, with little vegetation —
the most beautiful island in the world! We anchored offshore for the night, and
the next morning all 28 inhabitants of the island cheered as they helped us
ashore. With land under my feet again, my thoughts were full of Larry and
Herbie, cheerful and optimistic under the direst stress, and of Mary, who
stayed at the wheel for all those crucial hours.
Q1. On
waking up, what sudden fear arose in the narrator’s mind?
Ans. First he thought the boat had left the island far
behind. Second, he thought that the sail that had been left would not be able
to defeat the westernly winds.
Q2. Who
appeared when the narrator was worried about the sail?
Ans. His son, Jonathan appeared at that time.
Q3. Why did
Jonathan want to hug his father?
Ans. He wanted to show his love to his father and in a
way thank him for being successful in saving them.
Q4. Who came
to welcome them?
Ans. The inhabitants of the island came to welcome
them. They were 28 in number.
Q5. Describe
the island.
Ans. It was only a black piece of volcanic rock, with
little vegetation — the most beautiful island in the world!
Q6. Why did
they wait for the day to come on the shore?
Ans. Darkness
spread on the island when they reached there. They thought it better to wait
for the next morning.
Q7. Give the
meaning of : 1. touseled 2. Inhabitants 3. Gazed 4. Optimisic
Ans. 1. Untidy 2. Residents 3. Stared 4. Hopeful
Passage 3.
While I was thinking, Sue, moving painfully, joined
me. The left side of her head was now very swollen and her blackened eyes
narrowed to slits. She gave me a card she had made. On the front she had drawn
caricatures of Mary and me with the words: “Here are some funny people. Did
they make you laugh? I laughed a lot as well.” Inside was a message: “Oh, how I
love you both. So this card is to say thank you and let’s hope for the best.”
Somehow we had to make it.
Q1. Who was
Sue? What had happened to her?
Ans. Sue was the narrator’s daughter of seven years.
She had got injured when the boat was hit by a huge wave.
Q2.What did
she give to her father?
Ans. She gave a card to her father.
Q3. Why did
she make the card?
Ans. She made the card to boost courage in her father
in that difficult time.
Q4. What did
she make on the card?
Ans. She made caricatures of her parents on the card.
Q4. What
message did she give in the card?
Ans. She gave the message that they should hope for
the best.
No comments:
Post a Comment