NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English
Flamingo
Deep Water
(William Douglas)
Short
Answer type Questions
Q1.
What is the “misadventure ” that William Douglas speaks about?
Ans. William O. Douglas was learning swimming. One day he was near
a swimming pool at Y.M.C.A.. Suddenly , an eighteen year old big boy picked him up and tossed him into the nine
feet deep pool.He didn’t know how to swim and drown in the water. He reached to
the bottom and swallowed lot of water and went at once to the bottom. From that
day fear of water grabbed him.
Q2.
What were the series of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was
thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface?
Ans. When Douglas was thrown into the pool by a big boy, he was
terrified. But h e wasn't completely out of his wit. He came up with an idea as
he was falling. When his feet reached the ground, he would leap with great
force. H e would rise to the surface like a cork, lay flat, and then paddle out
to the edge of the pool.
Q3.
How did this misadventure affect him?
Ans. This experience established a fear water in him.
That night, he was unable to eat. His heart was filled with a deep fear for
several days. He became weak and slightest effort made him uncomfortable.
He couldn't return to the pool ever. He feared the water and tried to stay away
from it at all costs.
Q4.
Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Ans. His phobia of the water marred his fishing outings. He was
unable to enjoy swimming, boating, or canoeing. To conquer this fear
,Douglas had tried every method he was aware of. It still had a firm hold
on him. To overcome his terror of the water, he was resolved to engage in
swimming training and learn how to swim.
Q5.
How did the instructor “build a swimmer” out of Douglas?
Ans. The instructor transformed Douglas into a swimmer, piece by
piece. He held him high on a rope fastened to his belt for three months. He
crossed the water back and forth.The Douglas was taught to put his face under
water and exhale and to raise his nose and inhale. Douglas
then had to kick for several weeks The instructor ordered him to swim the
length of the pool after seven months.
Q6.
How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Ans. Whenever Douglas was alone in the pool, he was
filled with anxiety. His old fear would return but he faced it bravely and went
to sw im another length of the pool. He wasn't comfortable yet. In order to
swim ensure that the fear had gone, he swam two miles across Lake Wentworth in
New Hampshire. He still had some doubts. So he travelled to Meade
Glacier, dove into Warm Lake, swam to the other shore, and then returned. He
ensured that the previous terror was eradicated.
Q7.
When Douglas first entered the YMCA pool, how did he firstly feel? What gave
him a comfortable feeling?
Ans. Childhood fears and
unpleasant memories from the past were revived. He soon began to
gather confidence. With his new water wings, he paddled. He tried to
imitate the .H e repeated it two or three time in a day. Slowly h e started to
feel at ease.
Q8.
Why does Douglas say: ‘The Instructor was finished. But I was not finished?’
How did he overpower remnants of the old terror?
AnsAs the Instructor made Douglas a swimmer, his work was
finished. Yet Douglas was unsatisfied because whenever he swam by himself
in the water, the old terror would resurface. So he faced the fear boldly and
went for another length of the pool.
