Flamingo {Deep Water) Short answers

 

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.