NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English
Hornbill
Chapter 2 – We’re Not
Afraid to Die… If We Can All Be Together (Gorden
Cook and Alan East)
Long question answers
Question 1.
List the steps taken by the captain to protect the ship when rough weather
began
Answer:
In July 1976, the author, along with the ship's captain and
family, embarked on a daring sea voyage aboard the 'Wavewalker' from Plymouth,
England. The initial phase of their planned three-year, 105,000-kilometer
journey proceeded smoothly until they encountered strong gales on the second
day out of Cape Town. Anticipating rough weather, the captain had enlisted the
assistance of Larry Vigil, an American, and Herb Seigler, a Swiss, to navigate
the treacherous waters of the southern Indian Ocean.
Over the following
weeks, relentless strong winds persisted, and the waves reached alarming
heights, up to 15 meters, equivalent to the height of their boat's main mast.
By December 25th, they found themselves 3500 kilometers east of Cape Town.
Despite the extremely adverse weather conditions, they celebrated Christmas. On
January 2nd, as dawn broke, the waves became colossal, yet they continued
sailing with only a small storm jib, maintaining a speed of eight knots.
In an effort to
safeguard the ship from the harsh weather, the captain decided to slow down the
boat. They dropped the storm jib and secured a heavy mooring rope in a loop
across the stem. Taking additional precautions, everything on board was
double-lashed. The crew then conducted a life-raft drill, attaching lifelines,
donning oilskins, and securing life jackets. This was the captain's strategy to
protect the ship during the onset of rough weather.
Question 2.
Describe the mental condition of the voyagers on 4 and 5 January.
Answer:
In July 1976, the author and his family embarked on a thrilling sea voyage aboard
their vessel, Wavewalker, setting sail from Plymouth, England. The initial leg
of their meticulously planned three-year, 105,000-kilometer journey unfolded
smoothly. However, challenges arose when they encountered formidable gales on
the second day out of Cape Town.
Confronted by towering
and menacing sea waves that broke over their vessel, both the author and his
daughter Sue sustained injuries. The ship suffered damage, allowing a
substantial amount of water to enter. The author undertook repairs to the best
of his ability, yet an air of uncertainty lingered over their fate.
By January 4, after 36
hours of ceaseless pumping, they managed to reduce the water level to the last
few centimeters. Now, their focus shifted to maintaining pace with the incoming
water. Exhausted, hungry, and grappling with the struggle for survival, the
voyagers found a brief respite when Mary discovered some corned beef and
cracker biscuits, marking their first meal in nearly two days. However, this
relief was short-lived.
As black clouds
gathered behind them at 4 p.m. on January 4, the weather worsened throughout
the night, heightening their awareness of the imminent peril. On January 5,
desperation once again gripped them, even the children acknowledging the
looming threat of death. Remarkably, the children displayed extraordinary
courage. The author's son conveyed to his father that they were not afraid of
death as long as the family remained together—father, mother, Sue, and
Jonathan.
Touched by his son's
words, the author resolved to confront the sea with whatever means available.
That evening, amidst the motion of the ship causing more water to seep through
the broken planks, the author and his wife sat together, holding hands. Despite
the encroaching danger of death, their mental outlook remained surprisingly
positive, emphasizing their unity in the face of adversity.
Question 3.
Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three
sections of the text. Give a suitable to each section.
Answer:
The initial part of
the narrative recounts the author and his family's departure from Plymouth,
England, in July 1976 aboard their boat, Wavewalker. Months were devoted to
preparing and testing the vessel in challenging conditions. The initial phase
of their planned three-year, 105,000-kilometer journey unfolded smoothly as
they sailed along the west coast of Africa to Cape Town. However, on their
second day out of Cape Town, they were confronted with persistent strong gales
that lasted for weeks, causing alarming waves, reaching gigantic proportions by
dawn on January 2.
At 6 p.m., a
remarkably high wave struck the ship, resulting in a tremendous explosion that
reverberated through the deck. A torrent of green and white water inundated the
ship, leading to the author being thrown overboard and sinking beneath the
waves. Surprisingly, his head emerged from the water, witnessing Wavewalker
nearly capsizing. A subsequent wave, however, righted the boat, leaving water
everywhere. The author, requesting his wife Mary to take the wheel, found his
daughter Sue injured in the children's cabin with a significant bump above her
eyes. Despite continuous pumping, their Mayday calls yielded no responses.
The subsequent section
details their quest for an island. By the morning of January 3, the water level
was somewhat under control, allowing them two hours of rest in shifts. However,
a substantial leak persisted below the waterline, jeopardizing the integrity of
Wavewalker. With the damaged starboard hull section lacking support, the author
determined that reaching Australia was unattainable. Instead, he searched for
the nearest island, discovering two options a few hundred kilometers to the
east on the charts.
On January 4, after 36
hours of relentless pumping, they reached the last few centimeters of water.
Their only task now was to match the incoming water. Mary's discovery of corned
beef and cracker biscuits provided them with their first meal in almost two
days. However, at 4 p.m., ominous black clouds gathered, signaling a worsening
weather condition. By dawn on January 5, their situation turned desperate
again. When comforting the children, the author's son Jon expressed their lack
of fear of death if they could be together with their parents.
The third section
recounts their joyous arrival at Île Amsterdam. The author verified his calculations
and, around 2 p.m., instructed Larry to steer a course of 185 degrees,
anticipating the island's sighting by 5 p.m. After a brief rest, the author
awoke at 6 p.m. to learn from his children that they had indeed found the
island. They anchored offshore for the night, and the next morning, all 28
inhabitants of Île Amsterdam cheered as they assisted the family ashore.
Question 4.
How does the story suggest that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”?
Answer:
The gripping
narrative, "We're Not Afraid to Die… If We Can All Be Together,"
illustrates that with optimism, courage, and unwavering conviction, one can
navigate through the most severe challenges. Commencing their round-the-world
sea voyage in July 1976 from Plymouth, England, the author, along with his wife
Mary, son Jonathan, and daughter Sue, enlisted the services of two crewmen,
Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler, upon reaching Cape Town.
Despite facing the
imminent threat of death multiple times during their journey, the entire crew
never succumbed to despair. Their resilience and optimism in the face of
disaster were particularly commendable, with the children exhibiting exemplary
courage and a remarkable sense of calmness. The author, deeply concerned for
the safety of everyone on board, tirelessly worked towards their well-being
until they reached the shores of Île Amsterdam. Even Sue, with a serious head
injury, chose not to disclose the severity to spare her father from additional
worry.
A striking testament
to optimism is exemplified by a card Sue presented to her father, expressing
gratitude and a shared hope for the best. Throughout the critical moments,
Larry and Herb also maintained a cheerful and optimistic demeanor. Mary,
steering the ship with hope for their survival, contributed to the collective
resilience of the crew. Thus, this narrative underscores the profound impact of
optimism in helping individuals "endure the direst stress."Question
3.
What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face to
face with death ?
Answer:
The sea voyage which the author and his family undertook was quite a hazardous
experience from them. Several times they were face to face with death. But with
their courage, conviction, struggle and optimism they were able to reach the
island lie Amsterdam though their boat was badly damaged and a lot of water had
entered in it.When we are face to face with death either we can lose heart and
stop struggling. Or we can struggle hard for our survival in a courageous and
optimistic manner what the author and his family and Larry and Herb did under
the disasterous situation. Half the battle is lost when we surrender cowardly
before the circumstances.
But victory is very
much within our reach if we face the death bravely, with balanced mind and, of
course, with faith and optimism. Under such circumstances, we should always
hope for the best and never cease struggling with the best of our abilities.
Question 5:
How did the initial
phase of the author's sea journey conclude? What preparations had they
undertaken for their expedition?
Answer:
Embarking on a
round-the-world sea voyage from Plymouth, England, the author, along with his
wife Mary, six-year-old son Jonathan, and seven-year-old daughter Suzanne,
commenced their extensive journey in July 1976 aboard the professionally built
30-ton boat, Wavewalker. After months of meticulous preparation, including
outfitting and rigorous testing in challenging weather conditions, they set
sail with the intention of covering 105,000 kilometers over a planned
three-year period. The first leg of their journey transpired smoothly as they
navigated down the west coast of Africa, reaching Cape Town.
Question 6:
What precautions did the author take to
safeguard Wavewalker from the towering waves?
Answer:
Following their departure from Cape Town, the
author encountered relentless strong gales blowing continuously for several
weeks. The primary concern was the alarming size of the waves, reaching up to
15 meters, equivalent to the height of the boat's main mast. In an effort to
protect the vessel from these high-rising waves, they decided to slow down the
boat. This involved dropping the storm jib, lashing a heavy mooring rope across
the stem, and double-lashing everything on board. Additionally, they performed
a life-raft drill, attaching lifelines, donning oilskins, and wearing life
jackets.
Question 7:
How did the author
survive after a tremendous explosion shook the deck?
Answer:
During their voyage, an extraordinarily high
wave struck Wavewalker, resulting in a tremendous explosion that shook the
deck. A torrent of green and white waves broke over the ship, causing the
author's head to smash into the wheel. He was thrown overboard and felt himself
sinking below the waves, accepting the impending death and losing
consciousness. Unexpectedly, his head emerged from the water, and a few meters
away, he witnessed Wavewalker on the verge of overturning. A subsequent wave,
however, righted the ship. The author, sustaining injuries including cracked
ribs and a mouth filled with blood and broken teeth, managed to grab the guard
rails and survive.
Question 8:
How did the author
locate the island Île Amsterdam?
Answer:
Realizing Wavewalker's
precarious condition and its inability to reach Australia, the author consulted
the charts and identified two small islands a few hundred kilometers to the
east. One of these islands, Île Amsterdam, served as a French scientific base.
With the understanding that reaching one of these islands was their only hope,
the author meticulously checked and rechecked his calculations. He then
instructed Larry to steer a course of 185 degrees, anticipating the sighting of
the island around 5 p.m. While the author dozed off, he later discovered that
they had indeed found Île Amsterdam, as confirmed by his daughter Sue.
