WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO DIE IF WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER (Questions & Answers)

WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO DIE IF WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER

Class-XI (English)

1.     List the steps taken by the captain
(i) to protect the ship when rough weather began.
(ii) to check the flooding of the water in the ship.

Answer: (i) The narrator slowed down the ship to protect it from the bad storm. He dropped the storm sail and tied a heavy rope across the back of the ship. Then, they secured everything tightly. They practised using the life raft, tied safety ropes, and wore life jackets and waterproof clothing.

(ii) To stop water from flooding in, the narrator used a waterproof cover to seal the big holes. This made the water flow to the sides instead. His hand pumps were blocked with debris, and one electric pump was broken. He found another hand pump and a spare electric pump. He connected the electric pump to the drain pipe and got it working.

2.      Describe the mental condition of the voyagers on 4 and 5 January.

Answer: On January 4, the voyagers felt relieved after pumping water out of the boat for 36 hours straight. Only a few centimetres of water remained, and they finally had their first meal in two days. Mary managed to find some corned beef and cracker biscuits.

However, by 4 pm, the weather took a turn for the worse. Dark clouds gathered, the wind picked up to 40 knots, and the waves grew larger. The storm intensified, and by early morning on January 5, things had become very dangerous, adding to their mental stress. 

3.      Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text. Give a subtitle to each section.

Answer: Beginning of the Voyage: The story starts on a happy and hopeful note. The family began their planned voyage, inspired by the famous Captain James Cook’s journey 200 years ago. After practising seafaring for 16 years, they built their ship, Wavewalker, a 23-meter-long, 30-ton wooden-hulled boat. They even celebrated Christmas on the ship despite facing rough weather.

Struggle with the Big Storm: The mood shifts from cheerful to tense as the family faces a dangerous storm. Huge waves threatened to overturn the ship. The narrator was thrown overboard, nearly drowned, and got injured. Along with two hired crewmen, he worked tirelessly for 36 hours to pump out water and fix the ship. Though he felt hopeless and feared for their lives, his children’s courage and fearlessness inspired him to keep fighting for survival.

The Third Section – Victory: With his children's support, the narrator kept working hard to save the ship and reach two small islands called Île Amsterdam. They finally made it and got help from the people living there. His son called him the best dad and the best captain.

4.      What difference did you notice between the reactions of the adults and the children when faced with danger?

Answer: The adults and children reacted very differently. The adults lost hope in the end and accepted their fate, waiting for death. But the children stayed hopeful and gave the narrator strength. With the support of his children, Jonathan and Suzanne, he decided to reach the island no matter what. The children acted maturely. His son showed bravery, saying he was not afraid to die as long as they were together. His daughter made him a card to show her love and wrote a touching message. Despite being injured, she did not let it stop her parents from focusing on saving the ship.

5.      How does the story suggest that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”?

Answer: Optimism means staying determined to overcome challenges. Without it, facing difficulties and solving problems becomes very hard. The family bravely fought against the sea with hope and determination, which eventually saved their lives. Despite being attacked by the waves repeatedly, they never gave up and finally reached the shore of Amsterdam Island.

The narrator's son showed great maturity when he said, “We aren’t afraid of dying if we can all be together — you, Mummy, Sue, and I.” This inspired the narrator, who had almost lost hope. Sue, his daughter, also showed strength by making a card to show her pride in her parents and downplaying her serious injuries. Through their struggles and teamwork, the family finally reached their destination.

6.      What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face-to-face with death?

Answer: Life is not just about being happy all the time. It is full of challenges, and how we handle them and grow stronger is life’s biggest lesson. Tough times teach us how to respond to difficulties. We should never lose hope and keep trying because that is the path to success. In some situations, it is important to stay calm and think clearly. No matter how bad things seem, there is always a way out. During such times, we need to be extra careful to avoid making things worse.

7.      Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?

Answer: People are motivated by the desire to face challenges, which leads them to take adventurous trips, even with the risks involved. Some enjoy exploring different aspects of nature, while others do it as a hobby. Though they are aware of the dangers, they do not hesitate to give it a try.

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