The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role Extra Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Why is the earth said to be an ailing planet?

Ans. Due to the insensitive exploitation by humans for their survival and development, the earth has lost almost all its vital resources. With drying rivers, depleted and polluted environment and deteriorated forests and greenery, the earth is now breathing hard for its survival and thus it is an ailing planet.

Q2. What is the significance of Green Movement in the modern world?

Ans. The Green Movement that was found in New Zealand in the year 1972 brought a great awareness to the humanity. It taught us that we are just partners on the earth having equal rights to inhabit this planet as any other living organism has. Having learnt this, human beings worldwide stopped large amount of destruction that it used to cause upon the earth. People realized that the earth’s existence was threatened and began to do whatever was possible by each individual and each nation.

Q3. What did the most dangerous animal on the earth learn in the recent time?

Ans. Man is the most dangerous animal on the earth. He has learnt in the recent years a new lesson that he is not the master of the planet but just one among the rest of the animals and trees, plants and insects, who should live like a partner in survival on the earth.

Q4. What was the question raised by the First Brandt Commission? What does it suggest? What is the significance of this question?

Ans. The first Brandt Report raised the question, “Are we going to leave behind for our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and ailing planet?” This question finds an answer in our minds but we quite conveniently forget this answer. It has been proved in the recent years that the earth is becoming hotter planet every year and another ice-age is under way. This question is still significant and will remain significant until the only schooled animal of the earth stops his war against the planet.

Q5. “What goes under the pot now costs more than what goes inside it.” Explain. 

Ans. With a growing population and the pace of the global developments taking wings, the cost of food touched a new height, all time high. Amazingly, the cost of cooking-gas overtook that of food-grains, fish, meat and vegetables, thus the fuel to cook – gas, firewood and electricity – now costs more than the raw-food.

Q6. Why is it said that forest precedes mankind?

Ans. No animal on the planet earth ever caused damage to it but humans have been causing serious destruction upon the earth ever since he had evolved. By cutting down trees for his survival and development humans have established their monopoly over the other species. Thus, with the coming of humans, the existence of forest was threatened.

Q7. What did Lester Brown mean when he said that we have not inherited this earth from our forefathers, we have borrowed it from our children?

Ans. Lester Brown believes that the present population of the earth has no right to think that the earth is its property. Each one has to believe that he is having full responsibility to keep the earth protected from all kinds of misuse. He has to feel that the earth is place that he has to return to the generations to come. Brown further furnishes that human beings have no right to misuse the earth because we are accountable to the new generations after us.

Q8. How is human population explosion the biggest threat to the existence of the ailing earth?

Ans. Human population is the biggest threat to the existence of the earth. Though it reached a billion in a million years, another billion was added to the world population in just another hundred years. Every four or five days the world population increases by one million. The effects of this dangerous increase in world population are endless yet the most catastrophic one is our present struggle for existence.

Q9. What does the empty cage and the board in the zoo in Lusaka mean?

Ans. In a zoo in Lusaka there is a mirror kept in one of the cages that is said to be the cage of the most dangerous animal in the world. The visitor sees his own face in the mirror and realizes that he is that most dangerous animal. The message is that human beings have won the infamous other than that of a zoo animal. The board message conveyed is a warning to the most dangerous animal to come in terms with the earth.

Q10. What are the four principal biological systems? How are they the foundation of the global economic system?

Ans. The four principal biological systems of the earth are fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. In addition to supplying our food, these four systems provide virtually all the raw materials for industry except minerals and petroleum-derived synthetics.

Q11. Why is tropical forest called the powerhouse of evolution?

Ans. It is in the heart of the tropical forests where newer plants and animals evolve to more adaptable forms.

Q12. How is population responsible for the environment degradation?

Ans. With rising population, space that nature assigned for forests and animals. More population means less forests and animals. Unfortunately man’s first choice is nature and it is sadly vulnerable and an easy prey. When cities and megacities occupy the major portion of the earth, the ecological balance is said to be lost.

Q13. What does more children mean to the poor section of people of India?

Ans. Poverty is directly caused by illiteracy and lack of education. The illiterate and uninformed poor people of India believe that more children is more income. In fact more children means more responsibility and more poverty and an unhealthy family and individual.

Q14. What does Mr. Edgar S Woolard mean by assuming the post of his company’s Chief Environment Officer?

Ans. Mr. Edgar S Woolard, chairman of DuPont, an international manufacturer, by co-assuming the post of the company’s Chief Environmental Officer (CEO), stands a model for the owners and chairpersons of all the industries worldwide. He implies that the chief motive of an industry is to preserve the stability and life of the earth and profit comes next.

Q15. What are our ethical obligation to the ailing planet?

Ans. Human beings have the greatest obligation to the earth to safeguard this planet from all advancing deterioration and keeping it safe so that it can be handed over to the coming generations to inhabit here peacefully and in the midst of abundance.

Q16. How do you explain the concept of sustainable development?

Ans. Sustainable development is the kind development activities that meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This kind of development is expected to be undertaken without stripping the natural world of resources that the future generations would need.

Q17. How do fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands form the foundation of global economic system?

Ans. A majority of the world population depends on sea food for their survival while forests provide firewood, raw materials for production and timber for construction. Grasslands are the destination of cattle and herds of animals and without them, domestic and wild animals, the global economic system cannot survive. Each one is depending on the other while it help the other to survive. There are nations, except the gulf countries that depend on petroleum, that solely depend on forests and fisheries and croplands for trade and sustenance.

Q18. Is Indian constitution capable of safeguarding its forests?

Ans. So far, with all the measures adopted, the government has not been able to safeguard its forests effectively. India’s constitution is ostentatiously rich and effective but when it comes to enforcement, it miserably fails or it is not entirely successful.

Q19. Margaret Thatcher says, “No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life tenancy – with full repairing lease.” How is this statement significant today?

Ans. Everyone says, “it is my land” and “that is your land.” People fight for other territories and encroach the neighbor’s land. It is here what British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher’s observation gains importance. We are not supposed to occupy the earth considering that the planet belongs to us and that we can exploit the planet any way we like. We, on the contrary, have to extract the resources so carefully that the generation that comes after us will have a better land and sea, a less dense forest, cleaner water and clearer sky.

Long Answer Questions

Q1. How has the growth of world population affected the environment? Support your answer with suitable arguments?

Ans. The author Nani Palkhivala enumerates some alarming statistics to suggest how the growth of world population has tremendously affected the environment. The population which took a million years to reach the first billion took just another hundred years to reach the second billion. Another century passed it and reached the alarming figure of 3.7 million. Presently it is over 6 million and there is a huge demand on resources, natural or man-made. The resources worldwide are under a lot of stress and pressure. The four principal biological systems i.e. fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands which form the foundation of the global economic system and provide raw materials to the industry are facing a lot of stress. The human demands on these systems are increasing at a rapid speed. Hence, sustainability and productivity are both hampered. When this happens, fisheries collapse, forests disappear, grasslands become wastelands and croplands deteriorate. The need of the hour is to become sensitive towards the needs of the environment to get affected; we will leave behind nothing but an ailing planet for our future generations.

Q2. We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children. Discuss.

Ans. Earth’s resources are limited and will not last forever. In the twentieth century, there has been a revolutionary change in human perception. We cannot take the planet for granted. We are mere custodians. We have to take a holistic view of the very basis of our existence. The earth is a living organism of which we are parts. It has its own metabolic needs to stay alive and must be respected and preserved for the future generation. What is required is sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the destiny of future generation. There are four biological systems, namely fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. They form the foundation of the global economic system. They supply us food and raw materials for industry. In larger areas of the world, these systems are reaching unsustainable levels. Their productivity is being damaged. The growth of world population is another factor distorting the future of our children. Development is not possible if population increases. In this era of responsibility towards our future generation, population must be controlled. Industries must become environmental friendly. Now many industrialists, politicians and writers have realized their responsibility in preserving the non-renewable natural resources for the future generation.

Voice of the Rain NCERT Solutions

Page No: 42

Think It Out

I. 

1. There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this?

2. What does the phrase “strange to tell” mean?

3. There is a parallel drawn between rain and music. Which words indicate this? Explain the similarity between the two.

4. How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem? Compare it with what you have learnt in science.

5. Why are the last two lines put within brackets?

6. List the pair of opposites found in the poem.

Answer

1. The two voices in the poem are the voice of the rain and the voice of the poet. The poem begins in a conversational tone. The lines are “And who art thou? Said I ……..” and ‘I am the poem of Earth’.
2. The phrase ‘strange to tell’ means that it is an unusual and extraordinary answer given by the rain drops to the poet who asked who ‘it was’.

3. ‘I am the poem of Earth’
‘For song, issuing from its birth place
After fulfillment, wandering, reck’d orUnreck’d, duly with love returns. They both return to the place of their origin after fulfilling their tasks.

4. The poet explains that the rain drops in the form of water vapour rise up from land and sea and then descend again on the earth and dry land in order to wash it down and hence comes back to its origin. This is the cyclic movement explained by the poet.

5. The last two lines are put within brackets because they do not form the voice of the rain or the poet. They only contain a general observation made by the poet about the course of a song.

6. (a) Day, night
(b) Reck’d, unreck’d
(c) Rise, descend

2. Notice the following sentence patterns.

1. And who art thou? said I to the soft-falling shower.
2. I am the Poem of Earth, said the voice of the rain.
3. Eternal I rise
4. For song…duly with love returns

Rewrite the above sentences in prose.

Answer

1. I enquired the soft-falling rain about its identity.

2. The voice of the rain introduced itself as the Poem of Earth.

3. The voice of the rain explained its upward movement towards the sky as eternal.

4. The poet says that, similar to the natural cycle of the rain, a song originates from the heart of the poet, travels to reach others and after fulfilling its purpose (whether acknowledged or not), it returns to the poet with all due love.

Voice of the Rain Extra Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. There are two voices in the poem. Who do they belong to? Which lines indicate this?

Ans. The two voices in the poem are the voice of the rain and the voice of the poet. The lines are “And who art thou? Said I ……..” and ‘I am the poem of Earth’.

Q2. What does the phrase ‘strange to tell’ mean?      

Ans. The phrase ‘strange to tell’ means that it is an unusual and extraordinary answer given by the rain drops to the poet who asked who ‘it was’.

Q3. What is the similarity between rain and music?

 

Ans. They both return to the place of their origin after fulfilling their tasks.

Q4. How is the cyclic movement of rain brought out in the poem?   

Ans. The poet explains that the rain drops in the form of water vapour rise up from land and sea and then descend again on the earth and dry land in order to wash it down and hence comes back to its origin. This is the cyclic movement explained by the poet.

Q5. Why are the last two lines put within brackets?  

Ans. The last two lines are put within brackets because they do not form the voice of the rain or the poet. They only contain a general observation made by the poet about the course of a song.

Q6. What does the rain do to the things day and night?

Ans. The rain falls on the earth, and washes away the drought, it also helps the seeds to germinate and bring forth new life on the earth. Without it, all life on earth would become lifeless.

Q7. What answer did the rain give to the poet about its origin?

Ans. The rain answered that it was the poem of the earth. It rose eternally out of the land and bottomless sea into the sky. There its form changed but essence remained the same.

Q8. On what does the ‘rain descend’? What does it do to the things on which it falls?

Ans. The rain descends on droughts, atoms and dust particles on the surface of the earth. It also falls on everything that is on the earth. It gives life to the things on which it falls. The things that do not get rain remain like seeds latent and unborn.

Q9. ‘Behind the apparent simplicity, the poem hides a deep meaning’. What exactly does the poem convey to the reader?

Ans. The poem conveys that like a poem, the rain is also everlasting and has an unbreakable chain of life cycle. It rises from the earth, comes back to it. The song also issues from its birth place, wanders here and there, whether heeded to or not, returns with love to its own origin.

Landscape of the Soul NCERT Soltuions

Page No: 34

Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

anecdote
illusionistic likeness
delicate realism
conceptual space
figurative painting

Answer

anecdote : From the text, the meaning of anecdote can be inferred as a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or exciting nature.

delicate realism : It refers to the alluring quality of the art which makes it seem real. It is an interest in or concern for the actual or real as opposed to abstract.

illusionistic likeness : It refers to an adjective of the technique of using pictorial methods in order to deceive the eye. The reference is to an illusion created by the semblance of something.

figurative painting : A figurative painting refers to the metaphoric representation of a piece of art, through the eyes of the creator’s imagination.

conceptual space : It refers to relation with the abstract than the factual representation. This is the incalculable dimension of the understanding of concepts.

Page No: 38

Understanding the Text

1.

(i) Contrast the Chinese view of art with the European view with examples.

(ii) Explain the concept of shanshui.

Answer

(i) The Chinese paintings are based on imaginative, inner or spritiual approach whereas the european paintings reproduce an actual view, of an external or real object. The painintgs of Wu daozi and mater painters of Europe illustarte the difference.

(ii) Shanshui, meaning “mountain-water”, refers to a style of Chinese painting that involves natural landscapes, the landscape which is an inner one, a spiritual and conceptual space. It represents the two complementary poles (`yin’ and `young’) reflecting the Daoist view of the universe.

2.

(i)What do you understand by the terms ‘outsider art’ and ‘art brut’ or ‘raw art’?

(ii) Who was the “untutored genius who created a paradise” and what is the nature of his contribution to art?

Answer

‘Outsiders art’ refers to those art who have no right to be artists as they have recieved no formal training yet show talent and artistic insight. ‘Art brut’ or ‘raw art’ are the works of art in their raw state as regards cultural and artistic influences.

(ii) The “untutored genius” who created “paradise” was Nek Chand, an 80- year old creator-director who made the world famous rock garden at Chandigarh. His was an ‘outsider art’ in which he sculpted with stone and recycled materials. He used anything and everything from a tin to a sink to a broken down car to form an artistic piece. One of his famous creations are ‘Women by the Waterfall’.

Talking about the Text

Discuss the following statements in groups of four.

 

1.“The Emperor may rule over the territory he has conquered, but only the artist knows the way within.”

Answer

This sentence explains the fact that even though an Emperor might rule an entire kingdom and have power over his conquered territory, only an artist would be able to go beyond any material appearance. He knows both the path and the method of the mysterious work of the universe. True meaning of his work can be seen only by means known to him, irrespective of how powerful an emperor is.

2. “The landscape is an inner one, a spiritual and conceptual space.”

Answer

This phrase explains The Chinese art from where a Chinese painter wants you to enter his mind rather than borrow his eyes. This is a physical as well as a mental participation. It is a landscape created by the artist to travel up and down, and back again, through the viewer’s eyes. The landscape is not `real’ and can be reached from any point.

Thinking about the Language

1. Find out the correlates of Yin and Yang in other cultures.

Answer

 

The Indian culture lays stress on Nature and God. Nature is the ‘yen’ or female part whereas God the creator, is the male part. This concept also known as ‘Maya’ or Brahma’ The combination of two creates the whole world, all it objects and also inhabitants.

2. What is the language spoken in Flanders?

Answer

‘French ‘language spoken in Flanders which is a region in Belgium.

Working with Words

I. The following common words are used in more than one sense.

panel, studio, brush, essence, material

Examine the following sets of sentences to find out what the words, ‘panel’ and ‘essence’ mean in different contexts.

1. (i) The masks from Bawa village in Mali look like long panels of decorated wood.

(ii) Judge H. Hobart Grooms told the jury panel he had heard the reports.

(iii) The panel is laying the groundwork for an international treaty.

(iv) The glass panels of the window were broken.

(v) Through the many round tables, workshops and panel discussions, a consensus was reached.

(vi) The sink in the hinged panel above the bunk drains into the head.

Answer

 

1. Panel

(i) boards of decorated wood
(ii) group of men selected to give unanimous verdict on a legal case.
(iii) group of experts.
(iv) window panes.
(v) group discussions.
(vi) a flat board fixed with a hinge.

2. (i)Their repetitive structure must have taught the people around the great composer the essence of music.

(ii) Part of the answer is in the proposition; but the essence is in the meaning.

(iii) The implications of these schools of thought are of practical essence for the teacher.

(iv) They had added vanilla essence to the pudding.

Answer

(i) the most important quality of something that makes it what it is.
(ii) the main part.
(iii) practical importance.
(iv) liquid taken from vanilla that contains its smell and taste in very strong form.

Laburnum Top NCERT Solutions

Page No: 32

Find Out

 

1. What laburnum is called in your language.

Answer

In hindi, it is called ‘Amaltaas’.

2. Which local bird is like the goldfinch.

Answer

‘Indian Lutino Ringneck’ is local bird like the goldfinch.

Think It Out

1. What do you notice about the beginning and the ending of the poem?

Answer

In the beginning of the poem the tree is calm & silent & in the ending it ends with motionless & empty level.

2. To what is the bird’s movement compared? What is the basis for the comparison?

Answer

The goldfinch’s movement is compared to that of a lizard. The basis of the comparison is the sleek, abrupt and alert movements of a lizard. The same kinds of movements are observed when the goldfinch arrives on the laburnum tree.

3. Why is the image of the engine evoked by the poet?

Answer

The engine is the source of energy to run machine. It is compared to bird as she is too a source of energy for her family. As without engine a machine can’t work in the same without a bird her family can’t survive.

4. What do you like most about the poem?

Answer

I like the simpilicity and pictorial presentation of the poem. The comparison between bird’s movement with machine and Lizrad made in nice way. Also chirruping & trilling of goldfinch.

5.What does the phrase “her barred face identity mask” mean?

Answer

 

The phrase means that the bird’s barred or covered face becomes her identity mask recognition.

Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues Extra Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Who was Howard Carter? What was his discovery?   

Ans. Howard Carter was a British archaeologist. After years of searching he discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922 over 3300 years after his death. Tut died at the age of 19 but his death was a mystery for all. He was the last ruler of his powerful family that ruled Egypt for centuries. People believed that the king died in mysterious circumstances and his death may involve every possibility of murder.

Q2. Why did King Tut’s mummy have to undergo CT scan?

Ans. The mummy of King Tut has earned worldwide fame for the riches it was buried with. Further there arose a great controversy about the manner of his death and his age at the time of death. Keeping in the view this controversy, King Tut’s body was ordered to be scanned to examine the delayed medical mysteries about his life and death.

Q3. Which questions still linger about Tut?

Ans. The two biggest questions that still linger about Tut are how did he die and how old was he at the time of his death? He was the last of his family’s line, and his funeral was the death rattle of a dynasty but the particulars of his passing away and its aftermath were unclear.

Q4. Why was Tut’s dead body subjected to CT scrutiny?

Ans. Tut’s dead body was subjected to X-rays in 1968 and CT scan in 2005 to ascertain the cause of his death.

Q5. In 1968 what was the startling fact revealed by a professor of anatomy about king Tut?

Ans. In 1968, more than 40 years after Carter’s discovery of king Tut’s tomb, a professor of anatomy X-rayed Tut’s mummy. He revealed an astonishing fact that beneath the resin that layers his chest, his breast-bone and front ribs are missing. It startled everyone.

Q6. What did the tourists do at that time?

Ans. The tourists from around the world queued up as usual all afternoon into the narrowed rock-cut tomb. They lined up to pay their homage to king Tut. They watched the murals on the walls of the burial chamber. Some visitors read from guidebook. Others stood silently peering at Tut’s gilded face.

Q7. Who did point out that the mummy was in a bad condition? Who was held responsible for it?

Ans. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, bent over the mummy and watched it very carefully. Then he said the mummy is in a very bad condition because of what Carter did in the 1920s. It was in 1922, Carter discovered king Tut’s tomb.

Q8. What was the fate of the contents of Tut’s mummy?

Ans. For over 80 years after the discovery ofTut’s tomb in 1922, surprisingly all its contents were complete. They remain the richest royal collection everyfound till 2005. They have now become part of the pharaoh’s legend.

Q9. Why did the artifacts cause a sensation at the time of discovery?

Ans. The artifacts discovered surprised all present there. They were all made of pure gold. Their shine was enteral and never fading. This eternal brilliance of the artifacts meant to guarantee revival from grave.

Q10. What was king Tut’s demise a big event, even by royal standards?

Ans. King Tut’s death was of course a big event. Even by royal standards he was the last ruler in his family line. His funeral was the death bell of a dynasty that ruled in Egypt for centuries. The big event is because of the fact that he died unexpectedly at young age. The particulars of his passing and its aftermath are not clear.

Q11. Why did some people think the King Tut’s untimely death as the Pharaoh’s curse?

Ans. After king Akhenaten’s death a mysterious ruler became the king for a short while and died. Then a very young Tutankhaten took the throne. He changed his name to Tutankhamun, “Living image of Amun.” He restored the worship of Amun whose images were broken and temples closed by the Pharaoh. Thus king Tut disturbed the Pharaoh. Akhenaten and his curse – death Akhenaten had befallen on Tut causing his untimely death in his late teens.

Q12. What problem did Carter face when he reached the mummy of King Tut? How did he find a way out?  

Ans: When Carter alongwith his men were working at the tomb of King Tut, they found that the ritual resins had hardened. They had cemented and the mummy of King Tut could not be taken out. The solidified material could be removed through chisels. The mummy was cut free. His men removed Tut’s head and severed every major joint. Then they were kept in a box on a layer of sand. He defended his act lest the mummy should not fall into the hands of thieves for getting gold.

Q13. List some adornments on Tut’s body. Why had the adornments been buried along with the body?

Ans. The mummy of Tut was decorated with precious collars, inlaid necklaces, rings, bracelets, amulets and a ceremonial apron. There were sandals, sheaths for fingers and toes and the inner golden coffin and mask. All of them were made of pure gold. According to the beliefs it was thought that they could take their riches with them to the great beyond.

Q14. How did Carter defend his action of cutting the mummy free?

Ans. Carter in his defense wrote later that if he hadn’t cut the mummy free, thieves would have avoided the guards and ripped it apart to remove all the gold. The mummy had been kept with a lot of wealth, in the form of gold ornaments, etc.

Q15. How can C.T scan prove more effective than X-Rays?

Ans. C.T scan can prove more effective than X-Rays because it produces hundreds of X-Rays in cross-section which are put together like slices of bread to create a three dimensional virtual body.

Q16. How was Tut’s body carried to the C.T scanner?

Ans. On the night of the scan, workmen carried Tut from the tomb in his box. Like pallbearers they climbed ramp and a flight of stairs into the swirling sand outside. Then they rose on a hydraulic lift into the trailer that held the scanner.

Q17. How was King Tut’s mummy scanned by the CT scanner?

Ans. In order to remove the mystery over the death of King Tut, a portable CT scanner was taken in a trailer to the sandy area near Tut’s tomb. His body was carried there from his tomb in a box. The CT machine scanned the mummy from head to toe, creating 1700 digital X-ray images in cross-section. His entire body was scanned in 0.62 millimetre slices.

Q18. What snag did the million dollar scanner develop? How was it set right?

Ans. The million dollar scanner had developed a snag because of sand in a cooler fan. Eventually substitute fans worked well enough to finish the procedure.

Q19. Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned – in death, as in life…”

Ans. It means that the mummy of King tut was the first one ever to be scanned. The purpose was to reveal the mysteries relating to the period when he was alive. Secondly, it also helped find out the cause of his death in mysterious circumstances. The death occurred only nine years after his taking the throne.

                                   

Q20. List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as Wacky.

Ans. Akhenaten was a crazy and rash ruler. He attacked Amun – a major God, broke his statues and closed his temples. He even shifted the religious capital from the oddity of Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten.

Q21. What did the CT scan of Tut’s mummy reveal?

Ans. CT scanning gave surprising as well as fascinating images of Tut’s body. The image of a gray head appeared on the computer screen. Neck bones appeared quite clearly. Other images of Tut’s body appeared on the screen. They included a hand and several views of rib-cage and the skull.

Q22. “Curse of the Pharaoh”, joked a guard nervously. What is the curse and why did the guard say so?

Ans. The curse of the Pharaoh – death or misfortune falling upon those who disturbed him, is considered to be true. The fans of the CT scan machine got stuck with the sand dust and stopped working during scanning of the mummy. Then the guard jokingly said that it was the curse of the Pharaoh. Later another pair of white plastic fans were arranged which worked well enough.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Who was King Tut? Why was his mummy taken out for a C.T. Scan?

Ans. King Tut was last Pharaoh of his family line which ruled Egypt for centuries. He was a very young boy when he took the throne of Egypt in 1332 B.C. The boy king soon changed his name to Tutankhamun, “living image of Amun,” and restored the old ways of religious belief. He ruled for about nine years and then died unexpectedly in 1322 B.C. King Tut’s death was a big event. He was the last Pharaoh of his family line. His funeral was the death bell of his dynasty. But the particulars of his death and the after happenings are not clear.

King Tut was buried in the ancient Egyptian cemetery known as the Valley of the Kings. Tut was loaded with glittering goods: precious neckbands, engraved necklaces and bracelets, rings, amulets, apron, sandals, sheaths, for fingers and toes and iconic inner coffin and mask all of pure gold.

Carter discovered Tut’s tomb for more than 3300 years after his death in 1922 and in 2005 his mummy was taken out of the tomb for the first time for his C.T. scan. The probe by the C.T, scanner was to look into the delayed medical mysteries of this little understood young ruler about his life and death.

Q2. What problems did Howard Carter face with regard to Tut’s mummy? How did he solve them?

Ans. Howard Carter, a British archaeologist, discovered King Tut’s tomb after years of searching in 1922. He found fabulous treasure in the tomb, even though it had been ransacked earlier. The treasure consisted of golden coffin, gold ornaments and even petty things of everyday need.

Carter found three nested coffin. In the first, he found the garlands of leaves and flowers. But when he reached the mummy, he ran into trouble. The resins spread below Tut’s body had hardened. The coffin was of solid gold. Neither human force nor the scorching sun could loosen the body. So Carter used chisel and hammer to remove the resins. He had little choice. Tut’s mummy also had to be removed part by part. Having taken .out the gold coffin, the body parts were reassembled, put in a wooden box and placed in the tomb again.

Q3. Sum up the main events of the lesson ‘Discovering Tut …’

Ans. King Tut was just a teenager when he died. He was the last heir of a powerful dynasty. His rule lasted for just nine years. The mystery of his early and unexpected death is still unresolved. His tomb was discovered in 1922 by a British archaeologist, Howard Carter. He found a big treasure in the form of ornaments, gold coffin and other everyday things—all of pure gold. The pharaohs or the Egyptian Kings believed that they would need gold as well as things of daily need, food and wine in afterlife. So they got them buried along with their mummies or dead bodies preserved with chemical pastes.

Tut’s untimely death in his late teens raised curiosity to know the cause. So 60 years later, his mummy was X-rayed. In 2005, this body was put to CT scanning. But to this day the details of his death and aftermath are unclear.

Q4. In 1922 Tut’s tomb was discovered. Much of the treasure buried in the tomb had already been plundered. Materialistic attitude of man does not allow even the dead to sleep in peace. Will there be any end to this attitude?

Ans. For a handful of gold man can go to any extent. Tut’s mummy was buried deep with a lot of gold and other things believing that the dead pharaoh would need those things in the afterlife. It was a matter of faith. When Tut’s tomb was discovered, much of the treasure had already been looted. The thieves did it being driven by the mad force of materialism. Materialistic attitude attaches no importance to beliefs, religious sentiments and social rites and rituals. Ethics and morals have no sanctity for them. Their aim is to get wealth by any means. This materialistic attitude will never see its dawn. God Himself may advise man to reject materialism and tell him that all paths lead to death and there is no use to perpetuate ill deeds. This sermon will have no effect and materialistic attitude will get sharpened day by day.

Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues NCERT Solutions

Page No: 22

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

forensic reconstruction
scudded across
casket grey
Resurrection
funerary treasures
Circumvented
computed tomography
eerie detail


Answer

Forensic reconstruction- It refers to the process of creating a face on the skull and see how the owner of the skull looked like. Here, it refers to the construction of the bust of King Tut based on the data received from CT scan.

Scudded across- It refers to moving quickly. The phrase is used with reference to the movement of the ‘dark-bellied clouds’.

Casket grey- The words point out to the covering of the stars by the‘dark-bellied clouds’, the way jewels are kept in a casket (a jewel box).

Resurrection- It refers to a new beginning for something which is old and long forgotten. Here, it refers to the new life after death.

Funerary treasures- The valuable things with which the king was buried were no less than treasures as most of the items were made of pure gold. They are, thus, referred to as ‘funerary treasures’.

Circumvented- The thieves would easily bypass the guards with artfulness and rip the mummy apart to remove the gold.

Computed tomography- Also known as CT scan, it provides X-ray image of a body in cross section. It is used for diagnostic purposes.

Eerie detail- Uncanny description of the resulting image of the head of Tut visible through the CT scan.

Page No: 28

Understanding the Text

1. Give reasons for the following.

(i) King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny.

Answer

King tut’s body has been subjected to to repeated scrutiny for the riches it was buried with. There has also been a lot of speculation about the manner of his death and the time of his death.

(ii) Howard Carter’s investigation was resented.

Answer

Howard Carter’s investigation was resented because he used unscientific methods to cut the body away from the wooden base. He also focused more on the discovery of gold than on thefascinating details of Tut’s life and the mysteries of his death.

(iii) Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s remains.

Answer

Carter found that the ritual resin that was used as a polish hashardened. The result was that the mummy was cemented to the bottom of the solid gold coffin.Neither the strongestforce could move the mummynor the burning sun could loosen the remains of the king.

(iv) Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.

Answer

The ancient royals of Egypt were fabulously wealthy. They believed inafterlife. They also believed that they could take their wealth with them. Sogilded treasures were buried with them.

(v) The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.

Answer

Tutankhamun means ‘Living image of Amun’. He was a majorgod in ancient Egypt. King Amennotep smashed the images of Amun and closed his temples. Tut oversaw a restoration of the old ways. He also changed his name to express his belief on Amun.

2.

(i) List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as “wacky”.

Answer

According to Ray Johnson Akhenten was wacky because:

► He promoted the worship of Aten instead of Amun.

► He moved the religious capital from Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten.

► He smashed Amun’s images.

► He closed Amun’s temples.

► He changed his name to Akhenaten or servant of Aten.

(ii) List the advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis.

Answer

Today C.T. technology helps us to take hundreds of X-ray images in cross-sections. They can be put together likeslices of bread tp create three dimensional virtual body.This provides precise data for an accurate forensicreconstruction.

(iv) Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned — in death, as in life …”

Answer

 

The above statement refers that there are hundreds of mummies in Egypt. ButTut’s is the first to be scanned. He remains the first evenin death, as he was the first among his countrymen whenhe lived. He was a ruler, an emperor.

Talking about the Text

1. Scientific intervention is necessary to unearth buried mysteries.

Answer

For
If you think history has any relevance in our life, we must get atthe truth. There are so many mysteries which remain unsolved. For example, we know very little about the Indus civilisation. The seals remainun-deciphered. This needs scientific investigation. Without scientificintervention they will remain in the dark.

OR

Against

No doubt we need to know the past. History has relevance in our life. But sometimes we take it too far. King Tut’s mummy has beenrepeatedly investigated. Inspite of spending millions of dollars, nothing newhas been revealed. We must utilise our resources to help the living rather than investigating the dead.

2. Advanced technology gives us conclusive evidence of past events.

Answer

For
Today technology is so advanced that we can reconstruct thepast. For example, we know how Pompeii was destroyed. But now we havereconstructed the whole city. We know precisely how the people lived.

OR

Against
It is an empty boast that advanced technology gives us conclusiveevidence of past events. Let us take the case of King Tut. It has been C.T.scanned. What can it tell us how he died. If he was murdered who murderedhim and why ? C.T. scan might give some idea how he died. But it cannotgive conclusive evidence.

3. Traditions, rituals and funerary practices must be respected.

Answer

For
People who buried their dead with rituals and funerary practices did sowithreverence for their dead. They wanted to lie in peace, undisturbed. We mustrespect their sentiments.

OR

Against

People in ancient times had some beliefs and funerary rituals. Byinvestigating into them we can know much about them. It adds to our knowledgeabout the progress of human civilisation in different parts of the world.

Page No: 29

Talking about Language

 

2. What do you think are the reasons for the extinction of languages?

Answer

A language becomes extinct when its use is restricted to specific classes or categories of people. Secondly, the harshness of rules and lack of flexibility in usage also contribute in extinction of languages.

3. Do you think it is important to preserve languages?

Answer

Yes, it is important to preserve languages as they are responsible for the development of culture of the community. It helps in preservation of one’s heritage and traditions. Language preservation ensures contact with one’s history and literature.

4. In what ways do you think we could help prevent the extinction of languages and dialects?

Answer

Extinction of languages and dialects can be prevented through the following reasons.

► Transferring the vocabulary and dialects of the language to the next generation.
► Teaching the languages in colleges and universities and encouraging students to specialise in the same.
► Teaching children to use mother-tongue.
► Remaining connected to one’s cultural roots.
► Respecting one’s language which will help in taking it forward to the coming generations.

Working with Words

1. Given below are some interesting combinations of words. Explain why they have been used together.
(i) ghostly dust devils
(ii) desert sky
(iii) stunning artefacts
(iv) funerary treasures
(v) scientific detachment
(vi) dark-bellied clouds
(vii) casket grey
(viii) eternal brilliance
(ix) ritual resins
(x) virtual body

Answer

(i) ghostly dust devils- it points out to the devilish or frightful movement of the dusty winds. It reflects the anger of the winds for disturbing the king from his resting place.

(ii) desert sky- it refers to the dusty sky of the desert. The barren sky spread over the vast desert region portrays a sad and dry picture.

(iii) stunning artefacts- items found in the tomb were extremely beautiful. Usage of both the words together explains the ‘eternal brilliance’ of the objects.

(iv) funerary treasures- reference is to the fact that king was buried with numerous things which were no less than treasures as most of the items were made of pure gold.

(v) scientific detachment- it refers to an indifference towards science.

(vi) dark-bellied clouds- it refers to the dark clouds containing rain.

(vii) casket grey- the words point out to the stars being covered by the ‘dark-bellied clouds’, the way jewels are kept in a casket (a jewel box).

(viii) eternal brilliance- eternal refers to something that is timeless. Thus, eternal brilliance refers to timeless lustre and shine of the jewels and valuables of the king.

(ix) ritual resins- resins are used as a customary duty in the process of burying a body.

(x) virtual body- a body created through electronic images or CT scan. It resembles a real body and provides a very clear view.

2. Here are some commonly used medical terms. Find out their meanings.

CT scan	MRI	tomography
Autopsy	dialysis	ECG
Post mortem	angiography	biopsy

 

Answer

CT scan- It refers to Computed Tomography. It provides X-ray image of a body in cross section. It is used for diagnostic purposes.

MRI- MRI is the short form of magnetic resonance imaging. It is a diagnostic tool.

Tomography- It refers to taking pictures of various sections of a human body in a three-dimensional view.

Autopsy- It refers to the post-mortem examination.

Dialysis- It is the process of filtration of bloodstream usually during kidney failure.

ECG- The electrocardiogram is a diagnostic tool that measures and records the electrical activity of the heart in exquisite detail.

Post mortem- It refers to the medical examination and dissection of a dead body to determine the cause of death

Angiography- Angiography is the examination of the blood vessels using x-rays and injecting of a radiopaque substance.

Biopsy- The removal and examination of a sample of tissue from a living body for diagnostic purposes is known as biopsy.

We’re Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together NCERT Solutions

Page No: 13

1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

honing our seafaring skills
ominous silence
Mayday calls
pinpricks in the vast ocean
a tousled head


Answer

honing our seafaring skills: this refers to the efforts made by the author and his wife, to perfect or sharpen their seafaring skills.

ominous silence: the silence here refers to an impending danger.

Mayday calls: Mayday calls are radio-telephonic words which signal aircrafts or ships stuck in a disastrous situation.

pinpricks in the vast ocean: this phrase expresses the search for two small islands in the vast ocean.

a tousled head: this refers to hair in disarray or the disarranged hair of the author’s son, Jonathan

Page No: 18

Understanding the Text

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) In order to protect the ship from rough weather, the capitan decided to slow it down. So he dropped the storm jjb and lashed heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stern. Then they doubled fatened everything and went through their life-raft drill

(ii) To check the flooding of water in the ship, he put waterproof hatch covers across the gaping holes which diverted the water to the side. When the two hands pump blocked and electric pump short circuited, he found another electric pump, connected it to an outpipe and started it.

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

Answer

On January 4 and 5, the voyagers felt relieved after rigorous practice of continuous pumping. They had their first meal in almost two days. Their respite was short-lived. They faced dangerous situation on January 5. Fear of deah loomed large. They were under great 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

The first section: The first section opens on a cheerful note. The narrator and his family are all set for their ultimate dream- to take up an around-the-world voyage like Captain James Cook did. They have perfected their seafaring skills. They begin the voyage and despite of the bad weather, they celebrate Christmas on the ‘Wavewalker’.

The second section: This part of narration covers the hazards faced by the voyagers. There is a shift in the narration from cheerful to intense. They find themselves in an extremely fatal and disastrous situation. A huge wave hits their boat and the narrator is thrown overboard. Despite getting injured, he maintains his composure and applies every possible way to tackle the critical situation. They manage to pump out maximum amount of water out of the boat in about 36 hours. But as they continue to face bad weather conditions the narrator loses hope. The children remain fearless, courageous and optimistic throughout.

The third section: The children provide moral support to the narrator and he continues with his efforts. Under the captaincy of the narrator, they manage to reach Ile Amsterdam. The narrator proves his seamanship and receives the title of “the best daddy” and “the best captain” from his children.

The above three sections can be subtitled as follows:
a) The first section: Round-the-world voyage begins
b) The second section: The attack of the big wave
c) The third section: Ultimate victory


Talking about the Text

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

Answer

There was lot of difference between the way in which the adults and children reacted when faced danger. The adults lose hope and wait for their end with a heavy heart. At this point, they are motivated by the children. The children offer moral support to the adults. They display maturity and tolerance. Jonathan expresses his fearlessness and courage when he says that they are not afraid of dying if they all can be together. Sue expresses her love and gratitude for her parents by making a greeting card. She is strong enough to not let her parents know about her serious injuries. She did not want to bother her parents in the times of crisis.

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

Answer

Optimism is a determination to overcome difficulties. It raises one’s spirits and helps one overcome stress and difficulty with ease. The story displays courage and optimism throughout. Survival happens only because of the optimistic struggle that the family carries on with.
The level of perseverance in the author rises when Jonathan says, “we’re not afraid of dying if we can all be together. Besides, the caricatures of him and Mary, drawn by Sue, helps his determination and optimism to grow many folds. The positive outlook of the children infuses positivity in the narrator. He rigorously calculates their position and finally asks Larry to steer a course of 185 degrees. Though he had lost all hope by then, he did not show it and optimistically told Larry that they would spot the island by about 5 P.M. Fortunately, their struggle and optimism pays off and they manage to find Ile Amsterdam by evening.

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

Answer

 

Such experiences teach us the potential that courage, perseverance and tolerance hold. It explains how one must react in the direst of the situations. It teaches us that one must never lose hope and try to find reasons to stay positive in the face of adversity. In such situations one must try his/her best to remain calm and composed and understand the power of unity and team work. Moreover, the importance of common sense, putting continuous efforts to overcome the catastrophe and the significance of being extra cautious and careful are learnt from such hazardous experiences.

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

Answer

The spirit to experience unique elements of nature, undaunted passion and willingness to accept challenges drive people to take up adventurous expeditions. The people who involve themselves in such activities are very well aware of the risk involved in them. But due to their passion and enthusiasm to do something unique and great, they willingly accept such challenges. Also, their desire to be in the lap of nature and experience its beauty pushes them to such expeditions.

Thinking about Language

1. We have come across words like `gale’ and `storm’ in the account. Here are two more words for `storm’: typhoon, cyclone. How many words does your language have for `storm’?

Answer

In Hindi, ‘storm’ is known as ‘aandhi’, ‘toofan’ ‘andhad’, etc.

Page No: 19

2. Here are the terms of different kinds of vessels: yacht, boat, canoe, ship, steamer, schooner. Think of similar terms in your language.

Answer

‘Naav’, ‘Nauka’, ‘Jahaaz’ and ‘Kishti’ are some of the various words used in Hindi for the word ‘boat’.

3. ‘Catamaran’ is a kind of a boat. Do you know which Indian language this word is derived from? Check the dictionary.

Answer

The word ‘Catamaran’ is derived from Tamil word ‘Kattumaram’.

4. Have you heard any boatmen’s songs? What kind of emotions do these songs usually express?

Answer

Yes, Boatmen’s songs usually express love and nostalgia. It revolves around the longing to meet a loved one. It may also express their love for the sea.

Working with Words

1. The following words used in the text as ship terminology are also commonly used in another sense. In what contexts would you use the other meaning?

Knot            stern            boom         hatch        anchor

Answer

 

Knot: a) interlacing, twining, looping, etc.

b) a group of persons.

Stern: firm, strict, uncompromising, harsh, hard etc.

Boom: a) deep, prolonged, resonant sound
b) to progress or flourish
c) to hit hard

Hatch: a) to bring forth, produce.
b) derive, concoct
c) to draw, cut, or engrave lines

Anchor: a) a person or thing that can be relied upon for support
b) host of an event.

2. The following three compound words end in-ship. What does each of them mean?

airship         flagship         lightship

Answer

Airship: It is a self-propelled lighter-than-air aircraft with the means of controlling the direction of the flight.

Flagship: It is a ship carrying the flag officer or the commander of a fleet, squadron. It displays the officer’s flag.

Lightship: It refers to a ship anchored in a specific location flashing a very bright light for the guidance of ships, as in avoiding dangerous areas.

3. The following are the meaning listed in the dictionary against the phrase `take on’. In which meaning is it used in the third paragraph of the account:

Take on sth:	to begin to have a particular quality or appearance; to assume sth
take sb on:	to employ sb; to engage sb to accept sb as one’s opponent in a game,contest or conflict
Take sb/sth on:	to decide to do sth; to allow sth/sb to enter e.g. a bus, plane or ship; to take sth/sb on board

Answer

In the third paragraph, in lines: “… we took on two crewman to help us tackle … roughest seas…”, the word “took on” suggests to take somebody on i.e., to employ or engage somebody.

We’re Not Afraid To Die … If We Are All Together Extra Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What preparations did the author and his wife make for their round to the world sea-voyage?

Ans. The narrator and his wife wanted to ‘duplicate’ the round—the world voyage made 200 years earlier by Captain James Cook. They had been making formidable preparations for the last 16 years. First of all they got a boat especially designed and professionally built for this purpose. It was a 23 metre, 30 tonne wooden-hulled boat. They tested it for months in the roughest weather. They were both mentally and physically prepared to undertake their exceptionally long and challenging sea-voyage.

Q2. When and how did they encounter their first troubles during the long voyage?

Ans. Everything went on well till they sailed down the west coast of Africa and reached Cape Town. The trouble started on the second day out of Cape Town. They began to encounter strong gales. They blew continuously for the next few weeks. Gales didn’t worry them. But the size of the waves was alarming—up to 15 metres. They rose as high as up to the main mast. They expected the weather to improve on the New Year’s Day. Sadly the weather changed but for the worse.

Q3. What were the first indications of the ‘impending disaster’ that ultimately struck them on January 2?

Ans. The first indication of the impending disaster came at about 6 p.m. on January 2. An ominous silence prevailed all around. The wind dropped. The sky immediately grew dark. Then came a growing roar. A huge vertical wave, almost twice the height of the other waves, came roaring towards the ship. These were the indications of the coming disaster.

Q4. How did the first ‘disaster’ strike the ship?

Ans. On New Year’s Day the weather changed for the worse. The waves were gigantic. Strong gales did trouble them. As the ship rose to the top of each wave, they could see endless huge waves. These were rolling towards them. The howling of the wind and the spray was painful to the ears. The sky grew dark. A torrent of green and white water broke over the ship. The captain was thrown overboard.

Q5. What precautions did the narrator take when huge waves struck the boat on January 2?     
      
Ans. Huge waves came rolling towards the boat. The howling of gales and spray was painful to the ears. First of all, they decided to slow down the boat. The storm jib was dropped. Heavy mooring ropes were looped across the stern. They went through their life-raft drill. They attached lifelines. Oilskins and life-jackets were donned. Larry and Herb were continuously pumping out the water like madmen.

Q6. How did the narrator accept his ‘approaching death and why was he still peaceful’?

Ans. The narrator saw a torrent of green and white water breaking over the ship. His head had smashed into the wheel. He felt himself flying overboard and sinking below the waves. He was losing consciousness. He accepted his approaching death without murmuring. He felt quite peaceful even when death was approaching and Wavewalker was near capsizing.

Q7. How did the narrator hurt himself on January 2?

Ans. Wavewalker was capsizing. Her masts had fallen. Huge waves struck the boat upright. The narrator grabbed the guard rails. He sailed through the air into Wavewalker’s main boom. Waves tossed him around the deck like a rag doll. His left ribs cracked and his mouth was filled with blood and broken teeth.

Q8. Who were Larry and Herb? What role did they play?  

Ans. Before heading east from Cape Town, the narrator employed two crewmen. They were Larry Vigil and Swiss Herb Seigler. They were to help them ‘to take one of the world’s roughest seas, the Southern Indian Ocean. Larry and Herb did their job quite well. When the gigantic waves struck Wavewalker, they continued pumping water out of the boat.

Q9. How did Sue hurt herself and how did she bear the injury?

Ans. The narrator crawled into the children’s cabin to find out if they were safe. Sue told him that her head was hurt a bit. He saw a big bump over her eyes. Sue’s head had swollen alarmingly. She showed a deep cut on her arm. But she didn’t want to worry them when they were trying to save them all.

Q10. Describe the situation on the morning of January 3.

Ans. By morning on January 3, the situation showed a little improvement. Pumps had been working round the clock. The water level was sufficiently under control. The crewmen could take two hours’ rest in rotation. But there was still a tremendous leak somewhere below the waterline. No doubt, they had survived for 15 hours since the wave hit Wavewalker. But it would not hold long enough for them to reach Australia.

Q11. Why and when did the captain send ‘May day calls’? What was the response?

Ans. On January 2 at 6 pm Wavewalker was hit by a gigantic wave. The captain and the crew tried their best to pump water out and steer the ship to safety. When nothing seemed to work well, May-day calls or SOS signals were sent for rescue and help. But they didn’t get any replies. It was not surprising in that remote corner of the world.

Q12. Describe the situation on January 4. Why did the narrator and Mary feel that ‘the end was very near’?  

Ans. On January 4, after 36 hours of continuous pumping, they could pump the water out. Mary found some corned beef and biscuits. They ate their first meal in almost two days. But their respite was short-lived. At 4 pm black clouds began building up behind them. The wind was back to 40 knots and the wave rose high. By the morning of January 5, the situation became again desperate. The narrator and Mary sat together holding hands in the evening. Both of them felt that the end was very near.

Q13. How and when did Wavewalker ride out the storm? How did the narrator feel at that time?           

Ans. By the morning of January 6, the wind eased. The narrator was back in the chart room and read on the sextant. They were somewhere in 1, 05,000 kilometres of ocean searching for a 65 kilometre-wide island. At about 2 pm he went on deck. He asked Larry to steer a course of 185 degrees. If they were lucky, they could expect to see the island at about 5 pm. Then with a heavy heart, he went below and dozed off. When he woke up at 6 pm, he knew they must have missed the island.

Q14. Why did Jonathan ask for a hug and called him the best daddy and the best captain in the world?         
 
Ans. The children were excited. They saw the island before the narrator. Jonathan asked if he could have a hug. The narrator was surprised. His son declared that he was “the best daddy in the whole world and the best captain”. The narrator replied: “Not today”. Suddenly, the children shouted that the island was in front of them and it was as big as a battleship.

Q15. Describe Ile Amsterdam. How did its inhabitants behave with the newcomers?

Ans. When the narrator rushed on the deck he was relieved to see the outline of lle Amsterdam. It was a French base. It was ‘a black piece of volcanic rock’. It had little vegetation but still it appeared to be ‘the most beautiful island in the world’. They anchored offshore for the night. The next morning all 28 inhabitants of the island cheered them and helped them ashore.

Q16. What did the narrator think of on landing at Ile Amsterdam? Why?

Ans. On landing at Ile Amsterdam, the narrator’s thoughts were full of Larry and Herbie, his crew members who remained cheerful and optimistic throughout the hardships. He thought of his wife also, who stayed at the wheel for all those crucial hours? He also thought of his daughter, who had been so brave all through the ordeal and had not bothered about her head injury.

Q17. How can you say that Suzanne’s injuries were serious?

Ans. Suzanne’s injuries were serious because she had to undergo six minor surgeries to remove a recurring blood clot between her skin and skull. She had also injured her arm and had two black eyes.

Q18. Justify the title: “We’re Not Afraid to die …”

Ans. The lesson is aptly and logically titled: “We’re Not Afraid to Die …” These were the words of Jonathan, the son of the narrator. Like his brave father, Jon declared that they were not afraid to die if they could be all together—Daddy and Mummy and Sue and he. These words sum up the courage shown by the narrator, his wife and children and, of course, the crewmen.

Q19. “We’re Not Afraid to Die” is a saga of patience and bravery. Comment.

Ans. “We’re Not Afraid to Die” is the story of rare courage and perseverance of the narrator’s family. It comprised his wife and children, with the crewmen. All the dangers and disasters were confronted with patience, courage and determination. Never did anybody shake or waver even for a second. Even the children showed an exemplary courage. They were not afraid to die. They were ready to die with their daddy and mummy together.

Q20. “Optimism and courage help to tide over difficulties”. How did the narrator succeed in searching the small island?

Ans. Despite the lost compass and a faulty compass, the author did not lose hope. He used his intelligence to estimate the influence of the westerly currents which flowed through that part of the Ocean. He asked Larry to steer a course of 185 degrees and remained optimistic about spotting the island at about 5 pm.

Q21. Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?

Ans. People undertake such adventurous expeditions due to two reasons. They have the passionate thrive for risk, thrill and uncertainty and they push their limits of skill and endurance. They seek such adventures for pure joy and exhilaration. They also want to do certain things for attaining name, fame and recognition.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe in brief how the voyage began in July 1976 from Plymouth, England and ended at a small island Isle Amsterdam in the South Indian Ocean.

Ans. The narrator wanted ‘to duplicate’ the round-the-world voyage made 200 years earlier by Captain James Cook. For the past 16 years they had been making preparations. They got a boat professionally built for this purpose. It was a 23 metre, 30 tonne wooden hulled boat. It had been tested for months in the roughest weather. The first leg of their 1, 05,000 kilometre journey passed pleasantly. They sailed down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town.
Their troubles started on the second day out of Cape Town. They encountered strong gales. Waves rose as high as their main mast. The boat was slowed down. The storm jib was dropped. Heavy ropes were looped across the stern. Lifelines were attached, oilskins and life jackets were donned. Wavewalker was near capsizing. Sue got a big bump over her eyes. The narrator was tossed over the deck. His left ribs cracked and teeth were broken. By morning on January 3, Larry and Herb brought the water level sufficiently under control.
On January 4, they received some respite. The situation was again quite grim. Jon asked if they were going to die. They were not afraid of dying if they could all die together. But by the morning of 6 January, Wavewalker rode out (of) the storm. lle Amsterdam was just in front of them. The next day all 28 inhabitants cheered and helped them ashore.

Q2. Describe the steps taken by the captain and the crewmen to protect the boat from the storm and the gigantic waves. Were they successful?

Ans. Just on the second day when they left Cape Town, Wavewalker began to face all kinds of troubles. Strong gales lashed it for the next few weeks. The size of the waves was really alarming. They went up as high as the main mast. The captain took immediate steps to save the boat. The boat was slowed down. The storm jib was dropped. Heavy mooring ropes were lashed across the stern. Lifelines were attached. Oilskins and life-jackets were donned. A tremendous explosion shook the deck. A torrent of green and white water broke over the ship. Wavewalker was near capsizing. Her masts had fallen flat. Waves tossed him around the deck like a rag doll. Larry and Herb continued pumping water out like madmen. Waterproof covers across the open holes were covered. Most of the water was now being thrown over the sides.

All the urgent steps were taken. Fortunately, they proved quite effective. By the morning of January 6, the wind eased. Wavewalker rode out storm. But still it couldn’t hold for long to reach Australia. Hence, the search for islands began. In the end, Wavewalker had a cheerful landing at lle Amsterdam.

Q3. Describe the behaviour of the narrator and his family, particularly of his children Jon and Sue, during the voyage.

Ans. The narrator, his wife and children, set sail from Plymouth, England with great hope, excitement and determination. The narrator was a 37-year-old businessman. He had dreamt of duplicating the round-the-world voyage made 200 years ago by Captain James Cook. He had worked hard in sharpening his seafaring skills in British waters. The first leg of their journey passed pleasantly. Their troubles started when they moved out of Cape Town. But even hostile weather couldn’t dampen their spirits. Though the weather changed for the worse on the New Year’s Day, they all participated in its celebrations.

The captain really showed his heroic qualities. He was thrown overboard and sinking below the waves. He didn’t panic. His left ribs cracked. His mouth was filled with blood and broken teeth. Somehow, he found the wheel and hung on. Even the behaviour of the crewmen Larry and Herb was quite praiseworthy. They continued pumping water out like madmen. The narrator’s wife Mary didn’t panic either. She only cried “We’re sinking”.

Jonathan and Sue proved that they were the children of brave and adventurous parents. Jon declared that they were “not afraid of dying if they could all die together”. The children were really excited when they saw the lle Amsterdam. Now the narrator was not an ordinary father. He was “the best daddy in the whole world—and the best captain”.

Q4. What do you think of the narrator as a captain? How did the crew and the family members show courage during distress?

Ans. This is a story of human endurance, selflessness and courage in the face of adversity. Traditionally, the captain of the ship must go down with it and attempt only to save the passengers. However, in this story, we see other traits in the narrator which make him a good captain.

The narrator was able to think rationally, prioritize and recall important information under distress. He was able to recall the backup electric pump, waterproofed the ship and performed repairs as required, identified nearest land/port and performed intense calculations despite the lack of proper equipment, did not convey his fears to his crew and presented a confident face throughout enhancing the morale of his team.

The narrator’s family and crew showed unconditional team spirit during adversity. His wife helped with the navigation of the ship while his children offered moral support. The crew members Larry and Herb worked tirelessly and did not abandon ship.

Despite their young years, Jonathan and Suzanne showed courage and optimistic fervour. Suzanne did not bother her parents with her injuries no matter how extensive they were. She also made a card for her parents to show her love and gratitude. Jonathan claimed he was not afraid even to die if he were with his family.

 

A Photograph Extra Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What does the word ‘cardboard’ denote in the poem? Why has this word been used?

 

Ans. ‘Cardboard’ refers to the photograph only. In the past photographs used to be fixed on a cardboard and hung from the wall for everyone to see it.

Q2. What has not changed over the years? Does this suggest something to you?

 

Ans. The sea has not changed over the years. It suggests the immortality of sea as compared to the mortal human beings whose life comes to an end finally.

Q3. The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. What does this laugh indicate?

 

Ans. The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. This is an indication of the fun and joy she had experienced during the beach holiday and she had fond memories of that particular incident. It brought joy to her when she looked at the snapshot.

Q4. What does ‘this circumstance’ refer to?

 

Ans. ‘This circumstance’ refers to the loneliness and the sense of loss that the poet suffers as she remembers her mother who is no more.

Q5. What do you learn about the poet’s mother from the photograph?

 

Ans. The poet’s mother had been a fun loving girl who had taken great delight with her cousins at the beach and had the fond memories of the holiday that she cherished even when she was a grown up.

Q6. What has the camera captured?

 

Ans. The camera has captured some happy moments from the childhood of the poet’s mother. It was a scene taken from a beach where she had gone with her cousins and her uncle for a sea holiday. The girls were paddling in the water.

Q7. The poet’s mother laughed at the snapshot. What did this laugh indicate?

 

Ans. This laugh indicates her remembering her past. She looked back to her childhood with nostalgia and remembered the innocent joys of her childhood days.

Q8. What is the meaning of the line “Both wry with the laboured ease or loss”

 

Ans. ‘Both’ refers to the sea holiday as remembered by her mother and the poet remembering her mother’s laughing face. Both these now belong to the past. Her mother is no more now.

Q9. What scene from mother’s childhood has been captured in the photograph? Who had taken the photograph?

 

Ans. The scene that has been captured in the photograph is from mother’s childhood when she went for paddling with her two cousins. Mother’s uncle had taken the photograph.

Q10. How did the cousins accompany mother for paddling?

 

Ans. Her cousins accompanied mother by holding her hands when they went for paddling.

Q11. Explain the contrast given in the last two lines of the first stanza.

 

Ans. The contrast is between the sea and the humans. The sea had remained the same for all these years, but the humans have undergone changes. Her mother grew up and now she had been dead for the past twelve years.

Q12. How does the poet feel when she remembers the sea holiday of her mother?

 

Ans. The poet feels sad when she remembers the sea holiday of her mother. Her mother died twelve years ago.

Q13. Why doesn’t she want to think about the photograph anymore?

 

Ans. She doesn’t want think about the photograph anymore because it brings the pain of loss to her mind.

Q14. The three stanzas depict three different phases. What are they?

 

Ans. The three stanzas depict three different phases of life. The first stanza refers to the childhood of the poet’s mother. The second stanza refers to the adulthood of the poet’s mother. The last stanza refers to the last phase of life – the death of the poet’s mother.