Previous Year: Short Questions With Answers - We are Not Afraid to Die...if We Can All Be Together | English Class 11 PDF Download

Q. 1. Why did the narrator call Amsterdam the most beautiful island in the world?
Ans. The narrator called Amsterdam the most beautiful island in the world not because of its natural beauty, as it was just a bleak piece of volcanic rock with little vegetation, but because it symbolized hope. They had reached the island after facing a life-threatening crisis at sea, when all hope of survival had almost vanished.

Q. 2. Give a brief description of the narrator’s boat. How had the narrator equipped and tested it?
Ans. The narrator’s boat, named ‘Wavewalker,’ was a 23-meter-long, 30-ton wooden-hulled ship, professionally built for long voyages. The narrator and his family spent months preparing the boat, fitting it with necessary equipment, and testing it in the roughest weather conditions to ensure its durability and reliability.

Q. 3. When did the narrator set sail for his round-the-world voyage and how did it pass in the beginning?
Ans. The narrator set sail from Plymouth, England, in July 1976 with his wife, Mary, and children, Jonathan (6) and Suzanne (7). The voyage started smoothly, passing from the west coast of Africa to Cape Town, with pleasant weather conditions during the early stages.

Q. 4. How did they celebrate their Christmas holidays?
Ans. They celebrated Christmas on December 25th, 3,500 km east of Cape Town, despite facing bad weather. Even though the conditions were challenging, they managed to have a cheerful holiday, complete with a Christmas tree. The weather showed no improvement as they entered the New Year.

Q. 5. What happened on January 2nd? What did the narrator do to face the strong and high waves?
Ans. On January 2nd, the waves became enormous. The ship rose to the top of each wave, only to face even larger waves. The narrator dropped the storm jib to slow the boat and lashed heavy mooring ropes across the stern. He also double lashed all loose equipment and performed the life raft drill with the crew to prepare for any emergencies.

Q. 6. What happened on the second day of Cape Town?
Ans. On the second day after leaving Cape Town, the crew encountered strong gales that continued for weeks. The narrator was particularly concerned about the massive waves, some of which reached an alarming height of 15 meters, almost as high as their main mast.

Q. 7. What was the first indication of the impending disaster?
Ans. The first sign of impending disaster was an eerie silence. The sky darkened, and a huge cloud appeared above them. However, this was not a cloud—it was a massive wave. The wave was almost twice the height of the other waves, and it rose vertically over the boat, signaling imminent danger.

Q. 8. What sort of wave hit the ship? How did the narrator react?
Ans. The ship was hit by a gigantic vertical wave, which was almost twice the height of the other waves. It had an unsettling breaking crest. The narrator, who had never seen such a huge wave, was filled with terror and realized they were facing a serious life-threatening situation.

Q. 9. “The roar increased to thunder.” What happened then?
Ans. The roar of the wave grew louder until it sounded like thunder. A tremendous explosion shook the deck, and a torrent of green seawater flooded the ship. The narrator’s head crashed into the wheel, and he began losing consciousness, preparing himself for death as the ship was battered by the wave.

Q. 10. How did the narrator manage to survive through the attacks of subsequent waves?
Ans. One of the waves threw the ship upright, giving the narrator a chance to reach the main boom. As other waves tossed him around like a rag doll, he suffered injuries, including cracked ribs and broken teeth. Despite this, he managed to find the wheel, steer the ship to face the next wave, and held on firmly.

Q. 11. What was the impact of the torrent on the narrator and Wavewalker?
Ans. The violent torrent shook the deck and threw the narrator overboard, causing him to sink into the water. However, his head resurfaced, and he managed to stay afloat. Wavewalker was on the brink of capsizing, with its masts almost horizontal.

Q. 12. How did the narrator and the other members react to the presence of water in the ship?
Ans. While the narrator remained at the wheel, unable to inspect the ship's damage, Mary cried out that the decks were broken, and the ship was sinking. Larry and Herb worked tirelessly to pump out water, and although Sue had a large bump over her eye, she reassured her parents that she and the other children were fine.

Q. 13. The narrator says “more problems arose.” What were those problems?
Ans. The narrator faced several problems, such as hand pumps becoming clogged with debris, electric pumps malfunctioning, and the water level rising dangerously. Additionally, two spare hand pumps were damaged, along with other essential equipment like sails, dinghies, and the main anchor.

Q. 14. What was the position on January 3rd?
Ans. By January 3rd, the crew had managed to bring the water level under control. However, there was still significant leakage below the waterline, and the boat's main rib frames had been damaged. The boat was structurally compromised, with a large section of the starboard hull unsupported.

Q. 15. How did the narrator react to the problems? What does it reveal?
Ans. Despite the overwhelming problems, the narrator remained calm and composed. He quickly remembered that there was another electric pump under the chartroom floor and managed to get it working. His calm thinking in the face of adversity reveals his resourcefulness and leadership under pressure.

Q. 16. How did things ease on January 4th after 36 hours of continuous pumping?
Ans. By January 4th, after 36 hours of continuous pumping, the water had almost been removed. However, they could not use the main mast, as it would place too much pressure on the damaged hull. Instead, they hoisted the storm jib and set a course for the island.

Q. 17. What was the scene before the narrator when the huge wave had broken over the boat?
Ans. When the huge wave hit, the boat was flooded with water. Larry and Herb were working tirelessly to pump out the water, while broken timbers, clothes, crockery, charts, tins, and toys floated around, making it clear that the ship was severely damaged.

Q. 18. How did Jonathan behave when the narrator went to comfort the children?
Ans. When the narrator went to comfort his children, Jonathan asked if they were going to die. However, he reassured his father that they were not afraid of dying as long as they were together, showing his courage and maturity during the crisis.

Q. 19. “I didn’t want to worry you when you were trying to save us all.” Said Sue. What has happened to her?
Ans. Sue had suffered a serious injury, with a large bump on her eye that had swollen, along with two black eyes. She also had a deep cut on her arm. Despite her injuries, she chose not to bother her father, as he was focused on saving the family and the boat.

Q. 20. How did the children cheer up the narrator when they saw an island named Ile Amsterdam?
Ans. When the children saw the island of Ile Amsterdam, Jonathan asked for a hug, telling his father that he was the best daddy and captain in the world. Sue also pointed out that they had found the island, showing their optimism and giving the narrator a moment of emotional relief.

Q. 21. How did Suzanne try to lighten the gloomy atmosphere?
Ans. Despite sustaining an injury on her forehead, Suzanne was not scared. She created a funny card with caricatures of her hardworking parents, attempting to bring some humor and lighten the heavy atmosphere during such a dire situation.

Q. 22. When do you think Mary and the narrator feel the end was near? Why did they feel so?
Ans. Mary and the narrator felt that the end was near on the evening of January 5th, 1977. They sat together, holding hands, as they realized the ship was taking in more water through the broken planks, and there was no way to stop the flooding.

Q. 23. What did the narrator plan to do? What preparations did he make for it?
Ans. The narrator had planned to undertake a round-the-world voyage in the same way Captain James Cook had done 200 years earlier. For 16 years, he and his wife had been training and improving their sailing skills. They had also prepared their boat, Wavewalker, testing it in rough conditions.

Q. 24. How were the narrator and others received at the island? What did the narrator think then?
Ans. The narrator and his family were warmly received by the 28 inhabitants of the island the next morning. As they were greeted, the narrator thought of the perseverance and optimism of his crew—Larry, Herb, Mary, and the children—who had all stayed strong throughout the ordeal.

Q. 25. How can you say Suzanne’s injuries were serious?
Ans. Suzanne’s injuries were serious because her head injury required six minor operations to remove a recurring blood clot between her skin and skull. She also had two severely blackened eyes, indicating the severity of the blow she received.

Q. 26. Explain the title, “We are not afraid to die–if we can all be together.” What lesson does it teach?
Ans. The title reflects the courage and unity of the narrator's family in the face of disaster. They were not afraid of death as long as they could remain together. This teaches us the importance of family support and facing challenges with bravery and togetherness.