Class 8 English Question Answers - En Route to America

Short Type Questions

Q1: Which question is the writer referring to in the passage?
Ans: The writer is referring to the question of how her parents had the courage to send them to America in 1943.

Q2: What advice did the writer receive from her aunt before embarking on the voyage?
Ans: The advice given by the writer's aunt was to look helpless but be efficient, so that people would offer assistance and if they didn't, they could take care of themselves.

Q3: What does the writer mean by 'romance of the voyage'?
Ans: By 'romance of the voyage,' the writer means the excitement and adventurous aspect of the journey, which began to fade away due to the crowdedness of their cabin.

Q4: Why does the writer call the ocean 'an unleashed monster'?
Ans: The writer calls the ocean 'an unleashed monster' because she perceives it as a powerful and unpredictable force, emphasizing its vastness and potential danger.

Q5: How did rebraiding her hair help the writer keep up 'her morale'?
Ans: Rebraid her hair helped the writer keep up 'her morale' because it provided her with a sense of control and normalcy amidst the uncertain and challenging circumstances of the voyage.

Long Type Questions

Q1: Describe the preparations and emotions of the writer and her family before embarking on their journey to America during the war. 
Ans: The preparations for the journey involved last-minute shopping and arrangements facilitated by the writer's aunt. The family experienced mixed emotions, with apprehension and fears about the wartime circumstances, but also excitement and curiosity about the adventure ahead.

Q2: Explain the living conditions and interactions among the passengers on the ship during the voyage.
Ans: The ship had two classes of passengers, officer and troop. The Polish refugees belonged to the troop class, while the writer and others were assigned to the officer class. Despite the lack of recreational facilities, passengers mingled with one another in the common mess room, fostering camaraderie and friendships among people of different nationalities.

Q3: Discuss the writer's initial experiences and feelings on the ship, including her physical discomfort and perception of the ocean. 
Ans: Initially, the writer struggled with the motion of the ship, feeling sick and dizzy. The confined cabin with a tiny porthole added to the discomfort. The writer perceived the ocean as an unleashed monster due to its immense size and the potential threat it posed, as highlighted by the possibility of submarine attacks.

Q4: Analyze the significance of the writer's refusal to immediately obey the signal to abandon ship and her insistence on maintaining her appearance.
Ans: The writer's refusal to immediately obey the signal to abandon ship and her insistence on maintaining her appearance demonstrated her desire to uphold her dignity and self-image. Rebraiding her hair allowed her to feel more composed and presentable, thereby boosting her morale during the challenging times.

Q5: Elaborate on the encounter between the writer and the stranger on the ship, highlighting the cultural differences and the conversation about India and America.
Ans: The stranger's assumption that the writer was not born in India and his surprise at her fluency in English were indicative of stereotypes and a lack of awareness about India and its people. The conversation unfolded as an opportunity for the writer to educate the stranger about India's struggle for freedom and the restrictions on political activities.