NCERT 12th English Chapter 03 Deep Water Question Answer
Deep Water
1. What is the
“misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about ?
Answer:
When The author and narrator of story
William Douglas was at the age of three
or four.One day he was Standing on the side of the pool. As there was no one
else there, he was waiting for others to come so that he could start swimming.
Then an eighteen-year-old well-built boy picked him up and tossed him into the
deep end of the pool.
2. What were the series
of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool
? What plans did he make to come to the surface?
Answer:
William Douglas was thrown into the
deep waters of the pool by a big boy. He was frightened but not frightened
enough to stop thinking. All the time, despite having fear of drowning, he
kept himself mentally alert. He planned that when his feet hit the bottom,
he would make a big jump, come to the surface, lie flat on it and paddle to the
edge of the pool. His strategy helped him save his life.
3. How did this
experience affect him?
Answer:
The near death experience of drowning
had a very strong impact on his psychology. He was deeply perturbed and shaken
by the whole experience. A haunting fear of water took control of his physical
strength and emotional balance for many years. As he could not bear being
surrounded by water, he was deprived of enjoying any water-related activity.
4. Why was Douglas
determined to get over his fear of water?
Answer:
Douglas regretted being deprived of
enjoying water-based activities and sports like canoeing, boating, fishing and
swimming. His ardent wish to enjoy such activities and regain his lost
confidence while staying in water were the reasons for his determination to get
over his fear of water.
5. How did the
instructor "build a swimmer" out of Douglas?
Answer:
The instructor adopted a systematic
method to turn Douglas into a swimmer. He first made him shed off his
initial fear of water by making him cross a pool suspended by a rope attached
to a pulley. Then he taught Douglas to breathe while swimming, and finally the
leg movements and other strokes.
6. How did Douglas make
sure that he conquered the old terror?
Answer:
After the instructor had trained
Douglas in the art of swimming, Douglas swam on Lake Wentworth. Once when the
terror returned, he challenged it, and did not let it overcome him. Finally,
Douglas swam on the Warm Lake and the fear didn’t return to haunt him ever.
7. What sort of terror
seized Douglas as he went down the water with a yellow glow? How could he feel
that he was still alive?
Answer
An absolute, rigid terror seized
Douglas. It was a terror that knew no understanding or control and was beyond
comprehension of anyone who had not experienced it. He was paralysed under
water-stiff and rigid with fear. His screams were frozen. The beating of his heart
and throbbing of mind made him feel that he was still alive.
8. Why did William
Douglas develop aversion to the water when he was three or four years old?
Answer
Douglas had developed a terror of
water since childhood. When he was three or four years old, he went to
California with his father. On the beach, the waves knocked him down and swept
over him. The experience bred a permanent fear of water in the child's subconscious
mind. At the age of ten or eleven, when he was trying to learn swimming in the
Y. M. C. A swimming pool in Yakima, a big boy suddenly played a dangerous prank
and pushed him into water. Both these incidents left a deep impact on William
Douglas and created an aversion to water.
9. What misadventure
did William Douglas experience at the YMCA pool?
Answer:
Douglas, a ten year old boy, was
standing alone at the YMCA pool when a big bully of a boy picked him up and
tossed him into the deep end and at once he was at the bottom of the pool.
Though he did manage to come up with extreme difficulty, he could never again
go back to the pool. He started fearing and avoiding water. Whenever he went
near water a haunting terror would seize him.
10. Why did Douglas go
to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire?
Answer:
Douglas was not sure whether all the
terror had left even after the training from October to April and practice till
July. So, he went to Lake Wentworth and swam two miles. Terror returned only
once when he was in the middle of the lake. He had put his face under and saw
nothing but bottomless water. The old sensation returned in a smaller size. He
laughed and rebuked terror. His terror fled away and he swam on.
11. Which factors led
Douglas to decide in favour of YMCA pool?
Answer:
The Y.M.C.A. pool was safe. It was
only two to three feet deep at the shallow end. It was nine feet deep at the
other. Moreover, the drop was gradual. The Yakima River was treacherous and had
drowned many. So, he decided in favour of the Y.M.C.A. pool.
12. What did Douglas
learn from his experience at the YMCA pool?
Answer:
The experience at the YMCA pool had a
deep meaning for Douglas. As he had experienced both the sensation of dying and
the terror that the fear of it can produce. So, the will to live somehow
grew in intensity. He felt released- free to walk the mountain paths, climb the
peaks, and brush aside fear.
13 Which two incidents
in Douglas’ early life made him scared Of water?
Answer:
The first incident occurred when he
was three or four years old at a beach in California. A strong wave knocked
Douglas down and he was buried in water.
The next incident occurred at the
YMCA pool when he was ten or eleven. A big bully of a boy tossed him into the
deep end of the pool. He went down to the bottom and almost drowned in the
pool.
14 What did Douglas
feel and do when he was pushed into the swimming pool?
Answer:
When Douglas was thrown into the
pool, he Was very much scared but he did not lose his mind. He planned that he
would make a big jump when his feet would touch the bottom. Thus, he would come
to the surface. Unfortunately, the plan failed. Douglas then grew panicky and
started suffocating. He felt that he would die, and became unconscious.
15 How did Douglas get
rescued when he was thrown in the pool?
Answer:
The narrator does not mention this.
When he regained consciousness, he was vomiting while lying on his stomach
beside the pool. Apparently, he had been rescued by someone.
16 Describe the efforts
made by Douglas to overcome his fear of water.
Answer:
After a few years of unsuccessfully
trying various methods to overcome his fear of water, Douglas decided to .get
an instructor and learn to swim. The instructor systematically taught him how
to swim, starting from the basics and taking all the required safety measures,
which gave Douglas confidence.
After six months of training, Douglas
swam the length of the pool up and down for three months. But he was still not
satisfied. So he swam two miles across Lake Went worth in New Hampshire. Then
he swam across Warm Lake and back. He shouted with joy, and Gilbert Peak
returned the echo. He had Conquered his fear of water.
17 Justify the title
‘Deep Water’.
Answer:
This story is appropriately titled
‘Deep Water’. It unfolds with the narrator deciding to learn swimming aft the
YMCA swimming pool. He admitted that he had an aversion to water. This began
when he was three or four years old and his father took him to a California
beach. Here he was knocked down and swept away by the waves.
Yet another incident aggravated his
phobia of water bodies. He was tossed by a robust bully into the deeper end of
the swimming pool. He nearly drowned and was terribly frightened. An ‘icy
horror’ took possession of him and his legs became paralysed.
He began to avoid going near water
bodies. Finally, he decided that it was time to act tough. He engaged an
instructor who systematically trained him in the art of swimming. Thus, the ‘deep’
aversion and terror he had of water was finally removed.
18 Explain the
statement— ‘The instructor was finished”.
Answer:
The narrator had engaged an instructor
who would teach him to swim. He helped Douglas to get rid of the icy horror of
water bodies by attaching a rope to a belt worn by him. Holding the end of the
rope in his hand, he made Douglas go back and forth in the pool. Next, with the
help of breathing techniques and exercises like kicking with his legs, the
instructor managed to build a swimmer of him bit by bit, step by step.
The instructor also helped him in
building up stamina, thus improving his confidence. The instructor was hired in
the month of October. By April, he put all he had taught into an integrated
whole. Thus, in a period of about six months, the instructor ‘built a swimmer’
out of Douglas. It was time for the instructor to go away then, because he had
finished with his training.
19 Roosevelt said, “All
we have to fear is fear itself.” Do you agree? Why/why not?
Answer:
The quote, “All we have to fear is
fear itself “, by the American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, is absolutely
true. It is only the fear of consequences which prevents us from taking an
action, and hampers our progress, not only as an individual, but also as a
society.
William. Douglas writes, “In death
there is peace. There is terror only in the fear of death.” It is his fear of
drowning which makes him develop an aversion to water, and avoid going near
water bodies, or indulging in water sports. When he is able to overcome his
fear with the help of the instructor, he is able to learn to swim. Likewise,
there are numerous incidents around us that show how fear cripples the mind of
an individual and society, and acts as an impediment to growth.
20 Notice these words
and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.
(i) treacherous
(ii) subdued my pride
(iii) misadventure
(iv) bob to the surface like a cork
(v) flailed at the surface
(vi) curtain of life fell
(vii) fishing for landlocked salmon
(viii) back and forth across the pool
Answer:
(i) treacherous : dangerous.The
Yakima River was treacherous.
(ii) subdued my pride : the author
brought his pride under control or suppressed it.
(iii) misadventure : here means a
mishap, bad luck or a small accident.
(iv) bob to the surface like a cork :
it means that the author moved quickly up and down in the water and came on the
surface of water like a cork.
(v) flailed at the surface : it means
that the author moved his arms and legs around without control at the surface
of water.
(vi) curtain of life fell: it here
means that the author was afraid that his life is coming to an end or he was
approaching his possible death.
(vii) fishing for landlocked salmon :
It means fishing for salmon fish almost or completely surrounded by land.
(viii) back and forth across the pool
.It means moving across the pool from one place to another and back again
repeatedly.
Deep Water Question Answer
Question 1. What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about ?
Answer:
The author William Douglas was
sitting on the side of the pool. As there was no one else there, he was waiting
for others to come so that he could start swimming. Then an eighteen-year-old
well-built boy picked him up and tossed him into the deep end of the pool.
Question 2.
What were the series of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool ? What plans did he make to come to the surface?
Answer:
William Douglas was thrown into the deep waters of the pool by a big boy. He was frightened but not frightened enough to stop thinking. All the time, despite having fear of drowning, he kept himself mentally alert. He planned that when his feet hit the bottom, he would make a big jump, come to the surface, lie flat on it and paddle to the edge of the pool. His strategy helped him save his life.
Question 3.
How did this experience affect him ?
Answer:
This experience of the author about
to face death, made him bold and strong. This experience wiped out fear and
wiped out terror from the author’s mind. He felt that there was no more panic
and it was all quiet and peaceful. He felt that there was nothing to be afraid
of.
Question 4.
Why was Douglas determined to get over the fear of water ?
Answer:
Douglas felt handicapped because he
was afraid of water. That is why he was determined to get over the fear of
water and decided to get an instructor and learn to swim. That was the only way
he could get over the fear of water.
Question 5.
How did the instructor “build a swimmer” out of Douglas ?
Answer:
First of all, the instructor put a belt around Douglas. A rope attached to the belt went through a pulley that ran on overhead cable. The instructor held on to the end of the rope, and they went back and forth hour after hour, day after day, week after week. Then the instructor taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale, and to raise his nose and inhale. Douglas repeated the exercise hundreds of times.
Next, the instructor held Douglas at
the side of the pool and had him kick with his legs. He did just that for weeks
altogether. Finally, Douglas was able to command his legs, which firstly
refused to work. This is how, piece by piece, the instructor built a swimmer
out of Douglas. When the instructor had perfected each piece, he put them
together into an integral whole.
Question 6.
How did. Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror ?
Answer:
To make sure that he has conquered
the old terror of water, Douglas tried to swim alone when nobody was around.
So, he went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire, dived off a dock at Triggs
Island, and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. He swam the
crawl, breast stroke, side stroke, and back stroke. Only once the terror
returned, but he overcame it successfully for ever in his life.
Answer
An absolute, rigid terror
seized Douglas. It was a terror that knew no understanding or control and was
beyond comprehension of anyone who had not experienced it. He was paralysed
under water-stiff and rigid with fear. His screams were frozen. The beating of
his heart and throbbing of mind made him feel that he was still alive.
8. Why did William Douglas develop aversion to the water when
he was three or four years old?
Douglas had developed a
terror of water since childhood. When he was three or four years old, he went
to California with his father. On the beach, the waves knocked him down and
swept over him. The experience bred a permanent fear of water in the child's
subconscious mind. At the age of ten or eleven, when he was trying to learn
swimming in the Y. M. C. A swimming pool in Yakima, a big boy suddenly played a
dangerous prank and pushed him into water. Both these incidents left a deep
impact on William Douglas and created an aversion to water.
Deep Water SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1. When did Douglas decide to learn
swimming? What options were available to him to swim in? Which one did he
choose and why?
Ans. Douglas was ten or eleven years
old when he decided to learn swimming. He could swim in the Yakima River or the
Y.M.C.A. pool at Yakima. The Yakima River was dangerous. Many persons had
drowned in it. So, he chose the Y.M.C.A. pool. It was considered safe.
Q2. Which factors led Douglas to
decide in favour of the Y.M.C.A. pool?
Ans. The Y.M.C.A. pool was safe. It
was only two to three feet deep at the shallow end. It was nine feet deep at
the other. Moreover, the drop was gradual. The Yakima River was treacherous and
had drowned many. So, he decided in favour of the Y.M.C.A. pool.
Q3. “I had an aversion to the water
when I was in it?” says Douglas. When did he start having this aversion and
how?
Ans. The aversion started when
Douglas was three or four years old. His father had taken him to the beach in
California. They were standing together in the surf. He had held his father
tightly, even then the waves knocked him down and swept over him. He was buried
in water. His breath was gone. He was frightened. There was terror in his heart
about the overpowering force of the waves.
Q4. How did Douglas initially feel
when he went to the Y.M.C.A. pool? What made him feel comfortable?
Ans. Unpleasant memories of the past
were revived and childish fears were stirred. In a little while he gathered
confidence. He paddled with his new water wings. He watched the other boys and
tried to imitate them. He did so two or three times on different days. He began
to feel comfortable.
Q5. What two things did Douglas
dislike to do? Which one did he have to do and why?
Ans. Douglas hated to walk naked,
into the pool and show his very thin legs. Secondly, he was fearful about going
in alone. So, he sat on the side of the pool to wait for others. But he had to
go into water as one cannot learn swimming without going into water.
Q6. In what connection does Douglas
mention “a big bruiser of a boy ?”
Ans. Douglas mentions him for his
misadventure in the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool in which he had nearly died. It was
this boxer boy who had picked up Douglas and tossed him into the deep end.
Later on, when Douglas was rescued, the boy said, “I was only fooling.”
Q7. Describe the boy who was
responsible for the author’s misadventure?
Ans. He was a big boy, a bruiser. He
was probably eighteen year old. He had thick hair on his chest. He was a
beautiful specimen. His legs and arms had rippling muscles. He was a fun loving
fellow and enjoyed teasing the younger and weaker boys.
Q8. How did the “misadventure” happen
with Douglas?
Ans. Douglas was sitting alone on the
side of the pool, waiting for others. A big, boxer boy of eighteen came there.
Mocking him as ‘skinny’ he enquired how he would like to be plunged in water.
Saying so, he picked up Douglas and tossed him into the nine feet deep end.
Douglas struck the surface of water, swallowed water and at once went to the
bottom.
Q9. “I was frightened, but not yet
frightened out of my wits,” says Douglas. Which qualities of the speaker are
highlighted here and how?
Ans. Douglas was frightened when he
went down into the pool and was about to be drowned. He had an aversion to
water and now he was filled with terror. He had remarkable self¬control. He
used his mind even in the crisis and thought of a strategy to save himself from
being drowned.
Q10. “On the way down I planned,”
remarks Douglas. What plan had he devised and how far did it succeed?
Ans. While going down to the bottom,
he made a plan to save himself from being drowned. He decided to make a big
jump as his feet hit the bottom. He hoped to move up to the surface of water
like a cork. Then he would lie flat on it, and paddle to the edge of the pool.
The plan was only partly successful. He rose to surface twice. But each time he
swallowed water and went down.
Q11. What did Douglas experience as
he went down to the bottom of the pool for the first time ?
Ans. Going down to the depth of nine
feet was not quick. It seemed a long way down. For him those nine feet were
more like ninety. Before he touched bottom his lungs were ready to burst. He
did not lose his presence of mind. Using all his strength, he made a great jump
upwards.
Q12. How was the result of the ‘great
spring upwards’ that Douglas made on hitting the bottom of the pool for the
first time?
Ans. Douglas rose to the surface very
slowly. When he opened his eyes he saw nothing but water with a dirty yellow
colour. He grew panicky. He tried to grab a rope but his hands clutched only at
water. He was suffocating. He tried to shout, but no sound came out. Then his
eyes and nose came out of the water but not his mouth.
Q13. How did Douglas struggle before
hitting the bottom of the pool for the second time? What was the outcome of his
struggle?
Ans. Douglas moved his arms and legs
around without control. He swallowed water and choked. His legs hung as dead
weights, paralysed and rigid. A great force was pulling him down. He struck at
the water with full force as he went down. He had lost all his breath. His
lungs ached and head throbbed. He was getting dizzy. He went down through dark
water and was filled with fear.
Q14. What sort of terror seized
Douglas as he went down the ‘water with a yellow glow?’ How could he feel he
was still alive?
Ans. An absolute, rigid terror seized
Douglas. It was a terror that knew no understanding or control and was beyond
comprehension of anyone who had not experienced it. He was paralysed under
water-stiff and rigid with fear. His screams were frozen. The beating of his
heart and throbbing of mind made him feel that he was still alive.
Q15. ‘In the midst of the terror came
a touch of reason.’ How did the two forces work in opposite direction and how
did Douglas fare?
Ans. Reason told him to jump when he
hit the bottom as he felt the tiles under him, he jumped with everything he
had. But the jump made no difference. A mass of yellow water held him. Stark
terror took an even deeper hold on him. He shook and trembled with fright. His
arms and legs wouldn’t move. He tried to call for help, but nothing happened.
Q16. crossed to oblivion, and the
curtain of life fell.’ How did Douglas experience the sensation of dying before
he actually crossed to oblivion?
Ans. As Douglas went down the pool
the third time, he swallowed more water. All his efforts to jump up ceased. His
legs felt limp. A blackness swept over his brain and it wiped out fear and
terror. There was no more panic. It was quiet and peaceful. He felt drowsy and
wanted to go to sleep.
Q17. In what state did Douglas find
himself on regaining consciousness?
Ans. He found himself lying on his
stomach near the pool. He was vomiting. The fellow who had thrown him in the
pool was saying that he was only joking. Then someone remarked that the small
boy had nearly died. He hoped that he would be all right then. Then he was
carried to the locker room for change of clothes.
Q18. How did Douglas react to the
frightening experience (i) that day and (ii) later when he came to know the
waters of the Cascades?
Ans. (i) He walked home after several
hours. He was weak and trembling. He shook and cried when he lay on his bed. He
couldn’t eat that night. A haunting fear was there in his heart. The slightest
exertion upset him. His knees became wobbly. He felt sick to his stomach. (ii)
Whenever he waded the Tieton or Bumping River or bathed in Warm Lake of Goat
Rocks, the terror that had seized him in the pool would come back. This terror
would take possession of him completely. His legs would become paralysed. Icy
horror would grab his heart.
Q19. “This handicap stayed with me as
the years rolled by.” How did it affect his pursuits for pleasure?
Ans. The haunting fear of water
followed Douglas everywhere. He rowed in canoes on Maine lakes fishing for
landlocked salmon. He went for bass fishing in New Hampshire, trout fishing on
the Deschutes and Metolius in Oregon, fishing for salmon on the Columbia, at
Bumping Lake in the Cascades. Fear ruined his fishing trips. It deprived him of
the joy of canoeing, boating, and swimming.
Q20. What efforts did Douglas make to
get over his fear of water and why?
Ans. Fear of water was a handicap
Douglas developed during his childhood. It stayed with him as he grew older. It
ruined his pursuits of pleasure such as canoeing, boating, swimming and
fishing. He used every method he knew to overcome this fear. Finally, he
determined to get an instructor and learn swimming.
Q21. What was the first piece of
exercise the Instructor gave Douglas? How long did it take to yield the desired
result?
Ans. The instructor made him go
across the pool an hour a day for five days with the help of a rope attached to
his belt. The rope went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. The
instructor held on to the end of the rope. They went back and forth across the
pool. A bit of panic seized him every time. Moreover, the old terror returned
and his legs froze when the instructor loosened his grip on the rope and
Douglas went under water. It was after three months that the tension began to
decrease.
Q22. Which other exercise did the
Instructor prescribe for Douglas to make him shed the panic caused by water?
Ans. He taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale. Then he was to raise his nose and inhale. He repeated this exercise hundreds of time. Bit by bit he shed part of the panic that seized him when his head went under water.
Q23. Which exercise helped Douglas to
loosen his stiff legs and make them work as he desired?
Ans. The Instructor held Douglas at
the side of the swimming pool. Then he made Douglas kick vfith his legs. He did
just that for weeks. At first his legs refused to work. But gradually they
relaxed. Finally, he was able to command them.
Q24. Why does Douglas say: ‘The
Instructor was finished. But I was not finished?’ How did he overpower tiny
vestiges of the old terror?
Ans. The Instructor’s work was over when he built a swimmer out of Douglas piece by piece and then put them together into an integrated whole. However, Douglas was not satisfied as the remnants of the old terror would return when he swam alone in the pool. He would frown on terror go for another length of the pool.
Q25. Why did Douglas go to Lake
Wentworth in New Hampshire? How did he make his terror flee ?
Ans. Douglas was not sure whether all
the terror had left even after the training from October to April and practice
till July. So, he went to Lake Wentworth and swam two miles. Terror returned
only once when he was in the middle of the lake. He had put his face under and
saw nothing but bottomless water. The old sensation returned in a smaller size.
He laughed and rebuked terror. His terror fled away and he swam on.
Deep Water Understanding the text
Question 1.
How does Douglas make clear to the
reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned ? Describe the
details that have made the description vivid.
Answer:
Once William Douglas went to the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool when no one else was there. He was fearful about swimming in the pool alone. So he sat on the side of the pool to wait for others. He had not been there long when a big boy, probably eighteen-year-old, picked him up and threw him into the deep end of the pool.
He went at once to the bottom. He was frightened, but not yet frightened out of his wits. So, on the way down he planned that when his feet hit the bottom, he would make a big jump, come to the surface, lie flat on it, and paddle to the edge of the pool.
Douglas did this until he could
possibly hit the bottom and try to paddle to the edge. But he went down, down,
endlessly. He was gripped with a sense of panic as he tells us : “And then
sheer, stark terror seized me, terror that knows no understanding, terror that
knows no control, terror that no one can understand who has not experienced
it.” He was shrieking under water. He was paralysed under water — stiff, rigid
with fear. Even the screams in his heart were frozen. Only his heart, and the
pounding in his head, said that he was still alive. This is how Douglas makes
clear to the reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned.
Question 2.
How did Douglas overcome his fear of
water ?
Answer:
William Douglas for a long period remained fearful of water. This handicap deprived him of the joy of canoeing, boating, and swimming. He used every way he knew to overcome his fear of water, but it overpowered him. Finally, one October, he decided to get an instructor and learn to swim.
He went to a pool and practised five days a week, an hour each day. The instructor first put a belt around Douglas. A rope attached to the belt went through a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. The instructor held on to the end of the rope, and they went back and forth. Then the instructor taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale, and to raise his nose and inhale. Then he taught Douglas how to kick in water with his legs. This is how Douglas learnt swimming step by step.
However to ensure that he has conquered his fear of water, Douglas went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire and dived off a dock at Triggs Island. He swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. He swam the crawl, breast stroke, side stroke, and back stroke.
Only once the terror returned to some extent when he was in the middle of the lake. But he overcame it. Yet to clear his doubt, he went up the Tietan to Canrad Meadows, and camped in the high meadov by the side of Warm Lake. The next morning he dived into the lake and swam across to the other shore and back. He shouted with joy as he had conquered his fear of water.
Question 3.
Why does Douglas as an adult recount
a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it ? What larger meaning
does he draw from this experience?
Answer:
As ah adult, Douglas recalls a childhood experience of water terror. He wants to analyse the root cause of this fear, which started when he was three or four years old. Then his father took him to the beach in California. His father and Douglas stood together amidst the waves between the rocks and the shore.
He hung on to his father, yet the waves knocked him down and pushed him suddenly. He was buried in water. His breath was gone. He was frightened. Though his father laughed, but there was strong fear in his heart at the overpowering force of the waves. Thus, from the beginning, however, Douglas had an aversion to the water when he was in it.
The significance of Douglas’s recount
of this childhood experience is that it was the basis on which he made his firm
mind to overcome this fear. He draws a larger meaning from this experience that
there is terror only in the fear of death. All one has to fear is fear itself.
William Douglas had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that
fear of it can produce. He was feeling the will to live somehow grew in
intensity.
Deep Water Talking about the text
Question 1.
“All we have to fear is fear itself.”
Have you ever had a fear that you have now overcome ? Share your experience
with your partner.
Answer:
It is a fact that all we need to fear is fear itself. The only way to conquer fear is to constantly do the things of which we are afraid. We should not stop doing such things until we completely overcome the fear of those things. I too had cricket phobia till last year. It all started when I was in fourth standard. I was playing cricket with my friends in the ground of our colony one Sunday afternoon.
I was batting when the cricket ball
hit me on my head. I fell unconscious on the ground. It was only after a
fortnight that I recovered completely. I stopped playing cricket afterwards. On
the insistence and encouragement of my friends I started playing cricket again
last year. I batted while wearing a helmet. I was afraid while trying to catch
the ball also while fielding. But during my spare time, I played cricket only.
In this way, gradually, I was able to overcome my fear of playing cricket.
Question 2.
Find and narrate other stories about
conquest of fear and what people have said about courage. For example, you can
recall Nelson Mandela’s struggle ‘ for freedom, his perseverance to achieve his
mission, to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor as depicted in his
autobiography. The story We’re Not Afraid To Die, which you have read in Class
XI, is an apt example of how courage and optimism helped a family survive under
the direst stress.
Answer:
The history of human beings is full of stories of courage and conquest of fear. Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela fought courageously and struggled strenously to see, their countries free from British empire and to attain independence.
Nelson Mandela remained in jail for a very long time without having any fear of oppression. Maharani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi fought bravely with the Mughal empire and sacrificed her life, Bhagat Singh, Chandershekhar Azad, Sukhdev and Rajgurh kissed death willingly and happily for the sake of freedom of their nation. All these people and many many more had conquered fear with courage.
Maharana Pratap, another hero of Indian history, waged tireless war against Mughal supermacy. He fought many heroic battles against the Mughal army. All through the changing fortunes of the war Udaipur, Maharana’s seat of government, held its head high and refused to acknowledge supermacy of Akbar.
Udaipur remained unconquered. The
story “We’re Not Afraid To Die” is the story of courage and optimism about the
voyage of the author alongwith his family on their boat. ‘Wavewalker’. They
faced the alarmingly high sea waves that broke over the ship, injured him and
his daughter Sue. But none of them lost courage. His small ^ children also
showed exemplary courage and conviction. Despite extremely odd circumstances,
they were able to save themselves.
Deep Water Thinking about language
Question 1.
If someone else had narrated
Douglas’s experience, how would it have differed from this account ? Write out
a sample paragraph or paragraphs from this text from the point of view of a
third person or observer, to find out which style of narration would you
consider to be more effective ? Why ?
Answer:
Had somebody else narrated Douglas’s
experience, it would have been in indirect form of narration and not in
autobiographical or direct form of narration, used by Douglas. Douglas has
narrated his experience in T form. If somebody else would have narrated about
his experience, he would have mostly used ‘he’ instead of ‘I’.
If one’s experiences about his or her
own life are to be told, I would definitely like to read these in the
autobiographical form. This is because then it will be the first hand account
of the author’s own experiences, which are likely to be more authentic, true
and realistic. Moreover, one can express one’s own feelings more accurately and
sincerely as compared to the feelings and experiences narrated by somebody
else.
Deep Water Extra Questions Short Answer Type
Question 1:
Why did Douglas’ mother recommend that he should learn swimming at the YMCA swimming pool?
Answer:
Douglas mother recommended that he should learn swimming at the YMCA swimming pool because it was safe, being only two or three feet deep at the shallow end with a gradual drop to nine feet at the other end. In contrast, the Yakima river was quite deep and several cases of drowning in it had been reported.
Question 2:
How did Douglas remove his residual doubts about his fear of water? (Deep water)
Answer:
Douglas removed his residual doubts by swimming across Warm Lake to the opposite shore and back. He says, “I shouted with joy, and Gilbert Peak returned the echo. I had conquered my fear of water.”
Question 3:
How did Douglas’ experience at the YMCA pool affect him?
Answer:
Douglas’ experience at the YMCA pool left a haunting fear of water in his heart. He started avoiding venturing near water and this fear remained with him for many years. It prevented him from fishing, boating and swimming, besides ruining his social life.
Question 4:
Which two incidents in Douglas’ early life made him scared Of water?
Answer:
The first incident occurred when he was three or four years old at a beach in California. A strong wave knocked Douglas down and he was buried in water.
The next incident occurred at the YMCA pool when he was ten or eleven. A big bully of a boy tossed him into the deep end of the pool. He went down to the bottom and almost drowned in the pool.
Question 5:
How did the instructor turn Douglas into a Swimmer?
Answer:
The instructor adopted a systematic method to turn Douglas into a swimmer. He first made him shed off his initial fear of water by making him cross a pool suspended by a rope attached to a pulley. Then he taught Douglas to breathe while swimming, and finally the leg movements and other strokes.
Question 6:
What did Douglas feel and do when he was pushed into the swimming pool?
Answer:
When Douglas was thrown into the pool, he Was very much scared but he did not lose his mind. He planned that he would make a big jump when his feet would touch the bottom. Thus, he would come to the surface. Unfortunately, the plan failed. Douglas then grew panicky and started suffocating. He felt that he would die, and became unconscious.
Question 7:
How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
Answer:
After the instructor had trained Douglas in the art of swimming, Douglas swam on Lake Wentworth. Once when the terror returned, he challenged it, and did not let it overcome him. Finally, Douglas swam on the Warm Lake and the fear didn’t return to haunt him ever.
Question 8:
What did Douglas experience when he went down to the bottom of the pool for the first time?
Answer:
As Douglas went down to the bottom of the pool for the first time, he felt the way down the pool to be very long and his lungs were, ready to burst. He summoned all his strength and jumped up, but could not reach the surface and began to sink again.
Question 9:
When Douglas realized that he was sinking, how did he plan to save him self?
Answer:
When Douglas realized that he was sinking, he thought that when his feet would hit the bottom, he would make a big jump, come to the surface and lie flat on it. Then he would easily paddle to the edge of the pool.
Question 10:
What sort of terror seized Douglas as he went down in the water with a yellow glow? How could he feel that he was still alive?
Answer:
When Douglas went down in the water with a yellow glow for the second time, a sheer, stark terror seized him. It was beyond control or understanding. Douglas was paralysed with fear and could not move his limbs. Only his throbbing heart and the pounding in his head made him feel that he was still alive.
Question 11:
What Is the ‘misadventure’ that William Douglas speaks about?
Answer:
William Douglas, speaks about the ‘misadventure’ which happened at the YMCA swimming pool when he was about ten or eleven years old. A big bully threw Douglas into the deep end of the pool when no one was around. As Douglas realized that he was drowning, he made several attempts to save himself, but all in vain. Finally, he felt that he would die and became unconscious. When he gained consciousness, he was lying outside the pool. Apparently, somebody had rescued him.
Question 12:
How did this experience affect him?
Answer:
Douglas regretted being deprived of enjoying
water-based activities and shorts like canoeing, boating, fishing and swimming.
His ardent wish to enjoy such activities and regain his lost confidence while
staying in water were the reasons for his determination to get over his fear of
water.
Question 13:
Why does Douglas, as an adult, recount a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it?
Answer:
The tormenting phobia of water was with him since the incident at the YMCA pool. Douglas as an adult recounted the horrific experience, as it had completely changed his life. He felt that the sensation of dying somehow intensified his zest for life.
The fight against the terror taught him a very important lesson that ‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’ His final shedding off of his fear proves that nothing is impossible for one with a firm will and determination.
Question 14:
How did Douglas get rescued when he was thrown in the pool?
Answer:
The narrator does not mention this. When he regained consciousness, he was vomiting while lying on his stomach beside the pool. Apparently, he had been rescued by someone.
Question 15:
Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Answer:
Douglas regretted being deprived of enjoying water-based activities and shorts like canoeing, boating, fishing and swimming. His ardent wish to enjoy such activities and regain his lost confidence while staying in water were the reasons for his determination to get over his fear of water.
Question 15: How did the instructor "build a swimmer" out of Douglas?
The instructor worked gradually on
Douglas’ psychology, moved on to his physical movements and then integrated
each part to build a swimmer out of him.
Initially, he made Douglas swim back
and forth across the swimming pool so that he could get used to it. He used an
elaborate mechanism with a rope, belt, pulley and an overhead cable to help
them stay connected while Douglas was in the pool. Then, one-by-one, he made
Douglas master the individual techniques of swimming, like putting his head in
the water, exhaling and inhaling while in water, movements of his hands, body,
legs, etc. Finally, he integrated these perfected steps into a whole experience
of swimming for Douglas.
Deep Water Extra Questions Long Answer Type
Question 1:
What happened at the YMCA swimming pool which instilled fear of water in Douglas’ mind?
Answer:
When Douglas was learning swimming at the YMCA pool at the age of ten or eleven, one day while sitting beside the pool waiting for other people to come, a muscular bully picked him up and threw him into the deep end of the pool. As Douglas realized that he may drown, he made three attempts to come up to the water surface, but failed and fell unconscious.
Ultimately he was rescued by someone, but this episode in his life reinforced the fear of water in Douglas’ mind which he had first felt when, at the age of three or four, he had been completely swamped by a huge wave at the seaside in California. His father held on to him at that time to save him from drowning, but at the YMCA pool there was nobody.
Question 2:
How did Douglas’ experience at the YMCA pool affect him? How did he get over this effect?
Answer:
The experience at the YMCA pool reinforced the fear of – water in Douglas’ mind which he had first felt when, at the age of three or four, he had been completely swamped by a huge wave at the seaside in California.The experience at the pool left a haunting fear of water in his heart. He started avoiding water whenever he could, which affected his normal activities as well as his social life.
After a few years of suffering like this, Douglas decided to get an instructor and learn to swim. The instructor systematically taught him how to swim, starting from the basics and taking all the required safety measures, which gave Douglas confidence. After six months of training, Douglas swam across a number of lakes independently, thus breaking free from his fear.
Question 3:
Describe the efforts made by Douglas to overcome his fear of water.
Answer:
After a few years of unsuccessfully trying various methods to overcome his fear of water, Douglas decided to .get an instructor and learn to swim. The instructor systematically taught him how to swim, starting from the basics and taking all the required safety measures, which gave Douglas confidence.
After six months of training, Douglas swam the length of the pool up and down for three months. But he was still not satisfied. So he swam two miles across Lake Went worth in New Hampshire. Then he swam across Warm Lake and back. He shouted with joy, and Gilbert Peak returned the echo. He had conquered his fear of water.
Question 4:
The story ‘Deep Water’ has made you realize that with determination and perseverance one can accomplish the impossible. Write a paragraph in about 120-150 words on how a positive attitude and courage will aid you to achieve success in life.
Answer:
The story ‘Deep Water’ is a story of sheer determination and perseverance. It teaches us how, in spite of all odds, our positive attitude and our courage to fight can help us achieve success in life. The narrator’s phobia of water or water bodies had gripped him for quite a long period of his life.
However, once he decides to overcome his fear, he is able to shed it off completely. He adopts a positive attitude, and determines that he will fight his fear, no matter what. His training is a long and slow process, but he learns everything patiently and never gives up. Douglas’s perseverance and courage teach us that a firm will and determination, coupled with a bold attitude, can help us win over all obstacles, and achieve the impossible.
Question 5:
Answer the following question in 120-150 words.
“I crossed to oblivion, and the curtain of life fell.” What was the incident which nearly killed Douglas and developed in him a strong aversion to water?
Answer:
MCA pool when he was ten or eleven years old. He had decided to learn swimming at the YMCA pool, and thus get rid of his fear The incident that nearly killed Douglas occurred at the Y of water. One morning, when he was alone at the pool, a big bully of a boy tossed him into the deep end of the pool.
Though he had planned a strategy to save himself, his plan did not work. He went down to the bottom and got panicky Thrice he struggled hard to come to the surface but failed each time. He was almost drowned in the pool. This misadventure developed in him a strong aversion to water.
Question 6:
Douglas fully realized the truth of Roosevelt’s statement. All we have to fear is fear itself. How did this realization help him brush aside his fear and become an expert swimmer?
Answer:
Roosevelt said, ”All we have to fear is fear itself’.’ Douglas had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that fear of it can produce. Strong will, hard determination, courage and toil as well as honest labor win over all our terrors and fears. The will to live brushes aside all our fears.
This realization made him resolve to leam swimming by engaging an instructor. This instructor, piece by piece, built Douglas into a swimmer. Then, he went to Lake Wentworth, dived at Triggs Island and swam two miles across the lakes to Stamp Act Island. Finally he had conquered his fear of water.
Question 7:
How did Douglas develop an aversion to water?
‘….there was terror in my heart at the overpowering force of the waves.’When did Douglas start fearing water? Which experience further strengthened its hold on his mind and personality?
Answer:
When Douglas was three or four years old, his father took him to the beach in California. Douglas hung on to his father, yet the waves knocked him down and swept over him. His father was laughing but there developed a terror in Douglas’ heart at the overpowering force of the waves.
The incident which further strengthened its hold on his mind and personality occurred when Douglas decided to learn swimming when he was ten or eleven years old. He went to the YMCA pool. There a big bully tossed him into the deep end of the pool. He went down to the bottom of the pool and panicked because all his efforts to come back up failed. Finally he was rescued by somebody, but he developed an aversion to water.
Question 8:
How did the instructor make Douglas a good swimmer?
Answer:
Douglas decided to get an instructor to learn swimming. The instructor started working with him five days a week, an hour each day. He put a belt around Douglas. A rope was attached to the belt that went through a pulley. The instructor held the rope and pulled Douglas back and forth, across the pool, making him practice.
The instructor taught him to put his face under the water and exhale, and to raise his nose and inhale. Slowly and steadily, Douglas was able to shed his fear of water, which was the greatest obstacle in his desire to swim.
For weeks after this, his instructor made him kick with his legs. Initially his legs were not responding, but with time they relaxed and he was able to command his legs at his will. In this way, piece by piece, his instructor made Douglas a good swimmer.
Question 9:
How did Douglas make sure that he conquered his old terror?
Answer:
At the age of three or four, Douglas was engulfed by waves from the sea, which started his fear of water. Then, when he was ten or eleven years old, Douglas was tossed into a nine feet deep swimming pool by a bully of a boy. He had a near drowning experience which further increased his fear.
Determined to get rid of his fear, Douglas engaged an instructor under whom he practiced five days a week, an hour each day. The instructor tied Douglas with a rope suspended from a pulley to help him overcome his fear. However, every time when the instructor loosened his grip, Douglas’s fear returned.
It took him three months to overcome it. Next, the instructor taught Douglas to exhale under water and inhale by raising his nose. He was made to kick with his legs at the side of the pool to build up stamina.Thus, Douglas spent six months with the instructor i.e., from October to April. Thereafter, he practiced on his own by swimming across various lakes, finally overcoming his fear.
Question 10:
How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned? Describe the details that have made the description vivid.
Answer:
Although panicky, Douglas had his strategy in place to come popping up like a cork and then paddling to the edge of the pool. Unfortunately, his first attempt failed and terror seized him. He tried to grab a rope but his hands clutched only at water. He was suffocating and tried to yell, but no sound came out. His legs were paralyzed, his lungs ached and his head throbbed. He was dizzy and trembled with fright.
The only signs of life in him were his beating heart and pounding head. He attempted to come out of water a third time, but in vain. He sucked for air and got only water. Finally, he stopped making efforts and fell unconscious. All the above details of his gripping, near-drowning experience make us feel that we are experiencing his lurking terror step by step.
Question 11:
Justify the title ‘Deep Water’.
Answer:
This story is appropriately titled ‘Deep Water’. It unfolds with the narrator deciding to learn swimming aft the YMCA swimming pool. He admitted that he had an aversion to water. This began when he was three or four years old and his father took him to a California beach. Here he was knocked down and swept away by the waves.
Yet another incident aggravated his phobia of water bodies. He was tossed by a robust bully into the deeper end of the swimming pool. He nearly drowned and was terribly frightened. An ‘icy horror’ took possession of him and his legs became paralysed.
He began to avoid going near water bodies. Finally, he decided that it was time to act tough. He engaged an instructor who systematically trained him in the art of swimming. Thus, the ‘deep’ aversion and terror he had of water was finally removed.
Question 12:
Explain the statement— ‘The instructor was finished”.
Answer:
The narrator had engaged an instructor who would teach him to swim. He helped Douglas to get rid of the icy horror of water bodies by attaching a rope to a belt worn by him. Holding the end of the rope in his hand, he made Douglas go back and forth in the pool. Next, with the help of breathing techniques and exercises like kicking with his legs, the instructor managed to build a swimmer of him bit by bit, step by step.
The instructor also helped him in building up stamina, thus improving his confidence. The instructor was hired in the month of October. By April, he put all he had taught into an integrated whole. Thus, in a period of about six months, the instructor ‘built a swimmer’ out of Douglas. It was time for the instructor to go away then, because he had finished with his training.
Deep Water Extra Questions Value Based Type
Question 1:
Roosevelt said, “All we have to fear is fear itself.” Do you agree? Why/why not?
Answer:
The quote, “All we have to fear is fear itself “, by the American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, is absolutely true. It is only the fear of consequences which prevents us from taking an action, and hampers our progress, not only as an individual, but also as a society.
William. Douglas writes, “In death there is peace. There is terror only in the fear of death.” It is his fear of drowning which makes him develop an aversion to water, and avoid going near water bodies, or indulging in water sports. When he is able to overcome his fear with the help of the instructor, he is able to learn to swim. Likewise, there are numerous incidents around us that show how fear cripples the mind of an individual and society, and acts as an impediment to growth.
Question 2:
Desire, determination and diligence lead to success. Explain the value of these qualities in the light of Douglas’experience in ‘Deep Water’.
Answer:
The terror of water followed Douglas wherever he went. To get rid of it, he made a strong determination. He decided to overcome his fear through his ‘will.’ He engaged an instructor who perfected him in swimming. The instructor gave him hundreds of exercises and taught him to exhale and inhale in water.
The practice went on for three months and Douglas was able to counter his terror. Then after more exercises, the instructor ordered him to dive. He swam across lakes also to gain confidence. He had now completely lost his fear of water. His desire, determination and diligence had succeeded in banishing his fear of water.
Q1. It is often said that ‘No Pains, No Gains’. One cannot get anything if one does not work hard. Write an article on the ‘topic, mentioned above, in not more than 120 words. You can take ideas from the following lines:
“I went to a pool and practiced five days a week, an hour each day. A rope attached to the belt went through a pulley that fan on an overhead cable. He held on to the end of the rope, and we went back and forth, back and forth across the pool, hour after hour, day after day, week after week.”
No Pains, no Gains
The dictum implies that one can’t attain phenomenal success without making sincere efforts. There is no substitute to hard work. There is no short cut to success. All successful persons have emphasised the importance of hard work in life. Nobody achieved greatness overnight. The secret of their success was hard and systematic work. Destiny never obliges the shirkers. God helps those who help themselves. Rome was not built in a day. Man must comprehend the significance of doing hard labour. One must bum the midnight oil to succeed in this world of intense competition. Never forget that rest is rust and work is worship. A person who toils and work hard gets applause and recognition everywhere. Hard work is the only key to success. Those who work hard flourish and those who are passive rain their earthly existence. They lose their identity. Industrious people reach at their long cherished destinations. They lead their fellow human beings with politeness and humility.
Q2. People say that failures are the stepping stones. They are the best teachers. Discuss the aphorism taking ideas from the following lines:
“I feared water. I avoided it whenever I could. A few years later when I came to know the waters of Cascades, I wanted to get into them. And whenever I did … the terror that had seized me in the pool would come back… I decided to get an instructor and learn to swim. ”
Failures are the Pillars to Success
It is rightly said that failure plays an important role in a man’s life. Failure in one field becomes the cause of exploring success in other fields. It is a sure key to many a riddle. Failures make us familiar with our weaknesses and flaws. They become the stepping stones and inspire us to fight against odd circumstances. Man should learn from his mistakes and strive hard to reach at his destination. Most of the successful peoples failed at any step but could get their target because failures guided them and encouraged them to try harder. One should never give up one’s target. Our duty is to do our ‘karma’. The result is in the hands of the Almighty. It is certain that failure inspires us to work with more strength and vigour. One should never get depressed and dejected. All leaders, fighters, businessmen, bureaucrats firmly say that failures are the pillars to success.
Q3. The story “Deep Water” has made you realize that with determination and perseverance one can accomplish the impossible. Write a paragraph in about 100 words on how a positive attitude and courage will aid you to achieve success in life.
Ans. Will power plays a pivotal in the life of a human being. Determination and persistent hard work are the hallmarks of success. A person who has passionate desire to do something achieves his goals within the stipulated time. There are numerous ways which lead to the desirable goals. Will power of a human being gives him strength, energy, vigour and enthusiasm. It determines the fate of a human being. Absolute determination has the uncanny ability to face and overcome obstacles. No hindrance can defeat the will power. It is invincible and insurmountable. A man who lacks enthusiasm, will power and determination is like a ship which has no helm. It floats on the surface of water according to the wind. There is no problem in this world which has no solution. It has been proved by great personalities that all obstacles can be overcome by sheer determination. Man has the knack to achieve anything. Nothing is impossible in this world of science and technology. He must not be fatalist. He should not believe in destiny, but on karma. Man can accomplish every assignment if he desires. Strong desire is the prerequisite to success. There is no scope for disappointment in the life of a person who has iron will and dogged determination. He puts in tremendous efforts to achieve greatness.
Q4. The significance of training cannot be underestimated. Saint Cyprian said, “The helmsman is recognised in the tempest; the soldier is proven in warfare’. Substantiate the words quoted above in your own words. You may take ideas from the given lines:
“I decided to get an instructor and learn to swim… he taught me to put my face under water and exhale, and to raise my nose and inhale… Bit by bit I shed part of the panic that seized me when my head went under water.”
Ans. Training: An Essential Component of Success
Training sharpens the consumate skills of trainees. Acquiring the profound knowledge of the work we do is of utmost importance. Nobody can refuse to accept and acknowledge the wider and potential significance of training. Soldiers receive training to overcome the greatest obstacles they can face in the battlefield. Doctors are given training so that they
may not become the cause of a patient’s life. Teachers receive training to dispel the darkness of ignorance. Training keeps the trainees abreast of the latest developments in their specific fields. The trainers apprise them of all the fundamental and significant instructions. A fresher who joins any profession without receiving proper training may devastate everything. Experience matters a lot. It teaches us the way things are to be done. It is rightly said that ‘the best way really to train people is with an experienced mentor… and on the job’. The experienced advice of the trainer enlightens the trainees. They are made exceptionally skilled in the basic techniques. The overwhelming importance of training can be neglected at our own peril. This perception of beings would bring them perilously close to disaster.
Q5. FD Roosevelt says in his Inaugural Address in 1933 that ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.’ Write an article on this topic. You may take ideas from the given lines:
“I used every way I knew to overcome
this fear, but it held me firmly in its
grip
Ans. Fear
Fear stifles innovation, erodes creativity and limits the exponential growth. It is said that Those who love to be feared, fear to be loved. Some fear them, but they fear everyone. Montaigne wrote that The thing I fear most is fear’. Fear is the principal source of superstition, and one of the primary sources of cruelly. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. Seneca says that ‘If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living. A person who is afraid of something cannot enjoy life in totality. Fear makes us weak, and cowardly. But it does not mean that one should become arrogant. A person of peevish nature cannot be called a brave fellow. Aijuna said that a warrior’s fear always helps him in understanding and analysing the potential of the opponent. Cervantes wrote in Don Quixote that ‘Fear has many eyes and can see things underground’. Man should not have unnecessary fear. It discourages him to achieve the lofty aspirations. Fear impedes action and it is a well known fact that those who do not act lose the battle of life. One has to face the challenges of life. They can never be ignored and neglected. They help us in honing our skills and tapping our untapped potential. Hence, one must shed fear.
Deep Water Writing
Question 1.
Doing well in any activity, for
example a sport, music, dance or painting, riding a motorcycle or a car,
involves a great deal of struggle. Most of us are very nervous to begin with
until gradually we overcome our fears and perform well. Write an essay of about
five paragraphs recounting such an experience. Try to recollect minute details
of what caused the fear, your feelings, the encouragement you got from others
or the criticism.You could begin with the last sentence of the essay you have
just read—“At last I felt released—free to walk the trails and climb the peaks
and to brush aside fear.”
Answer:
“At last I felt released free to walk
the trails and climb into peaks and to brush aside fear.” Of course, it turned
out to be a terrible experience in the beginning, but in the end it was a
thrilling joyous experience. Learning to drive a car was such an experience for
me. On my persistent requests, my uncle agreed to help me learn how to drive a car.
One day, we went to outskirts of the city where there was very less traffic.
First of all, my uncle told me about
the major components of the car like clutch, brake and steering wheel etc. Then
he told me how to start a car. Everytime I tried to start the car, I failed. As
soon as I would start it, it would i nnatically stop. After an hour of practice
when still I was not able to start, my uncle encraged me by saying that in the
beginning it takes time to learn.
Next day, I managed to start the car
as I was determined to learn driving it. My practice was going on in an
encouraging manner and under the assistance of my uncle, I had a full round of
the circular road. Now every day I would accompany my uncle or rather eagerly
awaited for him so that I would continue with my practice. On that day, I saw a
truck at some distance. I got confused and instead of applying brakes, I
pressed the cluch. It would have surely been a fatal accident had my uncle not
promptly pressed the brake with full force. The truck driver also did the same.
And luckily we had a narrow escape.
But this mishappening had a terrible
effect on my mind. I was extremely fond of learning how to drive a car. But now
I shuddered even while sitting in a car. My uncle tried his best to convince me
that it happened because I got confused. He persuaded me to continue my driving
lessons and practical. But somehow I could not muster enough courage to do so.
I was absolutely scared of learning to drive a car.
Then after about six months, one of
my fast friends and his father encouraged me to restart learning to drive a
car. He advised me to join some good driving school. With reluctance, I agreed
to join a driving school. The instructor of the driving school, who was guiding
me, proved too good. Step by step, he guided me brilliantly. He put much more
emphasis on practice than on theory.
He taught me that the skillful jobs
like driving could only be learn while driving to the maximum extent. He taught
me that one could learn driving while practising to the maximum extent without
any fear but while taking all the precautions. In this way I was able to
overcome my fear of driving a car. Now I feel immense joy when my driving skill
is appreciated.
Question 2.
Write a short letter to someone you
know about your having learnt to do something new.
Answer:
52, J.N. Colony
New Delhi-110 054.
August 25, 20xx My dear Ramesh,
Perhaps it will be a surprise to you
to know that I have learnt something new, that is, playing the game of chess.
But you will be more surprised to know that I am now champion of chess in my
state. When you come to know about it and especially if you happen to know
about it while watching T.V., I would like to explain you that it is my recent
passion.
Ramesh! I break the news to you first
of all! Your friend who never played chess till you know him, is now a state
champion! For that, my dear friend, you should rejoice because I started
playing chess when you went to Udaipur after the transfer of your father. It is
not only a new thing to know for you, but it is also a new achievement for me,
because whatever I did, the credit for it goes to you.
Yours sincerely,
Piyush Malhotra.
Deep Water Things to do
Are there any water sports in India ?
Find out about the areas or places which are known for water sports.
Answer:
For self-attempt. You may find about the water sports in various states like Haryana’s wet and wild and in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and many others. You may seek the help of your teacher in this respect.
