Understanding the text

Q1. List the steps taken by the captain

(i) to protect the ship when rough weather began.
Answer: To protect the ship, the captain dropped the storm jib to slow it down. He then lashed a heavy mooring rope across the stern in a loop, double-lashed everything else, and attached lifelines. They also donned oilskins and life jackets.

(ii) to check the flooding of the water in the ship.
Answer: To check the flooding, the captain first stretched canvas and secured waterproof hatch covers across the gaping holes on the starboard side. When the hand pumps got blocked and the electric pump short-circuited, he remembered and found the spare electric pump under the chartroom floor. He connected it and thankfully found that it worked.

Q2. Describe the mental condition of the voyagers on 4 and 5 January.
Answer: On January 4, after 36 hours of continuous pumping, they were physically exhausted but felt a brief moment of hope as the water level was under control and they shared their first meal in days. However, by January 5, their situation became desperate again as the storm returned. The adults felt the end was near, but the children showed incredible courage and optimism, which inspired the adults to keep fighting.

Q3. 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 narration shifts from a hopeful beginning to a desperate fight for survival, and finally to a miraculous rescue.

Section 1: The Voyage Begins: This section describes the peaceful start of the journey, the anticipation of the adventure, and the initial encounter with gales.

Section 2: The Battle for Survival: This is the most dramatic part, detailing the massive wave, the damage to the boat, and the relentless struggle to stay alive.

Section 3: The Triumph of Hope: This final section focuses on the mental fortitude of the family, especially the children, and the joy of finding the island and being rescued.

Talking about the text

Q1. What difference did you notice between the reaction of the adults and the children when faced with danger?
Answer: The adults, especially the captain, were focused on practical solutions, filled with worry and a sense of impending doom. The children, on the other hand, were incredibly optimistic and brave. They were not afraid of dying as long as they were all together, and their simple courage uplifted the adults.

Q2. How does the story suggest that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”?
Answer: The children’s optimism is the core of their survival. Jonathan’s simple statement, “we aren’t afraid of dying if we can all be together,” and Sue’s quiet endurance of her injuries, show that hope and togetherness are powerful tools against stress and fear. Their attitude gave the captain the strength to continue fighting.

Q3. What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face-to-face with death?
Answer: We learn that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act in spite of it. We also learn the importance of teamwork, family, and the power of the human spirit to endure incredible hardship. And of course, that a positive mindset can get you through almost anything.

Q4. Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?
Answer: People undertake these adventures for the thrill, for the challenge, and to prove their strength and endurance. They are driven by a sense of exploration and a desire to experience the world in a way few others do. The risks are part of the challenge!

Thinking about language

Q1. 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, for example, we have words like ‘toofan’, ‘andhi’, ‘bavandar’, and ‘jhanjhavat’.

Q2. Here are the terms for different kinds of vessels: yacht, boat, canoe, ship, steamer, schooner. Think of similar terms in your language.
Answer: In Hindi, you could say ‘naav’, ‘jahaaz’, ‘nauka’, or ‘donga’ (a type of boat).

Q3. ‘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’ comes from the Tamil word “kattumaram,” which means “tied logs.”

Q4. Have you heard any boatman’s songs? What kind of emotions do these songs usually express?
Answer: Boatman’s songs are often rhythmic to match the rowing, and they can express a range of emotions. They can be about the beauty of the river, the hard work of their life, or sometimes even about love and longing.

Working with words

Q1. 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?
Answer:
knot: A unit of speed for ships, but it’s also a tangled loop in a string or rope.
stern: The rear part of a ship, but it also means serious and strict.
boom: A long pole used to extend a sail, but it also means a sudden period of rapid growth or success.
hatch: An opening in a ship’s deck, but it also means to come out of an egg.
anchor: A heavy object used to moor a ship, but it’s also a person or thing that provides stability or security.

Q2. The following three compound words end in -ship. What does each of them mean?
Answer:
airship: A lighter-than-air aircraft that is self-propelled.
flagship: The ship that carries the commander of a fleet, but it also means the most important one of a group of things.
lightship: A ship with a beacon light, anchored at a specific point to serve as a lighthouse.

Q3. The following are the meanings listed in the dictionary against the phrase ‘take on’. In which meaning is it used in the third paragraph of the account:
Answer: The meaning used is “to decide to do sth; to allow sth/sb to enter e.g. a bus, plane or ship; to take sth/sb on board.” In the text, the captain “took on” two crewmen to help them with the journey.

Things to do

Q1. Given on the next page is a picture of a yacht. Label the parts of the yacht using the terms given in the box.
Answer:

Q2. Here is some information downloaded from the Internet on Ile Amsterdam. You can view images of the isle if you go online.

Q3. Locate Ile Amsterdam on the world map.
Answer: Ile Amsterdam is a very remote island in the southern Indian Ocean. You can find it between Australia and South Africa on a world map. It is located at 37° 92′ S, 77° 67′ E.