Updated on 22/12/2021
2. We’re not afraid to die
… If We Can All Be Together (Gordon Cook and Alan East)
Main Points of the
Chapter
·
In this story narrator
who is a businessman decided to round the world voyage.
·
He took same route which
was taken by Captain James Cook 200 years ago.
·
For it he made a boat
which name was ‘Wavewalker’.
·
It was 23 meter and 30
ton beautiful wooden boat.
·
He started his journey
in July 1976, his wife Mary, his 7 year daughter Sue and 6 year son Jon were
also with him.
·
The writer hoped to
complete his journey in 3 years which was 255,000k.m.
·
The first of their
journey had passed pleasantly up to Cape Town which was 105,000k.m.
·
Here the writer took 2
sailors named Larry Vigil (American) and Herb Seigler (Swiss) with him.
·
The second phase of the
journey was 150,000k.m, which was to be completed on reaching Australia.
·
On 25th the
writer’s Wavewalker was in southern Indian Ocean, 3500k.m. to Cape Town.
·
They celebrated first
day of the New Year (1977) in the ship.
·
But on 2nd January
the weather suddenly became very terrible. The waves were very big.
·
The ship was caught in
the stormy sea for three days.
·
The ship was badly
damaged. The ship could go down into the sea any time.
·
But they showed courage,
and survived the storm.
·
Jon said, ‘Daddy, we are
not afraid to die.., if we call all be together.
·
On evening of 6th January,
they reached on a tiny island Amsterdam.
·
It was 65k.m. wide and
there lived on 28 people. They welcomed the writer and his group.
Very Short Type Q-Ans.
*1. What was narrator?*
Ans. A businessman
*2. Who made the voyage
200 years ago?*
Ans. Captain James Cook
*3. What was the name of
the ship?*
Ans. Wavewalker
*4. What were the names
of the narrator’s children?*
Ans. Jonathan and Sue
*5. What was his wife
name?*
Ans. Mary
*6. How long was the
first phase of their journey?*
Ans. 105,000km
*7. The total journey
was -*
Ans. 255,000km
*8. Who were other two
persons with them?*
Ans. Crewmen named Larry Vigil and Herb Seigler
*9. What happened to the
electric pump?*
Ans. It was short circuited
*10. Who said ‘We aren’t
afraid to die.. if we can all be together?*
Ans. The narrator’s son Joe
*11. What was the name
of the island where they landed?*
Ans. Amsterdam
*12. How many
inhabitants were there on the island?*
Ans. 28
Short Type Question
*1. What was the purpose of the writer’s
voyage?*
Ans. The narrator's
purpose of making the voyage in 1976 was to duplicate the round-the-world
voyage, just like Captain James Cook did around 200 years ago. He designed a
boat for this purpose, its name was ‘wavewalker.
*2. Who is the narrator of the story? What did
they decide to do?*
Ans. We are not Afraid
to Die Written by Gordan Cook and Alan East, the story is about a 37 year old
businessman who is the narrator of the story. He has a wife named Mary and two
children, Jonathan, aged 6 and Suzanne, aged 7. The narrator planned to
go on a round-the-world sea voyage on the same pattern as Captain James Cook
had done 200 years earlier.
*3. What preparations did they make for their
voyage?*
Ans. For the voyage,
they made a boat named ‘wavewalker’. It was 23 meter long and its weight was 30
ton. They tested it several times in the harsh conditions to make sure for its
journey. Also, the narrator and his wife prepared themselves mentally and
physically so that they can undergo such a voyage.
*4. What happy news did the narrator’s son give
him? How they were saved?*
Ans. Jon declared that
they were “not afraid of dying if they could all die together.” The children
were really excited when they sighted the island in Amsterdam. Now the narrator
was not an ordinary father but “the best daddy in the whole world—and the best
captain.”
*5. Why did they take on two crewmen with them
at Cape Town?*
Ans. Before heading East
from Cape Town, they took two crewmen who were experienced seamen. They were
Larry Vigil, an American and Herb Seigler, a Swiss. The narrator took this step
because he knew that they would require help to tackle one of the world’s
roughest seas – the southern Indian Ocean.
*6. How was the weather on the morning of 2nd
January?*
Ans. On New Year’s Day,
the weather saw no improvement and was bad. On 2nd January, it got even worse.
The waves were gigantic. They were sailing with only a small storm jib but
still were going pretty fast. As the ship rose to the top of each wave they could
see the endless, enormous sea rolling towards them. The wind seemed to be
howling.
*2. We’re not
afraid to die … If We Can All Be Together (Gordon Cook and Alan East)*
Long Answer -Question
*1. Justify the title of
the story: “We’re Not Afraid to Die…”*
Ans. “We’re Not Afraid to Die…if We Can All Be Together” is the story of
courage that was shown by the narrator, his crewmen, his wife and children.
Everybody confronted the disaster with patience, courage and determination.
Even the children showed courage. They did not give up hope even till the last
moment. The narrator made all possible attempts to save their lives. Like his
father, Jon reacted very bravely that they were not afraid to die, but it would
be better if they died together. When the big wave hit the boat, it was
severely damaged and the narrator was badly injured. However, he did not pay
attention to it and held on to the wheel. Both Larry and Herb kept pumping out
water and did not stop. Jonathan called the narrator the best daddy and the
best captain in the world because they had reached the island lie Amsterdam.
Hence, the title is logically justified.
2. What preparations did the writer and his wife make for their round-the world voyage?
Ans. We are not Afraid to Die Written by Gordan Cook and Alan East, the story is about a 37 year old businessman who is the narrator of the story. He has a wife named Mary and two children, Jonathan, aged 6 and Suzanne, aged 7. The narrator planned to go on a round-the-world sea voyage on the same pattern as Captain James Cook had done 200 years earlier.