Deep Water Class 12

Chapter 3 Deep Water Exerose Answers & Sumary

Esercise : Solutions of Questions on Pare Number: 23

Q1:
Notice these words and expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the
context.

Answer:

treacherous unpredictatle danger; nct dependatle or trustworthy

subdued my pride-to- lower or restrain the intensity of self-respect and contidence
fnailod ot the surface to strike or lash cul vigorousty at the surface of the water in trying ta

e
hehino for landocked salmon -ta go fishing for a specic vaniety cfsalmon available in
g

certain lakes
misadventure -an incident thal urns cut to be a disaster
bob to the surtace like a cork to flost cr show the charactensbcs of buoyancy as 8 cotk in
water
curtain of life fell - to indicate that- ife has ended cr a near-death expenence
back and forth across the pool to swim acrcss the swimming pocl from cne side to the
cther

Think as you read: Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 27

Q1:
What is the "misadvonturo" that William Douglas spoaks about?

:
Answer
Douglas relers ta the incident at the Y.M CA. Swmming pool where he almost drowned
as a "misadventure The autthcr was about ten or eleven years okd the e a had
barely begun to leam swimming, primanty by aping others. As he was thrown suddenly
into the waler by somecne and he couldn't swim, he started drowning The struggle to
come to surface and to avoid getting drowned left him with a deep fear of water which
deprived him from enjoying water-related activities for many years
Q2:
What wore tho serles of emotions and fears that Douglas oxperienced when he
was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to coma to the surface?

Answer:
The sudden realization of being thrown inlo the pcol did not make hirm lose his wits
immediately. Although frightened. he thought of a trick to core up to the surface but
couldn't execute it successtuly. He panicked and felt suffccated by the water. His
sense-perceptions gave way his heart pounded loudly. his lirbs became paralyzed
with fear, his mind became dizzy and his lungs ached as he gulped water while making
desperate allerpis 1o come oul of the water. Finally, he lost all his strength and
willingness to keep struggling and blacked out.
Douglas planned 1o allow himself to go down ill his feet hit the bottorm so that could
make a big jump to come back to the surface lke a cork, Then, he woukd lie flat on the
surface of waler and paddle to the edge of the pool.

Q3:
How dld this experlence affoct hlm?

Answer :
The near death experrence cf drowning had a very strong impad on his psychalogy He
was deeply perturbed and shaken by Ihe whole experlence. A haunting tear of water
look control of his physical strength and emotional balance for many years As he
couldn't bear being surrounded by water, he was deprived of enjaying any waler-related
activity.

lInderstanding the texithink s you rezd: Solutions of Ouesticns on Page Number; 29

How does Douglas mako clear to the reader the sense of panic1that gripped him
drowned? Describe the detalls that have ma scription vivid.

Answer:
Douglas 1akes us througth his near death experience at the Y.M C.A pool by detailing
every itle aspectassociated 1

details rinutes cf his emotional, mental a

physical struggle with the paralyzing fear of being drowned in the water. The first person
narration of the incident also helps us 1o associate with his experience more deeply.
Though he did not lose his wils initially, he panicked when his strategy didn't work. His
feeling of suffacation, fear and losing hold on sense perceptions make the readers
experience what he does His eyes couldn't see beyond the dirty yellow water, His voice
did not assist him. His nose and mouth could only manage to take water to the
lungs. His limbs be came paralyzed with fear and his mind dizzy His desperation to
save himsetf kept him struggling until he went down the third time and blacked out All
these details make the descriplion vivid.

Q2:
Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?

Answer:
Douglas regretted being deprived of enjoying water activities like canoeing, boating,.
swimming, fishing. etc. The wish to enjoy them and the craving to regain his lost
confidence, while being in water, made him try every possible way to gel rid of his fear.
He was finally able to overcome this mental handicap by getting himself a swimming
instructor and further ensuring that no residual fear was left.

Q3:
How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Answer:
AL first, he tried to overcome his fear of water on his own. But when this failed, he qot
an instructor for himself who worked on Douglas' fear very methodicaly. With his help,
Douglas began by learning to be at ease in water. After this. he practiced exhaling
inhaling in water to eliminate the fear of putting hs head inside the water. Then., he
moved on to master individual steps of swimming which were, finally, integrated into a
camplete experience of swimming, by his instructor. After about six months, Douglas
could not only swim well but was, also, free of his fear to a great extent.
At this stage, Doug!las' journey of truly overcoming his fear to its tiniest vestiges began.
every possible
He swam alone in the pool. He went to Lake Wentworth to dive. He trier
d

comnlot
stroke he
t.
Finally. in his diving expedition, in the Warm Lake, he cong red his
ear
fea

Q4:
How did the Instructor "bulld a swimmor out of Douglas?

Answer:
on io his physical
The instrudor worked gradually on Douglas psychology, moved
movements and then inlegrated each part to build a swimmer out of him
so that he
Initially, he made Douglas swim back and forlh across 1he swimming pool
an mechanism with a rape, belt, pulley and an
could get used to
it
He used elabcrate
one
overhead cabe to help Ihem stay conneded while Douglas was in the pool. Then,
master Ihe individual techniques of swimming like putling his
by-one, he made Douglas
of his hands, body,
head inthe water, exhaling and inhaling while in waler, mavements
a whole expenence of
legs. etc. Flnally, he integrated these perfected steps into

swimming far Douglas.

Q5:
Why does Douglas as an adult recount childhood experlence of terrOr and
a hs
conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from hls oxperienco?

Answer:
to enable the readers
Douglas recounts his childhood experience at the Y.M.CA pool
to understand the exact nature ana ntensiy o he fear af belng surrounded
efaarthe fe: t choking and the fear of
ty the waler, the fear of putting his head in the water,
his limbs going numb couldn'l have been explalned
1o eader unacquainted with
case, the ay adopted by
sirategy
Douglas' childhood experience In that elaborale the
instructor) and the time-taken by him to learn cr mas reven simple
author (and his
couldn'1 have been underslood
things, though put in the perspective of his fear waler,
of

praperty.
By qucting Roosevelt. "All we have ta fear is fear ilset, Douglas
indicales the larger
he draws from his experience. For him, the importance of life became
meaning that
redning9when he encountered death or rather ils proximity threatening his ife

Q6:
How did Douglas make suro that he conguered tho old torror?

Answer:
Even after the swimming training
was over, Douglas wasn1 confident about his
rid of
swimming or that he had overcome the fear. He was detemined to completely gel
He went to Lake Wentworth to dive There, he
it
forever. He swam alone in the pool
iried every possible strcke
he eamt. He foughi back the liny vestiges af 1error that
 gripped him in middle of the lake. Finally, in his diving expedition in the Warm Lake, he
realised that he had truty conquered his old terror.

Thinking about languagetalking about the textthing: Solutions of Questions on Page

Number:30
Q1:
If someone else had narrated Douglas' 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:
Ifa third person had narrated Douglas experience, the impact of the story wauld have
lost the reader's deep connection with the main protagonist and his fear of water. The
narratcr then would be passively telling the stary from the perspective of an observer.
The inident of drowning in water could never have successfully communlcated the
feeling of the"stark terror that Douglas underwent.
In third person narrative, the 8- and 9 paragraph of the story would be as follows:

"He flailed at the surface of the water, swalloed and chcked. He tried to bring his legs
up but they hung as dead weights, paralyzed and rigid A great force was pulling him
under. He screamed. but only the water heard him. He had started on the long journey
back to the bottom of the pool
"He struck at the water as he went down; expending his strength as one in a nightmare,
fights an irresistible force. He had lost all his breath. His lungs ached. His head
throbbed He was getting dizzy. But he remembered the strategy - he would spring from
the bottom of the pool and come like a cork to the surface. He would lie flat on the
water, strike cut with his arms, and thrash with his legs. Then he wculd get to the edge
of the pool and be safe."

So, it is only the first person narrative that keeps the reader gripped to the story. It
makes the experience mcre relevant and tangible for the reader. Itengages him by
making him go through the experience along with the protagonist. The desperation and
helplessness of being in water, which has almost become fatal, the mental and physical
agony of trying to survive the crisis, the long struggle of overcoming the fear bit-by-bit
and the jubilation of conquering it at the end, all make the reader feel part of the
experience. The first person narrative makes the story a fast-paced and urgent reading
for the readers. Al this would have been lost had it been a third person narrative or from
the point of view of an cbserver.
 Q2:
"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:
Directions: Everyone has some or other fear that has been overcome. Think about one
such experience from your life. It may be anything associated to activities that you now
engage in with ease but were scared earlier., Driving. skating. public-speaking.
participating in a ccmpetition or overcoming stage fear are some examples.
After you have found one such example from your life, recollect the reason it bothered
or frightened you. Recollect the efforts you and/or other people put in to help ycu get rid
of it Discuss the detailed experience with your partner in the dass. Aso, discuss your
feelings when you realised that you have overcome the fear entirely
(Guidelinestdirections have been provided for students' reference. It is strongly
recommended tha! students prepare the answer on their own.)

03
Are there any water sports in India? Find out about tho areas or places which are
known for water sports.

Answer:

WATER SPORT PLACES

River Rafting Zanskar river in Ladakh, Rishikesh, River Teesta

Water Sking Asan Barrage, Goa, Dal & Nagin Lake, Manasbal Lake, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands and Lakshadweep.
Canocing and Kay Mumbai, Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, Wular Lake, Rishikesh, Teesta River, Gog
aking
Scuba Diving |Lakshadweep Islands, Andaman Islands, Dugong Reef, Havelock Island, Goa
|Snorkelling Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
|Anglng and Fishi Tirthan Valley, Beas Ghat (Uttaranchal), Ranikor- Meghalaya, Mahakali (Uttar
ng anchal ), Jia Bhoroli (Assam)
(The ist is only indicative. it is strongy recommended that students prepare the answer
on their own.J

O4:
Dolng well in any actlvity, for example a sport, music, danco or painting, rlding a
motarcyclo or a car, involvos a great deal ot struggie. Most of us aro very nervous
to begin with until gradually we overcome our fears and perfom woll.
Writo an essay of about five paragraphs recounting such an experlenco. Try to
recollect minute details of what causod tho foar, your foollngs, the
encouragement you got trom others or the crlticism.
You could begln with the last sontence af the essay you havo Just road. "At lastl
felt roloased free to walk the trails and climb tho poaks and to brush aside foar.
-

Answe:
Directlons: You may falow the given steps for the essay.
Paragraph 1: Begin with "Al last felt released- free 1o walk ihe trails and climb the
I

peaks and brush aside fear. Fear, wen conquered, becomes victcry. And vlctory.
a
to
a
emerging from the bittemess of failures and hardships of enduring them for long a
perlod of tirne, has its own meanlng and cham When
I

lçok back, it appears to be

in ts destination."
long and arduaus journey that has now successtully culminaled
cause for your
Paragraph 2: Talk about lhe beginning of the incident that was the root
to pen you saw. whal you fell and whal you thought Reccled
fear. Try down what ed
write the details of Ihe surOunding environment, people and things
in terms
Paragraph 3: Here, you can continue talking abaul how the incident progressed
of the subsequenl events cr happenings. Detail the exact proceedings in the logical
order cf their happening. You may tak about what ycu think wet wcng and hcw the
ont could have ended d.fferenlly.
incident
a handrcap or how it
Paragraçh 4: In this paragraph, yoU may wite how the fear proved yotu decided that you will
affected other activities of yqur life. And then wrile about when
may have considered
get nd of it. Talk about your plans. slrategies and things that you
to ensure that you sUCceed in your atermpt

Paragraph 5: In the l3st paragraph, you

t can detail all you efforis (and that gf others)
an patgo
and end with analysis of why you
3
won over your fear.
It is strongly
(Guideline slire ctions have been provided for students' relerence.
recommended thal students prepare the answer on their own.)

5: have sald
Find and narrato olher stories about conguost of fear and what peoplo
about courage. For example, you can recall Nelson Mandela's strugg'e
for
persevorance to achievo hls misslon, to liberate the opprossed and
freodom, his Not Afraid to
tho oppessor as dopicted in his autobiography. Tho stary Wo'recourage
Dle, whlch you have road In Class
DX, Is an apt example of how and
a
optimlsm holped family survive undor tho direst stross.
 Answer:
Hrithik Roshan - one of the highest paid and greaty admired actor sutfered from
stammering - used to bunk schocl during oral exams - was skiny - couldn't dance well
decided to-establish well in his career and get rid of negatives 1ock speech therapy
every day worked as assistant director -training at the gym far hours - practiced
dancing after years of patience and perseverance, he is now one of the most admired
actor and dancer
(Pointers have been provided for students' reference. t is strongy recommended that
students prepare the answer on ther own,)

Q6:
Wrile a short letter to someono you know about your having learnt to do
something new.

Answer:
Examination Hall
New Delhi
July 1, 20xx
Dear Garima,
Ihope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I've something interesting to share
this time. have learrt skating. this summer. Being able to skale is a wonderful feeling
I

and it fills me with loads ct canfidence. There is an odd sense of power in knawing that
every technique and skilt required to master has been learnt. With a tittle more pracice,
I would feel my spirts tying high

Initially, was very scared of even wearing my skates. But all 1Ihe bruises, injuries,
I

frustratiorns and pessimistic ideas that gripped me during scme of the initial training
sessions ngw seem nolhing in tront of what teel, It gives me immense satistadion to
I

see myself almost lying in the ait. Skating also helps me stay fi1 Even my parents are
happy to see me investing my ime constructively.
Do lel me knowabout your habby dasses. Convey my kind regards to unde and aunt.
Yours aftectionately.
Nishtha
(A model answer has been provided for students' reference. It is strongly recommended
that students prepare the answer on their own)