NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 2 We’re Not Afraid to Die

1. List the steps taken by the captain:

(i) To protect the ship when rough weather began:

He decided to slow down the ship.
He dropped the storm jib (a small sail).
He lashed a heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stern (to anchor the ship).
They went through their “life-raft drill,” attached lifelines, and donned oilskins and life jackets.

(ii) To check the flooding of the water in the ship:

The captain stretched canvas and secured waterproof hatch covers across the gaping holes to stop water from entering freely.
When the hand pumps blocked with debris and the electric pump short-circuited, he found a spare electric pump and connected it to an out-pipe to drain the water.

2. Describe the mental condition of the voyagers on 4 and 5 January.

On January 4: There was a sense of relief and hope. After 36 hours of continuous pumping, they had managed to pump out most of the water. They ate their first meal (corned beef and cracker biscuits) in two days.

On January 5: The situation deteriorated again as the weather worsened. The mental condition turned to desperation and fear. The captain felt the “end was very near,” but the children showed immense courage, saying they weren’t afraid to die if they could all be together.

3. Describe the shifts in the narration of the events. Give a subtitle to each section.

The text can be divided into three distinct sections based on the tone and events:

Section 1 (The Preparation): “The Calm Before the Storm.” This section describes the cheerful preparations, the departure from Plymouth, and the initial pleasant journey.
Section 2 (The Struggle): “The Battle for Survival.” This describes the massive explosion, the damage to the ship, the desperate pumping of water, and the physical injuries. It is intense and chaotic.
Section 3 (The Victory): “The Triumph of Spirit.” This describes the calming of the sea, the sighting of Ile Amsterdam, and the ultimate relief and pride of the narrator in his family.

1. What difference did you notice between the reaction of the adults and the children when faced with danger?

Adults: They were stressed, anxious, and physically active. They focused on practical solutions—pumping water, steering, and calculating positions. They understood the gravity of death.
Children: They were innocent, trusting, and incredibly brave. Despite injuries (Sue’s swollen head) and fear, they did not complain. Jon’s statement (“We aren’t afraid to die…”) gave the adults the emotional strength to keep fighting.

2. How does the story suggest that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”?

The story is a testament to the power of optimism.

The narrator was almost defeated when the ship was flooding, but the children’s optimism revived his fighting spirit.
Sue made a funny card to make her parents laugh in the middle of the crisis.
This positive attitude kept their minds clear enough to find the tiny island in a vast ocean. Without this optimism, they might have given up physically.

4. Why do people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?

People undertake such risks because:

Human Spirit: There is an innate desire in humans to explore the unknown and push the limits of endurance.
Achievement: The satisfaction of conquering nature and achieving a difficult goal (like duplicating Captain Cook’s voyage) provides immense personal fulfillment.
Adrenaline: The thrill of adventure and the break from a mundane life.

Vocabulary and Origins

1. Words for Storm: Typhoon, Cyclone, Hurricane, Tornado, Gale, Tempest.

2. Terms for Vessels: Yacht, boat, canoe, ship, steamer, schooner.
(In Hindi: Naav, Jahaz, Kishti, Steamer).

3. Origin of ‘Catamaran’:
The word is derived from the Tamil word ‘Kattu-maram’ (which means “logs bound together”).

1. Double meanings of ship terminology

Word	Nautical Meaning	Common Meaning
Knot	Unit of speed at sea.	A fastening made by tying string/rope; a tangle.
Stern	The back part of a ship.	Serious and strict (e.g., a stern teacher).
Boom	A pole controlling the sail.	A loud deep sound; a period of economic prosperity.
Hatch	An opening in the deck.	To emerge from an egg; to plot a plan.
Anchor	Heavy metal object to hold ship.	A host on TV; a person who provides stability.

2. Compound words ending in -ship

Airship: A power-driven aircraft kept buoyant by a body of gas (like a Zeppelin/Blimp).
Flagship: The ship in a fleet which carries the commanding admiral; the best or most important product of a company.
Lightship: A ship anchored in a specific place displaying a bright light to guide other ships (like a floating lighthouse).

3. Meaning of ‘Take On’

In the third paragraph (“we took on two crewmen”), the phrase is used in the sense:
“To employ sb; to engage sb”.

1. Label the parts of the yacht

[Image of yacht parts diagram labeling] Based on the diagram often provided in the text:

Mast: The tall vertical pole.
Mainsail: The large sail behind the mast.
Boom: The horizontal pole at the bottom of the mainsail.
Cockpit: The area where the wheel/steering is located.
Stern: The back end of the boat.
Rudder: The flat piece under the stern used for steering.
Bow: The front end of the boat.
Cabin: The enclosed room inside the boat.

We’re Not Afraid to Die…