We are not afraid to die Class 11 English, For Class 11 English, Chapter 2, titled “We’re Not Afraid to Die… if We Can All Be Together,” you can find the question and answer sections for each chapter in the list provided. This allows you to easily browse through the different chapters. Class 11 English Hornbill Question Answer, HS 1st year English Notes prepared by kjv teachers.
We are Not Afraid to die Class 11 English
HS 1st Year English Ch 2 Question Answers are given in this post. You’ll gain a solid understanding of the subject using the detailed solutions available here. The Class 11 English Snapshots Solutions are also available in an easy-to-read page format. Use these resources during your study sessions to help you score well in your exams. These notes are checked by K.J.V Teachers.
Question 1: List the steps taken by the captain:
1)to protect the ship when rough weather began
2)to check the flooding of the water in the ship
Answer: i)In order to protect the ship from rough weather, the captain decided to slow it down. So he dropped the storm jib and lashed heavy mooring rope in a loop across the stem. Then they double-fastened everything and went through
their life-raft drill.
ii)Larry and Herb started pumping out water. The captain stretched canvas and secured waterproof hatch covers across the gaping holes. When the two hand pumps blocked and the electric pump short-circuited, he found another electric pump, connected it to an out pipe, and started it.
Question 2: Describe the mental condition of the voyages on 4th and 5th January.
Answer: On January 4, the voyagers felt relieved after 36 hours of continuous pumping out
water. They had their first meal in almost two days. Their respite was short-lived. They faced a dangerous situation on January 5. Fear of death loomed large. They were under great mental stress.
Question 3: Describe the shifts in the narration of the events as indicated in the three sections of the text. Give a subtitle to each section.
Answers: Title: A Journey to Dream
In July 1976, the author, his wife Mary, their children Jonathan and Suzanne, and the crew set sail from Plymouth, England, to replicate Captain James Cook’s voyage. They had spent 16 years preparing for this journey, equipped with a 23-meter, 30-ton wooden-hulled ship named Wavewalker.
Title: A Disaster Survival
By December 25, they were 3,500 kilometers east of Cape Town, facing worsening weather. On January 2, massive waves struck the ship, causing severe damage and an explosion that threw the author overboard. Despite injuries, he managed to assist in stabilizing the ship while Larry and Herb pumped out water.
Title: A Little Hope
The damaged ship could not reach Australia, so they aimed for the nearest island, Ile Amsterdam. Despite their dire situation, the author and his family held on to hope. Eventually, they reached the island with minimal struggle and were rescued by its inhabitants, marking the end of their perilous journey.

We are Not Afraid to die Class 11 English
1. What difference did you notice between the reactions of the adults and the children when faced with danger?
Answer: There was little difference in the reactions of the adults and children when confronted with danger. The adults, including the Captain, his wife, and the crew, displayed commendable courage and took all necessary measures to handle the huge waves. Meanwhile, the children, especially Jonathan, maintained a positive outlook. Jonathan’s reassurance that he wasn’t afraid of death as long as they were together bolstered the Captain’s resolve. The children’s continuous support and encouragement provided significant moral support, ultimately helping them through the crisis.
2. How does the story suggest that optimism helps to endure “the direst stress”?
Answer: The story highlights the critical role of optimism and hope in surviving severe adversity. Despite the unexpected disaster, the Captain and his family remained hopeful and resilient. From January 2, Larry and Herb worked tirelessly for 36 hours to pump out water, maintaining their spirits despite the dire situation. Their optimism and determination were pivotal in their survival. The Captain remained calm and practical, utilizing whatever resources were available and focusing on their goal. His confidence and the family’s positive attitude played a crucial role in navigating the storm and eventually reaching Ile Amsterdam.
3. What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face-to-face with death ?
Answer: The most important lesson that we learn from such hazardous experiences, when we are face-to-face with death, is not to lose hope under any circumstances. Life might put you in difficult situations, but if you are positive about finding a solution and overcoming the odds, you will always succeed.
4. Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?
Answer: Man is adventurous by nature. The greater the risk, the more the thrill. Adventure beckons only those who dare to face challenges in life. It’s the thrill and excitement that they see and not the risk involved. It is true that sometimes adventures are quite risky and prove fatal. The failures of some people do not daunt (discourage) the real lovers of adventure. The success of an adventurous expedition brings name, fame, and wealth.
Extra Questions
1. Describe the narrator’s boat and how did the narrator hurt himself?
Answers: The narrator and his wife embarked on a voyage around the world, inspired by Captain James Cook. They had spent 16 years perfecting their sailing skills and acquired a 23-meter, 30-ton wooden-hulled ship named Wave Walker. They rigorously tested it in rough weather before setting sail.
On January 2nd, a massive explosion rocked the Wave Walker, and a gigantic wave struck the ship. The narrator was thrown overboard, and as he was battered by the waves and tossed around, he began to lose consciousness, coming to terms with the possibility of death.
2. Describe Jonathan’s bravery and how did they reach Ile Amsterdam?
Answers: Jonathan, the narrator’s 6-year-old son, showed remarkable bravery during the crisis. Even after the Wave Walker was severely damaged, he bravely told his father that he wasn’t afraid to die as long as they were together. This gave the narrator renewed strength and determination.
Despite the ship’s extensive damage and the water flooding in, the family and crew managed to reach Ile Amsterdam. They made it to the island with minimal struggle, thanks to their perseverance and the assistance from the island’s inhabitants.
3. Explain the narrator’s efforts in finding the small island for the last time.
Answers: The narrator faced the daunting task of locating a small island in a vast ocean. With a wide expanse of 150,000 kilometers to cover, he worked tirelessly, calculating wind speeds, adjusting their course, and using the sextant to track their position. He directed the crew to head 185 degrees, hoping they would reach the island by 5 p.m. His careful navigation and persistent effort were crucial in their eventual arrival.
4. Was Suzanne seriously hurt? How was she treated?
Answers: Yes, Suzanne, who was just seven years old, was injured. Her eyes were badly swollen, and she had a deep cut on her arm. Despite her injuries, she bravely reassured her father that she was okay. She needed six minor surgeries to address blood clots in her brain, but her resilience and the medical treatment helped her recover.
5. What difficulties did they all face that night?
Answers: In July 1976, they embarked on their journey from Plymouth, England, and enjoyed a smooth voyage until they reached Cape Town, covering about 105,000 kilometers. However, things took a turn for the worse on the second day out of Cape Town when they encountered fierce windstorms. The narrator wasn’t too concerned about the winds, but the enormous waves, some as high as fifteen meters, were alarming.
By the dawn of January 2, the waves were massive, and at 6 p.m., a tremendous explosion rocked the Wave Walker, throwing the narrator overboard. The ship was on the brink of capsizing when another massive wave hit it, righting the vessel but also sending the narrator crashing back onto the deck, causing him severe injuries.
Despite being injured, the narrator took charge of the situation. He instructed his wife, Mary, to steer the ship while he and the crew worked to pump out the water flooding in. They spent the night continuously pumping water, with the narrator also checking on his children and trying to seal the ship’s gaping holes to divert the water.
The ship was severely damaged and no longer fit to reach Australia, so they decided to head for the nearest island, Ile Amsterdam, a French scientific base. After 36 hours of relentless pumping, they managed to remove most of the water. They hoisted the storm jib as the mainmast had been destroyed and made every effort to protect the weakened starboard side. That evening, the narrator and his wife held hands, accepting that their situation was dire. However, the constant support from his children gave him the strength to keep going. Eventually, they reached the island with minimal struggle and were helped by the island’s inhabitants.
6. How did they deal with the water that had gushed into the ship?
Answer: To manage the water flooding into the ship, the narrator initially worked on sealing the gaping holes, which helped divert some of the water. However, the hand pump became blocked by debris, and the electric pump short-circuited. Fortunately, the narrator found a spare electric pump and used it to drain the water. Despite their efforts, they spent the entire night pumping water. After 36 hours of continuous pumping, they finally managed to remove most of the water, leaving only a few centimeters still inside the boat.
7. Why did the narrator feel that it was the most beautiful island?
Answer: The narrator felt that Ile Amsterdam was the most beautiful island because it symbolized hope and survival after losing faith in their chances of making it through the ordeal. After their harrowing experiences at sea, reaching the island was a beacon of hope and relief. For the narrator and his family, the island represented a safe haven and a miraculous end to their dangerous journey, making it seem incredibly beautiful and precious to them.

