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We’re Not Afraid to Die... If We Can All be Together
Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?
It takes all sorts of people to make this world. Some like a peaceful and quiet life. Others love adventures. They don’t hesitate even to undertake dangerous expeditions. Such things are risky. But still people go on without caring for even death and disasters. They seem to be crazy. Perhaps they are. There is something in them which doesn’t allow them to sit and relax. For them life is a continuous journey. They prefer untrodden paths. The history of mankind shows that all our progress owes to such brave and fearless people. What about the discovery of America? Had Columbus not undertaken his historic voyage, perhaps America would have never been found. It would ever have been hidden from the eyes of the civilized world.
Perhaps it is in the blood of man to crave for adventures. Man wants to go beyond the known. He wants to explore the unknown. All the explorers, navigators and mountaineers have an undying urge to transcend their limitations. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing climbed the highest peak in the world—The Mount Everest. Francis Drake, Walter Releigh, Vasco-da-Gama, Marco Polo, Captain Cook showed to humanity that nothing is impossible. Man’s will and determination conquers all odds and hazards.
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What lessons do we learn from such hazardous experiences when we are face-to-face with death?
Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?
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?
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knot |
stern |
boom |
hatch |
anchor |
The following three compound words end in-ship. What does each of them mean?
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airship |
flagship |
lightship |
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:
take on sth: to begin to have a particular quality or appearance ; to assume sth
take sb on: to employ sb ; to engage sb
to accept sb as one’s opponent in a game, contest or conflict
take sb / sth on: to decide to do sth ; to allow sth/sb to enter e.g. a bus, plane or ship ; to take sth/sb on board
Given on the next page is a picture of a yacht. Label the parts of the yacht using the terms given in the box.
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bow |
cabin |
rudder |
cockpit |
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stern |
boom |
mainsail |
mast |
Here is some information downloaded from the Internet on lle Amsterdam. You can view images of the isle if you go online.
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Location |
South Indian Ocean, between southernmost parts of Australia and South Africa |
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Latitude and longitude |
37 92 S, 77 67 E |
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Sovereignty |
France |
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Political status notes |
Part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands |
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Population |
35 |
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Census notes |
Meteorological station staff |
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Land area in square kilometres |
86 |
Locate lle Amsterdam on the world map. Ans. For self-attempt.
Whom did the narrator and his family want to duplicate and why?
Describe the boat and the plan of the journey.
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