My Earthquake Experience in Tokyo

PORTAL NOTES:-

1. Why does Andrew Pateras say that the earthquake in Tokyo was the most
harrowing experience in his life?

Ans: The writer says that his experience of the earthquake in Tokyo was the most
harrowing because he had experienced other terrifying incidents. He had almost drowned
during river rafting in Africa but this was a completely new experience; he saw skyscrapers
sway like palm trees as the earth shook beneath his feet and the aftershocks added to the
horror.

2. How is the earthquake described? Explain epic journey.

Ans: The earthquake is described as a violent shuddering when things started crashing to
the ground. The shaking was so severe that the author found it difficult to run in a straight
line.
An epic is a long book or poem, whose story extends over a long period of time or tells of
great events. An epic journey in the given context describes the author’s long journey back
to his hotel resulting from the complete shutdown of the rail system in Tokyo.

3. Which event from the past did the writer recall while running to safety? Why
was the recollection terrifying?

Ans: The writer recalled the collapse of the World Trade Center. The recollection was
terrifying because the noise of the buildings creaking as they shook in their foundations
brought back bad memories.

4. What was the writer’s response to the rumbling initially? What did he compare
the ‘shaking station building’ to? Why was he able to make this comparison?

Ans: The writer ignored the rumbling initially because it was almost imperceptible. He
compared the shaking station building to the deck of a ship being tossed by swells. He was
able to make this comparison because the ground was shaking so violently that it was
difficult to run in a straight line.

5. Andrew Pateras appears to be fond of water sports and travelling by ship. Give
a reason to support this conclusion.

Ans: The writer appears to be fond of both water sports and travelling by ship as he speaks
about his whitewater rafting experience and could compare the heaving ground to a ship
being tossed by swells. He would not have been able to make an accurate comparison if he
had not experienced being on a ship before.