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3 — William Douglas
About the Author
William Orville Douglas (1898 – 1980) was an
American jurist and politician who served as an
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States. Nominated by President Franklin
D. Roosevelt, Douglas was confirmed at the age of
40, as one of the youngest justices appointed to the
Supreme Court. His term, lasting 36 years and 209
days (1939 – 1975), is the longest term in the history
of the Supreme Court.
Theme
The author, William Douglas, talks about his fear of
water and how he finally overcame it. He narrates an
autobiographical incident that occurred when he was
ten or eleven years old and almost drowned in the
Y.M.C.A swimming pool. As a result, he developed
a fear of water, which he was able to conquer after
several years, by sheer determination.
Message
The story ‘‘Deep Waters’’ tells us how the writer
overcame his fear of water and learned swimming
through sheer determination and will power. He
had developed a terror of water since childhood.
William Douglas was able to overcome his fear by
sheer determination. The message conveyed by this
story is that it is not death but the fear of death that
creates terror in our mind, so that fear needs to be
shaken off. Also, any fears can be conquered if we
try hard enough.
Justification of Title
This extract is appropriately entitled ‘‘Deep Water’’.
The author recounts his fear of swimming following
an incident in which he had been swept away by a
wave. Another incident which further aggravated
his fear was when a bully pushed him into the deep
side of a swimming pool and he nearly drowned. But
slowly, he overcame his fear through determination
and strong will. He learnt swimming from an
instructor. He swam in different pools and lakes to
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Deep Water
overcome his fear. The title also signifies that the
author’s fear was a deep rooted one.
Summary
‘‘Deep Water’’ tells us how the writer overcame
his fear of water and learned swimming. He had
developed a fear of water during childhood. When
he was three or four years old, the writer had gone
to California with his father. One day on the beach,
the waves knocked him down and swept over him.
He was terrified but his father laughed as he knew
that the author was not in any real danger. This
experience created for him an aversion to water
and bred a permanent fear of water. Another, more
serious, incident occurred when the writer was trying
to learn swimming in the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool.
One day, while he was waiting for the other boys, a
bully boy of eighteen suddenly played a dangerous
prank and pushed him into the water. The writer was
terribly frightened. He went down nine feet into the
water. His lungs were full of unreleased air. When
he reached the bottom, he jumped upward with all
his strength. He came up, but very slowly. He tried
to catch hold of something, but grasped only at water.
The writer then tried to shout but no sound came
out. He went down again. His lungs ached, head
throbbed and he grew dizzy. He felt paralyzed with
fear. Only the movement of his heart told him that he
was alive. Again he tried to jump up. But this time,
his limbs would not move at all. He looked for ropes,
ladders and water wings, but all in vain. Then he
went down again, the third time; this time all efforts
and fear ceased. He was moving towards peaceful
death. The writer was at peace. When he came to
consciousness, he found himself lying on the side
of the pool with the other boy nearby and the coach
remonstrating with him for nearly causing him to
drown. As a result of the near death experience, the
terror that the writer had experienced in the pool
never left him. It haunted him for years. It spoilt
many of his expeditions of canoeing, swimming and
fishing. It spoilt his pleasures in Maine lakes, new
Hampshire, Deschutes, Columbia and Bumping
Lake, etc.
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Yet, the writer was determined to conquer his fear. (d) slightest exertion upset him and made him
He took the help of a swimming instructor to learn wobbly in the knees and sick in the stomach.
swimming. The instructor taught him various actions (e) never went back to the pool.
necessary in swimming. He trained Douglas how to
(ii) Subsequent:
breathe while swimming. He practiced this for several
(a) the fear remained-in a river or pool legs would
weeks. He had to kick with his legs for a few weeks
become paralyzed.
on the side of the pool. At last, he combined all these
actions and made Douglas swim. Thus, he learned (b) icy horror would grab his heart.
swimming; yet the terror continued. Whenever he (c) deprived Douglas of enjoying water sport-
was in water, his terror returned and the author tried ruined his fishing trips/deprived him of the joy.
to face the new challenge. When the terror came, he (d) in canoes on Maine lakes fishing for landlocked
confronted it by asking it sarcastically, what could salmons.
it really do to him? He plunged into the water as if (e) bass fishing in New Hampshire, trout fishing on
to defy the fear. Once he took courage, the terror the Deshutes and Metolius in Oregon, fishing
vanished. He faced the challenge deliberately in for salmon on the Columbia, at Bumping Lake
various places like the Warm Lake. This is how he in the Cascades-fear of water followed him.
at last conquered his fear of water. (iii) Conquering his fear:
(a) engaged an instructor to learn swimming.
CHAPTER IN A NUTSHELL
(b) instructor made him practice five days a week,
William Douglas talks about his fear of water an hour everyday
and thereafter, how he finally overcame it. (c) put a belt around him.
The autobiographical element in the lesson is used
(d) a rope attached to the belt went through a
to support his discussion of fear. pulley that ran on an overhead cable
Author’s Aversion to Water
(e) instructor held on to the end of the rope.
1. started when he was three or four years old.
(f) author went back and forth several times each
2. visited a beach in California with his father/stood
day.
with his father in the surf.
(g) took three months to learn
3. the waves knocked him down and swept over
him. (h) instructor taught him to put his face under
water and exhale
4. he was buried in water/breath was gone/
frightened. (i) to raise his nose and inhale
5. father laughed (j) instructor made him kick with his legs
6. there was terror in his heart at the overpowering (k) thus piece by piece he finally learnt how to swim
force of the waves. • though the author had learnt to swim, he
‘Misadventure’ at the YMCA still felt that the old fear would grip him
again.
1. the author was sitting on the side of the pool.
• went to lake Wentworth-swam two miles
2. a big bruiser of a boy tossed him the deep end of across the lake.
the pool. • swam the crawl, breast stroke, side stroke
3. the author landed in a sitting position, swallowed and back stroke.
water, and went at once to the bottom. • the old sensation returned in miniature.
4. the author was frightened. • then went up the Tieton to Conrad
5. planned that he would jump and come to the Meadows, up the Conrad Creek Trail to
surface/paddle to the edge of the pool. Meade Glacier, and camped by the Warm
Lake.
(i) Its impact:
• swam across to the other shore and back
(a) he was weak and trembling • he had finally conquered his fear.
(b) shook and cried when he lay on his bed/couldn’t (iv) Draws a larger meaning from this

eat that night. experience:
(c) for days a haunting fear remained in his heart. (a) in death there is peace
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(b) there is terror only in the fear of death/as (iv) Choose the option that describes the
Roosevelt said “All we have to fear is fear itself” equipment used by the author while
(c) since the narrator had experienced both the learning to swim
sensation of dying and the terror that fear of it
can produce; the will to live grew in him.

Type I. Refe ence o on ex

r
t
C
t
t
Read the extracts given below and attempt the 1 2 3 4
questions that follow:
(a) Option 1 (b) Option 2
1. My breath was gone. I was frightened. Father
laughed, but there was terror in my heart (c) Option 3 (d) Option 4
at the overpowering force of the waves. My (v) The author’s fear of water was ............ .
introduction to the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool (a) very terrifying

revived unpleasant memories and stirred (b) a sweet memory
childish fears. But in a little while I gathered (c) his regular companion
confidence. I paddled with my new water wings, (d) vanishing slowly
watching the other boys and trying to learn by (vi) What does the word ‘aping’ mean?
aping them. I did this two or three times on Answers
different days and was just beginning to feel (i) (c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot
at ease in the water when the misadventure be inferred.
happened. (CBSE)
(ii) (d) repression

Questions (iii) (b) a bully tossed him into the pool for the sake
(i) Choose the correct option with reference to the of fun
two statements given below: (iv) (d) Option 4
Statement 1: The author’s father laughed to (v) (c) his regular companion

mock his son’s inability to swim. (vi) It means ‘copying’.
Statement 2: The author wanted to swim just 2. “I went down, down, endlessly. I opened my eyes.

to prove to his father that he can swim. Nothing but water with a yellow glow — dark
(a) Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false. water that one could not see through. And then
(b) Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true. sheer, stark terror seized me, terror that knows
(c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot no understanding, terror that knows no control,
be inferred. terror that no one can understand who has not
(d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be experienced it. I was shrieking under water. I
was paralyzed under water — stiff, rigid with
inferred.
fear. Even the screams in my throat were frozen.
(ii) “My introduction to the Y.M.C.A. swimming Only my heart, and the pounding in my head,
pool revived unpleasant memories and stirred said that I was still alive.” (CBSE)
childish fears.” It can be inferred that this was

Questions
a clear case of ............ .
(i) How did he feel under water?
(a) suppression (b) oppression
(a) Calm (b) Peaceful
(c) depression (d) repression
(c) Stiff and rigid with fear
(iii) The misadventure that took place right after
(d) Relaxed
the author felt comfortable was that .............
(a) the author slipped and fell into the (ii) What seized him while going down to the
bottom of the pool?
swimming pool
(a) Fear (b) Stark terror
(b) a bully tossed him into the pool for the sake
of fun (c) Reason (d) Wit
(c) his coach forgot to teach him how to handle (iii) Who can understand terror better?
deep water (iv) How could he know that he was still alive?
(d) his father couldn’t help him from drowning (a) Because his brain was working.
into the water (b) Because of his screams.

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(c) The pounding of the heart. (c) Having or showing no skill.
(d) None of these. (d) Lacking in a required quality.
(v) The incident described in the above extract took (vi) Was Douglas satisfied with the instructor’s
place in ............ . comment? Why?
(a) a beach in California (a) Yes, because he overcame his fear.
(b) the Y.M.C.A. pool (b) Yes, he could swim now .
(c) the yellow river (c) No, he swam in other water bodies to perfect

(d) the village pond his swimming.
(vi) Pick out the literary device in the statement (d) No, he could not swim alone.
‘sheer stark terror seized me’. Answers
(a) hyperbole (b) simile (i) (a) By planning
(c) personification (d) alliteration (ii) From his experience of drowning Douglas
Answers learnt to overcome the terror of an unpleasant
(i) (c) Stiff and rigid with fear incident.
(ii) (b) Stark terror (iii) (a) Step by step
(iii) The person who has experienced it in life. (iv) (a) All the styles and strokes of swimming learnt
(iv) (a) Because his brain was working. by Douglas.
(v) (a) a beach in California (v) (b) Made completely free from faults or defects.
(vi) (c) personification (vi) (c) No, he swam in other water bodies to perfect
his swimming
3. “Thus, piece by piece, he built a swimmer. And
when he had perfected each piece, he put them 4. “The experience had a deep meaning for me, as
together into an integrated whole. In April he only those who have known stark terror and
said, “Now you can swim. Dive off and swim the conquered it can appreciate. In death there is
length of the pool, crawl stroke.” peace. There is terror only in the fear of death,
Questions as Roosevelt knew when he said, “All we have to
fear is fear itself.”
(i) How did the instructor make Douglas a good
swimmer? Questions
(a) By planning (i) In the essay, William Douglas talks about his

(b) With the help of ropes fear of ............ .
(c) By pushing him into the pool (a) fire (b) lizards
(d) With the help of ropes and belts (c) snake (d) water

(ii) What lesson did Douglas learn from his (ii) How did the author’s fear vanish?
experience of drowning? (a) With courage, guidance and
(iii) “Thus, piece by piece, he built a swimmer.” What determination
does the narrator mean by this statement? (b) With care
(a) Step by step (b) Slowly (c) With mother’s words
(c) With patience (d) One by one (d) With guidance
(iv) “...he put them together into an integrated (iii) “All we have to fear is the fear itself.” Who said
whole.” What did he put together? these words?
(a) All the styles and strokes of swimming (a) William Douglas (b) Trainer
learnt by Douglas. (c) His Father (d) Roosevelt
(b) All his equipment. (iv) “In death there is peace. There is terror only in
(c) All the ideas. the fear of death.” It means ............ .
(d) None of the above. (a) death brings an end to all our fears
(v) Of the four meanings of ‘perfected’, select the (b) death is peaceful
option that matches in meaning with its usage (c) thought of death creates fear in us
in the extract. (d) All of these.
(a) An unjust act. (v) What is the theme of the story from where this

(b) Made completely free from faults or defects. extract has been picked?
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(vi) The quality that Douglas shows by conquering (vi) What does the term ‘deep water’ mean?
his fear is ..... (a) in the ocean

(a) pride (b) courage (b) inside a well
(c) ego (d) arrogance (c) in serious trouble

Answers (d) caught within a whirlpool
(i) (d) water Answers
(ii) (a) With courage, guidance and (i) He says so because the thought of death is
determination frightening.
(iii) (d) Roosevelt (ii) (d) Hovering uncertainty
(iv) (d) All of these. (iii) (a) (1) and (2)
(v) Victory in facing the fear. (iv) (c) hydrophobic
(vi) (b) courage
(v) (b) To have nerves of steel
5. In death there is peace. There is terror only in the (vi) (c) in serious trouble

fear of death, as Roosevelt knew when he said,
6. Then all effort ceased. I relaxed. Even my legs
“All we have to fear is fear itself.” Because I had
felt limp; and a blackness swept over my brain.
experienced both the sensation of dying and the
terror that fear of it can produce, the will to live It wiped out fear; it wiped out terror. There was
somehow grew in intensity. no more panic. It was quiet and peaceful. Nothing
to be afraid of. This is nice... to be drowsy... to go
At last I felt released — free to walk the trails to sleep... no need to jump... too tired to jump...

and climb the peaks and to brush aside fear.
it’s nice to be carried gently... to float along in
Questions space... tender arms around me... tender arms
(i) Why does the author say, “In death there is like Mother’s... now I must go to sleep... I crossed
peace”? to oblivion, and the curtain of life fell.
(ii) According to the author and Roosevelt, where Questions
can terror be found? (i) Choose the correct option with reference to the
(a) Only in fear itself two statements given below:

(b) Thinking about the unknown
Statement 1: The author tried his best to jump
(c) Thinking about an unpleasant result

out of water.
(d) Hovering uncertainty
Statement 2: After a while, the author was not
(iii) Why did the author’s will to live grow in

anxious in water.
intensity?
(a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is
(1) He experienced drowning.
the effect.
(2) He experienced the sensation of death.
(b) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is
(3) He experienced the immediate and after
the cause.
effects of drowning.
(c) Both the statements are the effects of a
(4) He experienced the terror of the fear of
common cause.
death.
(d) Both the statements are the effects of
(a) (1) and (2) (b) (2) and (4)
independent causes.
(c) (2) and (3) (d) (1) and (3)
(ii) The ‘curtain of life fell’ corresponds to an aspect
(iv) The drowning episode made the author
of ............ .
(a) aerophobic (b) claustrophobic
(a) geometry (b) history
(c) hydrophobic (d) astraphobic
(c) sports (d) drama
(v) Pick out the idiom which best describes the
statement, “I had experienced the sensation of (iii) The purpose of using “…” in the above passage
dying and terror that fear of it can produce.” is to ............ .
(a) To jump out of one’s skin (a) show omission
(b) To have nerves of steel (b) indicate pauses
(c) To tremble like a leaf (c) shorten a dialogue
(d) To strike trepidation in the heart (d) replace an idea
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(iv) Which option indicates that the poet lost (iv) Who was Doug Corpron?
consciousness? (a) Trainer (b) Life guard
(a) ‘It was quiet and peaceful.’ (c) Swimmer (d) Friend
(b) ‘I crossed into oblivion.’ (v) What did the author do before jumping into
(c) ‘Tender arms like Mother’s.’ Warm lake?
(d) ‘It wiped out fear.’ (vi) The writer shouted with joy because ............
(v) What lesson does the author teach us in this (a) he loved swimming

lesson?
(vi) What could be the immediate result of the
incident on the writer?
(a) he could not breathe
(b) he could not walk
(c) he kept on coughing
(d) he could not sleep or eat that night
Answers
(i) (a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is
the effect.
(ii) (d) drama
(iii) (b) indicate pauses
(iv) (b) ‘I crossed into oblivion.’
(v) I n t h i s l e s s o n , t h e a u t h o r c o n v e y s a
message of facing some panicking situation
courageously.
(vi) (a) he could not breathe
7. “Yet I had residual doubts. At my first opportunity
I hurried west, went up the Tieton to Conrad
Meadows, up the Conrad Creek Trail to Meade
Glacier, and camped in the high meadow by the
side of Warm Lake. The next morning, I stripped,
dived into the lake, and swam across to the other
shore and back — just as Doug Corpron used to
do. I shouted with joy, and Gilbert Peak returned
the echo. I had conquered my fear of water.”
Questions
(b) he had caught a fish
(c) he could go canoeing
(d) he could swim without fear
Answers
(i) (b) Whether he has conquered his fear of water.
(ii) (b) Warm Lake
(iii) (d) Swam across to the other shore and back
(iv) (c) Swimmer
(v) He stripped himself.
(vi) (d) he could swim without fear
8. Thus, piece by piece, he built a swimmer. And
when he had perfected each piece, he put them
together into an integrated whole. In April he
said, “Now you can swim. Dive off and swim the
length of the pool, crawl stroke.”
I did. The instructor was finished.
But I was not finished. I still wondered if I would
be terror-stricken when I was alone in the pool.
I tried it. I swam the length up and down. Tiny
vestiges of the old terror would return. But now
I could frown and say to that terror, “Trying to
scare me, eh? Well, here’s to you! Look!” And off
I’d go for another length of the pool.
Questions
(i) What led the narrator to believe that he was
‘not finished’?

(i) What residual doubts Douglas is talking about? (ii) Which of these BEST describes the narrator’s
relationship with his fear?
(a) Whether he has learnt swimming.
(a) hostile (b) evasive
(b) Whether he has conquered his fear of water.
(c) indifferent (d) repressive
(c) Whether he can participate in competitions.
(d) Whether he can swim to the length of the (iii) Which of these BEST describes the contrast in
pool. the focus of the swimming instructor and the
narrator when it came to swimming?
(ii) Where did he go to clear his doubt?
(a) While the former focused on the mechanics,
(a) California (b) Warm Lake the latter focused on the creativity involved.
(c) Conrad Meadows (d) To the North (b) While the former focused on the physical,
(iii) What did he do there? the latter was more focused on the
(a) Camped there psychological.
(b) Did fishing there (c) While the former focused on the practical, the
(c) Did boating there latter was more focused on the theoretical

(d) Swam across to the other shore and back aspects.

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(d) While the former focused on casual learning, (a) Option 1 (b) Option 2
the latter focused on learning how to do it (c) Option 3 (d) Option 4
competitively. 3. Samuel has a phobia of heights but is scared
(iv) The narrator mentions his conversations with and can’t overcome it. Choose the option that
fear in this story to emphasize the __________. displays an adivce.
(a) gaps in his skills as a swimmer 1 2 3 4
(b) grip that fear of water still has on his life Get to the If I were Unbeliveable! Feat is
(c) improvement in his assurance as a swimmer swimming you, I’d what’s the a major
(d) ease with which he forgot about his fear of pool and begin problem? I’ve issue if
swimming jump in it small. done bungee you let it
from the Like jumping! It’s control
(v) The swimming instructor helped the narrator
highest spending a piece of you. I
to regain his __________.
diving 10 mins. cake. think it
(a) strength (b) prosperity
board that looking will take
(c) innocence (d) confidence you see down a firm
(vi) “Trying to scare me, eh? Well, here’s to you! there. from my grip on
Look!” Here, ‘you’ refers to balcony, you if
(a) the instructor (b) the boxer boy each day, you don’t
(c) terror (d) the pool for a week. address
Answers it soon.
(i) His insecurity over his ability to overcome fear (a) Option 1 (b) Option 2
led him to believe so. (c) Option 3 (d) Option 4
(ii) (a) hostile 4. The chap that threw me in was saying,
(iii) (b) While the former focused on the physical, the “But I was only fooling.” Choose the option
latter was more focused on the psychological. mentioning the personality traits of this ‘chap’.
(iv) (b) grip that fear of water still has on his life 1. persuasive 2. irresponsible
(v) (d) confidence 3. domineering
4. manipulative 5. callous
(vi) (c) terror
(a) 1,2,3 (b) 2,4,5
Type II. Tex -Based Ques ons (c) 2,3,5 (d) 1,3,5
5. William Douglas was a friend and adviser of
t
ti
I. Multiple Choice Questions (a) President Kennedy
(b) President Cleveland
1. The most appropriate justification for the title (c) President Roosevelt (d) President Clinton
of the chapter ‘Deep Water’ is that 6. In the essay, William Douglas talks about his
(a) it’s about the dangerous depth of the fear of
swimming pool. (a) fire (b) lizards
(b) it reveals the author’s lack of surety about (c) snake (d) water
overcoming his fear of swimming. 7. The writer decided to learn to swim when he
(c) it underlines the author’s fear of water and was about
how he overcame it. (a) ten or eleven years old
(b) fifteen or sixteen years old
(d) it includes the methods of the author’s
(c) twenty years old
coach to overcome the fear of deep water.

(d) eighteen years old
2. Choose the quote that DOES NOT resonate
8. He decided to learn swimming in the pool at
with the central idea of the chapter.
(a) the local club (b) his school
(c) Y.M.C.A (d) Country Club
9. His mother warned him against swimming in
the Yakima River because it had
(a) strong currents
(b) it was meant only for boating

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(c) many people had drowned there 21. The nine feet seemed to Douglas like
(d) it had no lifeguards around (a) hundred feet (b) ninety feet
10. At the shallow end, the Y.M.C.A pool was (c) fifty feet (d) twenty-five feet
(a) One foot deep (b) four feet deep 22. Douglas imagined that on hitting the bottom,
(c) two or three feet deep(d) five feet deep he would
(a) bob to the surface like a cork
11. The pool’s depth at the deep end was
(b) would come up to grab his water wings
(a) twenty feet (b) nine feet
(c) would lie flat and float up
(c) six feet (d) eight feet
(d) shout for help
12. The author hated to walk naked to the pool as
23. When Douglas tried to yell
he had
(a) everyone came to his rescue
(a) skinny arms (b) bony chest (b) no sound came out
(c) skinny legs (d) hairy legs (c) his father arrived
13. The incident in childhood had taken place at

(d) the lifeguard dived to save him
the beach in 24. As Douglas tried to bring his legs up, they
(a) Florida (b) Washington hung as
(c) New York (d) California (a) dead branches (b) dead weights
14. The introduction to the Y.M.C.A swimming (c) dead sticks (d) dead bodies
pool revived for Douglas 25. The water in the pool had a
(a) childhood fear of water (a) dirty yellow tinge (b) a blue reflection
(b) memories of holiday at the beach (c) green colour (d) no colour
(c) memories of father and son companionship 26. Douglas was seized by
(d) a terrible accident (a) the lifeguard (b) stark terror
15. The misadventure at the Y.M.C.A pool (c) his friend
happened when (d) the boy who had thrown him
(a) Douglas was accompanied by friends 27. Douglas went down towards the bottom
(b) he was with his father (a) only once (b) twice
(c) he was alone (c) thrice (d) five times

(d) he was with his mother 28. After the third unsuccessful attempt to spring
up, Douglas thought that he was
16. The boy who threw Douglas into the pool was
about (a) floating in space

(b) floating in the River Yakima
(a) twenty years old
(c) floating in air

(b) eighteen years old

(d) floating in a rubber-tube
(c) twenty-one years old
29. When he regained consciousness, he
(d) fifteen years old
(a) laughed at his experience
17. Douglas calls him a (b) had 104° F fever
(a) nasty human being (c) shook and cried and didn’t eat anything
(b) a brute (d) told his mother about his misadventure
(c) a beautiful physical specimen 30. Every time Douglas attempted to go inside
(d) a big bully water, his legs would
18. He tossed Douglas into the pool towards its (a) be shaky (b) make him run
(a) shallow end (b) middle (c) help him keep afloat (d) be paralyzed
(c) edge (d) deep end 31. After being haunted by fear for many years
19. Though Douglas was frightened, he was not Douglas decided to learn to swim. He took the
(a) afraid to die (b) going to survive help of
(c) out of his wits (a) his mother (b) his father
(d) able to shout for help (c) a friend (d) an instructor
20. When his feet would hit the bottom Douglas 32. A rope was attached to
planned to (a) Douglas’ legs (b) Douglas’ arms
(a) make a big jump (b) lie down (c) Douglas’ belt
(c) start his strokes (d) float (d) Douglas’ swimming trunks

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33. He practised in the pool Answers
(a) ten times a week (b) five days a week 1. (c) it underlines the author’s fear of water and
(c) twice a week (d) thrice a week how he overcome it.
34. Douglas’ tension started slackening after 2. (b) Option 2
(a) four months (b) three months 3. (b) Option 2
(c) five months (d) one month 4. (c) 2,3,5
35. Douglas had to repeat exhaling and inhaling 5. (c) President Roosevelt
exercises 6. (d) water
(a) hundred times (b) forty times 7. (a) ten or eleven years old
(c) fifty times (d) ten times 8. (c) Y.M.C.A
36. ‘Now you can swim’. These words were spoken 9. (c) many people had drowned there
by 10. (c) two or three feet deep
(a) Douglas’ father (b) teacher in school 11. (b) nine feet
(c) uncle (d) instructor 12. (c) skinny legs
37. Whenever terror struck again, Douglas would 13. (d) California
start 14. (a) childhood fear of water
(a) shouting (b) laughing 15. (c) he was alone
(c) crying (d) talking to terror 16. (b) eighteen years old
38. Douglas swam the lake to Stamp Act Island 17. (c) a beautiful physical specimen
covering a distance of 18. (d) deep end
(a) five miles (b) seven miles 19. (c) out of his wits
(c) two miles (d) one mile 20. (a) make a big jump
39. ‘What do you think you can do to me?’ These 21. (b) ninety feet
words were spoken by Douglas to 22. (a) bob to the surface like a cork
(a) a shark (b) to his enemy 23. (b) no sound came out
(c) to the boy who pushed him 24. (b) dead weights
(d) to terror 25. (a) dirty yellow tinge
40. After swimming across to the other shore of 26. (b) stark terror
Warm Lake, Douglas shouted with joy and his 27. (c) thrice
voice was returned as an echo by 28. (a) was floating in space
(a) Gilbert peak (b) Everest peak 29. (c) shook and cried and didn’t eat anything
(c) Alps (d) Blue Mountain 30. (d) be paralyzed
41. ‘All we have to fear is fear itself’. Who said 31. (d) an instructor 32. (c) Douglas’ belt
these words? 33. (b) five days a week 34. (b) three months
(a) Douglas (b) his instructor 35. (a) hundred times 36. (d) instructor
(c) his father 37. (d) talking to terror 38. (c) two miles
(d) President Roosevelt 39. (d) to terror 40. (a) Gilbert peak
42. With his hard work, Douglas had 41. (d) President Roosevelt
(a) conquered his fear of water 42. (a) conquered his fear of water
(b) conquered Mount Everest 43. (b) released 44. (a) ruined his trips
(c) got a good job
II. Short Answer Questions

(d) got a promotion
43. At the end of the experience, Douglas felt 1. What shocking experience did Douglas have
(a) happy (b) released at YMCA pool?

(c) sad (d) victorious Ans. At the age of ten or eleven, William O. Douglas
decided to learn to swim at the YMCA pool
44. His fear of water because it was only two or three feet deep at
(a) ruined his trips the shallow end. He had an aversion to the
(b) made him extremely guilty water but he felt comfortable when he paddled
(c) was not liked by friends with his new water wings in the water. One
(d) made him weak day he went to the pool when no one else was

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there. He was waiting for others to come. Then
there came a big bruiser of a boy who picked
Douglas and ducked him into the deep end. He
landed in a sitting position, swallowed water
and went at once to the bottom. Though he was
saved, his fear of water intensified after this
misadventure.
2. Why did Douglas fail to come to the surface of
the pool as he hoped to?
Ans. When Douglas was thrown into the pool by a
muscular boy, he landed in a sitting position,
swallowed water and touched the bottom. He
was frightened but he had not lost his wit. He
thought of a strategy to come up to the surface
by making a big jump when his feet touched
the bottom. But his lungs were about to burst.
He thought to spring back to the surface like
a cork but he moved slowly. He grew panicky
and saw water everywhere. He reached up as
if to catch a rope with his hands but he could
not clutch water and was paralysed.
3. How did Douglas’ introduction to YMCA pool
revive his childhood fear of water?
Ans. At the age of ten or eleven William O. Douglas
decided to learn and swim at the Y.M.C.A pool
because it was only two or three feet deep at
the shallow end. He had an aversion to the
water but he felt comfortable when he paddled
with his new water wings in the water. One
day he went to the pool when no one else was
there. He was waiting for others to come. Then
there came a big bruiser who picked Douglas
and ducked him into the deep land. He landed
in a sitting position, swallowed water and
went at once to the bottom. This misadventure
revived his childhood fear of water.
4. When did Douglas decide to learn swimming?
What options were available to him to swim
in? Which one did he choose and why?
Ans. Douglas was ten or eleven years old when he
decided to learn swimming. He could swim
in the Yakima River or the Y.M.C.A. pool at
Yakima. The Yakima River was dangerous.
Many persons had drowned in it. So, he chose
the Y.M.C.A. pool. It was considered safe.
5. Which factors led Douglas to decide in favour
of the Y.M.C.A. pool?
Ans. The Y.M.C.A. pool was safe. It was only two to
three feet deep at the shallow end. It was nine
feet deep at the other. Moreover, the drop was
gradual. The Yakima River was treacherous
and had drowned many. So, he decided in
favour of the Y.M.C.A. pool.
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Reader’s Sign _______________________ Date __________
6. “I had an aversion to the water when I was in
it?” says Douglas. When did he start having
this aversion and how?
Ans. The aversion started when Douglas was three
or four years old. His father had taken him to
the beach in California. They were standing
together in the surf. He had held his father
tightly, even then the waves knocked him
down and swept over him. He was buried
in water. His breath was gone. He was
frightened. There was terror in his heart about
the overpowering force of the waves.
7. How did Douglas initially feel when he went
to the Y.M.C.A. pool? What made him feel
comfortable?
Ans. Unpleasant memories of the past were revived
and childish fears were stirred. In a little while
he gathered confidence. He paddled with his
new water wings. He watched the other boys
and tried to imitate them. He did so two or
three times on different days. He began to feel
comfortable.
8. What two things did Douglas dislike to do?
Which one did he have to do and why?
Ans. Douglas hated to walk naked into the pool
and show his very thin legs. Secondly, he was
fearful about going in alone. So, he sat on the
side of the pool to wait for others. But he had
to go into water as one cannot learn swimming
without going into water.
9. In what connection does Douglas mention “a
big bruiser of a boy?”
Ans. Douglas mentions him for his misadventure
in the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool in which he
had nearly died. It was this boxer boy who
had picked up Douglas and tossed him into
the deep end. Later on, when Douglas was
rescued, the boy said, “I was only fooling.”
10. Mention any two long term consequences of
the drowning incident on Douglas.
Ans. The drowning incident constantly haunted
Douglas. He felt terrified by water and
avoided it. He never gathered courage to go
near the water. Whenever he went near the
water his legs got paralysed and his heart was
grabbed by fear. Moreover, he never went for
swimming, fishing or canoeing. So, the fear of
water had entered his heart.
11. How did the “misadventure” happen with
Douglas?
Ans. Douglas was sitting alone on the side of the
pool, waiting for others. A big, boxer boy of
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eighteen came there. Mocking him as ‘skinny’
he enquired how he would like to be plunged
in water. Saying so, he picked up Douglas and
tossed him into the nine feet deep end. Douglas
struck the surface of water, swallowed water
and at once went to the bottom.
12. “I was frightened, but not yet frightened out
of my wits,” says Douglas. Which qualities of
the speaker are highlighted here and how?
Ans. Douglas was frightened when he went down
into the pool and was about to be drowned.
He had an aversion to water and now he was
filled with terror. He had remarkable self-
control. He used his mind even in the crisis
and thought of a strategy to save himself from
being drowned.
13. “On the way down I planned,” remarks
Douglas. What plan had he devised and how
far did it succeed?
Ans. While going down to the bottom, he made a
plan to save himself from being drowned. He
decided to make a big jump as his feet hit the
bottom. He hoped to move up to the surface of
water like a cork. Then he would lie flat on it,
and paddle to the edge of the pool. The plan
was only partly successful. He rose to surface
twice. But each time he swallowed water and
went down.
14. What did Douglas experience as he went down
to the bottom of the pool for the first time?
Ans. Going down to the depth of nine feet was not
quick. It seemed a long way down. For him
those nine feet were more like ninety. Before
he touched the bottom his lungs were ready
to burst. He did not lose his presence of mind.
Using all his strength, he made a great jump
upwards.
15. How was the result of the ‘great spring
upwards’ that Douglas made on hitting the
bottom of the pool for the first time?
Ans. Douglas rose to the surface very slowly. When
he opened his eyes he saw nothing but water
with a dirty yellow colour. He grew panicky.
He tried to grab a rope but his hands clutched
only at water. He was suffocating. He tried to
shout, but no sound came out. Then his eyes
and nose came out of the water but not his
mouth.
16. How did Douglas struggle before hitting the
bottom of the pool for the second time? What
was the outcome of his struggle?
Ans. Douglas moved his arms and legs around
without control. He swallowed water and
Reader’s Sign _______________________ Date __________
choked. His legs hung as dead weights,
paralysed and rigid. A great force was pulling
him down. He struck at the water with full
force as he went down. He had lost all his
breath. His lungs ached and head throbbed.
He was getting dizzy. He went down through
dark water and was filled with fear.
17. What sort of terror seized Douglas as he went
down the ‘water with a yellow glow?’ How
could he feel he was still alive?
Ans. An absolute, rigid terror seized Douglas. It
was a terror that knew no understanding or
control and was beyond comprehension of
anyone who had not experienced it. He was
paralysed under water–stiff and rigid with
fear. His screams were frozen. The beating of
his heart and throbbing of mind made him feel
that he was still alive.
18. ‘In the midst of the terror came a touch of
reason.’ How did the two forces work in
opposite direction and how did Douglas fare?
Ans. Reason told him to jump when he hit the
bottom as he felt the tiles under him, he
jumped with everything he had. But the jump
made no difference. A mass of yellow water
held him. Stark terror took an even deeper
hold on him. He shook and trembled with
fright. His arms and legs wouldn’t move. He
tried to call for help, but nothing happened.
19. ‘I crossed to oblivion, and the curtain of life
fell.’ How did Douglas experience the sensation
of dying before he actually crossed to oblivion?
Ans. As Douglas went down the pool the third time,
he swallowed more water. All his efforts to
jump up ceased. His legs felt limp. A blackness
swept over his brain and it wiped out fear and
terror. There was no more panic. It was quiet
and peaceful. He felt drowsy and wanted to go
to sleep.
20. In what state did Douglas find himself on
regaining consciousness?
Ans. He found himself lying on his stomach near
the pool. He was vomiting. The fellow who had
thrown him in the pool was saying that he was
only joking. Then someone remarked that the
small boy had nearly died. He hoped that he
would be all right then. Then he was carried
to the locker room for change of clothes.
21. How did Douglas react to the frightening
experience (i) that day and (ii) later when he
came to know the waters of the Cascades?
Ans. (i) He walked home after several hours. He
was weak and trembling. He shook and cried
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when he lay on his bed. He couldn’t eat that
night. A haunting fear was there in his heart.
The slightest exertion upset him. His knees
became wobbly. He felt sick to his stomach.
(ii) Whenever he waded the Tieton or Bumping
River or bathed in Warm Lake of Goat Rocks,
the terror that had seized him in the pool
would come back. This terror would take
possession of him completely. His legs would
become paralysed. Icy horror would grab his
heart.
22. “This handicap stayed with me as the years
rolled by.” How did it affect his pursuits for
pleasure?
Ans. The haunting fear of water followed Douglas
everywhere. He rowed in canoes on Maine
lakes fishing for landlocked salmon. He went
for bass fishing in New Hampshire, trout
fishing on the Deschutes and Metolius in
Oregon, fishing for salmon on the Columbia,
at Bumping Lake in the Cascades. Fear ruined
his fishing trips. It deprived him of the joy of
canoeing, boating, and swimming.
23. What efforts did Douglas make to get over his
fear of water and why?
Ans. Fear of water was a handicap Douglas
developed during his childhood. It stayed with
him as he grew older. It ruined his pursuits of
pleasure such as canoeing, boating, swimming
and fishing. He used every method he knew to
overcome this fear. Finally, he was determined
to get an instructor and learn swimming.
24. What was the first piece of exercise the
instructor gave Douglas? How long did it take
to yield the desired result?
Ans. The instructor made him go across the pool an
hour a day for five days with the help of a rope
attached to his belt. The rope went through
a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. The
instructor held on to the end of the rope. They
went back and forth across the pool. A bit of
panic seized him every time. Moreover, the old
terror returned and his legs froze when the
instructor loosened his grip on the rope and
Douglas went under water. It was after three
months that the tension began to decrease.
25. Which other exercise did the Instructor
prescribe for Douglas to make him shed the
panic caused by water?
Ans. He taught Douglas to put his face under water
and exhale. Then he was to raise his nose and
inhale. He repeated this exercise hundreds of
time. Bit by bit he shed part of the panic that
seized him when his head went under water.
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Reader’s Sign _______________________ Date __________
26. Which exercise helped Douglas to loosen his
stiff legs and make them work as he desired?
Ans. The instructor held Douglas at the side of the
swimming pool. Then he made Douglas kick
with his legs. He did just that for weeks. At
first his legs refused to work. But gradually
they relaxed. Finally, he was able to command
them.
27. Why does Douglas say: ‘The Instructor was
finished. But I was not finished?’ How did he
overpower tiny vestiges of the old terror?
Ans. The instructor’s work was over when he built
a swimmer out of Douglas piece by piece and
then put them together into an integrated
whole. However, Douglas was not satisfied as
the remnants of the old terror would return
when he swam alone in the pool. He would
frown on terror go for another length of the
pool.
28. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth
in New Hampshire? How did he make his
terror flee?
Ans. Douglas was not sure whether all the terror
had left even after the training from October
to April and practice till July. So, he went
to Lake Wentworth and swam two miles.
Terror returned only once when he was in the
middle of the lake. He had put his face under
and saw nothing but bottomless water. The
old sensation returned in a smaller size. He
laughed and rebuked terror. His terror fled
away and he swam on.
29. Seemingly small everyday wins are actually
the greatest learnings of life. Comment on the
statement with reference of the chapter “Deep
Water”. (CBSE)

Ans. Referring to the chapter–‘Deep Water’ we
can see that Douglas managed to overcome
his fear of water by actually learning how to
swim over a period of six month, five days a
week, an hour every day. This patience and
perseverance over a long period of time slowly
backed up his confidence and gradually helped
him to overcome the panic that he had felt
every time he had seen water in the past.
Therefore, the small everyday wins at the poet
helped him to overcome his pride at sight of
any water body.
30. If you could give the chapter a new title,
what would it be? Support your answer with
reference to the chapter “Deep Water”.(CBSE)

Ans. I would call it ‘Facing Fear’ because the lesson
highlights Douglas’ struggle to overcome his
fear of water after two misadventures with it.
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The story highlights the importance of facing
one’s fears and coming out triumphant. If one
allows fear to overwhelm them, they can never
lead a healthy, fruitful life.
31. Getting rid of fear is an extremely difficult
task. Elucidate with reference to the chapter
“Deep Water”. 
(CBSE)
Ans. To overcome his fear of water, Douglas had
to work persistently for six months with an
instructor both physically and psychologically.
At first, he had to learn to be comfortable in
water and then to learn to float and finally
to move his hands and legs in sync with each
other. Even after learning from the instructor
he continued to test his skill and psyche by
swimming in lakes and rivers till all residue
of his fear vanished. This took him almost a
year to accomplish.
32. Discuss the significances of the reference to
the natural world in the chapter “Deep Water”.
(CBSE)

Ans. The references to the natural world has been
alone to show the desperation of the writer
to enjoy the benefits of nature like fishing,
boating, swimming, canoeing which he was
denied of because of his fear of water. It shows
the reason why he finally decided to make an
effort to overcome his fear of water and be a
part of nature and enjoy its benefits like other
people around him.
33. Describe both physical and emotional impacts
that the misadventure at the YMCA pool had
on the narrator. (CBSE)

Ans. Physically Douglas could neither eat or
sleep for a weak after the misadventure and
mentally he could not go near a water body
due to the fear and panic it caused him. This
continued for years when he could not enjoy
activities like swimming fishing, boating or
canoeing.
III. Long Answer Questions
1. “There was terror in my heart at the
overpowering force of the waves.” When did
Douglas start fearing water? Which experience
had further strengthened its hold on his mind
and personality?
Ans. The water waves which knocked down young
Douglas and swept over him at the beach in
California filled him with fear. He was then
three or four years old. All this happened when
he had clung to his father. He was buried
under water. His breath was gone and he was
Reader’s Sign _______________________ Date __________
frightened. His father laughed, but there was
terror in his heart at the overpowering force
of the waves.
His introduction to the Y.M.C.A. swimming
pool revived unpleasant memories and
stirred childish fears. He had gathered some
confidence when a misadventure happened as
a big boy threw him at the nine feet deep end
of the pool. His efforts to rise to the surface and
paddle to the side failed twice. He would have
drowned if he had not been rescued in time.
This terror of water overpowered his limbs
and made them stiff. His mind was haunted
by fear of water. It was, in fact, a handicap to
his personality.
2. Give an account of the fears and emotions of
Douglas as he made efforts to save himself
from being drowned in the Y.M.C.A. swimming
pool.
Ans. Douglas was frightened as he was going down.
His active mind suggested a strategy to save
himself from being drowned in water. He knew
that water has buoyancy. He must make a big
jump as his feet hit the bottom. He hoped to
rise up like a cork to the surface, lie flat on it
and paddle to the edge of the pool.
Before he touched bottom, his lungs were
ready to burst. Using all his strength, he
made a great jump. He rose up very slowly. He
saw nothing but yellow coloured dirty water.
He grew panicky and he was suffocated. He
swallowed more water as he tried to shout.
He choked and went down again. His stiff
legs refused to obey him. He had lost all his
breath. His lungs ached and head throbbed.
He was getting dizzy. He went down through
darkwater again. An absolute terror seized
Douglas. He was paralysed under water. His
reasoning power told him to jump again. He
did so, but his arms and legs wouldn’t move.
His eyes and nose came out of water, but not
his mouth. He swallowed more water and
went down third time. Now a blackness swept
over his brain. He had experienced the terror
that fear of death can produce as well as the
sensation of dying.
3. How did the misadventure in Y.M.C.A.
swimming pool affect Douglas? What efforts
did he make to conquer his old terror? Did he
succeed?
Ans. Douglas had nearly died in the swimming
pool. For days there was a haunting fear in
his heart. The slightest exertion upset him.
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He avoided going near water as he feared it.
The waters of the cascades, fishing for salmon
in canoes, bass or trout fishing–all appeared
attractive activities. However, the haunting
fear of water followed Douglas everywhere and
ruined his fishing trips. It deprived him of the
joy of canoeing, boating and swimming.
The fear of water became a handicap. He
used every method he knew to overcome this
fear. Finally, he decided to engage a trainer
and learn swimming. In seven months, the
instructor built a swimmer out of Douglas.
However, the vestiges of the old terror would
return when he was alone in the pool. He could
now frown on terror and go for another length
of the pool. This went on till July. Douglas was
not satisfied.
He went to Lake Wentworth and swam two
miles. The terror returned only once when he
had put his face under water and saw nothing
but bottomless water. In order to remove his
residual doubts he hurried west to Warm
Lake. He dived into the lake and swam across
to the other shore and back. He shouted with
joy as he had conquered his fear of water. He
finally succeeded in his effort.
4. Comment on the appropriateness of the title
‘Deep Water’
Or
Do you think the title ‘Deep Water’ is apt? Give
reasons in support of your answer.
Ans. The title ‘Deep Water’ is quite appropriate
to this extract from ‘Of Men and Mountains’
by William O. Douglas. The title is highly
suggestive and at once focuses our attention
on the main theme—experiencing fear of death
under water and the efforts of the author to
overcome it.
All the details in the essay are based on
his personal experience and analysis of fear.
The psychological analysis of fear is presented
from a child’s point of view and centres round
deep water and drowning.
The overpowering force of the waves at the
California beach stir aversion for water in
Douglas. His mother warns him against
swimming in the deep waters of the treacherous
Yakima River. The nine feet deep water of the
swimming pool appears more than ninety to
Douglas. However, when he conquers fear he
can dive and swim in the deep waters of Lake
Wentworth and Warm Lake.
Thus the title is apt and suggestive.
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Reader’s Sign _______________________ Date __________
5. What impression do you form of William O.
Douglas on the basis of reading ‘Deep Water’?
Ans. William Douglas leaves a very favourable
impression on us. He appears quite truthful
and courageous. He gives a detailed account
of his fears and emotions as he struggles
against deep water to save himself from
being drowned. Confessing one’s faults and
shortcomings is not easy. It needs courage,
honesty and will power. Douglas has all these
qualities.
His efforts to overpower the fear of water
show his firm determination, resolution and
strong will power. He has an analytic mind
which diagnoses the malady and prompts him
to search the cure. He is frightened of deep
water, but not yet frightened out of his wits.
In his heroic struggle against fear, terror
and panic, he rises to heroic stature. He
becomes an idol, a living image of bravery and
persistent efforts. He typifies the will not to
surrender or yield. His indefatigable zeal is a
source of inspiration for all and specially for
the youth.
In short, William Douglas impresses us as a
frank, truthful, honest and determined person.
6. It is often said that ‘No Pains, No Gains’. One
cannot get anything if one does not work hard.
Write an article on the topic, mentioned above,
in not more than 120 words. You can take
ideas from the following lines:
“I went to a pool and practiced five days a
week, an hour each day. A rope attached to
the belt went through a pulley that ran on an
overhead cable. He held on to the end of the
rope, and we went back and forth, back and
forth across the pool, hour after hour, day after
day, week after week.”
Ans. No Pains, no Gains
The dictum implies that one can’t attain
phenomenal success without making sincere
efforts. There is no substitute to hard work.
There is no short cut to success. All successful
persons have emphasised the importance of
hard work in life. Nobody achieved greatness
overnight. The secret of their success was
hard and systematic work. Destiny never
obliges the shirkers. God helps those who help
themselves. Rome was not built in a day. Man
must comprehend the significance of doing
hard labour. One must burn the midnight oil
to succeed in this world of intense competition.
Never forget that rest is rust and work is
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everything. Experience matters a lot. It
teaches us the way things are to be done.
It is rightly said that ‘the best way really to
train people is with an experienced mentor…
and on the job’. The experienced advice of the
trainer enlightens the trainees. They are made
exceptionally skilled in the basic techniques.
The overwhelming importance of training can
be neglected at our own peril. This perception
of beings would bring them perilously close to
disaster.
10. FD Roosevelt says in his Inaugural Address
in 1933 that ‘The only thing we have to fear is
fear itself.’ Write an article on this topic. You
may take ideas from the given lines:
“I used every way I knew to overcome
this fear, but it held me firmly in its grip!”
Ans. Fear
Fear stifles innovation, erodes creativity and
limits the exponential growth. It is said that
‘Those who love to be feared, fear to be loved.’
Some fear them, but they fear everyone.
Montaigne wrote that ‘The thing I fear
most is fear.’ Fear is the principal source of
superstition, and one of the primary sources
of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning
of wisdom. Seneca says that ‘If we let things
terrify us, life will not be worth living. A
person who is afraid of something cannot
enjoy life in totality. Fear makes us weak,
and cowardly. But it does not mean that one
should become arrogant. A person of peevish
nature cannot be called a brave fellow. Arjuna
said that a warrior’s fear always helps him in
understanding and analysing the potential
of the opponent. Cervantes wrote in Don
Quixote that ‘Fear has many eyes and can
see things underground.’ Man should not
have unnecessary fear. It discourages him to
achieve the lofty aspirations. Fear impedes
action and it is a well known fact that those
who do not act lose the battle of life. One has
to face the challenges of life. They can never be
ignored and neglected. They help us in honing
our skills and tapping our untapped potential.
Hence, one must shed fear.
11. Imagine that the bully who threw Douglas into
the pool, reads this chapter and realizes his
mistake.
As the bully, write a dairy entry penning down
your response to Douglas’ perseverance and
your own feelings of guilt and regret.
Ans. 14 June, 19xx
I feel so ashamed of myself. Today I saw
238 English Cor -X
e
II
Reader’s Sign _______________________ Date __________
Douglas at the pool after many years. He was
with an instructor learning how to swim. He
looked petrified yet determind to overcome
his fear of water. It must have taken a lot of
courage for him to learn swim after the near
drowning incidents he suffered due to me. I
was so foolish. Yes, I was 18 but he was only
12 or 13. How could I have decided to push
him into the deep water of the pool? I knew he
could not swim and yet? I suppose I thought
it was all in fun. But what would I have done
if Douglas had drowned that day? I wonder
how I would have lived with that guilt? I am
so happy to see him alive!
12. Douglas’ mother writes to the YMCA
authorities holding them accountable for
the mishap as well as demanding that the
authorities employ a team of guards near the
pool for supervision of the children.
As the mother, write a letter to the authorities
with reference to the case of your son.
You may begin like this:
Sir
Subject: Negligence on Premises
This is with reference to the incident of near
fatal drowning of my son, William on your
premises. We were...
Ans. 14 June, 19XX
Subject: Negligences on Premises
This is with reference to the incident of the
near fatal drowning of my son, William on your
premises. We were told that he was pushed
into the deep end of the pool by an 18 years old
‘bruiser’ of a boy, just for the sake of having
some fun!
My son nearly died in this incident. I want
the boy and the authorities to apologize to my
son for the trauma that he had to suffer for
no fault of his. Also I am upset that the life
guards were not at the pod when the children
arrived for their swimming classes. How can
you allow children near the pool without adult
supervisions?
Please ensure that this incident is not repeated
and stricter rules are made against my such
incident happening in the future. I don’t want
any other child to suffer the trauma that my
son, William is having to suffer due to the
thoughtless action of a bully. Awaiting your
response.
Yours sincerely
Mrs. Douglas