2.

5 A HEROINE OF THE SEA

WARMING UP!
(1) Read the names of the parts of a ship and their
description and label the diagram of the ship below.
(a) anchor - an inverted T shaped structure of iron
to hold a ship on the spot
(b) beam - broadest part of a ship side to side
(c) bow - front part of a ship
(d) bilge/keel- bottom of a ship
(e) bridge/cockpit/wheel house- control cabin of a
ship
(f) crow’s nest - top most part / post of a ship from
where a sailor can look out
(g) hull – portion of the ship seen above sea-water
level
(h) part holes – small windows on the side of a ship
MARGIN QUESTIONS
1) What role did the lighthouse play?
Ans: The lights from the lighthouses shine across the
sea and warn sailors at night of dangerous rocks.
2) What efforts did Grace’s father take to educate
his children?
Ans: Grace’s father was a wise and educated man
who brought up his children very carefully. Grace
and her brother were all taught to read and write.
Their father also taught them to be honest, brave
and unselfish.
3) What was Grace always unhappy about?
Ans: Grace always unhappy about the poor sailors
who were at sea in the storm.
4) What did Grace notice from her window?
Ans: Grace noticed that there were people clinging
on to the rocks from her window.
5) How did Grace and her father come to the rocks?
Ans: The Boat went up and down over the waves as
high as hills. Every time they went down the boat
nearly went under the water. Little by little with all
their strength on the oars, they came to the rocks.
6) At the most, how many could the boat carry?
Ans: At the most the boat can carry only 7 people in
a time.
7) How did the Darling family become famous?
Ans: After the several days those passenger were
able to return to their homes in England. They told
the story of the brave girl Grace and her father to
their families and friends, suddenly Grace darling
and her father were famous.
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Find from the story the antonyms of:
Coward × brave rare × common
carelessly × carefully disagreed × agreed
selfish × unselfish enemies × friends
happy × unhappy forgot × remembered
2. Pick out words from the story, make a list of 8
words related to sea-travel. For example: lighthouse
(1) sailors (5) wind
(2) ship (6) wave
(3) shipwreck (7) passenger
(4) storm (8) oars
3. Write any two dialogues from the story which
prove the following:
Grace Darling was selfless and brave:
* “We must rescue them before they are drowned!”
* I can row a boat as well as any man. I’m

William Darling was unwilling to take a risk:

* “It is hopeless. We can do nothing.”
* How can I row a boat by myself through
 Grace Darling was selfless and brave:
* “No,no!” How will it help those poor people if
you are drowned?
* You can’t row in this storm.
4. Answer in short in your own words.
(a) She stayed back home, with her parents WHO?
Ans: Grace stayed back home, with her parents.
(b) A ship was wrecked that night. WHY?
Ans: On the night of September 6th 1838, a terrible
storm was blowing.
(c) Nine men and women did not drown. WHY
NOT?
Ans: Nine men and women were able to climb on to
a rock. They were clinging on to the rocks.
(d) Grace said she would help her father to rescue.
HOW?
Ans: Grace said that she can help him to row the
boat as well as any man and that she has often
rowed with him.
(e) Using all their strength to row, they came there.
WHERE?
Ans: Using all their strength to row, the came nearer
the rocks.
5. How can you, as a young student, help people in a
terrible road accident? Write 5 types of action you
can take.
(1) I can call the ambulance.
(2) I can clear the road traffic.
(3) Inform the police.
(4) Provide first aid to the injured.
(5) I can inform their relatives.
Ans:
How will you help 1. I can call the ambulance
the people who 2. Admit the injured in nearby
meet with an hospital
accident? 3. I can clear the road traffic
4.Call local people for help
5. Inform the police
6.Provide first aid
7. Try to help them out of the disaster
8. Inform their relatives
6. Things to do:
(i) Describe the life of family who lives in
lighthouses.
The life of lighthouse families is very tough. They
live an isolated life away from society. There were no
shops, no public transport and no more facilities
available.. The family members do not have any
social life. They are cut off from the world. They
have the company of the sea and the sound of the
waves. In a way the life in lighthouse is dull, inactive
and mundane.
7. Discuss in groups and write about the life of
Grace using following guide lines
Grace’s Life 1. Place of living
2. Her helping nature
3. Her education
4. Her bravery act
5. Her unselfishness
6. How she finally
rewarded
7. The challenges, she
had in the lighthouse
8. Support from parents
Grace lived in lighthouses, at different places. She
lived with her parents and brothers and sisters.
Grace was the youngest of all. It was a lonely and
isolated life far from any town or village. She was
given education by her father. She was brought up
by her parents. She stayed with her parents after her
siblings went to city for education. Living a lonely
life in the light house was the challenge itself. Grace
was a strong girl. She was very sensitive and
unselfish. She felt sad to see others in sorrow. She
always got support of her parents. Grace had
helping nature, therefore she requested her father to
rescue the passengers stuck on the rock. She herself
rowed the boat in wild storm and saved nine
unfortunate passengers. These rescued passengers
made Grace and her father famous. Thus they were
rewarded for their noble and human act of bravery.
8. Imagine you have read in the News about how
Grace Darling’s courage saved some ships-wrecked
people. Write a letter of congratulations to her and
her family for the brave, humane act.
Dear grace,
I feel very happy to see your news in today’s
newspaper. It was very brave of you to rescue people
in such big storm. Many peole would have preferred
to stay in the light house rather than venturing out
in the storm to help others, you have risked your life
and set an example for many of us. This act of you
and your family taking care
of the people in distress shows humanity and also
influences lot of youth to help others and be brave in
situations such as these.
I take this opportunity to congratulate you and your
family.
Thanking you.