UNIT 6: THE DISCOVERY
HIGHLIGHTS
Columbus and his crew left Spain to discover a new world in the ship ‘Santa Maria’
They sailed for many months but did not find any land.
The seamen had no faith in Columbus and they wanted to go back to their families.
They asked Columbus to turn the ship towards Spain but he refused.
The seamen were angry and decided to kill Columbus.
It was only the page – boy Pepe who stood by Columbus faithfully to save Columbus.
Columbus had faith in God and his wish.
They saw the land at a time when they had lost all hopes.
MOST LIKELY QUESTIONS
II Answer the following questions in 2 – 3 sentences each: (2/3 Marks)
1. “Pepe was the only person who was loyal to Columbus till the end of his voyage” Justify your
answer. (2019 March, 2017 April)
When seamen rushed to kill Columbus, Pepe stopped them and told that they had to kill
him first.
He hated seamen as they drank too much.
He liked Columbus because Columbus had a vision and man of principles.
He always wanted to be in the company of Columbus.
2. Why did the seamen want to go back to Spain? (2019 March)
The seamen had been at sea for long and had not seen land.
The seamen had no faith in Columbus.
They missed their families.
3. How did the crew members express their discontent with Columbus? (2018 April)
Guillermo called Columbus a devil and said that Santa Maria would be lighter for his
carcass.
Diego compared seamen to bats flying by day.
Francisco refused to bring Guillermo and behave rudely.
They all decided to kill Columbus.
Read the following extracts and answer the given questions:
1. “Why should one man have the lives of fifty in his hands?” (2016 April)
a. Who is the speaker? Ans: Diego
b. Who did the speaker say this to? Ans: Pedro
c. What made the speaker say so? Ans: Because the sailors were home sick and getting impatient
and Columbus was not ready to return to Spain.
2. “Mutiny is an ugly word, sir.”
a. Who is the speaker? Ans: Pedro.
b. When did the speaker make this statement?
Ans: When Diego said, “I hope we are not entertaining mutinous thoughts.”
c. What does ‘mutiny’ mean? Ans: Revolting against the authority.
d. Why did the speaker say that mutiny is an ugly word?
Ans: Because mutiny would result in loss of lives.
e. Why did the seamen think of revolting? Ans: The seamen were home sick and they wanted to go
back to their homes. They were tired of sailing for long time.
3. “I prefer your company to theirs.”
a. Who does ‘I’ refer to? Ans: Pepe.
b. Who does ‘theirs’ refer to? Ans: Seamen.
c. Whose company did the speaker prefer? Ans: Columbus.
d. Why did the speaker prefer his company?
Ans: The speaker had faith in the captain and he was loyal to him.
4. “The Santa Maria will be the lighter for his carcass.”
a. Who made this statement? Ans: Guillermo Ires
b. What does the word ‘Carcass’ mean in the context? Ans: Dead body.
c. Why did the speaker say so? Ans: The speaker demanded that the ship should be sailed back to
Spain as the seamen were desperate. But the captain did not agree.
d. What do these words reveal about the speaker? Ans: The speaker wished that the captain was
dead.
5. “Discipline knows no buts.”
a. Who is the speaker? Ans: Columbus.
b. Who was it said to? Ans: Francisco.
c. When did the speaker make this statement?
Ans: When Guillermo said, “The Santa Maria will be lighter for his carcass”. Columbus came to know
this from Pepe. He asked Francisco to bring Guillermo Ires to him. But Francisco replied, sorry sir.”
d. What does the statement mean?
Ans: One should not give any excuse to follow discipline.
6. “I am your captain. Your duty is to obey me as mine is to obey the Royal Sovereign of Spain who
sent me.” (2016 June)
a. Who is the speaker? Ans: Columbus.
b. Who was this said to? Ans: Guillermo Ires.
c. When did the speaker say so?
Ans: When Guillermo rebelled against Columbus and thought of killing him.
d. What does this statement reveal about the speaker’s character?
Ans: The Captain Columbus was not only an efficient leader but also was loyal and obedient to the
King and Queen.
7. “Cowards! Cowards! You will have to kill me first.” (2023 June)
a. Who is the speaker? Ans: Pepe.
b. Whom did the speaker call ‘Cowards’?
Ans: The speaker called Guillermo and other seamen as cowards.
c. When did the speaker say so?
Ans: When Guillermo and some seamen tried to attack Columbus.
d. What trait does it reveal about the speaker?
Ans: This shows that the speaker was loyal and obedient to his captain.
8. What! Does that child stand between me and death? (2015 April)
a. Who made this statement? Ans: Columbus.
b. Who does the ‘Child’ refer to? Ans: Pepe.
c. When did the speaker say so? Ans: When Guillermo and some seamen tried to attack Columbus.
9. “Dark Deeds are better done in the dark”.
a. Who is the speaker? Ans: Columbus.
b. When did the speaker say so?
Ans: When Guillermo told Columbus that the Santa Maria should be turned back to Spain as the
seamen were desperate otherwise they would do whatever they liked.
c. Who does this statement refer to? Ans: The speaker is indirectly making a reference to Guillermo.
d. What does the statement mean? Ans: Bad things are always done at night.
10. “So far I have discovered but one thing.”
a. Who does ‘I’ refer to? Ans: Columbus.
b. What had he discovered? Ans: When a man is given a vision, he must follow it alone.
c. When did the speaker say so?
Ans: When seamen rebelled against Columbus because he refused to turn back the ship to Spain.
11. “There are limits to our patience, sir.” (2023 April)
a. Who made this statement? Ans: Diego
b. Who does ‘Sir ‘refer to? Ans: Columbus
c. What made the speaker say so? Ans: Seamen were home sick and had become impatient.
d. When did the speaker say so? Ans: When Columbus asked Diego, if he was becoming impatient.
12. “I hope we are not entertaining mutinous thoughts.”
a. Who do ‘I ‘refer to? Ans: Pedro
b. Who did the speaker say this to? Ans: Diego
c. When did the speaker say so?
Ans: When Diego said why should one man have the lives of fifty in his hands?
d. What were the mutinous thoughts? Ans: Revolting against Columbus.
e. What reply did the speaker get? Ans: “Mutiny is an ugly word”.
13. “We are like bats trying to fly by day.”
a. Who made this statement? Ans: Diego made this statement.
b. Who do ‘we ‘refer to? Ans: The seamen
c. What does the statement mean in the context?
Ans: Bats can’t see during the day. If they fly during the day they may not reach their destination.
In the same way the seamen thought that they were sailing somewhere not sighting the land.
14. “Shall simple men judge their betters?”
a. Who made this statement? Ans: Columbus
b. Who does ‘simple men’ refer to? Ans: The seamen
c. What does the statement mean? Ans: Simple men have no vision. They blindly follow their leader.
d. When did the speaker say so? Ans: When Juan said, we are simple men, sir.
15. “It is, sir! Glory be to God!” (2015 June)
a. Who made this statement? Ans: Pedro
b. Who does ‘sir’ refer to? Ans: Columbus
c. When did he say so? Ans: When Columbus saw a faintly flickering light.
d. Why did the speaker praise God? Ans: Because they sighted the land after many months of voyage.
16. “A good sailor knows his place.”
a. Who is the speaker? Ans: Columbus
b. Whom was it said to? Ans: Diego
c. When did the speaker make this statement?
Ans: While pointing out that Diego had no right to be on the quarter deck.
17. “Discipline is a thing of the past, sir it’s you or us.”
a. Who made this statement? Ans: Francisco
b. Who do ‘you ‘refer to? Ans: Columbus
c. What statement was it an answer to? Ans: When Columbus said “Discipline knows no buts “.
18. “The first man to move shall spend rest of the night in irons!” (2019 June, 2020 April)
a. Who gave this warning? Ans: Columbus
b. What made the speaker to give this warning? Ans: To control the drunken sea men.
c. What was the reaction of the warning? Ans: They stopped moving forward,
d. What does ‘in iron’ means in this contest? Ans: Chained/ arrested/ Put behind bars
ACTIVITY 01: EXTRACTS:
Who said the following statements?
1. Everybody doubts except me. _____________________
2. Cowards! Cowards! You will have to kill me first. ________________
3. What! Does the child stand between me and death? ________________
4. The Sana Maria will be lighter for his carcass. _______________
5. The Santa Maria shall turn back at once or we are not men but sheep. ____________
6. Why should one man have the lives of fifty in his hands? __________________
7. Discipline knows no buts. _____________
8. Discipline is the thing of the past, Sir it’s you or us. ________________
9. Words for children! Forth and scum. ______________
10. Dark deeds are better done in the dark. _______________
11. They ought to stop that. __________________
12. There’s plenty here who can do it. __________________
13. Desperate men do not always act up to the best that is in them. _______________
14. Yes, captain and he is the best. ________________
15. I don’t speak to them. I hate them. _______________
16. Let Guillermo Ires be sent to me. He shall know what it is like in irons. _____________
17. Who will navigate her? _____________
18. We will wait till tomorrow morning at any rate. ________________
19. Captain be careful. Sometimes they are desperate. __________________
20. We have not all your visions Captain. _______________
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