12th English Deep Water William Douglas MCQ Free Quiz for 2026 exam

Q: What early childhood incident made Douglas fear water?

At the age of three or four, Douglas was knocked down by waves at a beach in California, which left him scared and with a negative memory of water.

Q: What efforts did Douglas make to overcome his fear of water?

Douglas hired a swimming instructor who trained him step by step — using a pulley system, teaching breathing techniques, and building his confidence through constant practice.

Q: How did Douglas finally confirm that his fear was gone?

He tested himself by swimming alone in Lake Wentworth and later in Warm Lake, proving that he had conquered the terror completely.

Q: What lesson does the story 'Deep Water' teach us?

The story teaches that fear is only in the mind, and with courage, determination, and persistent effort, it can be overcome. As Roosevelt said, 'All we have to fear is fear itself.'

Q: How does Douglas describe the feeling of drowning?

He describes it as terrifying and paralyzing, with his lungs aching, legs frozen, and a sense of peaceful surrender when he was about to lose consciousness.

Q: Why did Douglas want to learn swimming despite his fear?

Douglas loved water activities and wanted to enjoy fishing, canoeing, and boating. His fear limited his freedom, so he was determined to fight it and regain his confidence.

Attempt 12th English Deep Water William Douglas MCQ Exam Quiz. Mastering multiple-choice questions requires a solid understanding of the textbook content so download pdf and study for better mark. Although you can also study chapter summaries for quick review.

Deep Water William Douglas MCQ

Time: 10 Minutes for 10 Question.

12th English: Deep Water William Douglas

1 / 10

1. What was Douglas's initial plan to save himself when he was thrown into the pool?

Call for help

Swim to the shallow end

Jump off the bottom and reach the surface

Hold his breath and float

2 / 10

2. What strokes did Douglas practice while learning to swim?

Dog paddle and butterfly stroke

Breaststroke and crawl stroke

Backstroke and sidestroke

Freestyle and butterfly stroke

3 / 10

3. How did Douglas describe the water when he was struggling to stay afloat?

Clear and calm

Cold and murky

Warm and blue

Dirty yellow

4 / 10

4. What larger meaning does Douglas draw from his experience with fear?

Fear is a permanent part of life

Fear can be easily ignored

Overcoming fear leads to personal growth

Fear is only experienced by the weak

5 / 10

5. What motivated Douglas to finally overcome his fear of water?

Encouragement from friends

Desire to enjoy water activities

Pressure from his parents

A challenge from his instructor

6 / 10

6. What realization helped Douglas finally conquer his fear during his solo swim in the lake?

He could touch the bottom

His instructor was watching

His fear was baseless

The water was not as deep

7 / 10

7. Where did Douglas go to ensure he had completely overcome his fear of water?

The Y.M.C.A. pool

Lake Wentworth

The Yakima River

Warm Lake

8 / 10

8. What method did Douglas's instructor use to help him learn swimming?

Holding him and moving him through the water

Teaching him to float on his back

Using a belt and pulley system

Throwing him into the deep end repeatedly

9 / 10

9. What did Douglas feel after conquering his fear of water?

Exhaustion and frustration

Joy and triumph

Indifference

Disappointment

10 / 10

10. How did the big boy at the pool address Douglas before tossing him into the water?

Hey, you!

Hi, Skinny!

Watch out!

Get ready!

Insert Full Name and email for result.

Full NameEmail

Your score is

Short Question Answer for Chapter 3: Deep Water (William Douglas)

Based on CBSE Pattern | Actual & Important

Q1. What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about?
Answer: The misadventure was when a big boy pushed Douglas into the deep end of the YMCA pool, and he nearly drowned, which created a lifelong fear of water in him.

Q2. What early childhood incident made Douglas fear water?
Answer: At the age of three or four, Douglas was knocked down by waves at a beach in California, which left him scared and with a negative memory of water.

Q3. What efforts did Douglas make to overcome his fear of water?
Answer: Douglas hired a swimming instructor who trained him step by step — using a pulley system, teaching breathing techniques, and building his confidence through constant practice.

Q4. How did Douglas finally confirm that his fear was gone?
Answer: He tested himself by swimming alone in Lake Wentworth and later in Warm Lake, proving that he had conquered the terror completely.

Q5. What lesson does the story “Deep Water” teach us?
Answer: The story teaches that fear is only in the mind, and with courage, determination, and persistent effort, it can be overcome. As Roosevelt said, “All we have to fear is fear itself.”

Q6. How does Douglas describe the feeling of drowning?
Answer: He describes it as terrifying and paralyzing, with his lungs aching, legs frozen, and a sense of peaceful surrender when he was about to lose consciousness.

Q7. Why did Douglas want to learn swimming despite his fear?
Answer: Douglas loved water activities and wanted to enjoy fishing, canoeing, and boating. His fear limited his freedom, so he was determined to fight it and regain his confidence.

Chapter Summary of Deep Water William Douglas

About the Author:
William Douglas (1898-1980) was an esteemed American jurist, known for his advocacy of individual rights and his long tenure as a Supreme Court Justice. His autobiographical work, “Of Men and Mountains,” provides an account of his near-drowning experience and how he overcame his fear of water.

Summary:
“Deep Water” is an excerpt from “Of Men and Mountains” by William Douglas, where he recounts a traumatic incident from his childhood. At the age of ten or eleven, Douglas decided to learn swimming at the Y.M.C.A. pool in Yakima. His initial excitement was overshadowed by fear due to a past experience at the beach where he was overpowered by waves.

Despite his aversion, Douglas began to swim using water wings. However, a bigger boy once tossed him into the deep end of the pool, causing a near-drowning experience. Douglas vividly describes the terror and panic he felt as he struggled to reach the surface but failed, eventually passing out.

This traumatic event left Douglas with a deep-seated fear of water. Overcoming this fear took years. Determined to conquer it, he hired a swimming instructor who taught him various techniques and gradually helped him regain confidence in water. Douglas practiced persistently until he could swim confidently in pools and lakes.

Ultimately, this experience taught Douglas that fear itself is the greatest obstacle. By confronting and overcoming it, he gained a new lease on life, feeling liberated and empowered.

Also Attempt

You can download 12th NCERT English Books and study for better rank in your exam. You can also view our youtube channel for Class 12 English MCQ Questions and answers or 12th English MCQ pdf download from NERT official website for better marks.

Mohit Sinha

I’m Mohit Sinha! With a Master’s degree in Physics, I bring a deep understanding of the subject to my teaching. I specialize in guiding students through the complexities of Physics for 11th and 12th grades and also offer English instruction from 1st to 12th grade. When I'm not in the classroom, I'm passionate about creating engaging educational content for QuizRanker.in, where I help make learning both fun and effective.

Deep Water William Douglas MCQ

Report a question

Short Question Answer for Chapter 3: Deep Water (William Douglas)

Based on CBSE Pattern | Actual & Important

Chapter Summary of Deep Water William Douglas

12th English Prose Chapters MCQ

12th English Poetry Chapters MCQ

12th English Vista Chapters MCQ

Also Attempt

Mohit Sinha