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Unit 06: Civic Responsibilities
The Day The Dam Broke
English II (C)
For Class XII (All Groups)
The Day The Dam Broke
(By James Groves Thurber)
Pre-Reading
EXERCISE 01:Discuss in pairs and answer the following questions:
1. How would you feel if you are told the news of a mishap in your vicinity?
Ans: If I were told about a mishap in my vicinity, I would likely feel shocked, anxious, and afraid. My initial reaction might be confusion, followed by concern for the safety of my family and neighbors. I might also feel the urge to act quickly, even without having full information about the authenticity of the news—whether it is true or just a rumor.
2. What civic responsibilities would you take in such a panicking incident?
Ans: In a panic situation, I would try to remain calm and verify the information before reacting impulsively. I would help ensure that correct and accurate information is spread to prevent further confusion. Assisting the elderly, children, and people with disabilities to stay safe would also be my responsibility.
Additionally, I would help manage the crowd if possible and cooperate with authorities to restore order and control the situation.
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While-Reading
EXERCISE 02:Work in pairs or groups. Write phrases with their contextual meaning.
| Phrasal Verbs | Contextual Meanings |
|---|---|
| Went through | To be pulled or led by others |
| Gave up | To face forward, toward the future or destination |
| Came to | To gradually disappear |
| Turned out | To switch off or extinguish |
| Drew along | To experience |
| Caught up (with) | To suddenly start moving faster (begin trotting) |
| Looked ahead | To stop trying or abandon an effort |
| Shut up | To fall silent or refuse to talk |
| Ran past | To reach the same level or position as someone ahead |
| Broke into (a trot) | To move quickly past someone or something |
| Melted away | To regain consciousness |
Ans: Phrasal Verbs With Contextual Meanings
| Phrasal Verbs | Contextual Meanings |
|---|---|
| Went through | To experience |
| Gave up | To stop trying or abandon an effort |
| Came to | To regain consciousness |
| Turned out | To switch off or extinguish |
| Drew along | To be pulled or led by others |
| Caught up (with) | To reach the same level or position as someone ahead |
| Looked ahead | To face forward, toward the future or destination |
| Shut up | To fall silent or refuse to talk |
| Ran past | To move quickly past someone or something |
| Broke into (a trot) | To suddenly start moving faster (begin trotting) |
| Melted away | To gradually disappear |
EXERCISE 03:
Read the statements and choose the correct option.
1. The rumour The dam has broke!' triggered _____.
(a) the celebration among people
(b) assembly of mob on roads
(c) panic among people ✔
(d) parade of the militiaman
2 The grandfather mistakenly believes that the menace the city is facing during the flood is _____.
(a) the National Guard
(b) a gang of robbers
(c) Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry ✔
(d) the city engineers
3. The misconception about the dam breaking that caused panic was _____.
(a) the East Side was in imminent danger
(b) High Street would be engulfed in floodwaters ✔
(c) the water level would rise over two feet
(d) the West Side was under thirty feet of water
4. What did Dr. Mallory mistake for the sound of rushing water?
(a) Traffic noise
(b) A fire alarm
(c) Swishing of roller-skates ✔
(d) Children playing
5. The event that finally brought the order and dispelled fear after the panic was _____.
(a) fire-fighters arriving
(b) Militiamen announcing the dam had not broken ✔
(c) The rain stopping
(d) the river level dropping
6. The author's mother took eggs and loaves of bread with her and thought to _____.
(a) move to other city
(b) travel to East from South
(c) take refuge on top of Memorial Hall ✔
(d) escape with others to safer side
7. After two years, the city residents' reaction on the incident was that _____.
(a) They laughed about it jokingly. ✔
(b) They still spoke about it with fear.
(c) As if nothing had happened.
(d) They celebrated it as a historic event.
8. What does the story reveal about human behavior in groups?
(a) People become more logical in groups
(b) People seek leadership and clarity
(c) Panic can spread quickly without reason ✔
(d) Group behaviour prevents irrational action
9. The text, "The Day the Dam Broke" is _____ in nature.
(a) adventurous and explorative
(b) humorous and ironic ✔
(c) tragic and horror
(d) scientific and analytic
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Post-Reading
EXERCISE 04:Answer the following questions after reading the text:
Q.1: What and where did the panic start?
Ans: The panic began in Columbus, Ohio, in 1913 when people suddenly started shouting that the dam had broken. It started when a few people ran in fear, and others, seeing them run, assumed it was due to a flood and joined in the stampede. No one verified the information everyone just followed the crowd. It was the situation of turmoil and confusion.
Q.2: In what ways does the text illustrate the theme of mob mentality?
Ans: The essay clearly shows mob mentality that people reacting emotionally and irrationally just because others are doing so. No one stopped to confirm the facts. Even those who didn't know what was happening ran simply because others were running. The fear spread like wildfire, showing how panic can override logic in a crowd facing the frightful and perilous situation on the roads in Columbus.
Q.3: How did different individuals and groups react to this news?
Ans: Civilians: Dropped everything and started running. Some didn't even know why they were running.
Older people: Recalled a real flood from 1884 and were more easily frightened.
Police, firefighters, and military: Surprisingly, they also joined the panic at first, adding to the confusion instead of calming it.
Everyone, regardless of age or status, was swept up in the fear without inquiring the reason.
Q.4: How did the panic end so abruptly and why nobody talked about it for the long time?
Ans: The panic ended when someone calmly said, "The dam hasn't broken." People suddenly stopped running, turned around, and went back to their routines as if nothing had happened.
No one spoke about it afterward because they felt embarrassed by their behaviour. Everyone wanted to forget the foolishness, so the incident was quietly buried in memory.
Q.5: How long did the panic last? How was the order restored?
Ans: The panic lasted for about two hours. Order was restored naturally when people realized there was no danger. There was no official announcement just someone spreading calm and people beginning to come to their senses. Once they knew the dam was intact, they returned home silently. The people cleared their profound misunderstanding related to the news of the dam.
OR
The panic lasted for not more than two hours in all, when the city authorities came to know that it was a false alarm. Order was restored by fear dispelled finally by means of militiamen riding about in motor lorries bowling through megaphones. The dam has not broken!'. However, the frightened minds mistook the announcement and thought that the men were announcing that the dam had then broken. Then they realized their mistake and started going back to normalcy.
Q.6: How does the author describe the business and behaviour of people in Columbus the next day of the panic?
Ans: The next day, people acted as if nothing had happened. Businesses opened as usual, and everyone behaved very formally and normally, trying to cover up their embarrassment. The author humorously noted that no one dared bring it up, and the entire city pretended the panic had never occurred. The people were sheepishly back to their homes and businesses.
Q..Q7: Describe the response of law enforcement, fire-fighters, and military personnel during the panic. How did their actions demonstrate civic duty?
Ans: Initially, even police and soldiers panicked, which added to the chaos. However, later, some of them tried to help restore order. Their initial reaction showed human weakness, but eventually, their efforts to calm people and return things to normal reflected their sense of civic duty, even though they were part of the confusion.
Q.8: Amidst the chaos and confusion, how did the author's family uphold their civic responsibilities during the incident?
Ans: The author's family, especially his grandfather, tried to act rationally. The grandfather refused to run, thinking it was nonsense, and tried to stop others. Thurber's family didn't spread rumors and tried to remain calm. This shows they held on to common sense and tried to act responsibly, even when the rest of the city in panic.
EXERCISE 05:
Read the following statement and write T for True of F for False.
| No. | Statement | True/False |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | The flood in Columbus, Ohio, in 1913 was real and caused extensive damage on the East Side. | F |
| 2. | The panic started when people began running east, thinking the dam had broken. | T |
| 3. | Aunt Edith was in a grocery store when she first heard about the supposed dam break. | F |
| 4. | When the rumour spread, people ran in all directions away from the dam | F |
| 5. | The police and firemen tried to calm people down by saying the dam had not broken. | F |
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