Chapter: 12. All By Electricity
English Literature Practice Paper: All by Electricity - Answer Key
A. Answer the following questions briefly. (2 marks each)
Dr. Aronnax’s primary motivation for wanting to learn about the Nautilus’s functioning was that he was supposed to live his entire life inside this machine, and it was natural for him to learn as much as possible about it. Three common navigational instruments Captain Nemo showed Dr. Aronnax were the thermometer, barometer, and compass (or sextant, chronometers, telescopes, hygrometer, storm-glass). Dr. Aronnax’s initial doubt or surprise regarding Captain Nemo’s claim about electricity was that the great speed of the Nautilus seemed to have little to do with electricity, as its dynamic capacity had previously been very limited. Electricity did not directly provide the air Captain Nemo breathed; instead, it worked powerful pumps that stored air in special tanks, allowing him to remain at deep levels. In the Nautilus’s kitchen, all cooking was done with electricity, which was more powerful and obedient than gas. The wires under the cookers evenly distributed and maintained heat over platinum plates. B. Answer the following questions with reference to the context. (3 marks each)
“My electricity is not the commonly used sort, and that is all that I wish to say on the matter.”
a. Captain Nemo says these words to Dr. Aronnax.
b. This statement suggests Captain Nemo’s attitude towards his discovery is one of profound pride, possessiveness, and a desire to maintain secrecy, possibly to prevent others from replicating his unique technology.
c. Captain Nemo is so secretive likely because his electricity is a revolutionary invention far beyond the comprehension of his time, and he desires to maintain his complete independence and control, free from the interference or exploitation of the surface world. “Just remember one thing. I owe everything to the sea: it produces electricity and electricity gives the Nautilus heat, light and movement-in a word, life.”
a. Captain Nemo is the speaker of these lines.
b. By saying the sea produces electricity, the speaker means that he extracts the raw materials or energy directly from the ocean itself to generate his unique form of electricity, making him entirely self-sufficient from land-based resources.
c. This statement encapsulates Captain Nemo’s core philosophy of absolute independence from the terrestrial world. It highlights his deep connection to and reliance solely on the ocean for all his needs, asserting the sea as the ultimate source of life and power for him and the Nautilus. “It’s amazing, and I can see, captain, that you were right to use this agent which will one day replace wind, water, and steam.”
a. The ‘agent’ being referred to here is electricity.
b. The speaker (Dr. Aronnax) is confident about this agent’s future potential because he has witnessed its unparalleled power and versatility in the Nautilus, where it provides light, heat, propulsion, cooking, and water purification – functions previously reliant on other energy sources.
c. Yes, this statement holds true in our modern world. Electricity has indeed replaced or significantly augmented wind, water (as direct mechanical power for large-scale industry, though hydro-electricity is a form of it), and steam as the primary power source for homes, transportation, and industrial applications globally. C. Think and answer. (4 marks each)
Imagine you are Dr. Aronnax, writing a journal entry after your tour of the Nautilus. Describe your thoughts and feelings about Captain Nemo and the submarine’s reliance on electricity. Example Journal Entry: “My mind reels from today’s tour! Captain Nemo truly is a genius beyond his time. The Nautilus, running entirely by his unique electricity, is an engineering marvel. Heat, light, propulsion, even fresh water—all from the sea! It’s astonishing, almost terrifying, how completely self-sufficient he is. I’m filled with awe at his invention, yet deeply curious about the precise nature of this ‘special’ electricity.” The story is a work of science fiction. If Jules Verne were alive today, what new, cutting-edge technology might he feature as the “soul” of a futuristic vessel, replacing electricity? Explain your choice. If Jules Verne were alive today, he might feature Quantum Entanglement-based Energy Generation or Advanced Bioreactor Technology as the “soul” of a futuristic vessel. Explanation for Quantum Entanglement-based Energy Generation: This would appeal to Verne’s interest in the fundamental forces of nature. Imagining a vessel powered by harnessing quantum entanglement could allow for virtually limitless, clean energy derived from the fabric of spacetime itself. It would grant the vessel unimaginable speed, instantaneous communication across vast distances, and perfect stealth, making it utterly independent and untouchable, much like Nemo’s ambition. This concept would be “not the commonly used sort” even by today’s standards, pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding just as his electricity did. 
Answer key