heaven lake

Short  answers
1. How did Mr. Cao react when the author expressed his desire to go for a swim in Heaven Lake?
The hotel manager was astounded when the author expressed his desire to go for a swim in the
Heaven Lake. For a while he did not reply to the author’s query regarding the water temperature. He
pretended to be busy with his work.
2. How was the author discouraged from taking a swim in Heaven Lake?
The hotel manager informed the author that people often drowned in the Heaven Lake. The last one
was a Beijing athlete from an athletics college, who swam to and fro every day across the lake. But one day he swam across and never returned. It could be he had a heart attack, or got a cramp or the water
was too cold or perhaps the undercurrent got him. All this scared the author and retying his shoelaces
he gave up the idea of a swim in the lake.
3. How did John and the author spend a day at the ‘small ice-blue pool’?
John and the author went to the ice-blue pool with a picnic lunch of bread, dry cooked meat, peanuts,
tomatoes and oranges provided by Mr. Cao. They were completely cut off from the world. The sudden
drizzle and then the brilliant sun shining in turns were fascinating. They made a fire in the lee of a rock,
swam, sometimes sunned themselves or sometimes shivered before the fire as the weather alternated.
They drank, ate and enjoyed themselves.
4. After John left, how did the author spend the ‘extra day or two’ at Heaven Lake?
The author spent time roaming around by the head of the lake, watching herdsman cross the stream
delta with cattle and horses. He would walk towards the snowline or read Confucius’ Analects. At
times, he lay on a rock by the shore and read very slowly, pausing to enjoy the beauty of the sunset.
5. Express the author’s opinion of the old shopkeeper in your own words.
Initially the author thought the old shopkeeper to be very arrogant as he returned his money and
grabbing his cap from his hand, ripped it apart. But when he got to know the reason for this reaction,
he regarded the man with great respect and reverence. He appreciated his thoughtfulness and was
highly touched by his kindness and graciousness.
6. How does the author feel when he takes a dip?
The author takes a short dip, keeping close to the shore. The water was clean and extremely cold, he
splashed around for a few minutes before emerging blue and refreshed.