NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight
Chapter Two Stories about Flying
Updated For 2024-2025
Exams
Thinking about the Text
I. His First
Flight
Q.1: Why was the young seagull afraid
to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or
are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it
a challenge to take its first steps?
Answer:
The young seagull was afraid to fly because he was scared that his wings
wouldn’t support him, and he feared falling into the vast expanse of the sea
below. It’s likely that many young birds experience a similar fear when making
their first flight, though some may be more timid than others. Similarly, a
human baby also faces challenges and fears when taking its first steps, but
with encouragement and persistence, it learns to overcome the fear.
Q.2: “The sight of the food maddened
him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Answer:
The sight of the food maddened the young seagull because he was extremely
hungry. His hunger was so intense that it overpowered his fear of flying. When
his mother dangled a piece of fish just out of his reach, the young seagull was
compelled to make a desperate dive to get the food. This act led him to
discover his ability to fly.
Q.3: “They were beckoning to him,
calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and
cajole him to fly?
Answer:
The seagull’s father and mother threatened and cajoled him to fly because they
knew that he had to learn to fly in order to survive. They used these methods
to push him out of his comfort zone, as flying is essential for a bird to hunt
for food and escape danger.
Q.4: Have you ever had a similar
experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something that you were too
scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.
Answer:
Yes, many people have similar experiences where their parents encourage them to
overcome their fears, such as learning to ride a bicycle, swim, or speak in
public. Parents often push their children to try new things for their own
benefit, even when the children are scared. Through these experiences, we learn
new skills and grow more confident.
Q.5: In the case of a bird flying, it
seems a natural act, and a foregone conclusion that it should succeed. In the
examples you have given in answer to the previous question, was your success
guaranteed, or was it important for you to try, regardless of a possibility of
failure?
Answer:
In most cases, success is not guaranteed when trying something new, and it is
important to try regardless of the possibility of failure. The attempt itself
is a crucial step in learning and growing, whether it’s riding a bicycle,
swimming, or any other skill. The process of trying, failing, and then
succeeding builds resilience and confidence.
II. The Black
Aeroplane
Q.1: “I’ll take the risk.” What is the
risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Answer:
The risk was flying the Dakota straight into the storm clouds, which the
narrator knew could be dangerous due to the weather conditions and the
possibility of malfunctioning instruments. The narrator took the risk because
he was eager to get home and enjoy breakfast with his family, prioritizing his
desire over the safety of turning back to Paris.
Q.2: Describe the narrator’s experience
as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Answer:
As the narrator flew into the storm, everything turned black, and he could no
longer see outside the aeroplane. The Dakota started to jump and twist in the
air. The compass and other instruments stopped working, and the radio also went
dead. The narrator was lost and unable to navigate in the storm until he saw a
mysterious black aeroplane, whose pilot guided him through the clouds to
safety.
Q.3: Why does the narrator say, “I
landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?
Answer:
The narrator says this because he had just experienced a terrifying ordeal in
the storm, where he had lost all control of his instruments and had to rely on
the mysterious black aeroplane for guidance. He was relieved to have landed
safely and felt lucky to have survived the dangerous situation.
Q.4: What made the woman in the control
centre look at the narrator strangely?
Answer:
The woman at the control centre looked at the narrator strangely because,
according to the radar, there was no other aeroplane flying in the storm that
night. The narrator’s aeroplane was the only one visible on the radar, yet he
had followed a mysterious black aeroplane through the storm.
Q.5: Who do you think helped the
narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for
your answer.
Answer:
The mysterious black aeroplane may have been a supernatural or imaginary
occurrence, as no other aeroplane was detected on the radar. Some may interpret
the black aeroplane as a guardian or an unexplained force that helped the
narrator safely navigate through the storm. Others may argue that the
narrator’s own intuition or subconscious helped him through the crisis.
Thinking about Language
Q.1: Guess the meanings of the word
‘black’ in the sentences given below. Check the meanings in the dictionary and
find out whether you have guessed right.
- Go and have a bath; your hands and
face are absolutely black.
Answer: The word ‘black’ here means covered with dirt or soot. - The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black
look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green.
Answer: The word ‘black’ here refers to an angry or disapproving
look. - The bombardment of Hiroshima is
one of the blackest crimes against humanity.
Answer: The word ‘blackest’ here means the most evil or terrible. - Very few people enjoy Harold
Pinter’s black comedy.
Answer: The word ‘black’ here refers to a type of comedy that deals
with serious or grim subjects in a humorous way. - Sometimes shopkeepers store
essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black.
Answer: The word ‘black’ here refers to the illegal selling of
goods. - Villagers had beaten the criminal
black and blue.
Answer: The phrase ‘black and blue’ refers to the bruises caused by
the beating.
Q.2: Match the phrases in Column A with
their meanings in Column B:
|
Column A |
Column B |
|
1. Fly a flag |
Display a flag on a long pole |
|
2. Fly into a rage |
Become suddenly very angry |
|
3. Fly along |
Move quickly/suddenly |
|
4. Fly high |
Be successful |
|
5. Fly the coop |
Escape from a place |
Q.3: Tick the words that have the same
or nearly the same meaning as ‘fly’.
Answer:
- Swoop
- Flit
- Ascend
- Dart
- Hover
- Glide
- Soar