Chapter 3 Two Stories about Flying Important Questions Class 10 First Flight English
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Why did the seagull dive towards his mother?
Answer
The seagull dove towards his mother because he wanted the fish in his mother’s beak.
Question 2. Why did the seagull not go with the rest of his family?
Answer
He did not go because he was afraid to fly.
Question 3. How did the family show their happiness for the young seagull?
Answer
They offered him scraps of dog fish through their beaks.
Question 4. For how long had the seagull been alone?
Answer
He had been alone for the last twenty-four hours.
Question 5. For how long had the seagull been alone?
Answer
The seagull had been alone for twenty-four hours.
Question 6. What were the ways the seagull had thought of to join his family?
Answer
He thought of joining his family by jumping and by walking up to them.
Question 7. Where did young seagull live?
Answer
The young seagull lived alone on his ledge.
Question 8. Who included the seagull’s family except him?
Answer
There were five members in his family except for him-his father, mother. two brothers and a sister.
Question 9. What did he see throughout the day?
Answer
He saw his parents perfecting his brothers and sister in the art of flying.
Question 10. What sight maddened the young seagull?
Answer
The sight of food maddened him.
Question 11. Who had already landed on the green flooring?
Answer
His parents, brothers and sister had already landed on the green flooring.
Question 12. Where did he sleep that night?
Answer
He slept in a little hole under the ledge.
Question 13. Why was the seagull afraid to fly?
Answer
He was afraid to fly because he felt that his wings could not support him.
Question 14. Why was the young seagull alone?
Answer
The young seagull was alone because his two brothers and sister had already flown.
Question 15. He stood at the edge of the ledge on one leg and closed his eyes. Why?
Answer
He wanted to get the attention of his family.
Question 16. Why did he not fly with his brothers and sister?
Answer
He did not fly because he was afraid.
Question 17. How was the seagull feeling?
Answer
He was feeling very hungry.
Question 18. Who took pity on the young seagull?
Answer
His mother pitied on the young seagull.
Question 19. How did they taunt him?
Answer
They taunted him with his cowardice.
Question 20. Why was he afraid to fly?
Answer
He was afraid to fly because his wings would never support him.
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Answer
The risk was to fly through the black storm clouds. The narrator who was a pilot was decided to take the risk as he was going on holiday to meet his family and spend some good time with them. He also wanted to get home in time to enjoy a good English breakfast.
Question 2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Answer
As he flew the aeroplane into the storm, everything went black. The plane began to turn and twist in the air. The entire instrument panel was dead. The pilot could not find whether which direction to go. Suddenly, he saw another aeroplane. Its pilot waved at him, asking him to follow. He was glad to find a helper. Following that strange aeroplane, the pilot came out of the storm and reached his destination.
Question 3. Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?
Answer
After landing, the narrator was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota because he had a horrific and fearsome experience flying that plane. He was happy that he had landed the plane safely. That is why he was not sorry to walk away. Instead, he wanted to know where he was and who the other pilot was.
Question 4. How does author describe the young seagull’s fear of flying?
Answer
The young seagull was afraid of flying. He wanted it to fly. But he was greatly afraid to flying. When he flapped his wings he became afraid. He would die if he tried to fly. The sea stretched down beneath. He felt certain that his wings would never support him. So he bent on his head and ran away back to the little hole. He could not fly.
Question 5. How did the mother ‘trick’ the young seagull into flying?
Answer
The young seagull cried for some food as he was greatly hungry. He felt the fear of flying. His mother screamed back. He kept calling her. She picked up a piece of fish. She then flew across to him but not to him. He leaned out trying to get nearer her to get food from her. She halted with the fish in her beak but did not go to him. This way she ‘tricked’ the seagull into flying.
Question 6. Why the black aeroplane is called ‘strange’?
Answer
Because it suddenly appeared before the pilot of Dakota-088 aeroplane in the dark mysterious clouds. It had no lights on its wings. Then it was flying ahead of the Dakota-088 aeroplane to guide it through the clouds. Then it disappeared and there was no trace of it anywhere.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 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 step?
Answer
The young seagull was afraid to fly because it was his first flight and he feared of falling and hurting himself. He thought that his wings would not support him while flying. Yes, it is natural that doing something for the first time is a bit challenging and fearful. All birds must be afraid to make their first flight. Similarly, a human baby is also afraid of taking the first step and find it challenging when he learns to crawl or stand up without support.’
Question 2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Answer
As he flew into the storm, everything went black. It was impossible to see anything outside the plane. It jumped and twisted in the air. When he looked at his compass, he saw that it was turning round and round. It was dead. Along with it, the other instruments, including the radio, were also dead. Suddenly, he saw another aeroplane. Its pilot waved at him, asking him to follow. He was glad to find a helper. He was using his last fuel tank and there was only enough fuel to fly five or ten minutes. Then, the other pilot started to go down and he followed. He suddenly came out of the clouds and saw the runway, on which he then landed his plane safely.
Question 3. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Answer
The young seagull was very hungry. It was this hunger that ultimately compelled it to fly. Its hunger only intensified when it saw its mother tearing at a piece of fish that lay at her feet. It cried to her, begging her to get some food. When its mother came towards it with food in her beak, it screamed with joy and anticipation. However, she stopped midway. It wondered why she did not come nearer. Not being able to resist or control its hunger any longer, it dived at the food in its mother’s beak. At that moment, his hunger overpowered his fear of the great expanse of sea beneath the cliff. Finally, this plunge was followed by the natural reaction of its body, i.e., to fly.
Question 4. How did the author come out safely from the black clouds?
Answer
The author took the risk of flying through the black clouds. He couldn’t see anything. The aeroplane jumped and twisted up every now and then. All his instruments had stopped working. Suddenly, he saw another plane with no lights on its wings. The other pilot gestured him to follow his plane and guided him till they had landed safely out of the clouds.
