NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 Two Stories About Flying Questions and Answers
Thinking about the Text
Q1. 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?
Ans. It was the young seagull’s first attempt at flying. The seagull was overcome by fear – the fear of falling down and hurting himself. The young seagull seemed to lack confidence. He was scared that if he set out to fly, his wings wouldn’t support him. This fear, this inhibition of the young seagull is not strange or unusual. This is experienced by all birds as they venture out on their first flight. In fact, every time we try and do something for the first time it does appear challenging and scary. We do tend to lose our self-confidence. In the same way, a human baby is also equally scared of taking its first steps.
Q2. The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Ans. The young seagull had not eaten a morsel for nearly twenty-four hours. He suffered from severe hunger pangs. The words, “The sight of the food maddened him”, show his desperation for food. In the midst of this, the young seagull saw his mother tearing and eating a piece of fish. The young bird begged his mother for food. Just then he saw his mother coming toward him with food in her beak. The young seagull’s joy knew no bounds. He began screaming with joy. But then his mother stopped midway. The seagull unable to understand her action or control his hunger dived toward the food in her beak. Hunger had overpowered the fear of the unknown expanse of the sea. Ultimately, this plunge was followed by the natural reaction of the bird’s body- to fly.
Q3. They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
Ans. What is a bird if it can’t fly? The young seagull’s siblings had all taken the plunge. They had all stepped out of their cocoons taking their first flight. But the young seagull weighed under the burden of fear and had not been able to muster the confidence and courage to fly out. Though he watched his siblings with a yearning in his eyes he couldn’t venture out. His parents did all they could. But all of it was useless. Thus, they threatened and cajoled him to step out and fly.
Q4. 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.
Ans. Students recount their personal experiences. One thing that children fear and often take time to learn is cycling. Students should be encouraged to discuss their experiences.
Q5. 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 the possibility of failure?
Ans. We face some problems in the initial stage while learning new skills. Due to the fear of failure, we hesitate to perform a task or to do something new. In the case of the seagull, his parents cajoled him to fly.
In the example, I have given in the answer to the previous question.
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