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Chapter- 3 English Language and Literature- First Flight (Latest )

­­­­ Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

By– Liam O’Flaherty  

About the Author- Liam O’Flaherty Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight             

Liam 0′ Flaherty was an Irish novelist and short story writer. He was born on 28 August 1896 and breathed his last on 7 Sept. 1984. He was born in a remote village of Gort Nag Capall in Galway. In 1908, he went to Rockwell College. He became a popular literary figure with his best selling novel ‘The Informer (1925). The next novel Return of the Brute was also a great success. 0’ Flaherty will be remembered as a major voice in the Irish literary renaissance.

Introduction of the lesson- Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

This is an imaginary story. The story conveys the message that one learns by taking courage and not by sitting idle. A young seagull is fed lovingly by his parents. But when the time comes for him to fly, he feels afraid. His parents try many tricks to teach him to fly. But he is so afraid that he refuses to fly. At last, his mother hits upon a plan. She tempts him with food in her beak. But she only flies near his ledge but does not and there. In order to get food, the hungry seagull comes to the edge of the rock and falls from it. At first, he is terrified but then he opens his wings and starts flying. He is happy to note that he did not fall in the sea. In this way, the young seagull learns how to fly.

(यह एक काल्पनिक कहानी है । कहानी यह संदेश देती है कि कोई व्यक्ति साहस के साथ ही कुछ करना सीखता है न कि बैठे रहने से । एक छोटे सीगल पक्षी को उसके माता-पिता के द्वारा लाड़-प्यार के साथ भोजन खिलाया जाता है । लेकिन जब उसके  लिए उडान भरने का समय आता है तो वह डर जाता है । उसके माता-पिता उसे उड़ना सिखाने के लिए बहुत-सी चालें चलते हैं । लेकिन वह इतना भयभीत है कि उड़ान भरने से मना कर देता हैं । अंत में, उसकी माँ को एक योजना सूझी । वह अपनी चोंच में भोजन लेकर उसे ललचाती है । लेकिन वह केवल उसकी चट्टान तक ही उड़ान भरती है, लेकिन वहाँ नीचे नहीं उतरती है । भूखा सीगल पक्षी  भोजन प्राप्त करने के लिए चट्टान के सिरे तक आता है और उसमें नीचे गिर जाता है । पहले तो वह भयभीत हो जाता है लेकिन तब वह अपने पंख फैलाता है और उड़ना शुरु का देता हैं । वह यह देखकर बडा प्रसन्न होता है कि अब वह समुंद्र में  नीचे नहीं गिर रहा था । इस प्रकार से छोटा सीगल पक्षी उड़ना सीखता है ।)

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Theme of the Story Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

`His First Flight’ is a story of hesitation, trial and error and finally getting success in the end. It is an interesting story of a hesitant and timid seagull learning the art of flying. While his two brothers and sister had already learnt flying, his fear and hesitation stopped him from doing so. His diving at the fish due to hunger proved a blessing in disguise.

After a shaky start, he spread out his wings and started flying upwards and downwards. It was his first flight. The author gives a message that no one attains success instantly. Repeated trials and errors lead him to success.

Important Word-Meanings of difficult words  from the lesson- Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

[PAGE 32] : Seagull =a seabird (समुद्री पक्षी); ledge = a part of a rock that is jutting out (शिखाफलक); brink= edge (किनारा); flap = move (फड़फड़ाना); expanse = stretch (फैलाव); beneath = under (के नीचे); muster = gather (इकठ्ठा करना); courage = boldness (साहस); desperate = full of disappointment (निराशा पूर्ण)

[PAGE 33] : Shrilly = in a sharp voice (तीखी आवाज़); upbraiding = rebuking (डाँटना); watched = saw (देखा); perfecting = making perfect (पूर्ण करना); skim = touch lightly (हल्के से छूना); herring = fish (मछली); devour = eat (खाना); cackle = sound of a bird (पक्षी की आवाज़); plateau = level stretch on a mountain (पठार); cliff = hill (पहाड़ी). taunting = mocking (व्यंग्य करना); cowardice = lack of courage (कायरता); ascending = rising (उठना); blazing = burning (जलना)

[PAGE 34] : Pretended = made a show (दिखावा किया); dozing = sleeping (ऊँघना); preening = dressing (सवारना); hump = raised rock (उठी हुई चट्टान); scrapped = rubbed (रगड़ना); whet = sharpen (तीखा करना); screamed = cried (चिल्लाया); derisively = scornfully (निंदा से); plaintively = sadly (उदासी से) ;l uttered = spoke (बोला); leaned = bent forward (आगे झुका) ।

[PAGE 35] : Dived = jumped (कूदा); scream = Cry (चीखा); swoop = fly (उड़ना); swish = soil sound (हल्की आवाज़); monstrous = very big (बहुत बड़ा); stomach = belly (पेट); soaring = flying (उड़ना); gradually = slowly (धीरे-धीरे); curveting = jumping (कूदना); commended = praised (तारीफ करना): shrieking = crying (चिल्लाना) Vast = big (बड़ा); ridges = small Waves (छोटी लहरें); beckoning = calling (पुकारना); fright = fear (डर’); exhausted .-: tired (थका हुआ) I

[PAGE 36] Belly = stomach (पेट); floating = swimming (तैरना); praising = admiring (तारीफ करना); scraps = pieces (टुकड़े) ।

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Summary in English- Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

(This is an imaginary story of a young seagull. The time had come when he must learn how to fly. His two brothers and a little sister had learnt how to fly by emulating their parents. They had simply run to the brink of the ledge, flapped their wings and flown away. But when the young seagull came to the brink and tried to fly in the air, he became afraid. He felt sure that if he tried to fly, he would fall into the sea below. So he ran back to his hole on the ledge.

The seagull’s parents came to take him along with them. But he refused to fly. They threatened that he would starve on the ledge. But the bird was too afraid to move. Twenty four hours passed. The seagull had not eaten anything. He began to feel very hungry. He saw his mother sitting on a plateau. She was eating a fish. This sight only increased his hunger. He requested his mother to bring him some food. The mother looked at him derisively. But then she picked up a piece of fish and flew towards him.

The mother did not come to him. She halted her wings and became motionless. The seagull wondered why she was not coming near him. He could not bear it any longer. He was maddened by hunger. He dived at fish. He could not reach his mother but fell from the ledge downwards into space. He was filled with fear and Cried. But this fear lasted only a minute. He spread his wings and tried to fly. Suddenly he found that he was flying. He cried with joy and started flying higher and higher. His parents, brothers and sister flew around him and screamed with joy.

After some time, the seagull’s parents, brothers and sister landed on the sea. They asked him to come there. The seagull thought that it was green flooring. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it and he cried with fear. But his belly touched the water and he did not drown. He began to float on the sea. His family members praised him and gave him pieces of fish to eat. Thus the seagull had made his first flight.

Summary in English (2) – Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

1. Young Seagull Afraid to Fly: The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already learnt the art of flying only the day before. He did try. He had taken a little run forward and tried to flap his wings. But that was all he could do. He became afraid. He felt that his wings would not support him. So he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole where he slept at night. His brothers and his sister had wings far shorter than his own wings. But he failed to muster up courage and fly. His parents taunted, scolded and threatened him to leave him starving at the ledge unless he flew away. But nothing could make him fly.
2. Parents Perfecting Brothers and Sister: The seagull helplessly watched his parents flying with his brothers and sister. They were Perfecting them in the art of flying. They were teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish. The whole family went on taunting him for his cowardice.
3. Maddened by Hunger, He Dived at the Fish: Only his mother was looking at him. She had picked a piece of fish. She was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly. The mother was very near to him with the fish in her beak. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. A terror seized him. His heart stood still. His mother swooped past him. He answered her with another scream. He saw his two brothers and sister flying around him.
4. First Flight: The seagull completely forgot that he was not able to fly. He let himself free to dive, soar and curve at will. He was shrieking shrilly. He saw a green sea beneath him. His parents, his brothers and sister were beckoning to him calling shrilly. He was tired and weak with hunger. His feet sank into the green sea and his belly touched it. He sank no farther. His family were praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of fish. He had made his first flight.

Main Points of the Story – Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

1. The young seagull was sitting alone on his ledge.
2. His two brothers and his sister had already learnt how to fly a day before.
3. The young seagull was hesitant and afraid of flying.
4. He thought that his wings would not support him.
5. His parents, brothers and sister regularly taunted him for his cowardice.
6. He saw his mother holding a piece of fish in her beak.
7. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish.
8. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space.
9. He was seized with terror.
10. His wings were cutting through the air and he was not falling headlong now.
11. Then he completely forgot that he had never flown before.
12. Now, he was flying over the sea.
13. He was floating on the sea and his family was praising him, offering him pieces of fish.

Detailed Summary in Hindi – Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

यह एक शिशु सीगल पक्षी की काल्पनिक कहानी है । यह समय आ गया था जब उसे अवश्य ही उड़ना सीखना था । उसके दो भाइयों एवं छोटी –सी बहन ने  अपने माता-पिता की नकल करके उड़ना सीख लिया था । वे केवल शिखाफलक के किनारे तक पहुँचे थे , अपने पंख फड़फड़ाए और उड गए थे । मगर जब बच्चा सीगल पक्षी किनारे तक आया एवं हवा में उड़ने का प्रयास किया,वह डर गया  । उसे विश्वास था कि अगर उसने उड़ने का प्रयत्न किया तो वह नीचे सागर में गिर जाएगा । इसलिए वह भाग कर शिखाफलक पर अपने छिद्र में चला गया ।

सीगल पक्षी  के माता-पिता उसे अपने साथ लेने आए। मगर उसने उड़ने से इंकार कर दिया। उन्होंने धमकी दी कि वह शिखाफलक पर भूखा मर जाएगा । मगर पक्षी इतना भयभीत था कि यह उड़ा नहीं । चौबीस घटे बीत गए । सीगल पक्षी ने कुछ नहीं खाया था । उसे  बहूत भूख लगनी आरंभ हो गई । उसने अपनी माँ को एक पठार पर बैठे देखा । वह एक मछली खा रहीँ थी । इस द्रश्य ने केवल उसकी भूख को और बढ़ा दिया । उसने अपनी माँ से उसके लिए कुछ भोजन लाने की प्रार्थना की । माँ ने उसकी ओर  निंदात्मक तरीके से देखा । मगर तब उसने मछली का एक टुकड़ा उठाया एबं उसकी तरफ उड़कर आई ।

माँ उस तक नहीं आई । उसने अपने पंख रोक दिए एवं गतिहीन बन गई । सीगलपक्षी को हैरानी हुई कि वह उसके पास क्यों नहीं आ रही थी । वह और अधिक सहन नहीं कर सका । यह भूख से पागल हो गया । उसने मछली पर छलाँग लगाई । वह अपनी माँ तक नहीं पहुंच सका, मगर यह शिखाफलक से नीचे हवा में गिर गया । वह भयभीत हो गया एवं चिल्लाया । मगर यह भय केवल एक मिनट तक रहा । उसने अपने पंख फैलाए एवं उड़ने का प्रयन्न किया । अचानक उसने देखा कि वह उड़ रहा था ।

वह खुशी से चिल्लाया और अधिक ऊँचा उड़ना आरंभ कर दिया । उसके माता –पिता भाई एवं बहन उनके चारों ओर उड़े और खुशी से चिल्लाए ।

 कुछ देर के बाद, सीगल के मातापिता, भाई और बहन समुद्र की सतह पर उतर गए । उन्होंने उसे वहाँ आने के लिए कहा ।

सीगल ने सोचा था कि यह एक हरा फर्श है । उसने ही समुद्र पर खडे होने के लिए अपनी टाँगे नीचे की । इसकी टाँगे इसमें डूब गई और वह डर के मारे चिल्लाया । परंतु उसके पेट ने पानी को छुआ और  वह डूबा नहीं । उसने समुद्र में तैरना आरंभ कर दिया । उसके परिवार के सदस्यों ने उसकी प्रशंसा की और उसे मछली के टुकड़े खाने के लिए दिए । इस प्रकार सीगल ने अपनी पहली उड़ान भर ली थी ।

Following is the complete question bank for Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

Multiple Choice Questions – Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

1.Who was there on the ledge with the young seagull for the last twenty-four hours?

       (A) his two brothers                                             (B) his sister

       (C) his parents                                                      (D) he was alone

       Ans. (D) he was alone

2. How did the young seagull feel to fly?

       (A) afraid                                                              (B) enjoyed

       (C) willing                                                                         (D) all of the above

       Ans. (A) afraid

3. There was a great expanse of stretched down beneath.

       (A) land                                                                (B) rocks

       (C) sky                                                                  (D) sea

       Ans. (D) sea

4. What were the young seagull’s parents doing to him?

      (A) calling to him shrilly                                       (B) upbraiding him

       (C) threatening him                                             (D) all of the above

        Ans. (D) all of the above

5. Nobody had come near the young seagull for the last :

       (A) ten hours                                                        (B) twelve hours

      (C) twenty hours                                                   (D) twenty-four hours

      Ans. (D) twenty-four hours

6. His parents were perfecting his brothers and sisters in the art of

      (A) flying                                                               (B) hunting

      (C) swimming                                                        (D) chirping

      Ans. (A) flying

7. Only one family member was looking at the young seagull. It was his :

      (A) father                                                              (B) mother

      (C) brother                                                            (D) sister

      Ans. (B) mother

8. Whom did the young seagull beg to bring him some food?

      (A) his father                                                         (B) his mother

      (C) his brothers                                                     (D) his sister

      Ans. (B) his mother

9. The young seagull dived at the fish maddened by

       (A) hunger                                                            (B) heat

       (C) tiredness                                                         (D) sleep

       Ans. (A) hunger

10. How did the young seagull fall into the air?

       (A) upward                                                           (B) downward

       (C) both (A) and (B)                                               (D) none of the above

       Ans. (C) both (A) and (B)

11. What were the young seagull’s brothers and sister doing around him?

        (A) curveting                                                       (B) banking

        (C) soaring                                                          (D) all of the above

        Ans. (D) all of the above

12.Of what colour vast sea did the young seagull see beneath him?

        (A) blue                                                               (B) green

        (C) white                                                             (D) brown

        Ans. (B) green

13. The seagull dived towards his mother because :

        (A) a strong wind pushed him                             (B) he wanted to fly

        (C) he wanted the fish in his mother’s beak       (D) he wanted to reach his mother.

        Ans. (C) he wanted the fish in his mother’s beak

14. He stood at the edge of the ledge on one leg and closed his eyes because :

        (A) he was feeling sleepy                                    (B) it was a natural habit of seagulls

        (C) he wanted to get the attention of                 (D) he was afraid of the sea his family

        Ans. (C) he wanted to get the attention of his family

15. The young seagull was afraid to fly because :

        (A) he had hurt his wings

        (B) his wings were not as well developed as those of his brothers and sister

        (C) he felt that his wings could not support him

        (D) he was not confident

        Ans. (C) he felt that his wings could not support him

16. Who is the author of the lesson ‘His First Flight’?

        (A) Fredrick Forsyth                                            (B) Cynthia Moss

        (C) Liam O’Flaherty                                            (D) Jayanta Mahapatra

        Ans. (C) Liam O’Flaherty

17. Was the young seagull successful in making his first fly?

        (A) yes                                                                 (B) no

        (C) may be                                                          (D) not known

       Ans. (A) yes

Line to Line Explanation in Hindi- Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

पढ़ने से पहले – आरंभिक काल से ही मनुष्य का आसमान पर विजय प्राप्त करना एक स्वप्न रहा है । यहाँ उड़ान भरने से संबंधित दो कहानियाँ दी गई हैं

[PAGE 32] : बच्चा सीगल पक्षी अपनी शिखाफलक पर अकेला था । उसके दो भाई एवं उसकी बहन एक दिन पहले ही उड़ गए थे । वह उनके साथ उड़ने से डरता था । किसी रुप में जब वह थोड़ा-सा दौड़कर शिखाफलक के किनारे तक आया था और उसने अपने पंख फड़फड़ाने का  प्रयत्न किया था तो वह डर गया था । सागर का महान् विस्तार उसके सामने फैला हुआ था औरनीचे की तरफ कितना लंबा रास्ता था -मीलों नीचे । उसे पक्के तौर पर ऐसा लगा कि उसके पंख कभी उसे सहारा नहीं देंगे, इसलिए उसने अपना  सिर झुकाया और शिखाफलक के नीचे छोटे-से छेद में आ गया जहाँ वह रात को सोया था । यहाँ तक कि जब उसके दोनों भाइयों एवं उसकी बहन ने, जिनके पंख उसके पंखों से छोटे थे अपने पंख फड़फड़ाए एवं उड़ गए, तो भी वह उस साहसिक कदम को उठाने की हिम्मत नहीं जुटा पाया जो उसे बहुत अधिक निराशाजनक लगता था । उसके माता एवं पिता उसके पास आ गए थे , और उसे चीख-चीखकर पुकार रहे थे, उसे डॉट रहे थे,

[PAGE 33] : उसे भूखा रखने की धमकी दे रहे थे, अगर वह नहीं उड़ेगा तो । मगर वह किसी भी हालत में हिल नहीं सका । ऐसा चौबीस घंटे पहले हुआ था । तब से उसके पास कोई नहीं आया था । उससे पहले दिन, सारा दिन अपने माता-पिता को उसके भाइयों एवं बहनों के साथ उड़ते,और उन्हें उड़ने की कला में  पारंगत करते हुए तथा यह सिखाते हुए कि कैसे लहरों को हल्के –से छूना है और मछलियों के लिए डुबकी लगानी है वास्तव में उसने अपने बड़े भाई को अपनी पहली मछली पकड़ते एवं उसे एक चट्टान पर खड़े होकर खाते देखा था जबकि उसके माता-पिता आसपास चक्कर काटते हुए गर्व से चिल्ला रहे थे और सारी प्रात: पूरा परिवार

सामने  की पहाड़ी के बीच के पठार पर चलता रहा था और उसकी कायरता के लिए उसे चिढ़ाता रहा था।

अब सूर्य आकाश में चढ़ रहा था और उसको तेज रोशनी से चमका रहा था जोकि दक्षिण की तरफ था । उसे गर्मी महसूस हुई क्योंकि उसने पिछली रात से कुछ नहीं खाया था ।

वह धीरे-धीरे शिखाफलक के किनारे तक आ गया और एक टाँग पर खड़े होकर तथा दूसरी टाँग को अपने पंख के नीचे छुपाकर उसने सोए हुए होने का ढोंग किया ।

[PAGE 34]: फिर भी उन्होंने उसकी तरफ कोई ध्यान नहीं दिया । उसने अपने दोनों भाइयों एवं बहन को पठार पर लेटे हुए तथा अपने सिर को अपनी गर्दन में छिपाकर  ऊँघते देखा । उसका पिता अपनी सफेद गर्दन के ऊपर वाले पंखों को साफ कर रहा था । केवल उसकी माता ही उसकी ओर देख रही थी । वह पठार के ऊपर एक छोटे से टीले पर खड़ी थी और उसकी सफेद छाती आगे को बढ़ी हुई थी । थोड़ी –थोड़ी देर बाद वह उस मछली के टुकड़े जो उसके  कदमों के पास था , उसे नोचकर खाती थी और फिर वह अपनी चोंच के दोनों सिरों को बारी-बारी से चट्टान पर रगड़ती थी । भोजन को देखकर वह पागल हो उठा । उसे उस तरह से नोच-नोचकर भोजन खाना और अपनी चोंच को तेज करने के लिए उसे पत्थर पर रगड़ना उसे बहुत अच्छा लगता था ।

“गा ,गा ,गा, ” वह चिल्लाया एवं उससे प्रार्थना की कि वह उसके लिए भोजन लाए । “गा –कोल –आह” वह निंदाजनक ढंग से वापिस चिल्लाई । मगर वह उदासी से चिल्लाता रहा और लगभग एक मिनट के बाद उसने प्रसन्नता से चीख मारी । उसकी माँ  ने मछली का एक टुकड़ा उठा लिया और उसे लेकर उसकी तरफ उड़कर आ रही थी।

[पेज 35] वह उत्सुकता से चट्टान पर पवन पटकता हुआ आगे की ओर झुका जबकि वह उड़ रहीं थी , उसकी तरफ  और निकट आने का प्रयास किया । मगर जब वह बिल्कुल उसके सामने थी , वह रूक गई ।  उसके पंख गतिहीन हो गए और उसकी चोंच में मछली का टुकड़ा लगभग उसकी (बच्चे की) चोंच की पहुँच में था । उसने हैरानी से एक क्षण इंतजार किया ,उसे हैरानी  हो रही थी कि वह नजदीक क्यों नहीं आ रही थी और फिर भूख से पागल हो वह मछली पर झपटा । एक जोरदार चीख के साथ वह आगे एवं नीचे खाली स्थान में गिरा । तब बहूत बड़े डर ने उसे जकड़ लिया एवं उसका दिल थम गया । वह कुछ नहीं सुन सकता था । मगर ऐसा केवल एक मिनट के लिए हुआ व अगले क्षण उसने अपने पंखों को बाहर की ओर फैलते हुए महसूस किया । हवा उसके छाती के पंखों से टकराई ,तब उसके पेट के नीचे एवं फिर उसके पंखों से । वह अपने पंखों के सिरों को हवा को काटते महसूस कर

सकता था । अब एकदम सीधा नहीं गिर रहा था । वह धीरे –धीरे नीचे बाहर की और उड़ रहा था । अब वह भयभीत नहीं था । वह केवल थोड़ा –सा भौचक्का महसूस कर रहा था । तब उसने अपने पंखों को एक बार फड़फड़ाया और वह ऊँचा उठा ।

“गा-गा-गा-गा-गा-गा-गा–कोल-आह” कहती हुई उसकी माँ उसके पास से तेज़ी से निकल गई ,जबकि उसके पंख तेज आवाज़ पैदा कर रहे थे ” ।उसने अपनी माँ का जबाब एक अन्य चीख से दिया तब उसका पिता चीखता हुआ उसके ऊपर उड़ा । उसने अपने दो भाइयों और अपनी बहन को उछल-कूद करते हुए बिना पंख हिलाए उड़ते हुए तथा डुबकी लगाते हुए उसके ऊपर उड़ा । उसने अपने दो भाईयों और अपनी बहन को उछल-कूद करते हुए बिना पंख हिलाए उड़ते हुए तथा डुबकी लगाते हुए अपने इर्द-गिर्द उड़ते हुए देखा ।

 फिर वह पूरी तरह से भूल गया कि वह कभी भी उड़ने में असमर्थ था  और उसने स्वयं को गोता लगाने, मँडराने और तिरछा उड़ने के लिए तारीफ की  और खुशी से चीखने तगा ।

अब वह सागर के निकट था और सीधे उसके ऊपर उइ रहा था, बिना किसी झिझक के वह सागर के उपर था । उसने अपने नीचे विशाल हरा सागर देखा । जिसके उपर छोटी-छोटी लहरें हिल रही थी और उसने अपनी चोंच को एक तरफ हिलाया और ख़ुशी से काँय-काँय करने लगा ।

उसके माता-पिता एवं उसके भाई एवं बहन सागर के हरे फर्श पर उससे पहले ही बैठ गए थे । वे तेज आवाज़े करते हुए उसे बुला रहे थे । उसने हरे सागर पर खड़े होने के लिए अपनी टाँगें सीधी की । उसकी टाँगे सागर में धँस गई । वह डर से चिल्लाया एवं अपने पंखों को फड़फड़ाते हुए फिर से उठने की कोशिश की  । मगर वह थका हुआ था और भूख से कमजोर था और इस अजीब व्यायाम के कारण अत्यधिक थका होने के कारण वह उठ न पाया ।

[PAGE 35] : उसके पाँव हरे सागर में धँस गए तब उसका पेट इसको छुआ और वह और अधिक नहीं डूबा । वह इसके ऊपर तैर रहा था और उसके आसपास उसका परिवार आवाजें कर रहा था, उसकी तारीफ कर रहा था और उनकी चोंचें उसे छोटी शार्क मछली के टुकड़े प्रस्तुत कर रहीं थी ।

उसने अपनी पहली उड़ान भर ली थी।

 Extract Based / comprehension test  Questions and Answers of Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

 Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow.

1. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing; he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they took no notice of him.

(a) What did the young seagull do?

(b) What was the seagull afraid of?

(c) Why did he close his eyes one-by-one?

(d) What were his brothers and sisters doing?

Ans. (a) The young seagull pretended to fall asleep on the brink of the ledge.

(b) The seagull was afraid to fly.

(c) He pretended to sleep.

(d) They were sleeping carefree.

2. He felt certain that his wings would never support him, so he bent his head and ran ways back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.

(a) Who does He’ refer to in the first sentence?

(b) Why did he run back to the hole instead of trying to fly?

(c) Where did he sleep at night?

(d) Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?

Ans. (a) The young seagull.

 (b) He thought his wings would not support him so he did not try to fly.

(c) He slept at night in a hole under the ledge.

(d) The young seagull thought that his wings were too weak to support him so he was afraid to fly.

3. His father and mother had come around him calling him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on the ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him, he could not move.

(a) How did his parents try to make him fly?

(b) What was the effect of their efforts?

(c) What does the passage reflect on the young seagull?

(d) How was the young seagull threatened by his parents initially when he did not fly?

Ans. (a) First, they invited him encouragingly. Then scolded and threatened to leave him alone to starve unless he flew away.

(b) All their efforts failed but he did not fly.

(c) He was a coward.

(d) First his parents encouraged him to fly but later on, they even threatened to let him starve if he did not fly.

4. The day before, all day he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sisters, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle.

(a) Who is He’ in the above lines?

(b) Who trained the brothers and sister in the art of flying?

 (c) What does the cackle raised by the parents show?

(d) Why do you think all parental acts are for the betterment of the children?

Ans. (a) The young seagull.

(b) Their parents.

(c) This shows that they were quite happy.

(d) All parents wish that their children should be successful in life. Their acts are directed towards this aim.

5. His father was preening the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward. Now and again, she tore. at a piece of a fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of the food maddened him. How he loved to tear food that way, scrapping his beak now and again to what it.

(a) Why do you think the mother was eating fish in full view of her little one?

(b) Who was looking at hint?

(c) What was the effect of sight of food on him?

(d) Do you think hunger was a good motivation for the young seagull in his first flight?

Ans. (a) She wanted to tempt him and then exploit the situation to make him fly.

(b) His mother.

(c) It maddened the young seagull for he was very hungry.

(d) Yes, I think so. Maddened by hunger, he lived to snatch a piece of fish and started flying.

6. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still he could hear nothing.

(a) Who is ‘she’ in the above passage?

(b) Why did he dive at the fish?

(c) Why did his heart stand still?

(d) How did the seagull express his excitement when he saw his mother bringing food to him?

Ans. (a) The young seagull’s mother.

(b) Because he was hungry.

(c) This was because of fear.

(d) He left out and tapped the rock with his feet expressing his joy and excitement.

7. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He was no longer afraid. He just felt a hit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. He uttered a joyous scream and flapped them again. He soared higher.

(a) When the young seagull spread his wings but did not flap them, how did he feel?

(b) How did the young seagull feel when he started flying?

(c) Why did he utter a joyous scream?

(d) How did his family welcome seagull’s flight?

Ans. (a) A hit dizzy but not afraid.

(b) Joyous and no more afraid.

(c) He was thrilled to see that he could fly.

(d) Seagull’s family members came near him and encouraged him by flying over and around him screaming in joy.

Main Characters of the Story- Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

Young Seagull: He was a timid sea-bird. He was hesitant and afraid of flying. But he did not stop trying. Gradually he gathered strength and made regular efforts for flying. Finally, he forgot his fear of flying and made his first flight. His parents were quite happy with him.

Important Passages for Comprehension – Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

PASSAGE 1

He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night. Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings. and flew away, he failed to muster up the courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away.

Word-meanings: Flapped = fluttered (फड़फड़ाना); upbraiding = scolding (डाँटना) I

Questions :

(a) Name the chapter and its author.

(b) How did the seagull’s brothers and sister fly away?

(c) What did his parents tell him?

(d) Find a word from the passage which means `scolding/ reproaching’.

Answers :

(a) ‘His First Flight’; Liam 0′ Flaherty.

(b) They ran to the brink, flapped their wings and flew away.

(c) They threatened to let him starve if he couldn’t fly.

(d) ‘upbraiding’.

PASSAGE 2

That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day long. he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice.

Word-meanings: Watched = saw (देखा); skim = touch lightly (हल्के-से-छूना); cackle = cawing (काँव-काँव); taunting = mocking (व्यंग्य करना,ताने कसना)

Questions :

(a) Name the chapter and its author.

(b) What two lessons had his parents taught the day before?

(c) Why did his parents circle around his elder brother?

(d) What had he seen his brother do?

(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘to swallow’.

 Answers :

(a) ‘His First Flight’: Liam 0′ Flaherty.

(b) (i) how to skim the waves, (ii) how to dive for fish.

(c) to show their pride at his ability.

 (d) He had seen his brother catch and eat his first fish.

 (e) The word is ‘devour’.

PASSAGE 3

He stepped slowly out to the brink on the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still, they took no notice of him. He saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward. Now and again, she more at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of the food maddened him. How he loved to tear food that way, scrapping his beak now and again to what it.

Word-meanings: Brink = edge (किनारा; pretended = made a show (दिखावा करना); preening = dressing  (सँवारना); plateau = level stretch of land on a mountain (M); scrapped = rubbed (रगड़ा) I

Questions :

(a) What did the seagull pretend?

(b) What were his two brothers and sister doing?

(c) What was his father doing?

(d) What maddened him?

(e) Find a word or a phrase in the passage that means ‘paid no attention’.

Answers :

(a) The seagull pretended to be asleep.

(b) His two brothers and sister were dozing.

(c) His father was preening his feathers.

(d) The sight of food maddened him. (e) ‘took no notice’.

PASSAGE 4

He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a minute. The next ‘moment he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and against his wings.

Word-meanings: Screamed = cried (चिल्लाया); monstrous = very big (बहुत बड़ा); stomach. belly (पेट) I

Questions :

 (a) Name the lesson and its author.

(b) Why did ‘he’ wait a moment in surprise?

 (c) What happened when he dived at the fish?

(d) What did he feel about his wings?

(e) Which word in the passage means ‘extreme fear’.

Answers :

(a) Lesson: ‘His First Flight’. Author: ‘Liam O’Flaherty’.

(b) He wondered why his mother did not come nearer to supply him food.

(c) He fell outwards and downwards into space.

(d) He felt his wings spread outwards.

(e) The word is ‘terror’.

PASSAGE 5

His parents and his brothers and sister had landed on this green flooring ahead of him. They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange exercise. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating on it, and around him, his family was screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish.

 Word-meanings : Beckoning = calling (पुकारना); fright = terror (भय); exhausted = tired (थका हुआ ); floating = swimming (तैरना); scraps = pieces (टुकड़े) I

 Questions :

(a) What has been called the green flooring?

(b) What had the seagull’s parents and brothers and sister done?

 (c) Why did he scream with fright?

(d) Did the seagull drown in the sea?

(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as (i) terror (ii) tired.

Answers :

(a) The green sea has been called green flooring.

(b) They had landed on the sea surface.

(c) He screamed with fright because his legs sank into the sea.

(d) No, he did not drown in the sea. (e) (i) Fright (ii) exhausted.

PASSAGES FOR PRACTICE (UNSOLVED)

PASSAGE 6

The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down—miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him, so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night. Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up the courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate.

Word-meanings : Brink = edge (किनारा); attempted = tried (प्रयत्न किया); expanse = stretch (फैलाव); muster = collect (इकठ्ठे); starve = die of hunger (भूख से मरना) I

 Questions :

(a) Who was alone on the ledge?

(b) What happened when he ran to the brink of the ledge?

(c) Where did he sleep at night?

(d) What had happened the day before?

(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as (i) Edge (ii) tried.

PASSAGE 7

 “Ga, ga, ga,” he cried begging her to bring him some food. “Gaw-col-ah,” she screamed back derisively. But he kept calling plaintively, and after a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless. the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in surprise. wondering why she did not come nearer, and then maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish.

Word-meanings: Derisively = scornfully (दुःख से); plaintively =sadly (उदासी से); halted = stopped (रुका); dived = jumped (छलाँग लगाई) I

Questions :

(a) Name the chapter this passage has been taken from.

(b) Who screamed back derisively?

(c) What had his mother picked up?

(d) Maddened by hunger, what did the seagull do?

(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as (i) stopped (ii) jumped.

Passage-8: (Page 32)

The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down — miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him, so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.

Word-Meaning: Seagull—sea-bird, Ledge—a narrow horizontal Forward—ahead, Brink—extreme edge, corner, Attempted—tried, Flap—flutter wings, Expanse —expansion, spread out, Stretched—spread out, Beneath—below, Certain—fixed,

Questions:

(a) Why was the young seagull alone on his ledge?

(b) When did his two brothers and his sister learn flying?

(c) What did he feel when he attempted to flap his wings?

 (d) Would his wings indeed not support him?

Answers:

(a) The young seagull was sitting alone on his ledge because other members of his family were flying.

(b) His two brothers and his sister had already blown away the day before.

(c) He became afraid when he tried to flap his wings.

(d) His wings would certainly support him if he would have attempted to flap his wings this time.

Passage-9: (Pages 32 & 33)

Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up the courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him, he could not move.

Word-Meaning: Muster up—gather, aches Plunge—(hem) to take the risk, Desperate—(here) reckless, Shrilly—in a sharp and unpleasant voice, Upbraiding—scolding Starve—die

Questions:

(a) Did he have shorter wings than his brothers and his sister?

(b) What sort of fear prevented him from flying?

(c) What did his parents, brothers and sister do?

(d) Did they succeed in their efforts?

Answers:

(a) No, his brothers and sister had far shorter wings.

(b) He was afraid that his wings would not support him when he would try to fly and would fall into the sea.

 (c) His parents, brother and sister regularly scolded and threatened to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away.

(d) No, they didn’t make him fly away.

Passage-10: (Page 33)

That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice.

Word-Meaning: Perfecting—making perfect, Skim—to move lightly just above a surface, Waves—the swelling on the surface of water, Dive—to jump into water Herring–a kind of fish, Devour—eat away, Raising—(here) making a loud noise, Cackle—making an unpleasant voice, Plateau—steep rock, Taunting—making teasing comments, Cowardice—lack of courage,

Questions:

(a) Why did nobody come near the young seagull for twenty-four hours?

(b) What had he watched his parents doing?

(c) What did he see his older brother do?

(d) Why did his family taunt him?

Answers:

(a) The seagull’s parents and siblings knew that when he would not get food and fall hungry, he would certainly take his flight.

(b) He had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sisters perfecting them in the art of flight.

(c) He saw his older brother catch his first herring and devour it.

(d) His family taunted him to stimulate him to take his flight.

Passage-11: (Pages 34 & 35)

 “Ga, ga, ga,” he cried begging her to bring him some food. “Gaw-col-ah,” she screamed back derisively. But he kept calling plaintively, and after a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak.

Word-Meaning: Derisively—mockingly, Plaintively—sorrowfully, Uttered—said, Across–from one side to other, Leaned out—bent, Eagerly—of desire, Tapping—beating lightly, Halted—stopped, Motionless—silent,

Questions:

(a) Why did the young seagull’s mother entice him with the food?

(b) Why did he utter a joyful scream?

(c) What did he try to do as she flew across?

(d) Was his fear genuine?

Answers:

(a) The young seagull’s mother enticed him with food so that for the sake of food he would make an effort to fly.

(b) He uttered a joyful scream when he saw his mother picking a piece of fish in her beak.

(c) He tried to come nearer as she flew across to him.

 (d) No, he was able to fly but he did not do so only due to lack of confidence.

Passage-12: (Page 35)

He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He was no looser afraid.

Word-Meaning: Wondering—surprising, Rushed—ran fast, Headlong—head downwards, Soaring—flying upwards, Gradually—slowly,

Questions:

(a) What was the young seagull’s latent potential that his mother was aware of?

(b) What did he do, maddened by hunger?

(c) How long did terror seize him?

(d) Was he afraid to fly now?

Answers:

(a) Her mother was aware of the young seagull’s latent potential to fly without any difficulty.

(b) Maddened by hunger, he dived for the fish.

(c) He was seized with terror only for a minute.

(d) No, he was not afraid to fly now.

Passage-13: (Pages 35 & 36)

Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly. He was near the sea now, flying straight over it, facing straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green sea beneath him, with little ridges moving over it and he turned his beak sideways and cawed amusedly.

Word-Meaning: Commended—praised, Curve—to bend, Shrieking—screaming, Fill Shrilly-piercing, tuft Straight—direct Vast—wide, Ridges—mountain ranges, Sideways—towards, Cawed—made a crackling sound, Amusedly—happily,

Questions:

(a) How did he overcome his deep-seated fear?

(b) How did he commend himself?

(c) Where was he now?

 (d) Why was he now not afraid of the vast green sea beneath him?

Answers:

(a) When he fell outward for food, he found that he was flying properly and he was no longer afraid.

(b) He commended himself to dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.

(c) He was flying straight over the ocean.

(d) Now he was able to fly well and hence he had no fear of the vast green sea.

Passage-14: (Pages 35 & 36)

His parents and his brothers and sister had landed on this green flooring ahead of him. They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange exercise. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating on it, and around him, his family was screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish. He had made his first flight.

Word-Meaning: Landed—came down, Flooring —flat surface, Ahead—forward, Beckoning—signalling, tided Attempted—tried, Exhausted—tired badly, Strange—unfamiliar, Belly—abdomen, Floating—to swim slowly in water, Praising—applauding Straps—pieces,

Questions:

 (a) What does the ‘green flooring’ refer to, here?

(b) Why did he scream with fright?

 (c) Why couldn’t he rise when he attempted to do so?

(d) How did the young seagull enthral his family?

Answers:

(a) Here the ‘green flooring’ refers to the green sea.

(b) He screamed with fright when his legs sank into the sea.

(c) He couldn’t rise again as he was tired and weak with hunger.

(d) Finally, the young seagull started flying which enthralled his family.

Extra Very Short Answer Type Important Questions Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

Q.1. For how long had the seagull been alone?

Ans. The seagull had been alone for twenty-four hours.

Q.2. Why did the seagull not go with the rest of his family?

Ans. He did not go because he was afraid to fly.

Q.3. Why was the seagull afraid to fly?

Ans. He was afraid to fly because he felt that his wings could not support him.

Q.4. What were the ways the seagull had thought of to join his family?

 Ans. He thought of joining his family by jumping and by walking up to them.

Q.5. Why did the seagull dive towards his mother?

Ans. The seagull dived towards his mother because he wanted the fish in his mother’s beak.

Q.6. He stood at the edge of the ledge on one leg and closed his eyes. Why?

Ans. He wanted to get the attention of his family.

Q.7. Who included the seagull’s family except him?

Ans. There were five members in his family except for him-his father, mother. two brothers and a sister.

Q.8. For how long time had the seagull been alone?

Ans. He had been alone for the last twenty-four hours.

Q.9. How was the seagull feeling?

Ans. He was feeling very hungry.

Q.10. What sight maddened the young seagull?

Ans. The sight of food maddened him.

Extra Short Answer Type Important Questions Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

1. How did the young seagull’s family celebrate his first flight?

Ans. The young seagull was afraid to fly. Even the encouragement and coaxing didn’t work. But when the seagull had his first flight, he as well as his family was happy, relieved and proud of him to have completed his first flight.

2. Flying is a natural act in birds. Then why was the young seagull ‘exhausted by the strange exercise’?

Ans. The seagull didn’t have the courage to fly. Hence, he used to make excuses for not flying. He felt certain that his wings were too weak to support him. He had no courage to flap his wings and failed to muster up the courage to take the plunge.

3. ‘The sight of the food maddened him.’ Who is ‘he’ in these lines? Why was he angry? What does this suggest?

Ans. (i) The young seagull is the ‘he’ in these lines. (ii) He had not eaten anything for the last 24 hours. He was very hungry, hence was angry. (iii) His mother went near him with a piece of fish but did not feed him. Maddened by hunger, the young seagull dived to snatch it but the mother flew away. This shows the weakness of the young seagull.

4. What was the young seagull’s experience during his first flight?

Ans. Falling from the ledge, the seagull was terrified, but soon he started soaring, and then, flying. He forgot that he didn’t always know how to fly. His fear soon turned into confidence, and then into amusement. As he was landing, he was again afraid, but, soon became at ease. It was a memorable first flight.

5. How did the young seagull’s parents treat him initially when he did not fly?

Ans. First, his parents encouraged him, coaxed him then scolded and taunted him for his cowardice. They even threatened to let him starve if he did not fly. But the young seagull could not muster up the courage to fly.

6. Young seagull tried to fly but he could not. Why was he afraid to fly?

Or

Why could the young seagull not fly with his brothers and sisters?

Ans. The young seagull felt certain that his wings were too weak to support him. He had no courage to flap his wings. Even when each one of his brothers and sisters whose wings was much shorter than his, ran to the brink of the ledge, flapped their wings and flew away, he failed to muster up the courage to take that plunge.

7. What did the young seagull do to attract the attention of his mother?

Or

While alone on the ledge, how did the little seagull try to draw the attention of his family?                  

Ans. He came slowly up to the brink of the ledge and stood on one leg. He hid the other leg under his wing. He closed one eye and then the other and pretended to be falling asleep. Thus he tried to attract the attention of his mother.

8. When did the seagull’s flight begin? And where did it end?

Ans. The young seagull’s flight started when he dived trying to snatch the piece of fish from his mother’s beak. He fell down but instinctively his wings spread out, he flapped them and started flying. His flight ended after half an hour when he landed on the green sea with his family.

9. Did the seagull think the sea was like land? Pick out the words that suggest this.

Ans. Yes, the seagull thought that the sea was like land. He called it the green (looting. When he had learnt how to fly, he flew for some time. Then he came down and stood on the sea surface thinking it to be like land. But his legs sank into the sea. ‘Dropped his legs to stand on’, ‘sank into’ and ‘screamed with fright’ are the words that suggest this.

10. When did the seagull’s flight begin?

Ans. The seagull was very hungry. When he saw his mother bringing food in her beak, he dived towards her. But he fell from the brink of the ledge. He screamed with fear. But his fear lasted only for a moment. The next moment he felt that his wings spread outwards. He was flying now. Now he screamed with joy.

 11. Where did the seagull’s flight eng?

 Ans. The seagull was very happy as he had learnt how to fly. He kept flying for some time. His parents, brothers and sister flew around him. Then they landed on the sea surface. The seagull also came down. When he tried to land, his legs sank into the sea. He cried with fear again. But then his belly touched the water. He did not drown. He started floating on the surface of the sea. Thus his first flight ended.

 12. When did the seagull get over his fear of the water? 

Ans. After flying for some time, the seagull saw that his parents and brothers and sister were sitting on the surface of the sea. He came down and landed on it. But his legs sank into it. He cried with fear. However, his belly touched the surface and he did not drown. Now the seagull got over his fear of the water.

 13. Do you sympathise with the seagull? Give reasons.

Ans. Yes, we sympathise with the seagull. He is a very young bird. He has not yet learnt how to fly. His parents want that he should fly. They encourage him. But he is afraid of falling. His parents starve him for twenty-four hours. In the end, however, the seagull learns how to fly.

14. How did the seagull express his excitement when he saw his mother bringing food to him?

Ans. The seagull saw his mother bringing food to him. He screamed with joy. He leaned out eagerly. He tapped rock with his feet and tried to get nearer to her as she flew towards him.

15. How did the young seagull’s parents teach him the art of flying

Ans. The seagull’s parents encouraged him to fly. But he was too afraid to fly. Then they kept him hungry for twenty-four hours. Even then the seagull did not fly. Then they thought that experience would teach him. So they made him fall from the ledge. Now when he fell, he felt his wings spread and started flying.

16. Where did the young seagull sit alone? What did he watch from there?

Ans. The young seagull was alone on his ledge. In the whole family, he was the only one who didn’t know how to fly. Only the day before, his two brothers and his sister had flown away with their parents. When he tried to flap his wings, he was seized with fear. Hence, he sat alone on the ledge watching his family flying over the sea.

17. Why didn’t the young seagull take the plunge? What stopped him from doing so?

Ans. The young seagull was the only one in the family who couldn’t fly in the air. His brothers and sister had far shorter wings than his wings but they had already learnt the art of flying. He felt certain that his wings would never support him. So he was hesitant and afraid of flapping his wings and go deep in the air.

18. Did upbraiding and threatening of his parents help him in flying?

Ans. The parents of the young seagull did try to teach his young one the art of flying. He wouldn’t simply move from his ledge. They would fly around him encouraging and challenging him to follow them. When he wouldn’t budge, his parents would fly around calling to him shrilly. They would upbraid and threaten to let him starve unless he flew away.

19. How were his two brothers and sister different from the young seagull?

Ans. His two brothers and his sister had far shorter wings than he had. But still, they had flown away only the day before. He would watch his parents perfecting them in the art of flying. They were taught how to skim the waves and dive for the fish. The young seagull had seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it.

20. How did the hungry seagull try to pretend to attract his mother’s attraction?

Ans. The whole family had flown away. Only the young seagull sat alone on the ledge. He had not eaten anything thing since the previous nightfall. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge. He stood on one leg. He closed his eyes pretending to be falling asleep. But all his tactics failed. Only his mother took notice of him. All others ignored him.

21. What was the mother doing standing on a little high hump on the plateau?

Ans. All others ignored the hungry young seagull. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump. Now and again, she tore a piece of fish. The fish lay at her feet. Then she scrapped each side of her beak on the rock, The sight of the food maddened the young seagull. He loved to tear the food that way.

22. Why did the young seagull cry “Ga, ga, ga”? Did her mother oblige him?

Ans. When he saw his mother holding a piece of a fish in her beak, the young seagull became almost mad with hunger. He cried “Ga, ga, ga”. He begged her mother to bring him some food. When he saw his mother flying across to him with a piece of fish, he uttered a joyful scream. He started tapping the rock with his feet impatiently. He was almost within the reach of the fish but failed to get at it.

23. What did the young seagull do when he was maddened by hunger? Did hunger motivate him to dive at the fish in the air?

Ans. The young seagull saw his mother flying around him with a piece of fish in her beak. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then he was seized with fear and his heart stood still. But the fear lasted only for a minute. The very next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. Truly, hunger motivated him to dive at the fish and flap his wings into space.

24. How did the young seagull overcome his fear and soared gradually towards the sea during his first flight?

Ans. The young seagull had taken the final plunge. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish which his mother was carrying in her beak. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards. He was seized with fear and his heart stood still. But the fear lasted only for a minute. He overcame it. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. Now he was soaring downwards over the blue sea.

25. Describe the seagull’s first flight.

Ans. The young seagull was very hungry. So he dived at the fish that was in his mother’s beak. But he fell into space and became terribly afraid. His heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted for a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. He began to fly and was no longer afraid.

26. How did his parents, two brothers and sister celebrate the first flight of the young seagull?

Ans. The family saw the young seagull making his first flight. When they saw him floating on the ocean, they flew and landed on the water just ahead of him. They were beckoning to him calling shrilly. They were praising and rewarding him by offering scraps of fish to him.

27. What is the message that Liam 0′ Flaherty wants to give to the readers through the lesson ‘His first Flight’?

Ans. Success can’t be taken for granted. One has to struggle and finally to win it. The story of the young seagull is the story of overcoming hesitations, doubts and fears that stand between us and our success. Hunger makes him take the final plunge. This leads him to make his first flight and soar into space.

 Important Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions- to be answered in about 100 -150 words each Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

Q.1. Compare and contrast the young seagull in the beginning and at the end of the lesson. You can use the words given in the following box.

frightened      coward           terrified          desperate       afraid impatient       confident        joyous            triumphant     amused

 Ans. In the beginning, the seagull is a coward. He lacks confidence. The time has come when he should fly. His parents try to teach him how to fly. But he is too afraid to fly. He refuses to fly. His parents leave him alone on the ledge. They threaten him that he would starve. His brothers and sister make fun of him. They call him a coward. Even then the seagull does not fly. However, he falls from the rock when he tries to get the fish from his mother. The next moment he flaps his wings and starts flying. Now he is full of confidence. He starts crying with joy. He flies higher and higher. He is no longer afraid. He overcomes his fear of the water also. He finds that he can float on the surface of the seta. His family members praise him and give him pieces of fish to eat. In this way, there is a difference in the behaviour of the seagull at the beginning and end of the story.

Q.2. Describe the methods used by the seagull family to help the young seagull overcome his fear and fly.

 Ans. This story is about a young seagull. The time had come when he should fly like his parents and brothers and sister. But he was afraid to fly. His parents tried their best to teach him how to fly. But he refused to fly. They left him alone on his ledge. They threatened him that he would starve. Even then he was too afraid to fly. His brothers and sister made fun of him. They laughed at his cowardice. At last, his mother thought of a plan. She took a piece of fish in her beak and flew towards him. She came near him but did not land on the ledge. The young seagull was very hungry. He came to the brink of the ledge. In order to get food, he dived at the fish. But he fell from the rock. He became terrified. But it was only for a moment. The next moment, he flapped his wings and started flying. In this way, his mother was able to make him fly.

Q.3. What message does the story ‘His First Flight’ convey?

 Ans. This is an imaginary story. The story conveys the message that we learn by taking courage and not by sitting idle. A young seagull is fed lovingly by his parents. But when the time comes for him to fly, he feels afraid. His parents try many tricks to teach him to fly. But he is so afraid that he refuses to fly. At last, his mother hits upon a plan. She tempts him with food in her beak. But she only flies near his ledge and does not land there. In order to get food, the hungry seagull comes to the edge of the rock and falls from it. At first, he is terrified but then he opens his wings and starts flying. He is happy to note that he did not fall in the sea. In this way, the young seagull makes the first flight of his life when he takes courage.

Q.4. When did the seagull’s flight begin and where did it end?

 Or

Describe how the young seagull Or made his maiden flight.

 Ans. The seagull was very hungry. When he saw his mother bringing food in her beak, he dived towards her. But he fell from the brink of the ledge. He screamed with fear. But his fear lasted only for a moment. The next moment, he felt that his wings spread outwards. He was flying now. Now he screamed with joy. The seagull was very happy as he had learnt how to fly. He kept flying for some time. His parents, brothers and sister flew around him. Then they landed on the sea surface. The seagull also came down. When he tried to land, his legs sank into the sea. He cried with fear again. But then his belly touched the water. He did not drown. He started floating on the surface of the sea. Thus the seagull made the first flight of his life.

Q.5. What happened after the seagull had learnt how to fly?

 Ans. The seagull came to the brink of the ledge in order to get the fish from his mother. But his mother remained in the air. a little away from the ledge. The seagull dived at the fish. But he fell from the rock into space. He cried with fear. But this fear lasted only a moment. The next moment, he flapped his wings. He was surprised to find that he was flying. He screamed with joy. He soared higher and higher. His parents flew around him. They praised him for learning how to fly. Then his parents, brothers and sister landed on the sea. They beckoned the young seagull to come to them. The seagull dropped his legs and came down on the surface of the sea. He had thought that the surface of the sea was green flooring. But his legs started sinking into the water. He again screamed with fear. However, his belly touched the water and he did not drown. He started floating on the water. His family members were also happy. They gave him pieces of a fish to eat.

 Q.6.The young seagull found it difficult to fly for the first time. lie felt that his wings would never support him. Was it not in his attitude to accept the challenges? Did he lack courage? Discuss the values that can help people accept challenges in life.

Ans. The young seagull’s brothers and sisters had started flying the previous day. However, he himself was unable to muster the courage to fly. He lacked confidence and felt that his wings wouldn’t support him. However, I do not think that facing challenges was a problem for him. Still, he did lack courage. To accept and successfully face challenges, one must be fearless, determined and have clarity of thought and action. Also, the support of those around us can play a big role, as in the seagull’s case.

Q.7. The mother of young seagull picked up a piece of fish but still did not come nearer to give him. Why did she do so? Did she lack love for her son or she wanted to make him courageous? What values does the mother depict through her act? Write in 100-120 words.                                                                                               

Ans. The young seagull was terribly afraid to fly. His parents encouraged him to make his first flight. But he could not do so. Then, the mother picked up a piece of fish but did not go near to give him. The seagull was extremely hungry. He started crying so that his mother would give him some food. But after coming towards him, the mother stopped opposite to him but almost within his reach. When the seagull dived to get the piece, she swooped upwards. Maddened by hunger, the young seagull spread his wings upwards and started flying. This shows that the mother wanted her son to become courageous. This shows that sometimes parents take such harsh steps for their kids which may appear wrong at that time but later prove to be beneficial for their kids.

8. Was the young seagull same at the beginning and at the end of the lesson? Compare and contrast the two kinds of the same seagull in the lesson.

Ans. No, the young seagull was not the same bird at the beginning and at the end of the lesson. In the beginning, the young seagull used to be all alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had flown away the day before. He had been afraid of flying with them. Whenever he tried to flap his wings, he was seized with fear. He felt certain that his wings would never support him. His father and mother flew around calling to him shrilly. They were constantly scolding and taunting him. They were threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away.

 However, the young seagull was more confident and sure of his success in the end. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. After trials and errors, his wings spread outwards. He was soaring gradually downwards forgetting all his hesitations and fears. He could float on the ocean now. His success was welcomed by his family. They were praising him now and their beaks were offering him their scraps of dog-fish.

9. ‘All parental acts are for the betterment of the children.’ It is true. However, one has to make efforts through trials and errors shedding off one’s early hesitations and fears to succeed in any enterprise. Justify this statement by taking points from the lesson ‘His First Flight’.

Ans. There is no doubt about it ‘All parental acts are for the betterment of the children’. It is the ardent wish of every parent that they may teach all skills to their young ones so that they may succeed in life. First of all, they can learn all the things which their parents have taught in life. If the young ones don’t act then they also indulge in scolding, taunting and humiliating them to shed off their hesitations and fears. This is exactly what the parents of the young seagull did. They were successful in teaching the art of flying to his two brothers and sister. They also tried their best to embolden him to take the plunge. Particularly, the mother-seagull went on flying around him with a piece of fish in her beak. It was her attempt to tempt her starving son to dive at the fish. And she succeeded in her aim. The young seagull did dive at the fish and it led to his success in the end.

10. ‘Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish,’ says the narrator about the young seagull. Do you feel hunger was the main motivating force that made the young seagull take the plunge that taught him how to fly in the air?

Ans. Food is the most essential ingredient that sustains all life — of humans, animals as well as birds. Hunger motivates many of their actions. The young seagull used to sit all alone on his ledge. Whenever he tried to flap his wings to fly, he was seized with fear. He felt certain that his wings would never support him. He had seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it. It compounded his helplessness even more. He uttered a joyful scream when he saw his mother holding a piece of fish in her beak and flying quite near him. He wondered why she didn’t come to him and offer that piece of fish to him. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then a monstrous terror seized him but only for a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. He began to soar downwards towards the sea. The fear left him. He began to float on the sea. His admiring family offered him pieces of fish flying around him.

11. Describe the humiliation and taunting that the young seagull faced from his family when he used to sit alone on his ledge without mustering his courage to fly in the air.

Ans. The young seagull used to sit on .the ledge all alone. He used to see his two brothers and sister flying around him. They had learnt flying only the day before. Not that he didn’t try before. He had come to the edge of the ledge and tried to flap his wings. But he became afraid soon. He felt certain that his wings would never support him. So he bent his head and ran away to the little hole under the ledge. His brothers and sister had far shorter wings than his own. But they succeeded flapping their wings and flew away. He failed to muster his courage to take the plunge. His father and mother flew around him scolding and taunting him. They also threatened to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. The thing that compounded his agony was that his elder brother had caught his first herring and devoured it. His parents circled around his brother raising a proud cackle. On the other hand, the family had walked down the opposite chiff taunting him with his cowardice.

12. Hesitations and fears play necessary parts in human life but we get success in any enterprise only when we overcome our doubts, hesitations and fears. Justify this statement in light of the young seagull’s efforts to muster the courage to fly in the air.

Ans. Nothing in life can be taken for granted. Skills have to be learnt in life with your own efforts. Parents can only help in teaching and encouraging us to learn things. But we have to learn them through our own efforts of trials and errors. Who doesn’t suffer from hesitations and fears in the beginning? It takes time to take the final plunge. So it happened with the young seagull. In spite of constant encouragements and motivations, he couldn’t muster the courage to fly. He was certain that his wings would not support him. He faced regular taunting and humiliations of his family. They even threatened to let him stare at the ledge unless he flew away. But they say that necessity is the mother of invention. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish which his mother was carrying in her beak. He felt his wings spreading outwards. Finally, he soared to come down over the sea. When he floated on the sea, his family celebrated his success by offering pieces of fish to him.