English L 3 Two stories about Flying

   L 3  Two Stories about Flying

          Part I  His  First Flight

Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words:

 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  çcourage 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 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 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 were much shorter than his, ran to the brink of the ledge, flapped their wings and flew away, he failed to muster up courage to take that plunge.

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

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.

Long Answer Type Questions

Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words:

1. The young seagull found it difficult to fly for the first time. He 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 of life.

Ans. The young seagull's brothers and sisters had started flying the previous day. But, he 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.

2. 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 100-150 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.

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