Class 10 English His First Flight Text Book Question Answer

Class 10 English His First Flight Text Book Question Answer : Here are the answers to the questions from the NCERT English 10th textbook First Flight (chapter “His First Flight” by Liam O’Flaherty) in simple English, tailored for Hindi medium students studying English as a second language in Madhya Pradesh:

Thinking About the Text

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?
   The young seagull was afraid to fly because he thought his wings would not support him, and he might fall into the sea. He was scared of leaving the safety of the cliff.
   Yes, many young birds may feel afraid during their first flight because it’s new and risky. Some birds might be more timid than others, just like people have different personalities—some are bold, others are cautious.
   Similarly, a human baby finds it challenging to take its first steps. Babies are afraid of falling and need time to gain confidence, just like the seagull needed encouragement to fly.
2. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
   This suggests that the young seagull was extremely hungry, and seeing food made him desperate and excited. His hunger was so strong that it overcame his fear.
   The seagull was compelled to fly because his mother held a piece of fish close to him but didn’t give it. To reach the food, he had to dive off the cliff, which made him spread his wings and fly for the first time.
3. “They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
   The seagull’s parents were beckoning and calling shrilly to encourage him to fly. They threatened him by not giving him food and cajoled him by showing food to motivate him. They did this because they knew he could fly but was too scared. They wanted him to overcome his fear and learn an important skill for survival.
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.
   Yes, many of us have faced such moments. For example, my parents encouraged me to ride a bicycle when I was scared of falling. They kept pushing me to try, holding the bike at first and cheering me on. With their support, I learned to ride. Another example could be trying to swim or speaking in front of a class. Parents encourage us because they know we can do it with practice.
   (You can discuss similar personal experiences with your classmates, like learning to ride, swim, or perform on stage.)
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?
   For a bird, flying is a natural act, and it is expected to succeed because it’s part of their nature. In my example of riding a bicycle, success was not guaranteed—I fell a few times before learning. It was important to try, even if I failed at first, because each attempt helped me improve. Trying, despite the fear of failure, builds confidence and skills, just like the seagull learned to fly after taking the risk.

The Black Aeroplane Text Book Question Answer

Here are the answers to the questions from the NCERT English 10th textbook First Flight (chapter “Two Stories about Flying: II. Black Aeroplane” by Frederick Forsyth) in simple English, tailored for Hindi medium students studying English as a second language in Madhya Pradesh:

Thinking About the Text

1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
   The risk is flying the aeroplane through a dangerous storm with dark clouds. The narrator could lose control or crash due to bad weather.
   He takes the risk because he wants to reach home to have breakfast with his family in England. His desire to be with his family motivates him to fly despite the danger.
2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
   As the narrator flew into the storm, everything turned black. He couldn’t see anything outside the plane. The compass and other instruments stopped working, so he couldn’t tell which direction he was going. He was scared and felt lost in the dark clouds. Then, a mysterious black aeroplane appeared and guided him by flying ahead. He followed it until he safely came out of the storm.
3. Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?
   The narrator says this because he was relieved to land safely after a frightening flight through the storm. The old Dakota aeroplane was not in good condition, and he faced a risky situation. After surviving, he was happy to leave the plane and be safe on the ground.
4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
   The woman in the control centre looked at the narrator strangely because he asked about the other aeroplane that guided him. She told him there was no other plane in the sky during the storm—only his Dakota was visible on the radar. His question confused her as she couldn’t explain the mysterious black aeroplane.
5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
   It’s unclear who helped the narrator, as the story leaves it a mystery. Some possible ideas:

• A real pilot: It could have been another pilot who was not detected by radar due to the storm’s interference.
• A supernatural force: The black aeroplane might have been a miracle or guardian angel sent to save him, as it appeared suddenly and vanished without a trace.
• His imagination: The narrator, scared and desperate, might have imagined the black aeroplane, and his own instincts guided him out of the storm.
  I think it might be a supernatural force because no other plane was seen on the radar, and the black aeroplane disappeared mysteriously. Discuss with your friends whether it was a real plane, a miracle, or something else, and share your reasons!