NCERT Solutions of Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 3 provide a detailed and exam-oriented explanation of Two Stories About Flying question answer as prescribed in the CBSE Class 10 syllabus. This chapter contains two inspiring stories: one of a young seagull learning to overcome fear and take its first flight, and the other of a lost pilot guided safely by a mysterious aeroplane.
The solutions help students grasp important themes such as courage, hope, self-confidence, and perseverance. They also explain the characters’ challenges, pivotal incidents, and moral lessons in a simple and structured way, making it easier for students to understand, revise, and answer questions effectively during exams. By following these solutions, learners can strengthen comprehension, improve analytical skills, and align their preparation perfectly with the Class 10 syllabus.
Two Stories About Flying Summary Class 10 English
The chapter Two Stories About Flying from Class 10 English narrates two inspiring tales of courage and overcoming fear. The first story follows a young seagull who is terrified of flying but gradually learns to trust himself and take his first flight. The second story features a lost pilot who, in a dangerous storm, is guided safely by a mysterious aeroplane, showing hope and human resilience.
This Two Stories About Flying summary highlights themes of courage, determination, self-confidence, and hope.
Chapter 3: Two Stories About Flying Question Answer (His First Flight)
Class 10 English First Flight ch 3 question answers are provided below. These solutions provide explanations and answers to the questions related to the story "His First Flight". They are designed to help students understand the text better and prepare for their exams. By referring to these solutions, students can gain clarity on the themes, characters, and literary devices used in the Chapter.I. His First Flight
Thinking about the Text (Page 36)
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 steps?
Answer:
The fear of trying something new, like flying for the first time, is common not just among birds but also among humans. Just like the young seagull, human babies also experience fear and find itchallenging when they take their first steps or learn to crawl and walk independently. It is a natural part of growth and learning for both birds and humans. Overcoming these fears and challenges is a crucial step towards independence and self-confidence.
Question 2: “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to fly finally?
Answer:
The young seagull struggled to gather the courage for his first flight, despite constant urging from his family. Left on the ledge for over twenty-four hours, hunger eventually pushed him to take the plunge. When he saw his mother with food, his desperation peaked, and he eagerly awaited her approach. However, she stopped midway, leaving him confused and hungrier. Driven by hunger, he impulsively dived for the food, causing him to fall towards the vast sea below. Initially terrified, he soon felt his wings spread out and realized he could fly. Hunger outweighed fear, and he joyfully completed his first fligh.Question 3: “They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
Answer:
The young seagull's parents kept calling out to him, urging him to take his first flight. Despite trying everything, he was hesitant because he feared falling from the cliff. Watching his siblings fly away only added to his reluctance. His family left him alone on the ledge, trying to motivate and convince him to fly, but their efforts were unsuccessful.Question 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.
Answer:
Yes, I had a similar experience with learning to ride a bicycle mirrors the challenges faced by the young seagull in learning to fly. It's common to feel fear and struggle with something new at first. Your perseverance and your parents' encouragement played a crucial role in overcoming that fear. Just like how your father supported you while learning to ride, the seagull's family encouraged him to take flight. Your dedication to practicing cycling daily eventually led to improvement and confidence, similar to how the young seagull gained confidence with each attempt. It's inspiring to see how you overcame your fear and now ride confidently every day! ( Note: Students can write this answer as per their personal experience.)Question 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 the possibility of failure?
Answer:
It's common for everyone to encounter challenges when learning new skills. Fear of failure often holds us back from attempting something new. Like the young seagull's parents, my father encouraged me to learn to ride a bike despite my initial fears. Overcoming that fear was crucial for my own growth and development. Success is indeed attainable when we remain focused and determined. The saying "practice makes perfect" rings true – consistent effort leads to improvement and success in any endeavor.Speaking (Page 36)
Question: We have just read about the first flight of a young seagull. Your teacher will now divide the class into groups. Each group will work on one of the following topics. Prepare a presentation with your group members and then present it to the entire class. • Progression of Models of Airplanes • Progression of Models of Motorcars • Birds and Their Wing Span • Migratory Birds — Tracing Their Flights
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.Writing (Page 36)
Question: Write a short composition on your initial attempts at learning a skill. You could describe the challenges of learning to ride a bicycle or learning to swim. Make it as humorous as possible.
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.Chapter 3: Two Stories About Flying Question Answers (II The Black Aeroplane)
With NCERT solutions of class 10 chapter 3, students should also practice Two Stories About Flying Extra Questions and Answers provide additional practice to understand key events, characters, and themes. These Two Stories About Flying help students strengthen comprehension and exam readiness as per the CBSE Class 10 syllabus.
Thinking about the Text (Page 40)
Question 1: “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Answer:
The pilot of the Dakota DS 088 plane was eager to return home to England for a holiday with his family. However, during the journey, his plane encountered a massive storm with dark clouds. Despite the danger, the pilot was determined not to miss the chance to have a traditional English breakfast with his family. So, he made the risky decision to fly directly into the storm, even though visibility was extremely low.Question 2: Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Answer:
As the pilot ventured into the massive storm of clouds, his plane began to jolt and spin in the turbulent air. Enclosed by the pitch-black clouds, he lost all sight of the outside world. The instruments that guided him through the skies ceased to function amidst the chaos of the storm. It was a harrowing and unnerving ordeal for the pilot. With his fuel running dangerously low and unable to navigate, he faced a dire situation. Suddenly, a mysterious black plane, devoid of any lights, emerged beside him. Its pilot signaled for him to follow. Without any other options, the narrator complied, trailing the enigmatic aircraft through the tumultuous storm. Eventually, they safely landed on a runway, guided by the strange black plane.Question 3: Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?
Answer:
The pilot felt immense relief upon safely landing after navigating through the dense storm clouds. He felt no regret about leaving behind the old Dakota aircraft. Instead, he was overwhelmed with gratitude towards the pilot of the mysterious black plane. Despite his sincere desire to express his thanks, he realized he couldn't adequately convey his gratitude to the unknown pilot who had guided him through the perilous situation.Question 4: What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
Answer:
The woman at the control center regarded the narrator with a puzzled expression when he recounted the assistance he received from the mysterious black plane. Her surprise was evident as she informed him that according to the radar, his plane was the only one present in the sky during the storm. The discrepancy between the narrator's experience and the radar data left both him and the woman perplexed, shrouding the events in an eerie mystery.Question 5: Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
The identity of the mysterious pilot who helped the narrator is not clearly explained. It is likely that the narrator himself, overcoming his fear during the storm, managed to guide the plane safely, as no other aircraft was visible on the radar. His courage and skill as a pilot allowed him to navigate the turbulent storm and land safely.Thinking about Language (Page 40-41)
Question I:
Study the sentences given below.Answer:
1. Go and have a bath; your hands and face are absolutely black. – The ‘black’ in this sentence denotes that the face and hands are dark due to dust and dirt. 2. The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green. – The ‘black’ in this sentence refers to an angry or annoyed look. 3. The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity. – The ‘black’ in this sentence denotes a dark and brutal incident against humanity. 4. Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter’s black comedy. – The ‘black’ in this sentence denotes dark or distressing comedy. 5. Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black. – The ‘black’ in this sentence refers to the hoarding of goods by shopkeepers to sell those goods at a higher price later. 6. Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue. – The ‘black’ in this sentence denotes that the criminal was beaten and badly bruised by the villagers.Question II:
Look at these sentences taken from the lesson you have just read: (a) I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane. (b) The young seagull had been afraid to fly with them. In the first sentence the author was controlling an aircraft in the air. Another example is: Children are flying kites. In the second sentence the seagull was afraid to move through the air, using its wings. Match the phrases given under Column A with their meanings given under Column B:| A | B |
| 1. Fly a flag | – Move quickly/suddenly |
| 2. Fly into rage | – Be successful |
| 3. Fly along | – Display a flag on a long pole |
| 4. Fly high | – Escape from a place |
| 5. Fly the coop | – Become suddenly very angry |
Answer:
| A | B |
| 1. Fly a flag | – Display a flag on a long pole |
| 2. Fly into rage | – Become suddenly very angry |
| 3. Fly along | – Move quickly/suddenly |
| 4. Fly high | – Be successful |
| 5. Fly the coop | – Escape from a place |
Question III:
We know that the word ‘fly’ (of birds/insects) means to move through air using wings. Tick the words which have the same or nearly the same meaning.| swoop | flit | paddle | flutter |
| ascend | float | ride | skim |
| sink | dart | hover | glide |
| descend | soar | shoot | spring |
| stay | fall | sail | flap |
Answer:
The words which have the same or nearly the same meaning as ‘fly’ are listed below:- Swoop
- Flit
- Flutter
- Float
- Skim
- Hover
- Glide
- Soar
- Sail
Writing (Page 41)
Question:
Have you ever been alone or away from home during a thunderstorm? Narrate your experience in a paragraph.Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself. ( Note: Students can write their personal experiences here.)