I His First Flight, II The Black Aeroplane
Short Questions Answers
Question 1: Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
Answer: He feared his wings would not support him and that he might fall into the sea.
Question 2: What did the young seagull’s parents do to force him to fly?
Answer: They scolded, threatened, and even left him hungry on the ledge.
Question 3: What sight maddened the young seagull?
Answer: The sight of his mother eating a piece of fish maddened him.
Question 4: What happened when the young seagull dived at the fish?
Answer: He fell into space but discovered that his wings worked, and he began to fly.
Question 5: How did the family react to the young seagull’s first flight?
Answer: They screamed with joy, praised him, and offered him pieces of fish.
Question 6: Where was the narrator of “The Black Aeroplane” flying to?
Answer: He was flying from France to England.
Question 7: What did the narrator dream of while flying?
Answer: He dreamed of enjoying a big English breakfast with his family.
Question 8: Why did the narrator take the risk of flying into the storm clouds?
Answer: He wanted to reach home in time and did not want to go back to Paris.
Question 9: What problem did the narrator face inside the storm clouds?
Answer: His compass and radio stopped working, and he lost his direction.
Question 10: Why was the narrator surprised after landing safely?
Answer: The control centre told him that no other aeroplane had been flying that night.
Long Questions Answers
Question 1: Describe how the young seagull overcame his fear and made his first flight.
Answer: The young seagull was afraid to fly, thinking his wings would not support him. His family left him hungry and taunted him. Finally, hunger drove him to dive for the fish his mother carried. As he fell, he realized his wings worked, and he began soaring confidently. His family praised and encouraged him, marking his first flight.
Question 2: Why did the seagull’s parents and siblings taunt and threaten him?
Answer: The young seagull’s brothers and sister had already learnt to fly, but he remained hesitant. His parents wanted him to overcome his fear, so they scolded, taunted, and threatened him with starvation. This pressure was meant to force him to make his first attempt at flight.
Question 3: How did hunger play an important role in the young seagull’s first flight?
Answer: The young seagull had not eaten since the previous nightfall. When he saw his mother with fish, his hunger grew unbearable. When she stopped just out of reach, he dived at the food and, in doing so, discovered his ability to fly. Hunger pushed him to take the plunge.
Question 4: Describe the narrator’s flight before he encountered the storm in “The Black Aeroplane.”
Answer: The narrator flew his Dakota plane from France to England on a clear night. The stars shone brightly, and everything was calm. He was happy and thought of his family and the big English breakfast awaiting him. It was smooth and easy until he saw the huge storm clouds ahead.
Question 5: What difficulties did the narrator face when he flew into the storm?
Answer: Inside the storm clouds, the Dakota plane was tossed around. The compass and radio stopped working, and other instruments also failed. He could not see anything and was completely lost in the darkness, with very little fuel left.
Question 6: Who helped the narrator inside the storm clouds, and how?
Answer: The narrator saw a strange black aeroplane flying close by. Its pilot waved and signalled him to follow. Trusting him, the narrator followed the plane like a child. The black aeroplane guided him safely out of the storm to a runway.
Question 7: Why was the narrator eager to reach home instead of returning to Paris?
Answer: Though he knew it was risky, he wanted to be home with his family. He dreamed of enjoying a good English breakfast. This desire made him take the dangerous decision of flying into the storm instead of returning to Paris.
Question 8: What was strange about the black aeroplane?
Answer: The black aeroplane had no lights but still guided the narrator safely out of the storm. However, after landing, he was told no other plane had been flying that night. The mysterious plane disappeared without a trace, leaving a question mark.
Question 9: Why does the narrator say he was “not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota”?
Answer: The narrator had gone through a terrifying flight where all instruments failed, and he had almost lost hope. After landing safely, he felt relieved to leave the plane behind, as it reminded him of the dangerous experience.
Question 10: What is the central theme of ‘Two Stories about Flying’?
Answer: Both stories focus on courage, faith, and overcoming fear. In the first, the seagull learns to fly by overcoming his fear and hunger. In the second, the narrator survives the storm with the mysterious help of a black aeroplane. Both teach that determination and faith can help one face challenges.
Leave a Reply