This Ncert class 10 English chapter 3 contains two stories about flight. Two Stories about Flying presents contrasting narratives about the challenges of flight.
While one follows a young seagull’s journey to overcome his fear of flying, the other tells the mysterious tale of a pilot guided through a storm by an unexplainable presence.
His First Flight by Liam O’ Flaherty
- A young seagull is afraid to fly despite his family having already learned to do so
- He stays alone on a ledge for 24 hours, watching his family fly and feeling afraid
- His mother uses food as motivation, holding fish just out of his reach
- Driven by hunger, he dives for the food and discovers he can actually fly
- The story ends with him successfully joining his family and learning to fly
Two Stories about Flying: Extra questions and answers
Q: Who is the author of His First Flight?
A: The story His First Flight is written by Liam O’ Flaherty.
Q: What is the theme of His First Flight?
A: The main theme of His First Flight Class 10 is overcoming fear and gaining self-confidence. It shows how sometimes we need to face our fears to discover our true capabilities.
Q: Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
A: Despite having strong wings, he feared the long drop below the ledge and didn’t trust his own abilities.
Q: What role did the seagull’s mother play?
A: She used tough love by holding food just out of his reach, forcing him to take his first flight out of hunger.
Q: What urged him to make his first flight?
A: Hunger urged the young seagull to make his first flight. His mother cleverly used food (a piece of fish) as motivation, holding it just out of his reach, which made him dive forward and discover he could fly.
Q: What is the message of His First Flight?
A: The message of His First Flight is that we all have natural abilities within us, but fear sometimes holds us back. Once we overcome our fears, we can achieve what we thought was impossible.
The Black Aeroplane by Frederick Forsyth
- A pilot flying his Dakota aircraft from France to England at night
- He encounters storm clouds but decides to fly through them despite low fuel
- Inside the clouds, his instruments and radio fail
- A mysterious black plane appears and guides him to safety
- Upon landing, he discovers there was no other plane recorded flying that night
Q: Who is the author of Black Aeroplane?
A: The Black Aeroplane is written by Frederick Forsyth.
Q: Is Black Aeroplane a true story?
A: No, Black Aeroplane is not a true story. It’s a fictional story with mysterious elements, as proven by the ending where we learn that no other plane was flying that night.
Q: Why did the pilot take the risk of flying through the storm?
A: He was eager to reach home for breakfast and thought he could manage despite having low fuel.
Q: Was there really another plane?
A: The story leaves this as a mystery since the control tower confirmed no other planes were flying that night
Q: What is a black box in an aeroplane?
A: A black box is a flight recorder that records all flight data and cockpit conversations. It’s a crucial device that helps investigators understand what happened in case of an aviation accident.
Q: What is the color of the black box in an aeroplane?
A: Despite being called a “black box,” it is actually bright orange in color. This makes it easier to find after an accident.
Q: Who helped the pilot in Black Aeroplane?
A: The story leaves this as a mystery. The pilot was helped by someone flying a mysterious black plane that guided him to safety, but when he landed, he discovered that no other plane was recorded flying that night. This creates the story’s main mystery.
→Discover how “How to Tell Wild Animals” and “The Ball Poem” complement these flying tales with their unique perspectives on learning and loss. Read More About the Poems.
→ Ready for your next literary adventure? Continue to Chapter 4: “From the Diary of Anne Frank” to explore a young girl’s powerful story during World War II. Read Chapter 4 »
→Want to revisit the previous chapter? Return to Chapter 2: “Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” to explore the journey of a freedom fighter. Read Chapter 2
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