Chapter 3 Two Stories about Flying
Textbook Questions and Answers
I. His First Flight
Thinking about the Text
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?
वह छोटा सीगल उड़ने से क्यों डरता था? क्या आप सोचते हैं कि सभी बच्चे-पक्षी अपनी पहली उड़ान भरने से डरते हैं, या कुछ पक्षी दूसरों की तुलना में अधिक डरपोक होते हैं? क्या आप सोचते हैं कि एक मानव-बच्चा भी अपने पहले कदम लेने को एक चुनौती मानता है?
Answer:
The young seagull was afraid to fly because he was sure that his small wings would never support him to fly across the great expanse of the sea.
No, all young birds aren’t afraid to make their first flight. The young seagull’s two brothers and his sister had already flown away.
Yes, some birds are more timid than others. The young seagull is a fine example of it.
Yes, I think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps. It falls down many times and tries too. And finally it gets success.
बच्चा सीगल उड़ने से डरता था क्योंकि उसे पक्का विश्वास था कि उसके छोटे-छोटे पंख इतने विशाल फैले समुद्र के दूसरी तरफ उड़ने में उसका कभी साथ नहीं दे पायेंगे।
नहीं, सभी बच्चे-पक्षी अपनी पहली उड़ान भरने से नहीं डरते हैं। बच्चे-सीगल के दो भाई व उसकी बहन पहले ही उड़ चुके थे।
हाँ, कुछ पक्षी दूसरों से अधिक डरपोक होते हैं। बच्चा-सीगल इसका एक अच्छा उदाहरण है।
हाँ, मानव-बच्चा भी अपने पहले कदम लेने को चुनौती पाता है। यह बहुत बार गिरता है और प्रयास करता है और अंततः यह सफलता प्राप्त करता है।
Question 2.
“The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly ?
“भोजन के दृश्य ने उसे पागल कर दिया।” यह क्या संकेत देता है? किस बात ने बच्चा-सीगल को आखिरकार उड़ने पर मजबूर कर दिया?
Answer:
This suggests that the young seagull was extremely hungry. He hadn’t eaten anything for the last twenty-four hours. He uttered a joyful scream when his mother picked up a piece of the fish and flew across him with it.
His dive at the fish caused him to fall outward and downward. It compelled him to flap his wings. Consequently, he made his first flight.
इससे यह विचार आता है कि बच्चा-सीगल अत्यधिक भूखा था। उसने पिछले 24 घण्टे से कुछ नहीं खाया था। वह प्रसन्नता से चिल्लाया जब उसकी माँ ने मछली का एक टुकड़ा उठाया और उसके साथ उसकी ओर उड़ी।
मछली पर उसकी छलांग ने उसे बाहर की ओर और नीचे की ओर गिरा दिया। इसने उसे अपने पंख फड़फड़ाने पर मजबूर कर दिया। परिणामस्वरूप, उसने अपनी प्रथम उड़ान भरी।
Question 3.
“They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
“वे, तीक्ष्णता से पुकारते हुए, उसे इशारा कर रहे थे।” सीगल के माता-पिता ने उसे धमकी क्यों दी और उड़ने के लिए उसकी खुशामद क्यों की?
Answer:
The seagull’s father and mother threatened him and cajoled him to fly because he had failed to muster up courage to take his first flight. The parents wanted that their this son should learn to fly by any means.
सीगल के पिता व माता ने उसे उड़ने के लिए धमकी दी व उसके उड़ने के लिए उसकी खुशामद की क्योंकि वह अपनी प्रथम उड़ान भरने का साहस जुटाने में असफल हो चुका था। माता-पिता यह चाहते थे कि उनका यह पुत्र भी किसी भी तरह से उड़ना सीख जाए।
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.
क्या आपको कभी एक ऐसा ही अनुभव हुआ था, जहाँ आपके माता-पिता ने आपको वह करने को प्रोत्साहित किया हो जिसे करने में आप अत्यधिक भयभीत थे? जोड़ों में या समूहों में चर्चा करें।
Answer:
Yes, I too once had a similar experience. In my boyhood, I was scared to learn to ride a cycle. I thought my cycle was too large and heavy to be balanced. One day my mother made me sit on the cycle’s seat and asked me to take care of the handle and keep feet on the paddles. My father pushed it and supported for the balance. And then, he left it. I got scared for a moment but after having ridden for some distance, I got confidence. Thus I had made my first cycle ride.
हाँ, मुझे स्वयं भी एक बार एक ऐसा ही अनुभव हुआ था। मैं अपने बचपन में साइकिल सीखने में डरता था। मैं सोचता था कि मेरी साइकिल इतनी बड़ी व भारी थी कि मैं सन्तुलन नहीं बना सकता था। एक दिन मेरी. माँ ने मुझे साइकिल की सीट पर बैठा दिया और मुझसे हैंडल संभालने व पैडलों पर पैर रखने को कहा। मेरे पिता ने इसे धकेला और सन्तुलन के लिए सहारा दिया। और फिर, उन्होंने इसे छोड़ दिया। एक क्षण के लिए तो मैं घबरा गया लेकिन कुछ दूर सवारी कर लेने के बाद, मुझमें आत्मविश्वास आ गया। इस प्रकार मैंने अपनी प्रथम साइकिल सवारी कर ली थी।
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 a possibility of failure ?
पक्षी के उड़ने के मामले में यह एक प्राकृतिक कार्य प्रकट होता है और एक निश्चित निष्कर्ष कि इसे सफल होना चाहिए। इससे पहले प्रश्न के उत्तर में जो उदाहरण आपने दिया है उसमें क्या आपकी सफलता की गारण्टी थी, या असफलता की सम्भावना की परवाह न करते हुए, आपका कोशिश करना महत्त्वपूर्ण था?
Answer:
In the example, I have given in answer to the previous question my success was not guaranteed. It was important for me to try, regardless of a possibility of failure. I tried to balance the cycle and paddle it. Consequently, I learnt to ride it.
इससे पहले वाले प्रश्न के उत्तर में जो उदाहरण मैंने दिया है उसमें मेरी सफलता की गारण्टी नहीं थी। असफलता की परवाह न करते हुए, मेरा कोशिश करना महत्त्वपूर्ण था। मैंने साइकिल को सन्तुलित रखने व पैडल मारने की कोशिश की। परिणामस्वरूप, मैंने इसकी सवारी करना सीख लिया।
II. The Black Aeroplane
Question 1.
“I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
“मैं खतरा मोल लूँगा।” खतरा क्या है? वर्णनकर्ता इसे क्यों मोल लेता है?
Answer:
There is risk to fly the old Dakota aeroplane through the storm clouds.
The narrator wants to reach home and to have a good big English breakfast. So, he takes this risk.
पुराने डाकोटा विमान को सीधे तूफानी बादलों में होकर उड़ाना ‘खतरा’ है।
वर्णनकर्ता घर पहुँचना चाहता है तथा एक शानदार अंग्रेजी (अंग्रेजों द्वारा किया जाने वाला) नाश्ता करना चाहता है। अतः वह इस खतरे को उठाता है।
Question 2.
Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
वर्णनकर्ता के अनुभव का वर्णन करें जब उसने तूफान के अन्दर हवाई जहाज उड़ाया।
Answer:
The narrator took risk by flying the aeroplane into the storm. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. The compass and other instruments turned dead. Then, he saw another aeroplane. Its pilot was waving to follow. This strange aeroplane guided him to safe landing.
वर्णनकर्ता ने हवाई जहाज को तूफान में उड़ाकर खतरा मोल लिया। पुराना हवाई जहाज हवा में कूदा और इधर-उधर हिला। दिक्सूचक और अन्य उपकरण खराब हो गए। फिर उसे दूसरा हवाई जहाज दिखाई दिया। इसका पाइलट अनुसरण करने के लिए हाथ हिला रहा था। इस अजनबी हवाई जहाज ने उसे सुरक्षित उतरने में मार्गदर्शन किया।
Question 3.
Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota….”?
वर्णनकर्ता क्यों कहता है, ‘मैं जमीन पर उतरा और पुराने डाकोटा से दूर जाते हुए मुझे अफसोस नहीं था………..?
Answer:
The narrator says so because the old Dakota carries him on the verge of death with dead compass, dead radio and dead other instruments. Now it was of no use. Moreover, he wanted to get home for a good big English breakfast.
वर्मनकर्ता ऐसा इसलिए कहता है क्योंकि पुराना डाकोटा अपने खराब दिक्सूचक, खराब रेडियो व खराब अन्य उपकरणों के कारण उसे मृत्यु के किनारे ले जाता है। अब यह किसी उपयोग का भी नहीं रह गया था। . और फिर, वह घर पहुँचकर एक अच्छा भारी अंग्रेजी नाश्ता लेना चाहता था।
Question 4.
What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
किस वजह से नियन्त्रण केन्द्र में बैठी महिला (कर्मचारी) ने वर्णनकर्ता की ओर हैरानी से देखा?
Answer:
The narrator asked the woman in the control centre about the pilot of the another plane which guided him in safe landing. No other aeroplane was flying there in the storm clouds. So, the mentioning of the narrator about the another aeroplane made that woman look strangely.
लेखक ने नियन्त्रण केन्द्र में बैठी महिला से दूसरे पायलट के बारे में पूछा जिसने उसे सुरक्षित उतरने में मार्गदर्शन दिया था। उस तूफान में वहाँ अन्य कोई हवाई जहाज नहीं उड़ा था। अतः लेखक के दूसरे हवाई जहाज के होने के उल्लेख ने उस महिला को हैरानी से देखने को मजबूर किया।
Question 5.
Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
आप क्या सोचते हैं कि वर्णनकर्ता को सुरक्षित पहुँचाने में किसने सहायता की? अपने बीच में इस पर चर्चा करें और अपने उत्तर के लिए कारण दें।
Answer:
It was narrator’s imagination, experience and determination. Under tension, he took the shape of the clouds as a real aeroplane. This helped him in mustering up the courage. His experience and his tenacity for a good big English breakfast guided him to a safe landing.
यह वर्णनकर्ता की कल्पना, अनुभव व दृढ़ निश्चय था। तनाव में उसने बादलों की आकृति को एक वास्तविक हवाई जहाज समझ लिया। इससे उसे साहस जुटाने में सहायता मिली। उसके अनुभव व एक अच्छे भारी अंग्रेजी नाश्ते के लिए दृढ़ निश्चय ने सुरक्षित जमीन पर उतरने में उसका मार्गदर्शन किया।
Thinking about Language
I. Try to guess the meanings of the word ‘black’ in the sentences given below. Check the meanings in the dictionary and find out whether you have guessed right.
नीचे दिये वाक्यों में ‘black’ शब्द के अर्थों का अनुमान लगाने का प्रयत्न करें। अर्थों की शब्दकोश से जाँच करें और पता करें कि क्या आपने ठीक अनुमान लगाया है।
1. Go and have a bath; your hands and face are absolutely black.
2. The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green. …..
3. The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity.
4. Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter’s black comedy…
5. Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false Scarcity and then sell these in black. ………
6. Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue. ……….
Answer:
1. dirty
2. angry
3. most gruesome
4. distorted
5. illegally at a much higher price
6. too much and too hard.
II. Match the phrases given under Column A with their meanings given under Column B :
कॉलम A में दिए गए वाक्यांशों को कॉलम B में दिए गए उनके अर्थों से मिलान करें।
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:
1. Display a flag on a long pole
2. Become suddenly very angry
3. Move quickly/suddenly
4. Be successful
5. Escape from a place.
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.
हम जानते हैं कि शब्द fly (पक्षियों का उड़ना/कीटों का उड़ना) का अर्थ है हवा में पंखों से उड़ना। उन शब्दों पर सही का निशान लगाइए जिनका वही अर्थ है या लगभग वही अर्थ है।
Answer:
swoop, flit, dart, soar, hover, flutter, sail, skim, glide, flap.
Speaking
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.
हमने एक बच्चा-सीगल की प्रथम उड़ान के विषय में अभी-अभी पढ़ा है। आपके अध्यापक अब कक्षा को समूह में विभाजित करेंगे। प्रत्येक समूह निम्न में से किसी एक प्रकरण पर कार्य करेंगे। अपने समूहसाथियों के साथ एक प्रस्तुतिकरण तैयार कीजिए और फिर इसे समग्र कक्षा को प्रस्तुत करें।
- Progression of Models of Airplanes
- Progression of Models of Motorcars
- Birds and Their Wing Span
- Migratory Birds-Tracing Their Flights
Answer:
Progression of Models of Airplanes
In the very beginning, man tried to imitate birds by using artificial crude wings. But through trial and error, he invented balloons, airships, gliders, aircraft, rockets, spacecrafts, concords etc: In 1783, the first generally recognised human flight took place in a hot air balloon in Paris. In 1874, Felix du Temple of France built the ‘Monoplane’. In 1884, an electric-powered airship was built by the French Army. In 1899, the construction of the first Zeppelin airship was started. In 1908, the Wright Brothers built the first two-person aircraft. Now we have Boeing 647, supersonic concorde etc.
Progression of Models of Motorcars
It is said that Ferdinand Verbiest around 1672 built the first steam powered car. Francois Isaac de Rivaz, a Swiss inventor built the first internal combustion engine. In 1860, Thomas Rickett in Britain attempted steam cars. In 1877, George Baldwin Selden in America designed a gasoline internal combustion engine. In 1890, Emile Levassor and Armand Peugeot of France produced cars with Daimler engines. In 1894, Santler is recognised in Britain as having made the first petrol-powered car. In the modern age cars are more luxurious and dazzling
Birds and Their Wing Span
Wings of birds are classified into four group selliptical, high speed, high aspect ratio and soaring wings with slots.
Elliptical wings are short and round, having a low aspect ratio which allows manoeuvering in narrow spaces, such as Accipiter hawks, pheasants, partridges etc.
High speed wings are short and pointed. These provide energetically high speeds, such as, falcons, ducks, auks etc.
High aspect ratio wings require a long taxi in order to get airborne. Soaring wings with slots reduce the turbulence at the tips. Thus, the wingspan determines the types of flight the bird can have.
Migratory Birds Tracing Their Flights
Many species of birds undertake seasonal journeys of various lengths and this phenomenon is known as bird-migration. Songbirds, Siberian cranes etc. are some of them. Songbirds use multiple sources of directional cues to guide their seasonal migrations, including the Sun, star patterns, the earth’s magnetic field, and sky polarized light patterns. Experiments over the last 30 years have failed to resolve the fundamental question of how migratory birds iñtegrate multiple sources of directional information into a coherent navigational system.
Writing
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.
एक कौशल सीखने के अपने आरम्भिक प्रयासों पर एक संक्षिप्त रचना लिखिए। आप साइकिल चलाना सीखने या तैरना सीखने की चुनौतियों का वर्णन कर सकते हैं। इसे इतना हास्यपूर्ण करें जितना सम्भव हो।
Answer:
My Initial Attempts at Learning Swimming
My initial attempts at learning swimming were quite humorous. During my summer vacation, my parents carried me to the swimming pool in the stadium. With the help of an inflated tube of a motor-cycle, I was learning it. Once, I slipped from the tube and started going down but I began to move my hands and legs and came up. I wanted to catch the tube but by the force of the water it would go a bit ahead of me. When the others saw it, they started to laugh. Finally, I caught it and this incident made me learn swimming.
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Important Questions and Answers
Answer the following questions in about 80 words each :
I. His First Flight
Question 1.
Describe how the young seagull had to face fear before taking his first flight?
वर्णन कीजिए कि किस प्रकार छोटे सीगल को प्रथम उड़ान के भरने से पूर्व भय का सामना करना पड़ा? .
Answer:
The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and sister had already flown away. He ran to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings, but he could not muster up enough courage to take the plunge. He saw the great expanse of the sea beneath, such a long way down. He felt certain that his wings would not support him. The scolding of his parents failed to move him. He was ready to starve, but not to take the flight.
बच्चा सीगल उसके शिला-फलक पर अकेला था। उसके दो भाई तथा बहिन पहले ही उड़कर जा चुके थे। वह शिला-फलक के किनारे तक दौड़ा और उसने उसके पंखों को फड़फड़ाने का प्रयास किया, लेकिन वह पर्याप्त साहस नहीं बटोर पाया कि छलांग लगा सकता। उसने नीचे समुद्र के विशाल फैलाव को देखा, जो इतनी गहराई पर नीचे की ओर था। उसने निश्चय ही महसूस किया कि उसके पंख उसे कभी सहारा नहीं देंगे। उसके माता-पिता की फटकार भी उसे प्रभावित न कर सकी। वह भूखों मरने को तैयार था, लेकिन उड़ान भरने को नहीं।
Question 2.
Why was the young seagull alone on his ledge.
छोटा सीगल उसके शिला-फलक पर अकेला क्यों था?
Answer:
The young seagull was alone on his ledge as his two brothers and sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. When he tried to flap his wings and take the flight, he was seized by a terrible fear and drew back. His parents scolded him for his cowardice and threatened to leave him alone and let him starve unless he flew away. Nobody came near him since then and he was alone.
छोटा सीगल अपने शिला-फलक पर अकेला था, क्योंकि उसके दो भाई तथा बहिन एक दिन पूर्व ही . । उड़कर जा चुके थे। वह उनके साथ उड़कर जाने से डरा हुआ था। जब उसने अपने पंखों को फड़फड़ाने तथा उड़ान भरने की कोशिश की, तो वह अचानक डर से सहम गया और पीछे हट गया। उसके माता-पिता ने उसे उसकी कायरता के लिए फटकारा और उसे अकेला छोड़ देने तथा भूखों मरने देने की धमकी दी जब तक कि वह उड़कर न चला जाए। तब से ही कोई उसके पास नहीं आया था और वह अकेला था।
Question 3.
What did the young seagull see the day before?
एक दिन पूर्व छोटे सीगल ने क्या देखा?
Answer:
The young seagull was alone on his ledge for twenty-four hours. The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying about his brothers and sister, training them in the art of flight, skimming the waves and diving for fish. He had seen his older brother catch his first herring and eat it greedily on a rock, while his parents circled around him cackling proudly. All the morning the whole family walked about on a big plateau taunting him.
छोटा सीगल 24 घण्टे से उसके शिला-फलक पर अकेला था। पूर्व दिवस को, पूरे समय, उसने अपने माता-पिता को अपने भाइयों तथा बहिन के चारों ओर उड़ते तथा उन्हें उड़ने, लहरों को छूने के बाद पुनः उड़ने तथा मछली के लिए गोता लगाने का प्रशिक्षण देते हुए देखा। उसने अपने बड़े भाई को उसकी पहली हैरिंग मछली को पकड़ते और इसे ललचाते हुए खाते देखा था, जबकि उसके माता-पिता उसके चारों ओर उड़ते हुए गर्व से कुड़कुड़ कर रहे थे। पूरी सुबह सम्पूर्ण परिवार एक बड़े पठार पर टहलता रहा तथा उस पर (छोटे सीगल पर) ताने मारता रहा।
Question 4.
What did the young seagull see on the opposite cliff?
छोटे सीगल ने सामने वाली खड़ी चट्टान पर क्या देखा?
Answer:
On the opposite cliff, he saw his two brothers and sister lying on the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward. Now and again, she tore a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of food maddened him.
सामने वाली खड़ी चट्टान पर उसने दोनों भाइयों तथा बहिन को पठार पर लेटे हुए तथा अपनी गर्दनों में अपने सिरों को छिपाए हुए नींद लेते हुए देखा। उसके पिता अपनी पीठ के सफेद पंखों को चोंच से साफ कर रहे थे। केवल उसकी मां उसकी ओर देख रही थी। वह पठार पर थोड़े ऊँचे उभरे भाग पर अपनी सफेद छाती को आगे झुकाए खड़ी थी। बार-बार, उसने एक मछली के टुकड़े को चीरा जो उसके पैरों के पास पड़ा था और फिर उसने अपनी चोंच को प्रत्येक तरफ से चट्टान पर रगड़ा । भोजन के दृश्य ने छोटे सीगल को पागल कर दिया।
Question 5.
Describe the first flight of the young seagull when his mother tricked him for the fish-food.
छोटे सीगल की प्रथम उड़ान का वर्णन कीजिए जब उसकी मां ने मछली का भोजन देने में उसके साथ चालबाजी की।
Answer:
The young seagull’s mother had come to know that he was maddened by the sight of the fish (food) that she was tearing on the plateau. She took advantage of his hunger. She picked up a piece of fish and flew across to him with it. But when she was just opposite to him, she stopped mid-air, her wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within his reach. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. He fell outwards and downwards into space. His wings spread outwards. His wings started cutting through the air. He was no longer afraid. He had taken his first flight.
छोटे सीगल की मां ने जान लिया था कि वह उस मछली (भोजन) को देखकर पागल हो गया था जिसे वह पठार पर चीर रही थी। उसकी मां ने उसकी भूख का लाभ उठाया। उसने मछली का एक टुकड़ा उठाया और इसे लेकर उसकी ओर उड़ चली। लेकिन जब वह उसके ठीक सामने थी तो वह हवा में ही रुक गई, उसके पंख हिलने बंद हो गए, मछली का टुकड़ा करीब-करीब छोटे सीगल की पहुँच में था।
भूख से पागल होकर, छोटा सीगल ने मछली की ओर छलांग लगा दी। वह बाहर की ओर तथा नीचे की ओर आकाश में गिरा। उसके पंख बाहर की ओर फैल गए। उसके पंखों ने हवा को काटना शुरू कर दिया। अब वह डर नहीं रहा था। उसने उसकी प्रथम उड़ान भर ली थी।
Question 6.
How did the young seagull’s family encourage him on his first flight?
उसकी प्रथम उड़ान पर छोटे सीगल के परिवार ने उसे किस प्रकार प्रोत्साहित किया?
Answer:
When the young seagull spread his wings and started flapping them, he was not falling headlong now. He was flying gradually downwards and outwards He was no longer afraid. His mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. His two brothers and his sister flew around him. It was a matter of: celebration for his family. He had learnt to fly. Their acts of encouragement had taken away his fear.
जब छोटे सीगल ने अपने पंखों को फैलाया और उन्हें फड़फड़ाना प्रारम्भ किया तो अब वह सीधे नहीं गिर रहा था। अब वह धीरे-धीरे नीचे की ओर तथा बाहर की ओर उड़ रहा था। वह अब डर नहीं रहा था। उसकी मां तेजी से उसके पास से गुजरी, अपने पंखों से जोरदार शोर करते हुए। उसने एक और चीख से उसका उत्तर दिया। फिर उसके पिता उसके ऊपर से चीखते हुए उड़े। उसके दो भाई तथा उसकी बहिन उसके चारों ओर उड़े। उसके परिवार के लिए यह एक उत्सव की बात थी। उसने उड़ना सीख लिया था। उनके प्रोत्साहन भरे कृत्यों ने उसके भय को मिटा दिया था।
Question 7.
How did the young seagull learn to float on the sea water?
छोटे सीगल ने समुद्र के पानी पर तैरना किस प्रकार सीखा?
Answer:
“The young seagull reached near the sea. He flew straight over it, facing straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green expanse beneath him. He turned his beak sideways and cawed amusedly. His parents and brothers and sister had landed on the green water ahead of him. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it. He screamed with fright. He tried to rise again flapping his wings. But he was tired and weak and could not rise. His feet sank into the green sea and his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating on it.
छोटा सीगल समुद्र के निकट पहुँच गया। वह इस पर सीधे उड़ने लगा, और समुद्र के ऊपर सीधे बाहर मुख रखते हुए। उसने अपने नीचे विशाल हरे समुद्र का विस्तार देखा। उसने अपनी चोंच को दाएं-बाएँ घुमाया और हर्ष से कांव-कांव किया। उसके माता-पिता तथा भाई एवं बहिन उसके आगे समुद्र के हरे पानी पर उतर चुके थे। उसने हरे समुद्र पर खड़े होने के लिए अपनी टाँगें गिराईं। उसकी टाँगें इसमें डूब गईं। वह डर से चिल्लाया। उसने ऊपर पुनः उठने की कोशिश पंखों को फड़फड़ाकर की। लेकिन वह थका हुआ एवं कमजोर था और वह उठ नहीं सका। उसके पैर हरे समुद्र में धंस गए और उसके पेट ने समुद्र को छू लिया और वह इससे अधिक नहीं फँसा। वह समुद्र पर तैर रहा था।
Question 8.
What lessons do you draw from the story, ‘His First Flight’? ‘His First Flight’
कहानी से आपको क्या शिक्षा मिलती है?
Answer:
We draw many lessons from the story, “The First Flight’. First, believe in yourself. The young seagull did not believe in his capacity to fly. Second, never fail to muster up courage. The young seagull initially failed to muster up courage for his first flight. Third, don’t feel fright. The young seagull always screamed with fright. Finally, act upon the advice of your family. The young seagull initially didn’t act upon the advice of his family.
हम ‘हिज़ फर्स्ट फ्लाइट’ नामक कहानी से कई शिक्षाएँ ग्रहण करते हैं। प्रथमतः, स्वयं में विश्वास करो। छोटे सीगल ने अपनी उड़ने की क्षमता में विश्वास नहीं किया। द्वितीय, साहस जुटाने में कभी असफल न रहो। छोटा सीगल आरम्भ में अपनी उड़ान के लिए साहस जुटाने में असफल रहा था। तृतीय, कभी भयभीत न हों। छोटा सीगल हमेशा भय से चीखता रहता था। अन्त में, अपने परिवार की सलाह पर चलिए। छोटा सीगल आरम्भ में अपने परिवार की सलाह पर नहीं चला।
Question 9.
Do you think the title of the story ‘His First Flight’ is apt? How?
क्या आप सोचते हैं कि ‘His First Flight’ नामक कहानी का शीर्षक उपयुक्त है? कैसे?
Answer:
In my opinion, the title of the story is both apt and suggestive. The . whole story is centred on the first flight of a young seagull. A young seagull is afraid to fly as he distrusts his wings and doubts their capacity to support him. He is left alone on his ledge to starve by his parents, brothers and sister. However, his mother takes advantage of his hunger and tricks him to take the plunge. He gains confidence while falling to the sea, starts flapping his wings and finally succeeds in making his first flight.
मेरे दृष्टिकोण से कहानी का शीर्षक उचित एवं संकेतात्मक दोनों है। समस्त कहानी एक छोटे सीगल की प्रथम उड़ान पर केन्द्रित है। एक छोटा सीगल उड़ने से डरता है क्योंकि उसे अपने पंखों पर विश्वास नहीं है और वह उसे सहारा देने की उनकी क्षमता पर संदेह करता है। उसे अपने शिला-फलक पर उसके मातापिता तथा भाइयों एवं बहिन के द्वारा अकेला भूखों मरने के लिए छोड़ दिया जाता है। किन्तु उसकी मां उसकी भूख का लाभ उठाती है और चालाकी से उसे छलांग लगाने को बाध्य कर देती है। वह समुद्र की ओर गिरता हुआ आत्मविश्वास प्राप्त कर लेता है, अपने पंखों को फड़फड़ाने लगता है और अन्त में अपनी प्रथम उड़ान को सफल बना लेता है।
Question 10.
Do you think the young seagull’s fear of flying was unreasonable and excessive? How?
क्या आप सोचते हैं कि छोटे सीगल का उड़ने से डरना अनुचित एवं असामान्य था?
Answer:
Yes, the young seagull’s fear of flying was both unreasonable and excessive. The young seagull was a bird and flying comes naturally to a bird.The young seagull had seen his brothers and sister flying over the sea and catching fish for food. Their wings were far shorter than his own. Even then, they ran to the brink of the ledge, flapped their wings, and ‘flew away. But the young seagull failed to muster up courage to take that plunge. He had to face younger, loneliness and derision for his fearfulness. He had to suffer on account of excessive fear.
हाँ, छोटे सीगल का उड़ने से डरना अनुचित एवं असामान्य दोनों था। छोटा सीगल एक पक्षी था तथा एक पक्षी स्वाभाविक रूप से उड़ना सीख लेता है। छोटे सीगल ने अपने भाइयों तथा बहिन को समुद्र के ऊपर उड़ते देखा था और भोजन के लिए मछलियाँ पकड़ते देखा था। उनके पंख भी छोटे सीगल के पंखों की तुलना में काफी छोटे थे। फिर भी वे शिला-फलक के किनारे तक दौड़े थे, उन्होंने अपने पंख फड़फड़ाए थे और उड़ गए थे। लेकिन छोटा सीगल उस छलांग को लगाने के लिए साहस बटोरने में असफल रहा। उसे अपने डरपोकपन के कारण भूख, अकेलापन तथा उपहास को झेलना पड़ा। उसे असामान्य भय के कारण परेशान होना पड़ा।
Question 11.
What is your impression about the young seagull’s family?
छोटे सीगल के परिवार के बारे में आपकी धारणा कैसी है?
Answer:
The young seagull has six members in his family-his parents, two brothers and a sister. His parents are very. cooperative and responsible. They motivate and encourage their young ones by calling and cackling with pride. When the young seagull refuses to fly away, his parents come around calling to him shrilly, scolding him and threatening him. His parents train his brothers and sister in the art of flying, skimming and diving. His mother tricks him to take his first flight. Thus, it is a happy and cooperative family.
छोटे सीगल के परिवार में छः सदस्य हैं । ये हैं-उसके माता-पिता, दो भाई तथा एक बहिन। उसके माता-पिता सहयोगी एवं उत्तरदायी प्रवृत्ति के हैं। वे अपने बच्चों को पुकार कर तथा गर्व के साथ कांव-काँव कर प्रेरित एवं प्रोत्साहित करते हैं। जब छोटा सीगल उड़कर जाने से मना कर देता है तो उसके माता-पिता उसे कर्कश स्वर में पुकारते हैं, उसे फटकारते हुए तथा धमकाते हुए। उसके माता-पिता उसके भाइयों तथा बहिन को उड़ने, पानी की सतह के निकट रहते हुए उड़ने तथा गोता लगाने की कला में प्रशिक्षण देते हैं। उसकी माँ चालाकी के साथ उसे प्रथम उड़ान भरने के लिए बाध्य कर देती है। इस प्रकार यह एक प्रसन्न एवं सहयोग की भावना रखने वाला परिवार है।
II. The Black Aeroplane
Question 1.
What are the opening remarks of the narrator? कहानीकार की प्रारम्भिक टिप्पणियाँ क्या हैं?
Answer:
The opening remarks of the narrator describe the sky, the purpose of his journey and his destination. When he began his journey, the moon was coming up in the east behind him and stars were shining in the clear sky above him. He was happy to be flying alone high-up above the sleeping countryside. He was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France, back to England. He was dreaming of his holiday and hoping to be with his family, It was 1:30 a.m.
कहानीकार की प्रारम्भिक टिप्पणियाँ आकाश की स्थिति, यात्रा के उद्देश्य तथा उसके गंतव्य का वर्णन करती हैं। जब.उसने यात्रा प्रारम्भ की, चन्द्रमा पूर्व दिशा में उसके पीछे उदय हो रहा था तथा उसके ऊपर तारे स्वच्छ आकाश में टिमटिमा रहे थे। वह निद्रामग्न ग्रामीण क्षेत्र के ऊपर ऊँचाई पर अकेले उड़ता हुआ प्रसन्न महसूस कर रहा था। वह उसका पुराना डाकोटा विमान फ्रांस के ऊपर उड़ाते हुए वापस इंग्लैण्ड लौट रहा था। वह उसकी छुट्टियों के बारे में स्वप्न देख रहा था और उसके परिवार के साथ होने की आशा कर रहा था। रात के 1.30 का समय था।
Question 2.
What happened after he had contacted Paris Control Room?
पेरिस नियंत्रण कक्ष से सम्पर्क कर चुकने के बाद क्या हुआ?
Answer:
As instructed by the Paris Control, he turned the Dakota twelve degrees . west towards England. He also switched over to his second and last fuel tank. When he had left Paris 150 km behind him, he saw huge, black storm clouds in front of him across the sky. He had no option except going back to Paris. But he wanted to get home and have his breakfast. He took the risk and flew his Dakota straight into the storm.
जैसा कि पेरिस के नियंत्रण कक्ष ने निर्देश दिया था, उसने डाकोटा विमान को बारह डिग्री पश्चिम में इंग्लैण्ड की ओर मोड़ दिया। उसने उसके दूसरे तथा आखिरी ईंधन के टैंक की ओर स्विच को घुमा दिया। जब उसने पेरिस को 150 किमी. पीछे छोड़ दिया था, उसने विशाल काले तूफानी बादलों को उसके समक्ष देखा। पेरिस वापस लौटने के अतिरिक्त उसके पास कोई विकल्प नहीं था। लेकिन वह घर पहुँचना चाहता था और नाश्ता खाना चाहता था। उसने जोखिम उठाई और डाकोटा को सीधे बादलों के भीतर उड़ा दिया।
Question 3.
Describe the dangerous situation the narrator found himself in.
उस खतरनाक परिस्थिति का वर्णन करो जिसमें कहानीकार ने स्वयं को पाया।
Answer:
After he had left Paris 150 km behind him, he saw huge, black, storm clouds. He took the risk and flew his old Dakota into the clouds. Every thing was suddenly black outside. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. The compass, the radio and other instruments were suddenly dead. He could not see where he was. He was lost in the storm. He saw another aeroplane flying next to him. He followed it. He had enough fuel for only five or ten minutes more. Suddenly he came out of the clouds and saw an airport.
जब उसने पेरिस को 150 किमी. पीछे छोड़ दिया था, उसने विशाल, काले, तूफानी बादलों को देखा। उसने खतरा उठाया तथा उसके पुराने डाकोटा विमान को बादलों के भीतर उड़ा ले गया। बाहर. सबकुछ काला था। पुराना विमान हवा में उछलता था और बल खाता था।
दिक्सूचक यंत्र, रेडियो तथा अन्य यंत्र अचानक बंद हो गए थे। वह देख नहीं सकता था कि वह कहाँ था। वह तूफान में खो गया था। उसने उसके आगे ही एक और हवाई जहाज को उड़ते देखा। उसने इसका अनुसरण किया। उसके पास केवल पाँच या दस मिनट तक उड़ने तक का ही ईंधन था। अचानक वह बादलों से बाहर आ गया और उसने एक हवाई अड्डे को देखा।
Question 4.
What surprise did the narrator have after landing safely at the airport?.
हवाई अड्डे पर सुरक्षित रूप से उतरने के बाद कहानीकार को क्या आश्चर्य हुआ?
Answer:
When the narrator came out of the storm, he saw two long straight lines of lights in front of him. It was an airport, but he didn’t know which. He landed safely near the control tower. He went and asked a woman in the control centre where he was and who the other pilot was. He wanted to thank him. She looked at him strangely and then laughed. She said that no other planes were flying that night and his was the only one she saw on the radar. It was a big surprise for him.
जब वर्णनकर्ता तूफान से बाहर आया तो उसे सामने की ओर रोशनियों की दो लम्बी कतारें दिखाई दीं। यह एक हवाई अड्डा था, लेकिन वह नहीं जानता था कि कौनसा । वह नियंत्रण टॉवर के पास सुरक्षित उतर गया। वह गया और उसने नियंत्रण केन्द्र के अन्दर एक महिला से पूछा कि वह कहाँ था और दूसरा पायलट कौन था। वह उस पायलट को धन्यवाद देना चाहता था। उस महिला ने उसकी ओर अजीब प्रकार से देखा. और फिर हँस पड़ी। उसने कहा कि उस रात अन्य कोई हवाई जहाज नहीं उड़ रहे थे और उसका हवाई जहाज ही एकमात्र था जिसे उसने राडार पर देखा था। वर्णनकर्ता के लिए यह बहुत बड़े आश्चर्य की बात थी।
Question 5.
Justify the title of the story ‘The Black Aeroplane’.
कहानी ‘The Black Aeroplane’ के शीर्षक का औचित्य बताइए।
Answer:
The title of the story is apt and suggestive. The whole story .centres around the black aeroplane that saves the narrator’s aeroplane from a certain crash and disaster. This plane, the black aeroplane, arouses the curiosity of the readers and they remain in suspense about it. However, it is only at the end of the story that the reader comes to know the fact. There was no other plane flying at that time on account of the storm. The narrator’s plane was the only one that come on the radar.
कहानी का शीर्षक उपयुक्त एवं प्रतीकात्मक है। सारी कहानी काले हवाई जहाज के इर्द-गिर्द केन्द्रित होती है जो वर्णनकर्ता के हवाई जहाज को निश्चित दुर्घटना एवं विनाश से बचाता है। यह काला हवाई जहाज पाठकों की जिज्ञासा को जागृत करता है और वे इसे लेकर कौतूहल में रहते हैं । किन्तु कहानी के अन्त में ही पाठक यह जान पाता है कि सच क्या है। तूफान के कारण दूसरा कोई हवाई जहाज उस समय नहीं उड़ रहा था। वर्णनकर्ता का हवाई जहाज ही एकमात्र हवाई जहाज था जो राडार पर दिखाई दिया था।
Question 6.
Draw a character-sketch of the narrator-pilot. वर्णनकर्ता-पायलट का चरित्र-चित्रण कीजिए।
Answer:
The narrator-pilot has many qualities of head and heart. He is an expert in the art of flying aircraft. He flies an old Dakota. Once he is trapped in stormy black clouds. All the instruments in his aeroplane become suddenly dead. The compass and the radio fail to work. Even then, he keeps his nerve and follows another aeroplane, the black aeroplane, that happens to be flying next to his plane. It is his determination, courage and skill that saves him. He loves his family and takes great risk to be with it.
वर्णनकर्ता-पायलट कई दिलोदिमाग के गुण रखता है। वह हवाई जहाज को उड़ाने की कला में दक्ष व्यक्ति है। वह एक पुराने डाकोटा विमान को उड़ाता है। एक बार वह तूफानी बादलों में फंस जाता है । उसके हवाई जहाज के सभी यंत्र मृत हो जाते हैं। दिक्सूचक यंत्र तथा रेडियो काम करना बंद कर देते हैं। फिर भी वह हौंसला बनाए रखता है और एक अन्य हवाई जहाज का अनुसरण करता है जो उसके हवाई जहाज से आगे उड़ रहा होता है। उसका दृढ़ संकल्प, साहस एवं चातुर्य ही उसे बचा पाते हैं। वह उसके परिवार से प्रेम करता है और उसके साथ होने के लिए बड़ा जोखिम उठा लेता है।
Question 7.
Compare and contrast the flights of the young seagull and that of the narrator-pilot.
छोटे सीगल तथा वर्णनकर्ता-पायलट की उड़ानों के बीच तुलना कीजिए।
Answer:
The young seagull and the narrator both have to face difficulties in their flights. But they both come successfully out of those difficulties. The seagull is a afraid to make his first flight. His mother takes advantage of his maddening hunger and tricks him into making it. In contrast, the narrator-pilot is fearless and enjoys his flight back home. He risks his life and flies his aeroplane into the storm clouds. However, it is his determination, courage and skill that help him. The seagull too, faces danger to his life, but comes out successfully as soon as he sheds his fear.
छोटा सीगल तथा वर्णनकर्ता दोनों को उनकी उड़ानों में परेशानियों का सामना करना पड़ता है। लेकिन दोनों ही उन परेशानियों से सफलतापूर्वक बाहर निकल जाते हैं। सीगल उसकी प्रथम उड़ान भरने से डरता है। उसकी माँ उसकी भयानक भूख का लाभ उठाती है और उसे चालबाजी की मदद से उड़ान भरने को बाध्य कर देती है। इसके विपरीत वर्णनकर्ता-पायलट निर्भय व्यक्ति है और वह घर के लिए उसकी उड़ान का आनन्द लेता है। वह उसके जीवन को खतरे में डालता है तथा उसके हवाई जहाज को तूफान के बादलों में उड़ा ले जाता है। किन्तु उसका दृढ़ संकल्प, साहस एवं कुशलता उसकी मदद करते हैं। सीगल भी उसके जीवन को खतरा होने का सामना करता है, लेकिन वह सफल हो जाता है, ज्योंही वह भय का त्याग करता है।
Question 8.
What was the impact of the storm on the narrator’s aeroplane?
लेखक के हवाई जहाज पर तूफान का क्या प्रभाव पड़ा?
Answer:
He had left Paris about 150 km behind when he saw the storm clouds. They were huge and stood like black mountains in front of his aeroplane. He took the risk and flew his old Dakota into the storm. Everything suddenly became black and he could not see anything outside. His aeroplane jumped and twisted. His compass was dead. His radio too, was dead. He could not see where he was. He was lost in the storm.
उसने पेरिस शहर को 150 किमी. पीछे छोड़ दिया था जब उसने तूफान के बादलों को देखा। वे विशालकाय थे और उसके हवाई जहाज के सामने काले पर्वतों के समान खड़े थे। उसने खतरा उठाया और उसके पुराने डाकोटा विमान को तूफान में उड़ा ले गया। सब कुछ अचानक काला हो गया और वह बाहर कुछ नहीं देख पाया। उसका हवाई जहाज उछलने लगा तथा बल खाने लगा। उसका दिशासूचक यंत्र बंद हो गया (अर्थात् उसने दिशा बताना बंद कर दिया)। उसका रेडियो भी मर गया। वह नहीं देख सका कि वह कहाँ था। वह तूफान में खो गया था।
Question 9.
Why did the woman in the control tower look at the narrator strangely?
नियंत्रण कक्ष की महिला ने वर्णनकर्ता की ओर अजीब तरह से क्यों देखा?
Answer:
He landed at the airport, but he didn’t know at which airport he had landed. He asked a woman in the control tower where he was and who the other pilot was. He wanted to thank him for his valuable help. It seemed strange to her that he didn’t know the place where he had landed. Also, no other planes were flying that night, and his was the only one she could see on the radar. His strange questions made her look strangely at him.
वह हवाई अड्डे पर उतरा, किन्तु वह नहीं जानता था कि वह किस हवाई अड्डे पर उतरा था। उसने नियंत्रण कक्ष में एक महिला से पूछा कि वह कहाँ था और दूसरा पायलट कौन था। वह उस पायलट को उसकी बहुमूल्य मदद के बदले धन्यवाद देना चाहता था। उस महिला को यह बात बड़ी अजीब प्रतीत हुई कि वह उस स्थान को नहीं जानता था जहाँ वह उतरा था। इसके अतिरिक्त, उस रात्रि को अन्य हवाई जहाज नहीं उड़ रहे थे और उसका हवाई जहाज ही एकमात्र हवाई जहाज था जिसे वह राडार पर देख सकी थी। उसके अजीब सवालों ने महिला को उसकी ओर अजीब प्रकार से देखने को बाध्य कर दिया था।
Comprehension Passages
I. His First Flight
Passage 1.
The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down-miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.
Tick (✓) the correct answers
Question 1.
(i) Why was the young seagull alone?
(a) Because he liked to be alone.
(b) Because he did not like to live with the members of his family.
(c) Because his brothers and sister had flown away, but he had not.
(d) All the above.
Answer:
(c) Because his brothers and sister had flown away, but he had not.
(ii) The young seagull was afraid to fly away because
(a) He could get drowned in the sea beneath.
(b) He felt sure that his wings would never support him.
(c) He wanted a good sleep.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(d) None of the above.
Question 2.
(i) When did the young seagull become afraid?
(ii) What was the young seagull afraid of?
Answer:
(i) When the little seagull had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings, he became afraid.
(ii) The young seagull was afraid of the great expanse of the sea that stretched down beneath.
Question 3.
(i) Find out the word from the passage which means’ wide area?.
(ii) Give an antonym for-afraid’.
Answer :
(i) Expanse.
(ii) Unafraid or fearless.
Passage 2.
That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice.
Tick (✓) the correct answers
Question 1.
(i) The young seagull’s parents were …………….. the day before.
(a) Flying and catching fish.
(b) Enjoying themselves with his brothers and sister.
(c) Perfecting his brothers and sister in the arts of flight, skimming and diving.
(d) All the above.
Answer:
(c) Perfecting his brothers and sister in the arts of flight, skimming and diving.
(ii) Why did the young seagull’s parents circle around raising a proud cackle?
(a) They were happy with the progress of their babies.
(b) They were happy to see his older brother catch his first herring and eat it greedily.
(c)They were calling the young seagull to the place where they were.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(b) They were happy to see his older brother catch his first herring and eat it greedily.
Question 2.
(i) For how long had the young seagull been alone on his ledge?
(i) Why were the young seagull’s family taunting him?
Answer:
(i) The young seagull had been alone on his ledge for twenty-four hours.
(ii) The young seagull’s family were taunting him due to his cowardice for refusing to fly away.
Question 3.
(i) Give a synonym for – ‘a soft finned sea fish’.
(ii) Give an antonym for – ‘cowardice’.
Answer:
(i) Herring.
(ii) Bravery or courage.
Passage 3.
He saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward. Now and again, she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of the food maddened him. How he loved to tear food that way, scrapping his beak now and again to whet it.
Tick (✓) the correct answers
Question 1.
(i) What were the young seagull’s brothers and sister doing on the plateau?
(a) They were walking and cackling happily.
(b) They were dozing.
(c) They were enjoying their meal.
(d) They were making merry.
Answer:
(b) They were dozing.
(ii) What maddened the young seagull?
(a) The cackle of his brothers and sister.
(b) The sight of his mother looking at him.
(c) The sight of the food (the piece of fish).
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(c) The sight of the food (the piece of fish).
Question 2.
(i) What was his father doing?
(ii) What was his mother doing?
Answer:
(i) He“ was preening the feathers on his white back.
(ii) She was standing on a raised part of the plateau and tearing at a piece of fish.
Question 3.
(i) Find out the word from the passage which means – ‘trimming feathers with beak’.
(ii) Give the opposite of – maddened.
Answer:
(i) Preening.
(ii) Pleased or gratified.
Passage 4.
“Ga, ga, ga,” he cried begging her to bring him some food. “Gaw-col-ah,” she screamed back derisively. But he kept calling plaintively, and after a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across.
But when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish.
Tick (✓) the correct answers
Question 1.
(i) What made him utter a joyful scream?
(a) His mother had heard his cries for food.
(b) His mother had screamed back derisively.
(c) His mother was flying across to him with a piece of fish.
(d) He wasn’t hungry anymore.
Answer:
(c) His mother was flying across to him with a piece of fish.
(ii) Did his mother give him the piece of fish she had brought?
(a) Yes, she did.
(b) No, she didn’t.
(c) Yes, she did, but only a part of it.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(b) No, she didn’t.
Question 2.
(i) How can you say that he was very hungry?
(ii) Why did he dive at the fish?
Answer:
(i) When he saw his mother pick up a piece of fish and fly across to him, he uttered a joyful scream. This proves that he was very hungry.
(ii) When his mother was just opposite to him, she halted. As she didn’t come nearer, he could not get the piece of fish. So he dived at it.
Question 3.
(i) Find out the word from the passage which means ‘stopped’.
(ii) Give the opposite of – ‘plaintively’.
Answer:
(i) Halted.
(ii) Happily or joyfully.
Passage 5.
The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He was no longer afraid.
He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. “Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gaw-col-ah,” his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him.
Tick (✓) the correct answers
Question 1.
(i) What did he feel about his wings?
(a) He felt that his wings were not supporting him.
(b) He felt that his wings had spread outwards and their tips were cutting through the air.
(c) He felt that his wings were much longer than those of his brothers and sister.
(d) All the above.
Answer:
(b) He felt that his wings had spread outwards and their tips were cutting through the air.
(ii) How did his mother show her joy?
(a) She gave him a piece of fish.
(b) She screamed at him derisively.
(c) She did nothing to show her joy.
(d) She swooped past him with a happy “Ga, ga, ga” scream.
Answer:
(d) She swooped past him with a happy “Ga, ga, ga” scream.
Question 2.
(i) How did he feel when he was soaring gradually downwards and outwards?
(ii) What did his brothers and sister do to encourage him?
Answer:
(i) He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy.
(ii) His two brothers and sister were flying around him in order to encourage him in his first flight.
Question 3.
(i) Give a synonym for an uncomfortable feeling of spinning around and losing one’s balance’.
(ii) Give a word opposite in meaning to – ‘outwards’.
Answer:
(i) Dizzy.
(ii) Inwards.
Passage 6.
His parents and his brothers and sister had landed on this green flooring ahead of him. They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange exercise. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating on it, and around him his family was screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish.
He had made his first flight.
Tick (✓) the correct answers
Question 1.
(i) “………… landed on this green flooring ahead of him”. Which ‘green flooring’ is the writer talking about?
(a) An expanse of land with trees having green foliage.
(b) A floor with green tiles.
(c) The surface of the sea water looking green.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(c) The surface of the sea water looking green.
(ii) Why did he scream with fright?
(a) He was drowning.
(b) His legs sank into the sea water.
(c) He was weak with hunger.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(b) His legs sank into the sea water.
Question 2.
(i) Why couldn’t the young seagull rise above the sea water?
(ii) How did the family congratulate him on having made his first flight?
Answer:
(i) The young seagull couldn’t rise above the sea water because he was tired and weak with hunger.
(ii) The family congratulated him by offering him scraps of dog-fish.
Question 3.
(i) Find out the word from the passage that means-badly tired’.
(ii) Give the opposite of the word – ‘floating’.
Answer:
(i) exhausted
(ii) sank
II. The Black Aeroplane
Comprehension Passages
Passage 1.
The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone .. high up above the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family. I looked at my watch: one thirty in the morning. “I should call Paris Control soon,’ I thought. As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big city in front of me. I switched on the radio and said, “Paris Control, Dakota DS 088 here. Can you hear me? I’m on my way. to England Over.
Tick (✓) the correct answers :
Question :
(i) What kind of mood was the narrator in?
(a) He was happy.
(b) He was sad.
(c) He was frightened.
(d) He was feeling sleepy.
Answer:
(a) He was happy.
(ii) “I saw the lights of a big city in front of me”. Which city did he see the lights of?
(a) London
(b) Paris
(c) Madrid
(d) Rome
Answer:
(b) Paris
Question 2.
(i) Where was the narrator going to and why?
(ii) What time was it by his watch?
Answer:
(i) He was going to England. He was going home to spend his holiday with his family.
(ii) It was one thirty in the morning by his watch.
Question 3.
(i) Find out the word or expression in the passage which means – Awaiting eagerly’.
(ii) Give the opposite of – switched on’.
Answer:
(i) Looking forward to.
(ii) Switched off.
Passage 2.
I’ll be in time for breakfast,’ I thought. A good big English breakfast! Everything was going well—it was an easy flight.
Paris was about 150 kilometres behind me when I saw the clouds. Storm clouds. They were huge. They looked like black mountains standing in front of me across the sky. I knew I could not fly up and over them, and I did not have enough fuel to fly around them to the north or south.
“I ought to go back to Paris,” I thought, but I wanted to get home. I wanted that breakfast.
“I’ll take the risk,’ I thought, and flew that old Dakota straight into the storm.
Tick (✓) the correct answers :
Question 1.
(i) What was he expecting regarding his breakfast?
(a) That he would be .late for his breakfast.
(b) That he would be in time for breakfast, a good big English breakfast.
(c) That he would be late for breakfast but in time for lunch.
(d) That he hated English breakfast.
Answer:
(b) That he would be in time for breakfast, a good big English breakfast.
(ii) Why did he not decide to go back to Paris?
(a) He always liked going forward.
(b) He had left Paris far behind.
(c) He wanted to get home and enjoy his favourite English breakfast.
(d) He liked taking risks.
Answer:
(c) He wanted to get home and enjoy his favourite English breakfast.
Question 2.
(i) What was special about the storm clouds?
(ii) Why could he not bypass the storm clouds?
Answer:
(i) They were huge and looked like black mountains.
(ii) He could not fly up and over them. Also, he did not have enough fuel to fly around them. So he could not bypass them.
Question 3.
(i) Find out the word from the passage which means – Material as a source v of fire or power.’
(ii) Give the opposite of huge.
Answer:
(i) Fuel.
(ii) Tiny or small.
Passage 3.
“Paris Control? Paris Control? Can you hear me?”
There was no answer. The radio was dead too. I had no radio, no compass, and I could not see where I was. I was lost in the storm. Then, in the black clouds quite near me, I saw another aeroplane. It had no lights on its wings, but I could see it flying next to me through the storm. I could see the pilot’s face—turned towards me. I was very glad to see another person. He lifted one hand and waved..
“Follow me,” he was saying. “Follow me.”
‘He knows that I am lost,’ I thought. He’s trying to help me.
Tick (✓) the correct answers :
Question 1.
(i) “I was lost in the storm”. The narrator said so because
(a) He was too drunk to see clearly.
(b) He had lost his radio and compass.
(c) He had suddenly lost his eye-sight.
(d) The compass and the radio had gone dead and he could not see where he was
Answer:
(d) The compass and the radio had gone dead and he could not see where he was
(ii) “I was very glad to see another person.” Who is the “another person here?
(a) A piece of cloud looking like the figure of a man.
(b) Some imaginery man.
(c) The pilot of another plane.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(c) The pilot of another plane.
Question 2.
(i) What was the peculiar fact about another aeroplane?
(ii) What did the narrator think when the pilot of another plane said, “Follow me”?
Answer:
(i) The peculiar fact about another aeroplane was that it had no lights on its wings.
(ii) The narrator thought that the pilot of another aeroplane knew that he (the narrator) was lost and that he was trying to help him.
Question 3.
(i) Find out the word from the passage which means moved hand to and fro as signal.
(ii) Give the opposite of ‘glad’.
Answer:
(i) Waved.
(ii) Sad or gloomy.
Passage 4.
After half an hour the strange black aeroplane was still there in front of me in the clouds. Now there was only enough fuel in the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten minutes more. I was starting to feel frightened again. But then he started to go down and I followed through the storm.
Suddenly I came out of the clouds and saw two long straight lines of lights in front of me, It was a runway! An airport! I was safe! I turned to look for my friend in the black aeroplane, but the sky was empty. There was nothing there. The black aeroplane was gone. I could not see it anywhere.
Tick (✓) the correct answers :
Question 1.
(i) The narrator started to feel frightened again because
(a) The black aeroplane had disappeared from his view.
(b) The fuel in the last tank of the Dakota was going to last only for five or ten minutes.
(c) The pilot of the back aeroplane had refused to show him the way.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(a) The black aeroplane had disappeared from his view.
(ii) Did the narrator see the black aeroplane when he was landing?
(a) Yes, he did.
(b) No, he didn’t.
(c) Yes, he did, but it soon disappeared.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(a) Yes, he did.
Question 2.
(i) What made the narrator feel frightened again? What freed him from his fear?
(ii) What happened to the black aeroplane?
Answer:
(i) He was running out of fuel. This started frightening him. He saw on airport as soon as he came out of the clouds. So, his fear was gone.
(ii) He came out of the clouds and saw an airport. He turned to look for his friend, but the aeroplane he was in, was nowhere to be seen.
Question 3.
(i) Find out the world from the passage which means-Airfield with facilities for passengers and goods’.
(ii) Give the opposite of – strange’.
Answer:
(i) Airport.
(ii) Familiar or known.
Passage 5.
I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota near the control tower. I went and asked a woman in the control centre where I was and who the other pilot was. I wanted to say “Thank you’.
She looked at me very strangely, and then laughed.
“Another aeroplane? Up there in this storm? No other aeroplanes were flying tonight. Yours was the only one I could see on the radar.”
So who helped me to arrive there safely without a compass or a radio, and without any more fuel in my tanks? Who was the pilot on the strange black aeroplane, flying in the storm, without lights?
Tick (✓) the correct answers :
Question:
(i) “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota near the control tower”. The narrator says so because
(a) His journey had been so risky and full of anxiety.
(b) He was in a hurry to get home.
(c) He did not know where he was.
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(a) His journey had been so risky and full of anxiety.
(ii) The woman in the control tower looked why strangely at the narrator because
(a) His questions seemed strange to her.
(b) His dress was queer.
(c) His voice was not clear.
(d) All the above.
Answer:
(a) His questions seemed strange to her.
Question 2.
(i) Whom did the narrator want to thank and why?
(ii) What was the woman’s answer to his question?
Answer:
(i) The narrator wanted to thank the pilot of the black aeroplane, who had helped him to arrive safely under difficult conditions.
(ii) To his question who the other pilot was, she replied that no other aeroplane than his own were flying that night due to the storm.
Question 3.
(i) Find out the world from the passage which means – a system that uses radio waves to find the position of a moving object’.
(ii) Give an opposite word for-safely’.
Answer:
(i) Radar.
(ii) Dangerously or badly.