RBSE Class 10 English Solutions First Flight Chapter 3 Two Stories about Flying

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।

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।

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.

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।

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:

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