NOTES

SUBJECT: ENGLISH GRADE: X

HIS FIRST FLIGHT

I. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words
Q1. 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 timid than others? Do you think a human baby
also finds it a challenge to take its first step?

Answer: The young seagull was afraid to fly because it was his first flight and he feared
of falling and hurting himself. He thought that his wings would not support him while flying.
Yes, it is natural that doing something for the first time is a bit challenging and fearful. All
birds must be afraid to make their first flight. Similarly, a human baby is also afraid of
taking the first step and finds it challenging when he learns to crawl or stand up without
support.’

Q2. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the
young seagull to finally fly?

Answer: The young seagull was very hungry. It was this hunger that ultimately compelled
it to fly. Its hunger intensified when it saw its mother tearing at a piece of fish that lay at
her feet. It cried to her, begging her to get some food. When its mother came towards it
with food in her beak, it screamed with joy and anticipation. However, she stopped
midway. It wondered why she did not come nearer. Not being able to resist or control its
hunger any longer, it dived at the food in its mother’s beak. At that moment, his hunger
overpowered his fear of the great expanse of sea beneath the cliff. Finally, this plunge
was followed by the natural reaction of its body, to fly.

Q3. “They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and

mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?

Answer: The Seagull’s parents had tried everything but he was reluctant to fly due to
fear of falling down. He looked at his brothers and sister but wouldn’t make any effort.
That’s why the whole family had left him alone and threatened and cajoled him to come
but every effort went in vain.

II. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 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 the 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.

(a) What was the young seagull afraid of?

(b) What did the young seagull feel about his wings?

(c) Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as ‘the verge’.

(d) Pick out the word from the passage which means ‘a narrow flat piece of rock that

sticks out from a cliff’.

Answer:

(a) The young seagull was afraid of flying over the sea.

(b) The young seagull felt that his wings would never support him.

(c) The word is ‘brink’.

(d) The word is ‘ledge’.

Question 2.

Then a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But
it only lasted a minute. 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 arid 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 curving and banking and
soaring and diving.
(a) What did the young seagull feel the next moment?

(b) What did the young seagull’s mother do?

(c) Find out the word from the passage that means the same as ‘fly high in the air’.

(d) Find out from the passage a word that means ‘to grab’.

Answer:

(a) The next moment the young seagull felt his wings spread outwards.

(b) The young seagull’s mother swooped past him and made a loud noise with her
wings.

(c) The word is ‘soaring’.

(d) The word is ‘seized’.

THE BLACK AEROPLANE

I. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words

Q1. “I’ll take the risk”. What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?

Answer: A huge storm was brewing up and the author was keen to reach his home to
spend his holiday with his family. So, he decided to fly through the storm as he did not
want to miss the chance to meet his family at breakfast. Thus he took the risk even when
the visibility was almost zero in the storm.

Q2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.

Answer: As the pilot (author) entered the storm, his plane started jumping and twisting.
He could not see anything outside the plane as it was black. When he looked at the
compass and other instruments they had stopped functioning due to the storm. It was a
terrible and fearsome experience for him. The fuel tank was almost empty and he could
not fly more than ten minutes. Then he saw another black aeroplane by his side and the
pilot of the plane signaled him to follow. It was a surprise for the narrator as the other
black plane was having no light. He followed him without any choice and landed safely
on the runway.

Q3. Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old

Dakota…”?

Answer: He was delighted to land safely out of dark stormy clouds, therefore, he was not
sorry to walk away from his plane. Though he felt bad that he could not thank his guide,
his mentor who saved him from frightening situations, he wanted to forget the whole
experience and leave the place immediately as he was eager to meet his family.

Q4. What made the woman in the Control Centre look at the narrator strangely?

Answer: The woman in the Control Centre looked at the narrator strangely because the
narrator asked him about the black aeroplane and she saw no one except the narrator in
the sky during the storm. Even the radar showed only the narrator’s plane that night in
the sky.
II. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Question 1.

Paris was about 150 kilometers 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-1

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.

(a) What happened when the pilot was about 150 kilometers away from Paris?

(b) What does the author compare the clouds to?

(c) Find out the word similar in meaning to ‘sufficient’.

(d) The word ‘elephantine’ is similar in meaning to the word ………

Answer:

(a) The pilot saw storm clouds when he was about 150 kilometers away from Paris.

(b) The author compares the clouds to a black mountain.

(c) The word is ‘enough’.

(d) The word is ‘huge’.

Question 2.

“He knows that I am lost”, I thought ‘He’s trying to help me.

He turned his aeroplane slowly to the north, in front of my Dakota, so that it would be

easier for me to follow him. I was very happy to go behind the strange aeroplane like an

obedient child.

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.

(a) Why was the pilot happy to find his aeroplane behind another aeroplane in the black

clouds?

(b) Why was the pilot frightened again?

(c) Find the opposite of ‘insufficient’ from the passage.

(d) What does a ‘storm’ mean?

Answer:

(a) The pilot was happy to find his aeroplane behind another aeroplane in the black

clouds because another pilot was helping him to come out of the storm clouds.

(b) The pilot felt frightened again because the fuel was not sufficient to reach the

destination as it was only enough for the next five or ten minutes.

(c) Enough.

(d) A storm is very bad weather with strong winds and rain, thunder and lightning.
HOW TO TELL WILD ANIMALS
I. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words

Q1. Why does the poet use the term ‘noble and wild’ for the tiger?

The poet uses the terms 'noble' and 'wild' to show that the tiger like other wild animals,
kills its prey. But the difference is that the tiger is noble for he kills only when hungry and
not for pleasure like the other wild beasts. The poet uses two contradicting words. The
word ‘noble’ suggests his majestic looks while ‘wild’ suggests his dangerous habit of
eating human beings. It is used to create humour.

Q2.. What is the poet’s purpose in using behavioral cues like roaring, smiling, or weeping

in the poem How to Tell Wild Animals?

The purpose is to educate the reader humorously and playfully about identifying wild
animals based on their behaviours. By associating specific behaviours with certain
animals, the poet makes the information more memorable and engaging. The use of
these cues adds an entertaining element to the educational content, making it accessible
and enjoyable for readers and creating a memorable and lighthearted exploration of the
animal kingdom.

Q3. How does Carolyn wells use humour to tell or identify ‘wild animals?

The Poem gives humorous description of wild animals and funny description of their traits.
It is a novel and humorous way of using language. Bengal tiger is never ‘noble’ in his
heart. leopard kills his prey in a moment, crying won’t save him, bear’s hug is never loving,
hyena never smiles happily and chameleon can never be true. This way the poets uses
funny ideas to make the poem interesting.

II. LONG ANSWER QUESTION [100-120WORDS]

Q1. Describe the effective use of humour in the poem How to tell wild animals. What are

the poetic liberties taken by the poet in the poem?

The poet, in the poem ‘How to tell Wild Animals’ creates humour by describing various
beasts of prey. The way the poet explains the things is very funny yet interesting. The
poet has depicted the wildlife very vividly and in a lively manner. While reading the poem,
the readers enjoy the poet’s work and it leaves them refreshed and happy. The humour
used in the poem is suggestive and mild. If the Asian Lion ‘roars’ at you as you are dying,
the Bengal Tiger is a ‘noble’ wild beast that ‘greets’ you when you are roaming round in
the jungle. The leopard will show no mercy and it will do no good to roar with pain. The
bear gives you a very hard ‘hug’ and if you have any doubts whether it is a bear, it will
give you just one more caress. The poet humorously says that hyenas come with ‘merry
smiles’; but if they ‘weep’ they are crocodiles. Similarly, the poet takes many liberties to
make the poem impressive. In order to rhyme with ‘lion’ the poet changes the word dying
to ‘dyin’. Instead of leapt and leap the poet writes ‘lept’ and ‘lept’. All these changes make
the poem more interesting and enjoyable.

Q2. ‘Many animals can be identified according to the poets’ suggestion. Name the

animals. Which ones would you like to identify? Are there any lessons for us from this

poem?

The poet has listed down the ways of identifying seven animals in the poem, viz., the lion,
the Bengal Tiger, the leopard, the bear, the hyena, crocodiles and chameleons. As for
me, I would like to identify the bear, the Bengal Tiger and the leopard. However, putting
my life on the line just to identify the tiger and the leopard doesn’t seem worth the risk!
So, if I see a noble beast with black stripes on yellow, I’II know the tiger, and the peppered
spots will reveal the leopard. The bear hug, I wouldn’t mind! The poetess, using humour,
seems to warn readers against venturing too close to these animals.

Q3. Every animal is unique and has some special characteristics. What tricks does the

poet adopt in distinguishing various wild animals?

No doubt, every animal is unique. Every wild animal has his own special trait, colour, size
and characteristics. The Asian Lion is found in the jungles of the eastern regions. It is a
huge and mighty creature with brownish hide. His roar is enough to terrorize a person to
death. The Bengal Tiger is a ‘noble’ and impressive wild animal. He has yellowish hide
and black stripes all over it. The Leopard has dark spots all over his body. He is very
agile. The moment he sees its prey; he pounces upon it without showing any mercy. The
bear is known by his strong and tight hug. It becomes rather difficult for a novice to
distinguish among wild animals. However, hyenas and crocodiles can be easily
recognized. Hyenas come smiling merrily while crocodiles appear to be weeping. The
chameleon is a small creature like a lizard. He has no ears and doesn’t have even a single
wing. You can find him sitting on a tree.

THE BALL POEM

I. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words

Q1. Should the boy be allowed to grieve for his ball? If his loss is irreparable or
irretrievable then how should one handle it? What lessons can be learnt?

Yes, the boy should be allowed to grieve for his ball, as he had that ball for a long time.
He had many old memories associated with it since his childhood. Moreover, when a
person is trying to overcome his grief on his own, then one should not intrude or disturb
him as it may break his chain of thoughts and may irritate him. One should have self-
consolation, and self -understanding in order to bear the loss. Self-realization and
understanding are more effective and lasting than when it is done by an external agency
or a person.

Q2. How did the boy really react to the loss of the ball or was he fearful of something or

someone? Can our attention be directed toward his family and other people? Are there
any lessons to be learnt?

(i) The boy was not fearful of anyone, in fact, he was really upset about the loss of the
ball. The ball was valuable for him. He was shocked, remained fixed, trembled with grief
staring at the place where the ball had fallen. His family must not have been affected by
the loss as a ball is an easily available and inexpensive item.

(ii) The loss of the ball teaches a lesson to us. Money is external in the sense that it can
give you only outer happiness or pleasure not inner. Money cannot buy the emotions and
heavenly virtues. It cannot be linked with old memories. Moreover, self-consolation,
realization or understanding is more effective and lasting than done by an external agency
or a person.

Q3. Why does the poet say, ‘I would not intrude on him?’ Why doesn’t he offer him money
to buy another ball?

When a person is trying to come over his grief on his own, he is busy making himself
understand certain things if then, someone intrudes or disturbs, and his chain of thoughts
is broken. It makes him irritated. Moreover, self-consolation, realization or understanding
is more effective and lasting than when it is done by an external agency or a person. The
poet knows it. So, he does not intrude on him. His offer of money to buy another ball is
useless for the boy wants the same ball he is attached to and has been playing for a long
time. No other ball will be able to take its place.

II. LONG ANSWER QUESTION [100-120WORDS]

Q1. How is the lost ball, the metaphor of the lost childhood of the boy? Why doesn’t the
poet want to ‘intrude on’ the boy by offering him money to buy another ball?

The boy has a ball. Perhaps he has been keeping it for a long time. He must have
developed a lot of attachment and love with the ball. Suddenly while he is playing, the ball
bounces down the street. And after a few bounces, it falls down into the harbour. It is lost
forever. The boy stands there shocked and fixed to the ground. He constantly goes on
staring at the spot where his ball fell down into the water. Outwardly, the loss seems to
be quite small. The boy seems to be making a fuss over the loss. Many boys have lost
such balls and will lose so in future. A new ball can be easily bought in a dime. The
metaphor of the lost ball is beautifully linked to the loss of sweet childhood. No amount of
money can buy the ball back that has been lost forever. Similarly, no worldly wealth can
buy back the lost childhood. The poet doesn’t want to sermonize on this issue. The boy
himself has to learn epistemology or the nature of the loss. He has to move ahead in life
forgetting all the losses he has suffered in the past.

Q2. What is the epistemology of loss in this world of possessions? How has the child
learned to stand up in life?
Gain and loss are the two sides of the same coin. Getting, spending and losing things
form a natural cycle of life. The boy is inconsolable at the loss of his ball. Actually, it is not
the ordinary ball but his long association and attachment with it that makes the loss so
unbearable. It is like the good sweet days of childhood that the boy cherishes so much
but are lost and gone forever. They will never come back again. So, what is the remedy?
He can bear this loss by understanding the epistemology or nature of the loss. In this
world of material wealth and possessions, it seems that money can buy anything.

However, it is a false conception. Money has its own limitations. Its nature is external. It
cannot compensate for the losses that a person suffers emotionally or internally. No
wealth can buy back the ball that has been lost forever. Similarly, no wealth can buy back
the lost childhood. The child will have to move ahead and stand up in life. He has to stop
weeping over his past losses and start living life as it should be lived.

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