Two Stories about Flying Question Answer Chapter 3 Solved PDF

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?
Answer: The young seagull was afraid to fly because he thought that his wings would not support him and that he would fall into the sea. He lacked the courage to take his first flight. All young birds may not be equally afraid; some may be more timid than others. Similarly, a human baby also finds it difficult to take its first steps because it is learning to balance its body and overcome its fear of falling.

2. "The sight of the food maddened him." What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Answer: The sight of food made the young seagull extremely hungry. His mother came towards him with a piece of fish but stopped just out of his reach. Driven by hunger, he dived at the fish. As a result, he fell outwards into space and instinctively spread his wings. Thus, hunger compelled him to take his first flight.

3. "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 wanted him to overcome his fear and learn to fly. They threatened to leave him hungry on the ledge and encouraged him to fly because they knew that he had to become independent. Their actions were meant to give him confidence and make him take his first flight.

4. Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something that you were too scared to try?
Answer: Yes, I have had a similar experience. When I was learning to ride a bicycle, I was afraid that I would fall. My parents encouraged me and told me not to be afraid. They supported me and gave me confidence. After several attempts, I finally learned to ride the bicycle. This experience taught me that courage and practice can help us overcome fear.

5. In the case of a bird flying, it seems a natural act, and a foregone conclusion that it should succeed. Was your success guaranteed, or was it important for you to try, regardless of a possibility of failure?
Answer: Success was not guaranteed in my case. However, it was important to try because failure is a part of learning. Continuous effort and practice help us overcome fear and improve our skills. Therefore, we should not stop trying just because there is a possibility of failure.

1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
Answer: The young seagull was afraid to fly because he believed that his wings would not support him. The great distance between the ledge and the sea frightened him. Although his brothers and sister had already flown away, he could not gather enough courage to take the plunge.

2. What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Answer: Hunger compelled the young seagull to fly. His mother brought a piece of fish but stopped just out of his reach. Maddened by hunger, he dived towards the fish. He fell into the air, spread his wings instinctively and discovered that he could fly.

3. Why did the seagull's parents encourage him to fly?
Answer: His parents encouraged him because they wanted him to overcome his fear and become independent. They knew that he was physically capable of flying but lacked confidence. Therefore, they threatened, scolded and tempted him with food until he finally flew.

1. "I'll take the risk." What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Answer: The risk was flying directly into the huge storm clouds. The narrator knew that he did not have enough fuel to fly around the storm and could not fly over it. He could have returned to Paris, but he wanted to reach home and have breakfast with his family. Therefore, he decided to take the risk and fly into the storm.

2. Describe the narrator's experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Answer: As the narrator entered the storm, everything suddenly became black. He could not see anything outside the aeroplane. The old Dakota jumped and twisted in the air. Soon, his compass and other instruments stopped working, and the radio also became dead. He was completely lost in the storm. Then he saw a strange black aeroplane whose pilot signalled him to follow.

3. Why does the narrator say, "I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…"?
Answer: The narrator was extremely relieved after landing safely because he had faced a dangerous storm. His compass, radio and other instruments had stopped working, and he had almost run out of fuel. Therefore, he was happy to leave the old Dakota and reach safety.

4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
Answer: The woman looked at him strangely because he asked about the other pilot who had helped him during the storm. She told him that no other aeroplane had been flying that night. According to the radar, his was the only aeroplane in the sky.

5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
Answer: The identity of the pilot is not revealed in the story. I think the strange black aeroplane was a mysterious or supernatural presence that appeared only to help the narrator. It guided him safely through the storm and disappeared without leaving any trace. The mystery is strengthened because the control centre's radar showed that there was no other aeroplane in the sky.

1. Why did the pilot decide to fly into the storm?
Answer: The pilot decided to fly into the storm because he wanted to reach England and return home. He did not have enough fuel to fly around the storm, and he did not want to return to Paris. Therefore, he took the risk of flying directly into the storm.

2. What happened to the pilot's instruments in the storm?
Answer: The pilot's compass stopped working and started turning round and round. His other instruments also stopped working. Soon, his radio became dead too. As a result, he had no compass, no radio and no way to know where he was.

3. Who appeared in the storm?
Answer: A strange black aeroplane appeared beside the narrator. It had no lights on its wings. The pilot waved at the narrator and signalled him to follow.

4. Why did the narrator follow the black aeroplane?
Answer: The narrator was lost and frightened because his compass and radio were not working. The pilot of the black aeroplane appeared to know that he was lost and wanted to help him. Therefore, the narrator followed the strange aeroplane.

5. Why was the narrator surprised after landing?
Answer: The narrator was surprised because he wanted to thank the pilot of the black aeroplane, but the woman at the control centre told him that no other aeroplane had been flying that night. The radar had shown only his aeroplane. Therefore, he could not understand who had helped him.

6. What is the mystery at the end of the story?
Answer: The mystery is the identity and existence of the pilot of the black aeroplane. The narrator saw the aeroplane and followed it safely through the storm, but the control centre confirmed that no other aeroplane was flying that night. Therefore, the story leaves us wondering whether the black aeroplane was real or supernatural.

1. Go and have a bath; your hands and face are absolutely black.
Answer: Here, black means covered with dirt.

2. The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green.
Answer: Here, black look means an angry or threatening look.

3. The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity.
Answer: Here, blackest means very wicked, evil or shameful.

4. Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter's black comedy.
Answer: Here, black comedy means humour based on serious, unpleasant or tragic subjects.

5. Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black.
Answer: Here, sell in black means sell illegally at a higher price.

6. Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue.
Answer: Here, black and blue means badly bruised because of beating.