Two Stories - Notes

Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
By– Liam O’Flaherty
About the Author- Liam O’Flaherty
Liam 0′ Flaherty was an Irish novelist and short story writer. He was born on 28 August 1896 and
breathed his last on 7 Sept. 1984. He was born in a remote village of Gort Nag Capall in Galway. In 1908,
he went to Rockwell College. He became a popular literary figure with his best selling novel ‘The Informer
(1925). The next novel Return of the Brute was also a great success. 0’ Flaherty will be remembered as a
major voice in the Irish literary renaissance.
Introduction of the lesson- Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
This is an imaginary story. The story conveys the message that one learns by taking courage and not by
sitting idle. A young seagull is fed lovingly by his parents. But when the time comes for him to fly, he feels
afraid. His parents try many tricks to teach him to fly. But he is so afraid that he refuses to fly. At last, his
mother hits upon a plan. She tempts him with food in her beak. But she only flies near his ledge but does
not and there. In order to get food, the hungry seagull comes to the edge of the rock and falls from it. At
first, he is terrified but then he opens his wings and starts flying. He is happy to note that he did not fall in
the sea. In this way, the young seagull learns how to fly.
Two Stories About Flying Part 1 Extra Questions

Theme of the Story Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
`His First Flight’ is a story of hesitation, trial and error and finally getting success in the end. It is an
interesting story of a hesitant and timid seagull learning the art of flying. While his two brothers and
sister had already learnt flying, his fear and hesitation stopped him from doing so. His diving at the fish
due to hunger proved a blessing in disguise.
After a shaky start, he spread out his wings and started flying upwards and downwards. It was his first
flight. The author gives a message that no one attains success instantly. Repeated trials and errors lead
him to success.
Summary in English- Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
This is an imaginary story of a young seagull. The time had come when he must learn how to fly. His two
brothers and a little sister had learnt how to fly by emulating their parents. They had simply run to the
brink of the ledge, flapped their wings and flown away. But when the young seagull came to the brink and
tried to fly in the air, he became afraid. He felt sure that if he tried to fly, he would fall into the sea below.
So he ran back to his hole on the ledge.
The seagull’s parents came to take him along with them. But he refused to fly. They threatened that he
would starve on the ledge. But the bird was too afraid to move. Twenty four hours passed. The seagull
had not eaten anything. He began to feel very hungry. He saw his mother sitting on a plateau. She was
eating a fish. This sight only increased his hunger. He requested his mother to bring him some food. The
mother looked at him derisively. But then she picked up a piece of fish and flew towards him.
The mother did not come to him. She halted her wings and became motionless. The seagull wondered
why she was not coming near him. He could not bear it any longer. He was maddened by hunger. He
dived at fish. He could not reach his mother but fell from the ledge downwards into space. He was filled
with fear and Cried. But this fear lasted only a minute. He spread his wings and tried to fly. Suddenly he
found that he was flying. He cried with joy and started flying higher and higher. His parents, brothers and
sister flew around him and screamed with joy.
After some time, the seagull’s parents, brothers and sister landed on the sea. They asked him to come
there. The seagull thought that it was green flooring. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His
legs sank into it and he cried with fear. But his belly touched the water and he did not drown. He began to
float on the sea. His family members praised him and gave him pieces of fish to eat. Thus the seagull had
made his first flight.
Summary in English (2) – Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
1. Young Seagull Afraid to Fly: The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his
sister had already learnt the art of flying only the day before. He did try. He had taken a little run
forward and tried to flap his wings. But that was all he could do. He became afraid. He felt that his
wings would not support him. So he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole where he slept
at night. His brothers and his sister had wings far shorter than his own wings. But he failed to muster
up courage and fly. His parents taunted, scolded and threatened him to leave him starving at the ledge
unless he flew away. But nothing could make him fly.
2. Parents Perfecting Brothers and Sister: The seagull helplessly watched his parents flying with his
brothers and sister. They were Perfecting them in the art of flying. They were teaching them how to
skim the waves and how to dive for fish. The whole family went on taunting him for his cowardice.
3. Maddened by Hunger, He Dived at the Fish: Only his mother was looking at him. She had picked a
piece of fish. She was flying across to him with it. He leaned out eagerly. The mother was very near to
him with the fish in her beak. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell
outwards and downwards into space. A terror seized him. His heart stood still. His mother swooped
past him. He answered her with another scream. He saw his two brothers and sister flying around
him.
4. First Flight: The seagull completely forgot that he was not able to fly. He let himself free to dive, soar
and curve at will. He was shrieking shrilly. He saw a green sea beneath him. His parents, his brothers
and sister were beckoning to him calling shrilly. He was tired and weak with hunger. His feet sank
into the green sea and his belly touched it. He sank no farther. His family was praising him and their
beaks were offering him scraps of fish. He had made his first flight.
Main Points of the Story – Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
1. The young seagull was sitting alone on his ledge.
2. His two brothers and his sister had already learnt how to fly a day before.
3. The young seagull was hesitant and afraid of flying.
4. He thought that his wings would not support him.
5. His parents, brothers and sister regularly taunted him for his cowardice.
6. He saw his mother holding a piece of fish in her beak.
7. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish.
8. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space.
9. He was seized with terror.
10. His wings were cutting through the air and he was not falling headlong now.
11. Then he completely forgot that he had never flown before.
12. Now, he was flying over the sea.
13. He was floating on the sea and his family was praising him, offering him pieces of fish.
Multiple Choice Questions – Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
1.Who was there on the ledge with the young seagull for the last twenty-four hours?
(A) his two brothers (B) his sister
(C) his parents (D) he was alone
Ans. (D) he was alone
2. How did the young seagull feel to fly?
(A) afraid (B) enjoyed
(C) willing (D) all of the above
Ans. (A) afraid
3. There was a great expanse of stretched down beneath.
(A) land (B) rocks
(C) sky (D) sea
Ans. (D) sea
4. What were the young seagull’s parents doing to him?
(A) calling to him shrilly (B) upbraiding him
(C) threatening him (D) all of the above
Ans. (D) all of the above
5. Nobody had come near the young seagull for the last :
(A) ten hours (B) twelve hours
(C) twenty hours (D) twenty-four hours
Ans. (D) twenty-four hours
6. His parents were perfecting his brothers and sisters in the art of
(A) flying (B) hunting
(C) swimming (D) chirping
Ans. (A) flying
7. Only one family member was looking at the young seagull. It was his :
(A) father (B) mother
(C) brother (D) sister
Ans. (B) mother
8. Whom did the young seagull beg to bring him some food?
(A) his father (B) his mother
(C) his brothers (D) his sister
Ans. (B) his mother
9. The young seagull dived at the fish maddened by
(A) hunger (B) heat
(C) tiredness (D) sleep
Ans. (A) hunger
10. How did the young seagull fall into the air?
(A) upward (B) downward
(C) both (A) and (B) (D) none of the above
Ans. (C) both (A) and (B)
11. What were the young seagull’s brothers and sister doing around him?
(A) curveting (B) banking
(C) soaring (D) all of the above
12.Of what colour vast sea did the young seagull see beneath him?
(A) blue (B) green
(C) white (D) brown
Ans. (B) green
13. The seagull dived towards his mother because:
(A) a strong wind pushed him (B) he wanted to fly
(C) he wanted the fish in his mother’s beak (D) he wanted to reach his mother.
Ans. (C) he wanted the fish in his mother’s beak
14. He stood at the edge of the ledge on one leg and closed his eyes because:
(A) he was feeling sleepy (B) it was a natural habit of seagulls
(C) he wanted to get the attention of (D) he was afraid of the sea his family
Ans. (C) he wanted to get the attention of his family
15. The young seagull was afraid to fly because:
(A) he had hurt his wings
(B) his wings were not as well developed as those of his brothers and sister
(C) he felt that his wings could not support him
(D) he was not confident
Ans. (C) he felt that his wings could not support him
16. Who is the author of the lesson ‘His First Flight’?
(A) Fredrick Forsyth (B) Cynthia Moss
(C) Liam O’Flaherty (D) Jayanta Mahapatra
Ans. (C) Liam O’Flaherty
17. Was the young seagull successful in making his first fly?
(A) yes (B) no
(C) may be (D) not known
Ans. (A) yes
Extract Based / comprehension test Questions and Answers of Two Stories About Flying Part-I His
First Flight
Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow.
1. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg
hidden under his wing; he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still
they took no notice of him.
(a) What did the young seagull do?
(b) What was the seagull afraid of?
(c) Why did he close his eyes one-by-one?
(d) What were his brothers and sisters doing?
Ans. (a) The young seagull pretended to fall asleep on the brink of the ledge.
(b) The seagull was afraid to fly.
(c) He pretended to sleep.
(d) They were sleeping carefree.
2. He felt certain that his wings would never support him, so he bent his head and ran ways back
to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.
(a) Who does He’ refer to in the first sentence?
(b) Why did he run back to the hole instead of trying to fly?
(c) Where did he sleep at night?
(d) Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
Ans. (a) The young seagull.
(b) He thought his wings would not support him so he did not try to fly.
(c) He slept at night in a hole under the ledge.
(d) The young seagull thought that his wings were too weak to support him so he was afraid to fly.
3. His father and mother had come around him calling him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to
let him starve on the ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him, he could not move.
(a) How did his parents try to make him fly?
(b) What was the effect of their efforts?
(c) What does the passage reflect on the young seagull?
(d) How was the young seagull threatened by his parents initially when he did not fly?
Ans. (a) First, they invited him encouragingly. Then scolded and threatened to leave him alone to starve
unless he flew away.
(b) All their efforts failed but he did not fly.
(c) He was a coward.
(d) First his parents encouraged him to fly but later on, they even threatened to let him starve if he did
not fly.
4. The day before, all day he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sisters,
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.
(a) Who is He’ in the above lines?
(b) Who trained the brothers and sister in the art of flying?
(c) What does the cackle raised by the parents show?
(d) Why do you think all parental acts are for the betterment of the children?
Ans. (a) The young seagull.
(b) Their parents.
(c) This shows that they were quite happy.
(d) All parents wish that their children should be successful in life. Their acts are directed towards this
aim.
5. 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 a 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 what it.
(a) Why do you think the mother was eating fish in full view of her little one?
(b) Who was looking at hint?
(c) What was the effect of sight of food on him?
(d) Do you think hunger was a good motivation for the young seagull in his first flight?
Ans. (a) She wanted to tempt him and then exploit the situation to make him fly.
(b) His mother.
(c) It maddened the young seagull for he was very hungry.
(d) Yes, I think so. Maddened by hunger, he lived to snatch a piece of fish and started flying.
6. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened
by hunger he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space.
Then a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still he could hear nothing.
(a) Who is ‘she’ in the above passage?
(b) Why did he dive at the fish?
(c) Why did his heart stand still?
(d) How did the seagull express his excitement when he saw his mother bringing food to him?
Ans. (a) The young seagull’s mother.
(b) Because he was hungry.
(c) This was because of fear.
(d) He left out and tapped the rock with his feet expressing his joy and excitement.
7. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He was no longer afraid. He just felt a hit
dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. He uttered a joyous scream and
flapped them again. He soared higher.
(a) When the young seagull spread his wings but did not flap them, how did he feel?
(b) How did the young seagull feel when he started flying?
(c) Why did he utter a joyous scream?
(d) How did his family welcome seagull’s flight?
Ans. (a) A hit dizzy but not afraid.
(b) Joyous and no more afraid.
(c) He was thrilled to see that he could fly.
(d) Seagull’s family members came near him and encouraged him by flying over and around him
screaming in joy.
Main Characters of the Story- Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
Young Seagull: He was a timid sea-bird. He was hesitant and afraid of flying. But he did not stop trying.
Gradually he gathered strength and made regular efforts for flying. Finally, he forgot his fear of flying and
made his first flight. His parents were quite happy with him.
Important Passages for Comprehension – Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :
PASSAGE 1
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. Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose
wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings. and flew away, he failed to
muster up the courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother
had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless
he flew away.
Questions :
(a) Name the chapter and its author.
(b) How did the seagull’s brothers and sister fly away?
(c) What did his parents tell him?
(d) Find a word from the passage which means `scolding/ reproaching’.
Answers :
(a) ‘His First Flight’; Liam 0′ Flaherty.
(b) They ran to the brink, flapped their wings and flew away.
(c) They threatened to let him starve if he couldn’t fly.
(d) ‘upbraiding’.
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.
Questions :
(b) What two lessons had his parents taught the day before?
(c) Why did his parents circle around his elder brother?
(d) What had he seen his brother do?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means ‘to swallow’.
Answers :
(a) ‘His First Flight’: Liam 0′ Flaherty.
(b) (i) how to skim the waves, (ii) how to dive for fish.
(c) to show their pride at his ability.
(d) He had seen his brother catch and eat his first fish.
(e) The word is ‘devour’.
PASSAGE 3
He stepped slowly out to the brink on the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under
his wing, he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still, they took no notice of
him. 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
more 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 what
it.
Questions :
(a) What did the seagull pretend?
(b) What were his two brothers and sister doing?
(c) What was his father doing?
(d) What maddened him?
(e) Find a word or a phrase in the passage that means ‘paid no attention’.
Answers :
(a) The seagull pretended to be asleep.
(b) His two brothers and sister were dozing.
(c) His father was preening his feathers.
(d) The sight of food maddened him. (e) ‘took no notice’.
PASSAGE 4
He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then maddened by hunger,
he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. 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.
Questions :
(a) Name the lesson and its author.
(b) Why did ‘he’ wait a moment in surprise?
(c) What happened when he dived at the fish?
(d) What did he feel about his wings?
(e) Which word in the passage means ‘extreme fear’.
Answers :
(a) Lesson: ‘His First Flight’. Author: ‘Liam O’Flaherty’.
(b) He wondered why his mother did not come nearer to supply him food.
(c) He fell outwards and downwards into space.
(d) He felt his wings spread outwards.
(e) The word is ‘terror’.
PASSAGE 5
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.
Questions :
(a) What has been called the green flooring?
(b) What had the seagull’s parents and brothers and sister done?
(c) Why did he scream with fright?
(d) Did the seagull drown in the sea?
(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as (i) terror (ii) tired.
Answers :
(a) The green sea has been called green flooring.
(b) They had landed on the sea surface.
(c) He screamed with fright because his legs sank into the sea.
(d) No, he did not drown in the sea. (e) (i) Fright (ii) exhausted.
PASSAGES FOR PRACTICE (UNSOLVED)

PASSAGE 6
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. Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran
to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up the courage to take that plunge
which appeared to him so desperate.
Questions :
(a) Who was alone on the ledge?
(b) What happened when he ran to the brink of the ledge?
(c) Where did he sleep at night?
(d) What had happened the day before?
(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as (i) Edge (ii) tried.
PASSAGE 7
“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.
Questions :
(a) Name the chapter this passage has been taken from.
(b) Who screamed back derisively?
(c) What had his mother picked up?
(d) Maddened by hunger, what did the seagull do?
(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as (i) stopped (ii) jumped.
Passage-8: (Page 32)
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.
Questions:
(a) Why was the young seagull alone on his ledge?
(b) When did his two brothers and his sister learn flying?
(c) What did he feel when he attempted to flap his wings?
(d) Would his wings indeed not support him?
Answers:
(a) The young seagull was sitting alone on his ledge because other members of his family were flying.
(b) His two brothers and his sister had already blown away the day before.
(c) He became afraid when he tried to flap his wings.
(d) His wings would certainly support him if he would have attempted to flap his wings this time.
Passage-9: (Pages 32 & 33)
Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the
brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up the courage to take that plunge which
appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding
him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him, he could not
move.
Questions:
(a) Did he have shorter wings than his brothers and his sister?
(b) What sort of fear prevented him from flying?
(c) What did his parents, brothers and sister do?
(d) Did they succeed in their efforts?
Answers:
(a) No, his brothers and sister had far shorter wings.
(b) He was afraid that his wings would not support him when he would try to fly and would fall into the
sea.
(c) His parents, brother and sister regularly scolded and threatened to let him starve on his ledge unless
he flew away.
(d) No, they didn’t make him fly away.
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 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.
Questions:
(a) Why did nobody come near the young seagull for twenty-four hours?
(b) What had he watched his parents doing?
(c) What did he see his older brother do?
(d) Why did his family taunt him?
Answers:
(a) The seagull’s parents and siblings knew that when he would not get food and fall hungry, he would
certainly take his flight.
(b) He had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sisters perfecting them in the art of
flight.
(c) He saw his older brother catch his first herring and devour it.
(d) His family taunted him to stimulate him to take his flight.
“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.
,
Questions:
(a) Why did the young seagull’s mother entice him with the food?
(b) Why did he utter a joyful scream?
(c) What did he try to do as she flew across?
(d) Was his fear genuine?
Answers:
(a) The young seagull’s mother enticed him with food so that for the sake of food he would make an effort
to fly.
(b) He uttered a joyful scream when he saw his mother picking a piece of fish in her beak.
(c) He tried to come nearer as she flew across to him.
(d) No, he was able to fly but he did not do so only due to lack of confidence.
He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer and then, maddened by hunger,
he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. 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 looser afraid.
Questions:
(a) What was the young seagull’s latent potential that his mother was aware of?
(b) What did he do, maddened by hunger?
(c) How long did terror seize him?
(d) Was he afraid to fly now?
Answers:
(a) Her mother was aware of the young seagull’s latent potential to fly without any difficulty.
(b) Maddened by hunger, he dived for the fish.
(c) He was seized with terror only for a minute.
(d) No, he was not afraid to fly now.
Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to dive and
soar and curve, shrieking shrilly. He was near the sea now, flying straight over it, facing straight out over
the ocean. He saw a vast green sea beneath him, with little ridges moving over it and he turned his beak
sideways and cawed amusedly.
Questions:
(a) How did he overcome his deep-seated fear?
(b) How did he commend himself?
(c) Where was he now?
(d) Why was he now not afraid of the vast green sea beneath him?
Answers:
(a) When he fell outward for food, he found that he was flying properly and he was no longer afraid.
(b) He commended himself to dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.
(c) He was flying straight over the ocean.
(d) Now he was able to fly well and hence he had no fear of the vast green sea.
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.
Questions:
(a) What does the ‘green flooring’ refer to, here?
(b) Why did he scream with fright?
(c) Why couldn’t he rise when he attempted to do so?
(d) How did the young seagull enthral his family?
Answers:
(a) Here the ‘green flooring’ refers to the green sea.
(b) He screamed with fright when his legs sank into the sea.
(c) He couldn’t rise again as he was tired and weak with hunger.
(d) Finally, the young seagull started flying which enthralled his family.
Extra Very Short Answer Type Important Questions Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First
Flight
Q.1. For how long had the seagull been alone?
Ans. The seagull had been alone for twenty-four hours.
Q.2. Why did the seagull not go with the rest of his family?
Ans. He did not go because he was afraid to fly.
Q.3. Why was the seagull afraid to fly?
Ans. He was afraid to fly because he felt that his wings could not support him.
Q.4. What were the ways the seagull had thought of to join his family?
Ans. He thought of joining his family by jumping and by walking up to them.
Q.5. Why did the seagull dive towards his mother?
Ans. The seagull dived towards his mother because he wanted the fish in his mother’s beak.
Q.6. He stood at the edge of the ledge on one leg and closed his eyes. Why?
Ans. He wanted to get the attention of his family.
Q.7. Who included the seagull’s family except him?
Ans. There were five members in his family except for him-his father, mother. two brothers and a sister.
Q.8. For how long time had the seagull been alone?
Ans. He had been alone for the last twenty-four hours.
Q.9. How was the seagull feeling?
Ans. He was feeling very hungry.
Q.10. What sight maddened the young seagull?
Ans. The sight of food maddened him.
Extra Short Answer Type Important Questions Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight
1. How did the young seagull’s family celebrate his first flight?
Ans. The young seagull was afraid to fly. Even the encouragement and coaxing didn’t work. But when the
seagull had his first flight, he as well as his family was happy, relieved and proud of him to have
completed his first flight.
2. Flying is a natural act in birds. Then why was the young seagull ‘exhausted by the strange
exercise’?
Ans. The seagull didn’t have the courage to fly. Hence, he used to make excuses for not flying. He felt
certain that his wings were too weak to support him. He had no courage to flap his wings and failed to
muster up the courage to take the plunge.
3. ‘The sight of the food maddened him.’ Who is ‘he’ in these lines? Why was he angry? What does
this suggest?
Ans. (i) The young seagull is the ‘he’ in these lines. (ii) He had not eaten anything for the last 24 hours. He
was very hungry, hence was angry. (iii) His mother went near him with a piece of fish but did not feed
him. Maddened by hunger, the young seagull dived to snatch it but the mother flew away. This shows the
weakness of the young seagull.
4. What was the young seagull’s experience during his first flight?
Ans. Falling from the ledge, the seagull was terrified, but soon he started soaring, and then, flying. He
forgot that he didn’t always know how to fly. His fear soon turned into confidence, and then into
amusement. As he was landing, he was again afraid, but, soon became at ease. It was a memorable first
flight.
5. How did the young seagull’s parents treat him initially when he did not fly?
Ans. First, his parents encouraged him, coaxed him then scolded and taunted him for his cowardice. They
even threatened to let him starve if he did not fly. But the young seagull could not muster up the courage
to fly.
6. Young seagull tried to fly but he could not. Why was he afraid to fly?
Or
Why could the young seagull not fly with his brothers and sisters?
Ans. The young seagull felt certain that his wings were too weak to support him. He had no courage to
flap his wings. Even when each one of his brothers and sisters whose wings was much shorter than his,
ran to the brink of the ledge, flapped their wings and flew away, he failed to muster up the courage to
take that plunge.
7. What did the young seagull do to attract the attention of his mother?
Or
While alone on the ledge, how did the little seagull try to draw the attention of his family?
Ans. He came slowly up to the brink of the ledge and stood on one leg. He hid the other leg under his
wing. He closed one eye and then the other and pretended to be falling asleep. Thus he tried to attract the
attention of his mother.
8. When did the seagull’s flight begin? And where did it end?
Ans. The young seagull’s flight started when he dived trying to snatch the piece of fish from his mother’s
beak. He fell down but instinctively his wings spread out, he flapped them and started flying. His flight
ended after half an hour when he landed on the green sea with his family.
9. Did the seagull think the sea was like land? Pick out the words that suggest this.
Ans. Yes, the seagull thought that the sea was like land. He called it the green (looting. When he had
learnt how to fly, he flew for some time. Then he came down and stood on the sea surface thinking it to be
like land. But his legs sank into the sea. ‘Dropped his legs to stand on’, ‘sank into’ and ‘screamed with
fright’ are the words that suggest this.
10. When did the seagull’s flight begin?
Ans. The seagull was very hungry. When he saw his mother bringing food in her beak, he dived towards
her. But he fell from the brink of the ledge. He screamed with fear. But his fear lasted only for a moment.
The next moment he felt that his wings spread outwards. He was flying now. Now he screamed with joy.
11. Where did the seagull’s flight eng?
Ans. The seagull was very happy as he had learnt how to fly. He kept flying for some time. His parents,
brothers and sister flew around him. Then they landed on the sea surface. The seagull also came down.
When he tried to land, his legs sank into the sea. He cried with fear again. But then his belly touched the
water. He did not drown. He started floating on the surface of the sea. Thus his first flight ended.
12. When did the seagull get over his fear of the water?
Ans. After flying for some time, the seagull saw that his parents and brothers and sister were sitting on
the surface of the sea. He came down and landed on it. But his legs sank into it. He cried with fear.
However, his belly touched the surface and he did not drown. Now the seagull got over his fear of the
water.
13. Do you sympathise with the seagull? Give reasons.
Ans. Yes, we sympathise with the seagull. He is a very young bird. He has not yet learnt how to fly. His
parents want that he should fly. They encourage him. But he is afraid of falling. His parents starve him for
twenty-four hours. In the end, however, the seagull learns how to fly.
14. How did the seagull express his excitement when he saw his mother bringing food to him?
Ans. The seagull saw his mother bringing food to him. He screamed with joy. He leaned out eagerly. He
tapped rock with his feet and tried to get nearer to her as she flew towards him.
15. How did the young seagull’s parents teach him the art of flying
Ans. The seagull’s parents encouraged him to fly. But he was too afraid to fly. Then they kept him hungry
for twenty-four hours. Even then the seagull did not fly. Then they thought that experience would teach
him. So they made him fall from the ledge. Now when he fell, he felt his wings spread and started flying.
16. Where did the young seagull sit alone? What did he watch from there?
Ans. The young seagull was alone on his ledge. In the whole family, he was the only one who didn’t know
how to fly. Only the day before, his two brothers and his sister had flown away with their parents. When
he tried to flap his wings, he was seized with fear. Hence, he sat alone on the ledge watching his family
flying over the sea.
17. Why didn’t the young seagull take the plunge? What stopped him from doing so?
Ans. The young seagull was the only one in the family who couldn’t fly in the air. His brothers and sister
had far shorter wings than his wings but they had already learnt the art of flying. He felt certain that his
wings would never support him. So he was hesitant and afraid of flapping his wings and go deep in the
air.
18. Did upbraiding and threatening of his parents help him in flying?
Ans. The parents of the young seagull did try to teach his young one the art of flying. He wouldn’t simply
move from his ledge. They would fly around him encouraging and challenging him to follow them. When
he wouldn’t budge, his parents would fly around calling to him shrilly. They would upbraid and threaten
to let him starve unless he flew away.
19. How were his two brothers and sister different from the young seagull?
Ans. His two brothers and his sister had far shorter wings than he had. But still, they had flown away only
the day before. He would watch his parents perfecting them in the art of flying. They were taught how to
skim the waves and dive for the fish. The young seagull had seen his older brother catch his first herring
and devour it.
20. How did the hungry seagull try to pretend to attract his mother’s attraction?
Ans. The whole family had flown away. Only the young seagull sat alone on the ledge. He had not eaten
anything thing since the previous nightfall. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge. He stood on
one leg. He closed his eyes pretending to be falling asleep. But all his tactics failed. Only his mother took
notice of him. All others ignored him.
21. What was the mother doing standing on a little high hump on the plateau?
Ans. All others ignored the hungry young seagull. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing
on a little high hump. Now and again, she tore a piece of fish. The fish lay at her feet. Then she scrapped
each side of her beak on the rock, The sight of the food maddened the young seagull. He loved to tear the
food that way.
22. Why did the young seagull cry “Ga, ga, ga”? Did her mother oblige him?
Ans. When he saw his mother holding a piece of a fish in her beak, the young seagull became almost mad
with hunger. He cried “Ga, ga, ga”. He begged her mother to bring him some food. When he saw his
mother flying across to him with a piece of fish, he uttered a joyful scream. He started tapping the rock
with his feet impatiently. He was almost within the reach of the fish but failed to get at it.
23. What did the young seagull do when he was maddened by hunger? Did hunger motivate him to
dive at the fish in the air?
Ans. The young seagull saw his mother flying around him with a piece of fish in her beak. Maddened by
hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then he was
seized with fear and his heart stood still. But the fear lasted only for a minute. The very next moment he
felt his wings spread outwards. Truly, hunger motivated him to dive at the fish and flap his wings into
space.
24. How did the young seagull overcome his fear and soared gradually towards the sea during his
first flight?
Ans. The young seagull had taken the final plunge. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish which his
mother was carrying in her beak. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards. He was seized
with fear and his heart stood still. But the fear lasted only for a minute. He overcame it. The next moment
he felt his wings spread outwards. Now he was soaring downwards over the blue sea.
25. Describe the seagull’s first flight.
Ans. The young seagull was very hungry. So he dived at the fish that was in his mother’s beak. But he fell
into space and became terribly afraid. His heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted for a
minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. He began to fly and was no longer afraid.
26. How did his parents, two brothers and sister celebrate the first flight of the young seagull?
Ans. The family saw the young seagull making his first flight. When they saw him floating on the ocean,
they flew and landed on the water just ahead of him. They were beckoning to him calling shrilly. They
were praising and rewarding him by offering scraps of fish to him.
27. What is the message that Liam 0′ Flaherty wants to give to the readers through the lesson ‘His
first Flight’?
Ans. Success can’t be taken for granted. One has to struggle and finally to win it. The story of the young
seagull is the story of overcoming hesitations, doubts and fears that stand between us and our success.
Hunger makes him take the final plunge. This leads him to make his first flight and soar into space.
Important Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions- to be answered in about 100 -150 words each
Q.1. Compare and contrast the young seagull in the beginning and at the end of the lesson. You can
use the words given in the following box.
Ans. In the beginning, the seagull is a coward. He lacks confidence. The time has come when he should
fly. His parents try to teach him how to fly. But he is too afraid to fly. He refuses to fly. His parents leave
him alone on the ledge. They threaten him that he would starve. His brothers and sister make fun of him.
They call him a coward. Even then the seagull does not fly. However, he falls from the rock when he tries
to get the fish from his mother. The next moment he flaps his wings and starts flying. Now he is full of
confidence. He starts crying with joy. He flies higher and higher. He is no longer afraid. He overcomes his
fear of the water also. He finds that he can float on the surface of the seta. His family members praise him
and give him pieces of fish to eat. In this way, there is a difference in the behaviour of the seagull at the
beginning and end of the story.
Q.2. Describe the methods used by the seagull family to help the young seagull overcome his fear
and fly.
Ans. This story is about a young seagull. The time had come when he should fly like his parents and
brothers and sister. But he was afraid to fly. His parents tried their best to teach him how to fly. But he
refused to fly. They left him alone on his ledge. They threatened him that he would starve. Even then he
was too afraid to fly. His brothers and sister made fun of him. They laughed at his cowardice. At last, his
mother thought of a plan. She took a piece of fish in her beak and flew towards him. She came near him
but did not land on the ledge. The young seagull was very hungry. He came to the brink of the ledge. In
order to get food, he dived at the fish. But he fell from the rock. He became terrified. But it was only for a
moment. The next moment, he flapped his wings and started flying. In this way, his mother was able to
make him fly.
Q.3. What message does the story ‘His First Flight’ convey?
Ans. This is an imaginary story. The story conveys the message that we learn by taking courage and not
by sitting idle. A young seagull is fed lovingly by his parents. But when the time comes for him to fly, he
feels afraid. His parents try many tricks to teach him to fly. But he is so afraid that he refuses to fly. At last,
his mother hits upon a plan. She tempts him with food in her beak. But she only flies near his ledge and
does not land there. In order to get food, the hungry seagull comes to the edge of the rock and falls from
it. At first, he is terrified but then he opens his wings and starts flying. He is happy to note that he did not
fall in the sea. In this way, the young seagull makes the first flight of his life when he takes courage.
Q.4. When did the seagull’s flight begin and where did it end?
Or
Describe how the young seagull Or made his maiden flight.
Ans. The seagull was very hungry. When he saw his mother bringing food in her beak, he dived towards
her. But he fell from the brink of the ledge. He screamed with fear. But his fear lasted only for a moment.
The next moment, he felt that his wings spread outwards. He was flying now. Now he screamed with joy.
The seagull was very happy as he had learnt how to fly. He kept flying for some time. His parents,
brothers and sister flew around him. Then they landed on the sea surface. The seagull also came down.
When he tried to land, his legs sank into the sea. He cried with fear again. But then his belly touched the
water. He did not drown. He started floating on the surface of the sea. Thus the seagull made the first
flight of his life.
Q.5. What happened after the seagull had learnt how to fly?
Ans. The seagull came to the brink of the ledge in order to get the fish from his mother. But his mother
remained in the air. a little away from the ledge. The seagull dived at the fish. But he fell from the rock
into space. He cried with fear. But this fear lasted only a moment. The next moment, he flapped his wings.
He was surprised to find that he was flying. He screamed with joy. He soared higher and higher. His
parents flew around him. They praised him for learning how to fly. Then his parents, brothers and sister
landed on the sea. They beckoned the young seagull to come to them. The seagull dropped his legs and
came down on the surface of the sea. He had thought that the surface of the sea was green flooring. But
his legs started sinking into the water. He again screamed with fear. However, his belly touched the water
and he did not drown. He started floating on the water. His family members were also happy. They gave
him pieces of a fish to eat.
Q.6.The young seagull found it difficult to fly for the first time. lie felt that his wings would never
support him. Was it not in his attitude to accept the challenges? Did he lack courage? Discuss the
values that can help people accept challenges in life.
Ans. The young seagull’s brothers and sisters had started flying the previous day. However, he himself
was unable to muster the courage to fly. He lacked confidence and felt that his wings wouldn’t support
him. However, I do not think that facing challenges was a problem for him. Still, he did lack courage. To
accept and successfully face challenges, one must be fearless, determined and have clarity of thought and
action. Also, the support of those around us can play a big role, as in the seagull’s case.
Q.7. The mother of young seagull picked up a piece of fish but still did not come nearer to give him.
Why did she do so? Did she lack love for her son or she wanted to make him courageous? What
values does the mother depict through her act? Write in 100-120
words.
Ans. The young seagull was terribly afraid to fly. His parents encouraged him to make his first flight. But
he could not do so. Then, the mother picked up a piece of fish but did not go near to give him. The seagull
was extremely hungry. He started crying so that his mother would give him some food. But after coming
towards him, the mother stopped opposite to him but almost within his reach. When the seagull dived to
get the piece, she swooped upwards. Maddened by hunger, the young seagull spread his wings upwards
and started flying. This shows that the mother wanted her son to become courageous. This shows that
sometimes parents take such harsh steps for their kids which may appear wrong at that time but later
prove to be beneficial for their kids.
8. Was the young seagull same at the beginning and at the end of the lesson? Compare and
contrast the two kinds of the same seagull in the lesson.
Ans. No, the young seagull was not the same bird at the beginning and at the end of the lesson. In the
beginning, the young seagull used to be all alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had flown
away the day before. He had been afraid of flying with them. Whenever he tried to flap his wings, he was
seized with fear. He felt certain that his wings would never support him. His father and mother flew
around calling to him shrilly. They were constantly scolding and taunting him. They were threatening to
let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away.
However, the young seagull was more confident and sure of his success in the end. Maddened by hunger,
he dived at the fish. After trials and errors, his wings spread outwards. He was soaring gradually
downwards forgetting all his hesitations and fears. He could float on the ocean now. His success was
welcomed by his family. They were praising him now and their beaks were offering him their scraps of
dog-fish.
9. ‘All parental acts are for the betterment of the children.’ It is true. However, one has to make
efforts through trials and errors shedding off one’s early hesitations and fears to succeed in
any enterprise. Justify this statement by taking points from the lesson ‘His First Flight’.
Ans. There is no doubt about it ‘All parental acts are for the betterment of the children’. It is the ardent
wish of every parent that they may teach all skills to their young ones so that they may succeed in life.
First of all, they can learn all the things which their parents have taught in life. If the young ones don’t act
then they also indulge in scolding, taunting and humiliating them to shed off their hesitations and fears.
This is exactly what the parents of the young seagull did. They were successful in teaching the art of flying
to his two brothers and sister. They also tried their best to embolden him to take the plunge. Particularly,
the mother-seagull went on flying around him with a piece of fish in her beak. It was her attempt to tempt
her starving son to dive at the fish. And she succeeded in her aim. The young seagull did dive at the fish
and it led to his success in the end.
10. ‘Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish,’ says the narrator about the young seagull. Do you
feel hunger was the main motivating force that made the young seagull take the plunge that
taught him how to fly in the air?
Ans. Food is the most essential ingredient that sustains all life — of humans, animals as well as birds.
Hunger motivates many of their actions. The young seagull used to sit all alone on his ledge. Whenever he
tried to flap his wings to fly, he was seized with fear. He felt certain that his wings would never support
him. He had seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it. It compounded his helplessness
even more. He uttered a joyful scream when he saw his mother holding a piece of fish in her beak and
flying quite near him. He wondered why she didn’t come to him and offer that piece of fish to him.
Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream, he fell outwards and downwards into
space. Then a monstrous terror seized him but only for a minute. The next moment he felt his wings
spread outwards. He began to soar downwards towards the sea. The fear left him. He began to float on
the sea. His admiring family offered him pieces of fish flying around him.
11. Describe the humiliation and taunting that the young seagull faced from his family when he
used to sit alone on his ledge without mustering his courage to fly in the air.
Ans. The young seagull used to sit on .the ledge all alone. He used to see his two brothers and sister flying
around him. They had learnt flying only the day before. Not that he didn’t try before. He had come to the
edge of the ledge and tried to flap his wings. But he became afraid soon. He felt certain that his wings
would never support him. So he bent his head and ran away to the little hole under the ledge. His
brothers and sister had far shorter wings than his own. But they succeeded flapping their wings and flew
away. He failed to muster his courage to take the plunge. His father and mother flew around him scolding
and taunting him. They also threatened to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. The thing that
compounded his agony was that his elder brother had caught his first herring and devoured it. His
parents circled around his brother raising a proud cackle. On the other hand, the family had walked down
the opposite chiff taunting him with his cowardice.
12. Hesitations and fears play necessary parts in human life but we get success in any enterprise
only when we overcome our doubts, hesitations and fears. Justify this statement in light of the
young seagull’s efforts to muster the courage to fly in the air.
Ans. Nothing in life can be taken for granted. Skills have to be learnt in life with your own efforts. Parents
can only help in teaching and encouraging us to learn things. But we have to learn them through our own
efforts of trials and errors. Who doesn’t suffer from hesitations and fears in the beginning? It takes time
to take the final plunge. So it happened with the young seagull. In spite of constant encouragements and
motivations, he couldn’t muster the courage to fly. He was certain that his wings would not support him.
He faced regular taunting and humiliations of his family. They even threatened to let him stare at the
ledge unless he flew away. But they say that necessity is the mother of invention. Maddened by hunger,
he dived at the fish which his mother was carrying in her beak. He felt his wings spreading outwards.
Finally, he soared to come down over the sea. When he floated on the sea, his family celebrated his
success by offering pieces of fish to him.
Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
By– Frederick Forsyth

About the Author
Frederick Forsyth was born on 25 August 1938, in Ashford, Kent, England. He was educated at Tonbridge
School and later joined the University of Granada in Spain. He joined the RAF and became a jet fighter
pilot. He became a journalist and joined the BBC in 1965, where he served as an assistant diplomatic
correspondent.
Introduction of the lesson- Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
This is a mysterious story. The writer was flying his Dakota aeroplane. Suddenly he was caught in a big
cloud. His compass, radio and other instruments failed. There was not much fuel in the plane. Suddenly
he saw a black aeroplane near him. The pilot of the black aeroplane guided the writer and he was able to
land his plane safely. But he was greatly surprised when the woman at the control centre told him that
there had been no other plane except the writer’s Dakota on the sky that night.
Extra Questions and Answers
Theme of the Story – Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
Frederick Forsyth describes quite a unique but mysterious experience during his flight from Paris to
London. During the flight, he was lost amid mountains of dark clouds. He couldn’t believe his eyes. The
compass was dead. It would not work. He received no answer from Paris Control either.
He could see another aeroplane flying next to him through the storm. He followed the strange aeroplane
until he could see the runway and was safe. When asked from the control centre, he was told that no
plane except his own was flying in the storm. Where did the aeroplane come from? Who was the man
who asked him to follow him? Where did he disappear after leaving him in safety? These are the
questions which are still surrounded in mystery.
Summary in English- Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane

The writer of this story is a pilot. One night he was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France. It was a
starry night. He was going to England. He hoped to spend his holiday with his family. It was an easy
journey and he was in a joyful mood. He looked at his watch. It was one thirty in the morning. Through
his wireless, he contacted the Paris control. They told him to turn twelve degrees west. He did as he was
advised to do. He was 150 kilometres from Paris.
Suddenly the writer saw huge black clouds before him. It was not possible to fly up and over the clouds.
He had not much fuel with him. So it was not possible to fly around the big mountains of clouds to the
right or left. He decided to take the risk and flew his aeroplane straight into the Clouds. As he entered the
clouds, everything suddenly went black. He found that his compass had ceased to work. He tried to
contact the Paris Control for directions. But he was shocked to find that his radio had also stopped
working.
Suddenly, the writer saw a black aeroplane near him. He could also see the pilot in it. The pilot waved the
writer to follow him. He followed the black aeroplane like an obedient child. Now it was half an hour
since the writer had been following the black aeroplane. He was worried because the fuel in his plane
could last only five or ten minutes. But just then the black aeroplane started to go down and the writer
followed it. Suddenly, the writer was out of the clouds. He could see the lights of the runway of the
airport. He turned to look at the black aeroplane. But he could not find it anywhere. The sky was empty.
The writer landed his Dakota aeroplane. He went to the control centre and asked a woman there who that
other pilot was? The woman looked at the writer strangely. Then she laughed and said that no other
planes were flying in such a stormy night. She told him and his plane was the only one that she could see
on the radar.
Short Summary in English- Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
1. On his Way to England: The moon was coming in the clear sky. The narrator was flying his old
Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. He contacted Paris Control for instructions. He was
asked to turn twelve degrees west. He thought that he would be in time for English breakfast.
2. Storm Clouds: Paris was 150 kilometres behind him. He saw the clouds in the sky. They were storm
clouds. They looked like black mountains standing in front of him. He couldn’t avoid by flying up and
over them. He didn’t have enough petrol (fuel) to fly around the north and south. He thought of going
back to Paris. But he wanted to go home for breakfast.
3. Instruments Dead: The narrator took the risk. He flew that old Dakota straight into the storm. Inside
the clouds, everything was suddenly black. He couldn’t see anything outside. The old aeroplane
jumped and twisted in the air. He looked at the compass. It was dead. The other instruments were
suddenly dead too. He tried the radio to contact Paris control. There was no answer. He didn’t know
where he was. He was in a very hopeless situation.
4. Black Plane for Help: He was lost in the storm. Suddenly, he saw another aeroplane. The black
aeroplane was flying next to him. He could see the pilot’s face. He was glad to see another person.
“Follow me”, he said waving his one hand. The narrator followed him like an obedient child.
5. Landed Safely: He followed the black aeroplane for half an hour. Now there was only enough fuel in
the old Dakota’s last tank to fly for five or ten minutes. Then he started going down. He saw two
straight lines of lights before him. It was a runway. “An airport,” he cried in joy. He turned to look for
his friend in the black aeroplane, but the sky was empty. He wanted to say ‘Thank you” to his rescuer.
6. The mystery about the Black Aeroplane: After landing, he went to the control tower. He asked the
lady there where he was. He also asked who the other pilot was. She looked at him strangely and then
laughed. She replied that no other aeroplane was flying that night. She could only see his aeroplane on
the radar. Who helped the narrator to arrive there safely without a compass or a radio, and without
any more fuel in his tanks? It remained an unsolved mystery.
Main Points of the Story – Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
1. The narrator was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England.
2. He called Paris control and was asked to turn 12 degrees west.
3. He thought he would be with his family and be in time for breakfast.
4. Everything was going well and it was an easy flight.
5. Suddenly he saw dark black storm clouds.
6. He took the risk and the plane went straight into the storm.
7. Everything looked black inside the mountains of clouds.
8. The old plane jumped and twisted in the air.
9. He couldn’t believe when he found his compass and other instruments totally dead.
10. Suddenly, another aeroplane appeared and he could see the face of the pilot.
11. The pilot of the black plane asked the narrator to follow him.
12. The narrator was frightened as there was fuel enough that could last only five to ten minutes.
13. Suddenly he came out of the clouds and saw two long straight lines in front of him.
14. It was a runway where he could land safely.
15. On landing, he asked the lady in the control room where he was and who the other pilot was.
16. The lady replied that no other aeroplane except his Dakota flew that night.
17. The pilot of the black aeroplane remained an unsolved mystery for the narrator.
Multiple Choice Question of the Story – Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
1. What was coming up in the east behind the pilot?
(A) the moon (B) the sun
(C) the stars (D) all of the above
Ans. (A) the moon
2. Which plane was the author flying?
(A) Dakota (B) Boing-47
(C) Mig-29 (D) none of the above
Ans. (A) Dakota
3. Which country was the pilot flying over?
(A) England (B) France
(C) India (D) Italy
Ans. (B) France
4. Which country did the pilot belong to?
(A) England (B) France
(C) India (D) Italy
Ans. (A) England
5. What happened when the pilot had covered a distance of 150 kilometres from Paris?
(A) he saw another plane (B) a strong wind began to blow
(C) a heavy rain began to fall (D) there were storm clouds all around
Ans. (D) there were storm clouds all around
6. Inside the clouds how was everything?
(A) green (B) fresh
(C) black (D) all of the above
Ans. (C) black
7. What happened as the plane entered the storm clouds?
(A) the aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air
(B) the compass was dead
(C) the other instruments were suddenly dead
(D) all of the above
8. When the author’s plane was caught in the storm who came to help him?
(A) another aeroplane (B) a helicopter
(C) a god (D) all of the above
Ans. (A) another aeroplane
9. How did the author follow the strange aeroplane?
(A) like a disciplined soldier (B) like an obedient boy
(C) like a mischievous boy (D) all of the above
Ans. (B) like an obedient boy
10. What made the pilot frighten again while following the strange aeroplane?
(A) the density of the storm (B) the technical problem in the engine
(C) the shortage of fuel (D) all of the above
Ans. (C) the shortage of fuel
11. What did the pilot notice when he was safe at the airport?
(A) the other plane was still in the sky (B) the sky was empty
(C) the other plane was following him (D) none of the above
Ans. (B) the sky was empty
12. What was the advice of Paris control?
(A) turn to twelve degrees east (B) turn to twelve degrees west
(C) turn to twelve degrees south (D) turn to twelve degrees north
Ans. (B) turn to twelve degrees west
13. How many fuel tanks were there in the plane DS 088?
(A) one (B) two
(C) three (D) four
Ans. (B) two
14. Did Paris Control hear the pilot the second time he called?
(A) yes (B) no
(C) maybe (D) not know
Ans. (B) no
15. Who is the author of the lesson ‘The Black Aeroplane’?
(A) Cynthia Moss (B) Frederick Forsyth
(C) Kofi Annan (D) Liam O’Flaherty
Ans. (B) Frederick Forsyth
Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow
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.”
The voice from the radio answered me immediately: “DS 088. I can hear you. You ought to turn twelve
degrees west now, DS 088. Over.”
Questions :
(b) Which aeroplane was the pilot flying?
(c) Why was the pilot unhappy?
(d) What did he see in front of him?
(e) Which phrases in the passage mean `hopping with pleasure’
Answers:
(a) ‘The Black Aeroplane’, Fredrick Forsyth.
(b) The pilot was flying the Dakota aeroplane.
(c) Because he was dreaming of his holiday.
(d) He saw the lights of a big city in front of him.
(e) ‘Looking forward to’.
PASSAGE 2
I checked the map and the compass switched over to my second and last fuel tank and turned the Dakota
twelve degrees west towards England.
‘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.
Questions :
(a) Where did the writer turn his aeroplane?
(b) What did he think about his breakfast?
(c) When did he see the clouds?
(d) How did the clouds look?
(e) Find words from the passage which mean the same as (i) big, (ii) danger.
Answers :
(a) The writer turned his aeroplane twelve degrees west towards England.
(b) He thought that he would be in time for breakfast.
(c) He saw the clouds when he was about 150 kilometres from Paris.
(d) The clouds looked like huge mountains. (e) (I) huge, (ii) risk.
PASSAGE 3
Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see anything outside the
aeroplane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. I looked at the compass. I couldn’t believe my
eyes: the compass was turning round and round and round. It was dead. It would not work! The other
instruments were suddenly dead, too. I tried the radio.
“Paris control ? Paris control ? Can you hear me ?”
There was no answer. The radio was dead too. I had no radio, no compass. .m(II, said not see where I was.
I was lost in the storm.
Questions :
(a) Name the chapter these lines have been taken from.
(b) How was the scene inside the clouds?
(c) How did the old aeroplane behave?
(d) What happened to the compass and other instruments?
(e) Why did the writer not receive a reply from the Paris Control?
Answers :
(a) These lines have been taken from the chapter ‘The Black Aeroplane’.
(b) Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black.
(c) ‘According to the writer, the aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air.
(d) The compass and other instruments went dead.
(e) He did not receive a reply because his radio was dead.
PASSAGE 4
“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 lying 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. [H.B.S.E. March
2017 (Set-A)]
“Follow me,” he was saying. “Follow me.”
“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.
Questions :
(a) How do you know that the pilot was completely lost in the storm?
(b) Where did the writer see another plane?
(c) According to the writer, why was another plane there?
(d) What did the pilot of Dakota do when the other pilot gave him a signal?
(e) Which word in the passage means the same as ‘an instrument used to know the direction?
Answers:
(a) The pilot had no radio, no compass and he could not see where he was.
(b) He saw another plane in the black cloud just near him.
(c) According to the writer, another plane was there to help him.
(d) The pilot of Dakota followed the other plane like an obedient boy.
(e) ‘Compass’.
PASSAGE 5
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.
Questions :
(a) Name the chapter these lines have been taken from. ,
(b) What was still there after half an hour?
(c) Why did the writer start to feel frightened again?
(d) What did he see when he came out of the clouds?
(e) Could the writer see the black aeroplane?
Answers :
(a) These lines have been taken from the chapter ‘The Black Aeroplane’.
(b) The black aeroplane was still there after half an hour.
(c) He started to feel frightened again because there was only five or ten minutes’ fuel in the tank.
(d) He saw the runway before him.
(e) No, he could not see the black aeroplane.
PASSAGES FOR PRACTICE (UNSOLVED)
PASSAGE 6
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.’ 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.
Questions :
(a) Name the chapter this passage has been taken from.
(b) What did the writer see?
(c) What did the pilot of the black aeroplane (10?
(d) What did the writer think?
(e) What was the writer happy to do?
PASSAGE 7
He turned his aeroplane slowly to the north, in front of my Dakota. so that it would be easier for me to
follow h;”. 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.
Questions :
(a) Name the chapter and its writer.
(b) Why did the second pilot turn his aeroplane to the north?
(c) How did the narrator follow the strange aeroplane?
(d) Why did the narrator feel terrified again?
(e) Why is the noun form of ‘obedient’?
PASSAGE 8
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?
Questions:
(b) What did the author do after landing?
(c) What did the woman say about the second aeroplane?
(d) Which word in the passage means ‘in an unusual or surprising way’?
(e) Who helped the writer to arrive safely?
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.
Questions:
(a) Did the sky remain clear the whole night?
(b) What was the narrator flying?
(c) What was he dreaming of?
(d) Was he able to spend his holiday with his family the next day?
Answers:
(a) No, after one thirty the sky suddenly became very cloudy.
(b) The narrator was flying his old Dakota aeroplane.
(c) He was dreaming of his holiday and being with his family.
(d) Yes, he spent his holiday with his family the next day.
Passage-10-: (Page 37)
I checked the map and the compass switched over to my second and last fuel tank and turned the Dakota
twelve degrees west towards England. ‘I’ll be in time for breakfast,’ I thought. A good big English
breakfast! Everything was going well—it was an easy flight.
Questions:
(a) What did he check up?
(b) What did he switch over to?
(c) With whom did he want to have his breakfast?
(d) How did his easy flight turn to a horrible one?
Answers:
(a) He checked the map and the compass.
(b) He switched over to his second and last fuel tank.
(c) He wanted to have breakfast with his family.
(d) All of a sudden the sky became so cloudy that he was unable to see anything outside the aeroplane.
Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see anything outside the
aeroplane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. I looked at the compass. I couldn’t believe my
eyes: the compass was turning round and round and round. It was dead. It would not work! The other
instruments were suddenly dead, too. I tried the radio.
Questions:
(a) Why was it impossible to see anything outside the aeroplane?
(b) How did the old aeroplane behave?
(c) Why couldn’t he believe his eyes?
(d) Was the radio working properly even then?
Answers:
(a) It was impossible to see anything outside because the aeroplane was amidst dark black be clouds.
(b) The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air.
(c) He couldn’t believe his eyes that the compass which was working smoothly a few moments ago was
dead now.
(d) No, the radio was dead too.
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–
mourned towards me. I was very glad to see another person. He lifted one hand and waved. `Follow me,”
he was saying.”Follow me.”
Questions:
(a) Where did he get no answer from?
(b) How did he feel at that time?
(c) What did he see flying next to him?
(d) Was the narrator known to the other pilot?
Answers:
(a) He got no answer from Paris Control.
(b) He was lost in the storm and the compass and radio were dead.
(c) He saw another aeroplane flying next to him.
(d) No, the narrator was completely unknown to the other pilot.
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 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.
Questions:
(a) Where did the other plane turn to?
(b) How was the narrator following him?
(c) How much petrol was left in the old Dakota for flying?
(d) Why did he feel frightened again?
Answers:
(a) The other aeroplane turned slowly towards the north in front of his Dakota.
(b) The narrator was following him like an obedient child.
(c) There was only enough petrol left in the old Dakota to fly for five or ten minutes.
(d) He felt frightened again as petrol could last only for five or ten minutes.
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.
Questions:
(a) How did the narrator reach the airport safely?
(b) What were the two long straight lines of light, and why was he safe now?
(c) What did the narrator turn to look for?
(d) Where did the black aeroplane go after leading the narrator to an airport?
Answers:
(a) A strange black aeroplane helped him to come out of the clouds and reach the airport safely.
(b) It was the runway of an airport where he could land safely.
(c) The narrator turned and looked for the man who had helped him.
(d) Actually, there was no other aeroplane flying in the sky than the narrator’s one. Only God knows who
he was.
“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?
Questions:
(a) What did the woman in the control centre say?
(b) Who helped him to arrive safely without a compass or a radio?
(c) Who was the pilot on the strange black aeroplane?
(d) Did the narrator find out any answers to his own questions?
Answers:
(a) The woman in the control centre replied that the narrator’s plane was the only one flying that stormy
night.
(b) A strange pilot guided the narrator to arrive safely without a compass or a radio.
(c) Only God could tell who was the pilot on the strange black aeroplane.
(d) No, the narrator didn’t get any answers to his own questions.
Extracts of the Story – Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
1. Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see anything outside the
aeroplane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. I looked at the compass. I could not believe
my eyes: the compass was turning round and round and round. It was dead, too. It would not work!
(a) Why did it become impossible for the writer to see?
(b) Why was the aeroplane twisting in the air?
(c) What could have happened as a result of compass failure?
(d) Where could the pilot not establish contact?
Ans. (a) It became impossible to see because his plane entered inside the storm clouds where everything
was dark.
(b) All the instruments of the plane were not working and due to darkness, the plane could not be kept
under control.
(c) The narrator could have lost his path.
(d) He could not establish contact with Paris control.
2. 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 blank 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.
(a) From where did the narrator expect an answer?
(b) why did he not receive any answer?
(c) Where was he lost?
(d) What problem did T face in the storm?
Ans. (a) From the radio i.e., control station.
(b) Because the radio was not working.
(c) He was lost in the storm clouds.
(d) ‘I’ could not see where he was and was lost in the storm.
3. I knew I could not fly up and over them, and I didn’t 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.
(a) What does ‘them’ in the first sentence refer to?
(b) Why could he not fly over on either side of storm clouds?
(c) Why did he not go back to Paris?
(d) Where was the pilot of the plane flying to?
Ans. (a) The storm clouds
(b) Because he had limited fuel, just to reach England by a straight route.
(c) This was because he was anxious to reach home.
(d) The pilot of the Dakota plane was flying from Paris to England.
4. 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.
(a) Who does ‘He’ refers to in the first sentence?
(b) Why did the pilot of the black aeroplane bring his plane in front of the Dakota aeroplane?
(c) How was the pilot of the Dakota plane an obedient child?
(d) How did the pilot of Dakota land safely through the storm?
Ans. (a) The pilot of the black aeroplane.
(b) Because of it. would be easier for the Dakota plane to follow it.
(c) The pilot of the black aeroplane had asked him to follow him and he obeyed just like an obedient child.
(d) Suddenly, the pilot of Dakota saw a black aeroplane. Its pilot guided and brought him safely out of
storm clouds and he landed at the airport.
5. 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 narrator frightened again?
(b) What for ‘it’ stand in the last sentence?
(c) Why was the black aeroplane going down?
(d) How did the black plane rescue the first pilot?
Ans. (a) Because he was left with fuel only enough for five to ten minutes but his plane was still in the
clouds.
(b) The black aeroplane
(c) This was because its pilot had seen an airport to land.
(d) The pilot of the black plane brought his aeroplane in front of the Dakota plane to make it easier for it
to follow him and brought it out of the storm clouds safely.
6. She looked at me very strangely and then laughed. “Another aeroplane! Up there in the storm! No other
aeroplanes were flying tonight. Yours was the only one I could see on the radar.”
(a) Who is ‘she’ in the first sentence?
(b) Why did the lady at the control room look strangely at him?
(c) What made the situation a mystery?
(d) Why do you think there were no other planes flying?
Ans. (a) The woman in the control room.
(b) His question seemed absurd to her as she had seen no other aeroplane at the radar except the
narrators.
(c) The fact that the lady at the airport control room had not seen any other aeroplane on the radar.
(d) This was because of the stormy weather.
Main Characters of the Story- Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
1.The Narrator: The narrator (Fredrick Forsyth) was a professional pilot. He was flying his old Dakota
aeroplane over France back to England. He was happy.
The narrator was quite a family man. He was dreaming of his holidays. He was looking forward to being
with his family. He wanted to be in time for breakfast.
The narrator seemed to lack his professional ethics and responsibilities. He was about 150 kilometres
away from Paris when the storm clouds appeared in the sky. He didn’t have enough petrol to fly around
them to the North or South. Actually, he ignored his professional wisdom. He ought to have gone back to
Paris.
The narrator was a grateful human being. He was grateful to the pilot of the black aeroplane for saving
his life. He went to the Paris control to ask who was the other pilot who saved his life.
2. The Unknown Pilot: He was a helpful man. He was flying a black aeroplane. He helped the narrator to
find his way in the storm. He was a quite satisfied man, who wanted nothing in return. When the narrator
landed down safely at the Paris airport, he made an inquiry about the pilot but he got no trace of him. The
pilot did his work and disappeared in the sky.
Very Short Answer Type Important Questions – Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
Q.1. Why was the pilot happy? Give two reasons.

Ans. He was happy because he was flying up above the sleeping countryside. Secondly, he was going to
be with his family.
Q.2. Why did the pilot call the Paris Control Room the first time?
Ans. He called the Paris Control Room to guide him on his way to England.
Q.3. What was the advice of the Paris Control?
Ans. The Paris Control advised him to turn twelve degrees west.
Q.4. How many fuel tanks were there on the plane? How much fuel was left?
Ans. There were two fuel tanks on the plane. There was fuel for five or ten minutes only.
Q.5. What did the pilot encounter 150 kilometres from Paris?
Ans. He encountered big stormy clouds 150 kilometres from Paris.
Q.6. Why did the pilot fly straight into the storm instead of returning to Paris?
Ans. He did not return to Paris because he wanted to get home.
Q.7. Did Paris control hear the pilot the second time he called? Why?
Ans. The Paris Control did not hear him because his radio had gone dead.
Q.8. Which plane was the narrator flying?
Ans. He was flying the old Dakota plane DS088.
Q.9. Which country was the narrator flying his plane over?
Ans. He was flying his plane over France.
Q.10. What type of story is the ‘Black Aeroplane ?’
Ans. It is a mysterious story.
Short Answer Type Important Questions of the Story
1. What happened when the author turned the aeroplane twelve degrees west towards England?
Ans. The author saw the huge storm clouds that looked like black mountains standing in front of him
across the sky.
2. Explain the statement: ‘I was very happy to go behind the strange aeroplane like an obedient child.
Ans. The pilot came across huge storm clouds. He could neither go above them nor go around them due to
lack of fuel. Then, he saw a black plane without lights on wings, flying near his plane. Its pilot waved and
signalled him to follow him. The author did not have much choice but to follow him.
3. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the pilot of the old Dakota take it?
Ans. The risk is that of going through the storm in the narrator’s old Dakota aeroplane. He flew through
as he did not have fuel to fly around them, and couldn’t fly over them. Also, he wanted to get home for a
big English breakfast.
4. Why did the pilot think of going back to Paris?
Ans. The pilot came across huge storm clouds that seemed to him like black mountains. He could neither
go above them nor go around them due to lack of fuel. That was when he thought of returning to Paris.
5. Which two options did the pilot of’ the Dakota plane have when he encountered the storm
clouds on his way? What did he decide to do? Why?
Ans. The two options he had were: either to go back to Paris or to go through the storm clouds. He
decided to go through the storm clouds because he wanted to reach home and spend the holiday with his
family.
6. Why could the woman in the control room not help the pilot of Dakota?
Ans. When the pilot of the Dakota plane asked the woman in the control centre about the black aeroplane
and its pilot, she could not help him because she had seen no other plane flying that night on the radar.
7. Describe the black clouds from the point of view of the pilot.
Ans. The writer was going from France to England. He was flying his Dakota aeroplane. When he had
gone 150 kilometres from France, he saw storm clouds. They were huge. They looked like black
mountains standing in front of him across the sky.
8. Recount the experience of the pilot of the Dakota inside the black clouds.
Ans. The pilot found that everything was black inside the clouds. It was impossible to see anything
outside the aeroplane. The old aeroplane rolled and jumped in the air. The compass and other
instruments stopped working. Suddenly his radio also went dead.
9. HOW did the black aeroplane rescue the first pilot?
Ans. The pilot of the black aeroplane waved his hand. He gestured the first pilot to follow him. The writer
followed him. He followed the black plane for half an hour. Suddenly, his plane was out of the clouds. He
could see the lights of the airport and landed his aeroplane. In this way, the black aeroplane rescued the
first pilot.
10. Was the pilot of the Dakota able to meet the pilot of the black?
Ans. No, he was not able to meet the pilot of the black aeroplane. When he was going to land his plane, he
looked behind him. But the black plane was not there. The sky was empty. The woman at the control
centre told him that no other planes were flying on that stormy night.
11. Describe the black clouds from the point of view of the pilot.
Ans. The writer was going from France to England. He was flying his Dakota aeroplane. When he had
gone 150 kilometres from Paris, he saw storm clouds. They were huge. They looked like black mountains
standing in front of him across the sky.
12. Why did the writer feel frightened once again?
Ans. The pilot of the black plane waved to the writer to follow him. The writer flew his plane behind him
for half an hour. He found that there was fuel in his aeroplane for five or ten minutes more. So he felt
frightened once again.
13. Why was the narrator happy and what was he dreaming of?
Ans. It was a clear and cloudless night. The moon had come up in the east. Stars were shining above. The
narrator was happy. He was flying high up above the sleeping countryside. He was dreaming of his
holiday and being with his family.
14. Why and when did he call Paris control-room?
Ans. It was one thirty in the morning. He wanted to call Paris control. He switched on the radio and told
that Dakota DS 088 was on his way to England. The narrator got the necessary instruction that he needed.
He was asked to turn twelve degrees west towards England.
15. What did he find when he checked the map and the compass?
Ans. The narrator checked the map and the compass. He switched over to his second and last fuel tank.
He turned the Dakota twelve degrees west towards England. He thought that he would be in time for
breakfast. Everything was going well and it was an easy flight.
16. Why didn’t he return to Paris when he saw the storm clouds?
Ans. Paris was 150 kilometres behind him when he saw the storm clouds. They were huge. They looked
like black mountains standing in front of him. He could not fly up and over them as he didn’t have enough
fuel. He thought of going back to Paris but changed his idea. He decided to go to England to be in time for
breakfast.
17. The narrator had two options before risking himself entering the storm clouds? Why didn’t he
choose them?
Ans. Definitely, the narrator had two options before him if he didn’t want to take the risk of entering the
storm cloud. He could turn back and go to Paris which was about 150 kilometres behind him. Another
option was to fly up and over the dark clouds. But he didn’t choose any of the options. He wanted to be in
England to have his breakfast in time. He couldn’t fly around the clouds to the north or south as he didn’t
have enough fuel to fly.
18. What did he do when he was inside the clouds?
Ans. The narrator took the risk of entering the black storm clouds. Inside them, everything was suddenly
black. Nothing could be seen outside. The old plane jumped and twisted in the air. He couldn’t believe his
eyes when his compass was dead. His other instruments didn’t work and were dead too. He tried to
contact Paris control on the raids but received no answer.
19. How was the narrator lost in the storm clouds and what did he try to do to come out of them?
Ans. The narrator had entered the storm clouds. Nothing was seen outside. Everything suddenly turned
black. The old plane jumped and twirled in the sky. He looked at the compass. It was dead. He tried other
instruments but they also refused to work. He tried the radio to contact Paris control but no answer came
from there.
20. Who rescued the narrator when he was hopelessly lost in the storm clouds?
Ans. There seemed no hope for the narrator. He was hopelessly lost in the storm clouds. His compass and
other instruments were dead. Even Paris control didn’t respond. In such a hopeless situation, the
narrator saw another aeroplane flying next to him. It had no light on its winds but he could see the pilot’s
face. The pilot came to his help. When he said “Follow me,” the narrator followed him like an obedient
child.
21. How and when did the narrator feel that he was safe now?
Ans. When the pilot of another plane came to the narrator’s help, he was extremely happy. When he said
“Follow me,” the narrator obeyed him like an obedient child. The strange black aeroplane was still
guiding him. The narrator got worried as the old Dakota had petrol enough to fly for five or ten minutes.
Suddenly when he was going down, he found himself out of clouds. He saw two long straight lines of
lights of the runway. There was an airport where he could land safely.
22. Did the narrator meet the pilot of the black aeroplane? How did he and his aeroplane
disappear in the sky?
Ans. No, the narrator didn’t meet his rescuer. When he was out of the storm clouds, he looked back. He
found no trace of the aeroplane. Nor did he see the face of the pilot. Only God knows where they
disappeared. Even the control room couldn’t record their presence.
23. Why did the narrator want to meet the woman in the control tower? Did he get any
information about the mysterious disappearance of the black aeroplane and its pilot?
Ans. The narrator didn’t know how the pilot and the black aeroplane disappeared in the space. He
wanted some definite information from the woman in the control room about them. She told him that on
that stormy night no plane was in the sky except his old Dakota. So, the narrator couldn’t know anything
about the mysterious man who helped him to arrive safely without a compass or a radio.
24. What is the message that Frederick wants to give to the readers through the lesson ‘The Black
Aeroplane’?
Ans. Never say ‘die’ till the end. Never lose hope in the most hopeless situation. No one knows who may
come to save you. The narrator was really in such a hopeless situation when he lost contact with Paris
control and all his instruments and the compass was dead. Then came the mysterious pilot of the black
aeroplane to guide the narrator to safety.
Long Type Questions of the Story – Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane
1. The narrator made every possible endeavour to save himself. He did not lose hope in direct
situations. What values helped him endure the critical situation bravely? Discuss in 100-120
words. Or
The narrator knew that he could not fly up due to storm and lack of fuel but still, he continued.
What kind of person was he? Was it not in his nature to accept defeat? Discuss the values one
should possess to accept failures to be able to move ahead in life in 100-120
words.
Ans. The author’s plane did not have enough fuel. He knew that because of the paucity of fuel, he could
not fly up and over the clouds nor he could fly around them to the north or south. But then he decided to
take the risk to enter his plane in the clouds because he wanted to go home and wanted to join his family
at breakfast. This shows that he was a family-loving person. He was courageous as he knew that it would
be risky to enter the clouds, but he did so in order to save his fuel.
2. Your friend was the pilot who was flying from Paris to England when he was lost in the storm
clouds. Narrate his experience to your family and tell them how he was rescued by a strange black
plane and its pilot.
Ans. Last week, my friend, who is a pilot had a mysterious experience.
During his flight from Paris to England, he was lost in the storm clouds. His compass, radio and other
instruments had gone dead. He did not know which direction to go. He was lost and panicked (too much
frightened).
Then, he saw a strange black aeroplane without lights on wings, flying near his plane. Its pilot lifted one
hand, waved and signalled my friend to follow him. He guided my friend through the storm clouds and
helped him land safely when my friend looked back to thank the pilot of the black aeroplane, he found
neither the pilot nor the aeroplane.
When he asked the control about the strange black plane and its pilot. The reply was, no other plane was
seen on the radar except his Dakota. Then who rescued him? There was no answer. It was a mystery.
3.”Everything was going well. It was an easy flight.” What went wrong suddenly?
Or
Describe the flight of the Dakota aeroplane until it landed safely at the airport.
Ans. The flight of old Dakota started in Paris and headed towards England. It was an easy flight, the sky
was clear and the weather fine. When it reached 150 km away from Paris, it suddenly confronted huge
black storm clouds. He had limited fuel only to take him to England. He could go back to Paris but he
decided to take the risk and go through the storm clouds because he wanted to spend the holiday with his
family.
In the storm clouds, it was pitch day. His compass, radio and some other instruments stopped working.
He could not contact Paris control room to know the direction. Suddenly he saw a black aeroplane. Its
pilot guided and brought him safely out of storm clouds. He saw the runway and landed at the airport.
4. The author asks a question at the end, “Who was the pilot on the strange black aeroplane?” Try
to answer this question.
Ans. “The Black Aeroplane’ is an interesting story. The writer is a pilot. One day, he was returning from
France in his Dakota aeroplane. He was going to England. Suddenly, he saw huge storm clouds on his way.
He had not much fuel in his plane. So he could not fly around the clouds. He took a risk and entered the
clouds. His compass and other instruments failed. His radio also went out of order. The writer’s life was
in danger. Suddenly, he saw a black aeroplane near him. The pilot of the plane gestured him to follow
him. The writer followed him and landed his plane safely. But when he looked back, he did not find the
black aeroplane anywhere. The woman at the control tower told him that there had been no other plane
that night. Then who saved the writer’s life? Who was the pilot of the black aeroplane? The writer had no
answer to these questions. Thus it is a mysterious story.
5. Describe the flight of the pilot before he encountered dark clouds.
Or
Describe the flight of the Dakota aeroplane until it landed safely at the airport.
Ans. The writer of this story is a pilot. One night he was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France. It
was a starry night. He was going to England. He hoped to spend his holiday with his family. It was an easy
journey and he was in a joyful mood. He looked at his watch. It was one thirty in the morning. Through
his wireless, he contacted the Paris Control. They told him to turn twelve degrees west. He did as he was
advised to do. He was 150 kilometres from Paris. Suddenly the writer saw huge black clouds before him.
It was not possible to fly up and over the clouds. He had not much fuel with him. So it was not possible to
fly around the big mountains of clouds to the right or left. He decided to take the risk and flew his
aeroplane straight into the clouds.
6. How was the writer rescued?
Ans. The writer flew his aeroplane into the big dark clouds. As he entered the clouds, everything
suddenly went black. He found that his compass had ceased to work. He tried to contact the Paris Control
for directions. But he was shocked to find that his radio had also stopped working. Suddenly, the writer
saw a black aeroplane near him. He could also sec the pilot in it. The pilot waved the writer to follow him.
He followed the black aeroplane like an obedient child. Now it was half an hour since the writer had been
follow-, the black aeroplane. He was worried because the fuel in his plane could last only five or ten
minutes. But just’ then the black aeroplane started to go down and the writer followed it. Suddenly the
writer was out of the doods. He could see the lights of the runway of the airport. The writer landed his
Dakota aeroplane. In this, may, he was rescued.
7. Why and when did the narrator say that ‘everything was going well it was an easy flight’?
Ans. After the old Dakota left Paris 150 kilometres behind, it enjoyed smooth sailing in the air. Everything
was going well. The narrator was enjoying rather an easy flight. The moon was coming up in the east and
stars were shining in the clear sky. The aeroplane was flying up above the sleeping countryside. It was
flying over France back to England. The narrator was dreaming of his holiday and looking forward to
being with his family. He contacted Paris control. He was asked to tum 12 degrees west. He looked at his
watch. It was only thirty in the morning. It was only after he had left Paris 150 kilometres behind when
he faced the terrible storm clouds. Before this, it was really an enjoyable and safe journey.
8. The narrator had two options of avoiding the terrible storm clouds. Why didn’t he use them?
Was his decision of flying straight into storm clouds a sound decision? Give a reasoned answer.
Ans. The narrator could see black mountains of clouds all around him. They were storm clouds. He had
two options and by using them he could avoid the terrible storm clouds. He could go back to Paris. He had
left Paris 150 kilometres behind. He wanted to go back but the temptation of having an early breakfast at
home stopped him. He couldn’t fly up and above the storm clouds either. He didn’t have enough fuel to fly
around them to the north or south.
It seems that flying back to Paris would have been the best option in those circumstances. He couldn’t fly
north and south of the storm as he hadn’t enough fuel in the second tank. His decision of flying straight
into the storm clouds was motivated by his having an early English breakfast with his family. It was
rather a bold but risky decision. He would have been in deep trouble, had the pilot of the strange black
aeroplane not helped him to safety.
9. Describe the appearance of the strange black aeroplane in the most hopeless situation. How
did the pilot of the black aeroplane help the narrator to come out of the storm clouds and land
safely?
Ans. The narrator was really in deep trouble. The huge mountains of black clouds were around him. The
old Dakota aeroplane was jumping and twisting in the air. His compass was dead. The other instruments
were dead too. Nothing worked for him. Even his efforts to contact Paris control failed. The radio was
dead too. In such a hopeless situation, the sudden appearance of a mysterious black aeroplane was like
God’s sent help for him. There were no lights on the wings of that black aeroplane. The narrator could see
the pilot’s face. He was saying “Follow me”. The narrator was totally lost. He thought that the pilot was
trying to help him. So he followed the black aeroplane like an obedient child. He was frightened as he had
fuel enough to last for five or ten minutes. Suddenly, he came out of the clouds. He saw two long straight
lines of lights in front of him. It was a runway. “An airport!” he cried. He was out of danger and could land
safely. He turned to look for his rescuer in the black aeroplane, but the sky was empty.
10. Who was the rescuer in the strange black aeroplane? Did the lady in the control room help the
narrator in knowing anything about the man who helped him to land safely?
Ans. Who saved the narrator when he had lost all contacts on the radio with Paris control? Who was the
pilot of the black aeroplane who helped the narrator to land safely without a compass, without the radio
and without much fuel? These questions remained unsolved puzzles. Even the lady in the control room
couldn’t detect any other plane on the stormy night other than the old Dakota on the radar. The
mysterious pilot of the black aeroplane was like God’s help sent to the narrator to land safely. The
narrator was in real trouble before the mysterious black aeroplane appeared near him. He was lost
among the mountains of black clouds in front of him. To make things worse his compass became dead.
The other instruments became dead too. He couldn’t contact Paris control as the radio was dead too. God
knows what would have been his condition, had the pilot of the black aeroplane not guided him out of
storm clouds to safety.

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Two Stories About Flying Part-I His First Flight

By– Liam O’Flaherty

About the Author- Liam O’Flaherty

Two Stories About Flying Part 1 Extra Questions

PASSAGES FOR PRACTICE (UNSOLVED)

Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane

By– Frederick Forsyth

Extra Questions and Answers

Summary in English- Two Stories About Flying Part-II Black Aeroplane

Q.1. Why was the pilot happy? Give two reasons.

Short Answer Type Important Questions of the Story

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