His First Flight
1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight? Do human babies also find their first steps difficult?
Answer: The young seagull was afraid to fly because he did not trust his wings. When he looked down at the vast sea far below the ledge, he felt that his wings would not support him and that he might fall.
It is natural for young birds to hesitate before their first flight, although some may be more timid than others. In the same way, a human baby also finds the first steps difficult and needs repeated attempts, encouragement and confidence before learning to walk properly.
2. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What finally compelled the young seagull to fly?
Answer: The statement shows that the young seagull was extremely hungry. He had not eaten for a long time, and the sight of food made his hunger almost unbearable.
His mother flew towards him with a piece of fish but stopped just beyond his reach. Driven by hunger, he jumped forward to get the food. He fell into the air, spread his wings instinctively and discovered that he could fly.
3. Why did the seagull’s parents threaten and cajole him to fly?
Answer: His parents knew that flying was necessary for his survival. Without learning to fly, he would not be able to find food or live independently.
They first encouraged him and called to him, but when he still refused to fly, they left him hungry on the ledge. Their purpose was to make him overcome his fear and discover his own ability.
4. How did the young seagull finally conquer his fear of flying?
Answer: The young seagull conquered his fear because his hunger became stronger than his fear. When his mother brought food close to him but stopped before reaching the ledge, he jumped towards her in desperation.
At first, he was terrified as he fell. Then his wings spread naturally, the wind supported him, and he realised that he was flying. This experience gave him confidence and removed his fear completely.
5. Have you ever had a similar experience where your parents encouraged you to do something you were afraid to try?
Answer: Yes. I had a similar experience while learning to ride a bicycle. At first, I was afraid of falling because I had lost my balance several times.
My father encouraged me to keep trying and helped me practise in an open place. After repeated attempts, I learned to balance the bicycle and gradually became confident. The experience taught me that fear can often be overcome through practice and encouragement.
6. Was success guaranteed when learning a new skill? Why is it important to try even when failure is possible?
Answer: No, success is not always guaranteed when we try something new. However, it is important to make an effort because without trying, we can never discover our ability or improve our skills.
Failure is often a part of learning. With courage, patience and practice, confidence grows and success becomes more likely.
Additional Questions and Answers
7. Why was the young seagull alone on the ledge?
Answer: The young seagull was alone because his two brothers and sister had already learned to fly, while he was still too afraid to leave the ledge.
8. Why did the young seagull run back to the little hole under the ledge?
Answer: He ran back because he became frightened when he reached the edge of the ledge. Looking down at the great distance below, he felt certain that his wings would not support him.
9. Why was the young seagull more afraid even though his brothers’ and sister’s wings were shorter than his?
Answer: His fear was psychological rather than physical. Although his wings were strong enough, he lacked confidence in them. His brothers and sister had already overcome this fear, but he had not.
10. Why did the young seagull feel weak and hungry?
Answer: He had not eaten since the previous night. His family had stopped bringing him food because they wanted him to make an effort to fly.
11. What did the young seagull do to attract his family’s attention?
Answer: He stepped towards the edge of the ledge, stood on one leg, closed his eyes one after another and pretended to fall asleep. However, most of his family continued to ignore him.
12. Who continued to watch the young seagull?
Answer: His mother continued to watch him while the other members of the family appeared busy resting or preening themselves.
13. How did the young seagull’s mother help him to make his first flight?
Answer: His mother used food to make him overcome his fear. She flew towards him with a piece of fish in her beak and stopped close to him, but just beyond his reach.
The hungry seagull jumped towards the food and fell from the ledge. This forced him to spread his wings and begin flying.
14. What happened immediately after the young seagull jumped from the ledge?
Answer: He fell outward and downward with a loud scream. For a moment, he was seized by terrible fear and thought he might die.
Soon, however, his wings spread automatically and the wind supported him. He realised that he was no longer falling but flying.
15. How did the seagull feel after he discovered that he could fly?
Answer: His fear disappeared and was replaced by confidence and joy. He began to fly freely and enjoy the movement of the air around his wings.
16. How did the young seagull’s family react when he started flying?
Answer: His parents, brothers and sister flew around him, calling excitedly and encouraging him. They celebrated his successful first flight.
17. What lesson does the story “His First Flight” teach us?
Answer: The story teaches us that fear often prevents us from discovering our true abilities. Courage, encouragement and the willingness to try can help us overcome fear and gain confidence.
It also shows that sometimes a difficult situation can push us to take the first step towards success.
18. What is the central theme of “His First Flight”?
Answer: The central theme is the conquest of fear through courage, need and experience. The young seagull is physically capable of flying from the beginning, but fear stops him. Once he takes the first step, he discovers his hidden ability.
19. Why did the young seagull’s parents leave him without food?
Answer: They deliberately stopped feeding him because they wanted him to become hungry enough to leave the ledge and learn to fly. Their action was meant to make him independent.
20. How is hunger important in the story?
Answer: Hunger becomes the force that finally defeats the seagull’s fear. He is so desperate for food that he forgets his fear and jumps towards his mother. That jump leads to his first successful flight.
Long Answer Questions
21. Describe the young seagull’s first flight.
Answer: The young seagull was afraid to fly because he believed his wings would not support him. His brothers and sister had already flown away, but he remained alone on the ledge.
His parents tried to encourage him, but he refused to move. They then stopped giving him food. After being hungry for a long time, he saw his mother approaching with a piece of fish. She stopped just beyond his reach.
Unable to control his hunger, the seagull jumped towards the food and fell into space. At first, he was terrified. Then his wings spread naturally and the wind lifted him. He realised that he could fly.
His fear disappeared, and he began to fly confidently. His family flew around him joyfully. Thus, hunger and necessity helped him overcome his fear and discover his ability.
22. How did the young seagull’s family help him become independent?
Answer: The young seagull’s family understood that he was physically capable of flying but lacked confidence. His parents first encouraged and called him to fly. His brothers and sister also demonstrated that flying was possible.
When encouragement failed, his parents stopped bringing him food. His mother finally used a clever method by bringing a piece of fish close to him but keeping it just beyond his reach.
His hunger forced him to jump from the ledge. Once in the air, he discovered that his wings could support him. Thus, his family helped him overcome fear and become independent.
23. “Fear exists mainly in the mind.” Explain with reference to “His First Flight”.
Answer: The young seagull’s fear was not caused by any physical weakness. His wings were strong enough, and even his younger siblings had successfully learned to fly.
Yet he imagined that his wings would fail and that he would fall into the sea. This fear kept him trapped on the ledge.
When hunger finally forced him to jump, his wings worked naturally. He immediately discovered that he could fly. Thus, the story shows that fear can exist mainly in our thoughts and may disappear once we find the courage to act.
Passage-Based Multiple Choice Questions
Passage – I
1. Why was the young seagull alone on the ledge?
(a) He was ill
(b) He was guarding the nest
(c) He was afraid to fly
(d) He was sleeping
Answer: (c) He was afraid to fly
2. When did the young seagull become frightened?
(a) When he reached the brink of the ledge
(b) When his mother came near
(c) When he saw his brother
(d) When the sun rose
Answer: (a) When he reached the brink of the ledge
3. What did the young seagull fear about his wings?
(a) They were too large
(b) They would not support him
(c) They were injured
(d) They were too short
Answer: (b) They would not support him
4. How did his brothers and sister fly away?
(a) By running into the sea
(b) By flapping their wings
(c) By jumping onto another rock
(d) By following their parents on foot
Answer: (b) By flapping their wings
Passage – II
5. What faced south?
(a) The sun
(b) The ledge
(c) The sea
(d) The sky
Answer: (b) The ledge
6. Why was the young seagull feeling hungry?
(a) He had not eaten since the previous night
(b) He had been flying all day
(c) He had lost his food
(d) His food had fallen into the sea
Answer: (a) He had not eaten since the previous night
7. What did the young seagull pretend to do?
(a) Fly
(b) Sleep
(c) Eat
(d) Cry
Answer: (b) Sleep
8. Who was watching the young seagull?
(a) His father
(b) His brother
(c) His sister
(d) His mother
Answer: (d) His mother
Passage – III
9. How did the young seagull fall into space?
(a) Silently
(b) With a loud scream
(c) Happily
(d) Without fear
Answer: (b) With a loud scream
10. What caused the young seagull’s “monstrous terror”?
(a) He thought he might fall and die
(b) He saw another bird
(c) His mother disappeared
(d) The wind stopped
Answer: (a) He thought he might fall and die
11. What happened to his wings after he fell?
(a) They remained closed
(b) They spread out naturally
(c) They became weak
(d) They stopped moving
Answer: (b) They spread out naturally
12. What happened when the seagull realised that his wings supported him?
(a) He became more frightened
(b) He stopped moving
(c) He gradually began to fly
(d) He returned immediately to the ledge
Answer: (c) He gradually began to fly
Human Generate Question Answer
Thinking about the Text
1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first step?
Ans: The young seagull was afraid to fly because he lacked confidence in his wings. Looking at the vast expanse of the sea stretching beneath the cliff, he was certain that his wings would never support him and that he would fall and drown.
Universal Fear: Yes, it is natural for most young birds to feel a sense of hesitation during their first flight. While some birds might be naturally more timid than others, the first leap into the unknown is a challenge for all.
Human Parallel: Similarly, a human baby finds it a huge challenge to take their first step. They often stumble or fall, and it takes several attempts and parental encouragement to build the balance and confidence required to walk.
2. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Ans: This suggests that the young seagull was extremely hungry, having eaten nothing for twenty-four hours. His hunger had reached a point where it overpowered his fear. When he saw his mother flying toward him with a piece of fish in her beak, the “sight of the food” made him lose his inhibition. When she halted just out of reach, his desperate hunger compelled him to dive at the fish, accidentally launching himself into the air and forcing him to fly for the first time.
3. “They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
Ans: The seagull’s parents threatened and cajoled (persuaded) him because they knew that flying was essential for his survival. If he did not learn to fly, he would be unable to hunt for food and would eventually starve to death on the ledge. They tried to “starve him out” to motivate him, as their previous attempts at gentle encouragement had failed due to his deep-seated fear.
4. Have you ever had a similar experience where your parents encouraged you to do something that you were too scared to try?
Ans: Yes, I had a similar experience when I was learning to ride a bicycle in Class 3. Initially, I fell down several times, which created a strong fear of cycling in my mind. No amount of cajoling could convince me to try again until my father took a different approach. He took me to a small slope (mound) near our village. He had me sit on the cycle, keep my hands on the handle, and feet on the pedals, and let the cycle glide down. The thrill of the movement helped me forget my fear and built my confidence. After a few more practice sessions with his support, I successfully learned to ride.
5. In the case of a bird, flying seems a natural act. In the example of the bicycle, was your success guaranteed, or was it important for you to try regardless of the possibility of failure?
Ans: While flying is a biological instinct for a bird, learning a skill like cycling is not guaranteed. However, it was crucial for me to try regardless of the possibility of failure. Without the willingness to fail, I would never have gained the confidence to succeed. While success is never 100% guaranteed at the start, it becomes “assured” once a person combines determination with consistent practice. As the saying goes, “Practice makes a man perfect,” and the seagull’s story proves that sometimes we need a little “push” to discover our own strength.
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