“His First Flight” NCERT Class 10 English Practice competency-based questions like Extracts based objective and MCQs given here would help students prepare according to the latest syllabus for Class 10 Board Exams. Click here for more study resources.
Extract-Based Questions
1. Read the following extract from “His First Flight” and answer the questions that follow:
“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.”
1. Why was the young seagull alone on the ledge?
2. What did the young seagull do when he attempted to fly?
3. What emotion did the young seagull feel when he tried to fly?
- A) Excitement
- B) Fear
- C) Joy
- D) Anger
4. What was the young seagull’s immediate reaction when he reached the brink of the ledge?
- A) He jumped off immediately.
- B) He ran back to the hole under the ledge.
- C) He flew with his siblings.
- D) He called for his parents.
Answers:
- Because his siblings had already flown away the day before.
- He took a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings.
- B) Fear
- B) He ran back to the hole under the ledge.
2. Read the following extract from “His First Flight” and answer the questions that follow:
“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.”
1. How did the young seagull stand on the brink of the ledge?
2. What did the young seagull pretend to do?
3. Why did the young seagull pretend to be falling asleep?
- A) He was actually tired.
- B) He was trying to avoid attention.
- C) He was practicing a new skill.
- D) He wanted to show off to his siblings.
4. Which leg did the young seagull hide under his wing?
- A) Left leg
- B) Right leg
- C) Both legs
- D) Neither leg
Answers:
- He stood on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing.
- He pretended to be falling asleep
- B) He was trying to avoid attention.
- A) Left leg
3. Read the following extract from “His First Flight” and answer the questions that follow:
“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.”
1. What did the young seagull feel in the next moment?
2. What sensation did the young seagull experience against his wings?
3. What did the young seagull notice about his wings while flying?
- A) They were flapping uncontrollably.
- B) They were cutting through the air.
- C) They were too weak.
- D) They were heavy.
4. What direction did the wind rush against the young seagull?
- A) Against his back
- B) Against his feet
- C) Against his breast feathers and under his stomach
- D) Against his head
Answers:
- He felt his wings spread outwards
- He felt the wind rushing against his wings.
- B) They were cutting through the air.
- C) Against his breast feathers and under his stomach
4. Read the following extract from “His First Flight” and answer the questions that follow:
“He was floating on it, and around him, his family was screaming, praising him, and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish.”
1. What was the young seagull floating on?
2. How did the young seagull’s family react to his first flight?
3. What did the young seagull’s family offer him as a reward?
- A) Pieces of bread
- B) Scraps of dog-fish
- C) Small insects
- D) Seeds
4. How did the young seagull feel while floating on the sea?
- A) Frightened
- B) Exhausted but happy
- C) Angry
- D) Indifferent
Answers:
- He was floating on the sea.
- They were screaming, praising him, and offering him scraps of dog-fish.
- B) Scraps of dog-fish
- B) Exhausted but happy
Extra Questions for Practice
Q,1. Describe the young seagull’s emotions and actions as he watched his family from the ledge.
Answer: The young seagull felt afraid and insecure. He watched his family with envy and frustration as they flew and found food. His fear of flying made him feel isolated and left out.
Q.2. Explain how the young seagull overcame his fear and what this suggests about the importance of facing one’s fears.
Answer: The young seagull overcame his fear when hunger drove him to dive for the fish his mother offered. This suggests that sometimes extreme necessity or a strong motivation can help overcome fears, and facing fears is crucial for growth and survival.
Q.3. What can be inferred about the role of the seagull’s parents in his learning to fly?
Answer: The seagull’s parents played a critical role by both encouraging and challenging him. Their actions, including threatening to let him starve and enticing him with food, pushed him to take the leap and learn to fly.
Q.4. How does the young seagull’s first flight symbolize a rite of passage or a coming-of-age moment?
Answer: The young seagull’s first flight represents his transition from dependence to independence. It symbolizes overcoming fears and taking on new responsibilities, marking a significant step in his growth and development.
Q.5. Think of a time when you were afraid to try something new. How did you overcome your fear?
Answer: (Personal response will vary. Example: I was afraid to try swimming, but with my parents’ encouragement and practice, I gradually built confidence and learned to swim.)
Q.6. How important do you think it is for parents to push their children to try new things? Explain your answer with examples from your own life or observations.
Answer: (Personal response will vary. Example: It is important for parents to encourage their children to try new things because it helps them grow and learn. For instance, my parents encouraged me to join a music class, which helped me discover my passion for playing the guitar.)
