Class 10 Chapter 3 Two Stories about Flying Part 1 His First Flight
Q1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
Answer
The young seagull was afraid because he thought his wings were weak and he might fall into the sea. Yes, many young birds hesitate before their first flight, though some are braver. Similarly, a human baby also finds walking difficult at first but learns with courage.
नन्हा सीगल उड़ने से डर रहा था क्योंकि उसे लगा कि उसके पंख कमजोर हैं और वह समुद्र में गिर जाएगा। हाँ, कई नन्हे पक्षी पहली उड़ान से पहले हिचकिचाते हैं, हालांकि कुछ ज्यादा साहसी होते हैं। इसी तरह, एक बच्चा भी चलना कठिन समझता है लेकिन साहस से सीख जाता है।
Q2. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Answer
This shows that hunger grew stronger than his fear. When he saw the food in his mother’s beak, he could not resist. The desire to eat forced him to jump, and in that moment he discovered that he could fly easily.
इसका अर्थ है कि भूख उसके डर से अधिक शक्तिशाली हो गई। जब उसने अपनी माँ की चोंच में खाना देखा, तो वह रुक नहीं सका। खाने की इच्छा ने उसे कूदने पर मजबूर किया और उसी क्षण उसे पता चला कि वह आसानी से उड़ सकता है।
Q3. “They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
Answer
His parents wanted him to overcome his fear and learn to fly. They knew that without flying he could not survive. So they encouraged him lovingly, and also threatened him, to make him realize that he had to trust his wings.
उसके माता-पिता चाहते थे कि वह अपने डर को छोड़कर उड़ना सीख ले। उन्हें पता था कि बिना उड़ान के वह जीवित नहीं रह सकता। इसलिए उन्होंने उसे प्यार से भी बुलाया और कभी धमकाया भी, ताकि वह समझ सके कि उसे अपने पंखों पर विश्वास करना होगा।
Q4. Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something that you were too scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.
Answer
Yes, once I was afraid to ride a bicycle. My parents kept motivating me and held the cycle while I tried. At first, I fell many times, but their encouragement gave me courage. Finally, I learned to ride, just like the young seagull learned to fly.
हाँ, एक बार मुझे साइकिल चलाने से डर लगता था। मेरे माता-पिता ने मुझे लगातार प्रोत्साहित किया और साइकिल पकड़कर साथ दिया। शुरू में मैं कई बार गिरा, लेकिन उनके हौसले ने मुझे साहस दिया। आखिरकार मैंने साइकिल चलाना सीख लिया, जैसे नन्हे सीगल ने उड़ना सीखा।
Q5. In the case of a bird flying, it seems a natural act, and a foregone conclusion that it should succeed. In the examples you have given in answer to the previous question, was your success guaranteed, or was it important for you to try, regardless of a possibility of failure?
Answer
My success was not guaranteed, but it was very important to try. Without trying, I could never have learned. Even though I was afraid of falling, I attempted again and again. Finally, I succeeded, proving that effort is more important than fear of failure.
उत्तर
मेरी सफलता तय नहीं थी, लेकिन कोशिश करना बहुत ज़रूरी था। बिना प्रयास किए मैं कभी नहीं सीख सकता था। हालाँकि मुझे गिरने का डर था, फिर भी मैंने बार-बार कोशिश की। आखिरकार मैं सफल हुआ, जिससे साबित होता है कि प्रयास असफलता के डर से अधिक महत्वपूर्ण है।
Class 10 Chapter 3 Two Stories about Flying Part II: The Black Aeroplane
Q1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Answer
The risk was to fly the aeroplane through the dark storm clouds instead of going back. The narrator took this risk because he wanted to reach his home in time to enjoy dinner with his family. His longing for home was stronger than his fear.
जोख़िम था तूफ़ानी बादलों के बीच से हवाई जहाज़ उड़ाना, बजाय लौटने के। लेखक ने यह जोखिम इसलिए लिया क्योंकि वह समय पर घर पहुँचकर अपने परिवार के साथ रात का भोजन करना चाहता था। घर पहुँचने की इच्छा उसके डर से ज़्यादा मज़बूत थी।
Q2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Answer
As he flew into the storm, everything went dark. The plane jumped and twisted in the clouds. His compass and radio stopped working. He felt helpless and feared he would be lost in the storm. Suddenly, he saw another aeroplane guiding him.
जब वह तूफ़ान में घुसा तो चारों ओर अंधेरा हो गया। विमान बादलों में उछलने और मुड़ने लगा। उसका कम्पास और रेडियो बंद हो गए। वह असहाय महसूस कर रहा था और डर गया कि कहीं खो न जाए। तभी उसे एक और हवाई जहाज़ दिखाई दिया जो उसका मार्ग दिखा रहा था।
Q3. Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?
Answer
The narrator was relieved to land safely after such a dangerous flight. He was thankful that he was alive and out of danger. That is why he says he was not sorry to leave the old Dakota, because safety mattered more than the aeroplane.
लेखक खतरनाक उड़ान के बाद सुरक्षित उतरकर बहुत राहत महसूस कर रहा था। वह इस बात से आभारी था कि वह ज़िंदा और सुरक्षित है। इसलिए उसने कहा कि उसे पुराने डकोटा से दूर जाने का दुख नहीं था, क्योंकि उसकी सुरक्षा हवाई जहाज़ से अधिक महत्वपूर्ण थी।
Q4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
Answer
The woman at the control centre looked strangely at the narrator because no other aeroplane had been seen on the radar that night. The narrator insisted that another plane had guided him, but according to her, his was the only one flying.
कंट्रोल सेंटर की महिला ने लेखक को अजीब नज़र से देखा क्योंकि उस रात रडार पर कोई और हवाई जहाज़ दिखाई ही नहीं दिया था। लेखक बार-बार कह रहा था कि एक दूसरा जहाज़ उसे मार्ग दिखा रहा था, लेकिन उसके अनुसार उस समय केवल वही विमान उड़ रहा था।
Q5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
Answer
It seems that a mysterious pilot in the black aeroplane helped the narrator. Some think it was just his imagination or divine help. But the narrator truly believed that someone guided him through the storm, otherwise he could never have landed safely.
ऐसा लगता है कि काले हवाई जहाज़ का रहस्यमयी पायलट ही लेखक की मदद कर रहा था। कुछ लोग मानते हैं कि यह उसकी कल्पना या ईश्वरीय सहायता थी। लेकिन लेखक को पूरा विश्वास था कि किसी ने ही उसे तूफ़ान से निकालकर सुरक्षित उतारा, वरना वह कभी बच नहीं पाता।