Chapter 3: Two Stories about FlyingClass 10 English — summary, notes, extra questions & NCERT solutions

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The story in short

This chapter contains two short stories about flight and the courage needed to overcome fear. In the first, “His First Flight,” a young seagull is too afraid to fly and is left alone on a ledge while his family soars over the sea. Driven by hunger, he finally dives off the cliff when his mother tempts him with food, and to his joy he discovers that he can fly. The story shows that fear can be conquered when one is forced to act and that confidence comes through trying. In the second, “The Black Aeroplane,” a pilot flying to England through a clear night suddenly enters a strange storm cloud and loses his way, with his compass and radio failing. A mysterious black aeroplane appears and guides him safely to a runway, but when he lands he learns that no other plane was flying that night. Both stories celebrate courage, the help that comes in moments of crisis, and the mystery of survival.

The story in 6 beats

1. 1A young seagull is afraid to fly, so his family leaves him alone on the ledge.
2. 2Hungry and desperate, he runs toward his mother’s food, falls outward, and then begins to fly.
3. 3He glides, dives, and screams with joy as his family circles him over the sea.
4. 4In the second story, a pilot flies from Paris to England on a clear night with confidence.
5. 5He enters a huge storm cloud, and his compass and radio stop working as he gets lost.
6. 6A mysterious black aeroplane guides him to safety, but the control room says no other plane was there.

Characters & key ideas

Word meanings · शब्दार्थ

Extra questions & answers (board-style)

Before You Read

His First Flight — Thinking about the Text

His First Flight — Speaking

His First Flight — Writing

The Black Aeroplane — Thinking about the Text

The Black Aeroplane — Thinking about Language: Meanings of “black”

The Black Aeroplane — Thinking about Language: Phrases with “fly”

The Black Aeroplane — Thinking about Language: Words related to flying

The Black Aeroplane — Writing

The Black Aeroplane — Further Discussion

How to Tell Wild Animals — Thinking about the Poem

The Ball Poem — Thinking about the Poem

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