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Part I: "His First Flight"
This story revolves around a young seagull who is hesitant to take his inaugural flight. Despite his family's encouragement and witnessing his siblings fly, his fear of falling keeps him grounded. His family resorts to leaving him alone on the ledge, hoping hunger will motivate him. When his mother, carrying a fish, approaches but stops just out of reach, his desperation leads him to dive towards her, inadvertently initiating his first flight. Overcoming his fear, he experiences the exhilaration of flying and is joyfully joined by his family.
Part II: "Black Aeroplane"
In this narrative, a pilot is flying from Paris to London and is eager to reunite with his family. Encountering a massive storm that obscures all visibility and with failing instruments, he becomes disoriented and fears for his life. Suddenly, a mysterious black aeroplane appears beside him, and its pilot gestures for him to follow. The black aeroplane guides him safely through the storm to an airstrip. After landing, he inquires about the other pilot, but the control tower informs him that no other planes were in the sky, leaving the identity of the black aeroplane a mystery.
Exercise Solutions
Thinking About the Text (Page 36)
Question 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?
Answer: The young seagull feared flying because he believed his wings wouldn't support him, leading to a potential fall. It's common for young birds to feel apprehensive about their first flight, though the degree of fear can vary among individuals. Similarly, human babies often face challenges and fears when attempting their first steps, requiring encouragement and support from their parents.
Question 2: "The sight of the food maddened him." What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Answer: The phrase indicates that the young seagull's intense hunger drove him to a desperate state. His mother's act of approaching with food but staying just out of reach compelled him to overcome his fear and take flight in an attempt to reach the sustenance.
Question 3: They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly. Why did the seagull's father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
Answer: The seagull's parents used threats and cajoling to encourage him to fly because they understood that flying was essential for his survival. They wanted him to overcome his fear and become self-reliant in sourcing food.
Question 4: Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something you were scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.
Answer: Personal experiences will vary. Many individuals can recall instances where their parents encouraged them to overcome fears, such as riding a bicycle, swimming, or speaking publicly, leading to personal growth and confidence.
Thinking About the Text (Page 40)
Question 1: "I'll take the risk." What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?
Answer: The risk involves flying through a storm despite the dangers. The narrator takes it due to his eagerness to reach home and see his family, prioritizing personal desires over safety.
Question 2: Describe the narrator's experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.
Answer: As the narrator entered the storm, he couldn't see anything outside the plane, and his compass and other instruments malfunctioned. He felt lost and fearful, with dwindling fuel adding to his anxiety.
Question 3: Why does the narrator say, "I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota..."?
Answer: The narrator felt immense relief upon landing safely after the harrowing experience. Walking away from the old Dakota symbolized his gratitude for surviving the ordeal.
Question 4: What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?
Answer: The woman was puzzled because the narrator mentioned being guided by another pilot in a black aeroplane, yet no other aircraft were reported in the sky during that time.
Question 5: Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.
Answer: The identity of the helper remains a mystery. It could be interpreted as a figment of the narrator's imagination, a supernatural intervention, or an unexplained phenomenon. The lack of evidence of another plane leaves the question open-ended.