Summary (His First Flight)
The story is about a young seagull who is alone on a ledge and afraid to fly. His family tries to encourage him to fly, but he is too scared. Eventually, he gets so hungry that he jumps off the ledge and starts to fly. He discovers that flying is not as difficult as he thought and joins his family in the air.
Summary in 300 words (His First Flight)
The story “His First Flight” is about a young seagull who is alone on a ledge and afraid to fly. His brothers and sister have already flown away and he feels certain that his wings will not support him. His family tries to encourage him to fly by calling to him and threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flies away. But he is too scared and cannot move. The next day, all day long, he watches his family flying around, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish. He even sees his older brother catch his first herring and eat it. His family even walks about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff, taunting him with his cowardice. He is getting very hungry and finally, he steps out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closes one eye, then the other and pretends to be falling asleep. Still, no one notices him. Then he sees his mother with a piece of fish and begs her to bring him some food. After a moment, she flies over to him with the fish, but when she is just opposite to him, she stops, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak. He jumps and falls outwards and downwards into space. He feels his wings spread outwards, the wind rushes against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and against his wings. He is no longer falling headlong, he is soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He is not afraid anymore, he just feels a bit dizzy. He flaps his wings once and he soars upwards. His family joins him, he forgets that he could not always fly and he commends himself to dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly. He joins his family and is happy to be able to fly.
Questions From “His First Flight”
1 Question. 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 to fly because he felt that his wings would not support him and that the expanse of sea beneath him was too far down. It is possible that all young birds may be afraid to make their first flight, but some birds may be more timid than others. Similarly, a human baby may also find it challenging to take its first steps.
2.Question. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?
Answer; The sight of the food maddened him because he was extremely hungry. This suggests that his hunger overcame his fear and compelled him to finally fly.
3.Question. “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 father and mother threatened him and cajoled him to fly because they wanted him to learn how to fly and be able to survive on his own.
4.Question. 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; I am a language model AI, I don’t have personal experiences, but it is possible that some people may have had a similar experience where their parents encouraged them to do something that they were too scared to try. For example, learning to swim, ride a bike, or climb a high tree.
5.Question. 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; In the case of a bird flying, it seems like a natural act, and a foregone conclusion that it should succeed. However, in other examples, success may not be guaranteed, and it is important to try regardless of the possibility of failure. This is because trying and attempting to do something, even if it may be difficult or scary, can lead to personal growth and development.
Prose Passage (His First Flight)
The sky was a deep shade of purple as the sun set behind the mountains. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling like music to the ears. The air was cool and crisp, and the scent of pine filled the air. As I walked along the dirt path, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of tranquility wash over me. I took a deep breath and let the serenity of the forest envelop me. I paused to take in my surroundings, admiring the tall trees that stretched up to the sky and the wildflowers that dotted the landscape. The sound of a nearby stream added to the peaceful ambiance. I continued on my walk, enjoying the beauty of nature and feeling grateful for this moment of tranquility.
Multiple Choice Questions:
1.Questions. What color was the sky at sunset?
a) Blue
b) Purple
c) Pink
d) Orange
Ans: b) Purple
2.Questions. What is the atmosphere described in the passage?
a) Busy
b) Calm
c) Noisy
d) Crowded
Ans: b) Calm
3.Questions. What is the protagonist doing in the passage?
a) Running
b) Sleeping
c) Sitting
d) Walking
Ans: d) Walking
4.Questions. What is the sound mentioned in the passage?
a) Traffic
b) Music
c) Stream
d) Children playing
Ans: c) Stream
5.Questions. How does the protagonist feel while walking in the forest?
a) Tired
b) Angry
c) Tranquil
d) Frustrated
Ans: c) Tranquil
Passage -02 (His First Flight)
Passage: The sky was a brilliant shade of blue as the sun rose above the horizon. The grass was dewy with morning dew and the birds sang sweetly in the trees. The air was fresh and cool, and the scent of blooming flowers filled the air. As I strolled along the cobblestone path, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder wash over me. I took a deep breath and let the beauty of the garden envelop me. I paused to take in my surroundings, admiring the colorful flowers that bloomed in the beds and the tall trees that provided shade. The sound of a nearby fountain added to the peaceful ambiance. I continued on my walk, enjoying the beauty of nature and feeling grateful for this moment of serenity.
1.Questions: What color was the sky at sunrise?
a) Black
b) Blue
c) Red
d) Green
Ans: b) Blue
2.Questions: What is the atmosphere described in the passage?
a) Loud
b) Quiet
c) Dark
d) Bright
Ans: b) Quiet
3.Questions: What is the protagonist doing in the passage?
a) Sitting
b) Strolling
c) Jogging
d) Dancing
Ans: b) Strolling
4.Questions: What is the sound mentioned in the passage?
a) Music
b) Children playing
c) Traffic
d) Fountain
Ans: d) Fountain
5.Questions: How does the protagonist feel while walking in the garden?
a) Bored
b) Tired
c) Wonder
d) Angry
Ans: c) Wonder
Passage-03 (His First Flight)
Passage: The sky was a deep shade of orange as the sun set behind the hills. The leaves of the trees were turning golden and red, signaling the arrival of fall. The air was cool and crisp, and the scent of wood smoke filled the air. As I walked along the gravel path, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over me. I took a deep breath and let the serenity of the forest envelop me. I paused to take in my surroundings, admiring the tall trees that stretched up to the sky and the colorful leaves that covered the ground. The sound of a nearby stream added to the peaceful ambiance. I continued on my walk, enjoying the beauty of nature and feeling grateful for this moment of tranquility.
1.Questions: What color was the sky at sunset?
a) Blue
b) Purple
c) Orange
d) Pink
Ans: c) Orange
2.Questions: What is the atmosphere described in the passage?
a) Busy
b) Calm
c) Noisy
d) Crowded
Ans: b) Calm
3.Questions: What is the protagonist doing in the passage?
a) Running
b) Sleeping
c) Sitting
d) Walking
Ans: d) Walking
4.Questions: What is the sound mentioned in the passage?
a) Traffic
b) Music
c) Stream
d) Children playing
Ans: c) Stream
5.Questions: What season is described in the passage?
a) Spring
b) Summer
c) Fall
d) Winter
Ans: c) Fall
6.Questions: What made the young seagull afraid to fly?
a) The great expanse of sea beneath him
b) The fear of falling
c) The fear of his wings not supporting him
d) All of the above
Ans: d) All of the above
7.Questions: How did the young seagull’s family react to his fear of flying?
a) They encouraged him
b) They ignored him
c) They threatened him and upbraided him
d) They praised him
Ans: c) They threatened him and upbraided him
8.Questions: What did the young seagull see his family doing before he flew?
a) Eating fish
b) Taunting him
c) Perfecting their flying skills
d) Both b and c
Ans: d) Both b and c
9.Questions: What did the young seagull’s mother do that made him attempt to fly?
a) She flew away
b) She taunted him
c) She brought him food
d) She ignored him
Ans: c) She brought him food
10.Questions: How does the young seagull feel when he finally flies?
a) Scared
b) Excited
c) Dizzy
d) All of the above
Ans: d) All of the above
11.Questions: What is the young seagull’s family’s reaction when he finally flies?
a) They ignore him
b) They are proud of him
c) They are mad at him
d) They are surprised
Ans: b) They are proud of him
12.Questions: What does the young seagull forget when he finally flies?
a) His fear of flying
b) His family
c) His hunger
d) His past
complete the rest
13.Questions: How long has the young seagull been alone on the ledge before he flies?
a) A few minutes
b) A few hours
c) A day
d) A week
Ans: c) A day
14.Questions: How does the young seagull initially react when his mother brings him food?
a) He ignores it
b) He becomes angry
c) He becomes excited and leans out eagerly
d) He is afraid to leave the ledge
Ans: c) He becomes excited and leans out eagerly
15.Questions: What does the young seagull’s mother do when she is flying towards him with food?
a) She drops the food
b) She flies away
c) She halts and holds the food just out of reach
d) She lands on the ledge next to him
Ans: c) She halts and holds the food just out of reach
16.Questions: What causes the young seagull to finally fly?
a) His hunger
b) His fear of falling
c) His desire to fly
d) His family’s encouragement
Ans: a) His hunger
17.Questions: What is the young seagull’s initial reaction when he starts to fly?
a) He is scared
b) He is excited
c) He is confused
d) He is dizzy
Ans: a) He is scared
18.Questions: How does the young seagull’s mother respond to his first flight?
a) She ignores him
b) She is proud of him
c) She is angry
d) She is surprised
Ans: b) She is proud of him
19.Questions: Where is the young seagull near when he finally flies?
a) The cliff
b) The plateau
c) The sea
d) The sky
Ans: c) The sea
20.Questions: What does the young seagull do when he finally flies?
a) He flies in a straight line
b) He flies in circles
c) He performs aerial maneuvers
d) He flies away from his family
Ans: c) He performs aerial maneuvers
21.Questions: What does the young seagull’s family do when he finally flies?
a) They ignore him
b) They fly around him
c) They leave him alone
d) They attack him
Ans: b) They fly around him
22.Questions: What is the young seagull’s reaction when he finally flies?
a) He is scared
b) He is excited
c) He is confused
d) He is proud
Ans: b) He is excited
23.Questions: How does the young seagull feel after he finally flies?
a) He is relieved
b) He is sad
c) He is proud
d) He is disappointed
Ans: c) He is proud
24.Questions: What is the young seagull’s reaction when his family flies around him?
a) He is scared
b) He is excited
c) He is confused
d) He joins in
Ans: d) He joins in
25.Questions: How does the story of the young seagull’s first flight end?
a) He flies away from his family
b) He never flies again
c) He becomes a skilled flyer
d) He dies
Ans: c) He becomes a skilled flyer
Difficult important words with meaning (His First Flight)
- expanse – an extensive space or area
- skim – move or pass lightly over a surface
- devour – eat hungrily or ravenously
- upbraid – scold or reprimand severely
- preening – the act of grooming oneself by arranging feathers, etc.
- derisively – showing contempt or ridicule
- plaintively – in a pitifully sad and gentle manner
- maddened – drive or force (someone) to a state of frenzied or uncontrollable excitement or anger
- whet – sharpen or make keener
- curvet – a prancing or bounding movement made by a horse
- bank – turn or cause to turn sharply in a particular direction
- shrieking – a sharp, high-pitched cry or noise
- ravenously – extremely hungry
- expanse – an extensive area or space
- brink – the edge of a steep place
- flapped – move (something) up and down or back and forth with a quick motion
- expanse – a wide and open area