CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 3: Two Stories About Flying NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This chapter, 'Two Stories About Flying,' delves into two distinct narratives: 'His First Flight,' which explores a young seagull's struggle with and eventual mastery of flying, and 'The Black Aeroplane,' a mysterious tale of an unexpected encounter. The NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English provide detailed answers to questions based on these stories, focusing on character motivations, plot development, and thematic elements. Students will analyze the young seagull's fear, his family's role in encouraging him, and the pivotal moment he overcomes his hesitation. For 'The Black Aeroplane,' the solutions help in understanding the narrative's sequence, the pilot's predicament, and the ambiguous nature of the mysterious plane. These solutions are designed to aid students in comprehending the literary aspects of both stories, improving their reading comprehension skills, and preparing effectively for their CBSE examinations by offering clear, concise explanations and answers.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 10
SubjectWords and Expressions
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 3

Chapter summary

Chapter 3 of Class 10 English, 'Two Stories About Flying,' presents two engaging narratives. The NCERT Solutions cover 'His First Flight,' detailing a young seagull's journey from fear to courage in learning to fly, and 'The Black Aeroplane,' a suspenseful story about a pilot's mysterious experience. The solutions focus on comprehension, character analysis, and plot points, helping students understand the themes of overcoming fear and the unexplained.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the narrative structure and themes of 'His First Flight'.
  • Analyze the psychological state and motivations of the young seagull.
  • Explain the role of family and hunger in overcoming fear.
  • Comprehend the plot and mystery elements of 'The Black Aeroplane'.
  • Identify and interpret the events and characters in both stories.
  • Develop critical thinking skills by answering comprehension questions.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Understanding 'His First Flight'
  • Young seagull's fear of flying
  • Parental encouragement and motivation
  • Overcoming fear through hunger
  • Understanding 'The Black Aeroplane'
  • Pilot's experience in the storm
  • The mystery of the black aeroplane
  • Character analysis
  • Plot comprehension
  • Literary devices in stories
  • Reading comprehension skills
  • CBSE Class 10 English curriculum

Important topics

  • Analysis of the young seagull's fear and courage
  • The role of instinct and external motivation in 'His First Flight'
  • Plot and mystery in 'The Black Aeroplane'
  • Character development and motivations
  • Comprehension of narrative events

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

The young seagull was afraid of flying because _____.

(a) he felt his wings would not support him

(b) other birds knew to fly very well

(c) the sea was very large

(d) his mother and father threatened him

Solution: The young seagull was afraid of flying because he had a deep-seated fear that his wings were not strong enough to support him in the air. This fear prevented him from taking the leap, even though he desperately wanted to fly and join his family. The correct option is (a).

Question 2

Why did his family taunt him about his cowardice?

(a) He went with his sisters and brothers.

(b) He was not listening to them.

(c) He was not accepting their request to fly with them.

(d) He was not liked by them at all.

Solution: His family taunted him about his cowardice because he was unwilling to take the risk and fly with them. Despite their encouragement and pleas, he remained hesitant on the ledge, which they perceived as a lack of courage. The correct option is (c).

Question 3

How did the young seagull start flying?

(a) His mother showed him the fish and moved away from him to make him fly.

(b) His brothers and sisters trained him to fly.

(c) He was hungry and he moved to fly in search of food.

(d) He did not learn to fly at all.

Solution: The young seagull finally started flying due to a combination of his intense hunger and his mother's clever tactic. His mother dangled a piece of fish before him, and as he lunged towards it, he fell outwards and downwards, instinctively spreading his wings and beginning to fly. The correct option is (a).

Question 4

Which of the following statements is not true of the young seagull?

(a) He was lazy and did not want to fly.

(b) He wanted to fly, but was afraid of flying.

(c) His mother, father, brothers, and sisters helped him to fly.

(d) His hunger made him fly.

Solution: The statement that is not true is (a) 'He was lazy and did not want to fly.' The story clearly indicates that the young seagull desperately wanted to fly and join his family, but his fear was the primary obstacle. His hunger and his family's actions eventually motivated him to overcome this fear.

Question 5

Say whether the following statements about the seagull are true or false.

(a) The young seagull liked to fly with his brothers and sisters. ( )

(b) The young seagull was hungry so he started to fly. ( )

(c) He was scared of flying first. ()

(d) He flew on his own to get the food. ()

Solution:

(a) False. The young seagull was afraid to fly and did not join his brothers and sisters in their first flights.

(b) True. His intense hunger was a significant factor that motivated him to overcome his fear and attempt to fly towards the fish.

(c) True. The story emphasizes his initial paralyzing fear of flying, which he had to overcome.

(d) True. Driven by hunger and his mother's bait, he made his own attempt to fly towards the food, succeeding on his own.

Question 1 (The Black Aeroplane)

The author was flying his old Dakota aeroplane from _____.

(a) France back to England

(b) England back to France

(c) France back to Russia

(d) France back to India

Solution: The author was flying his old Dakota aeroplane from France, heading back towards England. He was eager to reach home and meet his family for breakfast. The correct option is (a).

Question 2 (The Black Aeroplane)

The author knew that he could not fly up and over the storm clouds because _____.
Solution: The author knew he could not fly up and over the storm clouds because his aeroplane was old and he lacked sufficient fuel to navigate such a dangerous weather system. He was already flying through the storm and realized he was lost, making it impossible to ascend above the massive storm clouds. (Note: The source document was incomplete for this question.)

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the reasons for the seagull's fear.
  • Misinterpreting the role of the family in the seagull's first flight.
  • Failing to distinguish between true and false statements about the seagull's actions.
  • Overlooking the mysterious elements in 'The Black Aeroplane'.

Revision tips

  • Reread both stories carefully, paying attention to the details provided in the solutions.
  • Summarize the main events of each story in your own words.
  • Discuss the characters' feelings and motivations with a study partner.
  • Practice answering the true/false and multiple-choice questions to test your understanding.
  • Focus on the explanations provided in the solutions to grasp the underlying concepts.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was the primary reason for the young seagull's initial fear of flying?

Q2. Why did the young seagull's family taunt him?

Q3. Which action by the mother bird ultimately motivated the young seagull to fly?

Q4. Which statement about the young seagull is NOT true?

Q5. Where was the author flying his old Dakota aeroplane from, as mentioned in 'The Black Aeroplane'?

Frequently asked questions

What are the two stories covered in Chapter 3 of Class 10 English?

Chapter 3 covers two stories: 'His First Flight,' about a young seagull learning to fly, and 'The Black Aeroplane,' a mysterious encounter during a flight.

What is the main theme of 'His First Flight'?

The main theme of 'His First Flight' is overcoming fear and hesitation, particularly the fear of the unknown, through courage, instinct, and motivation like hunger.

What is the central mystery in 'The Black Aeroplane'?

The central mystery in 'The Black Aeroplane' is the appearance of a mysterious black aeroplane that guides the author through a dangerous storm, and its pilot remains unidentified.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, step-by-step answers to comprehension questions, helping students understand the stories better, analyze characters and plot, and prepare effectively for their CBSE exams.

Are the questions in the source document about 'The Black Aeroplane' complete?

The provided source document for 'The Black Aeroplane' appears to be incomplete, with only the first question and the beginning of the second question available.

Important links

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