Comprehension Check – I
Question 1: His First
Flight Thinking about the Text
Flight Thinking about the Text
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 steps?
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?
2. “The
sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled
the young seagull to finally fly?
sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled
the young seagull to finally fly?
3. “They
were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and
mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and
mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
4. Have you ever
had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something?
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.
too scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.
5. 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?
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 1:
1. The young
seagull was all alone on the ledge and afraid to fly because it was its first
flight. Doing something for the first time is a challenging task in itself for
anyone. Therefore, all young birds must be afraid to make their first flights
the same way a human baby would finds it challenging to take its first step.
seagull was all alone on the ledge and afraid to fly because it was its first
flight. Doing something for the first time is a challenging task in itself for
anyone. Therefore, all young birds must be afraid to make their first flights
the same way a human baby would finds it challenging to take its first step.
2. The
young seagull was very hungry. The hunger ultimately compelled the young
seagull to make its first flight. He saw its mother tearing at a piece of fish
that lay at her feet and its hunger only intensified. It cried to its mother,
begging her to get some food. Whenever its mother came towards it with some
food in her beak, the young seagull screamed with joy and anticipation, but she
stopped midway. The young seagull wondered why she did not come nearer. Unable
to resist or control its hunger any longer, it dived at the food in its
mother’s beak. For that moment, his hunger ha d overpowered the fear of the
great expanse of sea beneath the cliff. Finally, this plunge was followed by
the natural reaction of its body, which was to fly.
young seagull was very hungry. The hunger ultimately compelled the young
seagull to make its first flight. He saw its mother tearing at a piece of fish
that lay at her feet and its hunger only intensified. It cried to its mother,
begging her to get some food. Whenever its mother came towards it with some
food in her beak, the young seagull screamed with joy and anticipation, but she
stopped midway. The young seagull wondered why she did not come nearer. Unable
to resist or control its hunger any longer, it dived at the food in its
mother’s beak. For that moment, his hunger ha d overpowered the fear of the
great expanse of sea beneath the cliff. Finally, this plunge was followed by
the natural reaction of its body, which was to fly.
3. The
young seagull was frightened. It was afraid to fly. Even though it saw its
parents helping and teaching its brothers and sisters flying, it could never
gather enough courage to make the first flight. This was the reason why its
father and mother were calling to it shrilly and scolding it. They threatened
to let it starve on its ledge if it did not fly. They did so because they
wanted it to leave its fear behind and learn the art of flying.
young seagull was frightened. It was afraid to fly. Even though it saw its
parents helping and teaching its brothers and sisters flying, it could never
gather enough courage to make the first flight. This was the reason why its
father and mother were calling to it shrilly and scolding it. They threatened
to let it starve on its ledge if it did not fly. They did so because they
wanted it to leave its fear behind and learn the art of flying.
4. One feels
scared in learning any adventurous activity. It is because one has never come
across such thing earlier. In learning one requires skill. During my childhood,
I was much afraid to swim in the river. Though my elder brother tried to
encourage me time and again. We both went to the river and he taught me how to
move the legs and push the water through the hands by keeping mouth above the
water level. In the beginning, I failed to do but gradually after day’s
practice I became perfect in it.
scared in learning any adventurous activity. It is because one has never come
across such thing earlier. In learning one requires skill. During my childhood,
I was much afraid to swim in the river. Though my elder brother tried to
encourage me time and again. We both went to the river and he taught me how to
move the legs and push the water through the hands by keeping mouth above the
water level. In the beginning, I failed to do but gradually after day’s
practice I became perfect in it.
5. A bird
flying is natural as well as taught to the young ones by their parents or their
elder ones. So, one has to learn it through some of the properties which m ay
breed in them naturally. Without any attempt and learning, nothing comes
automatically. But it can be concluded that it should succeed. Our success was
never guaranteed until to try again and again. In some cases, all results may
not be favorable. But it is always essential to practice, try and put every
efforts to get success.
flying is natural as well as taught to the young ones by their parents or their
elder ones. So, one has to learn it through some of the properties which m ay
breed in them naturally. Without any attempt and learning, nothing comes
automatically. But it can be concluded that it should succeed. Our success was
never guaranteed until to try again and again. In some cases, all results may
not be favorable. But it is always essential to practice, try and put every
efforts to get success.