His First Flight Class 10 Worksheet with Answers
Why does the young seagull hesitate when his siblings can already fly? What finally makes him leave the ledge? Use the His First Flight Class 10 worksheet with answers to practise explaining fear, motivation and growing confidence through evidence from the story.
Work through the questions before consulting the answers. Focus on the reasons behind each action and the details that show how the young bird’s feelings change.
Develop Your Understanding through Worksheet Practice
“His First Flight” by Liam O’Flaherty is the first story in “Two Stories About Flying” in the CBSE Class 10 English textbook First Flight. Its simple situation offers opportunities for close reading, character analysis and thoughtful interpretation.
This worksheet follows a mixed English practice format, combining short and long-answer work with extract-based questions, objective responses and vocabulary activities. Use these tasks to check both your knowledge of the story and your ability to explain it clearly.
Keep this story separate from “The Black Aeroplane”, the second part of the chapter. Identify the correct characters, setting and events before beginning an answer.
Explain the Young Seagull’s Fear
Questions about the seagull’s hesitation require a distinction between ability and belief. Consider what he fears, what he observes in his siblings and why their success does not immediately convince him.
For a question beginning with “why”, give the reason rather than simply repeating that he refuses to fly. For an inference question, explain what his hesitation reveals about his confidence.
A balanced character answer should recognise that the bird changes during the story. Describing him only as fearful misses the development that gives the first flight its significance.
Practice Prompt: Support an Inference
Question: How does the young seagull’s behaviour show that his main difficulty is a lack of confidence?
Answer approach: Connect his doubts about his wings with the successful flights of his siblings. Explain how his own later experience challenges his earlier belief. Use the contrast to support your interpretation.
Read Extracts for Actions, Feelings and Clues
When answering passage-based questions, identify the stage of the story first. Is the young seagull hesitating on the ledge, watching his family, reaching for food or discovering flight?
Then examine the words and actions that reveal his state of mind. Distinguish a feeling named directly in the passage from one you infer through behaviour.
For extract-based MCQs, compare all the options before choosing. A familiar statement about the story may still be wrong for the particular extract. For True/False and fill-in-the-blank tasks, check the exact detail and the wording of the sentence.
A Routine for Extract-Based Answers
- Locate the passage within the story.
- Identify the bird or family member being discussed.
- Underline the action or expression relevant to the question.
- Write a direct answer supported by that detail.
- Check that you have not added information the passage does not support.
For word meanings and synonyms, choose a meaning that fits the sentence and its emotional context.
Analyse the Mother’s Strategy
The mother’s behaviour offers useful material for questions about motivation and parental guidance. Explain what she does, how the young seagull responds and why her action creates a turning point.
If asked whether she appears harsh or helpful, build your judgement from the story. Consider her purpose and the outcome rather than deciding from one isolated action.
Interpretation questions can allow more than one reasoned viewpoint. A convincing response acknowledges the bird’s distress while explaining how the episode leads him towards independence.
Trace the Change from Fear to Confidence
Comparison questions often require you to contrast the young seagull before and after his first flight. Organise the answer around changes in thought, feeling and action.
Explain the sequence carefully: the immediate motivation to leave the ledge, the initial reaction and the discovery that his wings can support him. Avoid suggesting that he becomes confident before he has attempted flight.
When discussing the family’s response, connect it with the importance of the achievement. This helps turn a list of events into an explanation of development.
| Practice Area | Skill Developed | Answer-Writing Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Short comprehension questions | Accurate selection of details | Answer the specific question without retelling the story. |
| Extract-based objective questions | Close reading | Match each response with evidence in the passage. |
| Character and motivation questions | Inference and explanation | Connect actions with reasons and qualities. |
| Vocabulary activities | Meaning in context | Check that the chosen meaning fits the sentence. |
| Before-and-after comparisons | Understanding development | Show how experience changes the bird’s attitude. |
| Long and value-based answers | Supported interpretation | Develop a clear viewpoint using relevant events. |
Write Focused Short and Long Answers
A short answer should begin with the main point, include a useful detail and explain its relevance. Follow the word limit stated in the question. Choose precise words instead of repeating that the bird is afraid several times.
For longer responses, plan two or three connected points. A character sketch can follow the movement from hesitation to confidence. An answer about family support can examine encouragement, challenge and celebration.
Use cause-and-effect language where appropriate. Words such as “because”, “therefore” and “as a result” help show how one action leads to another when the connection is supported by the text.
Keep Personal Connections Relevant
If a question asks you to connect the story with learning a new skill, give a brief example and explain the link. The relevant idea is discovering ability through an attempt. Keep the response grounded in the story and the situation described in the question.
Use the Answers for Meaningful Self-Checking
Complete the worksheet independently, then compare your responses with the answers. Your wording can differ if the meaning is accurate and your explanation addresses the question.
- Check sequence: have you placed the actions in the correct order?
- Check motivation: have you explained why the action happens?
- Check evidence: does your character judgement have support?
- Check expression: are your sentences clear and complete?
Rewrite an incomplete answer after checking it, then attempt it again later without looking. Teachers can use the worksheet for homework, classroom practice or discussion followed by individual written responses.
Related Revision and Practice
Review the chapter through Two Stories About Flying questions and answers, focusing on the “His First Flight” section before returning to this worksheet.
For another perspective on courage, practise with the Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 worksheet.
Frequently Asked Questions About His First Flight
Who wrote His First Flight?
Liam O’Flaherty wrote “His First Flight”. It appears as Part I of “Two Stories About Flying” in First Flight.
Why was the young seagull afraid to fly?
He feared that his wings would not support him over the sea. Although his siblings had flown, he lacked confidence in his own ability.
How did the family try to encourage him?
They called to him, challenged his hesitation and demonstrated flight. Their efforts did not initially overcome his fear.
Why did the mother stop with the fish beyond his reach?
She used his hunger to prompt him to leave the ledge. Reaching for the food led him to attempt the movement he had been avoiding.
What made him take the first plunge?
His intense hunger drove him to dive towards the fish held by his mother. The desire for food temporarily outweighed his fear.
How did his feelings change during the first flight?
Initial terror gave way to confidence and enjoyment when he discovered that his wings supported him. Experience challenged his earlier doubts.
Why was he afraid to land on the sea?
He feared sinking when his feet touched the water. He then discovered that his body could float, overcoming another uncertainty through experience.
What is the main message of His First Flight?
The story suggests that fear and self-doubt can hide abilities that become apparent through action. Guidance, motivation and experience help the young seagull develop confidence and independence.
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