HIS FIRST FLIGHT
Liam O’Flaherty
Answer the following In-Text questions:
- Why did the seagull fail to fly?
Ans. The seagull was afraid that his wings would not support him so he failed to fly.
2. What did the parents do, when the young seagull failed to fly?
Ans. When the young seagull failed to fly, his parents scolded him, and threatened to let him starve on the ledge.
3. What was the first catch of the young seagull’s older brother?
Ans. A herring was the first catch of the young seagull’s older brother.
4. What did the young seagull manage to find in his search for food on the ledge?
Ans. The young seagull managed to find a dried piece of mackerel’s tail and the dried pieces of eggshell.
5. What did the young bird do to seek the attention of his parents?
Ans. The young seagull stood on one leg and pretended to be falling asleep.
6. What made the young seagull go mad?
Ans. The young seagull’s mother was tearing a piece of fish with her beak. The sight of the food made the young seagull go mad.
7. Why did the young bird utter a joyful scream?
Ans. The young bird saw his mother approaching him with food. So, he uttered a joyful scream.
8. Did the mother bird offer any food to the young bird?
Ans. No, the mother bird did not offer any food to the young bird.
9. How did the bird feel when it started flying for the first time?
Ans. When the bird started flying for the first time, a monstrous terror seized him for a moment.
10. What did the young bird’s family do when he started flying?
Ans. The young bird’s family praised and rewarded him by offering scraps of fish.
Answer the following questions in a sentence or two.
Q1. How was the young seagull’s first attempt to fly?
Ans. The young seagull ran forward and attempted to flap his wings but he felt that his wings would not support him.
Q2. How did the parents support and encourage the young seagull’s brothers and sister?
Ans. The young seagull’s parents were teaching his brothers and sister the art of flight. They taught them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish.
Q3. Give an instance that shows the pathetic condition of the young bird.
Ans. When there was not a single scrap of food left on the ledge to eat, the young bird had to eat the pieces of eggshell.
Q4. How did the bird try to reach its parents without having to fly?
Ans. The bird tried to reach its parents by moving northwards along the cliff face without having to fly.
Q5. Do you think that the young seagull’s parents were harsh to him? Why?
Ans. No, the young seagull’s parents were not harsh to him. They wanted him to fly. So they let him starve.
Q6. What prompted the young seagull to fly finally?
Ans. Hunger prompted the young seagull to fly finally.
Q7. What happened to the young seagull when it landed on the green sea?
Ans. When the young seagull landed on the green sea, his legs sank into it. After his belly touched the water, he began to float.
B. Answer each of the following questions in a paragraph of about 100-150 words.
Q1. Describe the struggles underwent by the young seagull to overcome its fear of
flying.
Lesson: His First Flight
Author:Liam O’Flaherty
Theme: Realisation of one’s potential
The young seagull was afraid to fly. So he was alone on the ledge. He ran a little forward to the brink of the ledge. He attempted to flap his wings. Filled with fear, he ran back to the hole under the ledge. The little bird felt that his wings would not support him. He became desperate. The next morning he was hungry. He ate a dried piece of mackerel’s tail. He even gnawed at the dried pieces of eggshell. He tried to find some means of reaching his parents without having to fly. He trotted back and forth from one end to the other end of the ledge. His long gray legs stepped daintily. The precipice and the sea filled him with fear. His mother was tearing a piece of fish. The sight of the food maddened him. He cried at her but she just screamed back mockingly. Suddenly he saw his mother approaching him with food. But she halted, keeping the fish just out of his reach. Maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. A monstrous terror seized him, but the next moment he realized that he was flying. He was born to fly and he had made his first flight.
D. Read the following sentences and change the form of the underlined words as directed.
1. His family was screaming and offering him food. (to adjective)
His screaming family offered him food.
2. The young seagull gave out a loud call. (to adverb)
The young seagull called out loudly.
3. The bird cackled amusedly while flying. (to noun)
The bird cackled in amusement while flying.
4. The depth of the sea from the ledge scared the seagull. (to adjective)
The deep sea scared the seagull on the ledge.
5. The successful flight of the bird was a proud moment for the seagull’s family. (to verb)
It was a proud moment for the seagull’s family when the bird flew successfully.
E. Use the following words to construct meaningful sentences on your own.
1. coward – A coward is afraid to fight for his right.
2. gradual –There is a gradual improvement in his health.
3. praise – The seagull received a lot of praise.
4. courageous – She is a courageous girl.
5. starvation – Many people die of starvation during war.
GRAMMAR
A. Complete these sentences using appropriate modals. The clues in the brackets will help you.
1. When I was a child, I could climb trees easily but now I can’t. (ability in the past)
2. I will win this singing contest. (determination)
3. You should buy this book. It is worth buying. (advice or suggestion)
4. Poongothai can speak several languages. (ability in the present)
5. I swear I will not/won’t tell lies again. (promise)
6. My father used to play badminton in the evenings when he was at college. (past habit)
7. You should do as I say! (command)
8. Could I have another glass of water? (request)
9. Sibi has not practised hard but he may win the race. (possibility)
10. We must preserve our natural resources. (duty)
B. Rewrite the following sentences by rectifying the errors in the use of modals.
1. Would I have your autograph?
May I have your autograph?
2. I can be fifteen next April.
I will be fifteen next April.
3. Take an umbrella. It should rain later.
Take an umbrella. It may rain later.
4. The magistrate ordered that he might pay the fine.
The magistrate ordered that he should pay the fine.
5. Make me a cup of tea, shall you?
Make me a cup of tea, will you?
6. You may speak politely to the elders.
You must speak politely to the elders.
7. You will get your teeth cleaned at least once a year.
You should get your teeth cleaned at least once a year.
8. We could grow vegetables in our kitchen garden but we don’t do it now.
We used to grow vegetables in our kitchen garden but we don’t do it now
9. Must I get your jacket? The weather is cold.
May I get your jacket? The weather is cold.
10. Could the train be on time?
Will the train be on time?
F. Change the following sentences to the other voice.
1. The manager appointed many office assistants.
Many office assistants were appointed by the manager.
2. You are making a cake now.
A cake is being made by you now.
3. That portrait was painted by my grandmother. (Passive)
My grandmother painted that portrait.
4. Malini had bought a colourful hat for her daughter.
A colourful hat had been bought by Malini for her daughter.
5. They have asked me to pay the fine.
I have been asked by them to pay the fine.
6. The militants were being taken to prison by the police. (Passive)
The police were taking the militants to prison.
7. His behaviour vexes me.
I am vexed by his behaviour
8. Rosy will solve the problem.
The problem will be solved by Rosy.
9. Our army has defeated the enemy.
The enemy has been defeated by our army.
10. The salesman answered all the questions patiently.
All the questions were answered by the salesman patiently.
a. Questions beginning with Auxiliary verbs
(e.g.) 1. Did he write a letter? (Active)
Was a letter written by him? (Passive)
2. Is he watching us? (Active)
Are we being watched by him? (Passive)
b. Questions beginning with ‘wh’ words
(e.g.) 1. Who will accept this? (Active)
By whom will this be accepted? (Passive)
2. Who has arranged this meeting? (Active)
By whom has this meeting been arranged? (Passive)
3. When will you finish the building? (Active)
When will the building be finished by you? (Passive)
4. How did they do this? (Active)
How was this done by them? (Passive)
G. Change the following into Passive voice.
1. Please call him at once.
You are requested to call him at once.
2. How did you cross the river?
How was the river crossed by you?
3. No one is borrowing the novels from the library.
The novels are not being borrowed from the library.
4. Will you help me?
Will I be helped by you?
5. Go for a jog early in the morning.
You are advised to go for a jog early in the morning.
6. Why have you left your brother at home?
Why has your brother been left at home by you?
7. Nobody should violate the rules.
The rules should not be violated.
8. Someone has to initiate it immediately.
It has to be initiated immediately.
9. Have you invited Raman to the party?
Has Raman been invited to the party by you?
10. Please do not walk on the grass.
You are requested not to walk on the grass.
11. Cross the busy roads carefully.
You are advised to cross the busy roads carefully.
12. When will you book the tickets to Bengaluru?
When will the tickets be booked to Bengaluru by you?
H. In the following sentences the verbs have two objects namely Direct and Indirect objects. Change each of the following sentences into two passives using direct object as the subject in one and indirect in the other.
1. John gave a bar of chocolate to Jill.
a: Jill was given a bar of chocolate by John
b: A bar of chocolate was given to Jill by John
2. Pragathi lent a pencil to Keerthana.
a. Keerthana was lent a pencil by Pragathi.
b. A pencil was lent to Keerthana by Pragathi.
3. Sudha told the truth to her friend.
a. Her friend was told the truth by Sudha.
b. The truth was told to her friend by Sudha.
4. They offered the job to Venkat.
a. Venkat was offered the job by them
b. the job was offered to Venkat by them.
5. The boss showed the new computer to Kaviya.
a. Kaviya was showed the new computer by the boss.
b. the new computer was showed to Kaviya by the boss.
I. Rewrite the following passage in Passive Voice.
A few days ago, someone stole Ambrose’s motorbike. Ambrose had left it outside his house. He reported the theft to the police. The police told him that they would try to find his motorbike. This morning, they found his motorbike. The police called Ambrose to the police station. The thieves had painted it and then sold it to someone else. The new owner had parked the motorbike outside a mall when the police found it. After an enquiry, the police arrested the thieves.
A few days ago, Ambrose’s motorbike was stolen.
It had been left by Ambrose outside his house.
The theft was reported to the police by him.
He was told by the police that they would try to find his motorbike.
This morning, his motorbike was found by them.
Ambrose was called to the police station by the police.
It had been painted and then sold by the thieves to someone else.
The motorbike had been parked by the new owner outside a mall when it was found by the police.
After an enquiry, the thieves were arrested by the police.
J. Write a recipe of your favourite dish in passive voice. Remember to list out the ingredients of the dish you have chosen and their quantity. Use Simple Present tense to write your recipe.
SEMIYA PAYASAM
Ingredients required for the recipes
i. Milk ½ litre
ii. Semiya 1 cup
iv. Dry grapes 10 gms
v. Cashews 10gms
vi. Sugar 1 cup
A pan is heated and ghee is poured into it. Dry grapes and cashews are added to it. It is fried till it changes its colour to golden brown and it is kept aside. Now to the same pan the ghee is added again. To the ghee semiya is added in the pan and it is heated till it changes its colour.
Now another pan is taken and milk is added to it. The milk is boiled. After the boiling of milk, the semiya is added. The mixture is boiled. Then to that fried dry grapes and cashews, sugar and badam
powder are added. Now Semiya Payasam can be served.
K. Write a report of an event held at your school using Passive voice. Use Simple Past Tense to narrate the event.
Science Exhibition
– By Amar, Std X.
A Science Exhibition was conducted by the students of our school. They were helped by the teachers. The school ground was made ready for the exhibition. About 25 stalls were arranged by the students. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Collector. He went round the stalls. He was explained the working of the models by the students. The visitors were guided by the volunteers. Visitors were also served coffee. The exhibition was visited by about 500 people. Three best models were selected. The three teams were given prizes. The exhibition was hailed by all people.
Inaguration of the cultural club
– By Akbar, Std X.
The cultural club of our school was inaugurated by the Head Master. Many cultural programmes were performed by the school students. Dance performance like Baradhanatiyam were accomplished by class X students. A cultural exhibition was inaugurated by a renowned artist. The vote of thanks was proposed by the fine arts secretary. The national anthem was sung by the choir team of our school.
Annual Day Celebration
– By Antony, Std X.
Annual day of Sacred Heart Matric Higher Secondary School, Azhagappapuram was celebrated on 16th February 2022. The chief guest of the day was Dr. Surendren, M.D. The programme started with a prayer song which was sung by the school choir. It was followed by the welcome address which was delivered by the Vice Principal. The chief guest was felicitated with a shawl and a memento. After that the annual day report was read by the Principal. To make the audience entertained a lot of cultural programmes were put up by the students. Prize winners of various events which were conducted throughout the year were given away prizes. And the vote of thanks was proposed by our school secretary. And then the National Anthem was sung.
WINDOWS WISDOM 