Two Stories about Flying (I) His First Flight (II) Black Aeroplane
Thinking about the Text
Question 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?
Answer:
The young seagull was afraid to fly. It was because of his own diffidence. No logic can explain the reason. No, most young birds fly eagerly, boldly and happily. Only a very few birds are afraid to fly. Even in the case of human babies, eagerness to walk is visible. Even if they fall many times, they keep going
Question 2.
"The sight of the food maddened him." What does this suggest ? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly ?
Answer:
Hunger drives the hungry to any extent. It makes the hungry forget all rules, moods, fears, etc. The young seagull was afraid to fly His parents starved him for a full day. He was terribly hungry. Then his mother lured him with a piece of food. Maddened by his hunger, the seagull followed his mother. Thus his hunger forced him into his first flight
Question 3.
"They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly." Why did the seagulls father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?
Answer:
The young seagull preferred staying safe to flying. It was unnatural. Birds, to survive on their own, must fly. So, the parents of the young seagull tried many different ways to make him fly. They cajoled him. They teased him. They threatened him. Finally, leaving him alone without a piece of food for a whole day worked
Question 4.
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:
Yes. I too had a similar experience. In our rural areas, swimming is considered an essential skill for boys. And there were no swimming pools with all safety measures. Streams, agricultural wells etc are the places to learn swimming. As a boy of just 10, I was terribly afraid of jumping into deep wells. But my parents succeeded in making me confident. Now, I enjoy swimming and love to train kids in swimming
Question 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 ?
Answer:
Yes, for birds, flying is a natural skill. But for humans swimming is not an inherent ability. Failure is very likely. Yet the interested ones try repeatedly and for long till they master it. Success is not automatically guaranteed to humans as it is to birds. Yet humans try not all, of course
Speaking
We have just read about the first flight of a young seagull. Your teacher will now divide the class into groups. Each group will work on one of the following topics. Pre¬pare a presentation with your group members and then present it to the entire class
Question1.
Progression of Models of Airplanes?
Answer:
Planes evolved from 1903 Wright Flyer to the latest multi model and most luxurious range today. The first aircraft was made of wood and a type of rough cloth called muslin. Planes today are mostly made of aluminium. Planes were first used to carry only mail. But today they carry mail, cargo, passengers and also weapons. Models today are many in sizes, comfort levels, speed ranges, etc
Question2.
Progression of Models of Motorcars?
Answer:
The progression of models of motorcars is an intersting study. It all began with Nicolas Cugnots invention in 1769 of the first steam-powered carriage. It took more than a century (1886) for the car to become powered by gasoline with Karl Benzs invention. Since then the evolution took a rapid pace that brought in steering wheels, brakes, etc. By 1920, motorcars had become popular and affordable.
This became possible as Ford introduced assembly line approach to produce cars. After 1950, car industry witnessed unprecedented growth. LPG or CNG driven or Electric powered motorcars are latest addition. Right from seating capacity to the power of motors to amenities offered, the . range is vast
Question3.
Birds and Their Wingspan?
Answer:
Birds and their wingspan evolved over a long time. First the weight of the bones started getting lighter. Forelimbs started to get shorter. Bone structure changed. The ancient reptiles then became birds. Their characteristics include feathers, beak, laying hard shelled eggs, etc. Most birds feed on plant products while others eat insects, fish, etc. The distance from one wing tip to the other wing tip is known as wingspan. Wingspan determines the level of the abilities
Question4.
Migratory Birds - Tracing Their Flights?
Answer:
Migration of birds offers man a fascinating study. And how they trace their flight route has remained for centuries a mystery. Now we know that birds use cues froth the sun, starts and the earths magnetic field and also their mental mapping abilities to trace their flight paths. Its really amazing that they have such skills with accurate mapping talent. Recorded evidence, particularly in literature, of migration of birds is of three- thousand-year old.
However, modern studies of migration of birds started in the eighteenth century. Climate changes, food availability, suitable breeding grounds etc drive birds migration patterns. Man, with his greed and technology, has for long been disturbing birds and their migration to the extent of damaging their prospects
Writing
Write a short composition on your initial attempts at learning a skill. You could describe the challenges of learning to ride a bicycle or learning to swim. Make it as humorous as possible.
A. I dreamt of riding a bicycle when I was in my third class. My parents objections and my own fear put this dream off for clear three years. All through this long period of over 1000 days, I had been longingly watching boys and even girls of my age riding bicycles joyfully. When I actually started to learn riding a bicycle, plenty of precautions, by my extra-cautious father, were in place
A flat, smooth, soft and vast traffic-free ground was selected first. I was made to wear skin tight, thick cloth full length trousers and shirt. I also had to wear knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet. My looks evoked laughter in onlookers. With lots of instructions from father I tried my first ride and alas ! before moving on for less than fifty feet, I fell down. The first fall, and of course, the last fall too ! I was not at all hurt because of my fathers foresight
And there was no looking back. In just three days, I picked up the skill to my fathers satisfaction. Compliments from all corners poured in. Whenever I remember my first days appearance and experience I laugh to my hearts content. But that only adds to my thrill of riding a bicycle
II. The Black Aeroplane - Frederick Forsyth
Thinking about the Text
Question 1.
"Ill take the risk." What is the risk ? Why does the narrator take it ?
Answer:
The narrator wanted to take the risk. The risk was flying his old Dakota aeroplane through the storm. He was particular about going home. Going back or sideways was not possible for want of enough fuel. So, he was compelled by his mood and physical conditions to take that risk. And he overcame that risk and reached home safe
Question 2.
Describe the narrators experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm?
Answer:
The narrator very courageously flew his areoplane into the storm. Inside the black clouds, it was pitch dark. He could not see anything outside. He looked at his compass. It was not working. He said something on his radio. There was no response. He was clueless. Yet, he did not lose his faith. He kept on flying
Question 3.
Why does the narrator say, "I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota " ?
Answer:
The narrator flew through the storm. He finally landed safely. As he walked away from his old Dakota he had no regrets. He felt happy that he reached there without any risk despite many obstacles. So he was saying that he was not sorry. And there was nothing for him to feel sorry too
Question 4.
What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely ?
Answer:
The narrator asked the woman in the control tower who the other pilot was. She looked at him strangely. The reason was no other aeroplane flew in that stormy night. The narrators was the sole flight. That made the woman give him a puzzled look
Question 5.
Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely ? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer?
Answer:
The narrator said that he had been guided by another pilot. He wanted to thank that pilot for his valuable help. But he couldnt find him anywhere around. On his enquiry about him, the woman in the control centre told him that no aeroplanes flew that night. That meant that it was his IMAGINATION that a pilot was guiding him
Thinking about Language
QuestionI.
Study the sentences given below
- They looked like black mountains
- Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black
- In the black clouds near me, I saw another aeroplane
- The strange black aeroplane was there
- The word black in sentences (a) and (c) refers to the very darkest colour. But in (b) and (d) (here) it means without light/with no light.
Black has a variety of meanings in different contexts. For example
- I prefer black tea means I prefer tea without milk
- With increasing pollution the future of the world is black means With increasing pollution the future of the world is very depressing/without hope
Now, try to guess the meanings of the word black in the sentences given below. Check the meanings in the dictionary and find out whether you have guessed right
- Go and have a bath; your hands and face are absolutely black _________
- The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green _________
- The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity _________
- Very few people enjoy Harold Pinters black comedy._________
- Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black._________
- Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue _________
Answer:
- black-dirty
- black - angry; sullen; threatening
- black - most inhuman; the meanest
- dealing with serious topics like death, divorce
- secret; unlawfully; without accounting
- causing bruises; severely ; brutally
QuestionII.
Look at these sentences taken from the lesson you have just read?
- I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane
- The young seagull had been afraid to fly with them
- In the first sentence the author was controlling an aircraft in the air. Another example is: Children are flying kites. In the second sentence the seagull was afraid to move through the air, using its wings
Match the phrases given under Column A with their meanings given under Column B:
A |
B |
Fly a flag |
Move quickly/suddenly |
Fly into rage |
Be successful |
Fly along |
Display a flag on a long pole |
Fly high |
Escape from a place |
Fly the coop |
Become suddenly very angry |
Answer:
A |
B |
Fly a flag |
Display a flag on a long pole |
Fly into rage |
Become suddenly very angry |
Fly along |
Move quickly/suddenly |
Fly high |
Be successful |
Fly the coop |
Escape from a place |
QuestionIII.
We know that the word fly (of birds/insects) means to move through air using wings. Tick the words which have the same or nearly the same meaning?
Answer:
swoop (?) flutter (?) ascend (?) dart (?) quad hover (?) quad soar (?) flap (?)
Writing
Question.
Have you ever been alone or away from home during a thunderstorm? Narrate your experience in a paragraph?
Answer:
Alone in a Thunderstorm
It was a cloudy evening. I was returning from my school. We had to walk the three kilometre narrow pathway between our village and our school. The country road passes through fields, forests with streams and hillocks all along and at times across. On that eventful day I was alone.
As I was halfway through, the clouds started growing darker and darker. The winds were chilly and strong. Moderate drizzles quickly turned into a downpour. I was shivering. Fear clubbed with cold made me tremble. Nothing was visible ahead. Still I struggled, though slowly, to inch towards our village
In that desperate condition, I heard a soft voice from the field beside. It seemed to come from an affectionate lady. The voice asked me if I was going home alone. On my excited confirmation, the voice asked me to hold the long stick that was held within my reach. I followed the instruction obediently. Now I turned bold and confident. Though I could not see anything clearly I walked fast. When I reached our village, that figure who guided me disappeared
Additional Questions :
I. His First Flight
I. Read the following passage carefully
The young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid.
The great expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down-miles down. He felt certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the little hole under the ledge where he slept at night
Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own, ran to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up courage to take that plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for the life of him he could not move.
That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish
He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice
Question 1.
Why was the young seagull alone on his ledge?
Answer:
His siblings had flown away the day before, leaving him alone
Question 2.
What prevented the young seagull from flying with his siblings?
Answer:
He was afraid that his wings wouldnt support him and was intimidated by the long distance to the sea below
Question 3.
Why did the young seagull fail to fly with his siblings ?
- He lacked the physical ability to fly
- He was afraid his wings wouldnt support him
- He preferred to stay on the ledge
Answer:
He was afraid his wings wouldnt support him
Question 4.
What did the young seagull witness his older brother doing ?
- Catching his first herring
- Flying with his parents
- Swimming in the sea
Answer:Catching his first herring
Question 5.
How did the young seagulls family respond to his fear of flying?
- They ignored him
- They threatened to let him starve
- They brought him food
Answer:
They threatened to let him starve
II. Read the following passage carefully
The sun was now ascending the sky, blazing on his ledge that faced the south. He felt the heat because he had not eaten since the previous nightfall.
He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they took no notice of him. He saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks
His father was preening the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward. Now and again, she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of the food maddened him. How he loved to tear food that way, scrapping his beak now and again to whet it
Question 1.
Why did the young seagull feel the heat on his ledge?
Answer:
Because he had not eaten since the previous nightfall
Question 2.
Who was the only one paying attention to the young seagull?
Answer:
His mother
Question 3.
What was the young seagull pretending to do on the brink of the ledge?
- Flying
- Sleeping
- Sunbathing
Answer:
Sleeping
Question 4.
What was the father seagull doing on the plateau ?
- Teaching his siblings to fly
- Preening his feathers
- Hunting for food
Answer:
Preening his feathers
Question 5.
How did the sight of food affect the young seagull?
- It made him want to fly
- It made him angry
- It made him hungry
Answer:
It made him hungry
III. Read the following passage carefully
"Ga, ga, ga," he cried begging her to bring him some food. "Gaw-col-ah," she screamed back derisively. But he kept calling plaintively, and after a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it.
He leaned out eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But when she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak almost within reach of his beak
He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a minute
The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach, and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his
wings once and he soared upwards. "Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gaw-col-ah," his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring and diving
Question 1.
What sound did the young seagull make to beg his mother for food?
Answer:
"Ga, ga, ga."
Question 2.
What caused the young seagull to initially feel terror?
Answer:
He fell outwards and downwards into space while diving at the fish
Question 3.
How did the mother seagull respond to the young seagulls cries for food?
- She ignored him
- She brought him food
- She scolded him
Answer:
She brought him food
Question 4.
Why did the young seagull feel maddened by hunger?
- His mother was teasing him
- He saw his siblings flying around him
- The fish was within reach but held back
Answer:
The fish was within reach but held back
Question 5.
How did the young seagull feel after he began soaring?
- Terrified
- Dizzy
- Hungry
Answer:
Dizzy
IV. Read the following passage carefully
Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.
He was near the sea now, flying straight over it, facing straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green sea beneath him, with little ridges moving over it and he turned his beak sideways and cawed amusedly
His parents and his brothers and sister had landed on this green flooring ahead of him. They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings.
But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange exercise. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating on it, and around him his family was screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish
Question 1.
What did the young seagull commend himself to do after forgetting his initial fear
Answer:
To dive, soar, and curve, while shrieking shrilly
Question 2.
What was the young seagulls initial reaction when he landed on the green sea?
Answer:
He screamed with fright
Question 3.
What has been called the green flooring ?
- The sea
- The dirty water
- The frozen water
Answer:
The sea
Question 4.
Why was the young seagull unable to rise again after attempting to stand on the green sea?
- He was too tired
- He was too weak
- He was scared
Answer:
He was too weak
Question 5.
What were the actions of the young seagulls family after he landed on the green sea?
- They ignored him
- They screamed with fright
- They praised him and offered him food
Answer:
They praised him and offered him food
VI. Read the following passage carefully
That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish.
He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice
The sun was now ascending the sky, blazing on his ledge that faced the south. He felt the heat because he had not eaten since the previous nightfall. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then the other, and pretended to be falling asleep.
Still they took no notice of him. He saw his two brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His father was preening the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him
She was standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward. Now and again, she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side of her beak on the rock. The sight of the food maddened him. How he loved to tear food that way, scrapping his beak now and again to whet it
Question 1.
How long had it been since anybody had come near him?
Answer:
Twenty-four hours.
Question 2.
Why did the sight of the food madden the young seagull?
Answer:
Because he was hungry and loved tearing food
Question 3.
What had the young seagull observed his family doing the day before?
- Fishing
- Flying and perfecting the art of flight
- Taunting him
Answer:Flying and perfecting the art of flight
Question 4.
Why did the young seagull feel the heat on his ledge?
- Because it was summer
- Because he had not eaten
- Because the sun was ascending the sky
Answer:
Because the sun was ascending the sky
Question 5.
What was the young seagulls mother doing while standing on the high hump?
- Preening her feathers
- Watching her son
- Eating a piece of fish
Answer:
Eating a piece of fish
VI. Read the following passage carefully
He was near the sea now, flying straight over it, facing straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green sea beneath him, with little ridges moving over it and he turned his beak sideways and cawed amusedly.
His parents and his brothers and sister had landed on this green flooring ahead of him. They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs sank into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings. But he was tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise
exhausted by the strange exercise. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating on it, and around him his family was screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him scraps of dog-fish
Question 1.
What was the young seagulls initial reaction upon landing on the green sea?
Answer:
He screamed with fright
Question 2.
How did the young seagull feel after attempting to rise from the green sea?
Answer:
He was tired and weak with hunger
Question 3.
What did the young seagull see beneath him as he flew over the sea ?
- Little ridges
- Rocks
- Ships
Answer:
Little ridges
Question 4.
Why did the young seagull attempt to stand on the green sea ?
- Because his family beckoned him
- Because he wanted to play.
- Because he was curious
Answer:
Because his family beckoned him
Question 5.
How did the young seagulls family react when he landed on the green sea ?
- They ignored him
- They screamêd with fright
- They praised him and offered him food
Answer:
They praised him and offered him food
II. The Black Aeroplane
VII. Read the following passage carefully
The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. There wasnt a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family. I looked at my watch: one thirty in the morning.
I should call Paris Control soon, I thought. As I looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big city in front of me. I switched on the radio and said, "Paris Control, Dakota DS 088 here. Can you hear me? Im on my way to England. Over."
The voice from the radio answered me immediately: "DS 088 , I can hear you. You ought to turn twelve degrees west now, DS 088 . Over."
I checked the map and the compass, switched over to my second and last fuel tank, and turned the Dakota twelve degrees west towards England.
Ill be in time for breakfast, I thought. A good big English breakfast! Everything was going well - it was an easy flight
Question 1.
What time was it when the narrator looked at their watch?
Answer:
One thirty in the morning
Question 2.
What did the voice from the radio instruct the narrator to do?
Answer:
Turn twelve degrees west
Question 3.
What was the narrator flying over?
- France
- England
- Germany
Answer:
France
Question 4.
Why was the narrator happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside?
- Because he was dreaming of his holiday
- Because he was looking forward to being with his family
- Because he enjoyed flying his old Dakota aeroplane
Answer:
Because he enjoyed flying his old Dakota aeroplane
Question 5.
What did the narrator anticipate upon reaching England?
- A holiday
- Breakfast
- Meeting with friends
Answer:
Breakfast
His First Flight Summary in English
He is First Flight is an interesting lesson in learning. The young seagull is afraid to fly. He thinks, for some unknown reason, that his weak wings will fail him. The vast expanse of green sea below frightens him. His two brothers and sister show him their example of their flight. But the young seagull cannot overcome his sense of fear. His mother and father try many various ways to help their young one fly with them
They encourage, convince, persuade, cajole and threaten him to fly. But to no avail. He stays alone on his ledge. All the five other members of his family have already flown away in search of food. It is one full day that he has been alone there without any food. He is very hungry. He looks eagerly towards his mother as she is tearing a fish. Mother understands his hunger. She suddenly thinks of a plan
She holds a piece of the fish in her beak and flies towards the young seagull. His mouth starts watering in expectation. Mother comes close to him, suddenly turns away without giving food to the young one. Hunger maddens the young seagull. He forgets everything except his hunger
He runs to the edge of the ledge. He moves ahead, falls down, his wings open and, hurrah ! he starts flying. Every member of the family appreciates the young seagull. Hunger works the magic. The necessity (of food) here becomes the mother of his invention
Glossary
seagull (n) : a sea bird;
ledge (n) : a ridge or reef of rocks;
brink (n) : the edge, margin, border;
expanse (n) : a vast stretch;
muster up (phr. verb) : summon, collect;
plunge (n) : a dive, leap;
desperate (adj) : in dire need;
upbraiding (v+ing) : scolding;
skim (v) : move lightly just above a surface;
herring (n) : a kind of fish;
devour (v) : eat quickly, greedily, hungrily;
cackle (n) : the cry of a bird;
plateau (n) : a large level expanse of land at a high elevation;
taunting (v+ing) : goading into responding; making fun of;
cowardice (n) : lack of courage; timidity;
blazing (v+ing) : very hot;
pretended (v-pt) : feigned; affected;
preening (v+ing) : dressing feathers with the beak;
hump (n) (here) : a raised part;
scrapped (v-pt) : rubbed;
whet (v) : hone; sharpen;
derisively (adv) : in a ridiculing way;
plaintively (adv) : sorrowfully;
monstrous (adj) : very frightful; enormous;
dizzy (adj) : giddy; unbalanced;
swooped (v-pt) : moved swiftly; flew fast;
curveting (v+ing) : leaping like a horse;
banking (v+ing) : flying with one wing higher than the other;
commended (v+pt) : committed;
shrieking (v+ing) : uttering a loud and sharp cry;
cawed (v-pt) : cried;
amusedly (adv) : pleasantly; happily;
The Black Aeroplane Summary in English
The Black Aeroplane is a thrilling narration. It sounds mysterious ! Is it sentimental? Superstitious? Spiritual ? or purely psychological ? It could be yes ! It could be no too ! The narrator was flying his old Dakota from Paris to England - his native country. He planned to spend his vacation at home
It was past midnight. The moon was rising. Stars were shining. The sky was clear. He thought he would be home for breakfast - English breakfast! For about one hundred kilometers, his flight was pleasant. Then, suddenly, he saw storm clouds in front of him. Huge mountains of black clouds ! He did not want to go back. He could not go side ways, for want of enough fuel. He ventured to take risk. He flew straight into the clouds
He could see nothing. His compass and radio stopped functioning. When he was just clueless, a plane passed by him. The pilot waved to him to follow that plane. Following him, he cleared the clouds and saw a runway. He landed safely. But to his surprise, he couldnt see the plane that guided him anywhere. On enquiring with the control room about another plane, he was told that his was the lone flight in that severe storm ! Then, who helped him ? A mystery it is awaiting a
Glossary
countryside (n) : a rural area;
Dakota (n) looking forward to : name of a type of an aeroplane;
(phrasal verb) : waiting for; expecting;
compass (n) : a magnetic or electronic device that shows directions;
twisted (v-pt) : turned sideways; encircled;
waved (v-pt) : moved hand by way of commuricating;
obedient (adj) : willing to follow what others say;