NCERT Textbook: Two Stories about Flying | English Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


Let ’s Begin 	 	 You	 have	 read 	 two	 stories	 about	 ??ying. 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 is	
about	 how	 a	 young 	 bird	 learns	 to	 ??y 	 and	 ‘Black	 Aeroplane’ 	 is	
a 	 mystery.		
	 1.	 Read	 the	 story, 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 again. 	 Working 	 in	 groups	
of	 four,	 answer	 the	 following	 questions	 selecting	 the	 correct	
option.
?
;
UNIT 
3
Two STorie S abou T 
Flying Q.1.	 The 	 young	 seagull	 was	 afraid	 of	 ??ying 	 because	 	 ____
_____________________________________.
	 (a)	 he 	felt	 his	wings	 would	not	 support	him
	 (b)	 other 	bird	 knew	to	 ??y 	very 	 well
	 (c)	 the 	sea	 was	very 	large
	 (d)	 his 	mother	 and	father	threatened	him
Q.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	 ??y 	 with	 them.
	 (d)	 He 	was	 not	 liked	by	them	at	all.
Q.3.	 How 	did	the	young	seagull	 start 	??ying?
	 (a)	 His 	 mother	 showed 	 him 	 the 	 ??sh 	 and 	 moved 	 away 	
from	him	to	 make	 him	??y.
	 (b)	 His 	brothers	 and	sisters 	trained	him	to	??y.
	 (c)	 He 	 was 	 hungry	 and	 he	 moved	 to	 ??y 	 in 	 search	 of	
food.
	 (d)	 He 	did 	not 	learn	to 	??y 	at	all.
Unit-3.indd   31 27-Jun-2019   04:19:59 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 2


Let ’s Begin 	 	 You	 have	 read 	 two	 stories	 about	 ??ying. 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 is	
about	 how	 a	 young 	 bird	 learns	 to	 ??y 	 and	 ‘Black	 Aeroplane’ 	 is	
a 	 mystery.		
	 1.	 Read	 the	 story, 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 again. 	 Working 	 in	 groups	
of	 four,	 answer	 the	 following	 questions	 selecting	 the	 correct	
option.
?
;
UNIT 
3
Two STorie S abou T 
Flying Q.1.	 The 	 young	 seagull	 was	 afraid	 of	 ??ying 	 because	 	 ____
_____________________________________.
	 (a)	 he 	felt	 his	wings	 would	not	 support	him
	 (b)	 other 	bird	 knew	to	 ??y 	very 	 well
	 (c)	 the 	sea	 was	very 	large
	 (d)	 his 	mother	 and	father	threatened	him
Q.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	 ??y 	 with	 them.
	 (d)	 He 	was	 not	 liked	by	them	at	all.
Q.3.	 How 	did	the	young	seagull	 start 	??ying?
	 (a)	 His 	 mother	 showed 	 him 	 the 	 ??sh 	 and 	 moved 	 away 	
from	him	to	 make	 him	??y.
	 (b)	 His 	brothers	 and	sisters 	trained	him	to	??y.
	 (c)	 He 	 was 	 hungry	 and	 he	 moved	 to	 ??y 	 in 	 search	 of	
food.
	 (d)	 He 	did 	not 	learn	to 	??y 	at	all.
Unit-3.indd   31 27-Jun-2019   04:19:59 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 32
Q.4.	 Which 	 of	 the	 following	 statements	 is 	 not 	 true 	 of 	 the 	
young	seagull?
	 (a)	 He 	was	 lazy 	and	did	not 	want 	 to	 ??y.
	 (b)	 He 	wanted	 to 	 ??y, 	but	was	afraid	of 	??ying. 	
	 (c)	 His 	 mother, 	 father,	 brothers, 	 and	 sisters 	 helped 	
him 	 ??y.
	 (d)	 His 	hunger	 made	him	??y.
Q.5.	 Say 	 whether	 the	 following 	 statements	 about 	 the 	
seagull are true or false.
	 (a)	 The 	 young	 seagull	 liked 	 to 	 ??y 	 with 	 his 	 brothers	 and	
sisters. 		 	 	 (										)
	 (b)	 The 	young	 seagull	was	 hungry 	 so 	he	started	 to 	??y. 	 	
   (          )
	 (c)	 He 	 was 	scared 	of	 ??ying 	??rst. 	 	 ( 										)
	 (d)	 He 	??ew 	on	 his	own 	to	get	the	food. 		 (										)
	 2.	 You 	 have	 another	 story, 	 ‘The 	 Black 	 Aeroplane’ 	 in 	 the 	 lesson.	
Read	 the 	 story	 again	 and 	 develop 	 at 	 least 	 ??ve 	 multiple 	 choice 	
questions	 based	 on	 the 	 story. 	 Work	 in 	 pairs 	 and	 ask	 your	
partner	 to 	 answer	 them. 	 The 	 questions 	 may 	 be	 based 	 on 	
the 	 events,	 persons,	 reasons 	 and 	 causes	 of	 the 	 events, 	 and	
results	 in 	the 	story.	
Your 	 questions
1.
2.
3.
Unit-3.indd   32 27-Jun-2019   04:20:00 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 3


Let ’s Begin 	 	 You	 have	 read 	 two	 stories	 about	 ??ying. 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 is	
about	 how	 a	 young 	 bird	 learns	 to	 ??y 	 and	 ‘Black	 Aeroplane’ 	 is	
a 	 mystery.		
	 1.	 Read	 the	 story, 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 again. 	 Working 	 in	 groups	
of	 four,	 answer	 the	 following	 questions	 selecting	 the	 correct	
option.
?
;
UNIT 
3
Two STorie S abou T 
Flying Q.1.	 The 	 young	 seagull	 was	 afraid	 of	 ??ying 	 because	 	 ____
_____________________________________.
	 (a)	 he 	felt	 his	wings	 would	not	 support	him
	 (b)	 other 	bird	 knew	to	 ??y 	very 	 well
	 (c)	 the 	sea	 was	very 	large
	 (d)	 his 	mother	 and	father	threatened	him
Q.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	 ??y 	 with	 them.
	 (d)	 He 	was	 not	 liked	by	them	at	all.
Q.3.	 How 	did	the	young	seagull	 start 	??ying?
	 (a)	 His 	 mother	 showed 	 him 	 the 	 ??sh 	 and 	 moved 	 away 	
from	him	to	 make	 him	??y.
	 (b)	 His 	brothers	 and	sisters 	trained	him	to	??y.
	 (c)	 He 	 was 	 hungry	 and	 he	 moved	 to	 ??y 	 in 	 search	 of	
food.
	 (d)	 He 	did 	not 	learn	to 	??y 	at	all.
Unit-3.indd   31 27-Jun-2019   04:19:59 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 32
Q.4.	 Which 	 of	 the	 following	 statements	 is 	 not 	 true 	 of 	 the 	
young	seagull?
	 (a)	 He 	was	 lazy 	and	did	not 	want 	 to	 ??y.
	 (b)	 He 	wanted	 to 	 ??y, 	but	was	afraid	of 	??ying. 	
	 (c)	 His 	 mother, 	 father,	 brothers, 	 and	 sisters 	 helped 	
him 	 ??y.
	 (d)	 His 	hunger	 made	him	??y.
Q.5.	 Say 	 whether	 the	 following 	 statements	 about 	 the 	
seagull are true or false.
	 (a)	 The 	 young	 seagull	 liked 	 to 	 ??y 	 with 	 his 	 brothers	 and	
sisters. 		 	 	 (										)
	 (b)	 The 	young	 seagull	was	 hungry 	 so 	he	started	 to 	??y. 	 	
   (          )
	 (c)	 He 	 was 	scared 	of	 ??ying 	??rst. 	 	 ( 										)
	 (d)	 He 	??ew 	on	 his	own 	to	get	the	food. 		 (										)
	 2.	 You 	 have	 another	 story, 	 ‘The 	 Black 	 Aeroplane’ 	 in 	 the 	 lesson.	
Read	 the 	 story	 again	 and 	 develop 	 at 	 least 	 ??ve 	 multiple 	 choice 	
questions	 based	 on	 the 	 story. 	 Work	 in 	 pairs 	 and	 ask	 your	
partner	 to 	 answer	 them. 	 The 	 questions 	 may 	 be	 based 	 on 	
the 	 events,	 persons,	 reasons 	 and 	 causes	 of	 the 	 events, 	 and	
results	 in 	the 	story.	
Your 	 questions
1.
2.
3.
Unit-3.indd   32 27-Jun-2019   04:20:00 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 3 – TWo s toriE s abo Ut Flying 33
Sentences
4.
5.
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i Let’s	 now 	 read	 the	 story	 of 	 a	 bus	 conductor	 and 	 his 	 passengers 	
with 	a 	 dog.	The 	story	 is	written 	by	A.G	Gardiner.
All 	about 	a 	Dog
It was a b itterly 	 cold 	 night, 	 and 	 even	 at	 the	 far	 end 	 of	 the 	 bus	 the 	
east 	 wind 	 that	 raved 	 along 	 the	 street 	 cut 	 like 	 a	 knife.	 The	 bus 	
stopped 	 and 	 two 	 women 	 and 	 a	 man 	 got 	 in 	 together	 and	 ??lled 	 the 	
vacant 	 places.	 The	 young 	 woman	 was 	 dressed	 in	 sealskin,	 and 	
carried 	 one	 of 	 those 	 litt le	 Pekinese	 dogs 	 that	 women	 in	 sealskin	
like	 to 	 carry	 in	 their	 laps.	 The	 conductor 	 came	 in	 and	 took 	 the	
fares. 	 Then 	 his 	 eyes	 rested	 with	 old 	 malice	 on	 the	 beady	 eyed	
toy	 dog. 	 I	 saw	 trouble	 brewing.	 This	 was	 the 	 opportunity 	 for 	
which 	 he 	 had 	 been	 waiting	 and 	 he	 intended	 to	 make	 the 	 most 	
of	 it.	 I 	 had	 marked	 him 	 as 	 the 	 type 	 of	 what	 Mr.	 Wells	 has 	 called	
the	 Resentful 	 Employee, 	 the 	 man	 with	 a	 great	 vague	 grievance	
against 	 everything 	 and 	 a	 particular	 grievance	 against	 passengers	
who 	 came 	and 	sat 	 in 	his	seat	 while	 he 	 shivered	at 	 the 	 door.
“You 	 must	 take 	that	dog	out,”	 he 	 said 	with	sour 	 venom.	
“I 	 shall 	 certainly 	 do 	 nothing	 of	 the 	 kind.	 You	 can	 take 	 my 	
name	 and 	 address,”	 said 	 the 	 woman,	 who	 had	 evidently	 expected	
the	 challenge 	and	 knew	the	reply.
“You 	 must	 take 	the 	 dog 	out—	that’s	my 	orders.”
“I 	 won’t 	 go 	 on	 the 	 top	 in 	 such	 weather.	 It	 would 	 kill 	 me,”	 said	
the	 woman.
“Certainly 	 not,”	 said	 her	 lady 	 companion,	 “You’ve	 got	 a	 cough 	
as	 it 	 is.”
“It’s 	 nonsense,”	said 	her	 male	companion.
bitterly	
embittered 
evidently
malice
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-3.indd   33 27-Jun-2019   04:20:00 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 4


Let ’s Begin 	 	 You	 have	 read 	 two	 stories	 about	 ??ying. 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 is	
about	 how	 a	 young 	 bird	 learns	 to	 ??y 	 and	 ‘Black	 Aeroplane’ 	 is	
a 	 mystery.		
	 1.	 Read	 the	 story, 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 again. 	 Working 	 in	 groups	
of	 four,	 answer	 the	 following	 questions	 selecting	 the	 correct	
option.
?
;
UNIT 
3
Two STorie S abou T 
Flying Q.1.	 The 	 young	 seagull	 was	 afraid	 of	 ??ying 	 because	 	 ____
_____________________________________.
	 (a)	 he 	felt	 his	wings	 would	not	 support	him
	 (b)	 other 	bird	 knew	to	 ??y 	very 	 well
	 (c)	 the 	sea	 was	very 	large
	 (d)	 his 	mother	 and	father	threatened	him
Q.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	 ??y 	 with	 them.
	 (d)	 He 	was	 not	 liked	by	them	at	all.
Q.3.	 How 	did	the	young	seagull	 start 	??ying?
	 (a)	 His 	 mother	 showed 	 him 	 the 	 ??sh 	 and 	 moved 	 away 	
from	him	to	 make	 him	??y.
	 (b)	 His 	brothers	 and	sisters 	trained	him	to	??y.
	 (c)	 He 	 was 	 hungry	 and	 he	 moved	 to	 ??y 	 in 	 search	 of	
food.
	 (d)	 He 	did 	not 	learn	to 	??y 	at	all.
Unit-3.indd   31 27-Jun-2019   04:19:59 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 32
Q.4.	 Which 	 of	 the	 following	 statements	 is 	 not 	 true 	 of 	 the 	
young	seagull?
	 (a)	 He 	was	 lazy 	and	did	not 	want 	 to	 ??y.
	 (b)	 He 	wanted	 to 	 ??y, 	but	was	afraid	of 	??ying. 	
	 (c)	 His 	 mother, 	 father,	 brothers, 	 and	 sisters 	 helped 	
him 	 ??y.
	 (d)	 His 	hunger	 made	him	??y.
Q.5.	 Say 	 whether	 the	 following 	 statements	 about 	 the 	
seagull are true or false.
	 (a)	 The 	 young	 seagull	 liked 	 to 	 ??y 	 with 	 his 	 brothers	 and	
sisters. 		 	 	 (										)
	 (b)	 The 	young	 seagull	was	 hungry 	 so 	he	started	 to 	??y. 	 	
   (          )
	 (c)	 He 	 was 	scared 	of	 ??ying 	??rst. 	 	 ( 										)
	 (d)	 He 	??ew 	on	 his	own 	to	get	the	food. 		 (										)
	 2.	 You 	 have	 another	 story, 	 ‘The 	 Black 	 Aeroplane’ 	 in 	 the 	 lesson.	
Read	 the 	 story	 again	 and 	 develop 	 at 	 least 	 ??ve 	 multiple 	 choice 	
questions	 based	 on	 the 	 story. 	 Work	 in 	 pairs 	 and	 ask	 your	
partner	 to 	 answer	 them. 	 The 	 questions 	 may 	 be	 based 	 on 	
the 	 events,	 persons,	 reasons 	 and 	 causes	 of	 the 	 events, 	 and	
results	 in 	the 	story.	
Your 	 questions
1.
2.
3.
Unit-3.indd   32 27-Jun-2019   04:20:00 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 3 – TWo s toriE s abo Ut Flying 33
Sentences
4.
5.
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i Let’s	 now 	 read	 the	 story	 of 	 a	 bus	 conductor	 and 	 his 	 passengers 	
with 	a 	 dog.	The 	story	 is	written 	by	A.G	Gardiner.
All 	about 	a 	Dog
It was a b itterly 	 cold 	 night, 	 and 	 even	 at	 the	 far	 end 	 of	 the 	 bus	 the 	
east 	 wind 	 that	 raved 	 along 	 the	 street 	 cut 	 like 	 a	 knife.	 The	 bus 	
stopped 	 and 	 two 	 women 	 and 	 a	 man 	 got 	 in 	 together	 and	 ??lled 	 the 	
vacant 	 places.	 The	 young 	 woman	 was 	 dressed	 in	 sealskin,	 and 	
carried 	 one	 of 	 those 	 litt le	 Pekinese	 dogs 	 that	 women	 in	 sealskin	
like	 to 	 carry	 in	 their	 laps.	 The	 conductor 	 came	 in	 and	 took 	 the	
fares. 	 Then 	 his 	 eyes	 rested	 with	 old 	 malice	 on	 the	 beady	 eyed	
toy	 dog. 	 I	 saw	 trouble	 brewing.	 This	 was	 the 	 opportunity 	 for 	
which 	 he 	 had 	 been	 waiting	 and 	 he	 intended	 to	 make	 the 	 most 	
of	 it.	 I 	 had	 marked	 him 	 as 	 the 	 type 	 of	 what	 Mr.	 Wells	 has 	 called	
the	 Resentful 	 Employee, 	 the 	 man	 with	 a	 great	 vague	 grievance	
against 	 everything 	 and 	 a	 particular	 grievance	 against	 passengers	
who 	 came 	and 	sat 	 in 	his	seat	 while	 he 	 shivered	at 	 the 	 door.
“You 	 must	 take 	that	dog	out,”	 he 	 said 	with	sour 	 venom.	
“I 	 shall 	 certainly 	 do 	 nothing	 of	 the 	 kind.	 You	 can	 take 	 my 	
name	 and 	 address,”	 said 	 the 	 woman,	 who	 had	 evidently	 expected	
the	 challenge 	and	 knew	the	reply.
“You 	 must	 take 	the 	 dog 	out—	that’s	my 	orders.”
“I 	 won’t 	 go 	 on	 the 	 top	 in 	 such	 weather.	 It	 would 	 kill 	 me,”	 said	
the	 woman.
“Certainly 	 not,”	 said	 her	 lady 	 companion,	 “You’ve	 got	 a	 cough 	
as	 it 	 is.”
“It’s 	 nonsense,”	said 	her	 male	companion.
bitterly	
embittered 
evidently
malice
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-3.indd   33 27-Jun-2019   04:20:00 PM
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Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 34
The	 conductor 	 pull ed 	 the 	 bell 	 and 	 the 	 bus	 stopped.	 “This 	 bus	
doesn’t 	 go 	 until	 that	 dog	 is	 brought	 out.” 	 And 	 he 	 stepped	 on	 to	
the 	 pavement	 and	 waited.	 It	 was	 his 	 moment	 of 	 triumph.	 He 	 had	
the 	 law 	 on 	 his	 side	 and 	 the	 whole	 bus 	 full	 of 	 angry 	 people 	 under	
the 	harrow. 	His	embittered	soul	was	 having 	a 	real	holiday.
The	 storm	 inside 	 rose 	 high 	 “Shameful!”	 “He’s 	 no 	 better	 than	
a	German.”	“Why	isn’t 	he	in 	 the 	 army?” 	“Call	 the 	police. 	 Let’s	all	
report 	 him.”	 “Let’s	 make	 him 	 give	 us 	 our	 fares 	 back.”	 Everybody	
was 	 on	the	side	of 	the	lady 	and	the	dog.
That	 little	 animal 	 sat	 blinking 	 at	 the 	 dim	 lights 	 in 	 happy 	
unconsciousness 	 of	 the 	 rumpus	 of 	 which 	 he 	 was 	 the 	 cause.	
The 	 conductor	 came	 to	 the	 door,	 “What’s 	 your 	 number?”	 said 	
one, 	 	 taking	 out	 a	 pocket-book 	 with 	 a 	 gesture 	 of 	 terrible	 things. 	
“There’s 	 my 	 number,”	 said 	 the 	 conductor 	 imperturbably. 	 “Give	
us	 our	 fares	 back.” 	 “You	 can’t 	 leave 	 us 	 here	 all	 night.” 	 “No	 fares 	
back,” 	said	 the	conductor.
Two 	 or	 three 	 passengers 	 got 	 out 	 and	 disappeared 	 into 	 the 	
night.	 The 	 conductor 	 took	 another 	 turn	 on 	 the 	 pavement, 	 then	
went	 and 	 had 	 a	 talk	 with 	 the	 driver.	 Another 	 bus,	 the 	 last	 on	
the 	 road, 	 sailed 	 by	 indifferent 	 to	 the	 shouts	 of 	 the 	 passengers 	 to 	
stop, 	“They	 stick 	 by	each 	other 	the 	villains,” 	was 	the 	comment.
Someone	 pulled	 the	 bell	 violently.	 That	 brought	 the	 driver	
round 	 to 	 the	 door,	 “Who’s	 conductor 	 of 	 this 	 bus?” 	 he	 said	 and	
paused	 for	 reply. “None 	 coming,”	 he	 returned	 to 	 his 	 seat,	 and 	
resumed 	 beating	 his	 arms	 across 	 his 	 chest. 	 There	 was 	 no	 hope	
in 	 that	 quarter.	 A 	 policeman	 strolled	 up	 and 	 looked 	 in 	 at 	 the 	
door.	 An	 avalanche	 of 	 indignant 	 protests 	 and	 appeals 	 burst	 on	
him. 	 “Well,	 he’s	 got	 his	 rules,	 you 	 know,”	 he	 said.	 “Give 	 your 	
name	 and 	 address.”	 “That’s	 what	 he’s 	 been 	 offered, 	 and 	 he	 won’t	
take	 it.”	 “Oh,”	 said 	 the	 policeman, 	 and 	 he	 went 	 away 	 and	 took 	
his 	 stand	 a 	 few 	 yards 	 down 	 the	 street, 	 where 	 he 	 was 	 joined	 by	
two 	 more	constables.
And 	 still	 the 	 little	 dog	 blinked 	 at 	 the 	 lights, 	 and 	 the	 conductor	
walked 	 to 	 and	 fro	 on	 the	 pavement, 	 like 	 a	 captain 	 on 	 the 	
quarterdeck 	 in	 the 	 hour	 of	 victory.	 A	 young 	 woman,	 whose 	 voice	
had	 risen 	 high	 above	 the	 gale	 inside,	 descended 	 on 	 him 	 with 	 an	
air	 of 	 threatening 	 and	 slaughter. 	 He 	 was 	 immovable 	 as 	 cold	 as 	
the 	 night,	 and	 as 	 hard	 as 	 the 	 pavement.	 She	 passed 	 on	 in 	 a 	 fury 	
of 	 impotence	 to	 the 	 three 	 policemen, 	 who	 stood	 like 	 a	 group 	 of	
statuary	 on	 the 	 street	 watching	 the 	 drama. 	 Then 	 she	 came	 back, 	
avalanche
imperiously
imperturbably
indignant
quarterdeck
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-3.indd   34 27-Jun-2019   04:20:00 PM
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Page 5


Let ’s Begin 	 	 You	 have	 read 	 two	 stories	 about	 ??ying. 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 is	
about	 how	 a	 young 	 bird	 learns	 to	 ??y 	 and	 ‘Black	 Aeroplane’ 	 is	
a 	 mystery.		
	 1.	 Read	 the	 story, 	 ‘His	 First	 Flight’	 again. 	 Working 	 in	 groups	
of	 four,	 answer	 the	 following	 questions	 selecting	 the	 correct	
option.
?
;
UNIT 
3
Two STorie S abou T 
Flying Q.1.	 The 	 young	 seagull	 was	 afraid	 of	 ??ying 	 because	 	 ____
_____________________________________.
	 (a)	 he 	felt	 his	wings	 would	not	 support	him
	 (b)	 other 	bird	 knew	to	 ??y 	very 	 well
	 (c)	 the 	sea	 was	very 	large
	 (d)	 his 	mother	 and	father	threatened	him
Q.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	 ??y 	 with	 them.
	 (d)	 He 	was	 not	 liked	by	them	at	all.
Q.3.	 How 	did	the	young	seagull	 start 	??ying?
	 (a)	 His 	 mother	 showed 	 him 	 the 	 ??sh 	 and 	 moved 	 away 	
from	him	to	 make	 him	??y.
	 (b)	 His 	brothers	 and	sisters 	trained	him	to	??y.
	 (c)	 He 	 was 	 hungry	 and	 he	 moved	 to	 ??y 	 in 	 search	 of	
food.
	 (d)	 He 	did 	not 	learn	to 	??y 	at	all.
Unit-3.indd   31 27-Jun-2019   04:19:59 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 32
Q.4.	 Which 	 of	 the	 following	 statements	 is 	 not 	 true 	 of 	 the 	
young	seagull?
	 (a)	 He 	was	 lazy 	and	did	not 	want 	 to	 ??y.
	 (b)	 He 	wanted	 to 	 ??y, 	but	was	afraid	of 	??ying. 	
	 (c)	 His 	 mother, 	 father,	 brothers, 	 and	 sisters 	 helped 	
him 	 ??y.
	 (d)	 His 	hunger	 made	him	??y.
Q.5.	 Say 	 whether	 the	 following 	 statements	 about 	 the 	
seagull are true or false.
	 (a)	 The 	 young	 seagull	 liked 	 to 	 ??y 	 with 	 his 	 brothers	 and	
sisters. 		 	 	 (										)
	 (b)	 The 	young	 seagull	was	 hungry 	 so 	he	started	 to 	??y. 	 	
   (          )
	 (c)	 He 	 was 	scared 	of	 ??ying 	??rst. 	 	 ( 										)
	 (d)	 He 	??ew 	on	 his	own 	to	get	the	food. 		 (										)
	 2.	 You 	 have	 another	 story, 	 ‘The 	 Black 	 Aeroplane’ 	 in 	 the 	 lesson.	
Read	 the 	 story	 again	 and 	 develop 	 at 	 least 	 ??ve 	 multiple 	 choice 	
questions	 based	 on	 the 	 story. 	 Work	 in 	 pairs 	 and	 ask	 your	
partner	 to 	 answer	 them. 	 The 	 questions 	 may 	 be	 based 	 on 	
the 	 events,	 persons,	 reasons 	 and 	 causes	 of	 the 	 events, 	 and	
results	 in 	the 	story.	
Your 	 questions
1.
2.
3.
Unit-3.indd   32 27-Jun-2019   04:20:00 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 3 – TWo s toriE s abo Ut Flying 33
Sentences
4.
5.
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i Let’s	 now 	 read	 the	 story	 of 	 a	 bus	 conductor	 and 	 his 	 passengers 	
with 	a 	 dog.	The 	story	 is	written 	by	A.G	Gardiner.
All 	about 	a 	Dog
It was a b itterly 	 cold 	 night, 	 and 	 even	 at	 the	 far	 end 	 of	 the 	 bus	 the 	
east 	 wind 	 that	 raved 	 along 	 the	 street 	 cut 	 like 	 a	 knife.	 The	 bus 	
stopped 	 and 	 two 	 women 	 and 	 a	 man 	 got 	 in 	 together	 and	 ??lled 	 the 	
vacant 	 places.	 The	 young 	 woman	 was 	 dressed	 in	 sealskin,	 and 	
carried 	 one	 of 	 those 	 litt le	 Pekinese	 dogs 	 that	 women	 in	 sealskin	
like	 to 	 carry	 in	 their	 laps.	 The	 conductor 	 came	 in	 and	 took 	 the	
fares. 	 Then 	 his 	 eyes	 rested	 with	 old 	 malice	 on	 the	 beady	 eyed	
toy	 dog. 	 I	 saw	 trouble	 brewing.	 This	 was	 the 	 opportunity 	 for 	
which 	 he 	 had 	 been	 waiting	 and 	 he	 intended	 to	 make	 the 	 most 	
of	 it.	 I 	 had	 marked	 him 	 as 	 the 	 type 	 of	 what	 Mr.	 Wells	 has 	 called	
the	 Resentful 	 Employee, 	 the 	 man	 with	 a	 great	 vague	 grievance	
against 	 everything 	 and 	 a	 particular	 grievance	 against	 passengers	
who 	 came 	and 	sat 	 in 	his	seat	 while	 he 	 shivered	at 	 the 	 door.
“You 	 must	 take 	that	dog	out,”	 he 	 said 	with	sour 	 venom.	
“I 	 shall 	 certainly 	 do 	 nothing	 of	 the 	 kind.	 You	 can	 take 	 my 	
name	 and 	 address,”	 said 	 the 	 woman,	 who	 had	 evidently	 expected	
the	 challenge 	and	 knew	the	reply.
“You 	 must	 take 	the 	 dog 	out—	that’s	my 	orders.”
“I 	 won’t 	 go 	 on	 the 	 top	 in 	 such	 weather.	 It	 would 	 kill 	 me,”	 said	
the	 woman.
“Certainly 	 not,”	 said	 her	 lady 	 companion,	 “You’ve	 got	 a	 cough 	
as	 it 	 is.”
“It’s 	 nonsense,”	said 	her	 male	companion.
bitterly	
embittered 
evidently
malice
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and Understand Unit-3.indd   33 27-Jun-2019   04:20:00 PM
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Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 34
The	 conductor 	 pull ed 	 the 	 bell 	 and 	 the 	 bus	 stopped.	 “This 	 bus	
doesn’t 	 go 	 until	 that	 dog	 is	 brought	 out.” 	 And 	 he 	 stepped	 on	 to	
the 	 pavement	 and	 waited.	 It	 was	 his 	 moment	 of 	 triumph.	 He 	 had	
the 	 law 	 on 	 his	 side	 and 	 the	 whole	 bus 	 full	 of 	 angry 	 people 	 under	
the 	harrow. 	His	embittered	soul	was	 having 	a 	real	holiday.
The	 storm	 inside 	 rose 	 high 	 “Shameful!”	 “He’s 	 no 	 better	 than	
a	German.”	“Why	isn’t 	he	in 	 the 	 army?” 	“Call	 the 	police. 	 Let’s	all	
report 	 him.”	 “Let’s	 make	 him 	 give	 us 	 our	 fares 	 back.”	 Everybody	
was 	 on	the	side	of 	the	lady 	and	the	dog.
That	 little	 animal 	 sat	 blinking 	 at	 the 	 dim	 lights 	 in 	 happy 	
unconsciousness 	 of	 the 	 rumpus	 of 	 which 	 he 	 was 	 the 	 cause.	
The 	 conductor	 came	 to	 the	 door,	 “What’s 	 your 	 number?”	 said 	
one, 	 	 taking	 out	 a	 pocket-book 	 with 	 a 	 gesture 	 of 	 terrible	 things. 	
“There’s 	 my 	 number,”	 said 	 the 	 conductor 	 imperturbably. 	 “Give	
us	 our	 fares	 back.” 	 “You	 can’t 	 leave 	 us 	 here	 all	 night.” 	 “No	 fares 	
back,” 	said	 the	conductor.
Two 	 or	 three 	 passengers 	 got 	 out 	 and	 disappeared 	 into 	 the 	
night.	 The 	 conductor 	 took	 another 	 turn	 on 	 the 	 pavement, 	 then	
went	 and 	 had 	 a	 talk	 with 	 the	 driver.	 Another 	 bus,	 the 	 last	 on	
the 	 road, 	 sailed 	 by	 indifferent 	 to	 the	 shouts	 of 	 the 	 passengers 	 to 	
stop, 	“They	 stick 	 by	each 	other 	the 	villains,” 	was 	the 	comment.
Someone	 pulled	 the	 bell	 violently.	 That	 brought	 the	 driver	
round 	 to 	 the	 door,	 “Who’s	 conductor 	 of 	 this 	 bus?” 	 he	 said	 and	
paused	 for	 reply. “None 	 coming,”	 he	 returned	 to 	 his 	 seat,	 and 	
resumed 	 beating	 his	 arms	 across 	 his 	 chest. 	 There	 was 	 no	 hope	
in 	 that	 quarter.	 A 	 policeman	 strolled	 up	 and 	 looked 	 in 	 at 	 the 	
door.	 An	 avalanche	 of 	 indignant 	 protests 	 and	 appeals 	 burst	 on	
him. 	 “Well,	 he’s	 got	 his	 rules,	 you 	 know,”	 he	 said.	 “Give 	 your 	
name	 and 	 address.”	 “That’s	 what	 he’s 	 been 	 offered, 	 and 	 he	 won’t	
take	 it.”	 “Oh,”	 said 	 the	 policeman, 	 and 	 he	 went 	 away 	 and	 took 	
his 	 stand	 a 	 few 	 yards 	 down 	 the	 street, 	 where 	 he 	 was 	 joined	 by	
two 	 more	constables.
And 	 still	 the 	 little	 dog	 blinked 	 at 	 the 	 lights, 	 and 	 the	 conductor	
walked 	 to 	 and	 fro	 on	 the	 pavement, 	 like 	 a	 captain 	 on 	 the 	
quarterdeck 	 in	 the 	 hour	 of	 victory.	 A	 young 	 woman,	 whose 	 voice	
had	 risen 	 high	 above	 the	 gale	 inside,	 descended 	 on 	 him 	 with 	 an	
air	 of 	 threatening 	 and	 slaughter. 	 He 	 was 	 immovable 	 as 	 cold	 as 	
the 	 night,	 and	 as 	 hard	 as 	 the 	 pavement.	 She	 passed 	 on	 in 	 a 	 fury 	
of 	 impotence	 to	 the 	 three 	 policemen, 	 who	 stood	 like 	 a	 group 	 of	
statuary	 on	 the 	 street	 watching	 the 	 drama. 	 Then 	 she	 came	 back, 	
avalanche
imperiously
imperturbably
indignant
quarterdeck
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-3.indd   34 27-Jun-2019   04:20:00 PM
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Unit 3 – TWo s toriE s abo Ut Flying 35
Sentences
imperiously 	 beckoned	 to 	 her	 ‘young 	 man’	 who	 had 	 sat 	 a 	 silent	
witness 	 of	 her	 rage, 	 and	 vanished.	 Others	 followed. 	 The	 bus	 was	
emptying. 	 Even	 the 	 dashing 	 young	 fellow	 who	 had 	 demanded	 the 	
number 	 and 	 who	 had 	 declared 	 he 	 would	 see 	 this	 thing 	 through	
if	 he 	 sat 	there 	all	night,	had 	taken	 an 	opportunity 	to 	slip 	away.
Meanwhile 	 the	 Pekinese 	 party	 was 	 passing	 through 	 every	
stage	 as 	 of 	 resistance	 to 	 abject 	 surrender.	 “I’ll 	 go	 on	 the 	 top.” 	
said	 the 	 sealskin	 lady 	 at 	 last. 	 “You	 mustn’t.”	 “I 	 will.” 	 “You’ll	 have 	
pneumonia.” 	
“Let 	 me	 take	 it.” 	 (This 	 from	 the	 man) 	 “Certainly 	 not.”	 She 	
would	 die 	 with	 her	 dog. 	 When	 she	 had	 disappeared 	 up	 the 	 stairs, 	
the 	 conductor 	 came	 back,	 pulled 	 the 	 bell, 	 and	 the	 bus	 went	 on. 	
He	 stood 	 sourly	 triumphant 	 while	 his	 conduct	 was	 savagely 	
discussed 	in	 his	 face 	 by 	the 	remnant 	of	the	party.
Then 	 the	 engine	 struck	 work, 	 and 	 the	 conductor	 went	 to 	 help 	
the 	 driver. 	 It	 was 	 a 	 long 	 job	 and	 presently	 the	 lady	 with 	 the	 dog 	
stole	 down 	 the	 stairs 	 and 	 re-entered	 the	 bus.	 When	 the 	 engine 	
was 	 put 	 right, 	 the 	 conductor 	 came	 back	 and	 pulled 	 the 	 bell. 	
Then	 his 	 eyes 	 fell	 on	 the 	 dog,	 and	 his	 hand	 went	 to	 the	 bell-rope	
again. 	 The	 driver 	 looked	 around,	 the	 conductor	 pointed	 to	 the 	
dog,	 the 	 bus 	 stopped, 	 and 	 the	 struggle	 recommenced	 with	 all	
the 	 original 	 features	 —	 the 	 conductor	 walking 	 the	 pavement, 	 the 	
driver	 smacking	 his	 arms 	 on	 the	 box,	 the	 little	 dog	 blinking	 at 	
the 	 lights, 	 the 	 sealskin	 lady 	 declaring	 that	 she	 would	 not 	 go 	 on 	
the 	 top 	 and	??nally 	going.
“I’ve 	 got	 my 	 rules,” 	 said	 the 	 conductor	 to	 me 	 when	 I	 was 	 the	
last	 passenger 	 left 	 behind. 	 He 	 had 	 won	 his	 victory, 	 but	 felt	 that	
he	 would 	 like	 to	 justify	 himself	 to 	 somebody.	 “Rules,”	 I	 said,“ 	
are	 necessary 	 things,	 but 	 there	 are 	 rules 	 and 	 rules.	 Some 	 are 	
hard 	 and 	 fast	 rules, 	 like 	 the	 rules	 of 	 the	 road,	 which	 cannot 	 be	
broken 	 without	 danger	 to 	 life	 and	 limb. 	 But 	 some	 are 	 only	 rules 	
for	 guidance, 	 which 	 you 	 can	 apply	 or	 wink	 at,	 as 	 common 	 sense 	
dictates, 	 like	 that	 rule 	 about	 the	 dogs.	 They	 are 	 not	 a	 whip,	 put	
in	 your 	 hand	 to	 scourge	 your 	 passengers	 with,	 but	 an 	 authority 	
for	 an 	 emergency.	 They	 are 	 meant	 to	 be	 observed	 in 	 the 	 spirit,	
not	 in	 the 	 letter, 	 for	 the 	 comfort	 and 	 not	 the 	 discomfort	 of 	 the 	
passengers. 	 You	 have	 kept	 the	 rule	 and 	 broken 	 its	 spirit.	 You	
may 	 mix 	 your	 rules 	 with 	 a	 little	 goodwill	 and	 good	 temper.” 	 He	
took	 it 	 very	 well	 and 	 when 	 I	 got	 off	 the	 bus	 he	 said	 “Good 	 night”	
quite	ami ably.
abject
remnant
scourge
s macking
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-3.indd   35 27-Jun-2019   04:20:01 PM
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