Class 10 English Chapter 1 Practice Question Answers - First Flight

Q1. Identify the most likely tone of the poet in the lines:
‘To say that for destruction ice/Is also great’
(a) sarcastic
(b) serious
(c) amused
(d) celebratory
Ans: (a)
Explanation: The line uses the word “great” in an ironic way. The poet appears to mock the idea that ice-something usually linked with coldness and stillness-could be praised as a force of destruction. This ironic contrast between the tone of praise and the subject being described shows a sarcastic attitude rather than a serious or celebratory one.

Q2. Select the option that correctly classifies the connotations of fire and ice, as suggested in the poem.
(I) rage 
(II) violence 
(III) indifference 
(IV) hate 
(V) greed
(a) Fire – III, IV; Ice – I, II, V
(b) Fire – II, V; Ice -I, III, IV
(c) Fire -I,III, V; Ice – II, IV
(d) Fire – I, II, V; Ice – III, IV
Ans: (d)
Explanation: In the poem, fire stands for heated human feelings such as rage and actions that cause harm (violence), and it can also represent consuming desire or greed. Ice, by contrast, represents emotional coldness - indifference - which can harden into hate. Option (d) matches these symbolic associations correctly.

Q3. Pick the option that is NOT TRUE about the poet according to the extract.
The poet
(a) is inclined to believe that the world would most likely end with fire.
(b) has heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in all likelihood.
(c) preaches love and kindness to combat the spread of hate among all.
(d) declares the power of ice to be as destructive as that of fire.
Ans: (c)
Explanation: The poet clearly states a preference for fire as the likelier end and mentions that some people favour ice, so (a) and (b) are true. The poet also acknowledges that ice can be as destructive as fire, so (d) is true. There is no line in the extract in which the poet explicitly preaches love and kindness as a remedy; therefore (c) is not true according to the extract.

Q4.  Choose the CORRECT statement about the given poem.
(a) Fire and ice are images – they help the readers visualise the power of nature over man.
(b) Fire and ice are symbols – not of natural disasters but of humanity’s ability to create disasters of its own.
(c) Fire and ice are elements – not of nature but man-made and possess the ability to create havoc for mankind.
(d) Fire and ice are agents – they change the thinking of mankind from negative to positive and bring harmony.
Ans: (b)
Explanation: The poem uses fire and ice as symbols for human qualities: desire and passion for fire, and coldness or hatred for ice. These symbols are meant to show how human emotions and actions can lead to destructive outcomes, so the statement in (b) correctly describes their role in the poem.

Q5. “Some say the world will end in fire”. Identify the poetic device.
(a) Alliteration
(b) Assonance
(c) Antithesis
(d) Anaphora
Ans: (a)
Explanation: The repetition of the initial consonant sound “s” in “Some say” is an example of alliteration. This device gives a musical quality to the line. (By contrast, assonance repeats vowel sounds, antithesis contrasts ideas, and anaphora repeats words at the beginnings of lines.)

Q6. “Fire” is a metaphor for-
(a) desire
(b) dislike
(c) distaste
(d) revulsion
Ans: (a)
Explanation: In the poem, fire symbolises intense human feeling such as desire or passion. Like a fire that burns and consumes, desire can lead people to actions that may be destructive if uncontrolled.

Q7. “I hold with those who favour fire” . Identify the poetic device.
Hint- It is a figure of speech that is characterised by the use of words having similar vowel sounds consecutively.
(a) Alliteration
(b) Assonance
(c) Antithesis
(d) Anaphora
Ans: (b)
Explanation: The line repeats the “o” vowel sound in words such as “hold,” “those,” “who,” and “favour.” This repetition of vowel sounds is called assonance, and it creates a flowing, musical effect. It is different from alliteration, which repeats consonant sounds.

Q8. Which option correctly replaces the underlined phrase in the given line from Fire and Ice?
I hold with those who favour fire.
(a) am as experienced as
(b) strongly disagree with
(c) have the same opinion as
(d) habitually avoid
Ans: (c)
Explanation: The phrase “I hold with” means “I agree with” or “I share the same opinion as.” Therefore, option (c) “have the same opinion as” is the correct replacement.

Q9. “Ice” is a metaphor for-
(a) hatred
(b) love
(c) esteem
(d) admiration
Ans: (a)
Explanation: In the poem, ice symbolises emotional coldness and lack of feeling, which is closely linked to hatred. The hard, frozen quality of ice is used to suggest how indifference or cruelty can destroy just as effectively as passionate violence.

Q10. The poem is a _________, put across by the poet.
(a) powerful warning
(b) heartfelt apology
(c) earnest appeal
(d) vengeful threat
Ans: (a)

Explanation: The poem presents a concise reflection on how destructive human emotions such as uncontrolled desire and hatred can be. By highlighting how both fire and ice can bring about the end of the world, the poet offers a powerful warning about the dangers of these emotions.