Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

Q1. Where did Belinda live?
Ans: Belinda lived in a quaint, little white house surrounded by a lovely garden. She spent much of her time playing with her cherished pets. These included a black kitten named Ink, a grey mouse called Blink, a yellow dog named Mustard, and a dragon named Custard. Despite being labelled a coward, Custard was a loyal companion to Belinda and her other pets.

Q2. What were the names of Belinda’s pets?
Ans: Belinda had four pets: a little black kitten named Ink, a little yellow dog called Mustard, a little grey mouse named Blink, and a dragon known as Custard. While Ink, Mustard, and Blink were brave, Custard was often teased for being a cowardly dragon.

Q3. Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names.
Ans: The characters in the poem include Belinda, who has a little black kitten named Ink, a little grey mouse called Blink, a little yellow dog known as Mustard, and a pet dragon referred to as Custard. Additionally, there is a pirate featured in the story.

Q4. How did the pirate look?
Ans: The pirate was a menacing figure with a fierce expression. He wore a ragged hat and a long, tattered coat. His black beard was unkempt, and he had a distinctive scar on his left cheek. The sight of his two pistols and wooden leg added to the danger that surrounded him.

Q5. Why did Custard, the dragon, cry for a nice, safe cage?
Ans: Custard the dragon, despite being very brave, often cried for a nice, safe cage. This led others to perceive him as cowardly. His tears for a cage could indicate his desire to avoid harming anyone in a moment of anger or to show that a little safety can prevent a disaster. Ultimately, the others believed he cried for a cage simply because he was a coward.

Q6. What did Belinda and her pets hear?
Ans: Belinda and her pets heard a terrifying sound as a pirate broke in through the window. While Belinda and her pets, except for Custard, were frightened and cried for help, Ink, Blink, and Mustard cowardly ran away. In contrast, Custard bravely confronted the pirate and ultimately defeated him.

Q7. What terrified the pirate? Who killed him and how?
Ans: Custard, the dragon, jumped up, snorting and clashing his tail, creating a loud clatter. He attacked the pirate, which terrified him. The pirate fired at Custard but missed. Ultimately, Custard killed him by swallowing him whole, demonstrating that he was indeed brave.

Q8. Write the poetic aspect of the poem “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”.
Ans: The poem The Tale of Custard the Dragon is a humorous narrative written in the ballad style. It features a four-line stanza format with a rhyming scheme of aabb, which is similar to the heroic couplet. The poem employs various similes and has stanzas of differing lengths. The lines are generally long and prosaic, while the first two stanzas serve as a refrain to indicate continuity. Overall, the language used is simple and accessible.

Q9. Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears. Identify two poetic devices used in the above line.
Ans: Simile is one poetic device used in the line "Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears." A simile directly compares two things using words like 'as' or 'like'. The comparison here highlights Belinda's courage by likening it to the ferocity of bears. The second device is alliteration, found in the phrase 'brave, a barrel full of bears'. Alliteration involves the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in closely associated words, enhancing the rhythm and sound of the line.

Q10. Why did Belinda cry for help? Who came to her help?
Ans: Belinda cried for help because she was frightened by the pirate, who brandished pistols and held a bright cutlass in his teeth. His menacing appearance and intentions terrified her. In her moment of fear, it was her pet dragon, Custard, who rushed to her aid.

Q11. How did Belinda’s pets, other than Custard face the pirate?
Ans: All the animals, apart from the dragon, used to boast about their bravery and mock the dragon. However, when the pirate entered the house, everyone became frightened and fled, leaving only Custard, the dragon, to face him.

Q12. How did each of Belinda’s pets react at the sight of the pirate?
Ans: When Belinda and her four pets saw the pirate entering their home, their reactions were quite different. The cat, dog, and mouse, who often boasted about their bravery, quickly ran away and hid. They pretended to be fearless, but in reality, they were frightened. In contrast, Custard, the dragon, bravely confronted the pirate. He attacked and swallowed the pirate, saving everyone from danger. Thus, Custard proved to be the bravest of all the pets.

Q13. Give a brief description of the pirate in the poem The Tale of Custard the Dragon.
Ans: The pirate in the poem 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon' has a formidable presence and makes nasty sounds. He appears frightening, holding a bright cutlass between his teeth and sporting a black beard. Notably, he has a wooden peg for a leg, a common trait among pirates in stories. The pirate carries a pistol in each hand and a liquor bottle, referred to as a 'pocket flagon'. Overall, he is a threatening figure to encounter.

Q14. Belinda was a sweet little girl who lived in her sweet little white house. Who else lived with her in that house?
Ans: Belinda owned a sweet little white house, where she lived with her cherished pets: Ink, Blink, and Mustard. Among them was Custard, a cowardly dragon who often faced teasing from Belinda's friends. However, when a pirate invaded their home and threatened Belinda, Custard surprised everyone by bravely fighting him off. This act proved that he was not as cowardly as they had believed.

Q15. Why did everyone make fun of the dragon?
Ans: In the story 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon', everyone mocks the dragon because he is perceived as cowardly and fearful. While the other animals, like the cat and the dog, boast about their bravery, Custard constantly asks for a safe cage, making him a target for ridicule. However, Custard ultimately demonstrates his true courage by confronting the pirate and saving the day.

Q16. How did they express their admiration for the dragon after the death of the pirate?
Ans: After the death of the pirate, Custard the dragon's companions expressed their admiration by celebrating his bravery. Belinda hugged him, Mustard licked him, and Ink and Blink danced joyfully around him. There was no sadness for the pirate; instead, the dragon was hailed as the hero of the day.

Q17. What did they say about their bravery after the pirate’s death?
Ans: Mustardtwice as brave if he had not felt nervous. Ink and Blink asserted they had been three times as brave as Mustard. However, Custard agreed with them, admitting that they were indeed braver than he was.

Q18. Who among them was brave? How did he show his bravery?
Ans: In the story 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon', the character who showed true bravery was Custard, the dragon. While the knight and the ladies were frightened by the pirate, Custard faced him directly and devoured him. This courageous act revealed that Custard was not the cowardly creature everyone thought he was.

Q19. How is ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ a ballad?
Ans: The poem The Tale of Custard the Dragon is a type of ballad, which is a poem that tells a story. Ballads often focus on themes like adventure, bravery, and romance, and they usually have a musical quality due to their rhyme scheme. This poem possesses these characteristics but does so in a humorous way, acting as a parody of traditional ballads. The poet cleverly highlights these qualities while adding a light-hearted twist.

Q20. How does the poet describe Belinda and her animals’ bravery? How was Custard different from them?
Ans: The poet describes Belinda as being as brave as a barrel full of bears. Her pets, Ink and Blink, are also courageous, chasing lions down the stairs. Mustard is compared to a tiger in a rage, showcasing his bravery. In contrast, Custard the dragon is portrayed as a coward, constantly crying for a nice, safe cage.

Q21. How did the animals make fun of the dragon?
Ans: The animals made fun of the dragon by teasing him and calling him names. Belinda, the little girl, tickled the dragon, while Ink, Blink, and Mustard laughed and nicknamed him Percival. They all sat in a little red wagon, mocking the cowardly dragon.

Q22. Belinda and the other animals have been described as brave. But on seeing the pirate they behaved in a cowardly way. How did they react?
Ans: Belinda and the other animals, who were once seen as brave, reacted with fear upon encountering the pirate. Belinda turned pale and cried out for help. Mustard, the dog, ran away while barking in terror, and Ink, the cat, scurried to the bottom of the house. Meanwhile, the little mouse, Blink, quickly dashed into his hole. The unexpected presence of the pirate frightened them, causing them to lose their earlier bravado.

Q23. What were the names of Belinda’s pets? Do their names reflect their personalities?
Ans: Belinda has four pets: a little black kitten named Ink, a little yellow dog called Mustard, a grey mouse named Blink, and a dragon known as Custard. Their names reflect their colours and personalities. For instance, Ink is black like ink, Mustard is yellow like mustard flowers, and Custard, being cowardly, shares a name with the soft dessert, suggesting a lack of bravery.

Q24. How is the bravery of Belinda and her pets described in the poem? Do they prove their courage and bravery?
Ans: In the poem, Belinda and her pets are depicted as courageous characters. Belinda is described as being as brave as a barrel of bears, while her pets, Ink and Blink, can chase lions down the stairs. Mustard is compared to a tiger in a rage. However, Custard, the dragon, is initially seen as timid and cowardly. Ironically, it is Custard who ultimately proves to be the bravest, as he confronts and defeats the pirate, while the others show their cowardice.

Q25. Describe the outward appearance of Custard, the dragon. Why did he always cry for a nice safe cage?
Ans: Custard the dragon had a fearsome appearance, boasting big sharp teeth and spikes along his back. His mouth resembled a fireplace, and his nose looked like a chimney. With daggers on his toes, he seemed powerful. However, despite this intimidating look, Custard was actually quite cowardly. He often cried for a nice safe cage because he lacked the courage that his friends displayed.

Q26. Why did Belinda tickle Custard mercilessly? Why was he teased as `Percival’?
Ans: Belinda had a very low opinion of Custard, viewing him as a coward. She often taunted and tickled him for his timid nature. The other pets—Ink, Blink, and Mustard—joined in the mockery, calling him Percival, a name referencing the brave knight of King Arthur, to highlight Custard's lack of courage.

Q27. How did Custard face the pirate differently than Belinda and her pets?

Ans: While Belinda was terrified of the pirate, her other pets also acted cowardly. They ran away in fear, but Custard faced the pirate like a hero. He attacked the pirate with his tall tail and pounced on him like a robin on an insect. In no time, Custard gobbled him up completely.

Q28. Why did Belinda and her pets prove ungrateful to Custard who killed the pirate? Why did they again start calling him timid and cowardly?
Ans: Belinda and her pets initially showed some appreciation for Custard's bravery after he defeated the pirate. Belinda hugged him, and the other pets celebrated around him. However, this moment was short-lived. They quickly returned to boasting about their own supposed bravery. Their ingratitude became evident as they dismissed Custard's heroic actions and continued to call him timid and cowardly.

Q29. How did Belinda and her pets behave when the pirate was killed?
Ans: Belinda was overjoyed and embraced Custard affectionately. Her pets celebrated the pirate's demise by dancing around Custard in delight. However, they did not acknowledge Custard's bravery; instead, they indulged in self-praise, claiming they would have been braver if they hadn't been scared.

Q30. What lesson or message does the poet seem to give to the readers?
Ans: The poet conveys a clear message: outer appearances and physical strength do not define true bravery. Instead, one must possess mental strength and self-confidence to achieve greatness. Although the dragon, Custard, had significant physical power and defeated the pirate, he was still ridiculed for his timidity and perceived cowardice.

Q31. How did Custard prove that he was not a coward?
Ans: When faced with the pirate, all of Belinda's pets fled in fear, including Belinda herself. In contrast, Custard the dragon stood his ground and confronted the pirate bravely. He attacked the pirate with his tail and pounced on him like a robin would on an insect. These courageous actions demonstrated that Custard was not a coward.