Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

Short Answer Questions

Q1: Describe the appearance of the dragon. (CBSE 2016)
Ans: Custard, the dragon, possessed all of the characteristics of a dragon that could make him powerful, frightening, and brave. It had large, sharp teeth and spikes on its back that could easily frighten anyone. Custard could also spit fire, turning his mouth into a fireplace and his nose into a chimney. His toes were so sharp and pointed that they could cut through anything like a dagger.

Q2: Writers use words to give us a picture or image without actually saying what they mean. Can you trace some images used in the poem?
Ans: Writers always use phrases and words that don’t directly tell us what they mean, but always hint at a meaning. Such words or phrases are used to trigger our own imaginations to paint a picture of what they mean. The use of such images in the poem is as follows: “mouth like a fireplace”, “chimney for a nose”, “brave as a barrel full of bears”, “brave as a furious tiger”, “went at the pirate”. “like Robin at a worm, etc.

Q3: Is there a hidden message that the poet is wishing to convey or do you think that entertainment is the sole purpose of writing this poem ?
Ans: The message in the poem may be interpreted differently by different readers. The story illustrates a fundamental truth: the true test of courage occurs during a crisis. The dragon’s strength was never displayed, but it was demonstrated in action when necessary.

Q4: What do you think changed the attitude of the other animals and that of Belinda towards the dragon ?
Ans: Custard, the dragon, initially commanded no respect from Belinda and the other pets due to its cowardice; however, when the house was attacked by an armed pirate and all others panicked and ran for shelter, the dragon savagely attacked and ate the pirate. As a result, the other animals recognised his value and began to genuinely respect him.

Q5: How does the poet describe Belinda and her animals’ bravery? How was Custard different from them?
Ans: According to the poet, Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears. Ink and Blink could chase lions down the stairs. Mustard was as fearless as a raging tiger. Custard, on the other hand, was a coward. He kept pleading for a nice secure cage.

Q6: How did the animals make fun of the dragon?
Ans: They laughed at the dragon. The dragon was tamed by Belinda. She gave him a strong tickle. He was referred to as Percival by Ink, Blink, and Mustard. They laughed at the timid dragon as they sat in the red wagon.

Q7: How did the pirate react when the dragon attacked him?
Ans: The pirate looked at the dragon with an open-mouth. He swallowed some liquor from his pocket flagon. He fired two bullets. But they did not hit the dragon. The dragon attacked him and swallowed him.

Q8: Where did Belinda live? Which animals lived with her?
Ans: Belinda lived in a small white house. Some animals also lived with her. They were: a little black kitten, a little gray mouse, a little yellow dog, and a little pet dragon.

Q9: How did Custard prove to be brave when the pirate came?
Ans: Custard, the dragon, jumped and purred like an engine. He hit the pirate with his tail like iron rods. There was a variety of clatter, clank and jangle. He attacked the pirate like a Robin attacks worms.

Q10: Was everyone really as brave as they claimed?
Ans: Except for Custard, Belinda and her three pets were very proud of their bravery, but they were not truly brave. Custard was the only one who had the courage to confront the pirate, so he was the true hero.

Long Answer Questions
Q11: Everyone believed that Custard was a coward; but when an opportunity came he showed exemplary courage. Based on your reading of the poem, write a paragraph on the topic: ‘Courage is of Mind, not of Muscle’.
Ans: Mark Twain once said that “Courage is the resistance to fear, the control of fear – not the absence of fear”. Courage is not just a display of strength, but the ability to overcome fear and not let it paralyze your mind. Most of us tend to generalize and label people who are afraid of physical strength as cowards.
But the truth is that those who allow physical aggression are the most insecure. David was hardly a quarter of Goliath, the giant. But David was able to kill him. He used his mind and excelled everywhere in the army. Therefore we must remember that courage is a matter of mind, not muscle.

Q12: When the pirate attacked Belinda, all of her brave friends—Ink, Blink and Mustard ran away. Only Custard fought with the enemy. Based on your reading of the poem, write a paragraph on the topic: ‘A friend in Need is a Friend Indeed’.
Ans: Man is a social animal and we have all survived through the process of socialization through civilization. The beginning of any friendship is when one tries to date the other. But not all socializing leads to friendship. Some people pass us by on life’s journey and some stay behind and watch us grow. Those who leave when the clouds part are the ones who are never left behind when we need them most. A true friend is one who is always with you no matter how good or bad the situation is. That is why it is rightly said that those who pass the test of friendship, that is, those who stand by us in our most difficult times, are true friends. After all, a friend in need is indeed a friend.

Q13: ‘Appearances are deceptive’ is an apt summation of the poem, ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon.’ Elucidate.
Ans: Although Belinda’s pet dragon looked fierce, she thought he was a coward at heart. In comparison, the other pets boasted of their bravery, chasing lions and howling tigers, while the dragon only whined about a safe cage to hide inside. The appearance of the pirate showed the true value of the dragon to other creatures. The dragon responded to the pirate’s threats by barking at him, snapping his steel tail, and finally devouring him. After the enemy was defeated, the animals appeared and made lame excuses for not being able to face the pirate. In true warrior spirit, the dragon grandly declared that he was truly a coward, exposing their weakness.

Q14: Do you find ‘The Tale of Custard the Dragon’ to be a serious or a light-hearted poem? Give reasons to support your answer.
Ans: “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” is a very light and fun poem for everyone to enjoy. The way the poem is written with a specific rhyme scheme makes it very easy and enjoyable to read. The poet even uses spelling mistakes to maintain the rhyme scheme. The characteristics of Belinda and her pets described in the poem make it quite funny. Belinda’s courage was compared to a barrel full of bears. All small creatures, such as a kitten and a mouse, are so brave that they can frighten away a lion, and the courage of a dog is like the fury of a tiger. The biggest of them, the dragon, is the only one who is presented as a coward and a soft creature who is looking for a cage for himself, which is very ironic, so the poem becomes funny.

Q15: The dragon, Custard, was considered a coward. The humble dragon proved his bravery in adversity. Analyze that certain qualities like bravery and courage are situational and spontaneous. Express your views concerning the poem.
Ans: Custard’s humility won the heart of the reader because he showed true courage and did not show off like Belinda and her other pets. Everyone boasted of their bravery, but when they faced real danger, only Custard dared to face it. And he showed his bravery by running against the pirate and not killing him. Qualities such as courage and bravery can only be tested when one finds oneself in a dangerous situation. Therefore these characteristics are situational, as the example of Custard shows. Custard was always looking for comfort, but that didn’t mean he was a coward.

Q16: Do you think that one should be made fun of because of their preferences and choices in life? Explain in the context of Custard, the dragon.
Ans: It’s not right to make fun of someone based on their lifestyle and choices. Custard, the dragon, always wanted comfort and safety for himself, and therefore always looked for a nice safe cage for himself. Belinda and the other pets made fun of him because they thought he was a coward. Custard proved that just because he likes comfort doesn’t mean he’s a coward. He was the only one who dared to face the pirate and kill him. He was down to earth and did not boast of himself. He wanted to keep his friends so he did not show them down.

Q17: ‘Bravery is spontaneous’. Explain with reference to the poem.
Ans: Custard was really brave and not boastful like Belinda and her other pets. Custard had the courage to face real danger while everyone else was just bragging about their bravery. Custard confronted and killed the pirate, and he proved his bravery by not running away. Courage and bravery are qualities that emerge when a person faces a dangerous situation. These properties are therefore spontaneous, as seen in the example of Custard.
This can be proven through an incident that took place in the poem. When the pirate arrived, all of the pets went into hiding, it was the cowardly dragon, Custard, who came to their aid. In rage, he leapt in front of the pirate, making huge engine-like noises. He moved and made clattering sounds like an iron rod hitting the walls of a dungeon prison. He followed the pirate, making dangerous noises, like a robin following a worm to eat it, thus proving his bravery.

Q18: Custard was discriminated against, bullied and made fun of. Such behavior often has a disastrous impact on the victims and etches a permanent scar on their minds. Write opinions of Wanda and Mandela on this issue.
Wanda: In my personal opinion,…………..(continue)
Nelson Mandela: I strongly believe that………..(continue) (CBSE QB, 2020)
Ans: Wanda: In my personal opinion, bullying and teasing can leave a person depressed for life. Trust can never be regained, especially when it is traumatized. Teasing that seems funny to the perpetrator can destroy the victim’s positive mindset. The world is full of bad people. Moreover, when the bully succeeds, he becomes confident and continues to bully people. Such incidents should be reported immediately.
Nelson Mandela: I strongly believe that people who are victims of bullying can learn to deal with these situations themselves if they get the right help. Therefore, a person must be taught to take revenge on the bully. and at the same time they should be taught that the weaker should not be tempted to show them strength. The oppressor should not be oppressed and the victim should protest against it

Q19: Being impressed by Custard’s feat, the young seagull’s sister wrote a letter to Custard seeking advice on addressing the situation with her young brother. Write Custard’s response to this letter. Base the advice from his experiences. (CBSE QB,2020)
You may begin like this:
Dear Ms. Seagull
Thank you for seeking me out. I’m humbled. Based on my limited experiences, I feel………………..
Ans: 
Dear Mrs. Ms. Seagull 
Thank you for seeking me out. I’m humbled. Based on my limited experiences, I feel that what a person really has can only be proven in extremely difficult times. In my case, Belinda and the other pets didn’t think I was a coward, but I wasn’t aware of my own bravery either. I only saw Belinda cry out for help when she saw the pirate come in; I knew I had to do it at any cost. So, without thinking, I attacked the pirate with all my strength. 
I also believe that if your younger brother finds himself in a situation where he has no choice but to fly, he would definitely step up. He didn’t know too much about the courage he had in him, nor did I. But soon he proved himself to everyone.
You need to wait for the day when your brother feels the need to be brave. That day, he will show to himself that he has the courage to face the challenge.
Yours Sincerely
Custard

Q20: Custard though mocked for his cowardice, displayed courage and was the one who saved the day in the end.
Pick a character from any of the units (lessons/poems) in First Flight, who displayed similar characteristics, like Custard and overcame a troubling issue?
What similarities and differences do you find between the character and Custard? (CBSE QB,2020)
Ans: Custard, the dragon is portrayed as a timid dragon. He is also a humble dragon, pure in character. He never boasted about his bravery. Courage can be measured at the time of a serious situation. And custard proved that he was the most courageous among all by not running away from danger.
According to me, the similar characteristics, like Custard, can be seen in Wanda Petronski from the chapter “The Hundred Dresses’ written by EL. Bsor Ester. Wanda was very shy and quiet. She did not talk to anyone and hardly spoke anything in class or laughed. She quietly sat in the last row of the class with naughty boys so that nobody noticed her. Everybody teased her in class for her dress and shoes every day. In anger, she claimed to have a hundred dresses and six pairs of shoes in her closet, however, she wore the same dress to school, everyday. She was very determined and humble. She showed her determination in drawing competitions by displaying a hundred sketches of dresses that she had previously claimed to own. She possessed a great capacity for forgiveness and extending friendship. She, too, overcame a troubling issue like Custard did, with humility.