Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

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Q1. “Paper has more patience than people.” Elucidate.

Ans: Anne Frank often felt lonely despite having a loving family and friends. While she could discuss everyday topics with them, she struggled to share her deeper feelings. She longed for a patient listener who could understand her emotions but found that people lacked the patience to truly listen. This made her feel as though she had no one to confide in. To express her thoughts and ease her emotional burden, Anne decided to keep a diary. Unlike people, a diary provides the opportunity to express thoughts freely without judgment, offers a sense of companionship that never tires or rejected, and creates a safe space to share personal feelings without fear. This is why Anne Frank famously stated that paper has more patience than people.

Q2. Give a brief sketch of Anne’s life.

Ans: Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who faced immense challenges during World War II. She lived with her parents in Germany until the rise of Hitler's Nazi party, which targeted Jews. In 1933, the Frank family fled to the Netherlands to escape persecution. However, in 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands, leading to increased arrests of Jews.

In July 1942, the Frank family went into hiding, living secretly in the upper floors of her father's office for 25 months. They were supported by non-Jewish friends who provided food. Anne had begun writing in her diary before they went into hiding. Unfortunately, in August 1944, they were discovered, arrested, and sent to concentration camps.

Tragically, Anne, her sister Margot, and her mother died in a camp, while her father survived. After the war, he published Anne's diary, which details the struggles faced by her family and other Jews. The diary offers a poignant glimpse into Anne's life as a schoolgirl before they went into hiding.

Q3. Why did Anne Frank maintain a diary?

Ans: Anne Frank chose to keep a diary because she felt she had no true friends. She believed that paper had more patience than people, allowing her to express her thoughts and feelings freely. Although she had caring parents and a sister, she struggled to discuss anything beyond everyday topics.

Key reasons for her decision included her lack of a confidant, as her conversations with friends were limited to ordinary matters. She felt that her situation was unlikely to change and wanted to create a special bond with her diary, which she named 'Kitty'. Through her writing, Anne aimed to share her innermost thoughts and feelings, something she found difficult to do with those around her.

Q4. What does Anne say about her parents, elder sister, and her stay in the Montessori School?

Ans: Anne describes her father as adorable. He married her mother when he was thirty-six and she was twenty-five. Anne's elder sister, Margot, was born in Frankfurt in 1926, three years before Anne, who was born on 12 June 1929. Anne lived in Frankfurt until she was four. In 1933, her father emigrated to Holland, and her mother, Edith Hollander Frank, joined him. During this time, Anne and Margot stayed with their grandmother in Aachen. Margot moved to Holland in December, and Anne followed in February.

Anne began attending the Montessori School and remained there until she was six, when she started in the first form. In the sixth form, her teacher was Mrs Kuperus, the headmistress. They shared a strong bond, and both were in tears when Anne left the school.

Q5. Anne had loving parents and a number of friends. Even then she thought that she was alone. Why?

Ans: Anne Frank was a thirteen-year-old girl who, despite having a loving family and many friends, felt alone in the world. Several factors contributed to her sense of isolation. Firstly, she lacked a true friend with whom she could share her innermost thoughts. While she enjoyed spending time with her friends, their conversations often revolved around ordinary matters, leaving her feeling disconnected. Anne found it difficult to express her deeper emotions, which led to a sense of intimacy missing from her relationships.

To cope with her loneliness, Anne chose to make her diary her confidant, naming it 'Kitty'. She believed that Kitty would understand her better than anyone else, allowing her to share her experiences and feelings in a way she couldn't with others.

Q6. Why was the whole class shaking in its boots? How does Anne Frank describe the behavior of her classmates?

Ans: The entire class was nervous due to an upcoming meeting where teachers would decide who would be promoted and who would be held back. This anxiety led to half the class making bets on their chances of passing. Anne and her friend G.N. found it amusing to see classmates C.N. and Jacques wager their entire holiday savings. Throughout the day, students engaged in constant speculation, debating who would pass or fail. Anne felt frustrated, observing that many students were not performing well and believed that about a quarter should be held back. The unpredictability of the teachers added to the stress of the situation.

Despite the chaos, Anne was not overly worried about herself or her friends, as she felt confident they would pass, except for her uncertainty regarding maths. All they could do was wait and encourage each other not to lose heart.

Q7. Describe the three essays written by Anne Frank.

Ans: Anne Frank wrote three essays in response to her Maths teacher, Mr Keesing, who was annoyed by her constant talking in class. Here’s a brief overview of each essay:

In the first essay, titled A Chatterbox, Anne used humour to defend her talking habit. She argued that talking is a natural trait among students and suggested it was something she inherited from her mother.

After continuing to talk in class, Mr Keesing assigned her a second essay called An Incorrigible Chatterbox. Anne wrote this essay without any punishment for two lessons, cleverly handling the situation.

For her third essay, Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mistress Chatterbox, Anne crafted a whimsical story in verse about a mother duck and a father swan who killed their ducklings for quacking too much. Mr Keesing enjoyed this essay so much that he shared it with the class and even with other classes.

Q8. Anne believed that paper has more patience than people. She could confide more in her diary than in people. Why did she feel so? Was she free from bias and stereotypes? Explain in 100-120 words the values we need to imbibe from the diary as a friend.

Ans: Anne was a sensible and intelligent girl who believed that paper has more patience than people. She felt she could confide more in her diary than in others because paper can keep secrets without judgment. Additionally, she lacked a true friend to share her thoughts and feelings with, as people might not be interested in her emotions or available when needed. Unlike people, paper is free from bias and stereotypes, making it a more reliable companion for her. For Anne, her diary was a true friend, offering her the understanding and support she craved.

Q9. Mr Keesing punished Anne by giving her an essay to write. Did he lack empathy and compassion? Was it not in his attitude to respect differences among the students? What values would you like to build in him and why? Write in 100-120 words.

Ans: Mr. Keesing's frustration with Anne stemmed from her tendency to be talkative. Despite multiple warnings, she continued to chat, prompting him to assign her an essay as punishment. This action reflects a lack of empathy and compassion on his part. A good teacher should recognise that students have different needs and learning styles. There are various methods to engage and teach students effectively. Anne's essays ultimately changed his perspective, illustrating that communication is a natural trait among students. It is the teacher's responsibility to adapt their approach to better meet the needs of their students.

Q10. Anne wanted to write convincing arguments to prove the necessity of talking. What does this tell you about her? Did she possess a sense of freedom? Explain the values she possessed to justify herself in 100-120 words.

Ans: Anne Frank's essay on being a chatterbox highlights her strong belief in the significance of communication. She argued that talking is a natural trait for students, influenced by her mother's similar behavior. Even after being punished by Mr. Keesing, Anne cleverly defended her talkative nature.

She expressed her thoughts through a poem, using a story about a father swan to illustrate her point. This creative approach changed Mr. Keesing's attitude, resulting in a more relaxed classroom environment. Anne's ability to articulate her views demonstrates her intelligence and sensitivity. Her sense of humour also shines through, making her arguments engaging.

Q11. Anne justified her being a chatterbox in her essay. Do you agree that she dares to defy the injustice? What values do you learn from Anne’s character through this? Write in 100-120 words.

Ans: Anne Frank was a bright and sensible 13-year-old girl known for her talkative nature. When her maths teacher, Mr Keesing, punished her for this trait, she responded by writing three essays on being a chatterbox. In her essays, Anne argued that talking is a natural quality of students. She creatively expressed her feelings, even writing her final essay in verse, which depicted ducklings punished by their father for quacking too much. Her clever approach changed Mr Keesing's attitude, demonstrating her courage to stand up for her beliefs. From Anne's character, we learn the importance of self-expression, creativity, and the value of standing up for oneself in the face of injustice.

Q12. On the one hand, Anne Frank says that she is not all alone in the world. On the other hand, she says that she seems ‘to have everything, except my one true friend’. Why can’t she confide in and come closer to her friends?

Ans: Anne Frank seems to have a split personality. On the outside, she has about thirty friends, loving parents, and a caring sister. Yet, she feels deeply lonely.

She finds it difficult to discuss anything beyond everyday topics with her friends. This inability to share personal issues creates a lack of trust in her relationships. Anne believes that “paper has more patience than people,” which is why she turns to her diary for comfort. She seeks to express her most profound emotions and thoughts through her writings, referring to her diary as her only true friend, 'Kitty'.

Anne Frank

Q13. Give a brief character sketch of Mr Keesing highlighting the transformation that comes to him in the end.

Ans: Mr. Keesing was an old-fashioned maths teacher at Anne Frank's school, known for his strictness and minimal tolerance for talking in class. Initially, he was frustrated with Anne due to her excessive chatter. He issued several warnings and assigned her essays as punishment, including topics like 'A Chatterbox' and 'An Incorrigible Chatterbox'. However, after reading her creative story about ducklings, he began to appreciate the humour in her arguments.

By the end of the story, Mr. Keesing experienced a notable transformation. He became more relaxed, allowing Anne to speak freely in class and ceasing to assign her extra homework. He even started to make jokes, revealing a lighter side to his character. This change illustrates how humour and understanding can bridge the gap between strictness and openness in teaching.