Unseen Passage- 11 | English Language for Grade 8 PDF Download

11. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

The seagull was afraid to fly. The vast expanse of water, stretched beneath, frightened him. He saw his brothers and sister fly over it but he could never muster the courage to fly. He ran to the edge of the ledge, flapped his wings but felt they would never support him, so he just ran back into the little hole and hid there. His parents tried their best to make him fly. They scolded him for not making an attempt to fly. They even threatened him that he would be left alone on the ledge to starve, but all their efforts were futile. The whole day the seagull watched his brothers flying about with their parents. He watched his brothers being taught to skim the waves and dive for fish but he never made an attempt. He was left alone. The seagull had not eaten for days. He saw his mother tearing at a piece of fish. Seeing her the seagull cackled and kept crying ‘ga,ga’ begging her to bring the fish but she paid no heed to him. Suddenly, he uttered a joyous scream because she was flying towards him with the piece of dead fish in her beak but she did not come near him. She halted when she was just opposite him abreast of the ledge. The seagull was desperate and hunger made him dive at the fish. He fell into space and suddenly his wings spread outwards. His wings cut through the air and he gradually soared upwards. He learnt to fly.

I. On the basis of your reading the passage complete the following sentences:

(i) The seagull could never muster the courage to fly because ______.

vast expanse of water stretched beneath frightened him.

(ii) He would go to the edge of the ridge, flap his wings but run back because ______.

he could never muster the courage to fly.

II. Choose the most appropriate option and complete the sentences:

(i) The sea-gull’s parents tried their best to make him learn to fly by ______.
(a) threatening him that he would be left alone and soon starve
(b) not scolding him
(c) pampering and encouraging him
(d) not scaring him and promising to be with him

Correct Answer is Option (a)

(ii) The seagull was forced to fly because he ______.
(a) wanted to catch a herring
(b) wanted to join his brothers
(c) was desperate and hungry
(d) wanted to overcome his fear

Correct Answer is Option (c)

(iii) The mother halted just opposite him, because she ______.
(a) wanted him to fly and take the dead fish
(b) did not want to give him the dead fish
(c) wanted him to fall into the water below
(d) wanted him to feel ashamed of himself

Correct Answer is Option (a)

III. The synonym of the word useless from the passage is: (para-1)
(i) futile
(ii) desperate
(iii) skim
(iv) attempt

Correct Answer is Option (ii) ridge

IV. The antonym of the word plunged from the passage is: (para-2)
(i) soared
(ii) stretched
(iii) abreast
(iv) threatened

Correct Answer is Option (i) soared