Class 10 English Chapter 1 Practice Question Answers - First Flight

Q1.  What is the poetess doing?
(a) Watching trees
(b) Writing long letters
(c) Weeding
(d) Worrying about deforestation
Ans: (b)
The poetess is writing long letters. In the poem "The Bangle Sellers," the poetess describes the bangle sellers engaging in various activities, and in the last stanza, she mentions that she hardly mentions the bangles to them, indicating that she is busy writing long letters.

Q2. Choose the correct option that mentions the correct poetic device against the correct example.
(i) Simile: long cramped boughs
Metaphor: like newly discharged patients
(ii) Personification: small twigs stiff with exertion
Simile: like newly discharged patients
(iii) Refrain: under the roof
Simile: leaves strain toward the glass
(iv) Personification: like newly discharged patients
Refrain: half-dazed, moving
(a) Option (i)
(b) Option (ii)
(c) Option (iii)
(d) Option (iv)
Ans: (b)
The correct option is (b). In the poem "The Bangle Sellers," the poetic devices are used as follows: Personification is seen in "small twigs stiff with exertion," where the twigs are personified as if they are exerting effort. Simile is used in "like newly discharged patients," comparing the cramped boughs to patients released from confinement.

Q3. Long-cramped and half-dazed are combinations of two words joined together to form compound words.
Choose the option that DOES NOT correctly fit the definition of the same.
i. discharged
ii. backstage
iii. comeback
iv. toward
v. knighthood
(a) i, iii,v
(b) ii, iii, iv
(c) ii, iii, v
(d) i, ii, iv
Ans: (c)
The word "toward" in option (iv) does not fit the definition of a compound word. A compound word is formed by combining two or more words to create a new meaning. However, "toward" is a preposition, and it is not a compound word as per the given definition.

Q4. The phrase, “newly discharged patients” suggests that the trees were
(a) angry or irritated because they were not receiving medical help or remedy, but now they’re cured and want to stay away from clinics.
(b) discontent or disturbed and in need of support from the clinic staff, but now their complaints have been addressed, and they are content to live their lives.
(c) misunderstood or mistreated and in need of medical attention or care, but now they’re healthy and ready to step out and promote the facility.
(d) unwell or unhappy and in need of medical help or remedy, but now they’re cured and ready to venture out and live their lives.
Ans: (d)
The phrase "newly discharged patients" suggests that the trees were unwell or unhappy and in need of medical help or remedy, but now they're cured and ready to venture out and live their lives. It is used metaphorically to convey that the trees have been released from confinement, like patients discharged from a hospital after recovery.

Q5. The poem talks about trees breaking out of confined spaces. This is a reference to women-
(a) shifting away from their domestic confines.
(b) seeking revenge for their age-old oppressions.
(c) realizing the difference between friends and enemies.
(d) focusing on their family and home
Ans: (a)
The poem talks about trees breaking out of confined spaces, and this is a reference to women shifting away from their domestic confines. The poetess uses the metaphor of trees to symbolize women who are breaking free from the limitations of societal norms and exploring the world beyond their traditional roles.

Q6. The poet talks about the house as
(a) a safe sanctuary from predators.
(b) a place of confinement.
(c) a representation of family.
(d) a concrete alternative to a natural on
Ans: (b)
The poet talks about the house as a place of confinement. In the poem, "The Bangle Sellers," the poetess uses the metaphor of the house to represent the confined space where women are traditionally expected to stay. The idea is that the women, like the trees, are breaking free from this confined space.

Q7. In the line – The night is fresh, the whole moon shines in a sky still open
The poet uses the indefinite article for ‘sky’ instead of the definite one. This is so because the poet is referring to
(a) the ceiling of the verandah as ‘a sky’ versus the door kept open, being ‘the sky’.
(b) some part of the sky still left open for women to explore, away from limitations set by patriarchal norms.
(c) the opportunities symbolized by an open sky outside can be utilized by a single woman.
(d) the portion of the sky bathed in moonlight versus the part that is still dark.
Ans: (b)
The poet uses the indefinite article "a" for 'sky' instead of the definite one "the" because the poet is referring to some part of the sky still left open for women to explore, away from limitations set by patriarchal norms. It symbolizes the opportunities and freedom that women can seek beyond societal constraints.

Q8. Choose the option that DOES NOT state the meaning of the underlined word
‘I scarcely mention…’
(a) tactfully
(b) hardly
(c) barely
(d) only just
Ans: (a)
The word "scarcely" means "barely" or "hardly." The option (a) "tactfully" does not convey the correct meaning of "scarcely." In the context of the poem, the poetess mentions that she barely mentions the bangles to the bangle sellers.

Q9. The word “boughs” mean
(a) seeds
(b) fruits
(c) branches
(d) roots
Ans: (c)
The word "boughs" means "branches." In the context of the poem, it refers to the long and cramped branches of the trees.

Q10. What does the poetess not mention in the letters?
(a) The arrival of the forest from the house.
(b) The departure of the forest from the office.
(c) The departure of the forest from the house.
(d) None of the above
Ans: (c)
The poetess does not mention the departure of the forest from the house in the letters. The poem talks about the forest moving away from the house and the office, but she only mentions the arrival of the forest at the office, not the departure from the house.

Q11. What do the roots do all night?
(a) try to free themselves
(b) try to respire
(c) try to appear long
(d) none of the above
Ans: (a)
The roots of the trees try to free themselves all night. The poetess uses personification to depict the trees as if they are making efforts to break free from their confinement.

Q12. Name the literary device used in “The moon is broken like a mirror,”
(a) metaphor
(b) simile
(c) alliteration
(d) imagery
Ans: (b)
The literary device used in "The moon is broken like a mirror" is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using "like" or "as." In this line, the moon is compared to a broken mirror using the word "like."

Q13. What rushes to meet the trees?
(a) wind
(b) light
(c) Sun
(d) Moon
Ans: (a)
The wind rushes to meet the trees. The poetess personifies the wind as if it is in a hurry to meet the trees, suggesting a strong interaction between the elements of nature.

Q14. By morning, the forest will be full of _____
(a) insects
(b) Sun
(c) trees
(d) birds
Ans: (c)
By morning, the forest will be full of trees. The poetess refers to the trees as the forest's inhabitants, and by morning, the forest will be full of them.

Q15. What does “half dazed” mean
(a) half-shocked
(b) half-asleep
(c) confused
(d) All of the above
Ans: (d)
"Half-dazed" means being in a state of both confusion and shock or half-asleep. The trees are depicted as half-dazed as they are breaking free from their confined space and adjusting to the new environment outside.