First Flight VBQs

Chapter 1: Letter to God

Q1. How does the character of Lencho inspire us to have faith in God and remain calm in
difficult situation?
Answer
Lencho, a hardworking and poor farmer, always worked as an ox in his field. He worked very
hard to support his family and fulfil his needs. He was an optimist, but when his crops were
completely destroyed by the hailstorm, he became worried about his family. But, he believed
that God would help him in this difficult situation.
Lencho was an innocent man who did not know that there was no such a living person as God
who could send him money to fulfil his needs. But due to his firm faith in God, he requested
Him to send him hundred pesos.
His firm faith in God made him angry when he found only seventy pesos in the envelope and
he called the post office employees a ‘bunch of crooks’. He believed that they had stolen his
money because God could not do such a mistake.
This all shows his blind but firm faith in God and gives him a hope in his despair. We believe
that people should have such kind of faith and attitude in difficult situation and should try a
solution of their problems.

Q2. “Humanity still exists”, this is what we get to know after reading ‘A Letter to God’ in
which firm faith in God of a poor farmer and helpfulness of the post office employees are aptly
depicted thought. Write a paragraph on the values in it, in about 120-150 words. Give the
paragraph a suitable title.
Answer :
Existence of Humanity
The story ‘A Letter to God’ written by GL Fuentes enforces our faith in humanity. After
reading the story, we know that there still are people who help others without any self-interest.
Here, the postmaster and other employees lay an example of humanity and kindness for others.
First they all laughed at Lencho’s letter to God because they knew that there was no such
person but they were really moved by Lencho’s faith in God. They decided to help him to keep
his faith alive and firm. Even though it was not possible for them to collect hundred pesos but
any how they managed to collect seventy pesos and kept them in an envelope for Lencho.
They signed on it ‘God’ instead of their own name. This act shows us the true picture of
humanity and motivates us to be a noble and kind person.

Q3. Describe Lencho’s qualities in light of his faith in God. Do you have faith in God like
Lencho? Was Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees right?
Answer :
Lencho was a poor farmer who totally depended on the harvest to survive and fulfil the basic
needs of his family. Once his crops were destroyed due to heavy rainfall and hailstones, and he
was afraid to think how his family would survive. He believed that God would help him in his
plight.
He had firm faith in God, he believed that God would not let him be hungry. Nowadays faith
in God like Lencho’s is almost impossible and unseen. People are very much aware that
nobody is willing to help others without any self-interest. Lencho’s reaction towards post office
employees was not right or justified but it was just because of his innocence as he could not
believe that God could have done such a mistake. It were only the post office employees who
had stolen money according to him.

Chapter 2: Nelson Mandela-a Long Walk to Freedom

Question 1.
What does Nelson Mandela refer to as “an extraordinary human disaster”?
Answer:
Nelson Mandela refers to the apartheid policy of the white race against the black people as “an
extraordinary human disaster”. White people snatched freedom from the coloured people of
South Africa to whom the country belonged. The black people were subjected to oppression for
long. They were not even allowed to discharge their obligations to their own families,
community and their country. White people had no compassion for them and oppressed their
own people and put them in prison. If they had some freedom, it was curtailed. The black
people lived the life of a slave.

Q2. Describe the views of Mandela for the black people who fought and sacrificed their lives
for the country’s political independence?
Answer:
Mandela always said that the political freedom was the result of sacrifices of thousands of the
black people who fought for that. He said that it could not be repaid. He thought himself as the
sum of all of those African patriots. He regretted that he could not thank them. He cursed the
policy of apartheid that wounded the people of his country, which would take centuries to heal.
He also said that the oppression and brutality of the white people produced great freedom
fighters like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Luthuli, Dadoo, Fischer, Sobukwe and many more.
They were the men of courage, wisdom and large heartedness. They really suffered a lot for
the political freedom of the country.

Q3. What does Mandela mean to say that the oppressor and the oppressed alike are robbed of
their humanity?
Answer:
Mandela is right in saying that the oppressor and the oppressed alike are robbed of their
humanity. Both of them are actually the victim of hatred. Everyone is obliged to discharge
their duties whether personal or social but without freedom a man cannot do so. The person
who snatches this freedom of a man is really an oppressor and a prisoner of hatred. He has
lack of humanity. But this is the same with a person who is oppressed by other.

Q4. Describe the obligations which the author is talking about and also describe his feelings
for them?
Answer:
In the chapter the author has talked about two obligation for every man. The first obligation is
towards his family, parents, his wife and children. The second is towards his community and
his country. Being a social person one has to fulfil these obligations. But being a black
coloured person in South Africa, a man was not free to perform his obligations and got
punished if he tried to do that.
Being a child the author never thought of such obligations but after he did so, he fought for the
people and the country to be free and enjoy their freedom of performing their duties personal
and social.

Q5. Describe the value of freedom for the human beings and how it is important for the
growth of civilisation and humanism as described in the lesson ‘Nelson Mandela : Long Walk
to Freedom’.
Answer:
Everybody whether human or other creatures wants to live free as freedom is natural to all
living beings. The value of freedom is better known to that human being who has not tasted it
till he gets it. A person who is chained with the limits and not allowed to perform his duties
freely, values freedom more than anyone else. For instance the value of freedom is known
better to Mandela who remained behind the bars most of his life. Think about a bird or animal
which is caged as they have the habit of living with full freedom but in the cage they are not
free and their conditions are very pitiable. Similarly, life becomes a hell if we are deprived of
freedom. There is no growth of civilisation as it grows only when one has freedom. Similarly,
humanism grows in the atmosphere of freedom.

Chapter 3: Two Stories about Flying

1. How did the mother make the young seagull come out of his fear and teach him the art of
flying?
Answer
The young seagull was afraid of flying because he thought that his wings won’t support him
and he would drown. When his family left him alone on the ledge, he felt alone and was very
hungry. They tried hard to make him fly but he never showed the courage to try. His mother
knowingly tore a piece of fish near him and flew across to him with it. She came close to him
but did not go nearer. Already mad by hunger, he dived at the fish but fell into space. After
sometimes, his wings spread outwards and he began to fly. His family landed on the sea ahead
of him. They beckoned (attracted) him so he landed on the sea. He was frightened that he
would sink into water but when his belly touched the water, he floated without any difficulty.

Q2. What compelled the young seagull in “Two Stories about Flying” to finally fly?
Answer
The young seagull was very hungry. It was this hunger that ultimately compelled it to fly. Its
hunger only intensified when it saw its mother tearing at a piece of fish that lay at her feet. It
cried to her, begging her to get some food. When its mother came towards it with food in her
beak, it screamed with joy and anticipation. However, she stopped midway. It wondered why
she did not come nearer. Not being able to resist or control its hunger any longer, it dived at
the food in its mother’s beak. At that moment, his hunger overpowered his fear of the great
expanse of sea beneath the cliff. Finally, this plunge was followed by the natural reaction of its
body, i.e., to fly.
Q3. The pilot wanted to thank another pilot after his safe landing. Why? What values of the
writer are reflected from his action?
Answer
The pilot (writer) of the old Dakota was caught in the storm. The engine, compass and other
devices had stopped working. He also lost his contact with the control room. In this troubling
situation, his fuel tank was also empty. He lost all his hopes but suddenly a black strange plane
appeared. The pilot of the black place asked writer to follow him. The writer landed safely.
After his safe landing, he wanted to thank the pilot of the black plane. This shows his gratitude
towards the pilot of the Black Plane. He was thankful to him for saving his life. It shows that
the pilot of Dakota had a value of gratefulness in his character.

Q4. How was the pilot of the Dakota aeroplane rescued?

Answer
The writer flew his aeroplane into the big dark clouds. As he entered the clouds, everything
suddenly went black. He found that his compass had ceased to work. He tried to contact the
Paris Control for directions. But he was shocked to find that his radio had also stopped
working. Suddenly, the writer saw a black aeroplane near him. He could also see the pilot in it.
The pilot waved the writer to follow him. He followed the black aeroplane like an obedient
child. Now, it was half an hour since the writer had been following the black aeroplane. He
was worried because the fuel in his plane would last only five or ten minutes. But just then,
the black aeroplane started to go down and the writer followed it. Suddenly, the writer was out
of the clouds. He could see the lights of the runway of the airport. The writer landed his
Dakota aeroplane. In this way, he was rescued.

Chapter 4: Anne Frank-The Diary of a Little Girl

Q1. Anne called 26th July a ‘tumultous’ day. Explain the reasons behind it.
Answer
Anne called 26th July a tumultous day as it was full of tension and fright. The first warning
siren was sent off in the morning but nobody paid any attention to it because it only meant that
the planes were crossing the coast. The siren alarmed again around 2 O’clock in the afternoon.
Anne and her sister went upstairs but after five minutes they heard loud gunshots. After half an
hour, drone of engines faded and life became normal. The city was enveloped in thick fog. But
after dinner time, there was another gun-fire round and swarms of planes. The air was buzzing
with the drone of engines. Nobody was able to sleep that night because it repeated again at
midnight.

Q2. Write the character sketch of Anne Frank.

Answer
Anne Frank was born on 12th June 1929 in Frankfurt Germany. She was four years old when
her father went to Holland to find a better place for his family to live. She was very intelligent
and always wanted to become a writer. She was a very good reader as well; she continued
reading books, translated chapters, wrote down the vocabulary and worked hard on her skills.
Like any child, she loved her parents but later grew a dislike towards her mother as she
compared Anne to Margot. She was always jealous with her. She believed that time would
come when the problems would be over. She felt alone although there were thirty people
around her but she hardly could call anyone a true friend. Anne died of typhus in the
concentration camp at Berger-Belsen in late February or early March of 1945.

Q3. ‘Paper has more patience than people’. Justify.

Answer
Anne believes that people are not interested in other’s life as they are stuck with their own
problems so it is really hard to get someone who can give importance to her diary. People feel
bored and become impatient when we talk about our problems. On the other hand when we
write our feelings and thoughts on paper, we can write as long as we want without thinking of
anyone, intention as it doesn’t react. We can share our feelings, both sad and happy. It never
gets bored or stops us to write. It behaves like a true friend who keeps your secret and listens
to you patiently. So she thinks that paper has more patience than people.

Q4. “From the diary of Anne Frank’ throws light on teacher-student relationship, class
atmosphere and discipline. Write a paragraph on the values of these aspects of school and how
far these values are necessary for learning and life.
Answer
“The diary of Anne Frank” clearly describes the teacher-student relationship, class atmosphere
and discipline. Anne who talks a lot in the class gets punished by Mr Keesing, her Maths
teacher. He asks her to write essays as punishment which is learning in disguise because he
wanted her to focus on studies. He cannot be blamed for the punishment as he did it for the
development of Anne. The teacher-student relationship is very respectful and sacred. It is about
discipline and classroom manners which are essential for every student as well as teacher,
otherwise both teaching and learning could hamper. This relationship is clearly shown in Mr
Keesing and Anne Frank actions as they both try to joke on each other but in very humorous
and healthy manner. So this healthy relationship is needed everywhere in the class for effective
teaching and learning.

Chapter 7:Glimpses of India

Q1. Instead of enjoying their childhood, the children today are keen to enter adulthood. Do you
think such a keenness on the part of children is desirable?
Answer:
I don’t think that the keenness of the children these days to enter adulthood is desirable.
Children these days are in a hurry to enter adulthood and have access to technology. Due to
this they are learning things earlier than usual and getting matured beyond their age.
Hence, they are losing out their childhood and missing the joys that it brings with it. As per
my thinking, they should grow at a slow pace and enjoy their childhood to the fullest. Children
who miss out on their childhood cannot be a complete adult. So, they should not hurry up to
be an adult and grow at nature’s pace.

Q2. After reading the story ‘A Baker from Goa”, do you think our traditions, heritage, values
and practices are the roots that nourish us? Why/why not?
Answer:
‘A Baker from Goa’ highlights the importance of the traditional practice of making breads for
every occasion and festival of the Goan people. This tradition continues even today. This
shows how our traditional practices can keep us to our past and heritage. Traditional values
shape our personality and also provide us emotional support. They enable us to face difficult
situations and makes us mentally strong. Traditional practices also have an impact on our
behavioural pattern towards the other people in society.

Q3. The Coorgis are the descendants of the Greeks or the Arabs and are still are able to
maintain their traditional practices. Do you agree that following these practices today is
important? Why or why not?
Answer:
After reading the text, I feel that it is important to follow the traditional practices, as it has
kept the tradition of Coorgis known to the people even today. If the people of Coorg had not
followed it their tradition would have perished and nobody would have remembered them
today because of their culture and traditional practices. According to the text, their traditions
can be seen in the martial traditions, religious rites and marriages. The Kodavus even wear the
dress which resembles Arabs. Traditional practices also play a very important role in
maintaining values amongst people and have an impact on shaping the behaviour of people.

Q4. How do Coorg’s location, people and natural features add to the diversity of India?
Answer:
Coorg is beautifully located and described as a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the
kingdom of God. It has rolling hillsides with a pollution free river and forests teeming with
wildlife. Here nature exists in its pristine glory, which adds to the diversity of India. Further, it
has coffee and spice plantations, quite different from the rest of India. The local people, the
Kodavus, are a martial race. Of course, they are well known for their hospitality, just like all
Indians. All these features of Coorg add to the diversity of our country.

Q5.According to the text, Assam is said to be ‘tea country’. Do you believe that Assam has
some of the best plantations in the world that makes it a unique country?
Answer:
In India, some of the best plantations like tea and coffee are grown in huge quantities. India is
also a home to many spices like haldi and while Assam is home to tea, Coorg is home to
coffee. Many other spices are grown exclusively in India and exported to various countries.
These things make India a unique country which has not just traditional spices and beverage
plants growing within it but also follows traditional agricultural practices.

Chapter 8: Mijbil the Otter

Q1. “The airhostess was the very queen of her kind” Do you agree? Comment.
Answer:
The airhostess was the very queen of her kind. I fully agree with the author’s statement. The
chief duty of an airhostess is to make the passengers feel comfortable during the journey. The
airhostess on Maxwell’s plane does all she can do for him. That is why Maxwell calls her the
very queen of her kind.
She calmly listens to the author, allows him to keep the animal on his knees and tries to catch
it when it escapes. In doing so she does not loose her patience. The author also tries to catch
the animal and in doing so, he lands himself on a passenger. His face is covered with curry.
Once again the airhostess comes to Maxwell’s help. Thus we see that the airhostess was really
a nice lady/kind lady.

Q2. What do you know about Mijbil’s journey to London?

Answer:
The author had to come back to London from Basra. The British Airlines did not fly animals
so he had to book his ticket in another airline. The airline authorities insisted the author to
pack Mijbil in a box. The author had a box and put Mijbil in it an hour before he started for
the airport so that Mijbil would become accustomed to it and left for a hurried meal. When he
came back he found Mijbil wounded in the box. He had ten minutes left to catch the flight, so
he kept it back in the box.
In the flight, the author told the airhostess about the miserable condition of Mijbil and took her
into confidence. She was a considerate lady and suggested that he could keep Mijbil on his
knee. The author opened the box. Mijbil was out of the box in a flash and disappeared down
the aircraft. The author dived to catch Mijbil and he missed; but he found his mouth covered
with curry. The airhostess helped in the search. The author came back to his seat and found
Mijbil near his knee.

Q3. What things does Mij do which tell you that he is an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving
animal who needs love?
Answer:
Mij was an intelligent, friendly and fun-loving animal. When the author received it, for the
first twenty-four hours it remained aloof and indifferent but later on he took interest in his
surroundings. He became friendly to the author. He enjoyed his bath. One day he disappeared
from the bedroom and entered the bathroom where he tried to open the tap.
His intelligence is further revealed when he invented a game of his own of ping- pong ball.
Mij discovered that if the ball was placed on the high end of the suitcase, it would rather run
down the length of the suitcase. He enjoyed playing with ball and marbles. Mij had developed
certain compulsive habits like school children. He used to gallop at full speed on the thirty
yards wall of a primary school.

Chapter 9: Madam rides the Bus

Q1. The people and surroundings are a great book to learn. Valli in the lesson ‘Madam Rides
The Bus’ learns a lot from others. Mention the traits of her character which help her to learn
from her surroundings.
Answer:
Valli dreamt of riding on the bus. Her eagerness to fulfill her dream fired her curiosity. This
curiousness led her to listen to the conversations of people going on the bus ride and asking
discreet questions so that she could gather as much information as she can regarding the bus
journey.
On the bus journey, Valli acted confidently and behaved maturedly. She did not consider
herself to be any less than an adult. She was focused on fulfilling her dream and did not get
tempted to go outside the bus and explore the town when the bus reached the town. On the
return journey, she learnt about death when she came to terms with the dead cow. This made
her aware of the fact that death is a part of life and should be accepted as it is a natural
phenomenon. Thus, the bus journey made her learn a lot of things.

Q2. Age is not a barrier when it comes to doing something different and great. Which
characteristics of Valli help her achieve the wonder of visiting the town at such a tender age?
Answer:
In today’s era, age is no more a barrier. Children are doing wonders at a very young age. Same
goes with Valli. At an age of 8 years, Valli was able to pursue her dream all alone by travelling
in the bus to town. She was no different from others, except that she had certain characteristics
that made her fulfil her dreams. Valli was a very confident and a bold girl. She had a
knowledge of proper planning and execution. She controlled her wishes to save money for the
bus ride. Also, she was a very good observer and learner. All these qualities made her realise
the dream of visiting the town. Hence, one should always remember that there is no age to
learn and experience new things.

Q3. What kind of person is Valli? Illustrate your answer from the text that you have read.
Answer:
Valli was a determined, confident and brave girl. She was also a good planner and executioner.
She sacrificed a lot of things to achieve her dream. For example, she curbed the temptation to
buy sweets and riding on the merry- go-round in the fair so that she could save money for the
bus ride. Sacrificing all these things at such a tender age is very difficult for a child. She also
behaved confidently in the bus and did not get bobbed down in the presence of elders. When
the bus reached the town, Valli did not succumb to the temptation of going out to explore the
town or having a drink. She did this as she had a limited amount of money which she wanted
to save for her return journey. So, Valli used her money wisely. When the conductor offered
her a drink, she showed good manners in refusing to have it.

Chapter 10: Sermon at Banaras

Q1. Life is full of trials and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through a period of grief in
her life. How does she behave in those circumstances?
Answer:
After the death of Kisa Gotami’s only child, she became very sad. She carried her dead child
to her neighbours in order to get medicine to bring him to life. Her neighbours thought that she
had gone insane as she was unable to accept the fact that her son cannot be brought back to
life. It was then that someone suggested her to meet Gautama Buddha. When she met Gautama
Buddha he gave her an exercise to do. She was asked to collect mustard seeds from a house
where no one has ever died. She went from one house to another but was unable to find a
single house where no one has died. This way she realised that death is a part of life and
anyone who is born is bound to die one day. Thus, Buddha changed her understanding of death
by this exercise and she could come to terms with the truth.

Q2. Personal losses are a part and parcel of life. Instead of wailing on them, we should move
on in life. This message of Gautama Buddha has become more relevant in modern times. Do
you agree ? Why /why not?
Answer:
Yes, I agree with the message that Gautama Buddha has given about life. In the modem times,
people have a lot to explore and move with the world at the same pace. If people don’t
understand the practicality of life, they will be under stress which would in turn affects, their
personal and professional lives. People need to understand that everyone who is born will have
to die one day. There is no use being sad or crying over the loss. People should remain calm
and composed in such situations. They should face the truth and move on in life.

Q3. What did Buddha say about death and suffering?

Answer:
After enlightenment, Buddha started to spread his teachings about life, truth and the likes of it.
He told that death and suffering are the part and parcel of life. None can avoid this truth. One
has to meet one’s destined end one day. Whoever has come to the world, will die one day. In
the hour of grief, one must remain calm and composed so that grief doesn’t overcome one.
People who are wise, never complain or lament over their loss. They accept the truth and be
blessed with it. So, the wisdom lies in the fact that people should not get distressed with pain,
suffering and death.

Chapter 11: The Proposal

Q1. The principle ‘forgive and forget’, helps a lot in maintaining cordial relations with our
neighbours. Do you think Anton Chekov conveys this message in the play ‘The Proposal’ ?
Answer:
Anton Chekov does convey the message that the principle of ‘forgive and forget’ helps a lot in
-maintaining cordial relationship with one’s neighbours. Initially, the neighbours in the play,
Lomov, Natalya and Chubukov were fighting over petty issues. They were putting important
issues behind them and wasting their time by arguing over small things. These arguments
slowly developed into fights and they started hurling abuses at one another. This damaged their
relationship with each other.
It was when Natalya came to know that Lomov had come to propose her that she left the topic
of argument (Oxen Meadows) behind. She also asked for forgiveness from Lomov and
requested him to come to the point. Hence it is mandatory to ‘forgive and forget’ if one wants
to have cordial relationship with others.

Q2. Based on your understanding of the Play ‘The Proposal’ how do you think good
relationships can be maintained? Why in today’s time we see so many people going away from
each other?
Answer:
The play ‘The Proposal’ teaches us how anger and arguments can easily ruin a relationship.
Thus to maintain a good relationship, it is important to have a control over your anger. Having
arguments over unimportant or small issues is extremely harmful and a waste of time. If
someone commits a mistake, one should be ready to forgive and forget rather than being angry
and arguing with the person endlessly. In today’s time people try to find only the positives in
others and do not easily accept their negatives. Hence is becoming extremely difficult to
maintain a good and cordial relationship with others.

Q3. It is a common observance that more attention is paid to unimportant issues at the cost of
important ones. The play ‘The Proposal’ beautifully portrays this fact. Suggest some steps how
we can avoid this unhealthy practice.
Answer
It is true to an extent that people usually give more importance to the unimportant issues
forgetting their priorities. Just like how Lomov came to propose Natalya but due to their
argument that matter was left unaddressed. Thus, it becomes very important to set your
priorities in life. One must ignore the unimportant issues. It is a waste of time to have
discussions over them. One should not pay too much attention on the trivialities. This energy
can be saved on spending it over some useful and important issues that gives a fruitful result.