CBSE Class 10 English Two Stories about Flying II Black Aeroplane VBQs

Second part-Black Aeroplane

Introduction

The lesson “Black Aeroplane” by Frederick Forsyth reflects on how one’s judgement gets distorted due to fantasizing and how it creates problems. In this chapter, the narrator is a pilot who is so eager to meet his family and have a good breakfast that he takes the wrong decision of facing the storm instead of doing the right thing. Miraculously, he somehow manages to escape with the help of a mysterious aeroplane.

Summary

The author was flying his old Dakota DS 088 aeroplane over France. He was on his way to England. It was a beautiful moonlit night. The sky was clear. The author was happy to have an easy flight. He was dreaming of meeting his family and having a good breakfast on reaching home. It was 1:30 am. On his way he called the Paris control room and informed about his flight and destination. He was advised by the control room that he should turn twelve degrees west. He checked the compass and other instruments and followed the instructions. He also switched over to his second and last fuel tank. It was a clear sky and the pilot had an easy flight. But suddenly, he saw huge storm clouds in front of him. He could not fly over them because he did not have enough fuel. He could go back to Paris. But his eagerness to meet his family and have breakfast stopped him from taking this decision. He decided to take the risk. He flew his plane straight into the black clouds. Everything was black inside the clouds. Nothing could be seen outside the aeroplane. He saw that his compass and other instruments had stopped working. He did not know where he was and how to come out of the clouds. He was lost in the storm. Suddenly, he saw a black aeroplane flying next to him. He was happy to see another plane near him. The pilot of the black plane waved his hand and asked the author to follow him. The author followed him like an obedient child. The black plane flew in front of the Dakota for about half an hour. The fuel in the Dakota was about to exhaust. The author again felt scared. His plane could fly only for ten minutes more. But soon the black plane started going down and the author landed safely on an airport. After landing safely, the author wanted to thank the pilot of the black aeroplane. He asked the woman at the tower about the second pilot. The woman replied that there was no other plane in the sky that night. The author was surprised and asked himself, “Who was the pilot on the strange black plane?” The author could not meet the pilot of that strange black plane.

LEARN AND WRITE THE GIVEN QUESTION ANSWERS IN YOUR COPY

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1.The moon was coming up in the east, behind me, and stars were shining in the clear sky above me. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I was happy to be alone high up above the sleeping countryside. I was flying my old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England. I was dreaming of my holiday and looking forward to being with my family. I looked at my watch at one thirty in the morning. I should call Paris Control soon. I thought. As 1 looked down past the nose of the aeroplane, I saw the lights of a big city in front of me.

Question. How was the weather when the pilot started flying his aeroplane?
Answer. When the pilot started flying his aeroplane, it was a clear weather as the moon was up in the east, stars were shining and there wasn’t any cloud in the sky.

Question. Why was the pilot flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England?
Answer. The pilot was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over France back to England because he wanted to enjoy his holiday and morning breakfast with his family.

Question. Find out the word similar in the meaning to ‘hoping with pleasure’.
Answer. Looking forward to.

Question. Choose from the passage the word which means ‘land outside towns or cities’.
Answer. The word is countryside.

2. Paris was about 150 kilometres behind me when I saw the clouds. Storm clouds. They were huge. They looked like black mountains ‘standing in front of me across the sky-1 knew I could not fly up and over them, and I did not have enough fuel to fly around them to the north or south.

Question. What happened when the pilot was about 150 kilometres away from Paris?
Answer. The pilot saw storm clouds when he was about 150 kilometres away from Paris.

Question. What does the author compare the clouds to?
Answer. The author compares the clouds to black mountain.

Question. Find out the word similar in meaning as sufficient.
Answer. The word is ‘enough’.

Question. The word ‘elephantine’ is similar in meaning to the word ………
Answer.  The word is ‘huge’. 

Short Answer Type Questions:

Question. Describe author’s feeling while he was flying his aeroplane back to England?
Answer. The author was very excited while he was flying his aeroplane back to England because he wanted to spend his holiday with his family at home.

Question. How much fuel was there in the aeroplane when the writer started flying?
Answer. There was sufficient fuel in the tanks of the aeroplane to reach England safely when the writer started flying.

Question. What risk did the writer take while flying? Why?
Answer. The writer decided to risk to fly through the storm clouds because he wanted to enjoy his holiday with his family back in England.

Question. What did the writer feel inside the clouds?
Answer. When the writer entered the clouds, it became impossible to see outside the aeroplane. The aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air and all the instruments like compass etc stopped working due to the weather conditions.

Question. What did the writer,see inside the black clouds?
Answer. The writer saw a black aeroplane which had no lights on its wings. The writer could see the face of the pilot in the black clouds who was waving and signalling him to follow to get out of the storm.

Question. Why did the writer follow the pilot of another aeroplane?
Answer. The writer followed another aeroplane because he had lost the way in the storm and was unable to see anything. The pilot of another aeroplane was helping him to get out of the storm and land safely.

Question. Why did the woman in control room get shocked when the writer asked about another aeroplane?
Answer. The woman in the control room was shocked when the writer asked about another aeroplane because there was no such plane flying in the sky that night as she saw on the radar.

Question. Why did the writer want to meet the pilot of another black aeroplane?
Answer. The writer wanted to meet the pilot of another black aeroplane to thank him as he had saved the life of the writer by helping him come out from in the storm.

Long Answer Type Questions: 

Question. How did the writer get out of the storm in the night to land safely?
Answer. The writer was flying his old Dakota aeroplane when he saw the black clouds. He was lost in the storm. Suddenly, he saw a black aeroplane by his side, which had no lights, on its wings.The pilot instructed the writer to follow as he had lost the way. He obeyed him like a child. He was very happy to follow him. After some time the pilot of another plane started to land. The writer followed him blindly through the storm and came out of the clouds. He saw the lights of the runway and landed safely.

Question. Why was the writer happy when he decided to fly in the night?
Answer. The writer was very happy when he decided to fly that night because he was going home to his family to enjoy his holiday. When he started, everything seemed to be perfect. The sky was clear, no clouds could be seen and the stars were shining. It all made it an easy task for the writer to fly that night over the sleeping countryside of Paris. His assumption of everything being in place made him happy.

Question. 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. He 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.

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

Question. How did the “Two Gentlemen of Verona”,Nicola and Jacopo give promise of greater hope for human society?
Justify the title . What message does the story convey?
Answer: a) Aptly and rationally titled.
b) Virtuous,devoted to their cause.
c) Self- respecting and dignified.
d) Sympathetic,kind hearted and full of human values.

MRS. PACKLETIDE’S TIGER

Question. How does Saki makes fun of the hypocritical and competitive attitude of all the three characters in the story ? How does he blend humour with satire in mocking their follies and weaknesses ?
Answer: Satirical use of human follies , weaknesses and hypocrisy.
Mrs. Packletide’s competitive and vainglorious attitude highlighted.
Louisa Mebbin shown as opportunist, blackmailer and money minded.

THE LETTER

Question. True love is based on boundless faith and patience. Ali displays remarkable qualities of love and patience .Do you agree? Give evidence in the story in support of your answer.
Answer: Ali’s remarkable display of love and patience.
Grief or pangs of separations is inescapable.
Boundless faith, infinite patience , incurable optimism.
Doesn’t mind pocketing insults and humiliations.

A SHADY PLOT

Question. Describe “A shady Plot “ as a ghost story, describing the supernatural and the atmosphere around which it is woven . Is it a different kind of ghost story?
Answer: An owl eyed ghost ,Helen and Ouija board played an important role.
Lavinia was fond of Ouija board and Ouija board parties.
Helan provides creative inspiration and best plot to write ghost story.

PATOL BABU,FILM STAR

Question. Why did PatolBabu feel that ‘the whole thing was just a gigantic hoax?
“However small a part you are offered, never consider beneath your dignity to accept it”.How did these priceless words of his guru Pakrashi help overcome his apathy to give a wonderful performance later?
Answer: Offered small role of a short tempered pedestrian.
Was just to utter a mono-syllabic word “oh”.
Priceless words of his guru/mentor Pakrashi stirred his mind.
Potalbabu made an astonishing discovery,performed with perfection and dedication.

VIRTUALLY TRUE

Question. Describe the sequence of events that led to Sebastian Shultz’s miraculous recovery.How did Sebastian enter Michael’s games? Do you think the real Sebastian will ever meet Michael one day?
Answer: Sebastian Shultz injured in a motor way accident ,declared critical and remained in coma.
Miraculous recovery,Sebastian Shultz enter Michael’s psychodriven games.
Sebastian’s head banged into computer memory saved.
Quite possible Michael and real Sebastian may meet.

POETRY

THE FROG AND THE NIGHTINGALE

Question. what would have happened if the Nightingale had not listened to the frog and had done what she wanted to do?
Answer: Could not have lost her life.
Could have better life living.
Could have become for better melodious in her voice.

Question. Why did ticket office gross crash?
Answer: Because the Nightingale could not properly by the point of view of the audience.

MIRROR

Question. ’Man is so busy in enhancing the outer beauty that he has no time to peep into his heart and spirit and to realize the beauty that lies with in’. Explain.
Answer: The person i8s so beautiful and kind in his heart because of his outer beauty or the appearance we are fed up with our personality. Inner beauty is greater than outer.

Question. Why has the mirror been called Unmisted?
Answer: No preconception, truthful not cruel exact etc.

NOT MARBLE, NOT THE GILDEDMONUMENTS

Question. What is the theme of the sonnet ‘Not marble , Not the gilded monuments’?
Answer: The immortal words of a loved one will never be destroyed as marble and statues are ever time . War cannot even destroy them.

Question. How will the monuments and statues destroyed?
Answer: Immoral values.

OZYMADIAS

Question. What impression do you form of Ozymadias after reading the poem?
Answer: He was mighty proud of his great works and wonderful achievements. The author mighty persons would feel so insignificant and despair.

Question. Describe the facial expression of the broken statue?
Answer: He was powerful and mighty. On the other hand their was the expression of scorn and hostility, wrinkled face and contempt.

THE RIME OF ANCIENT MARINER

Question. What were the suffering that the mariners had to undergo after the Albatross was killed?
Answer: The bird brought the favorable wind. The wind stopped the later and the misfortune overcome them.

Question. What impression do you form of the Ancient Mariner from the poem……..?
Answer: Overflow with grey beard skinny hands and glittering eyes, abnormal crazy character. The dead Albatross was hung around the neck of the Ancient mariner as a punishment .

SNAKE

Question. Describe the way of snake’s drinking at the water trough?
Answer: To quench his thrust. Rested his throat upon the stone, sipped straight mouth , slack long body , lifted his head drinking like a cattle.

Question. Why was the poet filled with horror and protest when the snake prepared retreat and bury himself in the ‘horrid black’ hole?
Answer: The poet admired the snake’s color shape, movements, considered him a ‘silent’ seeking with hospitality.
The poet was filled with horror by throwing at him a log of wood.

DRAMA

THE DEAR DEPARTED

Question. Insensitivity, vulgarity, greed and hierocracy are common characteristics shared by the two sisters.
Compare and contrast Amelia and Elizabeth. Support your answer with evidence from the play?
Answer: Value points: Sisters Amelia and Elizabeth have things in common.
Sensitive in human, vulgar, greedy, hypocrite.
Not to leave opportunity to insult others.
Take away important belongings in his presence, supposed to be dead.

JULIUS CAESAR

Question. You have witnessed the role of Romans in the drama Julius Caesar. Do you think that they became greedy ,violent and aggressive having been influenced by mark Antony ? Was it right for them to react like that after hearing about the wil of Caesar ? Do you see the same scenario in the present day society ?
Answer: Romans fickle minded, violent , aggressive.
Easily swayed by Antony’s oratory skills.
Full support to Antony to take revenge.
Characteristics of Romans similar to the present people.