Q1. [3]
"He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards, he was no longer afraid." Describe the young seagull's feelings, emotions and experiences, just before this moment. (Two Stories about Flying)
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2025 2/6/1 Q8 (iv)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:18 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Just before this moment, the young seagull was desperate with hunger — he hadn't eaten since the previous nightfall. When his mother tempted him by flying across with a piece of fish, he was overcome by hunger and dived at it without thinking. The moment he leapt off the ledge, a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He screamed loudly as he fell outward and downward into open space. It was only when the wind rushed against his breast feathers and stomach, and he felt his wings spread outward naturally, that his terror gave way to freedom and confidence.
Source: Two Stories about Flying, His First Flight
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Explanation
- The question asks specifically about feelings, emotions, and experiences just before soaring — so focus on hunger, the temptation of fish, the desperate dive, and the terror of falling.
- Three marks = three clear points: (1) extreme hunger/desperation, (2) diving at the fish/leaping off, (3) monstrous terror as he fell.
- Avoid retelling the whole story from the beginning; stay close to the moments immediately preceding the quoted line.
- Quoting "monstrous terror" shows examiner you've read closely — examiners reward textual evidence.
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