L-3 Two Stories about Flying I. His First Flight

The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying

about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of

flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for

fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring

and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around

raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had

walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff

taunting him with his cowardice.

Based on the given sentence, pick the option that corresponds to what

human parents would say.

‘while his parents circled around raising a proud cackle.’

• Well done!

• Oh no!

• Ready?!

• Really!?

The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying

about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of

flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for

fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring

and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around

raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had

walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff

taunting him with his cowardice.

Which option lists the image nearest to ‘skim the waves’?

• image (i)

• image (ii)

• image (iii)

• image (iv)

The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying

about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of

flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for

fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring

and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around

raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had

walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff

taunting him with his cowardice.

Imagine that the young gull attended a workshop on inspiration and

confidence building and received a couple of pieces of advice.

Choose the option that reflects these pieces of advice, most relevant to

his situation.

• (i) and (ii)

• (ii) and (iii)

• (iii) and (iv)

• (i) and (iv)

The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying

about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of

flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for

fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring

and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around

raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had

walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff

taunting him with his cowardice.

Which of the following feelings did the young gull, NOT feel according to

the given context?

“…all day long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers

and sister…”

(i) sad (ii) incompetent (iii) excluded (iv) ungrateful

(v) inspired (vi) jealous (vii) anxious

• i, iii, vi

• ii, v, vii

• ii, iii, vii

• iv, v, vi

The day before, all day long, he had watched his parents flying

about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the art of

flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for

fish. He had, in fact, seen his older brother catch his first herring

and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled around

raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had

walked about on the big plateau midway down the opposite cliff

taunting him with his cowardice.

Select the most appropriate option for the following:

devour : guzzle: : nibble : _______

• chew

• savour

• peck

• gulp

He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he

soared upwards. “Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gaw-col-ah,” his mother

swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered

her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming.

He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting

and banking and soaring and diving. Then he completely forgot

that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to

dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.

Pick the most appropriate reason why the young gull

felt dizzy.

• He hadn’t eaten anything for a day.

• He was dizzy with excitement.

• He was wary of heights.

• He was flying for the first time.

How would you describe the screams of the gulls in the given extract?

• elation

• bewilderment

• shock

• protection

He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he

soared upwards. “Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gaw-col-ah,” his mother

swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered

her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming.

He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting

and banking and soaring and diving. Then he completely forgot

that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to

dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.

The line “he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly" implies the

• great confidence the young gull had in his skills.

• naturalness of the act of flying for the young gull.

• satisfaction and joy of flying together as a family.

• desire of the young gull to leave his fears behind.

He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he

soared upwards. “Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gaw-col-ah,” his mother

swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered

her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming.

He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting

and banking and soaring and diving. Then he completely forgot

that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to

dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.

The extract refers to the many movements of the young gull’s brothers

and sister. Choose the option that correctly sequences these

movements.

• The young gull’s brothers and sister flew by tilting their wings, rose

  high, made darting movements and plunged headfirst.

• The young gull’s brothers and sister flew by plunging headfirst,

  making darting movements, titled their wings and rose high.

• The young gull’s brothers and sister flew with darting movements,

  titled their wings, rose high and plunged headfirst.

• The young gull’s brothers and sister flew by rising high, plunging

  headfirst, making darting movements and tilting their wings.

He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he

soared upwards. “Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gaw-col-ah,” his mother

swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered

her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming.

He saw his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting

and banking and soaring and diving. Then he completely forgot

that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to

dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.

Which of the following mirrors the use of the literary device in “shrieking

shrilly”?

• sparkling saga

• singing soft

• slippery sloppily

• sneeze silently