CBSE Class 10 English Two Stories About Flying II Black Aeroplane Worksheet

Black Aeroplane Notes Class 10 English

Author flying his
Dakota aeroplane The author says that he was flying an aeroplane at 1 o’clock at night. The moon was coming up in the east behind him. Stars were shining in the clear sky above him. He was flying his old Dakota aeroplane over 
France back to England. He was dreaming of his holiday. He was looking forward to being with his family at the breakfast table.

Call for Paris Control
He decided to call Paris Control. He then radioed to it. He told it that he was on his way back to England. Paris Control duly acknowledged. It advised him to turn twelve degrees west.

Sees storm clouds
He duly turned to that direction. Everything was going well. Paris was about 150 kilometres behind him. Then he saw the storm clouds. They looked like black mountains in front of him. He knew he could not fly up and over them. He didn’t know for a moment what to do.

Great flying problems faced
He decided to go back to Paris. But he also wanted to get home. So, he took the risk and flew into the storm. He could see nothing outside his aeroplane. Everything was black. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the air. He looked at the compass. It was gone. He tried to contact Paris Control. But he couldn’t contact it too. He was lost in the storm.

Another aeroplane in those clouds
Then in the black clouds he saw another aeroplane. It had no lights on its wings. He could see it flying next to him in the storm. He was glad to see another person. He was saying to follow him. The author thought he was trying to help him. So, he followed him. He flew for half an hour. He had fuel only to last for five or ten minutes. He began to feel frightened. Then he started to go down.

Saved and lands safely
Suddenly he saw that he was on the runway. He looked for his friend in the black aeroplane. He wanted to thank him. But the sky was empty. He went into the Control Tower. He asked a woman where he was. She looked at him strangely and then she laughed. She told that there was no other aeroplane except his.

Author’s great surprise
The author was wonderstruck to hear it. He wondered who had helped him to arrive there. He was without a compass or a radio. He did not have enough fuel also in his tanks. Who was the pilot on the strange black aeroplane flying in the storm without lights?

Extract-Based Questions

Q. 1. Everything was going well — it was an easy flight. 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. I 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. "I ought to go back to Paris," I thought, but I wanted to get home. I wanted that breakfast. 'I'll take the risk,' I thought, and flew that old Dakota straight into the storm.

Question. In what way might the reference to the Dakota as "old" be relevant?
(a) Its antique value made it expensive and precious to the narrator.
(b) It is employed by the narrator as a term of endearment.
(c) It did not have enough fuel to fly around the storm clouds.
(d) Its ability to negotiate the storm clouds might have been suspected.
Answer : D

Question. Based on the given extract, choose the option that lists the name which would be the most appropriate response to "...it was an easy flight"?
(a) Option (i)
(b) Option (ii)
(c) Option (iii)
(d) Option (iv)
Answer : A

Question. Read the statements given below, and then select the option that best describes the given statements.
Statement I - The narrator's desire to reach home and see his family made him complacent.
Statement II - The narrator was unaware of the threat that the adversarial storm clouds presented.
Statement III - The narrator's decision making was quick but irresponsible as well as dangerous.
(a) Statement I is False, Statement II is True, Statement III cannot be inferred.
(b) Statement I and III are True, Statement II cannot be inferred.
(c) Statement I cannot be inferred, Statement II is False, Statement III is True.
(d) Statement I and II are False, Statement III is True.
Answer : C

Question. How would you describe the "risk" the narrator took?
(a) calculated
(b) impetuous
(c) unavoidable
(d) navigable
Answer : B

Question. Select the correct option to fill in the blanks below:
risk: risky ::__________:__________
(a) danger: dangerously
(b) hazard : hazardous
(c) peril : imperilled
(d) caution : precaution
Answer : B

Q. 2. I was safe! I turned to look for my friend in the black aeroplane, but the sky was empty. There was nothing there. The black aeroplane was gone. I could not see it anywhere. I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota near the control tower. I went and asked a woman in the control centre where I was and who the other pilot was. I wanted to say 'Thank you'. She looked at me very strangely, and then laughed. "Another aeroplane? Up there in this storm? No other aeroplanes were flying tonight. Yours was the only one I could see on the radar." So, who helped me... 

Question. Why do you think the woman in the control centre laughed?
(a) She found the narrator funny.
(b) She thought his question preposterous.
(c) She thought he was teasing her.
(d) She was relieved the narrator was safe.
Answer : A

Question. The narrator exclaimed that he was "safe". Which of the following represented the most immediate threat to the narrator's safety?
(a) The black mountain-like storm cloud
(b) The depletion of fuel in the last fuel tank
(c) Being lost due to non-functioning equipment
(d) The old rattling Dakota aeroplane
Answer : B

Question. Filled with questions, the narrator decides to place an advertisement in the local newspaper to look for his "friend".
Read the advertisement given below and select the option that includes the most appropriate solutions for the blanks:
Looking for a pilot of a black aeroplane who (i)______ an old Dakota out of storm clouds late last night, but (ii)________before the Dakota pilot could express his gratitude after landing. Though control centre and radar did not (iii)________ its presence, the Dakota pilot would really appreciate if his friend reached out. Please contact the Dakota pilot at 5200100110. In deep gratitude and eager (iv)________, XXX
(a) (i) guided;   (ii) disappeared; (iii) register;         (iv) anticipation
(b) (i) took;      (ii) landed;         (iii) acknowledge;  (iv) appreciation
(c) (i) brought;  (ii) went away;   (iii) confirm;         (iv) expectation
(d) (i) helped;   (ii) vanish;         (iii) make note;     (iv) excitement
Answer : A

Question. Select the option that correctly tracks the progression of emotions experienced by the narrator in the given extract.
(a) excited - surprised - relieved - grateful - perplexed
(b) relieved - confused - curious - dejected - panic-stricken
(c) optimistic - lonely - calm - elated - appreciative
(d) triumphant - reassured- inquisitive - thankful - uncertain
Answer : A

Question. Choose the option that correctly matches the idioms in Column A to the story's events in Column B:

(a) 1-(iv); 2-(iii); 3-(ii); 4-(i)
(b) 1-(iii); 2-(i); 3-(iv); 4-(ii)
(c) 1-(i); 2-(ii); 3-(iii); 4-(iv)
(d) 1-(ii); 2-(iv); 3-(i); 4-(iii)
Answer : D

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Look at the given image. Briefly evaluate the narrator's decision to not go back to Paris with reference to the image.

Answer : The narrator’s decision to not to go back to Paris was a good one because he came 100 km far from it. Rather, he wanted to grab the opportunity of enjoying a good English breakfast with his family. 

Question. What do you think prompted the narrator to act like "an obedient child"?
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. How would you describe the mood of the story, 'Black Aeroplane' as it begins?
Answer : Black Aeroplane’ is definitely a mystery story. When the pilot’s plane moved inside the dark clouds, his compass stopped working and he was unable to locate anything. It remained a mystery. 

Question. Do you think that after his experience, the narrator would be able to truly enjoy the English breakfast he had yearned for? Why/ Why not?
Answer : No, doubt the narrator would be able to truly enjoy the English breakfast he had yearned for because ultimately, he landed safely and was safe in his home.

Short Answer Type Questions 

Question. Based on your reading, would you call the narrator a family man? Justify your answer.
Answer : Indeed, the narrator is a family man. He was dreaming of his holidays with his family. He was looking forward to be with his family. He wanted to be in time for breakfast for which he took the risk of moving ahead in the storm.
The narrator was a grateful man. He went to the Paris control to ask who was the other pilot who saved his life.

Question. As a reader, do you feel betrayed or let down in the way the story ends? Validate your opinion.
Answer : ‘Black Aeroplane’ is a mysterious story with an open end. The readers are left free to guess the end. But it does convey a strong message of ‘Never say ‘die’ till the end. Never lose hope in the most hopeless situation. 

Question. James Lane Allen says, "Adversity reveals character". What do you learn about the narrator from the experience? Mention any two traits supported by the textual evidence.
Answer : The narrator seemed to lack his professional ethics and responsibility. He was about 150 km away from pairs when the clouds appeared. He didn’t have enough fuel to fly. Actually, he ignored his professional wisdom. The narrator was a grateful man. He went to the Paris control to ask who was the other pilot who saved his life.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. In a parallel world, the pilot of the black aeroplane narrates his adventure in a story titled 'The Old Dakota'. You come across an excerpt from the story, which responds to the ending questions of 'Black Aeroplane' and describes the black aeroplane pilot's decision to fly away after watching the Dakota land.
Compose the said excerpt of the story employing relevant details from 'Black Aeroplane'.
Answer : The Old Dakota
…….. I waved the pilot of the old Dak ota and gestured him to follow me. Like an obedient child, he started do so. He followed me until he could see the runaway. I was tensed whether he would land safely or not. Because he had already made me understand that he was running short of fuel. I saw him landing safely on the runway. I was relaxed. I felt there was no need to wait. The good deed of the day was done. Once again, I had rescued a plane stuck in storm. So, I decided to fly away from there in search of someone else who may be in need of my help.
I, as the Mars hal of the Air Force, had been using my skills of flying Air planes in the harshest weather since past ten years. Surprising the rescue ones by my mysterious entry and exists.

Question. Imagine that the narrator shared his story with friends and family once he got home. One of them, a spiritual leader, decided to incorporate the story as part of his weekly sermon to the congregation. Another friend, a psychologist, worked the story into his next lecture on survival instinct and crisis management.
Do you think the two interpr etations of the story would be different? If so, how?
What insights might the narrator get about his mysterious experience, if he were to attend both the sessions?
Answer : Yes, two interpretations of the story would be different. Spiritually, a person has deep faith in God and he recalls him in the time of distress he will definitely be answered. God will surely send help through his messengers as done in chapter 1. A letter to god. The postmaster became the messenger of God. Whereas psychologically, it interprets ‘Never say die’ till the end.
The narrator might also have got the insight of never to lose hope in the most hopeless situation. No one know who may come to save you. The narrator was hopeless when he was caught in the storm. He lost all contact with Paris control and all his instruments were dead. Then came a help from unknown source in form of the mysterious pilot of the black aeroplane to guide the narrator to safety.

Question. A few days after the experience, the narrator sat with his wife and recalled a long conversation he'd had with his young son the day before. The narrator's son had spoken to him about his close friend, Freddie, and the many ways Freddie helped him. When the narrator suggested inviting Freddie home for lunch, his wife casually said, "Freddie is like your friend in the black aeroplane!"
That night the narrator decided to record his thoughts in his diary to clear his head. As the narrator, write the diary entry.
Answer : February 28, 20XX
France, 10.00 pm
Who saved me when I had lost all the contacts on the radio with Paris control? Who was the pilot of the black aeroplane who helped me to land safely without a compass, without the radio and without much fuel? These questions had been haunting me since past few days but they still remain unsolved puzzle. Even the lady in the control room couldn’t detect any other plane on the stormy night other than the old Dakota on the radar. The mysterious pilot of the black aeroplane was like God’s help sent to me to land safely. I was in real trouble before the mysterious black aeroplane appeared before me. I was lost and to make things worse my compass became dead. Gods knows what would have been my condition, had the pilot of the black aeroplane not guided me out of storm clouds to safety.