CBSE · Class 10 · English · First Flight: Two Stories about FlyingWhy was the young seagull afraid to fly, and how did his mother's clever trick force him to take his first flight?

The young seagull was terrified of flying because he lacked self-confidence and believed that his wings would never support him. He looked at the vast expanse of the sea below and felt certain that he would fall and drown. While his siblings had already taken their flights, he remained isolated on the ledge. To overcome his fear, his mother devised a clever plan. She flew near him with a piece of fish in her beak but stopped just out of his reach. Mad with hunger, the young seagull forgot his fear and dived at the fish. This sudden plunge forced him into the open air. Initially, terror seized him, but instinctively, he spread his wings, felt the wind against his breast, and began to fly. Thus, his mother's clever trick successfully compelled him to conquer his fear and make his first flight.