A. Multiple-Choice Questions
1. The young seagull was alone on the ledge because (b) he had been afraid to fly .
2. The word ‘plunge’ means (c) to jump into something.
3. The word that means ‘a narrow flat piece of rock’ is (d) ledge
4. The (b) sight of the food maddened him.
5. The young seagull couldn’t reach his parents because he was (d) afraid to fly.
B. Answer the following questions:
1. Why was the seagull afraid to fly?
Answer:
He felt certain that his wings would never support him, and he was terrified of falling into the vast sea below.
2. Why did he run back into the little hole under the ledge?
Answer:
He ran back out of fear after looking down at the immense expanse of the sea, seeking safety where he slept at night.
3. Why couldn’t he take the plunge?
Answer:
He lacked the courage and confidence to jump off the ledge, as his fear of falling overpowered him.
4. Why did he utter a low cackle?
Answer:
He uttered a low cackle when he saw his mother tearing a piece of fish, attempting to beg her to bring him some food.
5. What did his mother finally do?
Answer:
She picked up a piece of fish and flew across to him, hovering just out of his reach to lure him into taking a leap off the ledge.
6. When the seagull was able to fly, how did he express his joy?
Answer:
He expressed his joy by uttering a loud scream, flapping his wings, soaring upward, and diving gracefully alongside his family.
C. Match the words in A with their meanings in B:
1. plunge \rightarrow to move down suddenly
2. seagull \rightarrow large seabird
3. chasm \rightarrow a deep gap between two rocks
4. muster \rightarrow gather
5. brink \rightarrow edge
6. ledge \rightarrow projection on the side of mountain
