The Black Aeroplane | NCERT Solutions | CBSE Class 10 English

1. “I’ll take the risk.” What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it?

Answer: The risk is flying the aeroplane into a violent storm. The narrator knows it is very dangerous as the black clouds are huge and he may lose control due to poor visibility and non-working instruments. He could have turned back to Paris, but he chooses to go through the storm because he wants to reach home soon. He is tired, misses his family, and is thinking about having a big English breakfast. His strong desire to be home makes him take the risk even though he knows it could put his life in danger.

2. Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aeroplane into the storm.

Answer: As the narrator flew into the storm, everything suddenly became dark and frightening. He could not see anything outside the aeroplane. The strong wind tossed the plane around, and all his instruments, including the compass and radio, stopped working. He felt lost and helpless in the black clouds with no idea where he was going. There was no help or contact from anyone. The situation was scary and confusing, and the narrator felt afraid. This experience shows how dangerous the storm was and how risky it was to fly through it without proper guidance.

3. Why does the narrator say, “I landed and was not sorry to walk away from the old Dakota…”?

Answer: The narrator says this because he had just faced a very dangerous and scary experience flying through a storm. His instruments had stopped working, and he was lost in the dark clouds. He didn’t know if he would survive. After landing safely, he felt a big sense of relief. He was tired, shaken, and thankful to be safe. Walking away from the old Dakota meant leaving behind that fearful experience. This shows that he was mentally and physically exhausted and glad the danger was over.

4. What made the woman in the control centre look at the narrator strangely?

Answer: The woman in the control centre looked at the narrator strangely because he asked about another aeroplane that had helped him through the storm. The narrator believed someone guided him safely by flying ahead of him. However, the woman told him that no other aeroplane was in the sky that night and only his plane was visible on the radar. This surprised her because it was not possible for another plane to be flying without being noticed. Her reaction shows that the narrator’s story was strange, confusing, and mysterious to her.

5. Who do you think helped the narrator to reach safely? Discuss this among yourselves and give reasons for your answer.

Answer: I think the mysterious pilot of the black aeroplane helped the narrator to reach safely. Even though the control centre said no other plane was in the sky, the narrator clearly saw another plane guiding him. This shows that someone or something helped him at the right time. Maybe it was a supernatural force or just a miracle. The pilot appeared when everything had failed — the compass, the radio, and even the fuel. I feel this shows that help can come in strange ways when we are in big trouble. It remains a mystery, but it saved his life.

6. Have you ever been alone or away from home during a thunderstorm? Narrate your experience in a paragraph.

Answer: Yes, once I was at my cousin’s house in a village when a strong thunderstorm began. The lights went out, and loud thunder and flashes of lightning filled the sky. I felt very scared because everything looked dark and unfamiliar. I missed my home and parents. I stayed close to my cousin and tried to stay calm. Slowly, the storm passed, and things became normal again. That night, I understood how nature can suddenly change and make us feel small and helpless. It also made me realize how brave we become when there’s no other choice.