Discuss what you would do in the situations described below. Remember that presence of mind comes out of a state of mental preparedness. If you have thought about possible problems or dangers, and about how to act in such situations, you have a better chance of dealing with such situations if they do arise.

About It. In this story, Ausable shows great ‘presence of mind’, or the ability to think quickly, and act calmly and wisely, in a situation of danger and surprise.

Looking back at the story, when do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max?

How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room?

Think About It. “Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read.” What do secret agents in books and films look like, in your opinion?

How does Ausable say he got in?

Who is Fowler and what is his authentic thrill of the day?

How has Max got in?

How is Ausable different from other secret agent?

Take a point of view for or against zoos, or even consider both points of view and write a couple of paragraphs or speak about this topic for a couple of minutes in class.

Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these : (i) On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage. (ii)And stares with his brilliant eyes At the brilliant stars. What do you think is the effect of this repetition?

Find the words that describe the two places, and arrange them in two columns. Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two situations.

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

We know that the word ‘fly’ (of birds/insects) means to move through air using wings. Tick the words which have the same or nearly the same meaning.

Children are flying kites. In the second sentence the seagull was afraid to move through the air, using its wings. Match the phrases given under Column A with their meanings given under Column B :

Villagers had beaten the criminal black and blue. ....................

Sometimes shopkeepers store essential goods to create false scarcity and then sell these in black. ....................

Very few people enjoy Harold Pinter’s black comedy. ....................

The bombardment of Hiroshima is one of the blackest crimes against humanity. ....................

The taxi-driver gave Ratan a black look as he crossed the road when the traffic light was green. ....................

Go and have a bath; your hands and face are absolutely black. ....................

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

What made the woman in the Control Centre look at the narrator strangely?

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

Describe the narrator’s experience as he flew the aero plane into the storm.

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

In the case of a bird flying, it seems a natural act, and a foregone conclusion that it should succeed. In the examples you have given in Answer to the previous question, was your success guaranteed, or was it important for you to try, regardless of a possibility of failure?

Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something that you were too scared to try? Discuss this in pairs or groups.

“They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?

“The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?

Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?