Two Stories about Flying

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The young seagull was afraid to fly because he thought his wings would not support him over the vast expanse of sea. The great distance down to the water (miles down) made him feel certain that he wou…

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A ledge is a narrow horizontal shelf projecting from a wall or cliff. In the story, it refers to the rocky outcrop where the young seagull lived and from where he was expected to take his first flight…

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The seagull's parents came around calling to him shrilly, upbraiding (scolding) him, and threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. They tried both encouragement and threats to mo…

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Preening means making an effort to maintain and clean feathers. Birds use their beaks to arrange, clean, and oil their feathers to keep them in good condition for flying and protection.

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Hunger finally motivated the seagull to fly. When his mother flew toward him with a piece of fish but stopped just out of reach, his desperate hunger made him dive for the food, which forced him to sp…

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Initially, the seagull felt monstrous terror and his heart stood still. Then he felt his wings spread outwards, wind rushing against his feathers. He was no longer falling but soaring gradually. The f…

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Curveting means leaping like a horse, but in flying context, it refers to playful, acrobatic movements in the air - similar to how a horse might leap and bound playfully on land.

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The main theme is overcoming fear through necessity and discovering that our fears are often unfounded. The story teaches that sometimes we need a push (internal or external) to realize our potential …