Textual Question Answers
- What is special about the sentences in the telegram?
The telegram uses brief, coded sentences with a military tone. This adds suspense and excitement to the story. - What does the author compare the balloon to?
The balloon is compared to a cake made of yellow cloth when flat and a prodigious golden fruit or fantastic pear when inflated. - What is the other thought that occurs to every mind?
The balloon swelling with gas is compared to a living creature growing in the womb, ready to be born. - Express the attitude of the spectators and passengers towards the sport of ballooning.
The spectators are curious and excited, while the passengers feel a mix of joy, wonder, and nervousness. - What is the established custom mentioned here?
It is customary for the travellers to dine in the canteen of the gas-works before takeoff. - When the travellers come out, what do they see?
They see the balloon fully inflated, shining like a golden fruit in the setting sun. - Name the passengers in the balloon.
Lieutenant Mallet, Etierine Beer, Paul Bessand, and the narrator. Patrice Eyries had to step down. - Who is posted as the officer on watch?
Lieutenant Mallet. - Why does M. Eyries get out of the balloon? Is he regretful? Why?
M. Eyries gets out because the balloon is too heavy. Yes, he is regretful as he was looking forward to the adventure. - What does M. Joliet’s words and actions tell us about him?
He is polite, humorous, and courteous. He even jokes about not dirtying the ladies’ hats. - Comment on the use of the word ‘liberty’.
The author uses it metaphorically to describe the moment the balloon is released—symbolising freedom and flight. - Describe the aerial view of Paris.
Paris appears like a dark bluish patch with towers, domes, and streets, resembling a giant map from the sky. - Have you ever had an aerial view of a place?
(Students can write their own.) - Can a view from an airplane be as picturesque as this balloon view? Why?
Not usually, because airplanes fly higher and faster, while a balloon offers slower, closer, panoramic views. - How do the travellers know whether they are rising or sinking?
By dropping cigarette paper—if it falls, they are rising; if it floats upward, they are descending.
- The balloon is both a free toy and a slave of the wind. Express your views.
The balloon floats freely in the sky, like a toy, yet it has no control over direction, making it a slave to the wind. - Can you observe odour? Why does the author say so?
Yes. The author uses “observe” to mean noticing or sensing, especially when describing the gas smell during the flight. - Comment on: “losing its invisible blood by the escape-valve”.
This metaphor compares the escaping gas to blood, showing how vital the gas is to the balloon’s life and movement. - What do the mist-covered earth and star-studded sky indicate?
They symbolise mystery, wonder, and vastness. The earth seems distant and dreamlike; the sky looks magical. - Identify the figure of speech in “delicious inertia”.
It is an oxymoron—combining two opposite ideas: pleasure and stillness. - Why is space travel considered as ‘delicious inertia’ by the narrator?
Because in the balloon, the narrator feels a peaceful, weightless drift—a soothing escape from the busy world. - How is the rising of the moon described?
The moon rises slowly and beautifully through mist and clouds, as if from beneath the earth, adding to the magic of the journey.
Textbook Activities
Activity I – Think and Respond
What kind of captain would you like to become?
I would be a brave, calm, and caring captain.
- I would ensure the safety of my team.
- I would stay composed during emergencies.
- I would motivate and support my team members.
- I would guide them with clarity and patience.
- I would lead with responsibility and honesty.
Activity II – Live TV Report
Le Horla’s Take-Off:
Good evening viewers!
This is your reporter live from the gasworks at La Villette, Paris.
We are moments away from the historic lift-off of Le Horla, a magnificent balloon steered by Captain Jovis. The golden balloon is fully inflated and glowing under the evening sky. The passengers are boarding now.
And there it goes! The balloon has risen into the air like a giant pear. Spectators are cheering and waving. What a breathtaking moment!
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience—watching men fly towards the stars! This is [Your Name], signing off.
Activity III – Dos and Don’ts of Travel
Dos:
- Take a first aid kit
- Pack warm clothes
- Carry your ID and travel documents
- Learn basic local language phrases
Don’ts:
- Don’t carry expensive jewellery
- Don’t travel without insurance
- Don’t panic in emergencies
- Don’t litter or disrespect local culture
Activity IV
Life in the balloon is far more peaceful and liberating than life on Earth. On Earth, we are burdened with worries, responsibilities, and the pressure of time. But up here in the balloon, we are weightless not just in body, but in mind. Unlike the noise and chaos of the world below, the sky offers complete silence. Our thoughts are no longer controlled by routine or urgency. In the air, everything is more tranquil, more spiritual, and more beautiful than it could ever be down below. It is as if we have left behind human limitations and are living like celestial beings, floating gently over the world’s problems.
Activity V
I had just finished feeding the chickens when I saw something strange in the sky—a giant round object, glowing like the moon, slowly descending. My heart raced. Was it a sign from the heavens? I called out to my wife and neighbours, and we all ran toward the meadow.
As the thing landed with a thud and bounced on the earth like a giant ball, our cows began to moo loudly and circled around it. Then, to our amazement, men stepped out of a hanging basket beneath the balloon! One of them waved and smiled. We had never seen anything like it in our lives.
At first, we were afraid, thinking it might be magic or danger. But they spoke kindly, and we realised they were travellers—men who had flown through the skies. Helping them pack up felt like touching a piece of the stars. I’ll never forget the day the heavens dropped visitors into our quiet little village.
Activity 6
From Paris to the Sky: My Journey in Le Horla
By ………….
On the evening of July 8th, I stood at the La Villette gasworks, my heart pounding with excitement. Before me lay the great balloon, Le Horla, stretched out like a sleeping golden beast. It was flat at first, but soon, as gas was slowly pumped in, it began to swell and rise like something alive—growing into a magnificent shape that caught the evening sun and gleamed like a giant pear.
At last, the ropes were cut, and with a light jolt, we lifted off the ground. Cheers faded behind us as Paris shrank beneath our feet. From above, the city looked like a patchwork quilt—a blend of rooftops, roads, rivers, and churches, all silent and still. It was as if we were watching the Earth from a painter’s canvas.
As we floated higher, the wind whispered past our faces. The air grew colder and purer. The noise of the world was left behind. I felt a strange peace wash over me—light, free, and disconnected from time. We were no longer bound to the earth. We were voyagers in the sky.
We watched the sunset, its last golden rays painting the clouds in orange and pink. Then came the moon, rising like a silver lantern from the mist. Stars glittered all around us. It was a magical moment—one where time seemed to pause, and we felt closer to the heavens than to the Earth below.
But beauty came with risk. The wind grew fierce, and the balloon swayed. We had to throw out ballast—bags of sand—to stay aloft. The tension rose as we floated over villages, forests, and fields. Then came our descent. The landing was bumpy and wild. We crashed into the earth, bounced once, twice, and finally came to a halt in a grassy field surrounded by cows and curious peasants.
Exhausted but elated, we laughed, helped one another out, and greeted the astonished villagers. For a brief moment, we were heroes from the sky, strangers who had arrived not by road or river, but through the clouds.
This journey in Le Horla was not just an adventure—it was a dream come alive. A night above the Earth, where we touched the stars and tasted the freedom that only the sky can offer.
Activity 6 – Travel Essay
Title: A Journey Through the Sky – My Balloon Adventure
Travelling is often a way to escape daily routines and discover new perspectives. Recently, I experienced a once-in-a-lifetime hot-air balloon ride that changed how I view the world—both literally and emotionally. This trip was not just about going from one place to another; it was about seeing Earth from the heavens.
As the balloon slowly rose from the ground, I felt myself leave behind the noise and chaos of city life. Below, Paris turned into a painting—its streets looked like fine brushstrokes, and its buildings stood like tiny sculptures. Up in the sky, I breathed in fresh, cold air. There was only silence, broken by the wind or the occasional blast of the siren.
The physical features were awe-inspiring. We passed above rivers, hills, towns, and fields. I could spot the meandering roads and even animals on farms. The sounds of the earth rose up to greet us—the barking of dogs, the quacking of ducks, the laughter of children. It was a strange feeling: being high up yet still connected to everything below.
There were challenges too. At one point, a storm was chasing us, and we had to throw out ballast to remain aloft. But we never felt fear, only a deep thrill. The descent was equally exciting. We passed over farms, touching treetops and scaring chickens and cows before finally landing with a bump in a Belgian field.
The hospitality of the villagers amazed me. They rushed to help, full of curiosity and kindness. Thanks to them, we packed everything and boarded the train back to Paris by dawn. This travel experience reminded me that adventure is not only about distance—it’s about new perspectives, peaceful moments, and the kindness of strangers.
Activity 7 – Grammar: Progressive Tenses
A. Pick out Present Continuous Tense Forms
| Sentence/Segment | Context |
| “The clouds are gathering behind us…” | Something happening before and after a point in time |
| “Cocks are crowing…” | Action continuing at the moment of speaking |
| “The ducks are drowning everything.” | Temporary situation |
| “The peasants are waving their arms…” | Repeated action in real-time |
| “We are crossing a broad, dry, well-cultivated country.” | Action happening during narration |
These all show how the present continuous tense is used to express ongoing, temporary, repetitive, or progressive actions and situations.