Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about 17 - King Sindbad And His Falcon from Class 8 English_FL. Before we begin the story, let us complete the pre-reading task. Think carefully about these questions. Do you like pets? What pets do you have in your home? What facilities do you provide for them? How do you take care of your pets? And finally, how do masters often punish pets that disobey them? Keep these questions in mind as we explore how a king treated his pet falcon and the consequences of acting in anger. [CHECKPOINT]
Now let us read and understand the story paragraph by paragraph. The story opens by introducing King Sindbad, a pleasure-loving ruler who particularly enjoyed racing and hunting. He had raised a falcon as his beloved pet. Wherever the king went, the bird accompanied him, and even at night, the falcon rested on his fist. To ensure the bird could drink during long hunts, the king tied a golden cup around its neck. One day, while the king was relaxing in his palace, the falcon suggested that the time was perfect for hunting. The king agreed and ordered his subordinates to make the necessary arrangements. They set out together, traveling until they reached a valley. The king’s men arranged a large circular net to trap their prey, and soon a gazelle was caught inside. [CHECKPOINT]
The excited king warned his hunting troop that anyone who allowed the gazelle to escape would face the death penalty. The men lifted the net from all sides and slowly tightened the circle. The gazelle moved toward the king, stood on its hind legs, lifted its forelegs to its chest, and suddenly leaped over the king’s head, escaping the trap completely. The king noticed his men murmuring and pointing at him. He asked his Wazir what they were saying. The Wazir explained that the men were reminding the king of his own warning about punishing whoever let the gazelle escape. Unwilling to break his vow, the king promised to capture it and galloped after the fleeing animal. [CHECKPOINT]
The falcon flew high, tracked the gazelle, swooped down, and blinded it with her sharp talons. The king immediately struck the blinded gazelle with his mace, ending the chase. He cut its throat, skinned it, and hung the spoils on his saddle. By midday, the king and his horse were extremely thirsty, and the area had no visible water source. The king searched further and found a liquid dripping from the leaves of a tree. He wore a protective skin gauntlet to guard against poison. Since his falcon was also very thirsty, he removed the golden cup from her neck and filled it with the dripping liquid. He placed it before the falcon, but surprisingly, she overturned it. [CHECKPOINT]
The king refilled the cup, but the falcon knocked it over again with her talons. Annoyed, he filled it a third time and offered it to his horse. The falcon quickly upset that cup too. The king became furious and shouted that she was an unlucky and foolish creature for refusing to drink and preventing the horse from drinking. In his rage, the king drew his sword and chopped off the falcon’s wings. The falcon cried out in pain and raised her head, signaling the king to look upward. He followed her gaze and saw a poisonous viper coiled high in the tree. The dripping liquid was actually snake venom, not water. [CHECKPOINT]
Overcome with remorse for harming his loyal companion, the king mounted his horse and returned to camp with the dead gazelle, the injured falcon still on his fist. Once he sat down comfortably at the camp, the falcon, who had endured the pain silently, suddenly gasped and died. The repentant king cried out in grief, mourning the faithful companion who had actually saved his life. Now let us review the glossary to ensure you understand the key vocabulary. A subordinate is someone lower in rank. A valley is a low area between hills. Prey is an animal hunted for food. A maze is a complicated network of paths. To thwart means to prevent success. To murmur is to speak quietly. [CHECKPOINT]
To accomplish means to achieve successfully. Talons are the sharp claws of a bird of prey. To wander means to move casually. A gauntlet is a strong protective glove. To annoy means to irritate. To slake means to satisfy thirst. A viper is a poisonous snake. To repent means to feel regret. A gasp is a sudden catch of breath. A saddle is a seat for riding a horse. Let us now work through the comprehension questions, guiding our thinking for each answer. For Section A, answer in two to three sentences. Question one: Who was Sindbad and what was he fond of? Sindbad was a king who loved pleasure, and he was particularly fond of racing and hunting. [CHECKPOINT]
Question two: What had the king brought up and what did he tie around its neck and why? He brought up a falcon as his pet and tied a golden cup around its neck to provide her with a drink during hunting trips. Question three: What did the falcon suggest to the king one day? She suggested that the time was suitable for hunting, which the king gladly accepted. Question four: How did the king threaten the hunting troop? He warned them that anyone who allowed the trapped gazelle to escape would be punished with death. Question five: Why does the falcon upset the cup with the dripping liquid? She upset the cup because she recognized the liquid as deadly snake venom and was trying to save the king and the horse from drinking it. [CHECKPOINT]
Question six: When did the falcon succumb to death? She succumbed to death as soon as the king reached the camp and sat down comfortably, after enduring the severe pain of her severed wings. Question seven: What was the king’s reaction? He was filled with deep remorse and cried aloud in grief upon realizing he had killed his faithful companion who had actually saved his life. Moving to Section B, which requires three to four sentences per answer. Question one: How did the king look after the falcon? The king treated her as a beloved companion, taking her everywhere, letting her rest on his fist at night, and tying a golden cup around her neck for water during hunts. [CHECKPOINT]
Question two: How did the gazelle escape? The gazelle moved toward the king, stood on its hind legs, lifted its forelegs to its chest, and suddenly leaped high over the king’s head, slipping out of the tightening net. Question three: How did the falcon help the king to kill the gazelle? She flew high, tracked the fleeing gazelle, swooped down rapidly, and used her sharp talons to blind the animal, allowing the king to strike it with his mace. Question four: Why did the king take out the cup? He took it out because both he and his horse were extremely thirsty, and he wanted to fill it with the dripping liquid from the tree to give the falcon a drink. Question five: What activity of the falcon made the king become furious? The king became furious when the falcon repeatedly overturned the cup of dripping liquid, refusing to let either herself or the horse drink from it. [CHECKPOINT]
Question six: Why did the king cut off the wings of the falcon? In a sudden fit of anger and frustration over her repeated refusal to drink and her interference, the king drew his sword and chopped off her wings. Question seven: What did the falcon indicate to the king? After being injured, she raised her head and pointed upward, directing the king’s attention to the poisonous viper coiled in the tree above them. Question eight: How did the king’s men trap the gazelle? They formed a large circular net around the valley, gradually lifting and tightening it from all sides to narrow the space and corner the gazelle. [CHECKPOINT]
Question nine: Why did the falcon upset the cup again and again? She did so because she recognized the dripping liquid as deadly snake venom and was desperately trying to prevent the king and his horse from drinking it. Question ten: Why did the king repent? He repented because he realized he had acted in blind rage, severely injuring his loyal falcon who had actually been protecting him from a fatal poison. Question eleven: Why did the king call his pet unlucky and foolish thing? He called her that because he misunderstood her actions, believing she was stubbornly refusing to quench her thirst and selfishly preventing the horse from drinking. [CHECKPOINT]
Question twelve: How did the falcon save the king’s life? She saved his life by repeatedly knocking over the cup of venom, and by pointing out the viper, thereby preventing him from drinking the poison that would have killed him instantly. Now for Section C, requiring six to eight sentences per answer. Question one: How did the king look after the pet falcon? King Sindbad treated his falcon with exceptional care and affection. He considered her more than just a hunting bird, viewing her as a true companion. Wherever he went, whether for racing or hunting, she accompanied him. At night, she rested comfortably on his fist. He even tied a special golden cup around her neck to ensure she had access to water during long hunting trips. This level of attention shows a deep bond between the master and his pet. His daily routine revolved around her presence, highlighting how cherished she was. His actions demonstrate a ruler who valued loyalty and companionship above mere utility. [CHECKPOINT]
Question two: How did the king hunt the gazelle? The hunt began when the falcon suggested favorable weather. The king ordered his subordinates to prepare a large circular net. They traveled to a valley and successfully trapped a gazelle inside. When the gazelle attempted to escape by leaping over the king, he refused to return empty-handed. He vowed to pursue it, galloping on his horse. The falcon assisted by flying high, tracking the prey, and blinding it with her talons. The king then used his mace to strike the blinded gazelle, ending the chase. Finally, he skinned the animal and hung the spoils on his saddle, completing a successful but ultimately tragic hunt. [CHECKPOINT]
Question three: What made the king cry aloud? The king cried aloud when he realized the devastating consequences of his own impulsive anger. After returning to camp, the injured falcon finally succumbed to her wounds and died. At that moment, the king fully understood that her seemingly disobedient actions were actually acts of profound loyalty. She had repeatedly knocked over the cup to save him from drinking snake venom. Recognizing that he had killed the very creature who had protected his life, he was overwhelmed by grief and remorse. His loud cries expressed deep regret for his lack of patience and his tragic misjudgment. [CHECKPOINT]
Question four: How did the falcon prove herself a faithful companion of the king? The falcon proved her faithfulness through unwavering loyalty and selfless protection. She accompanied the king everywhere, even resting on his fist at night. During the hunt, she actively helped track and blind the gazelle. More importantly, when the king was dying of thirst, she recognized the dripping liquid as deadly venom. Despite her own thirst, she repeatedly overturned the cup to prevent him and his horse from drinking it. Even after the king brutally severed her wings, she endured the pain silently and used her last moments to direct his attention to the viper. Her actions ultimately saved his life, proving that her devotion transcended even his violent punishment. [CHECKPOINT]
Let us now move on to the activities section. For Activity Two, you are asked to imagine you are King Sindbad in the forest when your falcon upsets the cup, and conclude the story with a different ending. Here is a model answer. When the falcon knocked over the cup for the third time, I felt a surge of irritation but decided to pause and observe her behavior more closely. Instead of drawing my sword, I noticed her frantic wing movements and her persistent gaze toward the tree above. Curiosity replaced my anger. I carefully collected a small drop of the liquid on a dry leaf and watched it sizzle and burn through the plant material. Realizing it was poison, I immediately understood her warning. I thanked her for her quick thinking, carefully avoided the tree, and we continued our search until we found a safe, clear spring. We returned to camp together, our bond strengthened by trust and patience. [CHECKPOINT]
For Activity Three, your teacher will read a story about a mother, a toddler, and a mongoose. Let us answer the questions based on that text. First, who took care of the baby when the woman went to fetch water? The pet mongoose was left in charge of the sleeping baby. Second, why was the mongoose’s mouth covered with blood? The mongoose’s mouth was covered with blood because it had fought and killed a venomous viper that had approached the baby’s bed. Third, what made the woman kill the mongoose? The woman presumed the mongoose had attacked her sleeping child after seeing it with a bloodied mouth near the doorstep, so she acted in anguish and killed it with an iron rod. [CHECKPOINT]
Fourth, why did the woman shed tears? She shed tears of deep remorse and horror when she discovered the dead snake and realized her baby was perfectly safe, understanding that she had unjustly killed her loyal pet. Fifth, what do you learn from this story? We learn that we should never act in haste or make quick judgments without verifying the facts, as impulsive actions driven by emotion can lead to irreversible regret. For Activity Four, you are to read two stories and note their morals. The first story is The Two Adamant Goats, and its moral is that it is better to bend than break. The second story is The Ant and the Dove, and its moral is that one good turn deserves another. [CHECKPOINT]
For Activity Five, you must match five proverbs with their correct meanings. Let us go through them carefully. Haste makes waste matches with the meaning that if you rush when you are doing something, you will make a mistake. A Jack of all trades and master of none matches with the meaning that one should excel in one trade rather than dabbling in too many. A poor workman blames his tools matches with the meaning that an incapable person blames others for his failures. A penny saved is a penny earned matches with the meaning that one must understand the importance of saving money. Finally, a person is known by the company he keeps matches with the meaning that one is judged according to the friends he has. [CHECKPOINT]
For Activity Six, you are asked to narrate to your friends one incident that happened in the past and explain the lesson you learned. Here is a model answer you can use or adapt. Last year, I was preparing for a major school examination. Instead of studying consistently, I decided to cram all the chapters the night before the test. I stayed awake until three in the morning, drinking coffee and trying to memorize everything. The next day, I felt exhausted and my mind was completely blank during the exam. I could not recall half of what I had studied. I learned a valuable lesson that day. Consistent, daily revision is far more effective than last-minute panic. I now follow a strict study schedule, and my performance has improved significantly. This experience taught me that discipline and patience always yield better results than rushed efforts. [CHECKPOINT]
We have now covered the complete story, all vocabulary, every comprehension question, and all language activities from this chapter. Remember the key theme of this lesson: patience, careful observation, and the danger of acting in anger. Always verify the facts before reacting, and cherish the loyalty of those who stand by you. Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]