Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
Last month, I flew for the very first time in my life. My cousin was getting married in Lisbon, Portugal, and instead of travelling by train, my family decided to fly. I was so nervous at the airport in Mumbai that my hands were shaking. Everything was new and a little bit overwhelming — the long queues, the security checks, and the loud announcements on the speakers.
When we finally got on the plane, I chose the window seat because I wanted to see everything. A friendly flight attendant showed us how to use the seatbelt and explained what to do in an emergency. The engines started getting louder and louder, and then — suddenly — we were moving fast down the runway. I held my breath. A few seconds later, we were in the air! My stomach felt strange, but I was also laughing because it was so incredible.
The flight to Lisbon took about nine hours. After about an hour, I completely relaxed. I watched two films, ate a surprisingly tasty meal, and slept for a while. The best moment was when the clouds were right outside my window — they looked like a soft, white carpet covering the whole world. When we landed, I felt proud and a little sad that it was over. I am definitely going to fly again as soon as possible!
Exercise 1
Read the passage about a first time flying experience carefully, then choose the correct answer for each question based on the text.
Example: Where did the writer go for the first time?
Answer: The writer went to the airport for the first time.
My First Time Flying
Have you ever felt nervous and excited at the same time? Imagine sitting in a huge metal machine, thousands of metres above the ground, looking out at the clouds below you. In this lesson, you are going to read a personal blog post from a young woman called Priya, who describes her very first experience on an aeroplane. Before you read, think about these two questions: What do you think is the most frightening part of flying for the first time? And what do you think a person feels when they see the clouds from above for the first time?
Reading Passage: Up in the Clouds
Last month, I flew for the very first time in my life. My cousin was getting married in Lisbon, Portugal, and instead of travelling by train, my family decided to fly. I was so nervous at the airport in Mumbai that my hands were shaking. Everything was new and a little bit overwhelming — the long queues, the security checks, and the loud announcements on the speakers.
When we finally got on the plane, I chose the window seat because I wanted to see everything. A friendly flight attendant showed us how to use the seatbelt and explained what to do in an emergency. The engines started getting louder and louder, and then — suddenly — we were moving fast down the runway. I held my breath. A few seconds later, we were in the air! My stomach felt strange, but I was also laughing because it was so incredible.
The flight to Lisbon took about nine hours. After about an hour, I completely relaxed. I watched two films, ate a surprisingly tasty meal, and slept for a while. The best moment was when the clouds were right outside my window — they looked like a soft, white carpet covering the whole world. When we landed, I felt proud and a little sad that it was over. I am definitely going to fly again as soon as possible!
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| overwhelming | adjective | Too much to deal with; very strong or intense | The noise at the stadium was overwhelming — I had to cover my ears. |
| queue | noun | A line of people waiting for something | There was a very long queue at the check-in desk. |
| security check | noun phrase | The process at an airport where staff check your bags and body for dangerous items | You must remove your shoes and belt before the security check. |
| flight attendant | noun | A person who works on a plane and helps passengers | The flight attendant brought us water and snacks during the flight. |
| runway | noun | The long road at an airport that planes use to take off and land | The plane moved slowly along the runway before taking off. |
| emergency | noun | A sudden dangerous situation that needs immediate action | In an emergency, you should follow the crew's instructions. |
| relaxed | adjective / verb (past simple) | Calm and not worried or tense | After the first hour on the plane, she relaxed and enjoyed the journey. |
| landed | verb (past simple) | Arrived safely on the ground after flying | The plane landed smoothly at the airport in the evening. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Skimming for the Main Idea
Read the passage quickly the first time without stopping. Do not worry about every word. Ask yourself: Who is this about? What did they do? How did they feel? You should understand the general story in about 30 seconds.
Scanning for Specific Information
When a question asks for a specific detail — for example, Where was the wedding? or How long was the flight? — do not re-read everything. Move your eyes quickly across the text to find numbers, names of places, or key words. Look for Lisbon, Mumbai, or nine hours directly.
Understanding Sequence of Events
This passage follows a time order. Look for words like last month, when we finally, after about an hour, and when we landed. These words tell you the order in which things happened. Using them can help you answer questions about what happened first, next, and last.
Inferring Feelings from Context
Priya does not always say exactly how she feels using the word "happy" or "scared." Instead, look at her actions and descriptions. For example, "my hands were shaking" tells you she was nervous, even though she does not use the word "nervous" in that sentence.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Pitfall 1: Confusing the Destination and the Starting Point
Priya's family flew from Mumbai to Lisbon. Some students mix these up because both city names appear close together in the text. Always check: where did they start? and where did they go?
Pitfall 2: Misreading Priya's Feelings
At the start, Priya was nervous. Later, she was excited and then relaxed. Be careful — she had different feelings at different times. A question might ask how she felt at the beginning, and the answer is nervous, not relaxed or happy.
Pitfall 3: The Word "surprisingly"
Priya says the meal was "surprisingly tasty." This means she did not expect the food to be good, but it was. Some students think this means the food was bad or strange. It does not — it means it was better than she expected.
Pitfall 4: Who is Getting Married?
It was Priya's cousin who was getting married, not Priya herself. Read carefully when the text mentions family relationships — it is easy to confuse who is doing what.
Quick Summary
In this passage, Priya — a young woman from Mumbai — describes her first aeroplane journey. She flew to Lisbon for her cousin's wedding. At first, she felt nervous and overwhelmed at the airport. However, once the plane took off, she found the experience exciting and eventually relaxing. She watched films, ate a good meal, and was amazed by the view of the clouds from her window seat. By the end, she felt proud and already wanted to fly again. The passage is told in the past simple tense with some descriptive details about feelings and sensory experiences.
Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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