IGCSE narrative essay | 2009 May-Jun | Write a story in which the central theme is flying.



Question

You are advised to write between 350 and 500 words on the following topic:

Write a story in which the central theme is flying.

Model Essay

Evelyn had always dreamed of flying. As a child, she would spend hours lying on the grassy hill behind her house, watching the birds soar effortlessly across the sky. The freedom, the exhilaration, the boundless horizons—all of it called to her. Now, at twenty-five, she was about to make her dream a reality.

Evelyn’s journey began with a gift from her grandfather: an old, leather-bound book titled “The Art of Flight.” It was filled with intricate designs and blueprints, along with cryptic notes in the margins. Her grandfather, an inventor and a dreamer himself, had spent his life trying to build a machine that could allow humans to fly. He had passed away before completing his work, leaving the book as his legacy.

Determined to fulfill her grandfather’s dream, Evelyn poured over the book. She studied aerodynamics, engineering, and aviation history. Her small garage transformed into a workshop, filled with tools, metal scraps, and prototypes. The neighborhood kids would peek in, wide-eyed, as she tinkered with wings and engines.

Months turned into years, and Evelyn faced countless setbacks. There were times when her creations failed spectacularly, crashing to the ground or refusing to lift off at all. Each failure was a heavy blow, but she refused to give up. Her grandfather’s words, scrawled in the margins of the book, echoed in her mind: “Never stop dreaming, Evelyn. The sky is not the limit; it is only the beginning.”

One crisp autumn morning, after countless trials and errors, Evelyn stood before her latest invention: a sleek, glider-like contraption with lightweight metal wings and a powerful motor. She called it “The Dreamer.” It was her most ambitious project yet, and it looked promising. Her heart pounded with a mix of excitement and anxiety as she strapped herself into the cockpit.

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The field behind her house, once a playground for her childhood fantasies, was now her runway. Evelyn took a deep breath, started the motor, and felt the machine hum to life beneath her. With a determined smile, she pushed the throttle forward. The Dreamer lurched, then began to glide over the grass. Faster and faster it went, until suddenly, the ground dropped away, and she was airborne.

The sensation was indescribable. The wind whipped through her hair, the earth stretched out far below, and the horizon beckoned. Evelyn laughed aloud, a sound of pure joy and triumph. She maneuvered The Dreamer with ease, swooping and diving like the birds she had once envied. It was everything she had ever imagined and more.

As she soared higher, she felt a profound connection to her grandfather. He was with her in spirit, his dream fulfilled through her determination and love. The world below seemed distant and insignificant compared to the vast, open sky.

After what felt like an eternity of bliss, Evelyn guided The Dreamer back down, landing smoothly on the field. Her neighbors, who had gathered to watch, erupted in cheers and applause. She climbed out of the cockpit, her heart still soaring even as her feet touched the ground.

Evelyn looked up at the sky, a sense of peace and accomplishment washing over her. She had not only achieved her dream but also honored her grandfather’s legacy. Flying had taught her that dreams, no matter how lofty, were within reach if one had the courage to pursue them.

As she stood there, surrounded by friends and neighbors, Evelyn knew that this was only the beginning of her adventures in the sky. The possibilities were as limitless as the heavens above, and she was ready to explore them all.

Word Count: 596