Class 8 English Question Answers - Feathered Friend

Short Type Questions

Q1: What does the phrase "Had this been so" mean?
Ans: The phrase "Had this been so" indicates a hypothetical situation that is being contrasted with reality. It suggests that if Sven had actually been a tall Nordic giant, his chances of getting a job in space would have been slim, but in reality, he was a wiry little fellow.

Q2: Where and what is happening in the paragraph describing Sven's construction work?
Ans: The paragraph is describing Sven's construction work on the space station. It mentions that Sven and his team excel at collecting floating girders and fitting them together to construct the station. The work is challenging and requires precise coordination in a weightless environment.

Q3: What happened when the writer wanted to locate the source of the whistling sound
Ans: When the writer wanted to find the source of the whistling sound, he heard a long and intricate melody instead of an announcement over the station intercom. Startled, he looked up and saw Claribel, the canary, for the first time.

Q4: What is the problem being discussed regarding Claribel?
Ans: The problem being discussed regarding Claribel is that she goes missing, and Sven, her owner, cannot find her anywhere on the space station. The crew is concerned about her sudden disappearance.

Q5: What do they do during twelve-hour watches?
Ans: During twelve-hour watches, the crew members take turns monitoring and performing their duties on the space station. They maintain a schedule where they work for twelve hours and then have a period of rest or leisure. It helps ensure continuous monitoring and operation of the station.

Long Type Questions

Q1: Describe Sven's role in the construction of the space station and the advantages his team has over construction crews on Earth.
Ans: Sven is a skilled construction worker who plays a vital role in building the space station. He specializes in collecting and assembling floating girders to construct the station's framework. Sven and his team have an advantage over construction crews on Earth because they can work in a weightless environment. Unlike construction crews on Earth, who are limited by gravity, Sven and his team can maneuver and position the girders precisely without the constraint of gravity pulling them down. They can step back and admire their work without the risk of girders falling. This advantage allows them to construct the station with a slow-motion, three-dimensional ballet-like precision.

Q2: Explain how the writer discovered Claribel's presence on the space station and the initial encounter with the canary.
Ans:  The writer discovered Claribel's presence when he heard a musical whistle in his office, assuming it came from the station intercom. Instead of an announcement, there was a long and intricate melody. Startled, the writer looked up and saw Claribel, the canary, hanging in the air, motionless with her wings folded. This encounter took the writer by surprise, and he observed her for a moment before realizing that Claribel had already adapted to the absence of gravity and learned how to operate in such an environment.

Q3: Discuss Sven's ownership of Claribel and the challenges faced in keeping her presence a secret.
Ans: Sven was the owner of Claribel, the canary, on the space station. He had smuggled her aboard the last ferry from Earth out of scientific curiosity to see how a bird would operate in a weightless environment. Sven initially did not confess to owning her, and by the time it became known, Claribel had already become a general pet among the crew. The main challenge in keeping her presence a secret was that Claribel could be noisy when upset. The crew had to come up with creative explanations for the curious sounds of peeps and whistles, often originating from ventilation shafts and storage bulkheads. They had a few close calls, but the space station's numerous hiding places made it unlikely for anyone to suspect the presence of a canary.

Q4: Describe the symptoms and concerns when Claribel suddenly becomes ill and the realization that something is wrong with the air.
Ans:  Claribel suddenly becomes ill and collapses. The concerned crew members gather around, and Jock Duncan, the cook-doctor-dietitian, examines her. He attempts to detect her heartbeat and expresses apologetic uncertainty since he had never listened to a canary's heart before. The crew members become worried about Claribel's well-being and wonder what could be wrong with her. However, it is during this moment that the writer's memory is jogged, and he realizes that something is wrong with the air, leading to Claribel's condition.

Q5: Explain the cause of Claribel's illness and how it was discovered, along with the solution to revive her.
Ans: Claribel's illness is caused by a problem with the air on the space station. The writer remembers the practice of miners using canaries to detect gas, and he connects it to Claribel's sudden collapse. The realization occurs when the writer understands that the alarms designed to detect air quality issues had failed due to a circuit not being connected. The malfunction went unnoticed due to an eclipse casting Earth's shadow and the single alarm circuit's failure. To revive Claribel, the crew suggests giving her a shot of oxygen from the emergency cylinder. When the oxygen is administered using a face mask, Claribel revives temporarily but soon keels over again. The solution to revive her is successfully applied, and it becomes apparent that the problem with the air had caused her initial collapse.