Feathered Friend NCERT Solutions | English Poorvi Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

Page No. 205-206

Let us do these activities before we read.

I. Work in pairs and discuss the questions given below. Share your Ans:s with your classmates and teacher.

Q1:  Who can a ‘feathered’ friend be?
Ans: A feathered friend can be a bird.

Q2: Which ‘feathered’ friend do you like? Why?
Ans: I like parrot as my feathered friend. It is very intelligent, and can imitate the voice of human beings.

Q3: If you have a choice between a feathered’ and a ‘furry’ friend, who would you choose? Why?
Ans: I would like to choose a feathered friend, because of having a light body and less expensive. On the other hand, the furry friends refer to animals with fur, like a cat. Sometimes, they can bite us without reason.

Q4: Do you think a ‘feathered’ or a furry’ friend can accompany astronauts to space? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Ans: No, I don’t think a furry friend can accompany astronauts to space. Furry friends are very disturbing. They Will always create problems for astronauts in the aircraft by their notorious activities.

II. Complete the words given below by inserting vowels. Refer to their meanings given alongside. Share your Ans:s with your classmates and teachers.
1. official rule that controls how something is done: R_G_L_T N
2. to not allow something: F _ R B _ D
3. join or blend to form a single entity: F _ S _
4. suddenly: _BR_PTLY
5. admit one’s mistake: C _ N F _ S S
6. a person who advises what to eat to keep healthy: D T _ T N
Ans:
1. REGULATION
2. FORBID
3. FUSE
4. ABRUPTLY
5. CONFESS
6. DIETITIAN

Page No. 209

Let us read

I. Ans: the following questions briefly.
Q1: Why did the narrator think Sven had sneaked a bird aboard? What was Sven’s scientific reason?
Ans: The narrator had some reasons to think so. It was the bird’s unusual behaviour, like her seemingly effortless flight in a space station and lack of concern for the absence of gravity. On the other hand, Sven’s scientific reason for bringing the bird aboard was to observe how a bird would function in a weightless environment. He wanted to experience how a bird could operate and navigate without the effects of gravity.

Q2: How did Claribel adjust to the new surroundings?
Ans: Claribel learnt to operate without using her wings or much efforts. She learnt to simply hang in the air, motionless with her wings folded. This adaptation allowed her to thrive and even gain weight in the unique conditions of her new surroundings.

Q3:  What made the narrator mistake the musical whistle for a sound from the intercom?
Ans: The narrator heard the whistle near his ear. He expects an announcement to follow the whistle, that is typical of intercoms. The melody of the whistle, rather than a human voice, hence leads him to realize it wasn’t the intercom.

Q4:  Do you think the presence of the canaiy would lead the spacers into trouble? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Ans: Especially during a long mission, the presence of canaries on the spacecraft could lead to some challenges for the spacers. While they can be valuable as early warning indicators for certain gases, they also have some particular needs and vulnerabilities that could be difficult to manage in a confined space environment.

Page No. 211-213

Let us discuss

Q1: The alarm at the space station failed to work properly because they were not connected.
Ans: False

Q2: Claribel was brought to the space station for an official experiment on animal behaviour in space.
Ans: False

Q3: The canary’s suffering helped the crew discover a problem with the air purifier.
Ans: True

Q4: The air purifier froze because there was a rare eclipse.
Ans: True

Q5:  Claribel could fly gracefully in the space station, performing loops in the air.
Ans: True

Q6: The space station crew was uninterested in Claribel and hardly noticed her presence after she was discovered.
Ans: False

Q7: Claribel had fainted and had to be revived with oxygen supply.
Ans: True

Let us think and reflect

I. Read the given extracts and Ans: the questions that follow.
Q1: Sven was one of our best construction men, and excelled at the tricky and specialised work of collecting assorted girders as they floated around in free fall, making them do the slow-motion, three-dimensional ballet that would get them into their right positions, and fusing the pieces together when they were precisely dovetailed into the intended pattern: it was a skilled and difficult job, for a space suit is not the most convenient of garbs in which to work.
(i) What can be inferred about Sven’s abilities from his job description?
A. He is good at following instructions but lacks creativity.
B. He possesses a strong understanding of working in space.
C. He struggles with the complexities of construction in space.
D. He prefers working on simpler tasks rather than complex jobs.
Ans: (B) He possesses a strong understanding of working in space.

(ii) How can we conclude that Sven was working in zero gravity?
Ans: Sven was working in space. His job was to collect assorted girders as they floated around in a free fall. He had to make them do the slow-motion that would get them into their right position and then, fuse the pieces together into the required pattern

(iii) Select the option that is correct for both (Assertion) A and (Reason) R.
(A): Sven’s job required him to make girders perform a ‘three-dimensional ballet’ in space.
(R): Working in zero gravity allows objects to float, making precise positioning more challenging.
A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Ans: A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

(iv) Replace the underlined word with a word similar in meaning from the extract.
During the festival, people wore colourful outfits that represented their culture.
Ans: Garbs

Q2: “Jim!” There’s something wrong with the air! That’s why Claribel’spassed out. I’ve just remembered that miners used to carry canaries down to warn them of gas.”
“Nonsense!” said Jim. “The alarms would have gone off. We’ve got duplicate circuits, operating independently. ”
“Er—the second alarm circuit isn’t connected up yet, ” his assistant reminded him. That shook Jim; he left without a word, while we stood arguing and passing the oxygen bottle around like a pipe of peace.
(i) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option from those given in the brackets.
The narrator references canaries and miners in order to __________.
(highlight the historical use of canaries as warning systems/explain the reason that caused Claribel to faint suddenly)
Ans: highlight the historical use of canaries as warning system.

(ii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
Jim initially dismisses the warning about the air because __________.
Ans: the alarms would have gone off.

(iii) What does the phrase ‘shook Jim’ mean in the context of the information in the extract?
Jim was _________.
A. physically pushed by someone
B. startled by unexpected information
C. cold and needed to warm up
D. trying to shake off sleepiness
Ans: (B) startled by unexpected information

(iv) What does the crew’s action of passing the oxygen bottle around ‘like a pipe of peace’ suggest about their response to the situation?
Ans: This phrase suggests that the crew is sharing a valuable, life-saving resources equally and perhaps even peacefully during a difficult situation. It also indicates that they are not either selfish or greedy.

II. Answer the following questions.
Q1:  What was the purpose of the alarm? What had caused its failure?
Ans: The purpose of the alarm was to warn the crew of low oxygen levels in space. The alarm failed because an eclipse caused part of the air purifier to freeze. The freezing prevented the air purifier from properly functioning, which in turn prevented the alarm from triggering.

Q2:  How does the crew’s reaction to Claribel change over the course of the story?
Ans: The crew’s initial reaction to Claribel is one of the curiosity and perhaps even a bit of amusement. They are surprised to see a pet onboard the space station. However, as the story progresses, their feelings towards Claribel evolve, becoming one of deep concern and eventually affection. This shift is largely due to Claribel’s unexpected ability to alert the crew to a dangerous situation, saving their lives.

Q3:  What does the last part of the story tell us about the significance of unusual ways of problem solving?
Ans: The unusual ways of problem solving revolves around a canary bird named Claribel. She detects air quality issue on a space station. When she passes out due to poor air quality, the crew realizes a malfunction in the air purifier has caused this problem. This shows reliance on a living organism to act as an early warning system for dangerous conditions, a method that might not be immediately obvious or conventional in space.

Q4: Justify the appropriateness of the title of the story.
Ans: The title of the story, ‘Feathered Friend’ is appropriate. The story directly related to the core theme of friendship and the bond between humans and animals, particularly birds. The title evokes the image of a bird as a companion and a source of joy, that supports the narrator’s focus on the relationship between Sven and Claribel, who is a canary bird.

Q5:  ‘Without Claribel, we should soon have been slightly dead.’ What does this line suggest about uncertainty of life in space?
Ans: This quote highlights the crucial role of Claribel in alerting the space station crew to a potentially deadly situation, caused by a malfunctioning air purifier. They would have suffered from the poisonous atmosphere, without Claribel’s sensitivity to changes in the air.

Q6: Explain how has the writer presented science fiction with a touch of humour.
Ans: The narrator’s disbelief in the canary’s ability to thrive in space, and his causal attitude towards breaking rules, creates a comedic contrast with the serious nature of their mission. The over-exaggeration of the space station’s equipment, like the alarm that failed to function, and the crew’s reactions, especially the narrator’s initial sluggishness add a layer of comedic absurdity to the story. Sven is a crew member, and brings Claribel aboard. He is presented as a somewhat eccentric and unpredictable figure, that adds to the overall humourous tone of the story. Moreover, the unexpected way in which Claribel revives and the subsequent events, such as the air purifier freezing, provides moments of light hearted amusement to the story.

Q7: How would Sven reflect on his experience of almost losing Claribel and for saving the lives of the entire crew?
Ans: Sven would likely reflect on the tragic loss of Claribel and acknowledge her role in saving the lives of the entire entire member. The loss of Claribel would be mourned as a personal and profound tragedy, in the light of the affectionate bond she shared with the crew. However, the story also emphasizes the profound impact of her alertness, that highlights her accidental yet significant contribution to their survival.

Page No. 214 -221

Let us learn

I. Choose the appropriate adjectives from the box given below to match with the words 1-8 that follow.
1. ________________ path
2. ________________ worry
3. ________________ plan
4. ________________ look
5. ________________ reason
6. ________________ traffic
7. ________________ voices
8. _______________ expression
Now, underline the sentences that use these adjectives in the text.
Ans:
1. narrow
2. nagging
3. inexplicable
4. sheepish
5. vague
6. sluggish
7. delighted
8. hushed

The sentences that use the above adjectives in the text have been underlined below.
1. I had a nagging headache, and vague memories to fitful, disturbed dreams.
2. We all waited in hushed silence while he held Claribel against his ear in an attempt to detect any heartbeat.
3. My mind seemed to be very sluggish that morning, as if I was still unable to cast off the burden of sleep.
4. He came back ten minutes later with sheepish expression.
5. So now, if you visit any space station, don’t be surprised if you hear an inexplicable snatch of birdsong.
6. To our delighted surprise, she arrived at once.
7. There were a couple of narrow escapes.

II. The word ‘intercom’ is used in the text. It is called a merged word as it is made by combining the parts of two words— ‘internal’ and ‘communication’. Merged words are made by combining two words. 
Combine the words in Column 1 with the words in Column 2 to make merged words. Write the merged word and its meaning.
One example has been done for you.

Ans:

III. Read the following sentence from the text and fill in the blank.
It will mean that you’re being doubly safeguarded.
In the given sentence, ‘will’ denotes _________ (past/present/future) time.
Ans:
Future
There are several ways to use verbs to talk about the future in English.
The following table lists some of the usages of future time references.

IV. Fill in the blanks with the correct form (Simple Present, Present Progressive, ‘will’, or ‘going to’) to indicate future time.
1. Our flight __________ (leave) at 10.00 a.m. tomorrow.
2. They __________ (finish) the project by the end of this week.
3. The weather forecast says it __________ (rain) later today.
4. We __________ (move) into our new house next month.
5. I __________ (start) my new hobby class next Monday.
6. She __________ (go) to the mall this afternoon.
7. The team __________ (have) a meeting at 3.00 p.m. tomorrow.
8. I __________ (help) you with your homework after dinner
Ans:
1. leaves
2. will have finished
3. is going to rain
4. are moving
5. am starting
6. will go
7. is having
8. am going to help

V. Fill in the blanks with the suitable forms of verbs given in brackets to express future time reference.
By 2040, artificial intelligence 1. ________ (revolutionise) medical treatments. Researchers 2.________ (develop) AI-powered diagnostic tools that 3. ________ (transform) healthcare by the end of this decade. Next week, the International Science Congress 4. _______ (open) to showcase advancements in AI and robotics. In the coming years, robots 5. _______ (assist) surgeons in performing complex operations. Years ago, experts had predicted that AI would reshape our world, and now, as we approach the future, this 6. _______ (be) our new reality
Ans:
1. is going to revolutionise
2. are developing
3. will transform
4. opens
5. will assist
6. is going to be

Let us listen

I. You will listen to a conversation between Monika and Toby. Toby is a Martian and is stranded on Earth. He has become Monika’s friend. As you listen, put a tick mark (✓) against the correct statements and a cross against the wrong ones.

Q1: Toby misses his school.
Ans: False

Q2: Monika accepts Toby as her friend.
Ans: True

Q3: Monika asks Toby about one of his facial features.
Ans: False

Q4: Toby tells Monika that she had a banana for breakfast.
Ans: False

Q5: Toby shares that he can see much clearer with a closed eye.
Ans: True

II. Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear.
1. Toby: I miss my _______ and home.
2. Toby: Well, we  _______ don’t need to eat anything. We get our from the Sun.
3. Monika: Oh! Don’t you ever feel like having ice-creams and _______ !
4. Monika: Okay, tell me one thing. How are you able to see only with _______ eye?
5. Toby: I can see beyond mountains and _______, woods and even
Ans:
1. people
2. Martians; energy
3. chocolates
4. one
5. clouds; even metals

Let us speak

I. Read the following words from the text aloud and circle the letters that are not pronounced (silent letters).
ballet (ba-lay) [ba pronounced as in bat] whistle (wi-sl)
alarm (uh-laam) psychologist (sai-ko-luh-juhst)
Now, read some more words with silent letters. As you read, circle the letters that are not pronounced.
Ans:
Receipt – the letter ‘p’ is silent.
Debris – the letter ‘s’ is silent.
Pneumonia – the letter ‘p’ is silent.
Almond – the letter ‘1’ is silent.
Foreign – the letter ‘g’ is silent.
Island – the letter ‘s’ is silent.
Wreck – the letter “w’ is silent.
Campaign – the letter ‘g’ is silent.
Fasten – the letter ‘t’ is silent.

II. Work in pairs. Use the given situations to ask for and give suggestions.

• You need to make a model of the solar system for the Science Exhibition but don’t know what materials to use. Ask your friend for suggestions.
• You need to prepare for the inter-class quiz on the topic Chandrayaan-3. Ask your friend for advice on how to prepare. You may use the prompts given below.

Ans:
I need to make a model of the solar system for the Science Exhibition, but I have no idea how I should complete my model. I need your suggestion.
Friend’s suggestions: To make a model of the solar system, first decide if you want to represent planet sizes or distances or both,
and then, choose a scale that fits your space. Now, you should gather materials like craft supplies or materials found around your house. Then, you should think over using paints, markers, or other creative mediums. At last, you should research on the characteristics of each planet, such as size, colour, rings, etc. to accurately represent them on your model. Thus, your model of the solar system for the Science Exhibition would be ready for demonstration.

I need to prepare Inter-class quiz on the topic Chandrayaan-3, but I have no knowledge how to make questions about the important aspects of Chandrayaan-3. I hope you can better suggest me, as you are quiet familiar with this topic. Friend’s suggestions: To prepare a successful inter-class quiz on Chandrayaan-3 is not a difficult task. You should focus on understanding the mission’s goals, key components, and scientific objectives. Moreover, you should include questions about the launch date, landing site, the purpose of the rover and lander, and the instruments they carry. In addition, you shouldn’t forget to touch upon the significance of the lunar south pole and the mission’s broader implications for Indian space exploration. Your quiz kit should contain everything related to this pride mission.

Let us write

I. Complete the social media web given below with the uses of the internet.
Ans:
Now, write an article titled The Importance of Internet’ with the help of the social media web.
Points to remember:
Heading/Title
Name of the writer
Paragraph 1: Give a general introduction to the topic.
Paragraph 2: Explain the uses of the internet and why it is important. Give examples to support your view.
Paragraph 3: End with a comment and leave the reader with a thoughtful idea or quote.
Ans:
The Importance of Internet
Garima, Class-7
The last few years have witnessed heavy reliance on the Internet. This has been because of multiple advantages that it has to offer – for instance, reducing work stress and changing the face of communication most importantly. If we take the current scenario, we cannot ignore how important the Internet is in our everyday lives. It is now indeed a challenging task to visualize a world without the internet. One may define the internet as a large library composed of stuff like – records, pictures, websites, and pieces of information. Another sector in which the internet has an undeniably important role to play is the field of communication. Without access to the internet, the ability to share thoughts and ideas across the globe would have also been just a dream.

Let us explore

‘A canary in the coal mine’ is a popular phrase to describe early signs of potential danger.
I. Coal miners in places like Arunachal Pradesh used canary birds to detect the presence of carbon monoxide. Such gases are a potential risk to the life of the miners. These little birds are particularly sensitive to carbon monoxide and can prevent mining accidents.

II. Astronauts living in space stations have to do things differently. Read how they manage the routine tasks in the absence of gravity. You may find out more information about it from the internet.
1. Write: Astronauts use a special Space Pen which has a cartridge with ink combined with resin. The ink remains solid until friction with the ball at the point of the pen liquefies it. It works in all positions, in extreme heat and cold, and in atmospheres ranging from pure oxygen to vacuum.
2. Exercise: Astronauts use resistance exercise equipment. Weight training is done by applying a load using vacuum cylinders. Running on the treadmill is made possible with the bodies held down using rubber straps.
3. Eat: Astronauts eat preserved foods which is dried, canned, vacuum-packed, and frozen. These can be prepared by adding cold or hot water, and some can be heated in an oven. They also eat ready-to-eat items, such as nuts, breads, and fruits.
4. Sleep: Astronauts can sleep on a floor, wall, or ceiling as there’s no distinction between up and down but they may gradually float away while sleeping. Therefore, they need to restrain their bodies in small sleeping compartments or sleeping bags.

III. Did you know that animals can save humans from natural calamities?
Animals can sense natural calamities. Read the following examples and decide if this is true.

• In 2004, before a tsunami could hit the coastline of Indonesia, some animals made efforts to flee—elephants ran for higher ground,flamingos abandoned low-lying nesting areas, and dogs refused to go outdoors.
• Minutes before the Naples quake of 1805, oxen, sheep, dogs, and geese started making alarm calls in unison.
• Migratory birds crossing the Pacific are able to dodge storms and other hazards.
• In the Gulf of Mexico, sharks sense the drop in barometric pressure that precedes hurricanes and tend to swim to deeper waters as a result. Dolphins have also been observed swimming away from storm-prone areas.

Scientists have studied this behaviour and found that when severe stresses arise in deep rock before the earthquake, ultra-low frequency electromagnetic waves are generated that animals can sense.

IV. Salim Ali, the ‘Birdman of India’, was an Indian ornithologist (a person who studies birds). He was the first Indian to conduct systematic bird surveys across India and wrote several books on birds. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1958 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1976.

V. We need to conserve our ‘feathered’ friends. Work in groups of four.
Look at the pictures and make a bird feeder with cardboard, chart paper, etc.
Ans:
Do it yourself.