Class 8 English Chapter 13 – Feathered Friend with easy NCERT Poorvi Notes and complete Book Solutions. Get simple explanations, important concepts, questions and answers, and revision material to understand the chapter and prepare effectively for tests and exams.

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Class 8 English Poorvi

Unit 5 – Science and Curiosity
Feathered Friend

Chapter Summary

Feathered Friend is a science-fiction story by Arthur C. Clarke.

The story is set on a space station where a construction worker named Sven Olsen secretly brings a small yellow canary named Claribel from Earth.

Claribel adjusts very well to the weightless environment of the space station. She can float in the air and even perform unusual movements. The crew soon becomes fond of her and keeps her hidden when important visitors come from Earth.

One day Claribel suddenly becomes unconscious. The crew gives her oxygen and she comes back to life, but soon collapses again. The narrator suddenly remembers that miners once used canaries to warn them about dangerous gases.

The crew checks the air and discovers that part of the air purifier has frozen. The alarm system has also failed because the second alarm circuit is not connected. Claribel’s condition has therefore warned the crew about the dangerous air.

The story shows that nature can sometimes provide simple solutions to difficult problems. It also teaches us the value of observation, quick thinking, scientific curiosity and unusual problem solving.

A yellow canary similar to Claribel

Life inside a space station in microgravity

Important Points

Sven Olsen is a skilled construction worker on a space station.
He secretly brings a yellow canary named Claribel to the station.
Claribel weighs very little and needs very little food.
She quickly learns to move in the absence of gravity.
The crew becomes attached to Claribel.
Claribel suddenly becomes unconscious because the air has become unsafe.
The narrator remembers that miners used canaries to detect dangerous gases.
The air purifier had partly frozen during a rare eclipse.
The alarm system failed because the second alarm circuit was not connected.
Claribel’s condition saves the lives of the crew.
The title refers to Claribel as a true feathered friend who protects the crew.

Important Words and Meanings

Word	Easy Meaning
wiry	thin but strong
assorted	of different kinds
girders	strong beams used in buildings
precisely	exactly
dovetailed	fitted together exactly
garbs	special clothing
handiwork	something made by a person
abruptly	suddenly
aboard	on a ship, aircraft or spacecraft
cubbyhole	a small enclosed space
ceased	stopped
canary	a small songbird often kept as a pet
wits	ability to think quickly
flicks	quick movements
concealing	hiding
ventilating shafts	passages that allow fresh air to move
bulkheads	dividing walls in a spacecraft
nagging	continuously troubling or painful
retort	to answer quickly
clenched	pressed tightly together
hushed	very quiet
snugly	comfortably and closely
keeled over	collapsed or fainted
tugging at	making someone remember something
sluggish	slow or inactive
sheepish	embarrassed
inexplicable	not easy to explain
safeguarded	protected

Let us do these activities before we read.

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

1. Who can a ‘feathered’ friend be?

A ‘feathered’ friend can be a bird, such as a parrot, canary, sparrow or pigeon.

2. Which ‘feathered’ friend do you like? Why?

I like a parrot because it is colourful, intelligent and can copy sounds.

3. If you have a choice between a ‘feathered’ and a ‘furry’ friend, who would you choose? Why?

I would choose a feathered friend because birds are small, beautiful and interesting to watch.

4. Do you think a ‘feathered’ or a ‘furry’ friend can accompany astronauts to space? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Yes, a small feathered friend could possibly accompany astronauts if it were safe and properly cared for. In the story, Claribel adjusts well to space and even helps the crew.

II Complete the words given below by inserting vowels. Refer to their meanings given alongside. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Question	Answer
1. official rule that controls how something is done: R _ G _ L _ T _ _ N	REGULATION
2. to not allow something: F _ R B _ D	FORBID
3. join or blend to form a single entity: F _ S _	FUSE
4. suddenly: _ B R _ P T L Y	ABRUPTLY
5. admit one’s mistake: C _ N F _ S S	CONFESS
6. a person who advises what to eat to keep healthy: D_ _ T _ T _ _ N	DIETITIAN

Let us discuss

I Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Why did the narrator think Sven had sneaked a bird aboard? What was Sven’s scientific reason?

The narrator understood that Sven had secretly brought the bird because Claribel was not an official part of the space station. Sven wanted to see how a bird would behave without gravity.

2. How did Claribel adjust to the new surroundings?

Claribel adjusted very well. She could float in the air, fold her wings and move easily in weightlessness. She even performed a backward loop.

3. What made the narrator mistake the musical whistle for a sound from the intercom?

The whistle sounded like a musical message from the station’s intercom. The narrator therefore expected an announcement.

4. Do you think the presence of the canary would lead the spacers into trouble? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Yes, it could have caused trouble because Sven had secretly brought Claribel aboard. The crew had to hide her when VIPs visited. However, Claribel later saved everyone by warning them about the bad air.

II

The crew worked in twelve-hour watches. One morning, Sven found Claribel unconscious. The crew gave her oxygen, but she fainted again. The narrator then remembered that miners used canaries to warn them about dangerous gases.

Key idea: Claribel’s unusual behaviour became an important warning signal.

Let us discuss

I Identify whether the following statements from parts I and II are true or false. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. The alarm at the space station failed to work properly because they were not connected.

False. The second alarm circuit was not connected, while the single working alarm failed.

2. Claribel was brought to the space station for an official experiment on animal behaviour in space.

False. Sven secretly brought her mainly out of scientific curiosity.

3. The canary’s suffering helped the crew discover a problem with the air purifier.

True.

4. The air purifier froze because there was a rare eclipse.

True. A rare eclipse by Earth’s shadow caused part of the air purifier to freeze.

5. Claribel could fly gracefully in the space station, performing loops in the air.

True.

6. The space station crew was uninterested in Claribel and hardly noticed her presence after she was discovered.

False. Claribel became a general pet and the crew cared about her.

7. Claribel had fainted and had to be revived with oxygen supply.

True.

Let us think and reflect

I Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.

1. Extract

“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?

B. He possesses a strong understanding of working in space.

(ii) How can we conclude that Sven was working in zero gravity?

The extract says that the girders floated around in free fall. This shows that Sven was working in a weightless or microgravity environment.

(iii) Select the option that is correct for both Assertion (A) and Reason (R).

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.

Garbs

2. Extract

“Jim!” There’s something wrong with the air! That’s why Claribel’s passed 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.

(ii) Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
Jim initially dismisses the warning about the air because __________.

Jim initially dismisses the warning because he believes the duplicate alarm circuits would have detected the problem.

(iii) What does the phrase ‘shook Jim’ mean in the context of the information in the extract?

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?

It shows that the crew was worried but remained united and cooperative. They were trying to help one another during the emergency.

II Answer the following questions.

1. What was the purpose of the alarm? What had caused its failure?

The alarm was meant to warn the crew about unsafe air. It failed because part of the air purifier had frozen during a rare eclipse and the second alarm circuit was not connected.

2. How does the crew’s reaction to Claribel change over the course of the story?

At first, the crew treats Claribel as a funny and lovable pet. When she becomes unconscious, they become worried. Finally, they realise that she has saved their lives.

3. What does the last part of the story tell us about the significance of unusual ways of problem solving?

It shows that simple and unexpected ideas can solve serious problems. Claribel acted as a natural warning system when the expensive technology failed.

4. Justify the appropriateness of the title of the story.

The title is appropriate because Claribel is a feathered friend. She becomes a true friend by warning the crew about the dangerous air and helping to save their lives.

5. ‘Without Claribel, we should soon have been slightly dead.’ What does this line suggest about uncertainty of life in space?

It shows that life in space can be dangerous. Even a small technical failure can become a serious threat to the lives of astronauts.

6. Explain how has the writer presented science fiction with a touch of humour.

The writer combines space science with funny situations, such as secretly hiding a canary in a space station and the crew trying to explain its strange sounds. The bird also behaves humorously in zero gravity.

7. How would Sven reflect on his experience of almost losing Claribel and for saving the lives of the entire crew?

Sven would feel relieved that Claribel survived and proud that she helped save the crew. He would also realise that his simple scientific curiosity had an unexpected and important result.

Let us learn

I Choose the appropriate adjectives from the box given below to match with the words 1–8 that follow.

nagging sluggish vague hushed delighted inexplicable narrow sheepish

No.	Answer
1. ________________ path	narrow path
2. ________________ worry	nagging worry
3. ________________ plan	vague plan
4. ________________ look	sheepish look
5. ________________ reason	inexplicable reason
6. ________________ traffic	sluggish traffic
7. ________________ voices	hushed voices
8. _______________ expression	delighted expression

Sentences from the text containing these words:

There were a couple of narrow escapes.
I had a nagging headache.
I had vague memories of fitful, disturbed dreams.
We all waited in hushed silence.
To our delighted surprise, she revived at once.
My mind seemed to be very sluggish that morning.
He came back with a sheepish expression.
An inexplicable snatch of birdsong.

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.

Column 1	Column 2	Merged word	Meaning
breakfast	lunch	brunch	meal eaten between breakfast and lunch
motor	hotel	motel	a hotel for motorists
smoke	fog	smog	polluted air made from smoke and fog
situation	comedy	sitcom	a comedy based on everyday situations
video	log	vlog	a video blog
spoon	fork	spork	a utensil combining a spoon and fork
web	seminar	webinar	an online seminar

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 future time.

IV Fill in the blanks with the correct form (Simple Present, Present Progressive, ‘will’, or ‘going to’) to indicate future time.

Question	Answer
1. Our flight __________ (leave) at 10.00 a.m. tomorrow.	leaves
2. They __________ (finish) the project by the end of this week.	will finish
3. The weather forecast says it __________ (rain) later today.	will rain
4. We __________ (move) into our new house next month.	are going to move
5. I __________ (start) my new hobby class next Monday.	am starting
6. She __________ (go) to the mall this afternoon.	is going
7. The team __________ (have) a meeting at 3.00 p.m. tomorrow.	has
8. I __________ (help) you with your homework after dinner.	will 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.

No.	Answer
1	will have revolutionised
2	will develop
3	will transform
4	will open
5	will assist
6	will 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. (Transcript for teacher on page 249)

Statement	Answer
1. Toby misses his school.	False
2. Monika accepts Toby as her friend.	True
3. Monika asks Toby about one of his facial features.	True
4. Toby tells Monika that she had a banana for breakfast.	False
5. Toby shares that he can see much clearer with a closed eye.	True

II Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear.

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

Let us speak

I Read the following words from the text aloud and circle the letters that are not pronounced (silent letters).

Word	Silent letter
ballet	t
whistle	t
alarm	None
psychologist	p
receipt	p
debris	s
pneumonia	p
almond	l
foreign	g
island	s
wreck	w
aisle	s
campaign	g
fasten	t

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

Situation 1: Solar System Model

Student A: What should I do to make a model of the solar system?

Student B: I feel you should use cardboard, coloured paper, thermocol balls and paints.

Student A: How can I make it look attractive?

Student B: You should label all the planets and show their order from the Sun.

Situation 2: Chandrayaan-3 Quiz

Student A: How should I prepare for the Chandrayaan-3 quiz?

Student B: You should read about the mission, its landing and the scientific objectives.

Student A: How can I make sure I remember the facts?

Student B: It is best to make short notes and practise quiz questions.

Let us write

I Complete the social media web given below with the uses of the internet.

Use of Internet	Examples
Education	Online classes, research and e-books
Communication	Email, video calls and messaging
Information	News, websites and digital libraries
Entertainment	Music, films and games
Shopping	Online shopping and digital payments
Work	Online meetings and work from home

Article: The Importance of Internet

The Importance of Internet

By: ____________

The internet is an important part of modern life. It connects people and gives us quick access to information from different parts of the world.

The internet is useful for education, communication, work, shopping and entertainment. Students can attend online classes, read e-books and search for information for their studies. People can communicate with family and friends through messages and video calls. It also helps people work and complete many tasks online.

The internet is a powerful tool when it is used wisely and safely. We should use it to learn, create and connect with others. Good use of the internet can make our lives easier and more informed.

Let us explore

I ‘A canary in the coal mine’ is a popular phrase to describe early signs of potential danger.

Canaries were historically used by miners because they could react quickly to dangerous gases. If the bird became weak or unconscious, miners understood that the air could be unsafe.

This idea explains why Claribel’s condition was an important warning for the crew in the story.

A historical image showing a miner with a canary

II Astronauts living in space stations have to do things differently. Read how they manage the routine tasks in the absence of gravity.

Activity	How astronauts manage it
1. Write	They can use special space pens that work in microgravity and different positions.
2. Exercise	They use special resistance equipment and treadmills with straps to keep their bodies in place.
3. Eat	They eat specially preserved food such as dried, canned and vacuum-packed food.
4. Sleep	They use sleeping bags or small sleeping compartments so that they do not float away.

In a space station, astronauts and objects appear to float because the station and everything inside it are in continuous free fall around Earth. 1

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.

Answer: Some animals can detect environmental changes that humans may not notice. Scientists have studied unusual animal behaviour before some natural events, but such behaviour is not a dependable method for predicting every natural calamity.

The examples in the textbook show how animals may respond to changes in their surroundings.

IV Salim Ali, the ‘Birdman of India’, was an Indian ornithologist (a person who studies birds).

Salim Ali, known as the Birdman of India

Salim Ali was a famous Indian ornithologist who studied birds extensively. He conducted systematic bird surveys across India and wrote several books about birds. He received 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.

Example of a simple cardboard bird feeder

Activity: Make a simple bird feeder using cardboard or chart paper. Add a small amount of suitable bird food and hang the feeder in a safe place. Keep it clean and refill it regularly.

Quick Revision

Question	Quick Answer
Who wrote Feathered Friend?	Arthur C. Clarke
Who brought Claribel to the space station?	Sven Olsen
What kind of bird was Claribel?	A small yellow canary
Why did Sven bring Claribel?	Out of scientific curiosity
How did Claribel move in space?	She floated and moved easily in microgravity
What happened to Claribel?	She repeatedly fainted
What did the crew give Claribel?	Oxygen
What did the narrator remember?	Miners used canaries to warn about dangerous gases
What had happened to the air purifier?	Part of it had frozen
Why did the alarm fail?	The single alarm failed and the second circuit was not connected
What did Claribel do?	She warned the crew about unsafe air
What is the main message?	Simple observations and unusual solutions can save lives

Chapter Theme

The story combines science, curiosity, humour and problem solving. It shows that advanced technology is useful, but careful observation and simple natural warning systems can also be extremely valuable.

Claribel becomes more than a pet. She becomes a life-saving member of the space-station community.

Important Values

Scientific curiosity
Quick thinking
Care for animals
Teamwork
Observation
Problem solving
Respect for nature
Responsible use of science and technology

“`2

Prepare this worksheet to practise important questions and revision exercises from Chapter 13 It will help you understand the chapter, revise key concepts, and prepare effectively for tests and exams.

CLASS 8 • ENGLISH

Chapter 13 Worksheet

Practice Questions & Revision Worksheet

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Class 8 English Chapter 13 – Feathered Friend | NCERT Notes & Book Solutions

Class 8 English Poorvi

Chapter Summary

Important Points

Important Words and Meanings

Let us do these activities before we read.

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

II Complete the words given below by inserting vowels. Refer to their meanings given alongside. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Let us discuss

I Answer the following questions briefly.

II

Let us discuss

I Identify whether the following statements from parts I and II are true or false. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

Let us think and reflect

I Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.

1. Extract

2. Extract

II Answer the following questions.

Let us learn

I Choose the appropriate adjectives from the box given below to match with the words 1–8 that follow.

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.

III Read the following sentence from the text and fill in the blank.

IV Fill in the blanks with the correct form (Simple Present, Present Progressive, ‘will’, or ‘going to’) to indicate future time.

V Fill in the blanks with the suitable forms of verbs given in brackets to express future time reference.

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. (Transcript for teacher on page 249)

II Listen to the conversation again and fill in the blanks with the exact words you hear.

Let us speak

I Read the following words from the text aloud and circle the letters that are not pronounced (silent letters).

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

Let us write

I Complete the social media web given below with the uses of the internet.

Article: The Importance of Internet

The Importance of Internet

Let us explore

I ‘A canary in the coal mine’ is a popular phrase to describe early signs of potential danger.

II Astronauts living in space stations have to do things differently. Read how they manage the routine tasks in the absence of gravity.

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.

IV Salim Ali, the ‘Birdman of India’, was an Indian ornithologist (a person who studies birds).

V We need to conserve our ‘feathered’ friends. Work in groups of four.

Quick Revision

Chapter Theme

Important Values

Chapter 13 Worksheet