Chapter 13 Feathered Friend Question Answer

Feathered Friend Question Answer – Let us do these activities before we read. (Page 205)

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

Question 1.
Who can a ‘feathered’ friend be?
Answer:
A feathered friend can be a bird.

Question 2.
Which ‘feathered’ friend do you like? Why?
Answer:
I like having a parrot as a feathered companion. It is incredibly smart and can copy the sound of people.

Question 3.
If you have a choice between a feathered’ and a ‘furry’ friend, who would you choose? Why?
Answer:
I want to pick a bird because it has a light body and is cheaper. But “furry friends” means animals with fur, like cats. They can bite us for no cause at all.

Question 4.
Do you think a ‘feathered’ or a furry’ friend can accompany astronauts to space? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer:
No, I do not think astronauts can bring their animal friends with them to space. Furry pals are really scary. Their bad behavior will constantly cause problems for astronauts onboard the aircraft.

II. Complete the words given below by inserting vowels. Refer to their meanings given alongside. Share your answers 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
Answer:
1. REGULATION
2. FORBID
3. FUSE
4. ABRUPTLY
5. CONFESS
6. DIETITIAN

Feathered Friend Class 8 Question Answer – Let us discuss (Page 209)

I. Answer the following questions briefly.

Question 1.
Why did the narrator think Sven had sneaked a bird aboard? What was Sven’s scientific reason?
Answer:
The storyteller has some reasons to believe this. The bird’s strange behavior, like how she flew around the space station without any trouble and did not appear to care that there was no gravity, was what made her so interesting. Sven, on the other hand, had a scientific rationale for taking the bird on board: he wanted to see how a bird would behave in a weightless environment. He wanted to see how a bird could fly and move around without the pull of gravity.

Question 2.
How did Claribel adjust to the new surroundings?
Answer:
Claribel learned how to move about without using her wings or any effort. She learned how to just hang in the air, still with her wings folded. This change helped her do well and even gain weight in the strange environment of her new home.

Question 3.
What made the narrator mistake the musical whistle for a sound from the intercom?
Answer:
The narrator heard the whistle close to his ear. He thinks that after the whistle, there will be an announcement, which is what intercoms usually do. The sound of the whistle, not a person’s voice, makes him understand it was not the intercom.

Question 4.
Do you think the presence of the canaiy would lead the spacers into trouble? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer:
Canaries on the spacecraft could be a problem for spacers, especially on long missions. They can be useful as early warning signs for some gasses, but they also have specific needs and weaknesses that could be hard to deal with in a small space.

Class 8 English Feathered Friend Question Answer – Let us discuss (Page 211)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Feathered Friend Class 8 Questions and Answers – Let us think and reflect (Pages 212-213)

I. Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
1. 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.
Answer:
B. He possesses a strong understanding of working in space.

(ii) How can we conclude that Sven was working in zero gravity?
Answer:
Sven was in space for work. His mission was to pick up different girders as they fell freely. He had to make them move slowly so that they could get into the appropriate position, and then he had to put the pieces together in the right way.

(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.
Answer:
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.
Answer:
Garbs

2. “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)
Answer:
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 __________.
Answer:
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
Answer:
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?
Answer:
This sentence makes it sound like the crew is sharing a crucial, life-saving resource fairly and maybe even calmly during a tough time. It also shows that they are not greedy or selfish.

II. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
What was the purpose of the alarm? What had caused its failure?
Answer:
The warning was meant to let the crew know that there was not enough oxygen in space. An eclipse froze part of the air purifier, which is why the warning did not go off. The freezing stopped the air purifier from working right, which stopped the alert from going off.

Question 2.
How does the crew’s reaction to Claribel change over the course of the story?
Answer:
At first, the team is curious about Claribel and maybe even a little amused. They are shocked to find a pet on the space station. As the novel goes on, though, their sentiments for Claribel change from concern to love. This change is mostly because Claribel was able to warn the crew about a perilous situation, which saved their lives.

Question 3.
What does the last part of the story tell us about the significance of unusual ways of problem solving?
Answer:
A canary named Claribel is at the center of the strange ways of solving problems. She finds a problem with the air quality on a space station. The crew realizes that the air purifier is broken after she passes out because of bad air quality. This illustrates that people depend on a living thing to alert them of dangerous situations, which may not be immediately clear or common in space.

Question 4.
Justify the appropriateness of the title of the story.
Answer:
The story’s title, “Feathered Friend,” is a good one. The story was directly tied to the main idea of friendship and the bond between people and animals, especially birds. The title makes you think of a bird as a friend and a source of happiness, which fits with the narrator’s focus on the relationship between Sven and Claribel, who is a canary.

Question 5.
‘Without Claribel, we should soon have been slightly dead.’ What does this line suggest about uncertainty of life in space?
Answer:
This comment shows how important Claribel was in telling the crew of the space station of a dangerous condition that could have killed them. The air purifier was broken. They would have been hurt by the poisonous air if Claribel had not been able to tell when the air changed.

Question 6.
Explain how has the writer presented science fiction with a touch of humour.
Answer:
The narrator does not believe that the canary can live in space, and he does not care about breaching laws. This makes for a funny juxtaposition with the serious nature of their mission. The story is funnier because the space station’s equipment, including the alarm that did not work, and the crew’s reactions, especially the narrator’s first slowness, are too much. Sven is a member of the crew and brings Claribel on board. He is portrayed as an eccentric and unexpected character, which adds to the story’s overall funny tone. Also, the funny things that happen after Claribel comes back to life, like the air purifier freezing, add some lighthearted fun to the plot.

Question 7.
How would Sven reflect on his experience of almost losing Claribel and for saving the lives of the entire crew?
Answer:
Sven would probably think about how sad it was that Claribel died and how she helped save the lives of all the other members. The crew would be very sad to lose Claribel because they loved her so much. But the narrative also shows how important her attentiveness was, which shows how she made a big difference in their survival by accident.

Feathered Friend Question Answer Class 8 – Let us learn (Pages 214-217)

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.
Answer:
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.

Answer:

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.
Answer:
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
Answer:
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
Answer:
1. is going to revolutionise
2. are developing
3. will transform
4. opens
5. will assist
6. is going to be

Class 8 English Chapter 13 Question Answer – Let us listen (Pages 217-218)

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.

Monika : Hi, Toby! Do you miss your planet?
Toby : Very much, Monika! I miss my people and home.
Monika : Oh! I wish I could do something about it! But I am happy to have you as my friend.
Toby : Thank you, Monika!
Monika : Er… could you tell me something more about yourself?
Toby : Why not! What do you want to know about me, Monika?
Monika : What do you eat for breakfast?
Toby : Well, we Martians don’t need to eat anything. We get our energy from the Sun.
Monika : Oh! Don’t you ever feel like having ice creams and chocolates? I can’t think of life without them!
Toby : No, Monika! We are made of different stuff.
Monika : Okay, tell me one thing. How are you able to see with only one eye? I see only one big eye in the centre of your face.
Toby : My friend, we Martians need only one eye to see clearly. In fact, I can see even with my eye closed. I can see beyond mountains and clouds, wood and even metals. I can see that you are carrying a toy in your pocket. It’s a blue aeroplane. Isn’t it? And yes! That apple you just had for breakfast is going round-and-round in your stomach right now!
Monika : (gasps in disbelief) Oh my goodness!
(Refer to the NCERT Textbook Page 249 for transcript.)

1. Toby misses his school.
Answer:
False

2. Monika accepts Toby as her friend.
Answer:
True

3. Monika asks Toby about one of his facial features.
Answer:
False

4. Toby tells Monika that she had a banana for breakfast.
Answer:
False

5. Toby shares that he can see much clearer with a closed eye.
Answer:
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
Answer:
1. people
2. Martians; energy
3. chocolates
4. one
5. clouds; even metals

NCERT Class 8 English Poorvi Chapter 13 Question Answer – Let us speak (Page 218)

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.

Answer:
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.

Answer:
For the Science Exhibition, I need to construct a model of the solar system, but I do not know how to finish it. I need your advice.
Suggestions from a friend: First, determine if you want to show the sizes or distances of the planets, or both. Then, choose a scale that works for your space. Now, you should get things like art supplies or things you can find around the house. After that, you should consider about employing paints, markers, or other creative tools. Finally, you should learn about the size, color, rings, and other features of each planet so that you can appropriately show them on your model. So, your model of the solar system for the Science Fair will be ready to show off.

2. I need to compose an Inter-class quiz regarding Chandrayaan-3, but I do not know how to come up with questions concerning the most crucial parts of it. I think you can provide me better advice as you know a lot about this subject. Suggestions from friends: It is not hard to make a good quiz about Chandrayaan-3 for different classes. You should focus on learning about the mission’s goals, main parts, and scientific goals. Also, you should ask about the launch date, landing place, the rover and lander’s goal, and the tools they bring. You could also talk about how important the lunar south pole is and how the mission would affect Indian space exploration as a whole. Everything you need for this pride task should be in your quiz kit.

Class 8th English Chapter 13 Feathered Friend Question Answer – Let us write (Page 219)

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

Answer:
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.
Paragraph3: End with a comment and leave the reader with a thoughtful idea or quote.
Answer:
The Importance of the Internet
Sagarika, Eighth grade
People have been using the Internet a lot in the previous few years. This is because it offers several benefits, such as lowering job stress and changing the way people communicate, which is the most essential one. We can not ignore how significant the Internet is in our daily life if we look at the current situation. It is now quite hard to picture a world without the internet. You might say that the internet is like a big library full of records, photographs, webpages, and bits of knowledge. The internet is also quite important in the realm of communication. It would have been impossible to spread ideas and views around the world without the internet.

Feathered Friend Class 8 NCERT Solutions – Let us explore (Pages 219-221)

‘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.

Answer:
Do it yourself.