Complete Solutions and Summary of Feathered Friend – NCERT Class 8, English, Unit 5 – Summary, Questions, Answers, Extra Questions

Summary in English (200 words):

"Feathered Friend," the opening chapter of Unit 5 in Science and Curiosity, introduces readers to an engaging pre-reading activity that encourages discussion about feathered and furry pets, setting the stage for a unique space adventure. The narrative centers on Sven Olsen, a skilled astronaut and construction worker aboard a space station, who smuggles a small yellow canary named Claribel into space out of scientific curiosity. Weighing almost nothing and adapting effortlessly to zero gravity, Claribel becomes a beloved pet among the crew. Initially, her presence is a secret, but her musical whistles soon reveal her, delighting the narrator and others. The story highlights her graceful movements and the crew's efforts to conceal her during VIP visits. The plot thickens when Claribel faints, prompting concern. The crew's investigation, led by the narrator's realization that miners historically used canaries to detect gas, uncovers a critical air purifier failure due to a rare eclipse. This malfunction, undetected by the incomplete alarm system, threatens the crew's lives, but Claribel's sensitivity saves them. Revived with oxygen, she briefly recovers before fainting again, underscoring the urgency. The chapter concludes with the crew's gratitude toward Claribel, suggesting that canaries may now be a standard safeguard on space stations, blending humor with the life-saving twist. This tale emphasizes curiosity, adaptability, and the unexpected role of a pet in space survival.

Summary in Hindi

"फेदरेड फ्रेंड" यूनिट 5 का पहला अध्याय है, जो साइंस एंड क्यूरियोसिटी से लिया गया है। यह अध्याय पाठकों को पंखों वाले और फर वाले पालतू जानवरों के बारे में चर्चा करने के लिए रोचक पूर्व-पाठ गतिविधियों के साथ शुरू होता है, जो एक अनोखे अंतरिक्ष साहसिक की नींव रखता है। कहानी स्वेन ओल्सन, एक कुशल अंतरिक्ष यात्री और निर्माण कार्यकर्ता, के इर्द-गिर्द घूमती है, जो वैज्ञानिक जिज्ञासा से प्रेरित होकर एक छोटे पीले कैनरी, क्लैरिबेल को अंतरिक्ष स्टेशन में लाता है। इसका वजन लगभग शून्य होता है और यह शून्य गुरुत्वाकर्षण में आसानी से ढल जाता है, जिससे वह चालक दल का पसंदीदा पालतू बन जाता है। शुरुआत में उसकी मौजूदगी गुप्त रहती है, लेकिन उसके संगीतमय सीटी की आवाज़ उसे प्रकट कर देती है, जो कथाकार और अन्य लोगों को आकर्षित करती है। कहानी में उसके अनुग्रहपूर्ण उड़ान और VIP यात्राओं के दौरान उसे छिपाने के चालक दल के प्रयासों को दर्शाया गया है। जब क्लैरिबेल बेहोश हो जाती है, तो चिंता बढ़ जाती है। कथाकार की खदान में कैनरी का उपयोग गैस का पता लगाने के लिए करने की याद से पता चलता है कि हवा शुद्ध करने वाली मशीन में खराबी आ गई है, जो एक दुर्लभ ग्रहण के कारण हुई थी। अधूरी अलार्म प्रणाली ने खतरे को बढ़ा दिया, लेकिन क्लैरिबेल की संवेदनशीलता ने सभी की जान बचाई। ऑक्सीजन से उसे पुनर्जीवित किया जाता है, लेकिन फिर से बेहोशी उसे प्रभावित करती है, जो स्थिति की गंभीरता को दर्शाता है। अध्याय हास्य के साथ एक जीवन रक्षक मोड़ के साथ समाप्त होता है, जिसमें सुझाव दिया जाता है कि अब अंतरिक्ष स्टेशनों में कैनरी सुरक्षा के लिए रखे जा सकते हैं। यह कहानी जिज्ञासा, अनुकूलन और अंतरिक्ष में जीवित रहने में एक पालतू जानवर की अप्रत्याशित भूमिका पर जोर देती है।

Thinking about Feathered Friend - Medium Questions

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

   The narrator suspected Sven had sneaked a bird aboard because of the unusual musical whistle heard in the space station, which turned out to be Claribel, the canary. Sven’s scientific reason was to observe how a bird would operate in zero gravity, using its wings without weight, out of sheer curiosity.

2. 2. How did Claribel adjust to the new surroundings?

   Claribel adjusted remarkably well to zero gravity, hanging motionless like a hummingbird with her wings folded, and performing a backward loop with leisurely flicks, showing she had learned to move efficiently without unnecessary effort.

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

   The narrator mistook the musical whistle for an intercom sound because he was in his office checking technical stores and assumed it was an announcement, waiting for it to be followed by a message, which didn’t happen.

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

   Yes, the presence of the canary could lead to trouble as it risked detection during VIP visits, with her noisy peeps potentially exposing the crew’s rule-breaking. However, it also proved beneficial by alerting them to the air purifier failure, ultimately saving them.

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

   The alarm’s purpose was to detect air quality issues in the space station. Its failure was caused by the second alarm circuit not being connected, compounded by a rare eclipse that froze part of the air purifier, disabling the single operational alarm.

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

   Initially, the crew was unaware of Claribel and she was Sven’s secret pet, but after her discovery, they grew fond of her. Her fainting and role in detecting the air issue transformed their reaction from casual interest to deep gratitude and reliance.

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

   The last part highlights that unusual methods, like using a canary to detect air problems, can be highly effective, suggesting that unconventional solutions can safeguard lives where advanced technology fails.

8. 8. Justify the appropriateness of the title of the story.

   The title "Feathered Friend" is appropriate as it reflects Claribel, the canary, who becomes a vital friend to the crew, saving them with her sensitivity to air issues, blending the themes of friendship and survival in space.

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

   This line suggests that life in space is precarious, with hidden dangers like air quality issues that can be fatal, emphasizing the reliance on unexpected safeguards like Claribel to survive.

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

    Sven would likely reflect with relief and pride, recognizing that his curious decision to bring Claribel not only enriched their lives but also proved her worth by saving the crew, turning a near loss into a heroic outcome.

Thinking about Feathered Friend - Large Questions

1. 1. Explain how Claribel’s presence on the space station served both as a scientific experiment and a source of joy for the crew.

   Claribel’s presence was a scientific experiment as Sven brought her to study how a bird adapts to zero gravity, using its wings without weight. Her ability to float and perform loops provided valuable observations. Beyond this, she became a source of joy, with her musical whistles delighting the crew, turning her into a general pet and a morale booster, especially during the monotony of space life.

2. 2. Describe the sequence of events that led to the discovery of the air purifier failure and how Claribel played a critical role in it.

   The sequence began with Claribel fainting, prompting Sven to seek help. Jock Duncan attempted to detect a heartbeat, and after an oxygen shot revived her temporarily, she fainted again. The narrator, recalling miners’ use of canaries for gas detection, alerted the duty engineer, Jim, who initially dismissed it. His assistant revealed the second alarm circuit was unconnected, and a rare eclipse had frozen the purifier, causing the failure. Claribel’s sensitivity to the bad air was critical in alerting the crew.

3. 3. Analyze how the story blends humor with the serious theme of survival in space, providing specific examples.

   The story blends humor with survival by portraying Claribel’s antics, like her backward loop, as amusing, and the crew’s quick explanations for her peeps during VIP visits as light-hearted. The serious survival theme emerges with her fainting, but the humor returns with the oxygen bottle passed “like a pipe of peace,” and the final note of birdsong as a safety signal, balancing tension with wit.

4. 4. Discuss the significance of Sven’s decision to bring Claribel aboard and its impact on the crew’s perception of pets in space.

   Sven’s decision, driven by curiosity, initially risked trouble but ultimately proved significant by saving the crew from the air purifier failure. This shifted the crew’s perception from viewing pets as unnecessary to recognizing them as potential lifesavers, leading to the suggestion of canaries as standard safeguards in space stations.

5. 5. Evaluate the role of teamwork in resolving the crisis caused by the air purifier failure, citing specific instances from the text.

   Teamwork was crucial when Claribel fainted, with Jock Duncan checking her heartbeat, someone suggesting oxygen, and the crew passing the bottle around. The narrator’s insight prompted Jim’s investigation, and his assistant’s admission about the alarm circuit led to the solution, showcasing collective effort in overcoming the crisis.

6. 6. Interpret the phrase ‘like a pipe of peace’ in the context of the crew’s response to the air purifier situation.

   The phrase ‘like a pipe of peace’ suggests a moment of unity and calm amid chaos, as the crew shared the oxygen bottle while awaiting resolution, symbolizing their trust and cooperation in facing the life-threatening air issue together.

7. 7. Assess how the story uses Claribel’s character to teach a lesson about the importance of adaptability in unusual environments.

   Claribel’s character teaches adaptability by thriving in zero gravity with minimal effort, performing loops, and detecting air issues, showing how living beings can adjust to and even benefit from challenging environments like space, unlike rigid technology.

8. 8. Compare the working conditions of Sven in space with those of construction workers on Earth, based on the text.

   Sven’s work in space involves a slow-motion, three-dimensional ballet with floating girders in zero gravity, free from gravity’s abrupt pull, unlike Earth construction workers who face gravity’s constant challenge, requiring physical effort to prevent falls and maintain stability.

9. 9. Explain how the narrator’s realization about miners’ canaries influenced the outcome of the story.

   The narrator’s realization that miners used canaries to detect gas prompted him to alert Jim about the air issue, leading to the discovery of the unconnected alarm and frozen purifier. This timely intervention, triggered by Claribel’s fainting, saved the crew’s lives.

10. 10. Reflect on the moral lesson conveyed by the story regarding the value of small creatures in critical situations.

    The story conveys that small creatures like Claribel can have immense value, as her sensitivity to air changes saved the crew, teaching that even the seemingly insignificant can play a crucial role in life-or-death scenarios, emphasizing humility and appreciation.