Solutions Feathered Friend English Poorvi Class 8 CBSE Board

Question Answer For All Chapters – English Poorvi Class 8th

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.
1. Who can a ‘feathered’ friend be?

Answer: A ‘feathered’ friend can be a bird.

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

Answer: I like the canary because it is small, cheerful, and sings beautifully. In the story, Claribel the canary became a true friend by saving the lives of the spacers, which makes me like it even more.

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

Answer: I would choose a feathered friend because birds are easy to care for, need little food, and can even sing sweetly. Like Claribel in the story, a feathered friend can also be helpful and cheerful.

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

Answer: Yes, a feathered friend can accompany astronauts to space. In the story, the canary Claribel adjusted well in zero gravity, needed very little food, and even saved the crew’s lives by warning them of bad air.

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

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: _ B R _ P T L Y
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: REGULATION
FORBID
FUSE
ABRUPTLY
CONFESS
DIETITIAN

Let us discuss (Page 209)

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

Answer: The narrator thought Sven had sneaked a bird because Claribel appeared suddenly in the space station. Sven’s scientific reason was to see how a bird would operate without weight but with wings in zero gravity.

2. How did Claribel adjust to the new surroundings?

Answer: Claribel adjusted very well. She floated easily, performed loops in the air, and flew gracefully with little effort in zero gravity.

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

Answer: The narrator mistook the musical whistle for an intercom sound because it came suddenly beside his ear and continued as a melody, like an announcement.

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

Answer: No, the presence of the canary did not lead to trouble. The crew hid her carefully, and in the end, she saved their lives by warning them of bad air.

Let us discuss (Page 211,212)

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.

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

Let us think and reflect (Page 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: Because the girders floated around in free fall and he had to position them carefully, which happens only in zero gravity.

(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: The word similar in meaning from the extract is garbs.

2. “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/explain the reason that caused Claribel to faint suddenly)

Answer: 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 __________.

Answer: he trusted the alarm system and believed it 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: The crew’s action of passing the oxygen bottle around ‘like a pipe of peace’ suggests they stayed calm, cooperative, and united in handling the crisis together.

II Answer the following questions.
1. What was the purpose of the alarm? What had caused its failure?

Answer: The purpose of the alarm was to warn the crew about any problem with the air supply in the space station. It failed because the second alarm circuit was not connected, and during a rare eclipse, the air purifier froze.

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

Answer: At first, Claribel was seen as Sven’s secret pet. Later, she became everyone’s pet, and finally, the crew realised her true importance when she saved their lives by warning them of the bad air.

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

Answer: It shows that even unusual or simple methods—like keeping a canary in space—can sometimes be more effective than advanced machines in saving lives.

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

Answer: The title Feathered Friend is appropriate because Claribel, a small bird, truly became a friend to the spacers by not only keeping them company but also saving their lives.

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

Answer: It suggests that life in space is very uncertain and dangerous. Even a small failure in machines can threaten survival, and sometimes unexpected help can make the difference between life and death.

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

Answer: The writer describes serious space situations but adds humour through Claribel’s antics, the spacers’ attempts to hide her, and the idea of passing an oxygen bottle “like a pipe of peace.” This makes the story light and enjoyable while still being scientific.

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

Answer: Sven would realise that bringing Claribel was a wise decision. Though he almost lost her, she ended up saving the whole crew, proving her value as more than just a pet.

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

Answer: 1. narrow
2. nagging
3. inexplicable
4. sheepish
5. vague
6. sluggish
7. delighted
8. hushed

Now, underline the sentences that use these adjectives in the text.

Answer: I had a nagging headache, and vague memories of fitful, disturbed dreams.

My mind seemed to be very sluggish that morning.

We all waited in hushed silence.

To our delighted surprise, she revived at once.

He came back ten minutes later with a sheepish expression.

It was one of those accidents that couldn’t possibly happen; we’d had one of our rare eclipses… part of the air purifier had frozen up, and the single alarm in the circuit had failed to go off. Half a million dollars’ worth… had let us down completely. Without Claribel, we should soon have been slightly dead. (This was an inexplicable situation).

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.
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.

Answer: 

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

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: By 2040, artificial intelligence 1. will revolutionise medical treatments. Researchers 2.will develop AI-powered diagnostic tools that will transform healthcare by the end of this decade. Next week, the International Science Congress 4. will open to showcase advancements in AI and robotics. In the coming years, robots 5. will 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. will be our new reality.

Let us listen (Pages 217-218)

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)

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

Answer:

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

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

Let us speak (Pages 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: 

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: 

1. Solar System Model (Science Exhibition)

Student A: What should I do to make a model of the solar system? I don’t know what materials to use.
Student B: I feel you should use thermocol balls or clay for the planets. You should ensure that each planet is painted in the right colour and placed in the correct order.

2. Quiz on Chandrayaan-3

Student A: How can I prepare for the inter-class quiz on Chandrayaan-3?
Student B: It’s good to prepare yourself by reading about Chandrayaan-3 from books and newspapers. You should ensure that you revise the launch date, objectives, and achievements of the mission.

Let us speak (Pages 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.
Paragraph 3: End with a comment and leave the reader with a thoughtful idea or quote.

Answer: 

• Social Media Web (Uses of Internet)
• Communication (emails, social media like Facebook, X, Instagram)
• Entertainment (music, movies, games)
• Education (online classes, research, e-books)
• Information (news, updates, maps, directions)
• Shopping (online stores, e-commerce)
• Banking & Payments (online transactions, UPI)
• Social Networking (connecting with friends, sharing ideas)

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.