Class 8 English - WEST-BENGAL
Prose: Feathered Friend
Feathered Friend by Arthur C. Clarke is an engaging science fiction story set aboard a space station in orbit around the Earth. The chapter explores the unexpected arrival of a pet canary named Claribel, brought on board secretly by a crew member. It highlights the delicate balance of life in zero gravity, where a small bird becomes an early warning system for a dangerous oxygen leak. For Class 8 West Bengal Board students, this chapter is important as it teaches the value of animals, the quirks of living in space, and tests comprehension skills, vocabulary, and textual analysis in board exams.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Setting of the Story
The story takes place in a space station orbiting Earth, showcasing a futuristic environment where humans live and work in zero gravity.
Claribel the Canary
Claribel is a smuggled pet canary that becomes the beloved mascot of the space station crew, adapting amazingly well to weightlessness.
Zero Gravity Adaptations
The chapter illustrates how birds and humans move and function differently in microgravity, such as how Claribel had to learn to push off surfaces to fly.
The Oxygen Alarm
Claribel faints due to a failing air purification system, acting as a living alarm that saves the entire crew from suffocation before instruments detect the fault.
Science Fiction Theme
The narrative blends realistic space science with a touch of warmth and fiction, demonstrating how technology and nature can coexist.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the West Bengal Board (WBBSE) Class 8 English examination, prose chapters like 'Feathered Friend' typically carry around 8 to 12 marks. Common question types include Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), short descriptive answers, reference to context, vocabulary matching, and grammar exercises based on sentences from the text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Claribel brought onto the space station?
Claribel was smuggled onto the space station secretly by a crew member to provide companionship and cheer up the astronauts in the lonely environment of space.
How did Claribel save the crew's lives?
Claribel faints due to a hidden leak that causes odorless, dangerous air to deplete, alerting the astronauts to check the life support system before it became fatal.
What is the main message of 'Feathered Friend'?
The story teaches us about the interdependence of humans, technology, and nature, and how even small creatures can play a vital role in survival.
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