Chapter 13, "Feathered Friend", is a captivating science fiction story by the legendary writer Arthur C. Clarke. Set on a space station, the narrative follows a group of astronauts who adopt a small canary named Claribel. While the setting is futuristic and technological, the story explores the timeless bond between humans and animals. It reveals how a tiny, "primitive" creature can sometimes be more efficient than the most advanced technology.
The chapter serves as an excellent introduction to Science Fiction for Class 8 students. It teaches them to think about life in space and the vital importance of environmental monitoring. Most importantly, it demonstrates that even in a world of machines and computers, nature remains our most reliable companion.
We provide comprehensive NCERT Solutions to help students understand the space-age vocabulary, analyse the plot's "twist", and prepare for exams. These solutions are aligned with the Class 8 English syllabus and focus on developing scientific curiosity alongside literary skills.
In Class 8 English – Chapter 13, "Feathered Friend", students explore the intersection of technology and nature in outer space. Our NCERT Solutions for Class 8 provide clear explanations and solved exercises to help you excel. Download the free PDF below.
A crew member narrates the story on a space station. One of the technicians, Sven Olsen, secretly brings a canary named Claribel to the station. Because of the low-gravity environment, Claribel learns to fly in a way that is impossible on Earth, performing "stunts" that amuse the crew.
The turning point occurs when the narrator wakes up with a severe headache and notices the crew feeling sluggish. They discover Claribel unconscious. It is soon revealed that a part of the station's air-purification system had failed, causing carbon dioxide levels to rise. Because canaries are more sensitive to air quality than humans, Claribel’s fainting served as a "biological alarm," saving the lives of the entire crew before the expensive electronic sensors even detected the problem.
I Answer the following questions briefly.
scientific reason?
Answer: The narrator had some reasons to think so. It was the bird’s unusual behaviour, like her seemingly effortless flight in a space station and lack of concern for the absence of gravity. On the other hand, Sven’s scientific reason for bringing the bird aboard was to observe how a bird would function in a weightless environment. He wanted to experience how a bird could operate and navigate without the effects of gravity.
Answer: Claribel learnt to operate without using her wings or much efforts. She learnt to simply hang in the air, motionless with her wings folded. This adaptation allowed her to thrive and even gain weight in the unique conditions of her new surroundings.
Answer: The narrator heard the whistle near his ear. He expects an announcement to follow the whistle, that is typical of intercoms. The melody of the whistle, rather than a human voice, hence leads him to realize it wasn’t the intercom.
Answer: Especially during a long mission, the presence of canaries on the spacecraft could lead to some challenges for the spacers. While they can be valuable as early warning indicators for certain gases, they also have some particular needs and vulnerabilities that could be difficult to manage in a confined space environment.
I Identify whether the following statements from parts I and II are true or false. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
I Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
Answer: Sven was working in space. His job was to collect assorted girders as they floated around in a free fall. He had to make them do the slow-motion that would get them into their right position and then, fuse the pieces together into the required pattern
(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.
Answer: A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
“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.
“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.
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
Jim initially dismisses the warning about the air because . Answer: the alarms would have gone off.
Jim was .
Answer: B. startled by unexpected information
This phrase suggests that the crew is sharing a valuable, life-saving resources equally and perhaps even peacefully during a difficult situation. It also indicates that they are not either selfish or greedy.
II Answer the following questions.
Answer: The purpose of the alarm was to warn the crew of low oxygen levels in space. The alarm failed because an eclipse caused part of the air purifier to freeze. The freezing prevented the air purifier from properly functioning, which in turn prevented the alarm from triggering.
Answer: The crew’s initial reaction to Claribel is one of the curiosity and perhaps even a bit of amusement. They are surprised to see a pet onboard the space station. However, as the story progresses, their feelings towards Claribel evolve, becoming one of deep concern and eventually affection. This shift is largely due to Claribel’s unexpected ability to alert the crew to a dangerous situation, saving their lives.
Answer: The unusual ways of problem solving revolves around a canary bird named Claribel. She detects air quality issue on a space station. When she passes out due to poor air quality, the crew realizes a malfunction in the air purifier has caused this problem. This shows reliance on a living organism to act as an early warning system for dangerous conditions, a method that might not be immediately obvious or conventional in space.
Answer: The title of the story, ‘Feathered Friend’ is appropriate. The story directly related to the core theme of friendship and the bond between humans and animals, particularly birds. The title evokes the image of a bird as a companion and a source of joy, that supports the narrator’s focus on the relationship between Sven and Claribel, who is a canary bird.
Answer: This quote highlights the crucial role of Claribel in alerting the space station crew to a potentially deadly situation, caused by a malfunctioning air purifier. They would have suffered from the poisonous atmosphere, without Claribel’s sensitivity to changes in the air.
attitude towards breaking rules, creates a comedic contrast with the serious nature of their mission. The over-exaggeration of the space station’s equipment, like the alarm that failed to function, and the crew’s reactions, especially the narrator’s initial sluggishness add a layer of comedic absurdity to the story. Sven is a crew member, and brings Claribel aboard. He is presented as a somewhat eccentric and unpredictable figure, that adds to the overall humourous tone of the story. Moreover, the unexpected way in which Claribel revives and the subsequent events, such as the air purifier freezing, provides moments of light hearted amusement to the story.
Answer: Sven would likely reflect on the tragic loss of Claribel and acknowledge her role in saving the lives of the entire entire member. The loss of Claribel would be mourned as a personal and profound tragedy, in the light of the affectionate bond she shared with the crew. However, the story also emphasizes the profound impact of her alertness, that highlights her accidental yet significant contribution to their survival.
(Session 2026 - 27)