Question Bank — Feathered Friend

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

1. What was the main reason Sven smuggled Claribel aboard the space station?
   A. To keep her as a pet for company
   B. To observe how a bird would behave in zero gravity
   C. To use her for scientific experiments on air quality
   D. To hide her from VIP visitors

2. How did Claribel first reveal her presence to the narrator?
   A. By flying into his office
   B. Through a musical whistle heard over the intercom
   C. By perching on his shoulder
   D. By pecking at his technical stores list

3. Which quality of Claribel made her a sensible choice as a pet in space?
   A. She could sing loudly to entertain the crew
   B. She required very little food and was unaffected by zero gravity
   C. She was trained to detect gas leaks
   D. She could hide easily from VIPs

4. Assertion (A): The crew initially dismissed the narrator’s warning about the air quality.
   Reason (R): They believed the duplicate alarm circuits would have sounded if there was any problem.
   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.

5. What caused the failure of the air purifier alarm?
   A. A rare eclipse by Earth’s shadow froze part of the purifier and the single alarm circuit failed
   B. The crew had disconnected both alarm circuits
   C. Claribel had damaged the alarm system
   D. There was no alarm system installed

6. Assertion (A): Claribel revived immediately when given oxygen.
   Reason (R): The canary had fainted due to the lack of oxygen in the station’s air.
   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.

7. In the poem “MagniFying glass”, what does the poet compare an inch of moss to?
   A. A hive of bees
   B. A forest with flowers and trees
   C. A scrap of chalk
   D. A spider’s web

8. Which literary device is used in the line “A drop of water / Like hive of bees”?
   A. Metaphor
   B. Simile
   C. Alliteration
   D. Personification

9. What does the poet suggest in the final stanza of the poem?
   A. The magnifying glass can make the moon seem within reach
   B. The magnifying glass is useless for viewing the moon
   C. Only scientists should use magnifying glasses
   D. The moon is too far to be seen clearly

10. How did the crew’s attitude towards Claribel change after her arrival?
    A. They remained suspicious of her presence
    B. She became a general pet loved by everyone
    C. They tried to send her back to Earth
    D. Only Sven was allowed to keep her

Section B — Reference to Context (3 extracts, 4 marks each)

Extract 1

“She was a small yellow canary, hanging in the air as motionless as a hummingbird—and with much less effort, for her wings were quietly folded along her sides.”

(i) Who is the speaker/narrator describing and in what context?
(ii) What does this description reveal about Claribel’s adaptation to space?
(iii) Identify the literary device used in the comparison to a hummingbird.
(iv) What does the phrase “with much less effort” suggest about Claribel’s flying ability?

Extract 2

“I don’t get it,” lamented Sven. “What’s wrong with her? She’s never done this before.”
For the last few minutes, something had been tugging at my memory... “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.”

(i) Who is speaking and what situation is being described?
(ii) Why did the narrator suddenly remember the miners’ use of canaries?
(iii) Identify the literary device in “something had been tugging at my memory”.
(iv) What inference can be drawn about Claribel’s role on the station from this extract?

Extract 3 (Poem)
“With this round glass / I can make Magic talk— / A myriad shells show / In a scrap of chalk;”

(i) Who is the speaker and what object is being referred to as “round glass”?
(ii) What does the phrase “make Magic talk” mean in the context of the poem?
(iii) Identify the literary device used in “A myriad shells show / In a scrap of chalk”.
(iv) What does this extract reveal about the poet’s view of ordinary objects?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

1. Why did the narrator consider Claribel a sensible choice as a pet for the space station?
2. How did Claribel first demonstrate her ability to move in zero gravity?
3. What does the poem “MagniFying glass” suggest about the power of close observation?
4. Why did the crew pass the oxygen bottle “like a pipe of peace” after discovering the air problem?
5. How does the poet use the example of the spider to create a sense of wonder?

Section D — Long Answer (2 questions, 6 marks each)

1. “Without Claribel, we should soon have been slightly dead.” In the light of this statement, explain the role Claribel played in saving the crew. How does the story highlight the theme of unexpected solutions to problems?
2. The poem “MagniFying glass” celebrates the hidden wonders of the natural world. Discuss how the poet uses imagery and examples to convey this idea. What message does the poem give about curiosity and observation?

Section E — Language and Writing (2 questions, 4 marks each)

1. From the unit, fill in the blanks with the correct future time expressions (will / going to / Present Progressive / Simple Present) as appropriate:
   a. The crew _ (use) Claribel’s warning to check the air system immediately.
   b. I _ (visit) the space station next year if the opportunity arises.
   c. The alarm _ (sound) at the scheduled time every day.
   d. Scientists _ (launch) a new mission next month.

2. Write a short diary entry (80–100 words) from the narrator’s point of view the day after Claribel saved the crew. Express surprise, gratitude, and the lesson learned about unexpected heroes.