Class 8 English Poorvi Chapter 13 Feathered Friend – NCERT Solutions & Answers

1. Let us do these activities before we read.

I. Work in pairs and discuss

1. Who can a ‘feathered’ friend be?

Answer: A ‘feathered’ friend can be any bird, particularly pet birds like canaries, parrots, or pigeons.

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

Answer: I like parrots because they are intelligent and can mimic human speech, making them fun companions.

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

Answer: I would choose a ‘furry’ friend, like a dog, because they are known to be very loyal and playful.

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

Answer: A ‘feathered’ friend, such as a canary, could be taken to space as an early-warning system for air quality, similar to how miners used them. However, taking animals to space is rare due to the controlled and delicate environment of a space station.

II. Complete the words by inserting vowels.

• official rule that controls how something is done: REGULATION
• to not allow something: FORBID
• join or blend: FUSE
• suddenly: ABRUPTLY
• admit one’s mistake: CONFESS
• person who advises about food: DIETITIAN

2. Let us discuss

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

Answer: The narrator suspected Sven of sneaking a bird aboard because the bird was found unexpectedly in his cabin. Sven’s scientific reason was to check the air quality, as canaries were traditionally used in mines for detecting poisonous gases.

2. How did Claribel adjust to the new surroundings?

Answer: Claribel, the canary, initially found the space environment strange but eventually adapted, flying around and even following the crew members in the zero-gravity surroundings.

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

Answer: The narrator mistook the musical whistle for a sound from the intercom because it was unexpected and echoed around the station in a way that resembled the station’s electronic sounds.

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 canary did not lead the spacers into trouble. On the contrary, Claribel helped them by detecting the air purifier failure before the alarm, saving the crew as canaries sense lack of oxygen early.

3. Let us discuss - True/False Statements

• The alarm at the space station failed to work properly because they were not connected.
  Answer: True
• Claribel was brought to the space station for an official experiment on animal behaviour in space.
  Answer: False
• The canary’s suffering helped the crew discover a problem with the air purifier.
  Answer: True
• The air purifier froze because there was a rare eclipse.
  Answer: False
• Claribel could fly gracefully in the space station, performing loops in the air.
  Answer: False
• The space station crew was uninterested in Claribel and hardly noticed her after she was discovered.
  Answer: False
• Claribel had fainted and had to be revived with oxygen supply.
  Answer: True

4. Let us think and reflect

1. Extract: Sven was one of our best construction men... (i) What can be inferred about Sven’s abilities?

Answer: It can be inferred that Sven was highly skilled, experienced, and knowledgeable about space station construction and maintenance, which made him a valued crew member.

5. Vocabulary activities

• Adjectives: nagging, vague, delighted, narrow, sluggish, hushed, inexplicable, sheepish

Merged words:

6. Grammar: Talking about the Future

• will: for future (e.g. "I think the Kailash House will win")
• simple present: for scheduled future (e.g. "My school reopens on 03 January")
• present progressive: for arrangements (e.g. "I am visiting my grandparents during the vacation")
• going to: informal, "We're going to get a new motorbike soon."
• future perfect: ("will have + past participle")
• future progressive: ("will + be + -ing")
• future in the past: ("was going to...")

Fill in the blanks (examples):

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

Feathered Friend: NCERT Solutions Class 8 English Poorvi Chapter 13 (2025-26)

Mastering Feathered Friend Class 8 English Poorvi Chapter 13 is essential for a strong English foundation. Our explanations closely follow the latest NCERT Solutions (2025-26) to help you understand every detail and write perfect answers in your exams.

This chapter brings out the importance of observation skills and quick thinking. Study the story and discussion questions from Poorvi Chapter 13 to gain deeper insights and develop excellent comprehension abilities for English exams.

Consistent practice with NCERT exercise-based questions ensures you remember key facts and score top marks. Don’t forget to revise vocabulary and grammar—these small steps can make a big difference in your Class 8 results!