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Extract from the Text
To the best of my knowledge, there’s never been a regulation that forbids one to keep pets in a space station... 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.
Summary in Bullet Points
- Sven is physically suited to space work and is highly skilled at construction in zero gravity.
- His job demands precision because floating girders must be positioned and fused while he works inside a space suit.
- The humorous opening also tells us Sven is the sort of person who may ignore a rule if he thinks it unnecessary.
Board Pattern
Questions Mapped to Exam Format
Short Answer
2 marks
Why is Sven described as one of the best construction men?
2 Marks
How to answer:
Give the main idea and one supporting detail.
View Answer
Answer: He can control floating girders in free fall, position them accurately in three dimensions and fuse them together while working in a difficult space suit.
Longer Short Answer
3 marks
How does the writer combine science fiction with humour in the opening?
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain the point and show why it matters in the chapter.
View Answer
Answer: The futuristic setting includes free fall, space suits and orbital construction, but the narrator jokes about weight limits, diets and Sven ignoring pet regulations. The humour makes the advanced setting feel human and ordinary.
