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Extract from the Text
I had a nagging headache, and vague memories of fitful, disturbed dreams... Breakfast was unusually quiet... Sven came in... there lay a tiny bundle of yellow feathers, with two clenched claws sticking pathetically up into the air.
Summary in Bullet Points
- The narrator’s headache, poor sleep and sluggishness are early clues that the air is not normal.
- Claribel is missing from her usual routine and is found unconscious.
- The mood changes sharply from playful to anxious.
Board Pattern
Questions Mapped to Exam Format
Short Answer
2 marks
Which clues suggest that the problem affects more than Claribel?
2 Marks
How to answer:
Give the main idea and one supporting detail.
View Answer
Answer: The narrator has a nagging headache, disturbed sleep and unusual sluggishness, while breakfast is quiet. These human symptoms suggest that the station air may be affecting everyone.
Longer Short Answer
3 marks
How does the writer build suspense before the real cause is known?
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain the point and show why it matters in the chapter.
View Answer
Answer: He gives small warning signs first—headache, bad sleep, silence, Claribel’s absence—then reveals the unconscious bird. The reader senses danger before the characters understand it.
