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Extract from the Text
Half a million dollars’ worth of chemical and electronic engineering had let us down completely. Without Claribel, we should soon have been slightly dead... you’re being doubly safeguarded, at practically no extra expense.
Summary in Bullet Points
- The narrator uses dark humour—‘slightly dead’—to describe a genuinely life-threatening event.
- Claribel becomes a biological backup system because she is more sensitive to poor air than the humans.
- The ending explains why future space stations may keep birds: an old method can add a second layer of safety.
Board Pattern
Questions Mapped to Exam Format
Short Answer
2 marks
Why is the phrase ‘slightly dead’ humorous and serious at the same time?
2 Marks
How to answer:
Give the main idea and one supporting detail.
View Answer
Answer: Death cannot literally be slight, so the phrase is comic understatement. At the same time, it reminds us that the crew was genuinely close to a fatal oxygen shortage.
Longer Short Answer
3 marks
Why is the title ‘Feathered Friend’ appropriate?
3 Marks
How to answer:
Explain the point and show why it matters in the chapter.
View Answer
Answer: Claribel is literally a feathered pet and emotionally a friend to the crew, but she also saves their lives. By the end, ‘friend’ means companion, warning system and protector.
