Question 11
What can be inferred about Sven’s abilities from his job description?
A.
He is good at following instructions but lacks creativity.
B.
He possesses a strong understanding of working in space.
C.
He struggles with the complexities of construction in space.
D.
He prefers simpler tasks.
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
Sven possesses a strong understanding of working in space. Therefore, the correct answer is
B
.
Reason:
He controls floating girders, aligns them precisely and fuses them while wearing a space suit.
Question 12
How can we conclude that Sven was working in zero gravity?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
The girders float around in free fall and must be guided into position instead of being supported by the ground. This shows zero gravity.
Question 13
Assertion–Reason: Sven makes girders perform a ‘three-dimensional ballet’ because objects float in zero gravity.
A.
Both A and R are true, and R explains A.
B.
Both are true, but R does not explain A.
C.
A is true, R is false.
D.
A is false, R is true.
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion. Therefore, the correct answer is
A
.
Question 14
Replace ‘outfits’ with a similar word from the extract.
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
The suitable word is
garbs
.
Question 15
Why does the narrator reference canaries and miners?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
He refers to their historical use as warning systems in dangerous mine air. This gives him the clue that Claribel may be reacting to unsafe station air.
Question 16
Why does Jim initially dismiss the warning about the air?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
Jim believes the duplicate alarm circuits would have gone off if the air were unsafe, so he trusts the system more than the narrator’s suspicion.
Question 17
What does the phrase ‘shook Jim’ mean?
A.
physically pushed
B.
startled by unexpected information
C.
cold
D.
trying to wake up
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
Jim was
startled by unexpected information
. Therefore, the correct answer is
B
.
Question 18
What does passing the oxygen bottle around ‘like a pipe of peace’ suggest?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
It shows that the crew treats the oxygen bottle as shared reassurance while they argue. The humorous comparison also reduces tension in a dangerous moment.
Question 19
What was the purpose of the alarm? What caused its failure?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
The alarm was meant to warn the crew if the air-purification system failed. A rare eclipse froze part of the purifier; the connected alarm failed, while the second circuit was not yet connected.
Question 20
How does the crew’s reaction to Claribel change?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
At first Claribel is an amusing secret pet. When she collapses, the crew becomes deeply concerned. By the end, they recognise her as a lifesaving warning system.
Question 21
What does the story tell us about unusual ways of problem solving?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
A solution can come from old knowledge, living organisms and careful observation rather than only from expensive technology.
Question 22
Justify the title.
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
Claribel is a feathered companion who becomes a genuine friend by warning the crew and saving their lives.
Question 23
What does ‘Without Claribel, we should soon have been slightly dead’ suggest about life in space?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
It shows that life in space depends on fragile systems and small failures can become fatal very quickly.
Question 24
How does the writer present science fiction with humour?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
The space setting includes real scientific ideas such as zero gravity and air purification, while jokes about diets, pets, floating work and ‘slightly dead’ keep the narration light.
Question 25
How might Sven reflect on almost losing Claribel and saving the crew?
How to answer:
Answer directly from the text and support the point with a relevant detail.
View Answer
He would likely feel frightened by her collapse, relieved by her recovery and grateful that the pet he brought out of curiosity became the warning that saved everyone.
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