CHARACTER ANALYSIS
What is Sven Olsen's job in the space station?
Answer: B. Construction worker
What is the setting of this story?
Answer: B. A space station
What does "intercom" (paragraph 4) most likely mean?
Answer: A. A communication system
Based on the story, why did early spacers tend to be small in size?
Answer: B. To qualify for a weight bonus
Why did Sven bring Claribel to the space station?
Answer: B. Out of scientific curiosity
Which narrative point of view is used in "Feathered Friend"?
Answer: B. First-person
In paragraph 9, what does "VIPs" stand for?
Answer: C. Very Important Persons
What evidence suggests that having pets in space stations was unusual?
Answer: B. The crew hiding Claribel from visitors
Which of the following would bests describe the physical characteristics of Sven Olsen mentioned in the story.
A. Wiry and lightweight
B. Intelligent and Curious
C. Tall and a Nordic Giant
D. Risk taking and clever
Answer: A. Wiry and lightweight
Sven is described as a "wiry little fellow" who qualified for the "150-pound bonus," rather than being the stereotypical "six-foot-six Nordic giant" that his name might suggest.
Which of the following is the climax of the story?
A. The narrator discovers Claribel on board.
B. Sven finds Claribel passed out.
C. Claribel is revived with oxygen .
D. The narrator realizes something is wrong with the air.
Answer:
D. The narrator realizes something is wrong with the air.
(The climax occurs when the narrator realizes that something is wrong with the air system and that Claribel's collapse is a warning. This moment is significant because it reveals the danger the crew is in and shows how Claribel inadvertently saved their lives.)
In paragraph 15, "apologetically" suggests that Jock Duncan feels:
Answer: B. Sorry
What clues in the text suggest that the story takes place during early space exploration?
LIST THEM!!!
Answer: Clues include the mention of a "150-pound bonus" indicating weight restrictions, the incomplete safety systems (the second alarm circuit wasn't connected), and the narrator's comment about "who would dream of looking for a canary in a space station" suggesting space stations were novel. The background note also places the story in the 1950s during early space exploration.
How does the narrator's attitude toward Claribel change throughout the story?
a. At first he was happy, but then he got annoyed.
b. At first he was angry, but then accepting.
c. At first he was grateful, but then concerned.
d. at first he was surprised, but then loved her.
Answer:
d. at first he was surprised, but then loved her.
Which theme is BEST supported by the story's conclusion?
Answer: C. Nature and technology can work together
Explain the meaning of the word "smuggled" as it is used in paragraph 7.
A. Illegally obtained
B. Small and easily hidden
C. Foolish and risky
D. Secretly transported
Answer: D. Secretly transported
Based on text evidence, explain why Claribel was particularly well-suited as a pet in space.
A. Birds have wings so flying is what they do.
B. Birds are quiet and don't make distracting noises.
C. Birds are small and require very little resources.
D. Birds were used in the mines in the past.
Answer: C. Birds are small and require very little resources.
What does Sven's relationship with Claribel reveal his character?
A. He is disruptive and a rule breaker
B. He is curious and kindhearted.
C. He is a risk taker and impulsive.
D. He is thoughtless and inconsiderate.
Answer:
B. He is curious and kindhearted.
Why did the technology fail the crew?
A. It was not expensive enough
B. A solar eclipse caused a temperature drop.
C. Claribel chewed the wires.
D. Sven broke it on purpose so future space travel would allow birds on board.
Answer:
B. A solar eclipse caused a temperature drop.
In paragraph 24, what does the narrator's phrase "we'd soon have been slightly dead" convey (show) through its word choice and tone?
A) The narrator is very scared and crying
B) The narrator is joking about something that was actually very dangerous
C) The narrator thinks people can be a little bit dead
D) The narrator doesn't understand what happened
Answer:
B) The narrator is joking about something that was actually very dangerous
What can you infer about the relationship between technology and human survival in space based on the events in the story?
A. Technology cannot be trusted 100%. We need to use our experiences too!
B. Multi-million dollar tech will never fail
C. Tech is a waste of time because humans made it and humans make mistakes.
Answer: A. Technology cannot be trusted 100%. We need to use our experiences too!