Feathered Friends

In the opinion of the narrator in “Feathered Friend,” why is Claribel a “sensible” choice as a pet for Sven? Choose two options.

• She weighs very little.

• She sings quite beautifully.

• She is good company for Sven.

• Lack of gravity does not affect her.

• She gets a bit noisy when she is upset.

In “Feathered Friend,” when does the narrator first realize that Claribel is aboard the space station?

• when Sven runs in with a tiny bundle of feathers

• when Sven informs the whole crew

• when a flash of yellow flies past

• when he hears the bird singing

What happens after the crew revives Claribel in “Feathered Friend”?

• The crew waits in hushed silence.

• She flies around the space station.

• She chirps but then keels over again.

• The crew goes back to eating breakfast.

In “Feathered Friend,” why do crew members pass around an oxygen bottle?

• to celebrate Claribel’s recovery

• to keep themselves from losing consciousness

• to determine how much oxygen each person needs

• to remind each other of their loyalty and friendship

As the narrator awakens on the morning described in “Feathered Friend,” he has a headache. What is the most likely reason for that headache?

• a night of bad dreams

• confusion between day and night

• lack of oxygen in the space station

• illness spread by close contact with birds

Why would a person most likely feel distressed after reading an email? Base your answer on the meaning of distressed

• if the message contains bad news

• if the message is from an old friend

• if the message responds to a request

• if the message is a meeting reminder

If a puppy is described as whimpering pathetically, which of the following is most likely true? Base your answer on the meaning of pathetically.

• The sound is quiet and mostly unnoticed.

• The noise causes people to feel pity or sorrow.

• The puppy seems energetic and eager to please.

• Other dogs around it are howling or whimpering, too.

If a group of people lamented in public, which of the following events was most likely taking place? Base your answer on the meaning of lamented.

• a concert

• a funeral

• a graduation

• a holiday party

The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.

Part A Think about the setting of “Feathered Friend.” What is the most likely reason that “early spacers” were “wiry little fellow[s]”?

• Small people have a special love for adventure.

• Construction is a job for small but muscular people.

• Large people have difficulty adjusting to zero gravity.

• Both space and supplies on the space station are limited.

Part B Which of these quotations from “Feathered Friend” best supports the answer to Part A?

• There’s never been a regulation that forbids one to keep pets in a space station.

• A spacesuit is not the most convenient of garbs in which to work.

• I was sitting in the little cubbyhole laughingly called my office....

• A space station has more hiding places than you can count.....