Do you think the presence of the canary would lead the spacers into trouble? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Initially, the presence of the canary might seem like it could lead to trouble because pets were not officially sanctioned on the space station, and hiding Claribel from visiting VIPs required effort.
However, as the story reveals, Claribel's presence actually saved the crew's lives. She served as an early warning system when the air purifier malfunctioned, alerting them to the danger before the alarm system did.
Therefore, rather than causing trouble, her presence proved to be life-saving for everyone aboard.
Explanation
This question encourages students to think critically about the consequences of Sven's action. While smuggling a pet aboard might seem problematic, the story subverts expectations by showing how Claribel became essential to the crew's survival. Her sensitivity to air quality, similar to canaries used in mines, made her an unexpected but crucial safety mechanism.
Solution Steps
Initially, the canary's presence seemed problematic because pets were not officially sanctioned on the space station
Hiding Claribel from visiting VIPs required extra effort from the crew
The story reveals that Claribel's presence actually saved the crew's lives
She served as an early warning system when the air purifier malfunctioned
Claribel alerted the crew to danger before the official alarm system did
Her presence proved life-saving rather than troublesome for everyone aboard