The Star Ducks

 Reading 1

2. Answer the following questions.

a. Why did Rafferty conclude that Mr. Alsop was not a Times reader?

Rafferty concluded that Mr. Alsop was not a Times reader because Mr. Alsop did not recognize the name.

b. Describe the visitors who had come in the spaceship.

The visitors were aliens. They had pale blue expressionless faces, round eyes that looked as if they were painted. They had flexible antennae.

c. How did the visitors communicate with Mrs. Alsop?

The visitors pointed their antennae at her and just thought. Then she would think about the same thoughts.

d. Why were the visitors in a hurry to leave?

The visitors had to leave at a certain time, when the moon was in ‘the right place’.

e. Do you think Rafferty could report this story in his newspaper? Give reason for your answer.

No. Rafferty could not report this story in his newspaper. There was no proof for the story. There were no photographs, star duck eggs, or star duck bones to prove the story.

Reading 2

1. The story gives a detailed description of aliens. Imagine that you are a science fiction writer. You have to write a story about aliens. What would your aliens look like? What would their special powers be? How would they have landed on earth?

If I am writing a story about aliens as a science fiction writer, I would describe my aliens as robots made of Ludo pieces. They could change their appearance as they like. They have the ability to speak any language and they can even communicate with birds, animals and plants.

My aliens would land on earth using strange looking space-ships.

2. Do you believe that aliens exist? Give reasons for your answer.

Yes. I think aliens exist. There are billions of stars in the universe and there is a possibility of some kind of life existing somewhere.

No. I don’t believe that aliens exist. The idea of aliens is only imagination.

3. Do you think that Mrs and Mr Alsop realize who their guests are? How is Rafferty’s reaction to the aliens different from that of the Alsops?

Probably, Mrs. and Mr. Alsop realize that their guests are from space because they came from a very far off place in the sky. They are different in appearance. They communicate differently. The Alspos find nothing unusual about the aliens. On the other hand, Rafferty is very excited as he thinks it is the biggest story. He knows that aliens landing on a farm and making friends with the farmer is a great story.