Question

Now find out what happens, in this exciting Science Fiction story. The letter to Pen Pal continues.....

a... suggestion in this connection, but I won’t mention it till I have developed it further. I must introduce myself. I am a scientist on the Planet Aurigae* II. We have known for some centuries that there are other inhabited planets in the galaxy. Since I am allowed to experiment in my spare time, I have been amusing myself at communication with those planets. In fact, I have developed systems for intercepting communications between the planets in our galaxy, and have been able to draw your letter from the interstellar correspondence club. You will have noticed the material on which this letter is written. It is a highly sensitive metal, very thin, very flexible, and I have enclosed several sheets of it for your use. Tungsten dipped in any strong acid makes an excellent mark on it. It is important to me that you write on it, as my fingers are too hot-literally-to hold your paper without damaging it. This is because the temperature on Aurigae II is more than 250 degrees Celsius. This must seem extremely hot to you, but (unlike you) we are not a hydrocarbon form of life, and we find 250 degrees Celsius very pleasant. I’ll say no more now. But before I close, I must tell you that I am a prisoner in the Aurigae jail. If you are still interested in writing to me, I shall be happy to continue the correspondence. Skander

pronounced “Our-ee-guy”

1. What does “a hydrocarbon form of life” mean?
2. What would a non-hydrocarbon form of life look like?
3. Why do you think Skander is in prison?

Answer 1

1. A hydrocarbon form of life means a living being whose body is mainly made of carbon compounds and water, like humans, animals, and plants on Earth.
2. A non-hydrocarbon form of life would be very different from humans. It might have a body made of other materials instead of carbon and water. It could survive at very high temperatures and may have a completely different appearance.
3. I think Skander is in prison because he may have broken the laws of his planet or carried out secret scientific experiments without permission. The passage does not tell us the exact reason, so this is only a guess.