How, according to you, did Sebastian's normal life get revived? Give an argument in support of your answer. (Virtually True)
Sebastian's life was revived because his consciousness, trapped as data in the computer during the crash, was retrieved when Michael 'rescued' him in the final game. The transfer of this memory back to his brain allowed him to wake from his coma.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for explaining the concept of virtual rescue or data retrieval from the computer.
- 21 mark for providing a supporting argument, such as Sebastian waking from his coma at the same time Michael completed the game rescue.
Hint
Think about what happened to Sebastian's consciousness during the car crash and how Michael's actions in the virtual game affected the real world.
Quick Oral Answer
Sebastian's consciousness was trapped as data in the computer after his car accident. When Michael rescued him in the final virtual game, this data was transferred back to Sebastian's brain, allowing him to wake from his coma.
Analysis & Explanation
This question is unique because it asks 'according to you', which means the examiner wants the student's own interpretation supported by an argument from the story. The key to answering this well is to explain the science-fiction logic of the story: Sebastian's consciousness or brain data was trapped inside the computer during the car accident, and it manifested as different game scenarios. Each game Michael played represented a version of Sebastian trying to escape or be rescued. When Michael finally succeeded in rescuing Sebastian in the last game, this virtual victory triggered the transfer of consciousness back to Sebastian's physical brain, allowing him to wake from his coma. The supporting argument should reference the story's ending, where Sebastian is reported to have miraculously woken up from his coma at the exact time Michael completed the rescue in the game. This temporal coincidence is the strongest evidence linking the virtual rescue to the real-world recovery. For 2 marks, students need both the explanation (how the revival happened) and the argument (evidence from the story). A common mistake is giving a purely medical explanation without connecting it to the virtual reality element, which is the entire point of the story. Another error is summarizing the plot without specifically answering how Sebastian's life was revived. The question tests analytical thinking and the ability to construct a logical argument using textual evidence.
Common Mistakes
- 1Providing a purely medical explanation for Sebastian waking from his coma without connecting it to the virtual rescue in the game, which is the central science-fiction concept of the story.
- 2Summarizing the entire plot of 'Virtually True' instead of specifically addressing how Sebastian's consciousness was retrieved from the computer and restored to his body.
- 3Failing to provide a supporting argument from the text, such as the coincidence of Sebastian waking up at the exact moment Michael rescued him in the game.
Interesting Facts
The concept of consciousness being uploaded to a computer, central to 'Virtually True', was first seriously proposed by robotics researcher Hans Moravec in his 1988 book 'Mind Children', which predicted that human minds could be transferred to machines by 2050.
Paul Stewart, the author of 'Virtually True', is a British children's author who has written over 50 books. He is best known for 'The Edge Chronicles' series, co-created with illustrator Chris Riddell.
The story was written in the 1990s when virtual reality was an emerging technology. The first VR headset for consumers, the VFX1, was released in 1995, making stories about virtual worlds particularly exciting for readers of that era.
Frequently Asked Questions
What accident caused Sebastian to fall into a coma?
Sebastian Dodd was involved in a serious car accident in which the laptop computer he was holding transferred his brainwaves or consciousness into its memory. His body survived but remained in a coma while his mind existed as data in the computer's games.
Who is Michael in the story 'Virtually True'?
Michael is the narrator of the story who discovers Sebastian's games on a second-hand computer he purchases. By playing through the games and rescuing Sebastian in the virtual world, Michael unknowingly helps restore Sebastian's consciousness to his physical body.
What is the science fiction concept behind 'Virtually True'?
The story explores the concept of consciousness transfer, where a person's mind or brain patterns can be stored as digital data in a computer. It raises questions about the boundary between virtual reality and actual reality.