a. why did the writer’s father spend time studying the skies ? (3)

Ans: The writer's father spend studying the skies because he was a meteorologist.

b. why the writer thinks that there was no need of a barometer? (3)

Ans: The writer thinks that there was no need of a barometer because his father was expert in forecasting weather.

c. what does the bright horizon meant for the writer’s father ? (3)

Ans: By the bright horizon the write's father that it pointed to the nearest river for a stranded person.By spotting the river the person could find the nearest human habitation.

d. How did her father influence the writer in her later years ? (3)

Ans: She learnt alo about meteorological phenomenon from her father.
The knowledge of weather and atmosphere got so ingrained in her nature that it came to influence in her writings stories.