Past exam of the topics in applied mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2011 / B / 5 / a / iii / Solution

A period-$k$ orbit of a Poincaré map corresponds to a closed trajectory, hence a periodic orbit of the underlying flow, meeting the chosen section at the $k$ distinct successive return points. Its time period is the sum of the $k$ return times, not necessarily $k$ times a single common time. Stability of the return-map orbit describes transverse stability of that closed trajectory; the flow itself also has the neutral time-translation direction.