CBSE Class 12 English HOTs Journey to the End of the Earth Set 02

Read and Find Out 

Question. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?
Answer: It is the geological phenomena that truly lets us know about the history of humankind, as they present before us how things were and how they evolved and went to extinction.

Question. What are the indications for the future of humankind?
Answer: Keeping the present condition in mind, the future of humankind is in dark and a matter of grave concern. Rapid growth of human population, limited resources and depletion of ozone layer due to disturbed global carbon cycle are severe warnings for humans as well as sea animals and birds of the region. There are many reasons responsible for the present condition but severe and immediate attention can probably reduce the disaster if not cure it.

Reading with Insight 

Question. “The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.” How is the study of this region useful to us?
Answer: The study of Antarctica is helpful to us because Antarctica preserves a wealth of geological data, including ice cores containing atmospheric gases and climate records that provide insights into Earth’s past climates and environmental changes. By analysing Antarctic ice cores, scientists can study past climate variations, understand the causes of climate change, and predict future climate trends. Antarctica’s unique geological features, such as its continental drift, glacial formations, and fossil records, offer valuable information about Earth’s geological history, evolution, and biodiversity. Studying Antarctica helps scientists understand global environmental processes, such as ocean circulation patterns, sea-level rise, and the dynamics of polar ecosystems, which are crucial for addressing contemporary environmental challenges and informing sustainable management practices.

Question. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the ‘Students on Ice’ expedition? Or ‘Students on Ice’ is a programme that prepares global citizens. Discuss. 
Answer: Geoff Green decided to include high school students in the expedition because he believes that at this stage, it would be easier for them to grasp things and realise the impact of nature in a more demonstrative manner. The idea is to foster a new understanding and respect for our planet. Inspiring educational opportunities could be discovered by them. Antarctica provided young students a perfect place to study the changes in the environment as these changes can have big repercussions. The entire expedition was a life changing experience for the young learners where they were taught to learn, absorb and act to become Global leaders.

Question. “Take care of small things and the big things will take care of themselves.” What is the relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctica environment?
Answer: The statement “Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves” is relevant in the context of the Antarctic environment because despite their simplicity and lack of biodiversity, Antarctica’s ecosystems play crucial roles in global environmental processes. These include carbon cycling, nutrient recycling and maintaining ecological balance. Although seemingly insignificant, small organisms like phytoplankton form the foundation of Antarctic food webs and support the entire marine ecosystem. By prioritising the conservation and protection of tiny organisms and delicate ecosystems in Antarctica, humans can help preserve the health and stability of polar environments and mitigate the impacts of climate change on Antarctic biodiversity and ecosystems.

Question. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the Earth’s present, past and future? Or Why is Antarctica the place to go to for the scientists today? Or How can visit to Antarctica be an enlightening experience? Elaborate.  If we want to study and examine the Earth’s past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go. Comment. 
Answer: Antarctica is the place to go to understand the earth’s present, past, and future because its pristine environment and remoteness from human civilisation make it an ideal laboratory for studying natural processes, environmental changes and climate dynamics with minimal human interference. Antarctica’s ice cores contain invaluable records of Earth’s past climates, atmospheric conditions and environmental changes spanning hundreds of thousands of years. These records provide insights into past climate variations, natural disasters and geological events. Scientists can better understand climate change drivers and impacts by studying Antarctica’s geological features, ice sheets, and ecosystems, predicting future environmental trends, and developing strategies for mitigating global ecological challenges. Antarctica serves as a critical indicator of global environmental health and resilience, highlighting the interconnectedness of Earth’s systems and the urgent need for international cooperation, scientific research, and sustainable management practices to address contemporary environmental issues and ensure the long-term viability of our planet.

Extract Based Questions

My journey began 13.09 degrees North of the Equator in Madras, and involved crossing nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water, and at least as many ecospheres. By the time I actually set foot on the Antarctic continent I had been travelling over 100 hours in combination of a car, an aeroplane and a ship; so, my first emotion on facing Antarctica’s expansive white landscape and uninterrupted blue horizon was relief, followed up with an immediate and profound wonder. 

Question. Complete the following suitably. The passage suggests that the author’s journey to Antarctica was ........
Answer: long, arduous and physically exhausting

Question. Select the correct option from those given in brackets to fill in the blank. The author highlights the numerous challenges and difficulties to emphasise the ....... (remoteness/proximity) of Antarctica.
Answer: remoteness

Question. How does the mention of crossing multiple time zones, checkpoints, and bodies of water impact the writer?
(a) Is excited by the adventure of travel
(b) Feels indifferent towards the journey
(c) Is surprised by the number of logistical obstacles
(d) Feels overwhelmed by the logistical challenges
Answer: (d) Feels overwhelmed by the logistical challenges

Question. How does the description of the journey reflect the author’s initial emotions upon arriving in Antarctica?
Answer: The description of the journey reflects the author’s initial emotions upon arriving in Antarctica by portraying a sense of relief after a strenuous trip, followed by awe and wonder at the vast, pristine landscape. The contrast between the exhausting journey and the breathtaking beauty of Antarctica heightens the author’s appreciation of the continent’s untouched majesty.

To visit Antarctica now is to be a part of that history; to get a grasp of where we’ve come from and where we could possibly be heading. It’s to understand the significance of Cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian granite shields; ozone and carbon; evolution and extinction. When you think about all that can happen in a million years, it can get pretty mind-boggling. Imagine: India pushing Northwards, jamming against Asia to buckle its crust and form the Himalayas; South America drifting off to join North America, opening up the Drake Passage to create a cold circumpolar current, keeping Antarctica frigid, desolate, and at the bottom of the world. (Journey to the End of the Earth) 

Question. Complete the following suitably. The passage suggests that visiting Antarctica offers insight into geological processes and Earth’s history by ........
Answer: Exploring Cordilleran folds, granite shields and environmental factors like ozone and carbon.

Question. How does the author imply the role of geological knowledge in understanding the Earth’s past and potential future changes?
Answer: The author implies the role of geological knowledge in understanding the Earth’s past and potential future changes by linking the geological events to Antarctica’s environmental conditions.

Question. The writer says, “When you think about all that can happen in a million years, it can get pretty mind-boggling.” What is the most likely impact on the writer?
(a) Feels overwhelmed by the vastness of geological time scales.
(b) Is uneasy about the rapid pace of geological changes.
(c) Feels indifferent towards geological phenomena.
(d) Is surprised by the lack of significant geological events over a million years.
Answer: (a) Feels overwhelmed by the vastness of geological time scales.

Question. How might understanding the geological processes mentioned in the passage help scientists in predicting and mitigating future environmental changes, particularly in polar regions?
Answer: Understanding the geological processes mentioned in the passage helps the scientists in predicting and mitigating future environmental changes, particularly in polar regions by providing insights into how geological events impact polar regions and influence global climate patterns.

You lose all earthly sense of perspective and time here. The visual scale ranges from the microscopic to the mighty: midges and mites to blue whales and icebergs as big as countries (the largest recorded was the size of Belgium). Days go on and on and on in surreal 24-hour austral summer light and a ubiquitous silence, interrupted only by the occasional avalanche or calving ice sheet, consecrates the place. It’s an immersion that will force you to place yourself in the context of the Earth’s geological history and for humans, the prognosis isn’t good. 

Question. Complete the sentence suitably. The ‘visual scale’ refers to ........
Answer: range of things one can see.

Question. Which of the following fits the category of ‘microscopic to the mighty’ out of the ones given below.
1. Trace of a skin cell: trace of a bird’s egg
2. A grain of rice: field of wheat
3. A scoop of ice cream: an ice-cream cone
4. A drop of water: Pacific Ocean
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 4
Answer: (d) 2 and 4

Question. Choose the option listing the elements that influences one to think of Earth’s physicality.
1. Breakage of an iceberg from a glacier
2. Midges and mites
3. A regular seen avalanche
4. Summer light in the Southern hemisphere
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 4

Question. How does the narrator feel in the given extract?
Answer: The narrator feels amazed to see the grandeur of the icy region.

Human Civilisations have been around for a paltry 12,000 years - barely a few seconds on the geological clock. In the short amount of time, we’ve managed to create quite a ruckus, etching our dominance over nature with our villages, towns, cities, mega cities. The rapid increase of human populations has left us battling with other species for limited resources and the unmitigated burning of fossil fuels has now created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world, which is slowly but surely increasing the average global temperature. 

Question. According to the view expressed by the author in the above extract, increase in global temperature is due to
(a) mega cities
(b) human people
(c) burning of fossil fuels
(d) limited resources
Answer: (c) burning of fossil fuels

Question. Complete the following sentence with reference to the extract. Humans are criticised by the author for ........
Answer: unmitigated burning of fossil fuels which has resulted in the increasing average global temperature

Question. According to the author, the relation between human population and resources is ........
Answer: one of conflict and inequity, as the rapid increase in the human population results in a struggle for limited resources.

Question. ‘In that short amount of time, we’ve managed to create a ruckus’. By ‘ruckus’ the author refers to
(a) movement
(b) misunderstanding
(c) breach
(d) commotion
Answer: (d) commotion

Students on Ice, the programme I was working with on the Shokalskiy, aims to do exactly this by taking high school students to the ends of the world and providing them with inspiring educational opportunities which will help them foster a new understanding and respect for our planet. It’s been in operation for six years now, headed by Canadian Geoff Green, who got tired of carting celebrities and retired, rich, curiosity-seekers who could only ‘give’ back in a limited way. With Students on Ice, he offers the future generation of policy-makers a life-changing experience at an age when they’re ready to absorb, learn and most importantly act. 

Question. Complete the sentence appropriately with reference to the extract. The writer refers to the educational opportunities as ‘inspiring’ because ........
Answer: these educational opportunities would motivate students to work towards the good of the planet by allowing them to observe first-hand that the planet needs to be respected and nurtured rather than abused.

Question. Which of the following would not be ‘a life changing experience’?
(a) Being given the lead role in a play
(b) Going on an adventure trip
(c) Playing a video game
(d) Meeting a great leader, you admire
Answer: (c) Playing a video game

Question. Select the most suitable title for the given extract.
(a) Adventure with a Mission
(b) Adventure - The Spice of Life
(c) The Wanderlust
(d) Students of the Future
Answer: (a) Adventure with a Mission

Question. Why does the writer refer to ‘act’ as more important than ‘absorb’ or ‘learn’?
Answer: The writer believes that to ‘act’ is more important than to ‘absorb’ or ‘learn’ because having the right knowledge or understanding gets just half of the job done. It fails to have an impact till the theoretical knowledge is applied, practiced or put to use in our actions.

The reason the programme has been so successful is because it is impossible to go anywhere near the South Pole and not be affected by it. It’s easy to be blase about polar ice caps melting while sitting in the comfort zone of our respective latitude and longitude, but when you can visibly see glaciers retreating and ice shelves collapsing, you begin to realise that the threat of global warming is real. Antarctica, because of her simple eco-system and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions.

Question. As per the given extract, the reason for the success of the programme is
(a) the participation of young students,
(b) the journey to Antarctica,
(c) the exposure to reality,
(d) it was impossible to go near South Pole,
Answer: (c) the exposure to reality

Question. Complete the following sentence. The warning that can be inferred from the above extract is ........
Answer: that small environmental changes should not be neglected because it can lead to serious repercussions on a large scale.

Question. State whether the statement given is True or False with reference to the extract. Global warming is a threat to human survival.
Answer: True

Question. Explain one inference that can be drawn from the line “It’s easy to be blase about polar ice caps melting while sitting in the comfort zone”.
Answer: Warnings and threats in distant lands may not have a bigger impact on people as it would when one experiences it with their own eyes. People tend to not comprehend the intensity of the effect it would cause on globally.