Journey to the End of the Earth Tishani Doshi 12
Chapter 3 – Journey to the End of the Earth
By Tishani Doshi
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Geological | Earthly |
| Evolution | Growth |
| Tectonic | Earth crust movement |
| Depletion | Reduction |
| Sustainability | Balance |
| Ecosystem | Environment |
| Migration | Movement |
| Landscape | Scenery |
| Heritage | Tradition |
| Isolation | Separation |
| Pristine | Pure |
| Vast | Huge |
| Crust | Surface |
| Origin | Beginning |
| Condensed | Compressed |
| Account | Report |
| Coordinates | Location |
| Discomfort | Unease |
| Immensity | Greatness |
| Thrilling | Exciting |
| Immersed | Deeply involved |
| Enormous | Very large |
| Visual | Related to sight |
| Fragile | Delicate |
| Impact | Effect |
| Vastness | Great size |
| Interaction | Communication |
| Global | Worldwide |
| Evidence | Proof |
| Constant | Continuous |
| Dramatic | Striking |
| Decade | Ten years |
| Existence | Life |
| Warning | Caution |
| Resource | Supply |
Book Question–Answers
Q1. ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How is the study of this region useful to us?
Antarctica tells us how the Earth looked millions of years ago. Its ice holds the secrets of the planet’s past climate and atmosphere. By studying it, scientists can understand how the Earth has changed and how global warming is affecting our planet today.
Q2. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the Students on Ice expedition?
Geoff Green wanted students to see and feel how nature works. He believed young people are the future decision-makers, so if they understand global problems like pollution and climate change early, they will protect Earth better. He wanted them to learn through real experience, not from textbooks.
Q3. ‘Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves.’ What is the relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctic environment?
In Antarctica, even a tiny change in temperature or pollution affects everything — from small plants to big animals. The line means that if we take care of small details like reducing pollution or protecting small species, the bigger systems of the Earth will stay safe and balanced.
Q4. Why is Antarctica the place to go to understand the Earth’s past, present and future?
Antarctica is the oldest, coldest, and purest place on Earth. It shows how continents were once joined together. Its ice layers hold information about past climates. Studying them helps scientists predict the future of our planet and understand the effects of climate change and melting ice.
Page No: 19
Read and Find Out
1. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?
Answer The geological phenomenon of separating various continents and water bodies from one compact landmass tells us about the age of existence of human race on the earth. Six hundred and fifty million years ago, no human race existed on the earth because the environment was not favourable. After the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out, the Mammals started existing and after the separation of landmass, the human race started flourishing on the earth.
Page No: 20
1. What are the indications for the future of humankind?
Answer The future of the humankind can get in danger if the emission of carbon- dioxide and other poisonous gases go on in the same manner. These gases deplete the ozone layer and allow the ultra-violet rays of the sun to enter the earth’s environment. This causes the rise in temperature of the earth and giving rise to the phenomenon called global warming. Increased temperature can melt the ice of the Antarctica, and cause other environmental problems, thus jeopardizing the future of human kind.
Page No: 23
Reading with Insight
1. ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How is the study of this region useful to us?
Answer The study of this region of Antarctica gives us insight into the world’s geological history. It gives an idea, how the earth was like, before it drifted into continents and countries. It shows how slight changes in the climate can change the shape of the region. It gives the explanation how the climatic conditions of the earth were not favourable for life before and how slowly rising temperature made earth a place to sustain life. All secrets are embedded in the layers of ice in the form of half million year old carbon records.
2. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the Students on Ice expedition?
Answer Geoff Green took the high school students to one end of the world, to provide them the opportunity to develop the respect and understanding for the earth. He wanted to make the future policy-makers to experience how difficult it would have been for the earth to sustain life by rising its temperature. He wanted them to understand that any interference in nature can cause drastic mishappenings in the future when the students see the ice shelves melting and collapsing, they can estimate the kind of environmental troubles ahead in their future.
3. ‘Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves.’ What is the relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctic environment?
Answer This statement has great relevance in the context of the Antarctic environment. A small change in the environment can give rise to drastic developments. Antarctica has a small biodiversity. The example of small grass called phytoplankton can be studied in this context. These microscopic grasses undergo the process of photosynthesis and serve as food for number of marine birds and animals. The author says if there is further depletion of the ozone layer, it will affect the phytoplanktons and the carbon cycle on the globe. This whole process can jeopardize the existence of all the marine birds and animals. So if we take care that processes carried over by these small grasses are carried out properly, the bigger animals and birds will fall into the place on their own.
4. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past and future?
Answer Antarctica gives us an idea, how the earth would have been like millions of years ago and how it got divided into various earth masses. The melting and colliding ice masses also give us an insight into how our future is going to be, if we continue with interference in the working of the nature. Moreover, Antarctica holds into the depths of its ice half-million year old carbon records, which are helpful in understanding the past, present and future of the earth. Therefore, Antarctica is the place which reveals our past, shows our present and visualizes our future.
1. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?
Answer The geological phenomenon of separating various continents and water bodies from one compact landmass tells us about the age of existence of human race on the earth. Six hundred and fifty million years ago, no human race existed on the earth because the environment was not favourable. After the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out, the Mammals started existing and after the separation of landmass, the human race started flourishing on the earth.
Page No: 20
1. What are the indications for the future of humankind?
Answer The future of the humankind can get in danger if the emission of carbon- dioxide and other poisonous gases go on in the same manner. These gases deplete the ozone layer and allow the ultra-violet rays of the sun to enter the earth’s environment. This causes the rise in temperature of the earth and giving rise to the phenomenon called global warming. Increased temperature can melt the ice of the Antarctica, and cause other environmental problems, thus jeopardizing the future of human kind.
Page No: 23
Reading with Insight
1. ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How is the study of this region useful to us?
Answer The study of this region of Antarctica gives us insight into the world’s geological history. It gives an idea, how the earth was like, before it drifted into continents and countries. It shows how slight changes in the climate can change the shape of the region. It gives the explanation how the climatic conditions of the earth were not favourable for life before and how slowly rising temperature made earth a place to sustain life. All secrets are embedded in the layers of ice in the form of half million year old carbon records.
2. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the Students on Ice expedition?
Answer Geoff Green took the high school students to one end of the world, to provide them the opportunity to develop the respect and understanding for the earth. He wanted to make the future policy-makers to experience how difficult it would have been for the earth to sustain life by rising its temperature. He wanted them to understand that any interference in nature can cause drastic mishappenings in the future when the students see the ice shelves melting and collapsing, they can estimate the kind of environmental troubles ahead in their future.
3. ‘Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves.’ What is the relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctic environment?
Answer This statement has great relevance in the context of the Antarctic environment. A small change in the environment can give rise to drastic developments. Antarctica has a small biodiversity. The example of small grass called phytoplankton can be studied in this context. These microscopic grasses undergo the process of photosynthesis and serve as food for number of marine birds and animals. The author says if there is further depletion of the ozone layer, it will affect the phytoplanktons and the carbon cycle on the globe. This whole process can jeopardize the existence of all the marine birds and animals. So if we take care that processes carried over by these small grasses are carried out properly, the bigger animals and birds will fall into the place on their own.
4. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past and future?
Answer Antarctica gives us an idea, how the earth would have been like millions of years ago and how it got divided into various earth masses. The melting and colliding ice masses also give us an insight into how our future is going to be, if we continue with interference in the working of the nature. Moreover, Antarctica holds into the depths of its ice half-million year old carbon records, which are helpful in understanding the past, present and future of the earth. Therefore, Antarctica is the place which reveals our past, shows our present and visualizes our future.
Page No. 19
Read and Find Out
Question 1. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?
Answer: Geological changes like the breaking and drifting of continents help us know how the Earth looked millions of years ago. Around 650 million years ago, there were no humans because the environment was not suitable. After the dinosaurs disappeared, mammals appeared, and later, when the landmasses separated, human life began to grow on Earth.
Page No. 20
Read and Find Out
Question 1. What are the indications for the future of humankind?
Answer: The future of humans is in danger because of pollution and global warming. The continuous release of carbon dioxide and harmful gases damages the ozone layer. This allows harmful ultraviolet rays to enter the Earth’s atmosphere, increasing temperature and melting Antarctic ice. These changes can cause floods, climate problems, and threaten human life on Earth.
Page No. 23
Reading with Insight
Question 1. ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How is the study of this region useful to us?
Answer: Antarctica helps us understand how Earth looked before the continents separated. The ice layers there hold records of Earth’s past climate and atmosphere for millions of years. By studying these layers, scientists learn how small changes in climate can affect life on Earth. Thus, it helps us understand Earth’s past, present, and possible future.
Question 2. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the Students on Ice expedition?
Answer: Geoff Green took high school students to Antarctica so that they could see and understand the real effects of global warming. He wanted the young generation—future decision-makers—to respect nature and protect the planet. By seeing melting glaciers and the fragile ecosystem, students could realize how human actions affect the Earth.
Question 3. ‘Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves.’ What is the relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctic environment?
Answer: In Antarctica, even small organisms like phytoplankton (tiny algae) play a big role in the food chain and oxygen cycle. If these small plants are affected by pollution or ozone depletion, the entire marine life can suffer. So, if we take care of these small elements of nature, the larger systems of life on Earth will remain balanced.
Question 4. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the Earth’s present, past and future?
Answer: Antarctica helps us understand how the Earth’s landmasses were once joined together and how they changed over time. The ice there contains half a million years of carbon records that show how climate has changed. It also warns us how our actions today—like pollution and deforestation—can harm the future. So, Antarctica tells the complete story of Earth’s past, present, and future.
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