Journey to the End of the Earth
Tishani Doshi • Class 12 English Vistas
The coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth.
Read and Find Out
Q1. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?
Geographical lands carry fossils as imprints of history. These fossils provide evidential data to study evolutionary history.
- Carbon Dating: Helps determine the age of fossils.
- Gondwana: The study of the separation of landmasses reveals how mammals, flora, and fauna existed before continents drifted apart.
Q2. What are the indications for the future of humankind?
[Image of melting glaciers and rising sea levels]
The indications are alarming:
The indications are alarming:
- Global Warming: Carbon emissions have led to the greenhouse effect, melting glaciers and causing the extinction of flora and fauna.
- Ozone Depletion: The depletion of the ozone layer allows harmful UV rays to penetrate the atmosphere.
Reading With Insights
Q1. ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How is the study of this region useful to us?
Antarctica was once part of the supercontinent Gondwana. When it drifted south, the climate changed from warm to frigid.
- Carbon Records: Deep layers of ice hold half-million-year-old carbon records, revealing the Earth’s past, present, and future.
- Warning Signs: It shows the tangible effects of global warming, such as retreating ice shelves, reminding us that the threat is real and disastrous.
Q2. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the Students on Ice expedition?
Geoff Green took high school students to Antarctica because:
- Future Policymakers: He believes young minds are the future policymakers.
- Sensitivity: He wanted to make them sensitive to climatic changes while they are still at an age where they can learn, act, and absorb information.
- Action: He considers them the best people to shoulder the responsibility of saving the environment.
Q3. ‘Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves.’ What is the relevance of this statement?
[Image of phytoplankton food web]
This statement highlights that trivial habits can bring substantial change. The text uses the example of phytoplankton:
These microscopic grasses of the sea nourish the entire Southern Ocean’s food chain. If the ozone layer depletes, it affects phytoplankton activity, which in turn affects marine birds, animals, and the global carbon cycle. Thus, small steps toward conservation can save the planet.
This statement highlights that trivial habits can bring substantial change. The text uses the example of phytoplankton:
These microscopic grasses of the sea nourish the entire Southern Ocean’s food chain. If the ozone layer depletes, it affects phytoplankton activity, which in turn affects marine birds, animals, and the global carbon cycle. Thus, small steps toward conservation can save the planet.
Q4. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past, and future?
- Past: As part of Gondwana, it holds the history of landmass separation and ancient life preserved in ice cores.
- Present: Its pristine environment serves as a control for studying the impact of human population and carbon emissions.
- Future: The melting glaciers and collapsing ice shelves serve as a warning of the potential end of the world if global warming continues unchecked.
Benefits of NCERT Solutions
Why use these solutions for ‘Journey to the End of the Earth’?
- Concept Clarity: Breaks down complex geological concepts like Gondwana and Carbon Dating.
- Vocabulary: Introduces scientific terms (Phytoplankton, Ozone, Greenhouse effect) essential for the exam.
- Environmental Awareness: Fosters a deeper understanding of themes like global warming and human impact.
- Exam Prep: Provides model answers for high-value questions on Geoff Green’s mission and the significance of Antarctica.
“If you want to know our earth’s past, present, and future, Antarctica is the place to go.”