Journey to the End of the Earth Questions & Answers | Class 12 English | CBSE NCERT

1 marks · mcq

1. Q1. The writer travelled to Antarctica aboard: (a) a Canadian cruise liner (b) a Russian research vessel, the Akademik Shokalskiy (c) an Indian naval ship (d) a British supply aircraft

EARLY this year, I found myself aboard a Russian research vessel — the Akademik Shokalskiy — heading towards the coldest, driest, windiest continent in the world: Antarctica. 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. Wonder at its immensity, its isolation, but mainly at how there could ever have been a time when India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.

1 marks · mcq

2. Q2. The writer's journey began 13.09 degrees north of the Equator in: (a) Madras (b) Moscow (c) Mumbai (d) Melbourne

EARLY this year, I found myself aboard a Russian research vessel — the Akademik Shokalskiy — heading towards the coldest, driest, windiest continent in the world: Antarctica. 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. Wonder at its immensity, its isolation, but mainly at how there could ever have been a time when India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.

1 marks · mcq

3. Q3. To reach Antarctica the writer crossed: (a) six time zones and nine checkpoints (b) nine time zones, six checkpoints and three bodies of water (c) three time zones and six checkpoints (d) nine checkpoints and six bodies of water

EARLY this year, I found myself aboard a Russian research vessel — the Akademik Shokalskiy — heading towards the coldest, driest, windiest continent in the world: Antarctica. 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. Wonder at its immensity, its isolation, but mainly at how there could ever have been a time when India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.

1 marks · mcq

4. Q4. The writer's first emotion on facing Antarctica's landscape was relief because: (a) she had been travelling over 100 hours by car, aeroplane and ship (b) the voyage had been dangerous (c) she had left Madras unwillingly (d) the ship arrived ahead of schedule

EARLY this year, I found myself aboard a Russian research vessel — the Akademik Shokalskiy — heading towards the coldest, driest, windiest continent in the world: Antarctica. 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. Wonder at its immensity, its isolation, but mainly at how there could ever have been a time when India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.

1 marks · mcq

5. Q5. The word 'profound' in "immediate and profound wonder" means: (a) ordinary (b) shallow (c) deep and intense (d) delayed

EARLY this year, I found myself aboard a Russian research vessel — the Akademik Shokalskiy — heading towards the coldest, driest, windiest continent in the world: Antarctica. 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. Wonder at its immensity, its isolation, but mainly at how there could ever have been a time when India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.

1 marks · mcq

6. Q6. The greatest wonder for the writer was the thought that: (a) Antarctica could be so cold (b) India and Antarctica were once part of the same landmass (c) the horizon could be so blue (d) human beings could live there

EARLY this year, I found myself aboard a Russian research vessel — the Akademik Shokalskiy — heading towards the coldest, driest, windiest continent in the world: Antarctica. 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. Wonder at its immensity, its isolation, but mainly at how there could ever have been a time when India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.

1 marks · mcq

7. Q1. Gondwana, the giant southern supercontinent, was centred roughly around: (a) present-day Asia (b) present-day Africa (c) present-day Antarctica (d) the Equator

Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent — Gondwana — did indeed exist, centred roughly around the present-day Antarctica. Things were quite different then: humans hadn't arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.

1 marks · mcq

8. Q2. Which of these was true of the world of Gondwana? (a) humans had not yet arrived on the global scene (b) the climate was freezing cold (c) there was very little flora and fauna (d) it was divided into many countries

Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent — Gondwana — did indeed exist, centred roughly around the present-day Antarctica. Things were quite different then: humans hadn't arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.

1 marks · mcq

9. Q3. For how long did Gondwana thrive? (a) 650 million years (b) about 500 million years (c) 12,000 years (d) one million years

Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent — Gondwana — did indeed exist, centred roughly around the present-day Antarctica. Things were quite different then: humans hadn't arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.

1 marks · mcq

10. Q4. The word 'amalgamated' in the extract means: (a) scattered into pieces (b) barren and empty (c) combined into one mass (d) frozen over

Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent — Gondwana — did indeed exist, centred roughly around the present-day Antarctica. Things were quite different then: humans hadn't arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.

1 marks · mcq

11. Q5. The great landmass was forced to separate into countries around the time when: (a) humans first appeared (b) the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals began (c) the climate became warmer (d) the Himalayas rose

Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent — Gondwana — did indeed exist, centred roughly around the present-day Antarctica. Things were quite different then: humans hadn't arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.

1 marks · mcq

12. Q6. The pronoun 'it' in "shaping the globe much as we know it today" refers to: (a) the supercontinent Gondwana (b) the globe (c) the age of the mammals (d) Antarctica

Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent — Gondwana — did indeed exist, centred roughly around the present-day Antarctica. Things were quite different then: humans hadn't arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.

1 marks · mcq

13. Q1. According to the extract, the Himalayas were formed when: (a) South America drifted towards North America (b) India pushed northwards and jammed against Asia, buckling its crust (c) the Drake Passage opened up (d) Gondwana was created

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.

1 marks · mcq

14. Q2. The opening of the Drake Passage: (a) warmed the circumpolar current (b) created a cold circumpolar current that kept Antarctica frigid and desolate (c) joined India to Asia (d) raised the Himalayas

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.

1 marks · mcq

15. Q3. According to the writer, a visit to Antarctica helps one grasp: (a) where we've come from and where we could possibly be heading (b) how to reach the South Pole (c) the habits of polar animals only (d) the history of Russian ships

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.

1 marks · mcq

16. Q4. The word 'mind-boggling' as used in the extract means: (a) boring (b) frightening (c) too astonishing to grasp easily (d) easy to measure

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.

1 marks · mcq

17. Q5. The mention of 'Cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian granite shields; ozone and carbon; evolution and extinction' suggests that Antarctica holds: (a) rich mineral wealth for mining (b) the earth's ancient geological and environmental record (c) rare wildlife found nowhere else (d) buried human cities

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.

1 marks · mcq

18. Q6. The tone of the passage beginning "Imagine:" is best described as: (a) alarmed and anxious (b) satirical and mocking (c) wondering and vividly descriptive (d) dull and factual

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.

1 marks · mcq

19. Q1. According to the extract, what percentage of the Earth's total ice volumes is stored in Antarctica? (a) 50 per cent (b) 70 per cent (c) 90 per cent (d) 100 per cent

For a sun-worshipping South Indian like myself, two weeks in a place where 90 per cent of the Earth's total ice volumes are stored is a chilling prospect (not just for circulatory and metabolic functions, but also for the imagination). It's like walking into a giant ping-pong ball devoid of any human markers — no trees, billboards, buildings. You lose all earthly sense of perspective and time here.

1 marks · mcq

20. Q2. "It's like walking into a giant ping-pong ball" is an example of a: (a) metaphor (b) simile (c) hyperbole (d) personification

For a sun-worshipping South Indian like myself, two weeks in a place where 90 per cent of the Earth's total ice volumes are stored is a chilling prospect (not just for circulatory and metabolic functions, but also for the imagination). It's like walking into a giant ping-pong ball devoid of any human markers — no trees, billboards, buildings. You lose all earthly sense of perspective and time here.

1 marks · mcq

21. Q3. The 'giant ping-pong ball' image suggests that Antarctica is: (a) white, blank and devoid of any human markers (b) small and crowded (c) full of games and activity (d) dark and noisy

For a sun-worshipping South Indian like myself, two weeks in a place where 90 per cent of the Earth's total ice volumes are stored is a chilling prospect (not just for circulatory and metabolic functions, but also for the imagination). It's like walking into a giant ping-pong ball devoid of any human markers — no trees, billboards, buildings. You lose all earthly sense of perspective and time here.

1 marks · mcq

22. Q4. The phrase 'devoid of any human markers' means: (a) full of familiar signs (b) completely lacking familiar signs (c) partly hidden from view (d) decorated with flags

For a sun-worshipping South Indian like myself, two weeks in a place where 90 per cent of the Earth's total ice volumes are stored is a chilling prospect (not just for circulatory and metabolic functions, but also for the imagination). It's like walking into a giant ping-pong ball devoid of any human markers — no trees, billboards, buildings. You lose all earthly sense of perspective and time here.

1 marks · mcq

23. Q5. The word 'chilling' in "a chilling prospect" works as a pun because it means both: (a) cold and frightening (b) fresh and pleasant (c) fast and slow (d) near and far

For a sun-worshipping South Indian like myself, two weeks in a place where 90 per cent of the Earth's total ice volumes are stored is a chilling prospect (not just for circulatory and metabolic functions, but also for the imagination). It's like walking into a giant ping-pong ball devoid of any human markers — no trees, billboards, buildings. You lose all earthly sense of perspective and time here.

1 marks · mcq

24. Q6. "You lose all earthly sense of perspective and time here" because: (a) the days are very short (b) there are no trees, billboards or buildings by which to judge scale (c) the ship has no clocks (d) it is always night there

For a sun-worshipping South Indian like myself, two weeks in a place where 90 per cent of the Earth's total ice volumes are stored is a chilling prospect (not just for circulatory and metabolic functions, but also for the imagination). It's like walking into a giant ping-pong ball devoid of any human markers — no trees, billboards, buildings. You lose all earthly sense of perspective and time here.

1 marks · mcq

25. Q1. The visual scale in Antarctica ranges from: (a) midges and mites to blue whales and icebergs (b) penguins to polar bears (c) rocks to mountains (d) fish to seabirds

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.

1 marks · mcq

26. Q2. The largest recorded iceberg mentioned in the extract was the size of: (a) India (b) Belgium (c) Australia (d) Madras

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.

1 marks · mcq

27. Q3. The word 'ubiquitous' in "a ubiquitous silence" means: (a) occasional (b) frightening (c) present everywhere (d) easily broken

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.

1 marks · mcq

28. Q4. The days go "on and on and on" because: (a) the ships travel very slowly (b) there is surreal 24-hour austral summer light (c) the time zones keep changing (d) the writer cannot sleep

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.

1 marks · mcq

29. Q5. The word 'prognosis', originally a medical term, is used here to mean: (a) the weather forecast (b) humankind's likely future (c) a doctor's prescription (d) the ship's route

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.

1 marks · mcq

30. Q6. The sentence "And for humans, the prognosis isn't good" strikes a tone of: (a) cheerful optimism (b) grim foreboding (c) casual indifference (d) gentle humour

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.

1 marks · mcq

31. Q1. Human civilisations have been around for about: (a) 500 million years (b) 12,000 years (c) 650 years (d) one lakh years

Human civilisations have been around for a paltry 12,000 years — barely a few seconds on the geological clock. In that short amount of time, we've managed to create quite a ruckus, etching our dominance over Nature with our villages, towns, cities, megacities. 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.

1 marks · mcq

32. Q2. The phrase "barely a few seconds on the geological clock" is a: (a) metaphor (b) simile (c) pun (d) onomatopoeia

Human civilisations have been around for a paltry 12,000 years — barely a few seconds on the geological clock. In that short amount of time, we've managed to create quite a ruckus, etching our dominance over Nature with our villages, towns, cities, megacities. 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.

1 marks · mcq

33. Q3. The word 'paltry' as used in the extract means: (a) enormous (b) insignificant and small (c) precious (d) ancient

Human civilisations have been around for a paltry 12,000 years — barely a few seconds on the geological clock. In that short amount of time, we've managed to create quite a ruckus, etching our dominance over Nature with our villages, towns, cities, megacities. 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.

1 marks · mcq

34. Q4. Humans have 'etched our dominance over Nature' chiefly by: (a) protecting the forests (b) building villages, towns, cities and megacities (c) living in harmony with animals (d) banning fossil fuels

Human civilisations have been around for a paltry 12,000 years — barely a few seconds on the geological clock. In that short amount of time, we've managed to create quite a ruckus, etching our dominance over Nature with our villages, towns, cities, megacities. 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.

1 marks · mcq

35. Q5. The 'blanket of carbon dioxide' around the world has been created by: (a) the rapid increase of human populations (b) the unmitigated burning of fossil fuels (c) volcanic eruptions (d) retreating glaciers

Human civilisations have been around for a paltry 12,000 years — barely a few seconds on the geological clock. In that short amount of time, we've managed to create quite a ruckus, etching our dominance over Nature with our villages, towns, cities, megacities. 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.

1 marks · mcq

36. Q6. According to the extract, the rapid increase of human populations has left us: (a) battling with other species for limited resources (b) colonising other planets (c) free of all disease (d) living underground

Human civilisations have been around for a paltry 12,000 years — barely a few seconds on the geological clock. In that short amount of time, we've managed to create quite a ruckus, etching our dominance over Nature with our villages, towns, cities, megacities. 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.

1 marks · mcq

37. Q1. Antarctica remains relatively 'pristine' because it: (a) is too cold for anyone to reach (b) has never sustained a human population (c) has no animal life (d) is washed clean by snow

Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. Will the West Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted? Will it be the end of the world as we know it? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Antarctica is a crucial element in this debate — not just because it's the only place in the world, which has never sustained a human population and therefore remains relatively 'pristine' in this respect; but more importantly, because it holds in its ice-cores half-million-year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. If we want to study and examine the Earth's past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go.

1 marks · mcq

38. Q2. The word 'pristine' as used in the extract means: (a) unspoilt and untouched (b) frozen solid (c) heavily polluted (d) recently discovered

Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. Will the West Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted? Will it be the end of the world as we know it? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Antarctica is a crucial element in this debate — not just because it's the only place in the world, which has never sustained a human population and therefore remains relatively 'pristine' in this respect; but more importantly, because it holds in its ice-cores half-million-year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. If we want to study and examine the Earth's past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go.

1 marks · mcq

39. Q3. Antarctica's ice-cores are valuable to scientists because they hold: (a) half-million-year-old carbon records trapped in layers of ice (b) fossils of dinosaurs (c) samples of ancient sea water (d) seeds of extinct plants

Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. Will the West Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted? Will it be the end of the world as we know it? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Antarctica is a crucial element in this debate — not just because it's the only place in the world, which has never sustained a human population and therefore remains relatively 'pristine' in this respect; but more importantly, because it holds in its ice-cores half-million-year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. If we want to study and examine the Earth's past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go.

1 marks · mcq

40. Q4. The questions "Will the West Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted?" are: (a) questions the writer answers with confidence (b) rhetorical questions highlighting an unsettled debate (c) questions asked by the students on board (d) questions set in an examination

Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. Will the West Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted? Will it be the end of the world as we know it? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Antarctica is a crucial element in this debate — not just because it's the only place in the world, which has never sustained a human population and therefore remains relatively 'pristine' in this respect; but more importantly, because it holds in its ice-cores half-million-year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. If we want to study and examine the Earth's past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go.

1 marks · mcq

41. Q5. The tone of "Maybe. Maybe not." is best described as: (a) alarmist and hysterical (b) measured and balanced (c) sarcastic (d) dismissive of science

Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. Will the West Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted? Will it be the end of the world as we know it? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Antarctica is a crucial element in this debate — not just because it's the only place in the world, which has never sustained a human population and therefore remains relatively 'pristine' in this respect; but more importantly, because it holds in its ice-cores half-million-year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. If we want to study and examine the Earth's past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go.

1 marks · mcq

42. Q6. According to the writer, if we want to study and examine the Earth's past, present and future, we must go to: (a) the Amazon rainforest (b) the Himalayas (c) Antarctica (d) the ocean floor

Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. Will the West Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf Stream ocean current be disrupted? Will it be the end of the world as we know it? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, Antarctica is a crucial element in this debate — not just because it's the only place in the world, which has never sustained a human population and therefore remains relatively 'pristine' in this respect; but more importantly, because it holds in its ice-cores half-million-year-old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. If we want to study and examine the Earth's past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go.

1 marks · mcq

43. Q1. The Students on Ice programme has been in operation for: (a) six years (b) sixteen years (c) sixty years (d) six months

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.

1 marks · mcq

44. Q2. The programme is headed by: (a) a Russian captain (b) Canadian Geoff Green (c) an American millionaire (d) a school principal

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.

1 marks · mcq

45. Q3. Geoff Green got tired of carting celebrities and rich curiosity-seekers because: (a) they paid no money (b) they could only 'give' back in a limited way (c) they refused to travel by ship (d) they disturbed the students

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.

1 marks · mcq

46. Q4. Students on Ice takes high school students to the ends of the world in order to: (a) train them as polar scientists (b) foster a new understanding and respect for our planet (c) shoot documentary films (d) run military exercises

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.

1 marks · mcq

47. Q5. The word 'foster' as used in the extract means: (a) to neglect (b) to encourage the growth of (c) to force upon (d) to postpone

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.

1 marks · mcq

48. Q6. High school students are called "the future generation of policy-makers" because: (a) they already decide government policy (b) they will one day take the decisions that shape the planet (c) they own large industries (d) they are too young to understand science

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.

1 marks · mcq

49. Q1. The word 'blasé' as used in the extract means: (a) excited and eager (b) unconcerned and unimpressed (c) terrified and nervous (d) confused and lost

The reason the programme has been so successful is because it's impossible to go anywhere near the South Pole and not be affected by it. It's easy to be blasé 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 very real.

1 marks · mcq

50. Q2. It is easy to be blasé about polar ice-caps melting when one is: (a) standing on a glacier (b) sitting in the comfort zone of one's own latitude and longitude (c) watching the news daily (d) living near the sea

The reason the programme has been so successful is because it's impossible to go anywhere near the South Pole and not be affected by it. It's easy to be blasé 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 very real.

1 marks · mcq

51. Q3. According to the writer, the programme succeeds because: (a) it charges no fees (b) it is impossible to go anywhere near the South Pole and not be affected by it (c) celebrities promote it (d) the ships are luxurious

The reason the programme has been so successful is because it's impossible to go anywhere near the South Pole and not be affected by it. It's easy to be blasé 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 very real.

1 marks · mcq

52. Q4. What makes people realise that the threat of global warming is very real? (a) reading scientific reports (b) visibly seeing glaciers retreating and ice shelves collapsing (c) watching television documentaries (d) rising electricity bills

The reason the programme has been so successful is because it's impossible to go anywhere near the South Pole and not be affected by it. It's easy to be blasé 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 very real.

1 marks · mcq

53. Q5. In "not be affected by it", the pronoun 'it' refers to: (a) the Students on Ice programme (b) the South Pole (Antarctica) (c) the ship (d) global warming

The reason the programme has been so successful is because it's impossible to go anywhere near the South Pole and not be affected by it. It's easy to be blasé 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 very real.

1 marks · mcq

54. Q6. The word 'retreating' as used in "glaciers retreating" means: (a) attacking (b) shrinking back (c) standing still (d) advancing

The reason the programme has been so successful is because it's impossible to go anywhere near the South Pole and not be affected by it. It's easy to be blasé 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 very real.

1 marks · mcq

55. Q1. Antarctica is the perfect place to study how little changes have big repercussions because of its: (a) complex biodiversity (b) simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity (c) large human population (d) dense forests

Antarctica, because of her simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions. Take the microscopic phytoplankton — those grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean's food chain. These single-celled plants use the sun's energy to assimilate carbon and synthesise organic compounds in that wondrous and most important of processes called photosynthesis. Scientists warn that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of the region, and the global carbon cycle. In the parable of the phytoplankton, there is a great metaphor for existence: take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.

1 marks · mcq

56. Q2. Phytoplankton are called the 'grasses of the sea' because they: (a) grow on the ocean floor (b) nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean's food chain (c) look like green grass (d) are eaten by cattle

Antarctica, because of her simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions. Take the microscopic phytoplankton — those grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean's food chain. These single-celled plants use the sun's energy to assimilate carbon and synthesise organic compounds in that wondrous and most important of processes called photosynthesis. Scientists warn that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of the region, and the global carbon cycle. In the parable of the phytoplankton, there is a great metaphor for existence: take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.

1 marks · mcq

57. Q3. Using the sun's energy, the single-celled phytoplankton: (a) assimilate carbon and synthesise organic compounds (b) melt the ice sheets (c) produce salt (d) warm the ocean

Antarctica, because of her simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions. Take the microscopic phytoplankton — those grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean's food chain. These single-celled plants use the sun's energy to assimilate carbon and synthesise organic compounds in that wondrous and most important of processes called photosynthesis. Scientists warn that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of the region, and the global carbon cycle. In the parable of the phytoplankton, there is a great metaphor for existence: take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.

1 marks · mcq

58. Q4. The word 'repercussions' as used in the extract means: (a) echoes of sound (b) far-reaching effects (c) small repairs (d) repeated experiments

Antarctica, because of her simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions. Take the microscopic phytoplankton — those grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean's food chain. These single-celled plants use the sun's energy to assimilate carbon and synthesise organic compounds in that wondrous and most important of processes called photosynthesis. Scientists warn that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of the region, and the global carbon cycle. In the parable of the phytoplankton, there is a great metaphor for existence: take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.

1 marks · mcq

59. Q5. Scientists warn that further depletion of the ozone layer will affect the phytoplankton, which in turn will affect: (a) only the blue whales (b) all the marine animals and birds of the region, and the global carbon cycle (c) the tourists on the ship (d) the research vessels

Antarctica, because of her simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions. Take the microscopic phytoplankton — those grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean's food chain. These single-celled plants use the sun's energy to assimilate carbon and synthesise organic compounds in that wondrous and most important of processes called photosynthesis. Scientists warn that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of the region, and the global carbon cycle. In the parable of the phytoplankton, there is a great metaphor for existence: take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.

1 marks · mcq

60. Q6. The 'great metaphor for existence' drawn from the parable of the phytoplankton is: (a) big things matter more than small things (b) take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place (c) the sea is richer than the land (d) nothing on earth can be predicted

Antarctica, because of her simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions. Take the microscopic phytoplankton — those grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean's food chain. These single-celled plants use the sun's energy to assimilate carbon and synthesise organic compounds in that wondrous and most important of processes called photosynthesis. Scientists warn that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of the region, and the global carbon cycle. In the parable of the phytoplankton, there is a great metaphor for existence: take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.

1 marks · mcq

61. Q1. The writer's best epiphany occurred: (a) at the Equator (b) just short of the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south (c) back in Madras (d) on Tadpole Island

My Antarctic experience was full of such epiphanies, but the best occurred just short of the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south. The Shokalskiy had managed to wedge herself into a thick white stretch of ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island which was preventing us from going any further. The Captain decided we were going to turn around and head back north, but before we did, we were all instructed to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean.

1 marks · mcq

62. Q2. The Shokalskiy could go no further because it: (a) had an engine failure (b) met a violent storm (c) was wedged in a thick white stretch of ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island (d) ran out of supplies

My Antarctic experience was full of such epiphanies, but the best occurred just short of the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south. The Shokalskiy had managed to wedge herself into a thick white stretch of ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island which was preventing us from going any further. The Captain decided we were going to turn around and head back north, but before we did, we were all instructed to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean.

1 marks · mcq

63. Q3. The word 'epiphany' as used in the extract means: (a) a sudden moment of deep insight or realisation (b) a long formal speech (c) a frightening dream (d) a scientific formula

My Antarctic experience was full of such epiphanies, but the best occurred just short of the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south. The Shokalskiy had managed to wedge herself into a thick white stretch of ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island which was preventing us from going any further. The Captain decided we were going to turn around and head back north, but before we did, we were all instructed to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean.

1 marks · mcq

64. Q4. "The Shokalskiy had managed to wedge herself into a thick white stretch of ice" is an example of: (a) metaphor (b) personification (c) hyperbole (d) pun

My Antarctic experience was full of such epiphanies, but the best occurred just short of the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south. The Shokalskiy had managed to wedge herself into a thick white stretch of ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island which was preventing us from going any further. The Captain decided we were going to turn around and head back north, but before we did, we were all instructed to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean.

1 marks · mcq

65. Q5. Before turning back north, the travellers were instructed to: (a) remain in their cabins (b) climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean (c) swim in the sea (d) row to Tadpole Island

My Antarctic experience was full of such epiphanies, but the best occurred just short of the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south. The Shokalskiy had managed to wedge herself into a thick white stretch of ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island which was preventing us from going any further. The Captain decided we were going to turn around and head back north, but before we did, we were all instructed to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean.

1 marks · mcq

66. Q6. The phrase 'walk on the ocean' is striking because: (a) people normally sail on an ocean, not walk on it — here the sea is frozen solid (b) the ocean was boiling hot (c) the ocean had dried up (d) it is a naval command

My Antarctic experience was full of such epiphanies, but the best occurred just short of the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south. The Shokalskiy had managed to wedge herself into a thick white stretch of ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island which was preventing us from going any further. The Captain decided we were going to turn around and head back north, but before we did, we were all instructed to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean.

1 marks · mcq

67. Q1. How many people walked on the stark whiteness? (a) 52 (b) 65 (c) 42 (d) 180

So there we were, all 52 of us, kitted out in Gore-Tex and glares, walking on a stark whiteness that seemed to spread out forever. Underneath our feet was a metre-thick ice pack, and underneath that, 180 metres of living, breathing, salt water. In the periphery Crabeater seals were stretching and sunning themselves on ice floes much like stray dogs will do under the shade of a banyan tree. It was nothing short of a revelation: everything does indeed connect.

1 marks · mcq

68. Q2. Underneath the metre-thick ice pack lay: (a) solid rock (b) 180 metres of living, breathing, salt water (c) a layer of mud (d) another thicker sheet of ice

So there we were, all 52 of us, kitted out in Gore-Tex and glares, walking on a stark whiteness that seemed to spread out forever. Underneath our feet was a metre-thick ice pack, and underneath that, 180 metres of living, breathing, salt water. In the periphery Crabeater seals were stretching and sunning themselves on ice floes much like stray dogs will do under the shade of a banyan tree. It was nothing short of a revelation: everything does indeed connect.

1 marks · mcq

69. Q3. The seals stretching and sunning themselves on ice floes are compared with: (a) sea lions basking on rocks (b) stray dogs under the shade of a banyan tree (c) cats on a roof (d) penguins huddling together

So there we were, all 52 of us, kitted out in Gore-Tex and glares, walking on a stark whiteness that seemed to spread out forever. Underneath our feet was a metre-thick ice pack, and underneath that, 180 metres of living, breathing, salt water. In the periphery Crabeater seals were stretching and sunning themselves on ice floes much like stray dogs will do under the shade of a banyan tree. It was nothing short of a revelation: everything does indeed connect.

1 marks · mcq

70. Q4. This comparison of the seals with stray dogs is an example of: (a) metaphor (b) simile (c) oxymoron (d) onomatopoeia

So there we were, all 52 of us, kitted out in Gore-Tex and glares, walking on a stark whiteness that seemed to spread out forever. Underneath our feet was a metre-thick ice pack, and underneath that, 180 metres of living, breathing, salt water. In the periphery Crabeater seals were stretching and sunning themselves on ice floes much like stray dogs will do under the shade of a banyan tree. It was nothing short of a revelation: everything does indeed connect.

1 marks · mcq

71. Q5. The Indian image of the banyan tree in the alien Antarctic setting suggests that: (a) Antarctica has many trees (b) life everywhere follows the same simple rhythms (c) the seals are dangerous (d) the writer missed her garden

So there we were, all 52 of us, kitted out in Gore-Tex and glares, walking on a stark whiteness that seemed to spread out forever. Underneath our feet was a metre-thick ice pack, and underneath that, 180 metres of living, breathing, salt water. In the periphery Crabeater seals were stretching and sunning themselves on ice floes much like stray dogs will do under the shade of a banyan tree. It was nothing short of a revelation: everything does indeed connect.

1 marks · mcq

72. Q6. "It was nothing short of a revelation" — the revelation was that: (a) everything does indeed connect (b) the seals could speak (c) the ice was only a metre thick (d) the water was fresh

So there we were, all 52 of us, kitted out in Gore-Tex and glares, walking on a stark whiteness that seemed to spread out forever. Underneath our feet was a metre-thick ice pack, and underneath that, 180 metres of living, breathing, salt water. In the periphery Crabeater seals were stretching and sunning themselves on ice floes much like stray dogs will do under the shade of a banyan tree. It was nothing short of a revelation: everything does indeed connect.

1 marks · mcq

73. Q1. The expression 'gone the way of the dinosaurs' means: (a) to migrate to a warmer place (b) to become extinct (c) to grow enormously powerful (d) to travel back in time

Nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres later, I was still wondering about the beauty of balance in play on our planet. How would it be if Antarctica were to become the warm place that it once used to be? Will we be around to see it, or would we have gone the way of the dinosaurs, mammoths and woolly rhinos? Who's to say? But after spending two weeks with a bunch of teenagers who still have the idealism to save the world, all I can say is that a lot can happen in a million years, but what a difference a day makes!

1 marks · mcq

74. Q2. The writer spent how long with the teenagers on the expedition? (a) a month (b) a year (c) two weeks (d) two days

Nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres later, I was still wondering about the beauty of balance in play on our planet. How would it be if Antarctica were to become the warm place that it once used to be? Will we be around to see it, or would we have gone the way of the dinosaurs, mammoths and woolly rhinos? Who's to say? But after spending two weeks with a bunch of teenagers who still have the idealism to save the world, all I can say is that a lot can happen in a million years, but what a difference a day makes!

1 marks · mcq

75. Q3. The 'beauty of balance in play on our planet' refers to: (a) the delicate ecological balance that sustains the earth (b) a gymnastics performance (c) the balance of the ship (d) a piece of music

Nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres later, I was still wondering about the beauty of balance in play on our planet. How would it be if Antarctica were to become the warm place that it once used to be? Will we be around to see it, or would we have gone the way of the dinosaurs, mammoths and woolly rhinos? Who's to say? But after spending two weeks with a bunch of teenagers who still have the idealism to save the world, all I can say is that a lot can happen in a million years, but what a difference a day makes!

1 marks · mcq

76. Q4. The teenagers give the writer hope because they: (a) are already trained scientists (b) still have the idealism to save the world (c) obey their teachers (d) plan to settle in Antarctica

Nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres later, I was still wondering about the beauty of balance in play on our planet. How would it be if Antarctica were to become the warm place that it once used to be? Will we be around to see it, or would we have gone the way of the dinosaurs, mammoths and woolly rhinos? Who's to say? But after spending two weeks with a bunch of teenagers who still have the idealism to save the world, all I can say is that a lot can happen in a million years, but what a difference a day makes!

1 marks · mcq

77. Q5. The closing contrast between "a million years" and "a day" highlights that: (a) the earth changes slowly but human understanding can change in a single day (b) a day is longer than a million years (c) time cannot be measured (d) geology is an exact science

Nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres later, I was still wondering about the beauty of balance in play on our planet. How would it be if Antarctica were to become the warm place that it once used to be? Will we be around to see it, or would we have gone the way of the dinosaurs, mammoths and woolly rhinos? Who's to say? But after spending two weeks with a bunch of teenagers who still have the idealism to save the world, all I can say is that a lot can happen in a million years, but what a difference a day makes!

1 marks · mcq

78. Q6. The tone of the concluding lines is best described as: (a) bitterly pessimistic (b) cautiously hopeful (c) coldly scientific (d) plainly factual

Nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and many ecospheres later, I was still wondering about the beauty of balance in play on our planet. How would it be if Antarctica were to become the warm place that it once used to be? Will we be around to see it, or would we have gone the way of the dinosaurs, mammoths and woolly rhinos? Who's to say? But after spending two weeks with a bunch of teenagers who still have the idealism to save the world, all I can say is that a lot can happen in a million years, but what a difference a day makes!

2 marks · short

79. Q1. How and from where did Tishani Doshi begin her journey to Antarctica?

2 marks · short

80. Q2. What were the writer's first emotions on setting foot on the Antarctic continent, and why?

2 marks · short

81. Q3. What was Gondwana?

2 marks · short

82. Q4. Why does the writer say that to visit Antarctica is to be 'a part of history'?

2 marks · short

83. Q5. How were the Himalayas formed, according to the chapter?

2 marks · short

84. Q6. Why does the writer compare Antarctica to 'a giant ping-pong ball'?

2 marks · short

85. Q7. How does the writer describe the range of the visual scale in Antarctica?

2 marks · short

86. Q8. What makes the days and the silence of Antarctica 'surreal'?

2 marks · short

87. Q9. How have human beings 'created quite a ruckus' on the earth in 12,000 years?

2 marks · short

88. Q10. Why is Antarctica called relatively 'pristine'?

2 marks · short

89. Q11. What treasure do Antarctica's ice-cores hold, and why are they important?

2 marks · short

90. Q12. Who is Geoff Green? Why did he stop taking celebrities and rich curiosity-seekers to Antarctica?

2 marks · short

91. Q13. Why, according to the writer, has the Students on Ice programme been so successful?

2 marks · short

92. Q14. Why is Antarctica the perfect place to study how small environmental changes can have big repercussions?

2 marks · short

93. Q15. What are phytoplankton, and what role do they play?

2 marks · short

94. Q16. How would further depletion of the ozone layer affect the region, according to scientists?

2 marks · short

95. Q17. What happened when the Shokalskiy was wedged in the ice, and what did the travellers do?

2 marks · short

96. Q18. What did the writer experience while walking on the ocean?

2 marks · short

97. Q19. What questions about the planet's future troubled the writer at the end of her journey?

2 marks · short

98. Q20. What hope does the writer carry back with her from Antarctica?

3 marks · short

99. Q1. Describe Tishani Doshi's journey from Madras to Antarctica.

3 marks · short

100. Q2. 'To visit Antarctica now is to be a part of that history.' Explain the statement in the context of the chapter.

3 marks · short

101. Q3. How does the study of Antarctica help us know the history of humankind?

3 marks · short

102. Q4. How does the writer convey the strange, timeless quality of the Antarctic landscape?

3 marks · short

103. Q5. What signs of human impact on the planet does the writer describe in the chapter?

3 marks · short

104. Q6. Why, and in what ways, is Antarctica crucial to the climate change debate?

3 marks · short

105. Q7. What is the Students on Ice programme? Why does Geoff Green prefer to take high school students rather than celebrities?

3 marks · short

106. Q8. 'Take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.' What is the relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctic environment?

3 marks · short

107. Q9. Describe the walk on the ocean that was the best epiphany of the writer's Antarctic experience.

3 marks · short

108. Q10. What thoughts occupied the writer's mind at the end of her journey?

3 marks · short

109. Q11. How does the chapter set human time against geological time?

3 marks · short

110. Q12. What indications about the future of humankind does the chapter give?

3 marks · short

111. Q13. What picture of the writer-narrator emerges from the chapter?

3 marks · short

112. Q14. How does the chapter blend the scientific and the personal?

3 marks · short

113. Q15. Justify the title 'Journey to the End of the Earth'.

5 marks · broad

114. Q1. 'The world's geological history is trapped in Antarctica.' How is the study of this region useful to us?

5 marks · broad

115. Q2. Draw a character sketch of the writer, Tishani Doshi, as it emerges from the chapter.

5 marks · broad

116. Q3. 'Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves.' Discuss the relevance of this statement, with reference to the Antarctic environment and to life in general.

5 marks · broad

117. Q4. How does the chapter highlight the role of young people in protecting the environment?

5 marks · broad

118. Q5. Antarctica is the last pristine continent. Why must it be protected, and what lessons does it teach humanity?

5 marks · broad

119. Q6. How does 'Journey to the End of the Earth' convey the interconnectedness of all life? Elaborate with examples from the chapter.

5 marks · broad

120. Q7. Imagine you were a member of the Students on Ice expedition described in the chapter. Describe your experience and the lessons the journey taught you.