5. The Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role (Nani
Palkhivala)
Main points of the
Chapter:
· In this chapter, the writer underlines the damage man has done to the planet.
· He has destroyed forests, fisheries, grasslands and croplands.
· The destruction of forests had led to the extinction of many wild species.
· The rapidly increasing population is responsible for the depletion of natural resources.
· More children do not mean more work. It means more people with no work.
· In the words of Lester Brown, “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers
· We have borrowed it from our children. We must return it to them in good condition.
· The Green movement was started in 1972 in New Zealand to preserve our environment.
· In the Zoo at Lusaka (Zambia), there is a mirror in the cage but no animal.
· When we see our picture in the mirror, we find that only we are the most dangerous animal to destroy the environment.
5. The Ailing Planet: The
Green Movement’s Role (Nani Palkhivala)
Very Short Type Q-Ans.
1. Who is the writer of
‘The Ailing Planet’?
Ans. Nani Palkhivala
2. Which planet is the
home of all human beings?
Ans. The earth
3. Which planet is
described as the ailing planet?
Ans. The earth
4. Which movement was
started to save the earth?
Ans. The Green movement
5. Which century did
Copernicus belong to?
Ans. Sixteenth
6. In which year was
popularized the concept of sustainable development?
Ans. In 1987
7. By what was
sustainable development popularised?
Ans. World Commission on Environment and Development
8. What is meant by sustainable
development?
Ans. Development without polluting environment
9. Which Indian was a
member of the Brandt Commission?
Ans. Mr. L.K. Jha
10. Who wrote the book
‘The Global Economic Prospect’?
Ans. Mr. Lester R. Brown
11. Which is a part of
biological system?
Ans. Fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands
12. Who was the
President of the World Resource Institute?
Ans. James Speth
13. What was the world
population in 1800?
Ans. One billion
14. What do more
children mean?
Ans. More people without work
15. When was Green
Movement started?
Ans. About 25 years ago
16. When and where was
the Green Party founded?
Ans. In 1972 in New Zealand
17. What is the
depletion rate of forests in India?
Ans. 3.7 million acres per year
5. The
Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role (Nani Palkhivala)
Short Type
Q-Ans.
1. What is meant
by sustainable development? When did this concept become popular?
Ans.
Sustainable development is the
development which uses the
resources to meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the
need of the future generation. This concept became popular in this
new era because nowadays the resources are depleted for ones private use only
not for any public use.
2. What are the
principal biological systems of the earth? How are they useful to us?
Ans.
The earth has four principal
biological systems. These are: fisheries,
forests, grasslands and croplands. They form the basis of the world's
economic system. They supply us food and raw materials for industry.
3. Why have
several species of wildlife become extinct?
Ans. Several
species of wildlife have become extinct and the number of animals is
rapidly decreasing due to cutting of trees and hunting the animals.
4. Why is
development called the best contraceptive?
Ans.
As a result of development income rises education spreads and health
improves. It means more enlightened population which understand the
value of small families. Thus the development is called the best contraceptive.
5. How are the
earth’s principal biological systems being depleted?
Ans.
The earth’s principal biological
systems are being depleted by excessive use. Over fishing is quite common.
Forests are being cut to obtain firewood for cooking. Grasslands are turning
into barren wastelands and croplands are deteriorating.
6. What does the
writer say about the green movement?
Ans.
The Green Movement aims at creating a holistic and ecological view of
the world. It makes people conscious of stopping further degradation and
deterioration of nature and its resources. It started in 1972.
7. Who has been termed as 'the world's
most dangerous animal?
Ans. Man is the most dangerous animal in
the world. In the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, there is a cage with the notice,
"The World's most dangerous animal." Inside the cage there is no
animal, but only a mirror where you see yourself. It is only man who is making
the environment polluted.
Long Answer
1. Bring out the
fact that support the title, ‘The Ailing Planet’.
Ans.
The title 'The Ailing Planet'
comments on the deteriorating
condition of our planet. It speaks of the problems faced by our planet,
reasons for its poor condition and the changing view of the world for the
planet. The signs of the earth
connected with life necessary for staying alive show that the earth
is a patient in declining health. Its deserts are advancing, landscapes are
being impoverished and environment is ailing. The writer also focuses on overpopulation, deforestation and what should
be our responsibility towards the environment. It refers to the view that calls for the preservation of
the planet. The holistic and ecological view refers to understanding the
importance of earth's resources and environment for the future generations.
2. What is the
importance of forests? How the forests are being destroyed?
Ans.
The forests are one of the most important biological systems in the world. But
now the forests are disappearing at the high rate per year. When we destroy forests, we add to climate change because forests trap
carbon and help stabilise the world's climate. They purify the air we breathe. Forests
cover about a third of the earth's land area and are essential to the health of our environment.
For example, trees and forests absorb and store much of the carbon dioxide. We
need the rain forests to produce
oxygen and clean the atmosphere to help us breathe. We also know that
the earth's climate can be affected, as well as the water cycle. Rainforests
also provide us with many valuable medicinal plants, and may be a source of a
cure from some deadly diseases.
3. Briefly
describe the author’s views about the need to protect the environment.
Ans.
Restore damaged ecosystems
by planting trees on land where
forests have been cut down. Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt
the environment. Establish parks to protect rain-forests and wildlife. With the
cutting of forests, many species of animals have also become extinct. The
rapidly increasing population of the world is also responsible for the
depletion of natural resources. The green movement started its campaign to make
people aware of the need to preserve our environment. Now people have begun to
realize that the natural resources will not last forever. We have duty to leave
this world cleaner and better for the generation to come. Industry has an
important role to play in the preservation of environment. Mr. Lester Brown
said, “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed
it from our children.”