GSEB Class 12 English Vistas Chapter 3 Journey to the End of the Earth Solutions

Read And Find Out (Textbook Page No. 19)

Question 1. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history of humankind?
Answer: The geological events, like different continents and water areas moving away from a single huge landmass, show us how old the human species is on Earth. About 650 million years ago, humans did not exist on Earth since conditions were not suitable. After dinosaurs disappeared, mammals began to appear, and after the land broke apart, humans began to thrive on Earth.
In simple words: Geological changes show us when humans first appeared. After land masses split and dinosaurs vanished, mammals and then humans started to flourish.

Exam Tip: Mention specific geological changes (continental drift) and link them to the timeline of life on Earth (dinosaurs, mammals, humans).

Read And Find Out (Textbook Page No. 20)

Question 2. What are the indications for the future of humankind?
Answer: The human species' future might be at risk if carbon dioxide and other harmful gases keep being released in the current way. Such gases reduce the ozone layer, letting more of the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays reach Earth's atmosphere. This leads to an increase in Earth's temperature, creating the issue known as global warming. Higher temperatures could melt Antarctica's ice, causing other ecological problems and putting humanity's future in danger.
In simple words: Releasing too many harmful gases can thin the ozone layer, letting in more UV rays. This causes global warming, which could melt Antarctic ice and threaten humanity's future.

Exam Tip: Focus on the specific environmental threats like greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, rising temperatures, global warming, and their effects on Antarctica.

Reading With Insight: Answer The Following Questions In About Six To Seven Sentences Each

Question 1. 'The world's geological history is trapped in Antarctica.' How is the study of this region useful to us?
Answer: Examining this part of Antarctica offers us understanding into Earth's past geological events. It offers insights into what Earth was like before it separated into various continents and nations. It demonstrates how even small climatic shifts can alter the area's appearance. It explains why Earth's early climate was unsuitable for life and how steadily increasing temperatures slowly allowed life to thrive. Many hidden facts are preserved within the ice layers as carbon records, dating back half a million years.
In simple words: Studying Antarctica helps us understand Earth's past climate and how continents formed. Its ice contains ancient carbon records, showing how life developed and how small climate changes have a big impact.

Exam Tip: Emphasize Antarctica's role as a record-keeper of Earth's geological and climatic history, and how ice core samples provide valuable data.

Question 2. What are Geoff Green's reasons for including high school students in the Students on Ice expedition?
Answer: Geoff Green brought high school pupils to the planet's remote corners to give them a chance to gain respect and understanding for Earth. He aimed for future leaders to see firsthand how challenging it would be for Earth to support existence if its temperature rose. He wished for them to realize that interfering with nature can lead to severe future problems; when students observe melting and collapsing ice shelves, they can predict the environmental challenges awaiting them.
In simple words: Geoff Green wanted students to understand and respect Earth by seeing Antarctica. He hoped they would realize the difficulties rising temperatures create and the serious future problems caused by environmental interference.

Exam Tip: Highlight Geoff Green's educational objective: to instill environmental awareness and responsibility in young minds who will become future leaders.

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: This saying is very important regarding the Antarctic setting. Even minor environmental alterations can cause significant changes. Antarctica possesses limited types of life. The tiny plant-like organisms known as phytoplankton serve as a good example here. These tiny plant forms perform photosynthesis and provide food for many sea birds and creatures. The writer states that if the ozone layer continues to thin, it will impact phytoplankton and Earth's carbon cycle. This entire chain of events could endanger all ocean birds and animals. Thus, if we ensure that the functions performed by these tiny plants are done correctly, larger animals and birds will naturally thrive.
In simple words: In Antarctica, small changes have large impacts. Tiny phytoplankton are crucial; they feed marine life and affect the carbon cycle. Protecting them ensures the well-being of the entire ecosystem.

Exam Tip: Explain the interconnectedness of ecosystems, using phytoplankton as a key example. Link the "small things" (phytoplankton) to the "big things" (entire marine food chain).

Question 4. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth's present, past and future?
Answer: Antarctica offers us a glimpse into Earth's state millions of years ago and how it split into different landmasses. The melting and movement of ice masses also provide clues about our future if we keep disrupting natural processes. Furthermore, deep within its ice, Antarctica preserves carbon records dating back half a million years, which are crucial for comprehending Earth's past, current, and coming states. Hence, Antarctica is the location that uncovers our history, demonstrates our current situation, and helps us foresee our future.
In simple words: Antarctica shows us Earth's ancient past and how it formed. Its melting ice reveals future climate impacts. The ice also holds old records that help us understand Earth's history, current state, and what lies ahead.

Exam Tip: Explain that Antarctica acts as a historical archive (ice cores), a present-day laboratory (climate change impacts), and a predictive model for future environmental scenarios.

Journey To The End Of The Earth Summary In English

Journey To The End Of The Earth Summary:

The narrator boarded a Russian research ship the 'Akademik Shokalskly'. It was heading towards the coldest, driest and the windiest continent in the world, Antarctica. Her journey began 13.09 degrees north of the Equator in Madras (Chennai). She crossed nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and at least three ecospheres. She travelled over 100 hours in car, aeroplane and ship to reach there.

Six hundred and fifty million years ago a giant southern supercontinent Gondwana did indeed exist. It centred roughly around present-day Antarctica. Human beings hadn't arrived on the global scene. The climate at that time was much warmer. It supported a huge variety of flora and fauna. When the dinosaurs became totally extinct and the age of mammals began, the landmass was forced to separate into countries as they exist today.

The purpose of the visit was to know more about Antarctica. It is to understand the significance of Cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian granite shields; ozone and carbon; evolution and extinction. Ninety per cent of the earth's total ice volumes are stored in Antarctica. Icebergs are as big as countries. Days go on and on in 24-hour austral summer light.

The most hotly contested debate of our time is whether West Antarctica Ice sheet will melt entirely or not. If we want to study the earth's past, present and future, Antarctica is the place (for us) to go. Antarctica has a simple ecosystem and lacks biodiversity. It is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions (results). Scientists warn that a further depletion of the ozone layer will affect the lives of the sea animals and birds of the region. It will also affect the global carbon cycle.

The burning of fossil fuels has polluted the atmosphere. It has created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world. It is increasing the global temperature which is visible at Antarctica when we see Icebergs melting away. It shows how minor changes in the atmosphere can cause huge effects.

If the global temperature keeps on increasing the human race may be in peril. Students on Ice is a programme which provides the students an ample opportunity to understand how global temperature can be a big threat to human existence. It inculcates a new understanding in them. Geoff Green thinks that high school students are the future policymakers. They can help in saving the earth from ecological dangers and the effects of global warming.

The author gives us an example to show how small changes in the atmosphere can be threatening. The microscopic phytoplankton are single-celled plants. They nourish the entire Southern Ocean's food chain. They use the sun's energy to assimilate carbon and supply oxygen. Any further depletion in the ozone layer may affect this functioning and Indirectly affect the lives of all marine animals.

Walk on the Ocean - It was the most thrilling experience of the visit. They climbed down the gangplank and walked on the ocean. They were 52 persons. They were walking on a metre- thick Ice pack. Under the ice pack, there was 180 metres of living, breathing saltwater. Seals were enjoying themselves in the sun on ice. The narrator was wondering about the beauty of the place. He wished It would not become a warm place as it used to be millions of years ago. If it happens, the results can be ruinous.

12th Std English Questions And Answers