CBSE Class 12 English HOTs Journey to the End of the Earth

Short /Long Answer Type Questions

Question. What is Gondwana?
Answer :

• Six-fifty million years ago, a super continent existed present day Antarctica called Gondwana.
• Gondwana thrived for 500 million years. As mammals replace the dinosaurs the landmass separated into countries.

Question. What is Drake Passage?
Answer :

• The Drake Passage is a 100 km. wide strait.
• It is a passage to create a cold current that kept Antarctica very cold, uninhabited and at the bottom of the world.

Question. Which small thing does the writer refer as an important link in the ecological chain?
Answer :

• Microscopic Phytoplankton

Question. Describe the impact of Antarctica on the writer.
Answer :

• It was an amazing, alluring and mind boggling experience.
• Amazed to see the wide stretch of sea under the blue horizon. It was a place which has the history of mankind embedded deep into the layers of the ice.
• The sight of collapsing ice shields, breaking of ice-bergs and melting of ice was an eye opener.
• It made the author and his team aware of the dangers the future times are having in their folds.
• 2 What is the future of mankind and the planet as a whole with difference “to Journey to the end of the Earth?”
• Future of mankind appears dismal.
• Increase in population has led to a “ population boom.”
• Greatly depleted our resources of nature that destroyed forests and extinction of certain species of wildlife.
• Excessive burning of fossil fuels has created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the earth.
• Antarctic environment has been affected by global warming- this is clear from receding glaciers and collapsing ice shelves.
• These grave indications do not anger will for the future of mankind.
• Prognosis not good and may lead to total annihilation.