NCERT Solutions The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role.
NCERT Solutions Class 11 English The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role. The ultimate NCERT solutions for Class 11 English The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role by Nani Palkhiwala will provide the answer to the topics given below:
- Nani Palkhiwala , the Author ofThe Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role
- Difficult words and their meanings in Class 11 English: The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role
- Summary of The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role
- 20 Important Points of the chapter : The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role
- Explanation of Class 11 English The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role
- Theme, Title of Class 11 English The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role
- Most Important Short and Long Questions and Answers in Class 11 English: The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role
Complete NCERT Solutions Class 11 English The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement’s Role presented by Principal Sir
Theme: The theme of the chapter revolves around the urgent need to address environmental degradation and the role of the Green Movement in mitigating the ailing health of the planet. It discusses the shift in human perception towards a holistic and ecological view of the world, emphasizing the importance of sustainable development and responsible stewardship of natural resources. The chapter highlights the alarming depletion of forests, biodiversity loss, and the detrimental impact of overpopulation on the environment. Through poignant examples and compelling arguments, it underscores the pressing need for collective action to protect the earth for future generations.
Title: The Ailing Planet The title “The Ailing Planet” reflects the central concern of the chapter, which is the declining health of the planet due to environmental degradation. It suggests that Earth is suffering from various ailments caused by human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and habitat destruction. The title underscores the urgency of addressing these issues and implies that the planet is in a state of distress that requires immediate attention and remedial action to ensure its long-term sustainability and well-being.
Difficult Words with Synonyms and Sentences:
- Depletion: reduction, exhaustion
- The depletion of natural resources poses a threat to future generations.
- Environmental degradation: deterioration, decline
- Rapid industrialization has led to severe environmental degradation in the region.
- Holistic: comprehensive, integrated
- The holistic approach considers all aspects of the problem before making a decision.
- Stewardship: guardianship, responsibility
- It is our collective stewardship to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.
- Mitigating, alleviating, and reducing
- Planting trees is one way of mitigating the effects of climate change.
- Biodiversity: variety and diversity of life
- Rainforests are known for their rich biodiversity of plant and animal species.
- Deforestation: clearing and destruction of forests
- Deforestation for agricultural purposes has led to the loss of habitat for many species.
- Remedial (corrective, therapeutic)
- The government implemented remedial measures to address the pollution problem in the river.
- Sustainability: endurance, longevity
- The goal of sustainable development is to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- Distress: trouble, anguish
- The cries of distress from the endangered species echoed through the forest.
- Alarming, concerning, and worrying
- The alarming rate of species extinction calls for immediate conservation efforts.
- Poignant: touching, moving
- The documentary on climate change presented poignant stories of communities affected by rising sea levels.
- Compelling, convincing, and persuasive
- The scientist provided compelling evidence to support her theory.
- Urgency, importance, and immediacy
- There is an urgency to address the growing threat of plastic pollution in our oceans.
- Pressing: urgent, immediate
- The pressing need for clean drinking water in rural areas must be addressed promptly.
- Distinct: clear, separate
- The distinct aroma of coffee filled the air as we entered the café.
- Implication: consequence, inference
- The implication of deforestation extends beyond the loss of habitat to affect climate patterns.
- Endurance: stamina, resilience
- The marathon runner demonstrated remarkable endurance during the race.
- Guardianship: protection, care
- The national park rangers are entrusted with the guardianship of the wildlife.
- Well-being: health, happiness
- Meditation is believed to promote mental well-being and reduce stress.
Summary:
The article discusses the significant role of the Green Movement in addressing the declining health of the planet. It emphasizes the shift from a mechanistic view to a holistic and ecological perspective, highlighting the need for sustainable development. Various issues such as overpopulation, environmental degradation, and the depletion of natural resources are addressed, along with the importance of individual and collective responsibility in safeguarding the environment. The text underscores the urgency of taking action to protect the earth for future generations.
Paragraph-wise Reading Comprehension:
- The article introduces the significance of the Green Movement in global history and its rapid spread since its inception in New Zealand in 1972.
- It discusses the shift from a mechanistic view to a holistic and ecological perspective, akin to Copernicus’ revolutionary teachings.
- The concept of sustainable development is introduced, emphasizing the need to meet present needs without compromising the abilities of future generations.
- The text highlights the catastrophic depletion of natural resources and the urgency of addressing environmental concerns.
- It discusses the alarming rate of deforestation and environmental degradation, citing examples from around the world.
- The role of industry in promoting environmental sustainability is underscored, along with the need for collective action.
- Margaret Thatcher’s quote emphasizes the importance of preserving the planet for future generations.
20 Important Points with Emojis:
- 🌍 The Green Movement has rapidly gained global significance since its inception in 1972.
- A shiftt from a mechanistic to a holistic view of the world is crucial for addressing environmental issues.
- 🌱 Sustainable development aims to meet present needs without compromising theabilitiesy of future generations.
- 🌿 The Earth’s vital signs indicate a decline in health, urging ethical stewardship and conservation efforts.
- 🌊 Deforestation, overfishing, and environmental degradation pose significant challenges.
- 🚫 Laws often fail to protect the environment, leadingto theo catastrophic depletion of natural resources.
- 🌳 Forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, threatening biodiversity and ecosystems.
- 🐟 Overfishing and habitat destruction endanger marine life and fisheries.
- 🌾 Grasslands and croplands are deteriorating due to unsustainable practices.
- 💡 Industry plays a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability.
- 💚 Margaret Thatcher’s quote underscores the importance of preserving the planet for future generations.
ONE cannot recall any movement in world history which has gripped the imagination of the entire human race so completely and so rapidly as the Green Movement which started nearly twenty-five years ago. In 1972 the world’s first nationwide Green party was founded in New Zealand. Since then, the movement has not looked back. We have shifted — one hopes, irrevocably — from the mechanistic view to a holistic and ecological view of the world. It is a shift in human perceptions as revolutionary as that Rationalised 2023-24 THE AILING PLANET: THE GREEN MOVEMENT’S ROLE 37 introduced by Copernicus who taught mankind in the sixteenth century that the earth and the other planets revolved round the sun. For the first time in human history, there is a growing worldwide consciousness that the earth itself is a living organism — an enormous being of which we are parts. It has its own metabolic needs and vital processes which need to be respected and preserved. The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health. We have begun to realise our ethical obligations to be good stewards of the planet and responsible trustees of the legacy to future generations, write 10 questions and answers based on these lines
Questions and Answers:
- What movement is described as having gripped the imagination of the entire human race?
- The Green Movement, which started nearly twenty-five years ago,.
- When was the world’s first nationwide green party founded, and where?
- The world’s first nationwide green party was founded in New Zealand in 1972.
- What shift in perception has occurred regarding the view of the world?
- There has been a shift from a mechanistic view to a holistic and ecological view of the world.
- How does the author compare this shift in perception to its historical significance?
- The author compares this shift to the revolutionary teachings of Copernicus in the sixteenth century.
- What is the growing worldwide consciousness regarding the earth?
- There is a growing worldwide consciousness that the earth itself is a living organism, of which humans are parts.
- What are the implications of recognizing the earth as a living organism?
- It implies that the earth has its own metabolic needs and vital processes that need to be respected and preserved.
- What do the earth’s vital signs reveal, according to the text?
- The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health.
- What ethical obligations have humans begun to realize, according to the author?
- Humans have begun to realize their ethical obligations to be good stewards of the planet and responsible trustees of the legacy for future generations.
- Why is it important to respect and preserve the earth’s vital processes?
- It is important to respect and preserve the earth’s vital processes to ensure the sustainability of life on the planet.
- What does the author suggest regarding humanity’s relationship with the earth?
- The author suggests that humanity needs to recognize its interconnectedness with the earth and take responsibility for its preservation and well-being.
In the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, there is a cage where the notice reads, ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’. Inside the cage there is no animal but a mirror where you see yourself. Thanks to the efforts of a number of agencies in different countries, a new awareness has now dawned upon the most dangerous animal in the world. He has realised the wisdom of shifting from a system based on domination to one based on partnership. Scientists have catalogued about 1.4 million living species with which mankind shares the earth. Estimates vary widely as regards the still-uncatalogued living species — biologists reckon that about three to a hundred million other living species still languish unnamed in ignominious darkness. One of the early international commissions which dealt, inter alia, with the question of ecology and environment was the Brandt Commission which had a distinguished Indian as one of its members — Mr L.K. Jha. The First Brandt Report raised the question — “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and ailing environment?” Mr Lester R. Brown in his thoughtful book, The Global Economic Prospect, points out that the earth’s principal biological systems are four — fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands — and they form the foundation of the global Rationalised 2023-24 38 HORNBILL economic system. In addition to supplying our food, these four systems provide virtually all the raw materials for industry except minerals and petroleum-derived synthetics. In large areas of the world, human claims on these systems are reaching an unsustainable level, a point where their productivity is being impaired. When this happens, fisheries collapse, forests disappear, grasslands are converted into barren wastelands, and croplands deteriorate. In a protein-conscious and proteinhungry world, over-fishing is common every day. In poor countries, local forests are being decimated in order to procure firewood for cooking. In some places, firewood has become so expensive that “what goes under the pot now costs more than what goes inside it”. Since the tropical forest is, in the words of Dr Myers, “the powerhouse of evolution”, several species of life face extinction as a result of its destruction
Questions and Answers:
- Where is the cage described in the text located, and what does the notice on it say?
- The cage is located in the zoo in Lusaka, Zambia, and the notice on it reads, “The world’s most dangerous animal.”
- What is inside the cage, according to the text?
- Inside the cage, there is no animal but a mirror where visitors can see themselves.
- What new awareness has dawned upon humanity, according to the text?
- Humanity has realized the wisdom of shifting from a system based on domination to one based on partnership.
- How many living species have scientists cataloged with which mankind shares the earth?
- Scientists have cataloged about 1.4 million living species with which mankind shares the earth.
- What is the estimated number of still-uncataloged living species, according to biologists?
- Biologists reckon that about three to a hundred million other living species still languish unnamed.
- What is the significance of the Brandt Commission mentioned in the text?
- The Brandt Commission dealt with the question of ecology and environment, raising concerns about leaving a scorched planet for future generations.
- Who was one of the distinguished Indian members of the Brandt Commission?
- Mr. L.K. Jha was one of the distinguished Indian members of the Brandt Commission.
- According to Mr. Lester R. Brown, what are the earth’s principal biological systems?
- According to Mr. Lester R. Brown, the earth’s principal biological systems are fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands.
- What role do these biological systems play in the global economic system?
- These biological systems provide virtually all the raw materials for industry except minerals and petroleum-derived synthetics, forming the foundation of the global economic system.
- What happens when human claims on these biological systems reach an unsustainable level?
- When human claims on these systems reach an unsustainable level, their productivity is impaired, leading to collapses in fisheries, the disappearance of forests, the conversion of grasslands into barren wastelands, and the deterioration of croplands.
- What are some consequences of overfishing in a protein-conscious world?
- In a protein-conscious world, overfishing leads to collapses in fisheries and threatens marine life.
- Why are local forests in poor countries being decimated, according to the text?
- Local forests in poor countries are being decimated to procure firewood for cooking.
- What is the significance of tropical forests, according to Dr. Myers?
- According to Dr. Myers, tropical forests are the powerhouse of evolution, and their destruction threatens several species of life with extinction.
- What analogy does the text make regarding the cost of firewood in some places?
- The text compares the cost of firewood to the cost of food, stating that in some places, firewood has become so expensive that it costs more than the food it cooks.
- What overarching issue do these questions and answers highlight regarding humanity’s relationship with the environment?
- These questions and answers highlight the overarching issue of environmental degradation and the urgent need for sustainable practices to preserve Earth’s ecosystems for future generations.
Article 48A of the Constitution of India provides that “the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”. But what causes endless anguish is the fact that laws are never respected nor enforced in India. (For instance, the Constitution says that casteism, untouchability and bonded labour shall be abolished, but they flourish shamelessly even after forty-four years of the operation of the Constitution.) A recent report of our Parliament’s Estimates Committee has highlighted the near catastrophic depletion of India’s forests over the last four decades. India, according to reliable data, is losing its forests at the rate of 3.7 million acres a year. Large areas, officially designated as forest land, “are already virtually treeless”. The actual loss of forests is estimated to be about eight times the rate indicated by government statistics. Rationalised 2023-24 THE AILING PLANET: THE GREEN MOVEMENT’S ROLE 39 A three-year study using satellites and aerial photography conducted by the United Nations, warns that the environment has deteriorated so badly that it is ‘critical’ in many of the eightyeight countries investigated. There can be no doubt that the growth of world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society. It took mankind more than a million years to reach the first billion. That was the world population around the year 1800. By the year 1900, a second billion was added, and the twentieth century has added another 3.7 billion. The present world population is estimated at 5.7 billion. Every four days the world population increases by one million., write 10 questions and answers
Questions and Answers:
- What provision does Article 48A of the Constitution of India make regarding the environment?
- Article 48A of the Constitution of India states that the state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
- What causes endless anguish, according to the text?
- The fact that laws regarding environmental protection are neither respected nor enforced in India causes endless anguish.
- What examples does the text provide to illustrate the failure of laws in India?
- The text mentions the continued existence of casteism, untouchability, and bonded labor despite their constitutional abolition.
- What alarming information does a recent report by Parliament’s Estimates Committee highlight?
- The report highlights the near-catastrophic depletion of India’s forests over the last four decades, with the country losing forests at a rate of 3.7 million acres per year.
- How does the actual loss of forests compare to government statistics, according to the text?
- According to estimates, the rate of forest loss is about eight times higher than what government statistics show.
- What warning does a three-year study by the United Nations offer?
- The study warns that the environment has deteriorated so badly that it is considered ‘critical’ in many of the eighty-eight countries investigated.
- What role does the growth of the world population play in distorting the future of human society, according to the text?
- The growth of the world population is identified as one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society.
- How long did it take mankind to reach the first billion in the world population?
- It took mankind more than a million years to reach the first billion in the world population.
- What was the world population around the year 1800, according to the text?
- The world population around the year 1800 was approximately one billion.
- How frequently does the world population increase by one million, according to the text?
- The world population increases by one million every four days.
Understanding the text:
- The lines supporting the title ‘The Ailing Planet’ are: “The earth’s vital signs reveal a patient in declining health.”
- The notice ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’ at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, signifies that humans, as reflected in the mirror, are the most dangerous species due to their impact on the environment.
- The earth’s principal biological systems are being depleted through over-fishing, deforestation, conversion of grasslands into wastelands, and deterioration of croplands.
- The author avers that the growth of the world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society because it puts immense pressure on resources and contributes to environmental degradation.
Talking about the text:
- In groups of four, discuss the observation that laws are not respected nor enforced in India, particularly concerning environmental protection.
- Discuss the rhetorical question posed by the author regarding leaving a degraded environment for future generations.
- Reflect on the quote “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children” and its implications for environmental stewardship.
- Explore the everyday life implications of overpopulation and its impact on resources, pollution, and quality of life.
Thinking about language:
Research and define the following Latin phrases:
- Prima facie
- Ad hoc
- In camera
- Ad infinitum
- Mutatis mutandis
- Caveat
- Tabula rasa
Working with words:
I. Study the connotations of the following phrases:
- Gripped the imagination of
- Dawned upon
- Ushered in
- Passed into current coin
- Passport of the future
II. Create pairs of sentences using each word in its literal and figurative sense.
Things to do:
- Create posters to raise awareness about the importance of the Green Movement and environmental protection.
- Keep records of environmental violations in your area and report them to newspapers to raise awareness and advocate for change.