1.

How do geological phenomena help us to 1 know about the history of

mankind?
Answer: The geological phenomena that help us to know about the history of
mankind. Geologists say about 650 million years ago a giant ‘amalgamated’
super continent, Gondwana existed in the South. At that time India and
Antarctica were parts of the same landmass. Gondwana had a warm climate and
a huge variety of flora and fauna. This supercontinent survived for 500 years till
the age of mammals got underway.

2. What kind of indications do we get while visiting Antarctica to save Earth?

Answer: Tishani Doshi’s entire experience of visiting Antarctica was nothing
short of a revelation. It made her wonder about the “beauty of balance in play
on our planet”. She hopes the new generation will understand their planet
better and save it from annihilation. The planet’s ecosystem and its balance that
took millions of years to form can be soon destroyed. Scientists warn that a
further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of the
phytoplankton. The lives of the marine animals and birds of the region will be
affected. But the school students’ visit to the Antarctica may make human
beings handle their planet in a better way.

3.How can a visit to the Antarctica be an enlightening experience?

Answer: By visiting the Antarctica we can understand the earth’s past, present
and future. A visit there can teach the next generation to understand and value
our planet. Antarctica also holds within its ice-cores half-million-years old carbon
records which will help us to study climatic changes by global warming.

4. Why is a visit to Antarctica important to realise the effect of global warming?

Answer: Antarctica is the perfect place to study the effects that global warming
is causing. It is here that one can see the effect of melting glaciers and
collapsing ice-shelves and how this is likely to raise the water levels in the sea
and the ocean, as a result of which many low lying regions will be submerged
under water.

5.How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate change?

Answer: Antarctica is a crucial element in the debate on climate change
because it is the only place in the world which has never sustained a human
population and thus remains relatively pristine. Moreover, it holds in its ice-
caves half-million- year old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice. The
world’s climate is changing fast and is at present one of the most hotly debated
issues. Antarctica is the ideal place to study the effect of these environmental
changes as it has a very simple ecosystem and lacks biodiversity. If global
warming makes Antarctica warmer, it will have disastrous consequences
elsewhere.

6. What was the objective of the ‘Students on Ice Programme’?

Answer: The objective of the ‘Students on Ice’ programme was to take High
School students to the limits of the world and provide them not only with
inspiring opportunities in education but also enable them to understand and
respect our planet. The idea was to provide them a life-changing experience at
an age when they are ready to absorb, learn and most importantly act.
According to Geoff Green, the High School students are the future policy makers
and through this programme they would save this planet from ecological
hazards and the harmful effects of global warming.

7. Why is Antarctica and its understanding important for the survival of the
world?
Answer: Antarctica and its understanding is important for the survival of the
world because it helps us to know that the southern supercontinent of
Gondwana existed and cantered around the present-day Antarctica. Human
beings had not come on the global scene but a huge variety of flora and fauna
was present in the supercontinent. It was after 500 million years that the
landmass was forced to separate into countries that exist today. Antarctica’s
ice-cores hold over half-million-year-old carbon records which are crucial for the
study of the Earth’s past, present and future.

8.What are the indications for the future of humankind?

Answer: A fast and steady rise in human population in proportion to the limited
natural resources is exerting pressure on land. Forests are being cut and fossil
fuels are being burnt and these factors are increasing the global temperature.
Melting of glaciers, depletion of ozone layer and global warming are
endangering man’s existence on earth. This is bound to adversely affect marine
life, birds and mankind.

9.How did the Antarctica amaze the writer when she first saw it?
Answer: When the writer first saw Antarctica he was amazed by its vastness and
immense white landscape. It was an endless blue horizon and the fact that it
was isolated from the rest of the world created an added sense of wonder and
mystery about the continent.

10. Why was Tishani Doshi filled with relief and wonder when he set foot on the
Antarctic continent?
Answer: Tishani Doshi’s first emotion when he set foot on the Antarctic
continent was one of relief. He felt relieved to have set foot there after over a
hundred hours. Its vastness and immense wild landscape dazzled his eyes. Its
endless blue horizon and its isolation from the rest of the world created a sense
of wonder and mystery for him.

11. Why is Antarctica the place to go to if we want to study the earth’s past,
present and future?
Answer: The Antarctica landmass, that was an amalgamated southern
supercontinent called Gondwana dates back to 650 million years. It can help us
understand better the formation of continents and mountains like the Himalayas
as they are in the modem world. Its ice-cores hold over half-million-year-old
carbon records that are vital to study the Earth’s past, present and future.
 12. What were the writer’s feelings on reaching Antarctica?
Answer: The writer’s first emotion on reaching Antarctica was that of relief. He
felt relieved to have set foot on the Antarctic continent after over 100 hours.
Then he experienced a sense of amazement on seeing its vastness and
immense white landscape which dazzled his eyes.

13. What sort of brightness and silence prevailed in Antarctica dining summer?
Answer: The brightness that prevailed in Antarctica was surreal (strange) as the
austral summer light remained for 24 hours in the continent. The silence there
was ubiquitous (widespread) interrupted only by the occasional avalanche or
calving ice sheet.

14. What do you think is the reason behind the success of the programme,
‘Students on Ice’?
Answer: The programme ‘Students on Ice’ was a success because it offered a
life changing exposure to the future generation of policy makers at an age when
they could absorb, learn and act. It provided them with inspiring educational
opportunities which would help them foster a new understanding and respect
for our planet.

15.Why does the author of Journey to the End of the Earth state that in 12000
years man has managed to create a ruckus on this earth?
Answer: Humans have been on this Earth for about 12,000 years and have
created a havoc and ruckus on this Earth. They have done this by encroaching
on nature and establishing cities and megacities. Their increasing population
has depleted natural resources and their callousness towards nature has led to
a rise in global temperature.

16.How was Antarctica a chilling prospect for a South Indian, Tishani Doshi?
Answer: Tishani Doshi is a sun-worshipping South Indian and for her to spend
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.

17. How the programme, ‘Students on Ice’ was an attempt to equip future
generation with knowledge to save Earth?
Answer: The objective of the ‘Students on Ice’ programme was to take the High
School students to the limits of the world and provide them with inspiring
opportunities in education to enable them to understand and respect our planet.
According to Geoff Green, the High School students are the future policy-makers
and through this programme they would be able to save this planet from the
ecological hazards and the harmful effects of global warming. Antarctica, with
its simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study how
little changes in the environment can have major repercussions. The school
students’ impressionable minds can study and examine the Earth’s past,
present and future by their voyage to Antarctica.
18. The world’s geological history is trapped in the Antarctica. How is the study
of this region useful to us?
Answer: The Antarctic landmass dates back to 650 million years. It was an
amalgamated southern supercontinent called Gondwana. This landmass
centered around the present-day Antarctica. Human beings did not exist as their
civilization is only 12,000 years old. The climate at that time was warm and
landmass flourished with a vast variety of flora and fauna. The study of this
region shows that Gondwana prospered for 500 million years. But then the
dinosaurs got wiped out and mammals began to appear. The landmass
disintegrated into countries and India, the Himalayas and South America was
formed. This left Antarctica frigid at the bottom of the earth. Today, it stores the
key to the significance of coridelleran folds and pre- Cambrian granite shields,
ozone and carbon layers as well as a study of the evolution and extinction. This
can help us to understand in a better way the formation of continents and
mountains like the Himalayas as we find them in the modem world. Its ice-folds
hold over half-million-year-old carbon records that are so crucial for the study of
the Earth’s past, present and future, thus trapping the world’s geological history
in Antarctica.

19. What are phytoplanktons? How are they important to our ecosystem?
Answer: The microscopic phytoplankton are tiny forms of plant life on the sea.
They nourish and sustain the entire southern ocean’s food chain. They are
single-celled plants and use the energy of the sun to assimilate carbon
supplying oxygen and synthesise compounds. Depletion of the ozone layer that
protects us from the harmful rays of the sun adversely affects the activities of
the phytoplankton. Any further depletion in the ozone layer will hamper their
activity which, in turn, is bound to affect the growth of marine animals and birds
and even the global carbon cycle. Thus to save the big organisms the small
organisms need to be cared for because even minor changes have huge
repercussions.

20. The author calls her two-week stay in Antarctica, ‘a chilling prospect’. How
far do you think is she justified? What other features of the Antarctic
environment are highlighted?
Answer: Tishani Doshi, is a sun-worshipping South Indian and for her to spend
two-weeks in a place where 90 per cent of the Earth’s total ice volumes are
stored is a chilling prospect—both in terms of circulatory and metabolic
functions and for the imagination. Her two-week Antarctic encounter left an
epiphanic effect on her and she carried back indelible memories of the
continent. For her, it was like walking into a giant ping-pong ball, devoid of any
human markers like trees, billboards and buildings. She says one loses all
earthly sense of perspective and time here. As the day pass in surreal 24- hour
austral summer light, a silence prevails which is interrupted only by the
occasional avalanche or caving ice sheet. She learnt that Antarctica has a very
simple ecosystem that lacks variety. But if this system is interfered with and
environmental changes are affected indiscriminately, it can lead to depletion of
the ozone layer, which protects us from the harmful rays of the sun. Since the
planet is unravaged by humans, it remains unblemished.
21. Why does Tishani Doshi call her trip to Antarctica a “Journey to the End of
the Earth”? What experience did she have during this expedition?
Answer: Tishani Doshi calls her trip to Antarctica a ‘Journey to the End of the
Earth’ because she crosses nine time zones, six checkpoints, three water bodies
and many ecospheres to reach there. The entire journey takes one hundred
hours. She is wonder-struck by the immensity and isolation of the region. She is
also relieved to see its expansive wide landscape and uninterrupted blue
horizon. Antarctica provides young students like her with a platform to study
changes in the environment. The programme is also likely to help them develop
a new respect and understanding of our planet. Antarctica is also the perfect
place for them to study how little climatic changes can have big repercussions
and how global warming and further depletion of the ozone layer can affect the
Antarctic region. The study of the Antarctica will help them to understand the
earth’s past, present and future.

22. In what ways is the research on Antarctica helpful in the study and
understanding of the Earth’s past and future, according to the author of ‘Journey
to the End of the Earth’? Answer: A visit to Antarctica will help us to understand
where we have come from and where we could possibly be heading. It will also
suggest a lot of future possibilities, probably for even a million years later. By
visiting the Antarctica, we get an opportunity to study about the future climatic
changes easily and more effectively. We also come to know about the
repercussions of the various environmental changes. It also gives us the
realization of the appearance of the ‘future world’. The ice-cores of Antarctica
hold more than half-million-year-old carbon records which are very crucial for
the study of the past, present and future of our planet. All this will also help us
to understand our planet better and also give us ideas to save our planet.

23. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the

history of humankind?
Ans: Geographical lands carry fossils as imprints of history. The fossils
provide us with major evidential data to study evolutionary history. Using
modern technology like Carbon Dating helps us to determine the age of
the fossil. Various civilizations have been excavated at various locations
across the globe. Mammals and other flora and fauna existed on land
even before the separation of landmass.
Questions
24. What are the indications for the future of humankind?
Ans: As civilization progressed the pollution and damage to nature have
been on the continuous increase too. Carbon emissions have increased
multiple folds which have led to global warming and the greenhouse
effect. These all have melted the glaciers and have led to the extinction of
flora and fauna. The gases have depleted the ozone layer which in turn
has led to the penetration of UV rays into the atmosphere. These all-
environmental issues not only affect the flora and fauna but humankind
too and can lead to its end. Antarctica has given significant shocking and
much concerning warnings to humanity that the damage it's causing can
lead to the end of all.
Questions
25. ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How
is the study of this region useful to us?
Ans: Antarctica was once a part of the supercontinent Gondwana land. It
later got separated from India and drifted south to create the present
continent. The climate on the land changed from warm and humid to
extremely cold and frigid. It hence carries a lot of history with itself and
can be useful for archaeological purposes too. It is a place one should visit
to get a glimpse of past, present, and future coexisting together in a pure
and realistic form. The secrets of life are embedded in the deep layers of
ice. Antarctica also provides us warning signs to foresee the
consequences of present damage to the environment are. It reminds us
that the effects of global warming are real and can produce disastrous
consequences.

26. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school
students in the Students on Ice expedition?
Ans: Tishani Doshi traveled South to the end of the Earth to Antarctica
along with an expedition group ‘Students on Ice.’ Geoff Green took high
schools on the expedition because he wanted to make young minds
sensitive about climatic changes that are happening around the world. He
believes that these young minds are the future policymakers of the world,
and it is in their hands that the future lies. He considers them to be the
best ones to shoulder the responsibility to save the world and the
environment and can turn the situation better.
27. ‘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?
Ans: The statement points out the fact that building up trivial habits and
making insignificant changes can bring a substantial change in the world
we live in. If every individual takes small steps, the total impact on the
world will be massive. The book provides an example of phytoplankton,
which are small photosynthetic plants and serve as food for several
marine birds and animals. If the ozone layer depletes further, the
phytoplankton might get depleted and its contribution to the ecosystem
will be depleted which in turn would affect the globe on a large scale. We
need to focus on small things and make slight changes so that we can
save the world together and make it a better place to live.
28. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the
earth’s present, past, and future?
Ans: Antarctica was part of the Gondwana land. It, hence, has a mass of
lands that have existed millions of years ago and is untouched by
humankind. Its present state of melting and breaking apart tells us about
the crisis the environment is going through now. Our neglect of the
environment has led to an increase in global warming. The state of earth
points out the fact that if the present state continues the earth will not
sustain for long and the end is near. We need to be conscious and take
small steps to protect our Earth from the potential threat and decline its
heading towards.
29.What was the objective of the ‘Students on Ice Programme’?
Answer:
The objective of the ‘Students on Ice’ programme was to take High
School students to the limits of the world and provide them not only
with inspiring opportunities in education but also enable them to
understand and respect our planet. The idea was to provide them a
life-changing experience at an age when they are ready to absorb,
learn and most importantly act. According to Geoff Green, the High
School students are the future policy makers and through this
programme they would save this planet from ecological hazards and
the harmful effects of global warming.
30.How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate
change?
Answer:
Antarctica is a crucial element in the debate on climate change
because it is the only place in the world which has never sustained a
human population and thus remains relatively pristine. Moreover, it
holds in its ice-caves half-million- year old carbon records trapped in its
layers of ice. The world’s climate is changing fast and is at present one
of the most hotly debated issues. Antarctica is the ideal place to study
the effect of these environmental changes as it has a very simple
ecosystem and lacks biodiversity. If global warming makes Antarctica
warmer, it will have disastrous consequences elsewhere.
31. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students
on Ice Expedition?
Ans: A visit to Antarctica makes it quite clear and there one can see the
ice shelves melting. ‘Students on Ice’ is a programme headed by
Canadian Geoff Green. He aims at organizing this programme by taking
high school students to the ends of the world. He thinks it most
essential to provide the students with inspiring educational
opportunities to know more about the Antarctica. Through this they will
generate a new understanding and respect for our planet. Earlier Geoff
Green had organized programme with celebrities and rich people which
gave him back only in a limited way. Since the students are young
minds and full of adventurous activities they can learn, act and absorb
much by visiting the Antarctica. They can see through their own eyes
glaciers retreating and ice-shelves collapsing. They can realize the
future dangers, catastrophic effect of climatic changes and the global
warming. The Antarctica provides the young students a perfect place to
study the varied changes occurring in the environment. These little
changes can have significant consequences. The students can see
those grasses of the sea that flourish, nourish and sustain the entire
Southern Ocean’s food chain. Thus the programme provides a lively
study of changes and the realities going on the Antarctica.
32. ‘Take care of small things and big things will take care of
themselves.’ What is the relevance of this statement in the context of
the Antarctica’s Environment ?
Ans : Antarctica has a simple ecosystem and lacks biodiversity ,it is
the best place to study how little changes in the environment can
have big consequences. Small changes in everyday life can make a
big difference in helping to reduce global warming. For example;
turn off electronic devices, when not in use. Plant trees, use recycled
paper, switch to green power-renewable energy, use efficient
vehicle, create awareness, elect responsible citizens who are
committed to reducing global warming, pursue simple, nature
friendly pleasures of life, follow the four ‘R’s’ Recycle, reduce, reuse
and reuse. The author gives the example of very small single celled
plants called phytoplankton which nourish and sustain the entire
southern ocean‘s food chain. Scientists have forewarned that if
Ozone layer depletes any further it will have a direct impact on the
activities of the phytoplankton this will lead to a chain reaction
adversely affecting the lives of marine animals and birds of the
region which will further result in the disturbance global carbon cycle
.So, it is expected of man to pay special attention to tiny forms of
animal and plant life and prevent the depletion of ozone layer by
reducing carbon dioxide emissions. If we take care of small things
big things will automatically fall into place.