Journey To The End Of The Earth by Tishani Doshi for class 12 English(Vistas) CBSE (Summary, literary devices, vocabulary and extract based question-answer)
JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH
By Tishani Doshi
SUMMARY, DETAILED EXPLANATION, DIFFICULT WORDS, AND THEIR MEANING, AND VERY SHORT QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWER (JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH)
INTRODUCTION
“Journey to the End of the Earth” by Tishani Doshi describes her journey to Antarctica. The lesson explores themes of isolation, self-discovery, and the beauty of the natural world. Here we learn a lot about climate change and how it's affecting us and other living things. It suggests us to start doing things to make the Earth a better place to live.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tishani Doshi is an Indian writer, poet, and dancer. Her literary works include poetry, novels, and essays. Tishani often explores themes like identity, love, and the human condition in her work.
Amalgamated - joined together
Thrive- grow/ flourish
Cordilleran folds- an extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges
Precambrian granite shields: large areas of relatively low elevation that form part of continental masses
Mind-boggling- exciting/ overwhelming
Jamming- blocking
Circumpolar - around the pole
Desolate- Lonely/empty
Billboard- advertising board/structure
Midges and mites- very small insects
Austral- relating to the Southern Hemisphere
Ubiquitous- existing everywhere
Avalanche- a mass of snow
Calving- splitting
Consecrates- makes sacred/holy
Surreal: unusual; bizzare
Prognosis- forecast
Paltry- petty; insignificant
Ruckus- noisy disturbance
Etch- produce/impress
Unmitigated- absolute/unrelieved
Pristine- extremely fresh and clean
Foster- Promote/encourage
Carting- transporting
Blase- unimpressed/indifferent
Repercussion- unpleasant effect
Phytoplankton- single-celled microscopic plants
EARLY this year, I found myself aboard a Russian research vessel — the Akademik Shokalskiy —..........................at how there could ever have been a time when India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.
Tishani Doshi travelled by Akademik Shokalskiy to Antarctica. She calls it the windiest, coldest, and driest continent in the world. She had to cross nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water, and many ecospheres.
When Tishani Doshi set foot on Antarctica she was relieved because her long hundred-hour journey by car, aeroplane, and ship had come to an end. Another emotion was that of surprise. She was surprised to see the vast white landscape and fresh environment as well as to realise that India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass
Q. How did Tishani Doshi feel about reaching Antarctica?
And. First of all, she was relieved because the 100-hour long and tiring journey had ended. Moreover, she was surprised to see the widespread white landscape. But the biggest surprise was how India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.
Q. Why was she surprised?
Ans. She was surprised to see an unending white landscape and an uninterrupted blue horizon.
Q. What made Tishani Doshi most surprised?
Ans. Tishani Doshi was surprised when she realised India and Antarctica were part of the same landmass.
Six hundred and fifty million years…………… shaping the globe much as we know it today.
Here the author talks about history. According to scientists 650 million years ago, there was a supercontinent, known as Gondwana. It was around Antarctica. The climate was warmer and the place was rich in animal and plant life. India was also part of the same continent.
This supercontinent prospered for almost 500 million years. When the age of mammals started and the dinosaurs started disappearing, Gondwana was divided. Whatever the globe we know, at the moment, took place millions of years ago.
Q. When did the supercontinent Gondwana exist?
Ans. 650 million years ago.
Q, Where did Gondwana exist?
Ans. It was around Antarctica
Q. How was the climate of Gondwana?
Ans. It was hot and rich in flora and fauna.
Q. How long did Gondwana prosper?
Ans.For 500 million years
To visit Antarctica no is to be a part of that history…………….keeping Antarctica frigid, desolate, and at the bottom of the world.
According to Tishani Doshi when we visit Antarctica, we go into a remote past. A visit to Antarctica makes us realise where we have come from and where we are going. It means what is our origin.
Here we come to know about Cordilleran folds, pre-Cambrian granite shields, carbon, evolution, extinction, etc. We also come to know how India got separated from Gondwana, moved towards the East, and finally struck against Asia. As a result, its crust buckled and there was the formation of the Himalayas.
South America moved and joined North America. Consequently, the Drake Passage was created and Antarctica became very cold, isolated, and at the bottom of the earth.
Q. What do we know when we visit Antarctica?
Ans. We come to know where we have come from and where we are moving towards. We also come to know about Cordilleran folds, Precambrian granite shields, etc.
Q. What is mind-boggling?
Ans. Just in 1 million years a lot of changes took place on this earth or globe
Q, How did India become part of Asia?
Ans. India got separated from Gondwana and headed towards the East. Finally, it struck against Asia. As a result, its crust buckled and there was the formation of the Himalayas.
Q. What happened with South America?
Ans. South America drifted to join North America.
Q How was the Drake passage created?
Ans. When India and South America got separated from Antarctica, the Drake Passage was created making Antarctica frigid, aloof, and at the bottom of the earth.
For a sun-worshipping South Indian like myself, two weeks in a place where 90 percent of the Earth’s total ice volumes are stored ………………………… And for humans, the prognosis isn’t good.
According to Tishani Doshi, for someone from South India who worships the sun, it was a chilling prospect to spend two weeks in a place where 90% of the Earth's ice is stored. It's not just chilling for body functions, but also for imagination.
For Tishani Doshi, it was like walking into a huge snowy space with no signs of human life. One does not find any trees, buildings, or advertising boards. One loses track of time and earthly perspective.
One can notice the smallest to the biggest things like mites and midges, to massive ones, like blue whales and icebergs as big as countries (one was even as large as Belgium).
The days seem endless with 24-hour sunlight during the southern hemisphere's summer. There's a complete silence which is sometimes interrupted by the occasional avalanche or breaking ice. Thus the prediction is not good for human beings.
Q. What did the author experience in Antarctica regarding the environment?
Ans. In Antarctica, the author experienced a vast, human-free environment. Here one findssmallest to the biggest creatures like mites and midges to blue whales and icebergs as large as a country like Belgium.
Q. How have the days been described in Antarctica?
Ans. Days go on and on.
Q. How does the author describe the atmosphere of Antarctica?
Ans. There is complete silence which is occasionally broken due to avalanches or calving ice sheets.
Q: Why is the prognosis not good for humans?
Ans.: The prognosis for humans is not good as one can notice the breaking of ice shelves due to global warming.
Human civilisations have been around for a paltry 12,000 years…………….. but surely increasing the average global temperature.
Human civilisations have existed for just 12,000 years, which is a very short time in the Earth's long history. During this short time, man has created a lot of ruckus by setting up villages, towns, cities, and mega-cities.
The fast growth of our population has led to competition with other species for limited resources. Moreover, burning fossil fuels has caused a layer of carbon dioxide, gradually raising the average global temperature.
:
Q. How long have human civilisations been around?
Ans. Just 12,000 years.
Q. What have we done during this period?
Ans. We have set up villages, towns, cities, and mega-cities and thus created quite a ruckus.
Q. Why are we competing with other species?
Ans. Due to the rapid increase in human population.
Q. What is the result of burning fossil fuels?
Ans. A layer of carbon dioxide around the world has been created. It has led to a rise in global temperature.
Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time…………..the Earth’s past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go.
Climate change is a big topic people argue about. Some wonder if the ice in West Antarctica will completely melt, or if the Gulf Stream ocean current will be disrupted. Some even worry that it may bring an end to the earth.
Whatever may be the result, Antarctica plays an important role in this conversation. It is the only place on the Earth where humans do not live. Thus it remains untouched. Moreover, there are half a million old records of carbon trapped in its layer. In this way, if we want to understand Earth's past, present, and future, Antarctica is the place to study.
Q. What is a big topic people argue about?
Ans. People argue about climate change.
Q. Why is Antarctica important in the climate change debate?
Ans. Antarctica is crucial because it's untouched by humans and holds half-million-year-old carbon records in its ice layers.
Q. What are some concerns about climate change?
Ans. Some people wonder if the ice in West Antarctica will melt entirely, if the Gulf Stream ocean current will be disrupted, or if it will bring an end to the world.
Q. Why is Antarctica a good place to study for understanding Earth?
Ans. Antarctica is a good place to study because it helps us understand Earth's past, present, and future through its unique untouched environment and ancient carbon records.
According to the author, she worked with a programme called Students on Ice. This programme is to take high school students to Antarctica and allow them to have exciting learning experiences. The goal is to help them develop a new understanding and respect for our planet. The programme has been running for six years, led by Geoff Green from Canada. He got tired of taking rich and retired curiosity lovers. With Students on Ice, he gives young people who will become future leaders a chance to have a life-changing experience because they are ready to learn and, most importantly, take action.
Q. What is the goal of the Students on Ice programme?
Ans. The goal is to take high school students to Antarctica, providing them with inspiring educational opportunities to develop a new understanding and respect for our planet.
Q. How long has the Students on Ice program been running?
Ans. The programme has been running for six years.
Q. Who leads the Students on Ice programme?
Ans. Geoff Green from Canada leads the Students on Ice program.
Q. Why did Geoff Green start Students on Ice?
Ans. Geoff Green started Students on Ice because he wanted to offer a life-changing experience to the future generation of policy-makers.
The reason the programme has been so successful is because it’s impossible to go……………. to realise that the threat of global warming is very real.
The programme has worked well because going to the South Pole is impossible. Moreover, when they see with their own eyes melting polar ice caps, and shrinking glaciers and ice shelves, we realise that global warming is a serious threat.
Q. Why has the programme been successful?
Ans. The programme has been successful because it is impossible to go to the South Pole. When we see with our own eyes the impact of global warming, we realise the threat to the earth is serious.
Q. What can be easy to ignore in our comfortable homes?
Ans. It can be easy to ignore the melting polar ice caps from the comfort of our homes.
Q. What happens when we see glaciers shrinking and ice shelves breaking apart?
Ans. When we see glaciers shrinking and ice shelves breaking apart, we realise that global warming is a serious threat.
Antarctica, because of her simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, ……………………….. and the big things will fall into place.
Antarctica is a great place to learn about how small changes in the environment can have big effects because it has a simple ecosystem. The author has given the example of phytoplankton. They are single-celled grass of the sea. But they feed the entire sea creatures in the Southern Ocean. These tiny plants use the sun's energy to absorb carbon. Scientists say if there is further depletion in the ozone layer, it will affect phytoplanktons’ activities, which will then affect all the animals and birds in that area, as well as the global carbon cycle. The lesson from phytoplankton is– take care of the small things, and the big things will work out.
Q. Why is Antarctica a good place to study environmental changes?
Ans. Antarctica is a good place because it has a simple ecosystem, and small changes can have big effects.
Q. What is phytoplankton?
Ans. Phytoplankton are small microscopic plants that feed the entire sea creatures in the Southern Ocean.
Q. How do phytoplankton use the sun's energy?
Ans. Phytoplankton absorb carbon and make important stuff in a process called photosynthesis.
Q. What happens if the ozone layer gets thinner?
Ans. If the ozone layer gets thinner, it can affect phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of animals and birds in that area and the global carbon cycle.
Q. What lesson can we learn from phytoplankton?
Ans. The lesson is to take care of small things, and the big things will work out.
My Antarctic experience was full of such epiphanies,............................. It was nothing short of a revelation: everything does indeed connect.
According to Tishani Doshi her visit to Antarctica was full of amazing moments. One of the best happened just before reaching the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south. The ship, the Shokalskiy, got stuck in a thick layer of ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island, blocking the way. The Captain decided to turn back. But before that, all 52 passengers were asked to get off the ship and walk on the ocean.
They were, all dressed up in waterproof jackets and sunglasses, walking on the surface of ice. Beneath their feet was 180 meters of water. Then they saw Crabeater seals sitting on ice floes, much like stray dogs resting under the shade of a banyan tree. It was truly eye-opening.
Q. Where did the best experience in Antarctica happen?
Ans. The best experience in Antarctica occurred just short of the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south.
Q. Why did the captain decide to turn back the ship?
Ans. The ship was turned back because it got stuck in thick ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island.
Q. What were the passengers instructed to do before turning back?
Ans. Before turning back, all 52 passengers were instructed to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean.
Q. What was underneath the layer of ice the passengers walked on?
Ans. Underneath the meter-thick ice pack, they walked on was 180 meters of living, breathing saltwater.
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