CBSE Class 12 English Core Vistas Book Chapter 3 Journey to the End of the Earth Question Answers from previous years question papers (2019-2024)
Journey to the End of the Earth Previous Year Questions with Answers – Question Answers from Previous years Board Exam Question papers provide valuable insights into how chapters are typically presented in exams. They are essential for preparing for the CBSE Board Exams, serving as a valuable resource.They can reveal the types of questions commonly asked and highlight the key concepts that require more attention. In this post, we have shared Previous Year Questions for Class 12 English Core Chapter 3, “Journey to the End of the Earth”.
Questions which came in 2024 Board Exam
Q1. Read the following extracts and answer the questions :
Human civilisations have been around for a paltry 12,000 years – barely a few seconds on the geological clock. In that short amount of time, we’ve managed to create quite a rukus, etching our dominance over nature with our villages, towns, cities, mega cities. The rapid increase of human populations has left us battling with other species for limited resources, and the unmitigated burning of fossil fuels has now created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world, which is slowly but surely increasing the average global temperature.
(i) According to the view expressed by the author in the above extract, increase in global temperature is due to
(A) mega cities
(B) human people
(C) burning of fossil fuels
(D) limited resources
Ans. (C) burning of fossil fuels
(ii) Complete the following sentence with reference to the extract :
Humans are criticised by the author for _______.
Ans. Humans are criticised by the author for causing environmental damage and increasing global temperatures.
(iii) According to the author, the relation between human population and resources is ____________.
Ans. According to the author, the relation between human population and resources is one of competition and conflict over limited resources.
(iv) ‘In that short amount of time, we’ve managed to create a ruckus’. By ‘ruckus’ the author refers to _______.
(A) movement.
(B) misunderstanding
(C) breach
(D) commotion
Ans. (D) commotion
Q2. Read the following extracts and answer the questions :
The reason the programme has been so successful is because it is impossible to go anywhere near the South Pole and not be affected by it. It’s easy to be blase about polar ice caps melting while sitting in the comfort zone of our respective latitude and longitude, but when you can visibly see glaciers retreating and ice shelves collapsing, you begin to realise that the threat of global warming is real.
Antarctica, because of her simple eco-system and lack of biodiversity, is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment can have big repercussions. (Journey to the End of the Earth)
(i) As per the given extract, the reason for the success of the programme is
(A) the participation of young students.
(B) the journey to Antarctica.
(C) the exposure to reality.
(D) it was impossible to go near south pole.
Ans. (C) the exposure to reality.
(ii) Complete the following sentence.
The warning that can be inferred from the above extract is __________.
Ans. The warning that can be inferred from the above extract is that global warming is a significant and urgent threat, visibly affecting the polar ice caps and ecosystems.
(iii) State whether the statement given is TRUE or FALSE with reference to the extract.
Global warming is a threat to human survival.
Ans. TRUE
(iv) Explain one inference that can be drawn from the line “It’s easy to be blase about polar ice caps melting while sitting in the comfort zone”.
Ans. People often ignore or underestimate the severity of global warming when they do not directly witness its impacts.
Q3. How can you say ‘Students on Ice Programme’ was a step towards the future? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The ‘Students on Ice Programme’ is a step towards the future as it educates young people about the environmental issues facing Antarctica. By fostering awareness and understanding, it encourages the next generation to take action in preserving and protecting the planet.
Q4. ‘And for humans, the prognosis is not good;’
What is in store for humans, as per the above statement? [40-50 Words]
Ans. As per the predictions, the future is bad for humans. The delicate balance of the Earth’s ecosystem is getting disturbed due to human activities.
Q5. “With students on ice, he offers future generation of policy makers a life-changing experience…’
What expectation of the narrator is reflected in the above line? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The narrator wanted a real life experience to know the impact on the planet. The programme gave them a chance to absorb, learn and act.
Q6. “My Antarctic experience was full of such epiphanies,” says Tishani Doshi. Which experience does she consider the best and why? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Tishani Doshi considers witnessing the pristine beauty of the Antarctic landscape as the best experience. It highlighted the fragility of the environment and the impact of human activities, making her realize the importance of preserving nature.
Q7. Tishani Doshi considered the programme ‘Students on Ice’ a success. Do you agree with her? Why/Why not? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Yes, Tishani Doshi considered ‘Students on Ice’ a success because it provided students with a unique opportunity to experience and understand the fragility of the polar environments firsthand. This exposure helped them appreciate the importance of environmental conservation and inspired them to become more proactive in addressing climate change.
Q8. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the ‘Students on Ice’ expedition? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Geoff Green started the program, Students on Ice, for high school students because he wanted to give them an opportunity to understand and value our planet. Students, being the future generation, need to take a closer look at the depleting environmental situation. They can put in their effort to bring about a change in the outlook of the society. He wanted to give the students hands-on experiences that will enable them to understand and shape the future of the world as policy makers.
Questions from the Chapter in 2023 Board Exams
Q1. Describe Gondwana. [40-50 Words]
Ans. Gondwana was a massive supercontinent that was located in the south and was composed entirely of plants and wildlife. There were no human inhabitants on this continent. Prior to around 650 million years ago, India and Antarctica were two different parts of the same landmass. This landmass gradually began to move away from one another, resulting in the formation of continents and seas.
Q2. What did Geoff Green switch over to? Why? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Geoff Green transitioned from teaching to leading educational expeditions to Antarctica. Celebrities and wealthy people wanted to visit Antarctica for entertainment, but high school students were more interested in learning and taking action. He did this to provide kids with the opportunity to learn about climate change and the necessity of environmental preservation.
Q3. What were the author’s initial emotions on setting foot in Antarctica? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The narrator’s first impressions on setting foot in Antarctica included a sense of awe at the vast, pristine landscape, the silence, and the extreme conditions. The sight of the untouched beauty and the realization of humanity’s insignificance in the face of nature’s grandeur left a profound impact on the narrator.
Q4. Why did Derry enter Mr. Lamb’s garden? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Because of his scarred face, Derry avoided other people and preferred to be in isolated areas. Because he believed that Mr. Lamb’s garden was deserted, he scaled a wall and entered the property. When he saw Mr. Lamb, he was taken aback and surprised.
Q5. What are the significant features of ‘Students on Ice Programme’? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The programme on the Shokaskiy takes students to Antarctica and provides educational opportunities to help develop understanding of and respect for the earth. The future generations of policy-makers are given a life-changing experience to sensitize them about the real effects of global warming.
Q6. What makes the author say, “The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica”? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Around six hundred and fifty million years ago there was a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent called Gondwana which was centered around the present-day Antarctica. Thus, it is a part of that history from where we have come.
Q7. What prevented the Shokalskiy from going further? What did the captain instruct the passenger to do? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The Russian vessel ‘Akademik Shokalskiy’ was on its way to Antarctica with a crew of 52 people to investigate and explore the history of humanity. They were getting close to the Antarctic Circle when the ship got stranded in a massive pile of ice. The ship’s captain ordered the passengers to disembark onto the icy ocean.
Q8. Why did Geoff Green include young students in his programme? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Young children were the future policy-makers. They were taken on a life-changing experience when they were ready to absorb, learn and act. When they saw the impact of global warming, they got sensitised towards it to a higher extent.
Q9. How has human civilization impacted our environment? Comment with reference to the lesson “Journey to the End of the Earth”. [120-150 Words]
Ans. Our environment has been significantly impacted by human civilization. The lecture examines how geological phenomena enable us to reconstruct human history. Despite having existed for only 12,000 years, humans have caused considerable harm to the environment. Climate and ecological imbalances have been caused by population growth, depletion of natural resources, carbon emissions, fossil fuels, and global warming. The author emphasises how humans’ attempts to dominate nature have had negative consequences.
Scientists warn that the continued depletion of the ozone layer will threaten the lives of marine and avian species. Additionally, it will affect the global carbon cycle. Burning fossil fuels has resulted in a global blanket of carbon dioxide, which raises the average global temperature. Antarctica’s icebergs dissolving is evidence of this phenomenon.
In conclusion, the activities of humanity have caused environmental problems. Scientists warn of the repercussions of our actions, such as the impact on fauna and the carbon cycle.
Q10. How can a visit to Antarctica be an enlightening experience? Elaborate. [120-150 Words]
Ans. Antarctica is the major land mass that formed Gondwana. Thus, it is a part of Earth’s Geological history. There one can visualize and experience the changes in climate and formations due to global warming. It has never sustained human population. One can study how little changes in the environment can lead to big repercussions. One gets to realize the truth of the parable – take care of the little things in life, and the big things will fall into place.
On visiting Antarctica, one can study the earth’s past, present and future. It holds in the ice-cores, half-million-year-old carbon records. Antarctica has a simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity thus, it shows us how small changes can lead to big consequences.
Questions from the Chapter in 2020 Board Exams
Q1. What happened to Gondwana 650 million years ago? [30-40 words]
Ans. Gondwana was centred roughly around present-day Antarctica. Humans hadn’t arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.
Q2. How is Antarctica different from the place you live in? [30-40 words]
Ans. Antarctica is immense in size and absolutely isolated. 90 per cent of the Earth’s total ice volumes are stored here. The place is devoid of any human markers — no trees, billboards, buildings. One loses all earthly sense of perspective and time here. The visual scale ranges from the microscopic to the mighty: midges and mites to blue whales and icebergs as big as countries (the largest recorded was the size of Belgium). Days go on and on and on in surreal 24-hour austral summer light, and a ubiquitous silence, interrupted only by the occasional avalanche or calving ice sheet, consecrates the place.
Q3. How was Gondwana different from today’s world? Describe it. [30-40 words]
Ans. Gondwana was centred around the present-day Antarctica. Things were quite different then: humans hadn’t arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.
Q4. What are phytoplankton? How are they important to our ecosystem? [120-150 words]
Ans. The microscopic phytoplankton are those grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean’s food chain. These single-celled plants use the Sun’s energy to assimilate carbon and synthesise organic compounds in that wondrous and most important of processes called photosynthesis. Scientists warn that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of the region, and the global carbon cycle. In the parable of the phytoplankton, there is a great metaphor for existence: take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.
Q4. Why is Antarctica the place to go to for the scientists today? [120-150 words]
OR
If we want to study and examine the Earth’s past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go to. Comment. [120-150 words]
Ans. Since it has carbon records from half a million years ago preserved in its ice layers, Antarctica is currently the only place on earth that is in its purest and most natural state. Since it has never supported a human population, Antarctica is still considered to be relatively “pristine” in this regard. In order to comprehend the past, present, and future of Earth, one needs to travel to Antarctica.
Q5. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the ‘Students on Ice’ expedition? [120-150 words]
Ans. Geoff Green took the high school students to one end of the world, to provide them the opportunity to develop the respect and understanding for the earth. He wanted to make the future policy-makers to experience how difficult it would have been for the earth to sustain life by rising its temperature. He wanted them to understand that any interference in nature can cause drastic mishappenings in the future when the students see the ice shelves melting and collapsing, they can estimate the kind of environmental troubles ahead in their future.
Also see:
Journey to the End of the Earth Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Journey to the End of the Earth Summary, Explanation
Journey to the End of the Earth MCQs
Journey to the End of the Earth Character Sketches