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Chapter – 5 The Ailing Planet The Green Movement’s Role
Nani Palkhi Vala

Q1. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context. a
holistic and ecological view inter alia sustainable development decimated
languish catastrophic depletion ignominious darkness transcending concern
Answer. A holistic and ecological view - It refers to the view that calls for the
preservation of the planet. The holistic and ecological view refers to understanding the
importance of earth'S resources and environment for the future generations.
Sustainable development — A balanced development that meets the needs of the
present while taking care of the needs of the future generations. Languish — lot of
species are neglected or go unnoticed ignominious darkness — disgrace or dishonour
as has knowledge about them or is enlightened about them inter alia — among other
things decimated — to reduce drastically in number catastrophic depletion — a
disastrous and harmful reduction in the number of something transcending concern — a
concern that surpasses generation. boundaries. It is not only about the present but also
about future; not only about people but also about the planet.
Understanding The Text

Q1. Locate the lines in the text that support the title ‘The Ailing Planet’.
Answer. The lines that support the title of the chapter are given below. "The earth’s vital
signs reveal a patient in declining health." "Are we to leave our successors a scorched
planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and ailing environment? " ...the
environment has deteriorated so badly that it is Critical' in many of the eighty-eight
countries investigated”.
Q2. What does the notice ‘The world’s most dangerous animal’ at a cage in the
zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, signify?
Answer. The notice signifies that there is depletion of resources and deterioration of
environment. Man is responsible for this and his own survival is threatened.
Q3. How are the earth’s principal biological systems being depleted?
Answer. There are four principal biological systems of the earth. These systems are
fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. However, due to the increasing demand of
human beings to such an 'unsustainable' extent. the productivity of these systems is
being hampered. The excessive demand results in deterioration and depletion Of these
resources. A country where protein is consumed on a large scale, overfishing is
common, which leads to the collapse of fisheries in that area. Grasslands have been
turned into deserts and production of crops is decreasing. The forests are destroyed in
large proportions to obtain firewood. Depletion of tropical forests has also led to the
extinction of several species.
Q4. Why does the author aver that the growth of world population is one of the
strongest factors distorting the future of human society?
Answer. Overpopulation is one of the strongest factors responsible for a nation's

poverty and unem oyment. It disturbs the earth' principal biological systems leading to
degradation of environment. The author highlights the problem Of over-population ty
pointing out the mental set-up Of the poor who feel more children means more workers
to earn money. They do not realise that more children only means more unemployed
people. He argues that development is the best contraceptive, which includes spread of
education, improvement of health and rise in income. Spread of education leads to
awareness among people, which in turn results in a fall in the 'fertility' rate. The author
makes a comment which emphasises the never ending circle of population and poverty
by asserting that the choice is really between control Of population and the perpetuation
of poverty'
Talking About The Text
Q1. Discuss in groups of four
1. Laws are never respected nor enforced in India.

Answer. 1. India, the biggest democracy in the world is condemned for its easy attitude
towards laws. Laws are constituted but never respected nor enforced in our country For
instance, the Indian Constitution mentions that casteism, untouchability and bonded
labour shall be abolished; however, these evils flourish barefaced even today. The
author points out that Article 48A of the Indian Constitution, propounds that the State
shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests
and Wildlife Of the country". However. little is done in favour Of this, What we see is a
near “catastrophic depletion” of forests over the last four decades Forests are
disappearing over the decades at the rate of 3.7 million acres a year Areas that are
officially designated as forest land, in reality, are treeless. The actual loss of forests is
eight times the rate pointed by the government statistics.
2. “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts,

impoverished landscapes and an ailing environment?”
Answer. 2. As we learn in the text, the first Brandt Report raised the above mentioned
question about the deteriorating condition of the planet. Earth is like a: • patient in
declining health'. The depletion of forests, grasslands, fisheries and croplands are the
result of excessive demand for resources. Overpopulation has led to a severe strain on
the health of our planet, We must realise soon that in this "Era Of Responsibility”. • it is
solely our duty to preserve our planet. We must realise that the earth belongs as much
to the future generation as much to us. Rather making it our property, we should do our
best to preserve it for the generations we have borrowed it from".
3. “We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it
from our children”.
Answer. 3. Over the decades, a change has come in the perception of the people in
respect to the planet. The human perception has shifted to a • holistic and ecological
view of the world'. Earth is a living organism that has limited resources. These
resources will not last forever. The earth has its metabolic needs that require to be
preserved The need of the hour is: • sustainable development" which propounds the
need of meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising with those
of future generations. The present problems are not necessarily fatal for us but they are
a ‘passport for future'. This is the "Era of Responsibility' that calls for a responsible
action from us. we must realise that the earth belongs as much to the future generation
as much it belongs to us.
4. The problems of overpopulation that directly affect our everyday life.

Answer. 4. Overpopulation leads to the issues of poverty and unemployment The
vicious circle of population and poverty will continue unless the root cause i.e.
population is taken care of. It hampers the development of a country. It leads to the
consumption of the natural resources at a much faster rate. The fossils consumed. the
resources depleted, the forests cleared the heat produced, the global warming caused
are all the repercussions of the fast-growing population.
Thinking About Language
Q1. The phrase ‘inter alia’ meaning ‘among other things’ is one of the many Latin
expressions commonly used in English. Find out what these Latin phrases mean.
1. prima facie
Answer. 1. prima facie means 'at first sight, closer inspection'
2. ad hoc
Answer. 2. ad hoc means 'for the specific puq»se, case, or situation at hand and for no
other'
3. in camera
Answer. 3. in camera means 'in secret, in private'
4. ad infinitum
Answer. 4. ad infinitum means 'to infinity, having no end
5. mutatis mutandis
Answer. 5. mutatis mutandis means 'changing? only those things which needs to be
changed, Only the necessary changes having been made
6. Caveat
Answer. 6. Caveat means 'a warning or caution'
7. tabula rasa
Answer. 7. tabula rasa means 'blank slate', 'without any prior experience or knowledge'
Working With Words
QI. Locate the following phrases in the text and study their connotation.
1. gripped the imagination of

Answer. 1. gripped the imagination of: received much attention
2. dawned upon
Answer. 2. dawned ugnn: realised it for the first time
3. ushered in
Answer. 3. ushered in: began the new idea
4. passed into current coin

Answer. 4. passed into current coin: hak been brought into use
5. passport of the future

Answer. 5. passport of the future: a thing that makes something possible or enables
one to achieve it
QII. The words ‘grip’, ‘dawn’, ‘usher’, ‘coin’, ‘passport’ have a literal as well as a
figurative meaning. Write pairs of sentences using each word in the literal as well
as the figurative sense.
Answer. 1. grip: a) She was excellent during the rock-climbing session. She has a good
grip b) The movement of 'India Against corruption has the minds Of Indians.
2. dawn: a) The day dawned with a clear sky. b) Suddenly, the idea dawned on him.
3. usher: a) The waiter ushered them to their seats. b) The Green Movement ushered in
a new era of awareness.
4. Coin: a) I have ten coins of Rs. 5. b) The term was coined by a famous *Philosopher.
5. passport: a) He has just got his passport to visit his uncle in the USA. b) Education is
the passport to a future.

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Chapter – 5 The Ailing Planet The Green Movement’s Role

Nani Palkhi Vala

Understanding The Text

Answer. Overpopulation is one of the strongest factors responsible for a nation's

Talking About The Text

Q1. Discuss in groups of four

1. Laws are never respected nor enforced in India.

2. “Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet of advancing deserts,

4. The problems of overpopulation that directly affect our everyday life.

Thinking About Language

1. gripped the imagination of

4. passed into current coin

5. passport of the future

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