Class 12 English Previous Year: Short Questions With Answers - Journey To The End Of The Earth

Short Answer Questions - 2025

Q1: ‘Students on Ice Programme’ proves Geoff Green’s farsightedness. Explain with reference to the text of "Journey to the End of the Earth".

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​Ans: Geoff Green’s ‘Students on Ice Programme’ shows his farsightedness by educating young minds about climate change through direct exposure to Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem, fostering environmental awareness and inspiring future generations to act responsibly towards preserving the planet.

Q2: Why did Geoff Green start the ‘Students on Ice Programme’?

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​Ans: Geoff Green started the ‘Students on Ice Programme’ to educate students about climate change by providing hands-on experiences in Antarctica, helping them understand the planet’s ecological history and the urgent need to protect its environment.

Q3: What could be the reason for the disintegration of Gondwana?

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​Ans: The disintegration of Gondwana was likely caused by tectonic forces that shifted the Earth’s plates, breaking the supercontinent apart around the time dinosaurs went extinct, leading to the formation of modern continents.

Q4: Why is the microscopic phytoplankton of great importance in the Antarctica?

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​Ans: Microscopic phytoplankton in Antarctica are crucial as they form the base of the marine food chain, supporting diverse ecosystems, and play a significant role in carbon absorption, helping regulate global climate.

Q5: How have human beings contributed in the paltry amount of time they have been on this Earth?

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​Ans: In their short time on Earth, humans have caused significant environmental disruption through population growth, resource depletion, and fossil fuel burning, creating a carbon dioxide blanket that drives climate change.

Q6: Why did Geoff Green get tired of carting celebrities and the retired?

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​Ans: Geoff Green grew tired of escorting celebrities and retirees because they lacked the curiosity and engagement of students, who were more receptive to learning about Antarctica’s environmental challenges through the ‘Students on Ice Programme’.

Q7: What makes Tishani Doshi write that she felt as if she was walking into a giant ping-pong ball?

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​Ans: Tishani Doshi compares walking on Antarctica’s ice to a ping-pong ball due to the vast, stark white landscape and uninterrupted blue horizon, creating a surreal, spherical, and otherworldly visual experience.

Q8: "In that short time, we’ve managed to create quite a ruckus." What does Tishani Doshi refer to by "ruckus"?

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Ans: By “ruckus,” Tishani Doshi refers to the environmental havoc caused by humans through rapid population growth, resource exploitation, and fossil fuel burning, leading to climate change and ecological disruption.

Previous Year Short Answer Questions

Q1: How do geographical phenomena help us to know about the history of mankind? 
Ans: Geographical phenomena provide valuable insights into the history of humankind by illustrating how small changes can lead to significant transformations over time. 
They help us understand:

• The origins of human civilisation.
• How natural events have shaped our environment.
• The potential future paths of our development.

By studying these phenomena, we can better grasp our past and anticipate our future.

Q2: What are the indications for the future of mankind? 
Ans:

• Global warming can bring about drastic climatic changes.  There is real threat to the future of humankind.
• 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.

Global WarmingQ3: Why is Antarctica the place to go to understand the earth’s past, present and future?
Ans:

• Antarctica is unique as it has never supported a human population.
• This makes it one of the most pristine environments on Earth.
• It provides a clear view of how small changes can impact the environment.
• Additionally, it contains half-a-million-year-old carbon records trapped in its ice layers.
• For studying the Earth's past, present, and future, Antarctica is the ideal location.
  Antarctica

Q4: How did Tishani Doshi feel on reaching the Antarctica? 
Ans:

• Tishani's first emotion upon reaching Antarctica was a sense of relief after travelling for over 100 hours.
• He felt a deep wonder at the vast white landscape, the clear blue horizon, and the isolation of the continent.
• Tishani reflected on how Antarctica and India were once part of the same landmass, known as Gondwana.

Q5: What was Gondwana like? How did it change? 
Ans: Gondwana was a supercontinent that existed around 650 million years ago. Its characteristics included:

• The climate was warm.
• It supported a wide variety of flora and fauna.
• There were no human beings present.

Approximately a million years ago, Gondwana began to disintegrate into separate continents, shaping the world as we know it today.

Q6: Why is Antarctica and its understanding important for the survival of the world?

 Ans: 

• Understanding Antarctica is crucial for the world's survival because it reveals the existence of the southern supercontinent of Gondwana, which was centred around present-day Antarctica.
• Before humans appeared, a diverse range of flora and fauna thrived in Gondwana. Over 500 million years, this landmass split into the continents we know today.
• Antarctica significantly influences the Earth's climate and ocean systems. Its massive ice sheets hold about 70% of the planet's freshwater, impacting global sea levels.
• As global temperatures rise due to climate change, the melting of ice sheets could result in catastrophic consequences, such as flooding in coastal cities and the displacement of millions.

Q7: What was the objective of the ‘Students on Ice Programme’? 
Ans:
Students on Ice Programme

The Students on Ice programme aims to:

• Expose high school students to the world's extremes.
• Provide inspiring educational opportunities.
• Foster respect for our planet.
• Offer a transformative experience for students, encouraging them to learn and take action.

Geoff Green believes these students will become future policymakers who can help combat environmental threats and the impacts of global warming.