Textbook Solution: Back From the Brink | Class 7 English Alive PDF Download

A. Fill in the blanks with the words from the text.

Q1: The Greater Adjutant was called 'a prodigy of ugliness' by a nineteenth century ornithologist.

Q2: The Greater Adjutant can be found in Kamrup district.

Q3: Purnima Devi Barman found out that the villagers considered the storks as pests.

Q4: Barman started attending weekly women's rituals at a local temple, and eventually got permission to present her hargila slideshow presentation there.

Q5: Barman is affectionately called hargila baideu by the villagers.

Q6: Arvind Mishra works in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar.

Q7: Mishra compared the stork to Garuda.

Q8: Purnima Devi Barman has gained international attention and has received support from the Conservation Leadership Program and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

B. Answer these questions briefly.

Q1: Why was the Greater Adjutant called 'a prodigy of ugliness'?

Ans: The Greater Adjutant was called 'a prodigy of ugliness' because of its unconventional appearance, which includes a balding head and a lack of melodious vocalization.

Q2: What were the two reasons that led to the decline of the birds?

Ans: The decline of the Greater Adjutant stork was primarily due to the widespread destruction of its wetland habitats and the loss of its nesting trees.

Q3: What did Purnima Devi Barman find out about the storks while doing her thesis?

Ans: While doing her thesis, Barman found that the storks were considered pests by the villagers, and the nesting trees were being cut down because they were located on private properties.

Q4: How did Barman try to instill a sense of pride and ownership in the bird?

Ans: Barman instilled a sense of pride and ownership in the villagers by making analogies to family and encouraging community pride and recognition for protecting the storks.

Q5: Mention two methods that Barman used to make the villagers realise the importance of the stork.

Ans: Barman used educational slideshows at a local temple and involved children in activities that promoted stork conservation during World Wetlands Day.

Q6: What was one common strategy both Purnima Devi Barman and Arvind Mishra used that made the villagers respect and protect the bird?

Ans: Both Barman and Mishra used cultural and religious symbolism to make the villagers respect and protect the bird, associating it with familial duty and religious icons like Garuda.

Q7: What did the Hargila Army do?

Ans: The Hargila Army, led by Barman, weaved motifs of the Greater Adjutant stork on fabrics and participated in conservation efforts, helping to prevent the cutting down of nesting trees.

Q8: How did Barman help the poor women besides protecting the birds and the environment?

Ans: Barman helped the poor women by enabling them to earn a sustainable livelihood through the sale of handloom products featuring stork motifs, supported by government donations and training programs.

C. Think and Answer these Questions.

Ans: Purnima Devi Barman likely sees the Greater Adjutants as the most beautiful birds in the world due to her deep emotional and conservation connection to them, seeing beauty in their survival and ecological importance rather than just their physical appearance.

Q2: Conservation groups don't care about an ungainly bird. For them, well-known, charismatic animals like rhinos and tigers are the main focus.  Was Barman correct in her observation? Why do you think people find rhinos and tigers more charismatic compared to the Greater Adjutant storks?

Ans: Yes, Barman's observation is correct. Conservation often focuses on charismatic animals like rhinos and tigers because they are visually striking and attract more public and media attention. The Greater Adjutant storks, being less visually appealing and less well-known, don't garner the same level of interest.

Q3: You are going to be the Hargila Army! Protector of the Tree! Protector of the Bird! Your duty is to weave the stork's motif on the cloth!  How do you think weaving the motif of the Greater Adjutant stork on traditional gamochas and other handicrafts helped in protecting the bird?

Ans: Adding the Greater Adjutant stork design to traditional crafts helps people learn about and appreciate the bird, encouraging them to support its protection.