Class 12 English - WEST-BENGAL
Supplementary: Journey to the End of the Earth
Supplementary: Journey to the End of the Earth by Tishani Doshi is a travelogue-based chapter included in the Class 12 English curriculum for West Bengal (WBBSE) students. The chapter chronicles the author's expedition to Antarctica aboard the Russian research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy as part of the 'Students on Ice' program. It explores Antarctica's pristine, ice-covered landscape as a geological time capsule that holds the secret of Earth's past, present, and future. The chapter serves as a vital environmental wakeup call, emphasizing the urgent need to protect our planet's ecosystems, tackle climate change, and preserve biodiversity for upcoming generations.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Students on Ice Program
An educational expedition led by Canadian educator Geoff Green that takes high school students to Antarctica to foster understanding and respect for the planet.
Gondwana Supercontinent
A massive southern landmass that existed 650 million years ago, uniting India and Antarctica before plate tectonics drifted them apart into their current positions.
Antarctica as a Geological Archive
Antarctica's 500-meter-thick ice cores hold half-million-year-old carbon records trapped within layers of ice, making it crucial for studying Earth's climate history.
Phytoplankton
Single-celled microscopic marine plants that nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean's food chain and rely heavily on the ozone layer for survival.
The Impact of Human Activity
Humanity's relentless carbon-burning and technological interference are rapidly depleting the ozone layer and melting polar ice caps, threatening global climate stability.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBBSE) Class 12 English board examinations, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 10 marks. Common question types include short answer questions (SAQs), multiple-choice questions (MCQs), and long descriptive questions (LAQs) focusing on the environmental message of the chapter and the significance of visiting Antarctica.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Antarctica called a window to the past?
Antarctica holds unblemished records of Earth's geological history, frozen ice cores, and clues about the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, making it a window to the past.
What is the significance of the title 'Journey to the End of the Earth'?
It refers to the physical journey to Antarctica, the southernmost tip of the planet, and also signifies an eye-opening expedition into the future consequences of climate change.
Why are phytoplankton important for the marine ecosystem?
Phytoplankton are microscopic marine plants that use sun energy to assimilate carbon and sustain the entire Southern Ocean's food chain.
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