(This chapter is deleted from your syllabus still if you find something useful can read) 
Journey to the End of the Earth

By Tishani Doshi

Introduction: The lesson is an account of the author during her journey to the end of the earth- “Antarctica” under ‘Student on Ice’ program headed by a Canadian, Geoff Green.

• The author boarded Russian research vessel Akademik Shokalskiy. Heading towards Antarctica, the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world.
• She started her journey from Madras located 13.09 degree north of the equator.
• On her way to the edge of earth she crossed nine time zones, six checkpoints, three water bodies and many ecospheres.
• She travelled by bus, air and ship.
• The writer’s first reaction to the continent was of relief, followed by wonder at its vastness, seclusion and geological history.

Part of History

• Before human evolution, Antarctica was part of a huge tropical landmass called the Gondwana land, which flourished 500 million years ago.
• Biological (flora and fauna), geological (changing continents) and geographical (climatic) changes occurred and Antarctica separated and moved away evolving into what it is today.
• Biological changes include- disappearance of Dinosaurs and mammoths, appearance of Mammals.
• Geological changes are- creation of Drake Passage(the roughest water body in the world), separation of countries from Gondwana and shaping the globe as we know today.
• India pushing northwards, South America drifting off to join North America, Creation of Mountain folds, climatic changes in Antarctica.
• A visit to Antarctica gave the writer a deeper understanding of fold mountains, the earth’s history, ecology and environment.
• The writer felt unsettled in two weeks’ time not only because she came from a much hotter place, but also because all features of human civilization were absent from an already desolate landscape.
• The long summers, the silence broken occasionally by cracking ice sheets and avalanches, the blue whales and ice bergs, all contribute to an ecological implication that the future for humans isn’t good

Human Impact

• Humans, who are known to have existed for a mere 12000 years, have caused tremendous impact and played havoc with nature.
• Ways through which humans are impacting nature- Population explosion, putting a strain on available resources, carbon emissions, fossil fuels and global warming have all resulted in climatic and ecological imbalances that have also affected Antarctica.
• Ways to know history of earth by visiting Antarctica - Antarctica, though unpopulated, has been affected and there are concerns for its half a million year old carbon records trapped under its ice sheets. By reading these radio carbon dating we can know history of earth.
• The ‘Students on Ice’ program, an initiative of Canadian adventure educator, Geoff Green he was tired of taking celebrities to Antarctica  takes students on expeditions to Antarctica, to create awareness in them, the future policy makers.
• So that they can understand and get the stark proof of global warming and environmental threats helps students attain an understanding of ecosystems and biodiversity of our planet.
• An amazing display of the food chain of the Southern Ocean helps in the understanding that further depletion of the ozone layer will set off a chain reaction that will affect the global carbon cycle.
• The simple truth is, taken care of the small things and the bigger ones will automatically be taken care of.

Walk on The Ocean

• Before their return, the writer got an opportunity to walk on the ocean at 65.55 degrees south, which made her realize that she was walking on 180 meters of ocean water, a rich kaleidoscope of life.
• Reaching home, she wondered whether Antarctica would ever be warm again, how much difference a million years can make and, that each day makes a difference.

Question answers

1. What idea of Antarctica you get from the chapter?

Ans. Antarctica is an expansive white landscape with uninterrupted blue horizon is the source of profound wonder. Its immensity and isolation have a deep impact upon the visitors. Because of its simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity provides rare opportunity to study how the little changes in the environment can cause big repercussions. Antarctica is the best place to understand the past, to experience the present and to predict the future. Six hundred and fifty million years ago, a giant amalgamated southern super continent Gondwana was forced to separate into continents, sub continents and countries, shaping the globe. Antarctica holds in its ice cores half- million- year old carbon records trapped in its layers of ice.

2. What is the main aim of the “Students on Ice” program?

Ans. The main aim of the ‘Students on Ice’ program is to provide the new generation with inspiring educational chances to help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet- Earth.

3. What is happening because of rapid increase in population?

Ans. The rapid increase of human population has left us battling with other species for limited resources. Unmitigated burning of fossil fuels has now created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world. The average global temperature is slowly but surely increasing. Climatic changes are threatening the west Antarctic sheet and Gulf Stream Ocean current.

4. What Antarctica exhibits?

Ans. Antarctica exhibits that if we take care of small things the big things will take care of themselves. The author clearly explains this notion with an example of microscopic phytoplankton, small grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire southern ocean’s food chain. If those small grasses are destroyed, the whole marine system would be in danger. Scientists warn that further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton.

5. How author concludes the chapter?

Ans. The author concludes by writing about her experience of walking on the frozen surface of ocean with 180 meters of living and breathing salt water as one of many epiphanies.

6. Why is Antarctica the place to go in order to understand the earth’s past, present and future?

Ans. Antarctica holds half a million year old carbon track records in its layers of ice.It gives us an understanding of evolution and extinction, ozone and carbon. A visit to Antarctica where once Six hundred and fifty million years ago Gondwana existed helps us understand the world’s geographical history. Because of its simple eco system and lack of bio diversity Antarctica offers us an ideal opportunity to see the visible changes caused by human activities. The studies show how little changes in the environment have big repercussions as in the example of microscopic phytoplankton. Scientists warn that further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of Phytoplankton, in turn affecting the eco system of Antarctica. It is also a pointer to the future demonstrating the effect of global warming on our ecology.

7. Why did Geoff Green decide to include high school students in his program?

Ans. Geoff Green felt that celebrities or rich curiosity seekers who visited Antarctica could give back to the society in a limited way. Impacting young minds with such an enlightening experience will have far reaching effects. It will help the students absorb, learn and act for a better future.

Class test-1

Name of student________________

Roll No________________

Class______________ Section_________________

 Short Answer Questions

1.How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate change?

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2.How does the author create a sense of distance between the rest of the world and Antarctica?

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3.Why does the author say one loses all earthly sense of  perspective and time?

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4. Who started the Students on Ice program and why?

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5. How have humans managed to create a ruckus on this earth?

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6. “And for humans, the prognosis is not good". Explain the situation and observation.

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7. Why does the author say "that a lot can happen in million years, but what a difference a day makes"?

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 8.How is Antarctica untouched as compared to the rest of the world?   

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Long Answer Questions

1. Why is the Antarctica the place to go in order to understand the earth’s past, present and future?

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2. How was the journey to the Antarctica an incredible experience for the narrator?   

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3. “Take care of small things and the big things will take care of themselves”. What is relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctic Environment?

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4. Write a note on global warming. (Its cause and effect).

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5. Write a few lines on Tishani Doshi.

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6. Why do you think this chapter is included in your syllabus?

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8. What is a travelogue?

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