Global Warming - A Catastrophe in the Making
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Textual Questions
1. Why has the Earth's average surface temperature increased?Ans: The Earth's temperature has risen because more greenhouse gases are being released by human activities like cutting trees and burning fuels such as coal and petrol.
2. Why is the Himalayan region called the Water Tower of Asia?
Ans: The Himalayas have many glaciers that cover about 33,000 square kilometers. These glaciers give around 8.6 million cubic meters of water every year, so this region is called the Water Tower of Asia.
3. What are the main sources of water in the Kashmir Valley?
Ans: The main sources of water in the Kashmir Valley are lakes, rivers from the Indus system, ponds, springs, snow-fed streams, wetlands, and reservoirs.
4. Why is water the most precious natural resource?
Ans: Water is the most valuable natural resource because it is essential for all forms of life. Without water, no plants, animals, or humans could survive, and the earth would turn lifeless. While we can live for several days without food, but we cannot survive for more than a few days without water.
Ans. Because of global warming, strong and high-speed storms have become more common in the Kashmir valley. These storms have damaged crops and farmlands, which has badly affected the income and living of many people who depend on farming.
Q6. How is global warming the largest threat to humanity?
Ans. Glaciers are the main source of water for rivers and streams that support millions of people by providing water for farming, drinking, and industries. But global warming is making these glaciers melt very quickly. If this continues, there will be a shortage of water, and human life will be in danger. That is why global warming is considered the biggest threat to humanity.
Q7. What do you think is the cause of decrease in snowfall in Kashmir?
Ans. The main reason for the decrease in snowfall in Kashmir is global warming. Because of the rise in temperature, the weather has changed, and snowfall has reduced greatly.
Q8. What has been the impact of global warming in J&K so far?
Ans. Global warming has caused glaciers to shrink (सिकुड़ना / घट जाना) very fast in J&K as compared to other parts of the world. In the past forty years, about 16% of the glaciers in the Suru basin and 18% of the Kolhai glacier have melted away, which is a serious concern for the environment and water supply.
Q9. What role do the scientists play in J&K to deal with the problem of global warming?
Ans. In Jammu and Kashmir, ‘The Energy and Resources Institute’ (TERI) has chosen the Kolhai glacier as a model glacier to study water resources for the local people. Scientists have been studying this glacier for five years to understand how fast it is melting. After the research, TERI will give suggestions to reduce the melting rate of the glacier and help protect it.
Q10. What do we as individuals need to do to deal with the problem of global warming?
Ans. As responsible citizens, we should try to reduce air pollution that causes greenhouse gases, because these gases lead to global warming. We must also plant more trees and protect forests, since trees clean the air and help control the increase in temperature on Earth.
Glossary
Catastrophe – बड़ी आपदा / बहुत बड़ा नुकसानRetreat – पीछे हटना
Permafrost – हमेशा जमी रहने वाली मिट्टी
Non-existent – जो मौजूद नहीं है
Accumulate – इकट्ठा करना / जमा करना
Devastating – विनाशकारी / बहुत नुक़सान पहुँचाने वाला
The Black Death – भयंकर प्लेग की बीमारी
Subtropical – उष्णकटिबंध के पास का इलाका
Floodplain – बाढ़ आने वाला समतल क्षेत्र
Wetland – दलदली ज़मीन / पानी भरी भूमि
Perennial – बार-बार होने वाला / सालभर रहने वाला
Simulation – नक़ल / अनुकरण
Demarcation – सीमा तय करना
Consensus – सबकी सहमति / एक राय
Degradation – गिरावट / बिगड़ना
Recede – पीछे हटना / घट जाना
Icicles – बर्फ की लटकनें
Adversely – बुरे तरीके से / नकारात्मक रूप से
Obnoxious – बहुत खराब / नापसंद
Biota – किसी जगह के सभी जीव-जंतु
Index (adj.) – सूचक / दिखाने वाला
Complacent – आत्मसंतुष्ट / खुश लेकिन सावधान नहीं
Stakeholders – हितधारक / जुड़े हुए लोग
Robust – मजबूत / ताकतवर
Sustainable – टिकाऊ / जो लंबे समय तक चल सके
Language Work
I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate compound word/s or phrases from the box below:
Ans:
1.
a) We live in a beautiful green house. (हरे रंग का घर)
b) My uncle has built a greenhouse (हरितगृह) next to his house, where he grows vegetables in winter.
2.
a) Most Ph.D.s only prefer white-collar (सफेदपोश) jobs.
b) He was wearing a pink shirt with a white collar. (सफेद कॉलर)
3.
a) We live in the white house (सफेद घर) near the mosque.
a) We live in the white house (सफेद घर) near the mosque.
b) The President of America lives in the White House. (राष्ट्रपति भवन)
4.
a) My wife keeps her jewellery in a black box. (काले डिब्बे)
b) The black box (ब्लैक बॉक्स) has been found; it will now be possible to find out why the plane crashed.
5.
a) He has a strong hold (मज़बूत नियंत्रण) on his wife.
b) The southern part of the state is a stronghold (मज़बूत ठिकाना) of the robbers.
Black Box: ब्लैक बॉक्स एक यंत्र होता है जो हवाई जहाज़ की उड़ान की सारी जानकारी और पायलट की बातचीत रिकॉर्ड करता है। दुर्घटना के बाद इसी से पता लगाया जाता है कि विमान क्यों गिरा या दुर्घटनाग्रस्त हुआ।
II. Use the following phrases or expressions in your own sentences:
Ans: 1. The work is in progress.
2. Prices are rising at an uncontrollable rate.
3. The news spread across the globe.
4. In the backdrop of (किसी स्थिति या पृष्ठभूमि में) war, people suffered.
5. Forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. (बहुत तेज़ और चिंताजनक गति से)
6. This new rule is an irritating change. (परेशान करने वाला बदलाव)
7. The land was bereft of (किसी चीज़ से वंचित) water.
8. The river has dried up. (सूख जाना)
9. Pollution is a big issue at the global level.
10. Poverty is a heavy burden for many families.
6. This new rule is an irritating change. (परेशान करने वाला बदलाव)
7. The land was bereft of (किसी चीज़ से वंचित) water.
8. The river has dried up. (सूख जाना)
9. Pollution is a big issue at the global level.
10. Poverty is a heavy burden for many families.
III. Choose the synonym of the word from the four options given:
1. Sporadic (कभी-कभी होने वाला) rise in his temperature has caused us much worry.a) frequent — बार-बार
b) irksome — झंझट वाला / कष्टदायक
c) irregular — अनियमित ✅ (correct synonym)
d) scattered — बिखरा हुआ
2. Reading of poetry is not congenial (अनुकूल / मेल खाने वाला) to his taste.
a) suited — अनुकूल ✅ (correct synonym)
b) beneficial — लाभदायक
c) helpful — सहायक
d) preferable — पसंदीदा
b) beneficial — लाभदायक
c) helpful — सहायक
d) preferable — पसंदीदा
3. The weavers have to do monotonous (नीरस / एकरस) work.
a) repetitive — बार-बार होने वाला ✅ (correct synonym)
b) exhausting — थकाऊ
c) irksome — कष्टदायक
d) autonomous — स्वायत्त
b) exhausting — थकाऊ
c) irksome — कष्टदायक
d) autonomous — स्वायत्त
4. The fishing boat pulled away from the wharf (घाट / जहाज बाँधने का स्थान) and chugged smoothly down the bay.
a) harbour — बंदरगाह ✅ (correct synonym)
b) shore — किनारा
c) quay — घाट / गोदी
d) anger — गुस्सा
b) shore — किनारा
c) quay — घाट / गोदी
d) anger — गुस्सा
Grammar Work
1. GerundA gerund is the -ing form of a verb that acts like a noun in a sentence.
Example:
Reading is my hobby.
👉 (Reading is a verb form, but it acts as a noun — the subject of the sentence.)
2. Verbal Noun
A verbal noun is also formed from a verb but is used purely as a noun, often with “the” and sometimes with “of”. It does not take an object directly or show tense.
Example:
The reading of books is important.
👉 (The reading is a noun phrase — it has “the” and “of,” and doesn’t act like a verb.)
Difference from Gerund:
Gerund: Reading books is fun. (acts like a verb; takes object “books”)
Verbal noun: The reading of books is fun. (acts like a pure noun; uses “of books”)
A verbal noun is also formed from a verb but is used purely as a noun, often with “the” and sometimes with “of”. It does not take an object directly or show tense.
Example:
The reading of books is important.
👉 (The reading is a noun phrase — it has “the” and “of,” and doesn’t act like a verb.)
Difference from Gerund:
Gerund: Reading books is fun. (acts like a verb; takes object “books”)
Verbal noun: The reading of books is fun. (acts like a pure noun; uses “of books”)
3. Participle
A participle is a form of a verb used as an adjective (to describe a noun).
A participle is a form of a verb used as an adjective (to describe a noun).
There are two types:
Present participle: ends in -ing
Past participle: usually ends in -ed, -en, -t, etc.
Examples:
The crying baby needs milk. (present participle)
The broken glass is on the floor. (past participle)
Present participle: ends in -ing
Past participle: usually ends in -ed, -en, -t, etc.
Examples:
The crying baby needs milk. (present participle)
The broken glass is on the floor. (past participle)
4. Verbal Adjective
A verbal adjective is an adjective made from a verb — it describes a noun and often looks like a participle.
Example:
The barking dog is loud.
👉 (Barking comes from the verb “bark” but describes the dog — it acts as an adjective.)
A verbal adjective is an adjective made from a verb — it describes a noun and often looks like a participle.
Example:
The barking dog is loud.
👉 (Barking comes from the verb “bark” but describes the dog — it acts as an adjective.)
In the following sentences, use either infinitive or gerund in order to make them correct:
1. Laughing is good for health.2. Our turn being over, we left the library.
3. The old woman tried to go to the hospital alone.
4. Being late for school is his habit.
5. Hina, having completed her work, left home.
6. Listening music is her hobby.
7. I like to read Arabic literature.
8. His only aim was to cheat.
9. Fishing is not allowed here.
10. Children love to make mud houses.