Eng-07: The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement's Role25 Questions
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1. Who is the author of the article 'The Ailing Planet: the Green Movement's Role'?
A. Nani Palkhivala
B. Nathalie Trouveroy
C. Gordon Cook
D. Khushwant Singh
Answer: A. Nani Palkhivala
Explanation: The article was written by the eminent lawyer and jurist Nani Palkhivala and published in The Indian Express on November 24, 1994.
2. When was the Green Movement founded, and where?
A. 1972 in New Zealand
B. 1970 in USA
C. 1980 in India
D. 1994 in UK
Answer: A. 1972 in New Zealand
Explanation: The Green Movement was started nearly 25 years before the article in New Zealand in 1972.
3. What shift in human perception was introduced by the Green Movement?
A. Shift from a mechnistic view to a holistic and ecological view
B. Shift from agricultural to industrial view
C. Shift from globalism to nationalism
D. Shift from ecological view to economic exploitation
Answer: A. Shift from a mechnistic view to a holistic and ecological view
Explanation: The movement shifted human perspective toward seeing Earth as a living organism requiring care.
4. What concept was popularized by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987?
A. Sustainable Development
B. Global Warming
C. Green Revolution
D. Industrialization
Answer: A. Sustainable Development
Explanation: In 1987, the WCED popularized the idea of Sustainable Development—meeting present needs without compromising future generations.
5. What sign is displayed at the zoo in Lusaka, Zambia?
A. "The world's most dangerous animal"
B. "Protect the wildlife"
C. "Save planet Earth"
D. "Beware of wild beasts"
Answer: A. "The world's most dangerous animal"
Explanation: At the Lusaka zoo, a cage with a mirror inside carries a notice reading "The world's most dangerous animal".
6. What is inside the cage at the Lusaka zoo behind the notice?
A. A mirror reflecting the visitor
B. A ferocious lion
C. A poisonous snake
D. Nothing, it is empty
Answer: A. A mirror reflecting the visitor
Explanation: Inside the cage, there is no animal but a mirror where visitors see themselves as the most dangerous animal on Earth.
7. According to Mr. Lester R. Brown, what are the four principal biological systems of the Earth?
A. Fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands
B. Air, water, soil, and fire
C. Rivers, oceans, mountains, and deserts
D. Plants, animals, human beings, and birds
Answer: A. Fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands
Explanation: Lester R. Brown in 'The Global Economic Prospect' identifies fisheries, forests, grasslands, and croplands as the core biological systems.
8. What happens when human demands reach unsustainable levels on Earth's biological systems?
A. Their productivity is impaired, leading to collapse
B. They produce double output
C. They remain unchanged
D. They expand automatically
Answer: A. Their productivity is impaired, leading to collapse
Explanation: Over-exploitation causes fisheries to collapse, forests to disappear, grasslands to turn into deserts, and croplands to deteriorate.
9. What has become more expensive than the food cooked inside the pot in many poor countries?
A. Firewood
B. Cooking gas
C. Salt
D. Metal cookware
Answer: A. Firewood
Explanation: Due to severe deforestation, firewood has become so costly that "what goes under the pot costs more than what goes inside it".
10. What warning by Dr. Myers is quoted regarding tropical forests?
A. Tropical forests are the powerhouse of evolution
B. Tropical forests cannot grow again
C. Tropical forests produce useless wood
D. Tropical forests cause heavy floods only
Answer: A. Tropical forests are the powerhouse of evolution
Explanation: Dr. Myers called tropical forests the "powerhouse of evolution", whose destruction leads to extinction of species.
11. What rate of forest loss per acre per second was estimated in the text?
A. An acre and a half per second
B. Five acres per second
C. Ten acres per second
D. Half an acre per minute
Answer: A. An acre and a half per second
Explanation: The world is losing tropical forests at the alarming rate of an acre and a half every second.
12. Which Article of the Indian Constitution directs the State to protect forests and wildlife?
A. Article 48A
B. Article 21
C. Article 370
D. Article 51A
Answer: A. Article 48A
Explanation: Article 48A states that "the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife".
13. What is the major problem regarding environmental laws in India according to the author?
A. Laws are neither respected nor enforced in India
B. India has no environmental laws
C. Laws are too strict for common people
D. Laws are written in ancient language
Answer: A. Laws are neither respected nor enforced in India
Explanation: The author notes with regret that in India, laws are continuously violated and rarely respected or properly enforced.
14. What factor is identified as the strongest determinant of the future of human society?
A. Population growth
B. Technological advancement
C. Space exploration
D. Financial markets
Answer: A. Population growth
Explanation: Rapid population growth is highlighted as one of the biggest factors distorting human development.
15. How long did it take world population to reach the first one billion?
A. Around the year 1800
B. Around 1900
C. Around 1500
D. Around 1950
Answer: A. Around the year 1800
Explanation: It took human history until the year 1800 to reach the first billion population mark.
16. What was India's population around the time the article was written (1994)?
A. 920 million
B. 500 million
C. 1.2 billion
D. 800 million
Answer: A. 920 million
Explanation: The author states India's population in 1994 was about 920 million, larger than Africa and South America combined.
17. What is called the best contraceptive by the author?
A. Development
B. Medicines
C. Legal ban on children
D. Education campaigns only
Answer: A. Development
Explanation: Nani Palkhivala emphasizes that "Development is the best contraceptive" as income and education rise, fertility rates fall.
18. What alternative to voluntary family planning is mentioned?
A. Coercion (compulsion)
B. Free gifts
C. Migration to other countries
D. Strict taxation
Answer: A. Coercion (compulsion)
Explanation: The choice is between voluntary family planning or enforced coercion by state authority.
19. What famous statement by Mr. L.K. Jha is mentioned regarding environmental health?
A. "Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet?"
B. "Earth is our mother."
C. "Trees are green gold."
D. "Water is life."
Answer: A. "Are we to leave our successors a scorched planet?"
Explanation: L.K. Jha, as a member of the Brandt Commission, raised this crucial question about leaving behind deserts and ailing environment.
20. What famous statement by Margaret Thatcher is quoted in the text?
A. "No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life tenancy with a full repairing lease."
B. "The earth belongs to the young."
C. "Environment is the business of governments."
D. "Save trees, save lives."
Answer: A. "No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life tenancy with a full repairing lease."
Explanation: Margaret Thatcher famously remarked on human responsibility as temporary tenants of Earth.
21. What did Mr. Lester Brown state about our ownership of Earth?
A. "We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children."
B. "We own Earth completely."
C. "Earth is an unlimited resource."
D. "Nature is meant for exploitation."
Answer: A. "We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children."
Explanation: Lester Brown emphasized that Earth belongs to future generations and we are merely borrowers.
22. What new era has humanity entered according to the author?
A. The Era of Responsibility
B. The Era of Technology
C. The Era of Globalization
D. The Era of Space Travel
Answer: A. The Era of Responsibility
Explanation: The author labels the current ecological awareness movement as the ushering in of 'The Era of Responsibility'.
23. What role does industry play in environmental conservation according to Mr. Edgar S. Woolard?
A. Industries must excel as environmental performers
B. Industries should ignore environment and maximize profit
C. Industries should move to space
D. Industries cannot help environment
Answer: A. Industries must excel as environmental performers
Explanation: Edgar S. Woolard, Chairman of DuPont, declared himself as the company's "Chief Environmental Officer".
24. What primary metaphor is used in the title 'The Ailing Planet'?
A. Earth as a patient whose health is declining
B. Earth as a fortress
C. Earth as a battleground
D. Earth as a machine
Answer: A. Earth as a patient whose health is declining
Explanation: The title compares planet Earth to a sick patient in declining health needing urgent medical attention.
25. What is the central message of Nani Palkhivala's article?
A. Urgent human action is needed for environmental protection and sustainable survival
B. Population should grow without limit
C. Deforestation is beneficial for industries
D. Economic development should supersede ecology
Answer: A. Urgent human action is needed for environmental protection and sustainable survival
Explanation: The article urges human society to adopt sustainable practices and control population growth to save Earth.
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