Some questions are asked by class 11 students related to English Hornbill 

Question
Why does Nani Palkhivala call the earth ‘The Ailing Planet’? How can the ailing planet survive?
Answer:
The signs of the earth connected with life necessary for staying alive show that the earth is a patient in declining health. Its deserts are advancing, landscapes are being impoverished and environment is ailing. Aerial photography using satellites has revealed that the environment has deteriorated very badly in many parts of the world. In fact, it has became critical in many of the eighty eight countries investigated. The concept of sustainable development and green movement can help the ailing planet to survive. People must discharge their moral responsibility as stewards of the planet and trustees of the legacy of the future generations. The plundering of the natural resources should be controlled. These must be preserved for the future generations.

Question
What are the earth’s principal biological systems? Why have they been depleted and how can they be preserved?
Answer:
The earth has four principal biological systems. These are: fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. They form the basis of the world’s economic system. They supply us food and raw materials for industry. These biological systems are being depleted by excessive use. Over fishing is quite common. Forests are being destroyed to obtain firewood for cooking. In many areas of the world, these biological systems have reached an unsustainable level. Grasslands are turning into deserts and produce from croplands is decreasing. It seems they have lost their productivity. The decimation of forests is likely to cause extinction of several species. We must change our outlook and stop overusing the natural resources. We have to hand them over to the coming generations in a healthy state so that they can meet their needs. Consciousness of our moral responsibility as caretakers of the legacy of our children can help to preserve these non-renewable resources.

Question
Which movement does Nani Palkhivala refer to? How popular do you think it is?
Answer:
The author, Nani Palkhivala, refers to the ‘Green Movement’. It has become very ‘ popular among the people of all countries. It started nearly twenty five years ago but it has gripped the imagination of the entire human race completely and quite rapidly.

Question
How does the author point out the importance of Green Movement?
Answer:
The author points out the importance of the Green Movement by comparing it to the revolutionary ideas of Copernicus. He had taught mankind in the 16th century that the earth and the other planets revolved round the sun.

Question
How have human beings shifted their perceptions?
Answer:
We have shifted our perceptions from mechanistic view to a holistic and ecological view. Now we regard the earth as a living organism. It is an enormous being and we are its parts. It has its own metabolic needs and vital processes. We must respect and preserve them.

Question
What is the state of earth today? How should we act now?
Answer:
The signs of the earth which are connected with life show that the earth is a patient in declining health. We must realize our moral obligations to be good stewards of the planet. We must act as responsible trustees of the legacy of future generations.

Question
How has the concept of sustainable development been defined?
Answer:
Sustainable development has been defined as the development that meets the needs of the present without putting in danger the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In other words, the present generation would not deprive the natural world of the resources the future generations would need.

Question
Who is ‘the world’s most dangerous animal’? What has he learnt?
Answer:
Man is the most dangerous animal of the world. He has learnt a new awareness. He has acted wisely. He has shifted from the system of domination to one based on partnership.

Question
What do you learn about the number of living species from this chapter?
Answer:
Scientists have arranged a list of about 1.4 million living species. The number of unlisted species is much more. It varies from three to a hundred million according to various estimates. These still remain unknown and unidentified.

Question
What do you know about the earth’s biological systems and their functions?
Answer:
The earth has four principal biological systems. These are: fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. They form the basis of the world’s economic system. They supply us food and raw materials for industry.

Question
What is the state of earth’s biological systems now and why?
Answer:
In many areas of the world, earth’s biological systems have reached an unsustainable level. They have reached a point where their productivity has been damaged. This is because of the excessive pressure exerted by man on them.

Question 
How do the earth’s biological systems behave on reaching an unsustainable level?
Answer:
The productivity of the earth’s biological systems is impaired on reaching an unsustainable level. Fisheries collapse. Forests disappear. Grasslands turn into barren wastelands. Croplands become worse.

Question
How can over-fishing and decimation of forests prove harmful?
Answer:
Over-fishing may lead to stripping the fisheries. Then man will lose a rich source of protein. The decimation of forests will harm ecology. Moreover, several species of life that live in forest will face extinction.

Question
How do Indians procure fuel for cooking? What is the result of their action?
Answer:
Indians collect fire wood from forests. Sometimes even green trees are cut to obtain fuel. Destruction of forests is harmful to environment and wildlife. They also bum dung as fuel. Burning dung deprives the soil of an important natural fertiliser.

Question
Why do we need to plant more forests in India?
Answer:
According to official data, India is losing its forests at the rate of 3.7 million acres a year. The actual loss of forests is estimated to be about eight times the rate indicated by government statistics. Large areas, officially named forest land are already treeless. Moreover a five-fold increase in the rate of forest planting is needed to cope with the expected fuel wood demand 5 years later.

Question
How is the world population increasing over the years?
Answer:
The world population is increasing at a rapid rate now-a-days. Every four days the world population increases by one million. The world population was about one
billion in 1800. By 1900 another billion was added. However in the next 100 years 3.7 billion more were added. This clearly indicates the pace of the growth of world population.

Question
Why is population control essential in India?
Answer:
The population of India was estimated to be 920 million in 1994. Overpopulation upsets all plans of development and causes poverty and unemployment. So either population is controlled or people would remain poor forever. Voluntary family planning helps population control in India.

Question
What do you understand by the emerging new world vision?
Answer:
The new world vision is a holistic view. It is also an ecological view. It considers the world as an integrated whole a global village, rather than a separated or isolated collection of parts. This emerging new world vision has introduced the era of responsibility.

Question
How can industry play its role in the new ‘era of responsibility’?
Answer:
It is well known that industries are a main source of causing environmental pollution. There will be a great change in the preservation of environment if the industrialists become conscious-of their responsibilities and become environment friendly. Thus Industry has to play a very important role in the new era of responsibility.

Question
In what connection has the author mentioned Mr. Edgar S. Woolard?
Answer:
Mr Edgar S. Woolard was the chairman of a famous industrial concern—Du Pont. Five years ago, he declared himself to be the company’s ‘Chief Environmental Officer’. He said that their continued existence as a leading manufacturer required that they excelled in environmental performance.

Question
Why does the author quote the words of Mrs. Margaret Thatcher and Mr. Lester Brown?
Answer:
The two statements quoted by the author support his point of view about the need to protect environment. Both the statements lay stress on preservation of environment and holding it in trust for the coming generations.