English Core > Literature Class 12 > Vistas Prose

Read the following extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the given two (A) or (B): (B) The rapid increase of human populations has left us battling with other species for limited resources, and the unmitigated burning of the fossil fuels has now created a blanket of carbon dioxide around the world, which is slowly but surely increasing the average global temperature. Climate change is one of the most hotly contested environmental debates of our time. Will the west Antarctic ice sheet melt entirely? Will the Gulf stream ocean current be disrupted? Will be the end of the world as we know it? (Journey to the End of the Earth)

(i) List one way in which the increasing human population is affecting other species. (1 mark) (ii) Choose the correct option that best reflects the tone of the writer in the last line of the extract. (1 mark) (A) happy and excited (B) encouraging and optimistic (C) anxious and concerned (D) spiteful and bitter (iii) Choose the correct option: 'unmitigated burning of fossil fuels' reflects the (avaricious / furious) streak in man's nature. (1 mark) (iv) In the above extract, what message is the author giving to mankind? (1 mark)