Question

(B) Summary Writing :
(3 Marks)
Prepare a summary of the extract given in 0.2 (A). Give it a suitable
title. You may use the following points :
Luxurious houses in nature - fear of wild animals - leopards enjoy
human habitation - provide food​

Answer 1

Luxurious houses on the edge of a big city which one promoter sold

with the tagline. ‘‘Where Nature peeps through every window.’’ All the

advantages of a modern lifestyle but with the added bonus of fresh air. But

nature isn’t greenery alone; it also includes wild animals.

While the view from the picture windows was easy on the eye,

occasionally, it made them gulp with nervousness. At dusk, wild cats

leaped out of the adjoining forest on to the top of the peripheral walls and

strolled nonchalantly. Sometimes, they lounged on ledges with their long

tails swinging freely, oblivious of the many worried human eyes pinned on

them. Their cold yellow aggressive eyes turned black as their pupils dilated

with failing light.

Some Mumbaikars paid a lot of money to see leopards on safari in

Africa. But to watch them from one’s own home was disconcerting. These

predators were out of line, stepping off nature into the city. Why did the

leopards not stay within the 100-square kilometre Sanjay Gandhi

National Park? Perhaps, the leopards thought that if people could venture

into nature to jog, walk and picnic, why couldn’t they hang around

apartment blocks? If people could enjoy nature, couldn’t nature savour

humanity’s offerings?

Capturing leopards is extraordinarily simple. These curious cats seem

incapable of resisting a free meal, walking into baited traps without

hesitation. The reason the felines are attracted to their residential

community is prey: stray dogs that live on rubbish heaps. Taking care of

the food source is the best course of action, the volunteers said.