Q.1 Read the passage given below. (12)
1. It seems the common house Sparrow has disappeared from the city. But Ornithologists maintain
that while Sparrow numbers are dwindling, the bird has not disappeared entirely from the city but
only shifted to more inhabitable parts. Conservationists are now trying to understand why some
areas have managed to hold back sparrows and what has driven them away from others.
2. A Countrywide survey initiative called citizen Sparrow is now roping in residents who want to
report about their experience with sparrows. So far this unique Sparrow survey organised by the
Bombay National History Society (BNHS) and Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) has
received close to 410 responses from Delhi . Of these, 86 have claimed they have not seen any
sparrows at all. But the majority seems to have sighted the bird, which gives new hope to
conservationists.
3. I have seen lots of sparrows in Ghaziabad in Sheikh Sarai where I live but hardly any in the Greater
Kailash area. What is different in GK and other parts is still a mystery. But certain factors drawing the
birds have become clearer. They nest more around old buildings and houses or in houses where
there are old electricity metres, kitchen Gardens, shrubs etc. , says co-investigator, BNHS Citizen
Sparrow Project ,Kaustubh Sharma.
4. Another conservationist and birdwatcher, Ananda Banerjee, says she has seen lots of sparrows in
parts of Lutyens Delhi, Mayur Vihar, parts of old Delhi and parts of Noida. She cites the urban
landscape to be the reason behind the decline in the Sparrow population.
5. Urban architecture, tall glass buildings that lack nesting spaces for the Sparrow, pesticides used in
farming that kill the worms that sparrows feed on, are some of the reasons . Even our markets have
changed. There are not many open markets where they can get grains. But you can see lots of
sparrows in Khari Baili open grain market.
6. But there is no doubt among conservationists that sparrows are fast disappearing. Declining
number of sparrows and their complete absence from some parts of the city is not just about
missing the tiny bird . It is an indicator of something much graver.
7. Ecologist and Forestry Expert, Neeraj Khera, who has been studying the Sparrow population in
Delhi, feels that sparrows are an important indicator species. “There is always a threshold level. Big changes like an epidemic outbreak for instance will not happen overnight, but when we cross the
buffer line, then changes take place in our ecosystem. Sparrows as an indicator species is very
sensitive to change. So it's obvious that a lot must have changed in our Ecology to have drive and
then away.”
8. Some of the important factors responsible are air and water pollution as well as loss of native
Herbs and shrubs.
9. Another trend being noticed by experts is the increase of Rock pigeons in most part of Delhi. This
seem to have almost replaced the sparrows that used to nest in the same places.
10. Rock pigeons have almost grown out of proportion and taken up the space of sparrows. They
can be seen in houses and other buildings. Studies have shown that it is not a welcome change as
the excreta of Rock pigeon carries a lot of bacterial pathogens.
11. Sparrow population is moderate in places where there are old government buildings, water
bodies or green spaces. Saving the Sparrow, Ananda says, is not a lost cause yet. It is the right time
to intervene and check for the decline. It will take ‘citizen Sparrow’ survey a couple of more months
to come up with a preliminary analysis of the results from their survey and may offer a stronger
argument on why the sparrows are disappearing from the city
(A) On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer each of the questions given
below with the help of the options that follow. (1×4=4)
(i) According to the passage, which of the following statements is true ?
(a) Sparrow numbers are increasing.
(b)There is hardly any Sparrow in Ghaziabad.
(c) Neeraj Khera is an ornithologist.
(d) Loss of native Herbs and shrubs is one of the factors responsible for the decline of sparrows.
(ii) What are conservation is trying to understand?
(a)Why some areas have managed to hold back sparrows.
(b)What has driven sparrows away from some areas.
(c)Why are rock pigeons are increasing in Delhi .
(d) both a and b.
(iii) Why can one see a lot of sparrows in Khari Baoli?
(a) As it is situated in Old Delhi.
(b) As it is to the north of Delhi.
(c) As it has an open grain market.
(d) As sparrows like that place.
(iv) What will offer a stronger argument on why the sparrows are disappearing from the city?
(a)The preliminary analysis of the results of citizen Sparrow survey. (b) The complete result of the
citizens Sparrows survey.
(c) The prediction of the weatherman.
(d)The prediction of a reputed astrologer.
Answers
Answered by
5
Answer:
A (i) d
(ii) d
(iii) c
(iv) a
Answered by
0
Answer:
(i) True statement - (d) Loss of native Herbs and shrubs is one of the factors responsible for the decline of sparrows.
(ii) Conservation is trying to understand - (d) both a and b.
(iii) One see a lot of sparrows in Khari Baoli - (c) As it has an open grain market.
(iv) A stronger argument on why the sparrows are disappearing from the city - (a)The preliminary analysis of the results of citizen Sparrow survey.
Explanation:
- In today's world, we can witness it by our eyes that, the number of sparrows is decreasing.
- A whole paragraph about sparrows is split into eleven points.
- By reading all the points, the below questions can be answered.
- The paragraph gives information about the reason behind sparrow's disappearance and the welcome of a new bird.
- It also gives information about the before and after sparrow's population in some places and where we can find sparrow's quite largely.
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