We all mourn and groan in chorus. Lamenting the slow but sure destruction of ecology, has become one of our favourite pastimes. It is a tragic irony that each of us is contributing to that destruction. The results have been disastrous. Earth is no more a pleasant, cosy and safe place to live on. All its natural resources, mountains, hills, rivers, lakes and seas have been mercilessly polluted and plundered. And the villain is no one else other than man himself. Man's greed and hunger have no limits. The ruthless and cruel hands of man have scorched and maimed the planet Earth. His misuse and abuse of nature and natural resources has led to the gradual destruction of the environment and ecology. Man and his domestic animals have swallowed more and more forests and green belts. Progress has come at a very high price. Unplanned urbanisation and industries have resulted in the degradation of environment and ecology. Our rivers, lakes and seas have become dumping grounds for human and industrial wastes. The global warming has led to the melting of the polar ice and glaciers. If this degradation and destruction is not checked immediately, we will not be able to save this planet. Let us act before it's too late. Let us redeem our pledge to save this earth before it is too late.
(i) What 'tragic irony' does the author refer to in the 2nd line?
(ii) What does the phrase "scorched and maimed the planet Earth' suggest?
(iii) What does the author urge towards the end of the passage?
(iv) What does the author hint at when he says "Progress has come at a high price?
(v) Identify the antonym of 'benevolent from the passage.
Answers
Answer:
1) The tragic irony is that while humans grieve and mourn for the depletion of Earth, they are the one who is causing it.
2) The phrase is a reference to global warming and the lack of resources we have bought upon ourselves. Scorched means to burn, hence global warming and maim means to main means to deprive or injure a part permanently, hence the lack of resources we maimed from earth.
3) The author urges all of us to take action to protect the earth before its too late and Earth becomes uninhabitable.
4) The progress we have made as man-kind, to be the most dominant species on Earth with life full of comfort and luxury, has come at the price of Earth, its resources and ecology.
5) Merciless is the most appropiate answer for Benevolent.
Benevolent means kindly or charitable.