Question 4 - Chapter 3 - Journey to the End of the Earth - Vistas - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 12

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

My Antarctic experience was full of such epiphanies, but the best occurred just short of the Antarctic Circle at 65.55 degrees south. The Shokalskiy had managed to wedge herself into a thick white stretch of ice between the peninsula and Tadpole Island which was preventing us from going any further. The Captain decided we were going to turn around and head back north, but before we did, we were all instructed to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean. So there we were, all 52 of us, kitted out in GoreTex and glares, walking on a stark whiteness that seemed to spread out forever. Underneath our feet was a metrethick ice pack, and underneath that, 180 metres of living, breathing, salt water. In the periphery Crabeater seals were stretching and sunning themselves on ice floes much like stray dogs will do under the shade of a banyan tree. It was nothing short of a revelation: everything does indeed connect.

(Journey to the end of the Earth)

Question (i)

What was the name of the ship that the author was travelling on?

1. Shokalskiy
2. Tadpole
3. GoreTex
4. Crabeater

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(a) Shokalskiy

Step-by-step explanation: 🧐

• The name of the ship that the author was travelling on was Shokalskiy.
• This is stated in the first sentence of the extract, where the author says that the Shokalskiy had managed to wedge herself into a thick white stretch of ice.
• The Shokalskiy is a Russian research vessel that is used for expeditions to Antarctica and other polar regions.
• The ship is named after Yevgeny Shokalsky, a Russian geographer and oceanographer who studied Antarctica in the early 20th century.

Question (ii)

Why did the author and the other passengers walk on the ocean?

1. Because they wanted to explore the ice pack and see the seals
2. Because they wanted to experience a rare and unique opportunity
3. Because they wanted to reach Tadpole Island and cross the Antarctic Circle
4. Because they wanted to help the ship get unstuck from the ice

Answer:

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Answer as written by the student:

(b) Because they wanted to experience a rare and unique opportunity

Step-by-step explanation: 🤓

• The author and the other passengers walked on the ocean because they wanted to experience a rare and unique opportunity.
• This is implied in the second sentence of the extract, where the author says that they were instructed to climb down the gangplank and walk on the ocean before turning back north.
• The author also describes this as an epiphany, which means a sudden and profound realization or insight.
• The author implies that walking on the ocean was a remarkable and memorable experience that made him appreciate the beauty and wonder of Antarctica.

Question (iii)

Fill in the blank with an appropriate word.

The author compares the Crabeater seals to stray dogs that will sun themselves under the shade of a __________ tree.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 banyan

Step-by-step explanation: 🙃

• The word that fits in the blank is banyan, which is a type of fig tree that has aerial roots and branches that spread over a large area.
• The author compares the Crabeater seals to stray dogs that will sun themselves under the shade of a banyan tree in the third sentence of the extract.
• This is a simile, which is a figure of speech that uses "like" or "as" to compare two different things.
• The author uses this simile to contrast the Crabeater seals, which are marine mammals that live in cold and icy regions, with stray dogs , which are terrestrial animals that live in warm and tropical regions.

Question (iv)

Explain what the author means by "everything does indeed connect" in the last sentence of the extract.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The author means that everything in nature is interrelated and interdependent, and that human actions have consequences for other living beings and ecosystems.

Step-by-step explanation: 😊

• The author says "everything does indeed connect" in the last sentence of the extract as a conclusion of his Antarctic experience.
• The author implies that he learned a lot about Antarctica and its role in global ecology and climate during his expedition.
• The author also implies that he realized how his own life and choices are connected to Antarctica and other parts of the world, and how he can make a difference by being more aware and responsible.

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