EnglishNEB 2075 (old course)
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. The condition of environment is a matter of great alarm and concern today. The environmental conditions have degenerated to such an…
15Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. The condition of environment is a matter of great alarm and concern today. The environmental conditions have degenerated to such an extent that it has become a worldwide issue. Pollution at all levels, that is, air, water and soil knows no bounds. As if this is not enough, the whole ecological system has been disturbed because of man's urge to control nature. The extinction of a number of rare species, depletion of ozone and wide deforestation forcing the creatures of the wild to territories of men (and hence disturbing the balance of the ecological system) are only some examples. There is a distinction between the environmental threats faced by the developed nations, such as the United States and Western European Countries, and the developing nations, such as India and Mexico. Whatever the nature of the crisis, most of the environmental problems faced by the developed nations are the result of the overconsumption whereas the problems faced by the under developed and developing countries are the result of under consumption. It is usually said that the people in the poor nations fall ill because they are undernourished whereas the rich counterparts in the first world fall ill because they overeat. Same is the case with the environmental problems. The Americans and to a lesser extent, Western Europeans, Japanese and other residents of developed nations, are more likely to own one or more cars, purchase more food and clothes than subsistence levels require, and use considerable amounts of electricity. As a result, there is more pollution, creating environmental problems.
Questions: a) According to the passage, what has become a worldwide issue today? b) How has the ecological system been disturbed? c) How are the environmental threats of the developed nations different from the developing nations? d) What is the common concept about the poor health status of the poor nations? e) Which sentence in the passage informs us that air, water and soil are polluted?
Answer
Model Answer
a) According to the passage, what has become a worldwide issue today?
According to the passage, the degenerated condition of the environment has become a worldwide issue today. The text explicitly states that "environmental conditions have degenerated to such an extent that it has become a worldwide issue." This indicates that environmental degradation is no longer a local or regional problem but a global crisis affecting the entire planet.
b) How has the ecological system been disturbed?
The ecological system has been disturbed primarily due to man's urge to control nature. The passage lists several specific examples of this disturbance:
- Extinction of rare species: Many unique and vulnerable species have been wiped out due to human activities.
- Depletion of the ozone layer: The protective layer of the atmosphere has been thinned, leading to increased harmful radiation reaching the earth.
- Wide deforestation: Large-scale cutting of trees has destroyed natural habitats.
- Displacement of wildlife: Deforestation forces wild creatures to move into human territories, which disrupts the natural balance of the ecosystem.
In essence, human interference in natural processes has upset the delicate balance that sustains life on earth.
c) How are the environmental threats of the developed nations different from the developing nations?
The passage highlights a clear distinction between the environmental problems faced by developed and developing nations based on the cause of consumption.
| Feature | Developed Nations (e.g., USA, Western Europe) | Developing/Underdeveloped Nations (e.g., India, Mexico) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Cause | Overconsumption | Underconsumption |
| Nature of Problem | Problems arise from using more resources than necessary for subsistence. | Problems arise from a lack of resources and basic needs. |
| Health Analogy | People fall ill because they overeat. | People fall ill because they are undernourished. |
| Lifestyle Factors | High ownership of cars, excessive purchase of food/clothes, and high electricity usage. | Limited access to resources, leading to different types of environmental stress. |
| Resulting Pollution | High levels of pollution due to industrial and domestic excess. | Environmental degradation due to poverty and lack of infrastructure. |
In summary, while developed nations suffer from the excess of consumption leading to pollution, developing nations suffer from the scarcity of resources, leading to different but equally serious environmental and health crises.
d) What is the common concept about the poor health status of the poor nations?
The common concept regarding the poor health status of people in poor nations is that they fall ill because they are undernourished. The passage draws a parallel between health and environmental issues, stating, "It is usually said that the people in the poor nations fall ill because they are undernourished." This implies that poverty leads to a lack of basic nutritional requirements, which directly impacts health. This is contrasted with the rich nations, where health issues are often linked to overconsumption (overeating).
e) Which sentence in the passage informs us that air, water and soil are polluted?
The specific sentence in the passage that informs us about the pollution of air, water, and soil is:
"Pollution at all levels, that is, air, water and soil knows no bounds."
This sentence explicitly lists the three major components of the environment (air, water, and soil) and states that pollution affecting them is limitless and widespread.
Additional Context for Full Marks
To ensure a comprehensive understanding suitable for a 15-mark question, it is important to note the tone and argument structure of the passage:
- Alarm and Concern: The passage begins by establishing the severity of the situation, using words like "alarm," "concern," and "degenerated." This sets the stage for the argument that immediate attention is required.
- Human Responsibility: The text places the blame squarely on human actions ("man's urge to control nature"). It is not presented as a natural disaster but as a man-made crisis.
- Global Inequality: A significant portion of the passage is dedicated to distinguishing between the environmental challenges of the "First World" and the "Third World." This highlights that while the symptoms (environmental damage) may look similar, the root causes (overconsumption vs. underconsumption) are fundamentally different.
- The Consumption Paradox: The passage uses the analogy of food to explain environmental consumption. Just as both under-eating and over-eating are harmful to health, both under-consumption (leading to poverty-driven environmental exploitation) and over-consumption (leading to resource depletion and pollution) are harmful to the environment.
This structured analysis demonstrates a deep reading of the text, identifying not just the explicit answers but also the underlying themes of responsibility, inequality, and the complex relationship between human lifestyle and environmental health.
Discussion
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