Unseen Passage: Deforestation

Reading Comprehension

Deforestation

Forests are an important part of civilization. They not only form a considerable portion of the national wealth of a country, but also play an important role in maintaining the environmental balance. Indiscriminate felling of trees to enhance city areas is a threat to our civilization. We often forget that a peaceful, sensitive and wellbalanced co-existence of man-made civilization and natural flora and fauna is absolutely important for human existence on the earth. We forget that deforestation for the urbanization project led to the destruction of past civilizations such as Mohenjo-Daro. Indiscriminate felling of trees not only leaves our planet with fewer trees but also threatens the wildlife of the region. Forests and trees have an enormous impact on the climate as they are instrumental in drawing rain to the earth. Deforestation has resulted radical changes in our climate. The overall temperature of the planet is increasing at an alarming rate. The duration of seasons is fluctuating all over the world. The rate of rainfall is decreasing day by day. The ice-caps at the Poles are melting as a result. The amount of cultivable land is reducing as a result of deforestation and less rainfall. The future of this planet is in trouble unless immediate attention is paid to this danger.

Thousands of species of plants and animals are fast disappearing from the face of our earth as a result of human callousness. Forests in the mountains play an important role in preventing erosion and landslides. Felling of trees in the hilly regions endangers the lives of people that live there. However, the silver lining is that several people are becoming aware of this danger. A number of environment activist groups are undertaking a campaign to save forests.

Afforestation and preservation of wildlife can be an answer to this environmental crisis. By planting new trees, we can slowly restore the environmental balance that was disturbed by deforestation. Though, the process is long term, yet it is sure to save our planet from extinction. A thorough mass awareness against deforestation and preservation of wildlife is the call of the hour. It is only through mass sensitization and participation that this aim can be realized in future.

Q. Answer the following questions:

1. Why are forests an important part of the civilization?
2. What was the reason behind the decline of Mohenjo-Daro civilization?
3. What role do forests and trees play?
4. Why are thousands of species of plants and animals disappearing?

Answer

1. Forests are not only national wealth of a country but they also maintain the environmental balance.
2. Deforestation for the urbanization project led to the decline of Mohenjo-Daro civilization.
3. Forests and trees are instrumental in drawing rain to the earth.
4. They are disappearing as a result of human callousness.

Q. Choose the correct alternatives:

1. What are the people doing to overcome this dangerous situation?
   1. afforestation
   2. groups are undertaking campaign to save forests
   3. preservation of wildlife
   4. Both (1) and (3)
2. What can be the answer to environmental crisis?
   1. afforestation and wildlife preservation
   2. restore the environmental balance
   3. environmental activist groups undertaking campaign
   4. None of the above
3. What is the call of the hour?
   1. preventing erosion and landslides
   2. awareness against deforestation and preservation of wildlife
   3. rate of rainfall is decreasing day by day
   4. species are fast disappearing
4. Choose the word nearest in meaning from the passage for ‘Having unpredictable ups and down’:
   1. balance
   2. awareness
   3. decreasing
   4. fluctuating

Answer

1. groups are undertaking campaign to save forests
2. afforestation and wildlife preservation
3. awareness against deforestation and preservation of wildlife
4. fluctuating