CIVICS || ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS || CHAPTER 16

Q1) What is environmental degradation?

Ans) Environmental degradation is the exploitation, misuse and
subsequent deterioration of the natural environment.
Q2) Why did people in ancient times worship natural elements like water, air
and soil?
Ans) Since the birth of human civilization, ancient people recognized,
appreciated and respected the beneficial effects of the sun, water, air and
soil. They worshipped these elements together with various species of
plants and animals in their environment.
Q3) Mention major threats to the environment and the balance of nature.
Ans) The major threats to the environment and the balance of nature
are:
(a) Pollution
(b) Overpopulation
(c) Exploitation and depletion of natural resources
Q4) Mention the major types of environmental pollution.
Ans) There are four types of environmental pollution:
(a) Air Pollution
(b) Water Pollution
(c) Land Pollution
(d) Noise Pollution
Q5) What is meant by the term “greenhouse effect”?
Q6) Industries use large amounts of fossil fuels. Huge amounts of gases
emitted from industries act like the glass roof of a greenhouse, trapping the
heat of the sun and increasing the temperature of earth’s atmosphere. This is
known as the greenhouse effect and it leads to global warming.
Q7) Why are nuclear plants a major threat to environment?
Ans) There is a constant risk of radioactive leaks and major accidents
such as the Chernobyl (Ukraine, a part of former Soviet Union) nuclear
power plant disaster of 1986. Such accidents release a huge radioactive
cloud that drifts and poisons the atmosphere thousands of miles away
from the accident site. Radiation causes cancer particularly blood cancer.
Q8) Why was Lake Erie in North America described as “dead”?
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Ans) In the 1960s, Lake Erie in North America was described as dead.
This meant that it was so heavily polluted that no fish could survive in it.
Q9) In what way do oil spills affect marine life in the oceans and seas?
Ans) Oil spills often contaminate the oceans and seas with oil slicks
which kill thousands of birds and sea animals.
Q10) What harmful effects can noise have on the human body and mind?
Ans) Noise pollution can cause partial or permanent deafness,
depression, loss of concentration, anger, tensions, headache, high blood
pressure and cardiac problems. Women exposed to high- noise level for a
long period may give birth to physically or mentally impaired children.
Q11) What is the Fundamental Duty of Indian citizens with regard to their
environment?
Ans) The fundamental duties in the constitution of India make it the
bounden duty of every citizen to protect and safeguard their
environment.
Q12) Interdependence is a precondition and the key to survival, peace and
progress in today’s world. In this context answer the following questions:
i) Explain with an example how we have learnt this fundamental truth
from nature.
Ans: If we examine the working principle of the human body, we find
that the various components- organs like the heart, lungs, liver,
kidneys stomach, etc- all perform their functions by following a set
pattern. This is a pattern of interdependence, mutual coordination and
active cooperation. By doing so, each organ stays alive and healthy and
together they keep the entire organism alive and healthy.
ii) Why must nations cooperate with one another?
Ans: No nation is self sufficient. Our needs have multiplied over the
years. We need each other to fulfill these needs. Even a superpower
like the USA is dependent on, among other things, oil imports from
other nations. We need to buy what we do not have and sell we have
in abundance. Trade is a necessary condition for survival and
sustenance.
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iii) How has the Information technology (IT) revolution impacted the
global community?
Ans: The information technology (IT) revolution in recent years has
brought us closer than ever before. We are no longer merely members
of a global village- we are immediate neighbors. As a global
community, our future lies in following nature’s unique pattern of
interdependence, mutual coordination and active cooperation.
Q13) There are several major challenges that confront the global community,
the chief among them being problems related to environmental degradation.
In this context, answer the following questions:
i) Why should we protect and conserve our environment?
Ans: The natural environment on the earth includes plants, animals,
air, water, soil, temperature and light. Life is totally dependent on this
environment. Life which is totally dependent on the environment will
become extinct if nature’s unique gifts are improperly exploited and
abused. Environmental degradation will spell doom for human life.
ii) Industrialization has led to massive pollution of the environment.
Explain.
Ans: About 50% of the total air pollution that has occurred is primarily
due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. Discharges from heavy
industries have polluted the atmosphere. Acid rain (rain polluted with
sulphuric acid) has caused extensive damage to trees. Huge amount of
gases emitted from industries act like the glass roof of green house,
trapping the heat of the sun and increasing the temperature of the
earth’s atmosphere.
iii) State the damaging results of the “Greenhouse effect”.
Ans: The damaging results of Green House effect are :
(a) Melting of the ice caps at the poles causing a rise in the sea
level and widespread flooding.
(b) Rapid increase in the temperature in Africa and parts of Asia,
making them too hot for people to live in.
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(c)Chemicals (CFC) used in refrigerators; fire extinguishers, etc have

harmed the earth’s protective ozone layer. The unfiltered solar
radiation has exposed people to risks of skin cancer.
Q14) Most environmental problems are entirely man- made. In this context
explain:
i) Any four causes of water pollution
Ans: The causes of water pollution are:
 Discharge of effluents and chemical waste from heavy industries.
 Sewage in large cities is disposed of by directly dumping them in to
sea.
 Oil tankers and oil spills often contaminate the sea with oil slicks.
 People bathe, wash their cattle, wash utensils, immerse idols etc in
river.
ii) Three causes of land pollution
Ans: Three causes of land pollution
 Uncontrolled use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has damaged
the quality and fertility of land.
 Widespread deforestation has led to soil erosion.
 The elimination of natural predators and useful bacteria (which
help in the decomposition process) leads to an increase in the
population of harmful insects. Use of toxic pesticides to control
these pests and their residue remains in the soil.
iii) Three causes of noise pollution
Ans: The causes of noise pollution:
 Traffic and Transport – motor vehicles, jet planes, railway junctions
 Factories- drilling, cutting, crushing, grinding machines
 Machines and gadgets at home and in the neighborhood-
generators, water pumps, washing machines, television , radio,
loudspeaker , microphones etc.

Q15) Overpopulation and mindless exploitation of natural resources has led to

a serious ecological imbalance. With reference to this discuss:
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i) The negative impact of overpopulation on natural resources.

Ans: The steady growth rate of human population is causing rapid
depletion of the world’s natural resources. The world does not have
the resources to sustain the growing population for an indefinite
period. To extend agricultural land and accommodate and feed the
growing population, trees have been cut down and forests have been
cleared. The depletion of earth’s resources has created serious
ecological imbalance.
ii) Any serious consequences of the rapid industrialization in the 20th
century.
Ans: Serious consequences of the rapid industrialization in the 20th
century:
 Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – cannot be replaced. They are being
used up rapidly.
 Non renewable resources like tin, lead, copper etc are being
continuously mined and used up.
 Timber is used on a large scale which has led to cutting down of half
the world’s rain forests. Various animals and insects who are a part
of balancing ecological system have lost their habitat and have
perished.
 Marine life is endangered.
 The supply of phosphates is nearing exhaustion.
 The farmland available for agriculture is decreasing as industries
spread and cities grow and expand.
iii) Some initiatives being taken at the local and international levels to
protect and preserve our environment.
Ans: Initiatives taken at different levels to protect and preserve our
environment:
 In cities like Delhi, which was once the fourth – most polluted city in
the world has a much cleaner air today. This is because the buses
here run on compressed natural gas (CNG) which pollutes much less
than diesel.
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 In many cities municipalities have banned burning of wood and

have advised people against using toxic paints on idols and
immersing them in to water bodies.