Global Warming Questions And Answers Class 8th
The term global warming refers to the general increase in the average temperature of the earth caused by the presence of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, causing changes in climate patterns throughout the globe.
SUMMARY OF GLOBAL WARMING
Global Warming is one of the major threats to the human race. It refers to the rise of about 0.80C. Its main reason is the increase in the greenhouse gases produced by human activities. Global Warming will increase seawater levels and cause extreme weather events including heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall.
Global Warming will melt all the glaciers in the Himalayan region and change the livelihood of millions of people of the subcontinent.
Even place like Kashmir will have an impact of this warming. Glaciers in Jammu and Kashmir are receding at an alarming rate. This has resulted in water scarcity and increased the threat of floods. Global warming has brought in high-velocity storms in the valley which have caused devastation to crops and fruits. The rapid melting of Kolhai glacier by 18% has evoked concern among environmentalist. This is mainly due to increase in temperature, caused by high levels of the population from various sources. The observation made by TERI has shown increased discharge trends due to increase in glacier melt runoff.
Global Warming has brought great changes in climate. The average temperatures have increased. The research carried out by the University of Kashmir has shown that the average increase in temperature in the valley by the end of the 21st century would be between 2 and 3 centigrade. Erratic snowfall, hotter summers, climate variability and change in precipitation levels will affect livelihoods. So, we need to come up with a strategy for the sustainable development of water resources in the region. Our children will curse as if we don’t do it now.
Working with the Text
Q.1 Why has the Earth’s average surface temperature increased?
Ans: One of the major reasons for the increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature is the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human activities such as deforestation and burning of fossil fuels. The increase in the carbon footprint by the developed and the developing countries is one of the major causes of global warming.
Ans: The main sources of drinking water and irrigation in the Kashmir Valley are glaciers which feed most of the rivers and streams.
Q. 4 Why is water the most precious natural resource?
Ans: Life in general not possible without water. Water is required for animals and crops to grow. Thus water sustains life besides presenting itself as one of the major energy resources in the formation of electricity.
Q. 5 How has Kashmir been influenced by global warming?
Ans: Due to global warming, the glaciers in Kashmir are receding at an alarming rate. We have lost 18% of the Kolhai glacier, and about 16% of the glaciers in Suru basin. Besides this Kashmir is witnessing a reduction in snowfall, occurrence of high-velocity wind storms, and drastic changes in precipitation and seasonal changes.
Q. 6 How is global warming the largest threat to humanity?
Ans: Global warming is catastrophic because it is going to render earth barren. Global warming is going to bring droughts, heatwaves and heavy downpour which will have disastrous consequences on the agricultural yields and consequently lead to species extinction. According to Noam Chomsky, after nuclear bomb environmental degradation is the second largest threat faced by man.
Q.7 What do you think is the cause of decrease in snowfall in Kashmir?
Ans: Global warming is the certain cause of the reduction in snowfall in Kashmir because global warming changes the precipitation patterns and thus leads to weather and eventually climate change. Thus, the main cause behind the decrease in snowfall in Kashmir is global warming.
Q. 8 What has been the impact of global warming on J&K so far?
Ans: Due to global warming, the glaciers in J&K are receding at an alarming rate as compared to other glacial regions in the world. J&K has lost about 18% of the Kolhai glacier and about 16% of glaciers in Sure basin alone in the last forty years.
Q. 9 What role do scientists play in J&K to deal with the global warming?
Ans: In Jammu and Kashmir, The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) has selected the Kolhai glacier as one of the index glaciers for long term monitoring. The scientific studies conducted on the glacier will last for five years after which TERI will recommend measures to bring down the glacier‘s recession rate.
Q.10 What do we as individuals need to do to deal with the problem of global warming?
Ans: Besides making people aware about the disastrous consequences of global warming, we should try our best to minimize our carbon footprint that can be done by late minimizing air pollution, encouraging afforestation etc.
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MORE QUESTIONS
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Q. 1. Why has the earth’s average temperature increased?
Ans. Emission of various greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 (Carbon dioxide and methane) by several human activities have led to the increase in the Earth’s average temperature as these gases trap the heat released by the earth and do not let it escape into space.
Q. 2. Why is the Himalayan region called the ‘Water lower Asia?
Ans. The Himalayan region has a glacial coverage of 33,000 sq km and it provides around 8.6 million cubic meters of water annually. Therefore, it is aptly called the water tower of Asia.
Q. 3. What are the main sources of water in the Kashmir Valley?
Ans. Flood plain lakes, high altitude Himalayan lakes, perennial rivers of Indus system, wet-lands of different dimensions, ponds, snow-fed streams, springs, and reservoirs are the main sources of water in the Kashmir valley.
Q. 4. Why is water the most precious natural resource?
Ans. Water is the most precious natural resource because it saves our lives in many ways. It is used for drinking, maintaining health and hygiene, it helps in the economy, development, livelihood, generation of electricity and in agriculture.
Q. 5. How has Kashmir been influenced by global warming?
Ans. Kashmir has been adversely affected by global warming. Despite being located at a pretty high altitude, the effects of global warming are quite vivid in the state. There has been a loss of 16% of glaciers in the Suru Basin, 18% of the Kollai Glacier has melted, the demarcation between seasons is lost, early spring is not experienced in the state, precipitation patterns have changed, heavy rains and high-velocity storms visit the place, flowers have changed their blooming period, water is becoming scarce, there is a reduction in snowfall, icicles are nowhere to be seen in the winter months. Migratory birds have changed their cycle. This and many more are the repercussions of global warming in the Kashmir valley.
Q. 6. How is global warming the largest threat to humanity?
Ans. Global warming is the largest threat to humanity because it brings about changes in the climate and any climate change shall influence every single organism living on the earth. Due to global warming, the largest glaciers are melting away which will cause the rise in the sea level and the consequent submerging of the coastal areas. The weather will change from moderate to hot. This will lead to droughts and lesser production in agriculture. The entire seasonal patterns will change which will result in the extinction of valuable plant and animal species that are essential for the survival of mankind.
Q. 7. What do you think is the cause of decrease in snowfall in Kashmir?
Ans. Global warming is the certain cause of the reduction in snowfall in Kashmir because global warming changes the precipitation patterns and thus leads to weather and eventually climate change.
Q. 8. What role do the scientists play in J&K to deal with the problem of global warming?
Ans. Scientists do extensive field study and keep a steady vigil on the environment to deal with the grave issue of global warming. Scientists have considered the Kollai glaciers as one of the index glaciers in the Lidder valley. Scientific studies conducted on the glacier will last for five years after which TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute J&K) will recommend measures to bring down the recession, rate of the glacier. Also, the studies conducted by the Kashmir University have unveiled the fact that if the pollution release in the valley continues to be at the same pace, by the end of the 21st century, the temperature of the valley will rise by 2 to 3 degree Celsius.
Q. 9. What do we as individuals need to do to deal with the problem of global warming?
Ans. Each individual needs to realize the graveness of the issue and do his part however little it may be. We got to be aware of our environment and its problems and then spread awareness among others as well. We should try to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases as much as we can. We got to realize the fact that our indifferent attitude shall cause us to pay the piper.
LANGUAGE WORK
I. Fill the blanks in the following sentences with appropriate compound word/s or phrases from the box below:
White House/white house, Green House/greenhouse, Black box/black box, Stronghold/stronghold, White-collar/whitecollar
- a) We live in a beautiful Green House.
b) My uncle has built a greenhouse next to his house, where he grows vegetables in winter.
- a) Most PhD’s only preferred white-collar jobs.
b) He was wearing a pink shirt with a whitecollar.
- a) We live in a white house near the mosque.
b) The president of America lives in the White House.
- a) My wife keeps her jewellery in a black box.
b) The black box has been found. It will now be possible to find out why the plane crashed.
- a) He has a stronghold on his wife.
b) The southern part of the state is a stronghold of the robbers.
II. Use the following phrases or expressions from the lesson in your own sentences;
Ans. In progress: The meeting was in progress when I reached there.
Uncontrollable rate: The crime is growing at an uncontrollable rate.
Across the globe: Covid-19 spread across the globe.
In the backdrop of The schools and other offices were closed in the backdrop of COVID – 19 spread.
At an alarming rate: Pollution is increasing at an alarming rate.
An irritating change: Pollution leads to an irritating change in the environment.
Bereft of: They appear to be completely bereft of new ideas
Dried up: Most of the springs in the valley have dried up due to global warming,
At the global level: We should find the measures at the global level to control global warming.
Heavy burden: If proper steps will not be taken against global warming, it will be a heavy burden on the shoulders of every individual in the near future.
III. Choose the synonym of the word from the four options given:
1. The sporadic rise in his temperature has caused us much worry.
a. Frequent b. irksome c. irregular d. scattered
Ans. c. Irregular
2. The reading of poetry is not congenial to his state.
a. Suited b. Beneficial c. Helpful d. Preferable
Ans. a. Suited
3. The weavers have to do monotonous work.
a. Repetitive b. exhaustive c. irksome d. autonomous
Ans. a. Repetitive
- The fishing pulled away from the wharf and chugged smoothly down the bay.
a. harbour b. shore c. quay c. ager
Ans. c. Quay
GRAMMAR WORK
Gerund:
The -ing form of a verb that functions like a noun is called gerund. Gerund is, therefore, also called verbal Noun.
Uses of gerund:
a. The subject of a verb (or subject of the sentence)
i. Swimming helps to build strong muscles. ii. Reading develops wisdom.
i. My favourite hobby is cooking
ii. Our aim was only passing.
iii. His nightmare was flying
(Notice: the gerund answers ‘what’ and not ‘doing what’)
d. As the object of a preposition.
i. He is fond of cooking
ii. Let’s discuss about making excuses
iii. She is unbeatable in arguing.
In the following sentences, use either infinitive or gerund in order to make them correct:
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Laughing is good for health. (to laugh/laughing)
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Our turn to be over, we left the library. (be / being)
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The old woman tried to go to the hospital alone. (to go/ going)
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Being late for school is his habit. (to be / being)
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Hina, having completed her work, left home. (to have/having)
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Listening to music is her hobby. (to listen / listening)
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I liked to read Arabic literature. (to read / reading)
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His only aim was to cheat. (to cheat / cheating)
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Fishing is not allowed here. (to fish / fishing)
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Children love to make mud houses. (to make / making)
