Class XII (English Core)

JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH

BY: TISHANI JOSHI
__________________________________________________________
NOTES, SUMMARY AND Question Answers

Introduction:
The lesson revolves around the world’s most preserved place,
Antarctica. Not many people have been there but out of the few that
have, Tishani Doshi is one of them. A south Indian person who went on
an expedition with a group of teenagers affiliated with ‘Students on Ice’
programme who takes young minds to different ends of the world.
Thus, it gives an insight into how Antarctica is the place you should visit
to have a glimpse of the past, present and the future in its realist form.
 Summary
For a south Indian man travelling to Antarctica from Madras, it takes
nine time zones, six checkpoints, three water-bodies and just as many
ecospheres to reach there. Tishani Doshi travelled to the Southern end
of the Earth along with an expedition group named ‘Students on Ice’
that provides opportunity to the young minds to sensitise towards the
realistic version of climatic changes happening in the world. According
to the founder of the organisation, we are the young versions of future
policy makers who can turn the situation around. Antarctica is one of
the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world. As far as the
eyes can see, it is completely white and its uninterrupted blue horizon
gives immense relief. It is shocking to believe that India and Antarctica
were part of the same supercontinent Gondwana, that got segregated
into countries giving rise to the globe we know today. Antarctica had a
warmer climate until then. Despite human civilisation around the globe,
it still remains in it pure form. Being a south Indian sun-worshipping
guy, it was unimaginable for the author to visit the place that
constitutes world’s 90 per cent of ice, a place so quiet that it is only
interrupted by snow avalanches. It is a home to a lot of evidences that
can give us a glimpse of the past and at the same time, Antarctica helps
us foresee the future. The place gives an awakening to threatening
alarm that global warming is actually real. Who knows if Antarctica will
be warm again and even if it does, will we be alive to see it?
 
Introduction In ‘Journey to the End of the Earth’ Tishani Doshi describes
the journey to the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world:
Antarctica. The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica. Geoff
Green’s ‘Students on Ice’ programme aims at taking high school
students to the ends of the world. Doshi thinks that Antarctica is the
place to go and understand the earth’s present, past and future.
Summary of the lesson(IN DETAIL)

Beginning of Journey- The narrator boarded a Russian research ship-

The 'Akademik Shokalskiy'. It was heading towards the coldest, driest
and the windiest continent in the world, Antarctica. His journey began
13.09 degrees north of the Equator in Madras (Chennai). He crossed
nine time zones, six checkpoints, three bodies of water and at least
three ecospheres. He travelled over 100 hours in car, aeroplane and
ship to reach there. Southern Supercontinent(Gondwana)- Six hundred
and fifty million years ago a giant southern supercontinent Gondwana
did indeed exist. It centered roughly around present-day Antarctica.
Human beings hadn't arrived on the global scene. The climate at that
time was much warmer. It supported a huge variety of flora and fauna.
When the dinosaurs became totally extinct and the age of mammals
began, the landmass was forced to separate into countries as they exist
today.

Study of Antarctica-The purpose of the visit was to know more about

Antarctica. It is to understand the significance of Cordilleran folds and
pre-Cambrian granite shields; ozone and carbon; evolution and
extinction. Ninety per cent of the earth's total ice volumes are stored in
Antarctica. Icebergs are as big as countries. Days go on and on in 24-
hour austral summer light.

Human Impact- The most hotly contested debate of our time is

whether West Antarctica Ice sheet will melt entirely or no. If we want
to study the earth's past, present and future, Antarctica is the place (for
us) to go. Antarctica has a simple eco-system and lacks of biodiversity.
It is the perfect place to study how little changes in the environment
can have big repercussions (results). Scientists warn that a further
depletion of the ozone layer will affect the lives of the sea-animals and
birds of the region. It will also affect the global carbon cycle. The
burning of fossil fuels has polluted the atmosphere. It has created a
blanket of carbon dioxide around the world. It is increasing the global
temperature which is visible at Antarctica when we see ice bergs
melting away. It shows how minor changes in the atmosphere can
cause huge effect. If the global temperature keeps on increasing the
human race may be in peril.

“Students on ice” is a programme which provides the students an

ample opportunity to understand how global temperature can be a big
threat to human existence. It inculcates a new understanding in them.
Geoff Green thinks that high school students are the future policy
 makers. They can help in saving the earth from ecological dangers and
the effects of global warming.

Effect of Climatic Change- The author gives us an example to show how

small changes in the atmosphere can be threatening. The microscopic
phytoplanktons are single celled plants. They nourish the entire
Southern Ocean’s food chain. They use the sun’s energy to assimilate
carbon and supply oxygen. Any further depletion in the ozone layer
may affect this functioning and indirectly affect the lives of all marine
animals. Walk on the Ocean-It was the most thrilling experience of the
visit. They climbed down the gangplank and walked on the ocean. They
were 52 persons. They were walking on a meter-thick ice-pack. Under
the ice pack there was 180 meters of living, breathing, salt water. Seals
were enjoying themselves in the sun on ice. The narrator was
wondering about the beauty of the place. He wished it would not
become a warm place as it used to be millions of years ago. If it
happens, the results can be ruinous.

Points to Remember

1. The writer visited Antarctica, the coldest, driest and windiest continent
in the world, aboard the Russian research vessel, Akademik Shokalskiy.
2. The journey, beginning at Chennai, passed through many areas,
geographical, legal, ecological and temporal.
3. The writer’s first reaction to the continent was of relief, followed by
wonder at its vastness, seclusion and geological history.
 Part of History
1. Before human evolution, Antarctica was part of a huge tropical
landmass called the Gondwana land, which flourished 500 million years
ago.
2. Biological (flora and fauna), geological (changing continents) and
geographical (climatic)changes occurred and Antarctica separated and
moved away evolving into what it is today.
3. A visit to Antarctica gave the writer a deeper understanding of fold
mountains, the earth’s history, ecology and environment.
4. The writer felt unsettled in two weeks time not only because she came
from a much hotter place, but also because all features of human
civilization were absent from an already desolate landscape.
5. The long summers, the silence broken occasionally by cracking ice
sheets and avalanches, the blue whales and ice bergs, all contribute to
an ecological implication that the future for humans isn’t good.
 Human Impact
1. Humans, who are known to have existed for a mere 12000 years, have
caused tremendous impact and played havoc with nature.
2. Population explosion, putting a strain on available resources, carbon
emissions, fossil fuels and global warming have all resulted in climatic
and ecological imbalances that have also affected Antarctica.
3. Antarctica, though unpopulated, has been affected and there are
concerns for its half a million year old carbon records trapped under its
ice sheets.
4. The ‘Students on Ice’ programme, an initiative of Canadian adventure
educator, Geoff Green takes students on expeditions to Antarctica, to
create awareness in them, the future policy makers.
5. The stark proof of global warming and environmental threats helps
students attain an understanding of ecosystems and biodiversity of our
planet.
6. An amazing display of the food chain of the Southern Ocean helps in
the understanding that further depletion of the ozone layer, will set off
a chain reaction that will affect the global carbon cycle.
7. The simple truth is, take care of the small things and the bigger ones
will automatically be taken care of.
 Walk on The Ocean
1. Before their return, the writer got an opportunity to walk on the ocean
at 65.55 degrees south, which made her realize that she was
walking on 180 meters of ocean water, a rich kaleidoscope of life.
2. Reaching home, she wondered whether Antarctica would ever be warm
again, how much difference a million years can make and, that each day
makes a difference.
Important Questions and Answers

Que. What is Antarctica?

Ans. Antarctica is southern continent of the earth. It is the driest,

coldest and windiest continent.

Que. What is ‘Students on Ice? (Imp)

Ans. ‘Students on Ice’ is an educational journey to Antarctica. It takes

high school students to show them the terrifying impacts of human
activities in Antarctica so that, the students (future policy makers of the
earth) will realize that the end of the earth is quite near and therefore
something should be done to save the planet.

Que. Why did Geoff Green decide to take high school students to
Antarctica?

Ans. Geoff Green didn’t find any good in taking curious celebrities to
Antarctica until he thought of taking high school students. He believed
the young enthusiasm in them would easily understand the seriousness
of the threat that poses the earth by visiting Antarctica and they would
act their bit to save the planet from further deterioration.

Que. Why is Students on Ice Program a success?

Ans. When one stands in the midst of the calving ice-sheets and
retreating glaciers and melting icebergs, he realizes that the threats to
the earth are real. It is different from talking about Antarctica from the
comfort zones of our warm countries and therefore being in Antarctica
is a shocking realization.

Que. Why are the youngsters called the future policy makers of the
earth?

Ans. The youngsters are called the future policy-makers because it is

they who will steer the government-machine as they grow up. More
than that, the more educated youth of today is the hope for the earth
as many students are more informed and more aware of the weakening
strength of the planet.

Que. What lessons are we able to learn from Antarctica?

Ans. While in Antarctica, we can ice-sheets breaking, water level rising,

seals taking sun bath on the ice floes. We can also walk on the thin
layers of ice and feel the life under our feet. We can see icebergs as big
as a small country. We will be shocked to hear that these ice sheets
were many times bigger than their present size a few years ago. You
will see a green patch of phytoplankton – a microscopic grass that feeds
the entire marine life. Last of all, if you dig a bit, you will be lucky to see
the fossils of half a million year old animals, plants and birds that got
killed in the previous ice-age. From all this, we are able to learn the
lesson of the death of the planet earth.

Que. What are phytoplanktons? How are they important for the earth’s
survival? What does the parable of phytoplankton teach us? (Imp)

Ans. Phytoplankton is a single-celled grass that feed the entire southern

ocean’s marine life. These micro organisms require a low degree of
temperature for their survival. But due to the overheating and the
depletion of ozone layers, their existence is threatened. The message
for the humans is to take care of the small things so that the bigger
things will also fall in place.

Que. How is Antarctica significant in climatic debates?

Ans. Antarctica is a continent that has a landmass with miles deep ice,
layers over layers. In each of those layers lie millions of years old
carbon records of the organisms that existed since the beginning of the
earth. While pondering over the issue of the future of the earth, these
carbon records will shed light on the past and enable the scientist to co-
relate the past, present and future.

Que. How do geological phenomena help us to know about the history

of humankind?

Ans. Geological phenomena certainly help us to know about the history

of humankind. A giant southern supercontinent- Gondwana did exist
650 million years ago. The climate was much warmer. It had a huge
variety of flora and fauna. Gondwana thrived for 500 million years.
Finally, it broke to separate countries as they exist today. It was the
stage when dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of mammals started.

Que. What are the indications for the future of humankind?

Ans. Rapid human population growth and limited resources exert

pressure on land. Burning of fossil fuels has only helped in increasing
the average global temperature. Melting of ice-caps, depletion of the
ozone layer and global warming are the real and immediate dangers for
mankind. They will affect the lives of all the marine animals and the
birds of the region.
 Que. ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica: How is the
study of this region useful to us? (Imp)

Ans. The study of Antarctica shows that India and Antarctica were part
of a supercontinent named Gondwana. This supercontinent exists 650
million years ago. To The climate of Gondwana was much warmer. It
fostered a huge variety of flora and fauna. Then about 150 million years
ago, dinosaurs were wiped out. The age of mammals started.
Gondwana was forced to separate into countries. The globe was
shaped much as we know it today. A cold circumpolar current was
created. It made Antarctica frigid. Thus, we can say that the world’s
geological history is really trapped in Antarctica.

Que. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s

present, past And future? (Imp)

Ans. Introduction: If we want to study and examine the Earth’s present,

past and future, there is the only place that is Antarctica. Reason: To
visit Antarctica is to be a part of the earth’s past history. We come to
know that about 650 million years ago there was a giant super-
continent in the south. It was called Gondwana. India and the
Antarctica were parts of the same landmass-Gondwana. Things were
quite different then. Human had not arrived on the earth. The climate
of Antarctica was much warmer. It had a huge variety of flora and
fauna. Dinosaurs became extinct. The age of mammals started. The
landmass was forced in to be separated into countries as they exist
today. The study of Antarctica also helps us to understand the earth’s
present and future as well. Geological history is trapped. Here in
Antarctica we can study the earth’s past. About 90 percent of the
earth’s total ice is stored here. There are no trees, buildings or other
human settlements in Antarctica. Here we see glaciers melting and ice-
caps falling. We can relate them to the results of global warming.
Antarctica also warns us for the future. It warns the end of the world if
the west Antarctica ice sheet melts entirely, and the Gulf Stream ocean
current is disrupted.

Ques. What will happen if the global warming results in constant

melting of icebergs?

Ans. It will bring disastrous results. The further depletion (decadence)

of ozone layer will affect sea animals, vegetation (plants and trees) and
humans very adversely (undesirably). Conclusion: There is no place in
the Earth except Antarctica where we can find the records of present,
past and future. Thus, Antarctica is the perfect place to go to, to
understand the earth’s present, past and the future. Word-
meaningsBoarded- stepped (climed) onto a ship Heading towards-
moving towards Windiest- having the maximum wind Continent- a large
mass of land surrounded by sea Time Zones- 24 areas of the world,
each has its own time Check points- places on the boarders where
officials check people and vehicles Landmass - large area of land Giant-
huge Supercontinent- greater (more) than a continent Flora -
vegetation Fauna- birds and animals Thrived- prospered Shields-
protective plates Depletion- reduction in the quantity of Ice floes- ice
floating in sea Icecap- permanent covering of ice

NCERT Questions (Think as you read)

Q1.How does the geological phenomenon help us to know about the

history of mankind ?
 Ans Geological phenomena gives one an insight into why and how the
present landforms came into being. About six hundred and fifty million
years ago , there existed a giant southern supercontinent Gondwana.It
thrived for 500 million years and finally it broke into separate countries
as they exist today.

By visiting Antarctica we can know from where we have come from and
where we are heading .It also helps us understand the importance of
Cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian Granite shields ,ozone and carbon
and also about the evolution and extinction. . Its ice cores hold more
than half –million-year old carbon records which are useful for the
study of past.

Q2 .What are the indication for the future of mankind ?

 Future of mankind appears dismal.

 Increase in population has led to a “ population boom.”
 Greatly depleted our resources of nature that destroyed forests and
extinction of certain species of wildlife.
 Excessive burning of fossil fuels has created a blanket of carbon dioxide
around the earth.
 Antarctic environment has been affected by global warming- this is
clear from receding glaciers and collapsing ice shelves.
 These grave indications do not anger will for the future of mankind
NCERT QUESTIONS ( understanding the text)

Q1 How is the study of this region useful to us?

 Antarctica – only place in the world remaining pristine (never sustained

human population)
 holds in its ice-cores half million year-old carbon records
 only place to study Earth’s past, present and future
 gives an insight into how the earth forms and continents as they are
today came into being
 tells us about repercussions of environmental changes
(phytoplanktons)
can enable us to

 study problems of global warming (glacier retreating, ice-shelves

collapsing)
 concept of evolution and extinction
 significance of Cordilleran folds and granite shields; ozone and carbon
Q.2. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students
on Ice Expedition?

 Ans: A visit to Antarctica makes it quite clear and there one can see the
ice shelves melting. ‘Students on Ice’ is a programme headed by
Canadian Geoff Green. He aims at organizing this programme by taking
high school students to the ends of the world. He thinks it most
essential to provide the students with inspiring educational
opportunities to know more about the Antarctica. Through this they
will generate a new understanding and respect for our planet. Earlier
Geoff Green had organized programme with celebrities and rich people
which gave him back only in a limited way. Since the students are
young minds and full of adventurous activities they can learn, act and
absorb much by visiting the Antarctica. They can see through their own
eyes glaciers retreating and ice-shelves collapsing. They can realize the
future dangers, catastrophic effect of climatic changes and the global
warming. The Antarctica provides the young students a perfect place to
study the varied changes occurring in the environment. These little
changes can have significant consequences. The students can see those
grasses of the sea that flourish, nourish and sustain the entire Southern
Ocean’s food chain. Thus the programme provides a lively study of
changes and the realities going on the Antarctica.

 Q3. ‘Take care of small things and big things will take care of
themselves.’ What is the relevance of this statement in the context of
the Antarctica’s Environment ?

 Ans : Antarctica has a simple ecosystem and lacks biodiversity ,it is the

best place to study how little changes in the environment can have big
consequences.
The author gives the example of very small single celled plants
called phytoplankton which nourish and sustain the entire southern
ocean‘s food chain. The phytoplankton uses the energy to absorb
carbon and also synthesize various organic compounds through
photosynthesis. Scientists have forewarned that if Ozone layer depletes
any further it will have a direct impact on the activities of the
phytoplankton this will lead to a chain reaction adversely affecting the
lives of marine animals and birds of the region which will further result
in the disturbance global carbon cycle .

So, it is expected of man to pay special attention to tiny forms of animal

and plant life and prevent the depletion of ozone layer by reducing
carbon dioxide emissions.If we take care of small things big things will
automatically fall into place

Q4. Why is Antarctica a place to go to ,to understand Earth’s

present ,past and future?

Ans. Antarctica is a place to go to ,to understand Earth’s present ,past

and future.

Six hundred and fifty million years ago , the present day Antarctica was
surrounded by a giant amalgamated Southern supercontinent called
 Gondwana. Thus Antarctica belongs to ancient geological era when
human beings had not yet evolved ,the climate was warm in the
continent and supported a huge variety of flora and fauna. Later ,the
dinosaurs were wiped out and mammals began to evolve . At this
juncture Gondwana got separated into countries.So to visit Antarctica is
now to be a part of that history.It is to understand the significance of
Cordilleran folds and pre-Cambrian granite shields; ozone and carbon;
evolution and extinction. (past)

Since the planet is unravaged by human population and civilization ,it

remains relatively pristine. Its ice cores hold more than half –million-
year old carbon records which are useful for the study of past ,present
and future of our planet.

We can realize the threat of global warming by seeing glaciars melting

and ice shelves collapsing. (present)

Antarctica is the best place to study how little changes in the

environment can have big repercussions. Phytoplanktons nourish and
sustain the entire Southern Ocean’s food chain. Further depletion in
the ozone layer would affect the lives of all the marine animals and
birds of the region and the global carbon cycle. It could also lead to the
end of the world. In this way it suggests future possibilities about our
planet. (future)

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SHORT QUESTIONS

Q1.What was the Akademik Shokalsky? Where was it headed and why?

1. (Akademik Shokalsky was a Russian Research vessel.It was heading

towards the coldest, driest windiest continent in the World ,Antarctica
They were heading to be part of ‘Students on ice Programme’)

Q2.How does the author describe the Antarctica?

Q3.How did the Antartica amaze the writer when he first saw it?

( relief followed by immediate and profound wonder at Antarctica’s

immensity and isolation)

Q4 How is present day Antarctica different from GONDWANA?

(p 19 ,1st para)

Q5 Why does Tishani Doshi call her two week stay in Antarctica ‘a
chilling prospect’?

(For the author who was accustomed to live in a warm climate ,staying

for 2 weeks in a place where 90% of earth’s total volume are stored is a
chilling prospect. Coldness of the region not only restrains her
circulatory and metabolic functions but also her imagination.

Q6.Why does one lose all earthly perspective on reaching Antarctica?

(-its like walking into a giant ping pong ball

-devoid of any human markers-no trees , billboards and buildings

-visual scale ranges from microscopic to macroscopic)

Q7 What sort of brightness and silence prevail in Antarctica during

summer?(p-20 ,1st para)

Q8."And for humans, the prognosis is not good". Explain the situation &
observation.

(The span of 12000 years of human existence is quite insignificant in

comparison to earth's history-but man has created ruckus-
by concretizing to nature, burning fossil fuels-that ascertain & bleak
future)

Q9 How long have the human civilizations been around? How has it
affected the earth and its resources? (p-20 ,2nd para)

Q7.How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate

change?

(Because it has no population, but more importantly its holds in its ice-

cores half million-year old Carbon record)

Q8 What was the objective of the ‘Student on Ice Programme’ ? (p-

21 ,1st para)

Q9 What are the reasons behind the programme’s success? (p-

21 ,2nd para)

Q10 How does Antarctica differ from the earth?

(Antarctica-has never supported human existance-24 hrs austral light

makes one lose entire earthly sense-the visual scale ranges from
microscopic to the mighty-a different phenomenon-no trees, no bill
boards , no buildings)

LONG QUESTIONS

Q1 Describe the author’s journey to the end of the Earth ?

Ans The Author was part of the ‘Student on Ice programme’ which

made her head to Antarctica .To go there she boarded the Russian
research vessel –Akademik Shokalsky and headed towards
Antarctica .Crossed nine time zones ,six checkpoints, three water
bodies and many ecospheres .
 She was with a group of teenagers on ‘Student on Ice ‘ programme,
whose aim was to develop new understanding and respect for the
planet They closely saw glaciers retreating and ice shelves collapsing
and began to realize that the threat of global warming was very real.
Most enjoyable experience of the author was walking on the ocean
with a metre-thick ice underneath and 180 metres of living ,breathing
salt water below the ice

Q2 Describe the impact of Antarctica on the writer.

 It was an amazing, alluring and mind boggling experience.

 Amazed to see the wide stretch of sea under the blue horizon. It was a
place which has the history of mankind embedded deep into the layers
of the ice.
 The sight of collapsing ice shields, breaking of ice-bergs and melting of
ice was an eye opener.
 It made the author and his team aware of the dangers the future times
are having in their folds.
Q3 What are phytoplanktons? How are they important to our
ecosystem?

Q4. What is the significance of the title` Journey to the End of the
Earth’.?

The title, ‘Journey to the End of the Earth,’ has more than one meaning.
It describes an educational journey to Antarctica undertaken by groups
of high school students to learn more about the real impact of Global
Warming and the future of the earth. 52 students went to the coldest,
driest, windiest continent in the world called Antartica in a Russian
research vessel, the Akademik Shokalskiy.
The author calls it a journey to the end of the earth because it began
13.09 deg North of Equator in Madras, involved crossing nine time
zones, six checkpoints, three oceans and three ecospheres. She
travelled over 100 hours in combination of a car, an aeroplane and a
ship. The journey, being to the extreme south of the earth, is really
towards the end of it. Another meaning of this title is more significant
as the warnings that Antarctica gives are shocking and much concerning
the humanity and the millions of other species on the earth. The
changes taking place in Antarctica are pointing a warning finger at the
existence of the earth; the earth is journeying to its end!

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