Read the following extract and complete the activities given below : (12 marks)My inspiration comes from my childhood experiences and observations of nature in rural Kenya. As I was growing up, I witnessed forests being cleared and replaced by commer…

Q.2 (A) Read the following extract and complete the activities given below : (12 marks)

My inspiration comes from my childhood experiences and observations of nature in rural Kenya. As I was growing up, I witnessed forests being cleared and replaced by commercial plantations, which destroyed local bio-diversity and the capacity of the forests to conserve water. In 1977, when we started the Green Belt movement, I was partly responding to the needs identified by rural women, namely lack of firewood, clean drinking water, balanced diets, shelter and income. Throughout Africa, women are the primary caretakers, holding significant responsibility for tilling the land and feeding their families. As a result, they are often the first to become aware of environmental damage as resources become scarce and they are incapable of sustaining their families.

The women we worked with recounted that, unlike in the past, they were unable to meet their basic needs. This was due to the degradation of their immediate environment as well as the introduction of commercial farming, which replaced the growing of household food crops. But international trade controlled the price of the exports from these small-scale farmers, and a reasonable and just income could not be guaranteed. I came to understand that when the environment is destroyed, plundered or mismanaged, we undermine the quality of our life and that of future generations.

Tree planting became a natural choice to address some of the initial basic needs identified by women. Also, tree planting is simple, attainable and guarantees quick, successful results within a reasonable amount of time. This sustains interest and commitment. Together, we have planted over 30 million trees that provide fuel, food, shelter, and income to support our children’s education and household needs. The activity also creates employment and improves soil and watersheds.

Initially, the work was difficult because they were unaware that a degraded environment leads to a scramble for scarce resources and may culminate in poverty and even conflict. They were also unaware of the injustices of international economic arrangements. Later, they became aware of the widespread destruction of the ecosystems, especially through deforestation, climatic instability and contamination of the soil and waters - all contributed to excruciating poverty and subsequent riots.

A1. Complete the web diagram on ‘the impacts of environmental degradation’ : (2)
[Web diagram : the centre box reads “Impacts of Environmental degradation”, with arrows to four blank boxes (top, bottom, left and right).]

A2. Provide the supporting details from the extract that highlight the positive effects of tree plantation : (2)
[Table : “Positive effects of tree plantation” on the left, with four blanks (1) to (4) on the right.]

A3. Environmental degradation and mismanagement affect the life in rural Kenya. Explain. (2)

A4. Suggest some ways to protect your local environment. (2)

A5. Language Study : Do as directed : (2)

(i) Tree planting became a natural choice. (Find out the correct option in which ‘Present Perfect Tense’ is used.)
(a) Tree planting had become a natural choice.
(b) Tree planting has become a natural choice.
(c) Tree planting will become a natural choice.
(d) Tree planting has been become a natural choice.

(ii) They were unable to meet their basic needs. (Choose the correct ‘Negative sentence’ of the given statement from the options given below and write it.)
(a) They are not able to meet their basic needs.
(b) They have not able to meet their basic needs.
(c) They were not able to meet their basic needs.
(d) They will not be able to meet their basic needs.

A6. Vocabulary : Find out the words from the extract which mean – (2)
(a) extremely painful
(b) all forms of life on earth
(c) act of stealing / removing
(d) the action of making impure by polluting