Unit 14 — Biodiversity in Pakistan

Complete Solved Exercises

Textbook: English 9, KP Textbook Board — Unit 14, pp.134–143
Theme: Preservation of nature
Grammar: Punctuation — parentheses and ellipsis
Writing: Descriptive writing with the help of a mind-map; persuasive / argumentative essay

KEY FACTS FROM THE LESSON — quick revision

Pakistan's natural blessings

Indigenous wildlife · the beautiful mountains of the Himalayas · the deserts of Cholistan and Thar · manmade forests like Changa Manga · natural resources from the Balochistan trails · K-2, the second tallest mountain and a challenging tourist attraction for mountain climbing · four seasons blooming each year to their fullest · an average rainfall of 12–14 inches per year, making Pakistan a very fertile agricultural land.

Endangered species named in the text

Threats to biodiversity

Juniper forests of Balochistan

• One of the most extensive and oldest juniper ecosystems of the world.
• Spread between 2100–3000 m; an extensive open woodland.
• Juniper is extremely slow growing — only one-inch diameter growth and one cubic foot in 50 years.
• At higher elevations the trees become stunted and dwarfed, forming large prostrate patches on rocks, especially on wind-exposed slopes in the Ziarat, Zarghun and Harboi Ranges.

Conservation measures taken by Pakistan

Six parks short-listed for protection of biodiversity:

1. Lal Sohanra National Park (Bahawalpur – Punjab)
2. Kirthar National Park (Sindh) — has the distinction of being the first park on the UN list of protected areas
3. Khunjerab National Park (Northern Areas)
4. Chiltan Hazarganji National Park (Balochistan)
5. Margalla Hills National Park (Islamabad)
6. Chitral Gol National Park (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

Further, Pakistan has 14 National Parks, 99 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 96 Game Reserves with the aim of preserving and conserving biodiversity.

Challenges Pakistan is facing

Political instability · lack of technical and institutional capacity · lack of financial resources · lack of awareness · insufficient access to local knowledge · legal impediments · limited public and stakeholder participation · lack of mainstreaming of biodiversity with other sectors · lack of transfer of technology and expertise · inadequate engagement of the scientific community · poverty · increasing population · climate change and natural disasters.

The writer's warning: "It is high time that we act now, otherwise the biodiversity will vanish and the next generation would see only pictures, movies and stuffed toys of biodiversity."

PRE-READING (p.135)

• What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity (biological diversity) means the variety of all living things on the earth — all the different plants, animals, birds, insects and micro-organisms, together with the ecosystems in which they live and the genetic differences within each species.

• What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms — plants, animals and micro-organisms — together with the non-living parts of their environment such as air, water, soil and sunlight, all interacting with one another as a single system. A forest, a river and a desert are each an ecosystem.

• What do you mean by endangered species?
An endangered species is a species of plant or animal whose numbers have fallen so low that it is in serious danger of becoming extinct, that is, of disappearing from the earth altogether. In Pakistan the snow leopard, the markhor, the Indus River dolphin and the red-headed vulture are endangered species.

COMPREHENSION (p.139)

A. Answer the following questions

1. Describe the natural beauty of Pakistan.
Pakistan is blessed with several natural beauties. It has indigenous wildlife; the beautiful mountains of the Himalayas; the deserts of Cholistan and Thar; manmade forests like the Changa Manga forest; and several natural resources from the Balochistan trails. It also holds K-2, the second tallest mountain in the world, which is a really challenging tourist attraction in terms of mountain climbing. Four seasons bloom each year to their fullest, and an average rainfall of 12–14 inches per year makes Pakistan a very fertile agricultural land. Balochistan possesses one of the most extensive and oldest juniper ecosystems in the world, spread between 2100 and 3000 metres.

2. How can we preserve Pakistan's fauna and flora?

• By establishing and properly managing national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves — Pakistan already has 14 National Parks, 99 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 96 Game Reserves.
• By stopping poaching and enforcing laws against the hunting of protected species such as the snow leopard and the markhor.
• By checking deforestation and overgrazing, and by planting trees to prevent soil erosion.
• By controlling salinity and water-logging.
• By preventing the contamination of river water with agrochemicals and industrial waste, which destroys the habitat of the Indus River dolphin.
• By ending unsustainable fishing practices and freeing dolphins entangled in nets and canals.
• By treating the dwarf mistletoe parasite in the Ziarat juniper tract before it destroys that national heritage.
• By reducing poverty, since increased poverty forces rural people to exploit biodiversity at unsustainable rates.
• By creating awareness among the public and involving local communities and stakeholders.

3. Name some endangered species of animals and plants in Pakistan.

4. Search the internet and find about the endangered peacocks.
(A research answer. Model:)

The peacock (peafowl) found in Pakistan is the Indian Blue Peafowl, the male of which is famous for its magnificent blue-green tail feathers, which it spreads in a fan during courtship. In Pakistan it is found chiefly in the Tharparkar district of Sindh and in parts of Cholistan.
Although the species is not globally endangered, the population in Pakistan has fallen sharply. The reasons are loss of habitat through the clearing of scrub forest for agriculture, hunting for the sake of meat and of the tail feathers, drought in the Thar region, and disease — in some years hundreds of peacocks in Tharparkar have died of the Ranikhet (Newcastle) virus because of the lack of vaccination facilities.
Conservation requires vaccination drives, provision of drinking water during drought, a ban on hunting, and awareness among local communities, who have traditionally regarded the peacock as a sacred and welcome bird.

5. How can we contribute as individuals to save nature?

• Plant trees and look after them; take part in school plantation drives.
• Do not waste water or electricity, and repair leaking taps.
• Refuse to buy articles made from the skin, fur, ivory or feathers of wild animals.
• Never hunt or trap birds and animals, and stop friends from doing so.
• Do not litter; dispose of waste properly and avoid plastic bags.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Create awareness — talk to family and neighbours, write in the school magazine, take part in Earth Day and Wildlife Day activities.
• Report any illegal cutting of trees or hunting to the authorities.
• Keep a bowl of water for birds in summer and feed them in winter.

6. What type of challenges is Pakistan facing while preserving nature?
Pakistan is facing these challenges: political instability; lack of technical and institutional capacity; lack of financial resources; lack of awareness; insufficient access to local knowledge; legal impediments; limited public and stakeholder participation; lack of mainstreaming of biodiversity with other sectors; lack of transfer of technology and expertise; inadequate engagement of the scientific community; poverty; increasing population; and climate change and natural disasters.

The writer concludes that "it is high time that we act now, otherwise the biodiversity will vanish and the next generation would see only pictures, movies and stuffed toys of biodiversity."

VOCABULARY (p.139)

B. Find the meaning from the dictionary and identify the part of speech through the abbreviation used

Note: the singular of species is also species — "specie" in the textbook is an error; specie actually means coined money.

C. Consult a thesaurus and find out the synonyms of the following words

LISTENING & SPEAKING (pp.139–140)

Interviewing Techniques (as listed in the book)

• Introduce self and others
• Prepare and ask relevant questions for an interview
• Give appropriate responses in an interview
• Make notes of the responses in an interview
• Respond appropriately and effectively to questions
• Use language that is appropriate
• Demonstrate sensitivity and respect to others
• Compile the oral responses of the interview in written form

Role Play: interviewing a cricketer visiting your school

Model interview:

Interviewer: Assalam-o-Alaikum, sir. I am Rehmat Ullah of Class 9th-A, and on behalf of our school magazine I welcome you warmly. Thank you for sparing time for us.
Cricketer: Walaikum Assalam. It's a pleasure to be here.
Interviewer: How is your life journey as a cricketer?
Cricketer: It has been a long journey with many ups and downs, but every day of it has been worth the effort.
Interviewer: What brought you to cricket?
Cricketer: I grew up playing tape-ball cricket in the street with my elder brother. One day a local coach saw me bowling and asked me to join his academy.
Interviewer: What struggles did you go through?
Cricketer: Many. My family could not afford proper kit at first, and I had to travel three hours each way for practice. I was also dropped from the team twice.
Interviewer: How much practice do you do?
Cricketer: About five hours a day in the season — nets, fitness and fielding drills.
Interviewer: How do you keep a balance between professional and personal life?
Cricketer: With difficulty, honestly. I keep my phone switched off in the evenings and give that time entirely to my family.
Interviewer: How were you in school?
Cricketer: An average student, I'm afraid — but I never neglected my studies, and I would advise every young player to complete his education first.
Interviewer: If not a cricketer, then what?
Cricketer: A schoolteacher. I have always liked explaining things to people.
Interviewer: Who is your hero outside of cricket?
Cricketer: My mother, without any doubt.
Interviewer: Which bowler were you most scared of?
Cricketer: (laughing) I would not say scared — but I always respected genuine fast bowling with a new ball.
Interviewer: Thank you very much, sir. It has been an honour to talk to you, and I am sure our readers will find your advice inspiring.

WRITING (pp.140–141)

A. Write a description of Chitral Valley with the help of the mind map

Mind-map branches — Describing Places: observe carefully · mention the place and people · be specific · choose words carefully · mention interesting things · give significance · be selective about description and events

Chitral Valley

The place. Chitral lies in the far north of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, cradled at the foot of Tirich Mir, the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, which rises to 7,708 metres and stands over the valley like a white sentinel. The Chitral River runs through the whole length of the valley, and along its banks the land is green with fields of wheat and orchards of apricot, mulberry and walnut.

The people. The people of Chitral, the Kho, are famous throughout Pakistan for their gentleness and hospitality. They speak Khowar, wear the woollen chitrali pakol, and are never in a hurry. A stranger is offered tea before he is asked his name. In the side valley of Kalash live the small Kalash community, whose colourful dress, wooden houses and ancient festivals such as Chilam Joshi draw visitors from all over the world.

Interesting things. The valley is entered through the Lowari Tunnel, and beyond it lies the Shandur Pass, at 3,700 metres, where the world's highest polo ground hosts the famous Shandur Polo Festival every July. Nearby is the Chitral Gol National Park, one of the six parks short-listed by the government for the protection of biodiversity, where the markhor — our national animal — can still be seen climbing the cliffs at dawn.

Its significance. Chitral is not merely a beautiful place; it is a living museum of culture and of nature. Its forests, its wildlife and its ancient way of life are a national heritage. If we protect it, our children will see the markhor on the rocks; if we do not, they will see it only in pictures.

B. Persuasive / Argumentative Essay

Hunting of Wild Animals Should Be Completely Banned in Pakistan

Position. I firmly believe that the hunting of wild animals should be completely banned in Pakistan.

First, hunting is driving our species towards extinction. Our own textbook tells us that the snow leopard is "threatened by poaching and loss of habitat," and that the markhor, our national animal, is "on the brink of extinction" and classified as near threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. A country that kills its national animal for sport has lost its sense of honour.

Secondly, the loss of one species damages the whole ecosystem. As the lesson warns, "the continuing loss of forest habitat, with its associated flora and fauna, will have serious implications for the nation's other natural and agricultural ecosystems." Vultures, for example, clean carcasses and prevent disease; when the red-headed vulture disappears, human health suffers too.

Thirdly, wildlife is worth far more alive than dead. Tourists come from all over the world to see the markhor in Chitral Gol and the ibex in Khunjerab. Eco-tourism brings lasting income to poor mountain communities, whereas a trophy hunt enriches one family for one season and destroys the animal for ever.

The counter-argument. Some argue that regulated trophy hunting, in which a large fee is paid and eighty per cent is returned to the local community, has actually increased markhor numbers, because villagers then protect the animal. I accept that this scheme has had some success. However, in a country facing "political instability, lack of technical and institutional capacity" and weak enforcement — exactly the challenges the lesson lists — permits are easily abused, and legal hunting provides cover for illegal poaching. Until we can guarantee honest enforcement, a complete ban is the safer course.

Call to action. Let us therefore demand a complete ban on hunting, strict punishment for poachers, and support for the communities who protect wildlife. As our lesson says, "It is high time that we act now, otherwise the biodiversity will vanish and the next generation would see only pictures, movies and stuffed toys of biodiversity."

GRAMMAR (pp.142–143)

PARENTHESES

Parentheses add emphasis to the words contained in them. One way parentheses are used in writing is to give information that might interrupt the normal flow of the sentence. Sometimes this information adds to the reader's understanding of the rest of the sentence.

Parenthesis (round brackets) is used to:

• enclose numbers or letters in enumerations in the text
• express an amount in numbers previously expressed in words
• mark off explanatory or supplementary material

Example: Hameed Ullah Khan (the architect) built castles and bridges.

The information in the parentheses, called a parenthetical element, may also be information that is unrelated to the sentence or unnecessary.

Rewrite the following sentences placing parenthesis in the correct place

The test: remove the bracketed matter, and the sentence must still make complete sense. "My mother likes old folk music" — correct. "You put fifty-four books on that shelf" — correct.

ELLIPSIS

An ellipsis is a series of three dots ( … ) which shows that some text has been left out. The ellipsis is used to shorten a passage. The omitted text does not change the meaning of the original text and is unnecessary to its meaning. It may also be used to show a pause, a hesitation, or an incomplete thought, especially in quotations.

Note: there is a space before and after the ellipsis. If the ellipsis is at the end of a quotation followed by a speaker reference, there is no comma.

Examples: The guests … were impressed by the library. · "I'm confused …" said Gulmeena.

Rewrite each sentence below omitting text and using an ellipsis

Note on items 4 and 5: these two sentences are already short, so nothing needs to be cut. Here the ellipsis is used for its second purpose — to show a pause, a hesitation or an unfinished thought.

Practising the ellipsis on the lesson itself

Original: "Factors like deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, salinity and water-logging are posing major threats to the remaining biodiversity of the country."
Shortened: "Factors like deforestation … are posing major threats to the remaining biodiversity of the country."

GLOSSARY (p.138 — as given in the book)

LIKELY EXAM QUESTIONS

1. What is biodiversity? What is an ecosystem? What is meant by an endangered species?
2. Describe the natural beauty of Pakistan.
3. Name the endangered species of animals, birds and plants in Pakistan.
4. What are the main threats to the biodiversity of Pakistan?
5. Write a note on the juniper forests of Balochistan.
6. Name the six national parks short-listed by the government for the protection of biodiversity. Which park is on the UN list of protected areas?
7. What challenges is Pakistan facing while preserving nature?
8. How can we contribute as individuals to save nature?
9. Write a description of a valley or a national park with the help of a mind map.
10. Write the rules for using parentheses and the ellipsis, with examples.