CLASS XI         ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION       CHAPTER : 1, 2 
                                                                
                                                         CHAPTER 1 
         
        Short answer questions: 
        1. Define the term environment? 
                Environment refers to the sum total of conditions which surround man at a given point in space and 
        time. 
        2. What are the main dimensions of environment? 
                The main dimensions of environment are: 
        a) Physical dimension                 b) Biological dimension              c) Cultural or social dimension 
        3. What do physical dimension of environment include? 
                The physical dimension of environment includes: 
        i. Lithospheric (Solid) Environment          ii. Hydrospheric (Liquid) Environment         
        iii. Atmospheric (Gaseous) Environment. 
        4. What is faunal environment? 
                Faunal environment is the environment of the fauna. Fauna means all the animals life normally 
        present in a given habitat at a given time. 
        5. Which aspects of non-living environment affect life? 
                Water, temperature, atmospheric pressure, light, soil and chemical components etc 
        6. Why is biosphere a self sufficient biological system? 
                Earth’s living organisms interacting with their physical or abiotic environment form a giant and vast 
        ecosystem called ecosphere or biosphere which is the largest and almost self sufficient biological system. 
         
        Long Answer Questions: 
        1. Which are the three types of organism in the biotic or biological environment? 
                The organism in the biotic or biological environment are mainly of three types: 
        i. Producers: These are mainly green plants and photosynthetic bacteria. They aid in fixing radiant energy 
        of the sun and with the help of minerals gained from mud and water. 
        ii. Consumers: These are hetrotrophis that depend for their nutrition on the organic food manufactured by 
        producers, the green plants. 
        iii. Decomposers: These are also called micro consumers. They bring about the decomposition of dead 
        organic matter of both plants and animals. 
        2. What is meant by the floral environment? 
                Floral environment is the environment of the flora. It has a rich and varied heritage of biodiversity 
        owing to its varying vegetation. It varies from tropical rainforest to alpine vegetation and from evergreen 
        forest to sub tropical climatic region. Floral environment has taken the brunt of human development in 
        many ways. Increasing number of human beings are encroaching on remaining wild land s even in those 
        areas once considered relatively safe fron exploitation, degradation and pollution. 
        3. What do you understand by abiotic. Discuss. 
                The subdivision of the abiotic dimension of the environment are as follows: 
        i. Lithospheric (Solid) Environment: Lithosphere cover about 30% of the earth’s surface. It is an abiotic 
        component of the environment consisting of a thin layer of mantle, made up of soil and rocks. 
     ii. Hydrospheric (Liquid) Environment: More than two-third of the earth’s surface is covered with water. 
     Hydrosphere is an abiotic component of the environment consisting of the earth’s water present in the 
     ocean, rivers, lakes, soil and as water vapour in the atmosphere. 
     iii. Atmospheric (Gaseous) Environment: The earth’s atmosphere is a blank of air surrounding it. Air is a 
     mixture of gases mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) 
     4. Each physical, social and economic aspect of human beings has its unique importance, characterstic and 
     functions in the biotic environment. Enumerate. 
          It is vital to note that each physical, social and economic aspect of human beings has its unique 
     importance, characterstic and functions in the biotic environment, as they are: 
           Firstly the physical man who is a part of the organism inhabitants need basic elements of the 
     physical environment viz space, food, air, water and he also releases wastes into the ecosystem like other 
     members of the biological population. 
          Secondly, the social man who tends to create social institution, establish social organization makes 
     laws, policies and principles to protect his very own existence, interest and social welfare. 
          Finially, there is the economic man who tends to derive and use the resources from the physical 
     and biotic environments with his skills and technologies. He is the one who transport matter and energy 
     from one component of the ecosystem to the other. 
           
                                     CHAPTER 2 
          Short answer questions: 
     1. What is common environmental issue that exist amongst the nations of the world? 
          Threat to our ecological society. 
     2. What are the major criteria for a sustainable society in India? 
          The major challenge facing the human race today is the move toward sustainability. If we continue 
     at the present state in India, we will continue to have agriculturists who are still living in medival times and 
                                                                st
     a small number of rich people living a lavish life who claim to make India a great power in the 21  century. 
     We must make quick and rational moves to bridge the gapbetween the two groups mentioned. Only then 
     can we be sure of making a sustainable society. 
     3. Explain the importance of the code of ecology? 
          The importance of the code of ecology are: 
     i. Providing steps and measures to protect and bring regenerability of the life support systems by rational 
     utilization of all available resources. 
     ii. Making efforts to bring about a fair sharing of resources. 
     iii. Creating an awareness of the hidden social, economic and environmental costs of consumerism and 
     over use of resources. 
     iv. Willingness to adopt sustainability as a way of life. 
     v. Making measures to meet all the essential needs of society. 
     vi. Stopping and reversing the buildup of armaments to propagate sustainable peace, security and 
     environment. 
     4. Stae the factors that shape our pattern of development? 
          Our lifestyles and priorities are the determining factors in shaping the pattern of development. 
     5. Why is environment legislation required? 
          Environment legislation is needed at different levels for regulating and controlling environmental 
     interventions, pollution and conflicts. 
     6. Define environment ethics? 
       Environmental ethic is the ethical relationship between human beings and the environment in 
    which they live. 
     
    7. Name a biodegradable plastic and write its significiance? 
       Plantic is a biodegradable plastic. 
    The significant of plantic are as follows: 
    i. Plantic is made of maize. 
    ii. Plantic is renewable, sustainable and non toxic. 
    iii. Plantic is the world’s first, truly environment friendly plastic that is competitive in terms of cost and 
    functionality with petrochemical based plastics. 
    iv. It can biodegrade in any environment. 
     
    C. Long Answer Questions: 
    1. Why do we need to work towards a sustainable society? 
       People in the world today have awakened to the need for taking tangible steps towards the 
    existence of a sustainable society. A need for sharp decline of population in developing countries has been 
    felt along with rational use and minimum waste. Materials must be recycled and reused and determined 
    efforts must be made to conserve the life support system and aid in its regenerability. We must follow a 
    basic philosophy of blending environmental and economic needs into a connected whole, so that human 
    beings work in harmony with nature. 
    2. Why should individuals wake up the environmental concerns? 
       Threat to our ecological society. 
    3. List any three principle on which a code of ecology must be based? 
       Three principle on which a code of ecology must be based are: 
    i. Providing steps and measures to protect and bring regenerability of the life support systems by rational 
    utilization of all available resources. 
    ii. Making efforts to bring about a fair sharing of resources. 
    iii. Creating an awareness of the hidden social economic and environmental costs of consumerism and over 
    use of resources. 
    iv. Willingness to adopt sustainability as a way of life. 
    v. Making measures to meet all the essential needs of society. 
    vi. Stopping and reversing the buildup of armaments to propagate sustainable peace, security and 
    environment. 
    4. Why and how should environmental ethics be adopted? 
       Environmental ethic must be developed in each person to command him as a force within to make 
    decisions and take action on the different aspects of the environment which are not harmful to the local, 
    national and international community. Environmental ethics is a must as they aid in sharpening the 
    judgment of a person and teach him for the sake of material and political gains. Man’s rational ethical 
    values with respect to the environment developed through the experiences of generations of humanity. 
    This must be reinforced and new understanding and values must be developed to serve for a better 
    harmony between human beings and natural and man-made environment.