Class 10 Reading Comprehension Exercise
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
Supreme Court has today ordered that tourism be banned in core areas of all tiger reserves in the country. It has said this ban should continue till it passes final orders in the matter filed by Bhopal–based environment protection, NGO Prayatna. The NGO is demanding a ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves while it can continue in the buffer areas of tiger reserves. The court had earlier directed the National tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), to submit final guidelines related to tourism in core areas by July. The court will now hear the matter on August 22 next to examine the guidelines submitted by the authority. The court also asked, “Why should tourism be allowed in core areas? Tigers are practically on the verge of extinction, whatever the statistics.”
Opposing the ban on tourism in core regions of tiger reserves proposed by the Environment Ministry, Travel operators for Tiger (TOFT) have said that wildlife tourism was saving forests and tigers. They added that tourism ensured better security for tigers and was the best anti poaching mechanism, even though it made forest personnel uncomfortable and accountable. The chairman said that a ban on wildlife tourism was not the answer.
A recent tourism ministry study had shown that nearly 70% of resorts outside Corbett National park were venues for weddings and parties rather than eco tourism. Highlighting the fact that good tourism practices provide a means of legitimate livelihood to people living in and around tiger reserves, TOFT said,” If it were not for tourism bringing economic value to the forest area, it would be sacrificed for mining, farming or industry.”
Emphasizing that the alternative was to ensure implementation of rules and regulations, the chairman said, “Tiger tourism is the best anti poaching unit, operating vehicles, watching for eight hours a day, deflecting poachers, loggers and grazers from being there.”
1) Attempt any 4 of the following questions in about 3-40 words each:
a) Name the NGO which filed a case in the Supreme Court demanding a ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves. Where is the NGO based?
b) What argument was put forward by TOFT in defense of tourism in tiger reserves areas?
c) In what ways are good tourism practices beneficial?
d) How according to TOFT, would the forest area be used if tourism to tiger reserve is banned?
e) Suggest a suitable title to this passage.
2) On the basis of your reading of the passage, fill any two of the following blanks with appropriate words/phrases.
a) The Supreme Court order regarding tiger reserves is that…………………………
b) Good tourism practices refer to ……………………
c) Tiger tourism is the best……………………….
3) Attempt any two of the following. Find out the words that mean the same as under:
a) Conservation – Para 1
b) Lawful – Para 3
Answers
1. (a) Prayatna, Bhopal
(b) TOFT argued that wildlife tourism in tiger reserves was saving forests and tigers. In their opinion, tourism ensured better security for tigers and was the best anti-poaching mechanism although it might have made forest personnel uncomfortable and accountable.
(c) Good tourism practices bring economic value to the forest area and provide a means of legitimate livelihood to people living in and around tiger reserves.
(d) If tourism is banned in tiger reserves, the forest areas will lose their economic value and eventually forest lands will be cleared for mining, farming or industrial activities.
(e) To Ban Or Not To Ban Tourism In Tiger Reserves
2. (i) The Supreme Court order regarding tiger reserves is that tourism be banned in core areas of all tiger reserves in the country.
(ii) Good tourism practices refer to activities that provide a means of legitimate livelihood to people living in or around tourist places.
(iii) Tiger tourism is the best anti-poaching unit. It operates vehicles and keeps poachers, loggers and grazers away.
3. (a) protection
(b) legitimate
