Saving the Gharial - Questions & Answers

Understanding the Text

1. The gharial looks different from other crocodiles in having an unusually long snout and slim jaws. (para 5)

2. Male gharials grow, at the end of the snout, a strange appendage (the ghara) through which they produce a 'buzz-snort' noise. (para 5)

3. The male gharial also uses the snout to produce a territorial jaw-clap. (para 6)

4. Unlike other female crocodiles which have to carry their young from the nest to the water, a female gharial just puts her babies outside the nest and moves towards the river. The babies follow her, rather like ducklings. (paras 9 and 10)

5. Unlike other crocodiles which live in the still waters of ponds or lakes, gharials live in deep rivers, eating only fish. (para 12)

B. Answer these questions.

1. We were hoping to rear her young safely in captivity and then release them—What kind of threats pose danger to gharial hatchlings? (para 3)
Gharial hatchlings face threats from predators such as hyenas, jackals, and mongooses that try to eat the eggs or young. Additionally, they are vulnerable to environmental changes and human interference.

2. What does the behaviour of the male gharial near Rajghat tell us about gharials?
The behaviour of the male gharial near Rajghat, specifically the "territorial jaw-clap" and "buzz-snort," tells us that male gharials are territorial. They use these unique sounds and actions to advertise their presence, attract females, and warn off rival males.

3. Did Whitaker and his team succeed in breeding a large number of gharials in captivity? Was their project a success or a failure? What made it so?
Yes, they succeeded in breeding a large number of gharials in captivity, rearing thousands of youngsters. However, the overall project had mixed results. While the breeding was successful, the reintroduction into the wild was not as effective as hoped because few of the released crocodiles survived for long. Factors like floods, habitat destruction, and fishing nets contributed to the low survival rate.

4. Is Whitaker optimistic at the end of the text? What makes him feel that way?
Yes, Whitaker is optimistic at the end. He feels hopeful because the campaign to save the gharial is now part of a larger effort to ensure the survival of the rivers themselves. He believes people are finally realizing the importance of saving healthy rivers, which in turn will help save the gharial.

5. The territory-holder surges forward, churning the water into froth with his tail. (para 7)

a. What or who is being talked about?
A male gharial defending his territory is being talked about.
b. What does he surge towards? With what intention?
He surges towards another male gharial (a rival). His intention is to frighten the rival away or to fight him to defend his territory.
c. What are the two possible results?
The two possible results are that the other gharial is frightened away, or the two males fight (clashing snouts) until one prevails and the other retreats.

6. Her thirty-six babies followed, rather like ducklings. (para 10)
a. Whose babies? Whom did they follow?
The female gharial's babies. They followed their mother.
b. Where were the babies? Where did they go from there?
The babies were in the nest on the sandbank. They followed their mother from the nest into the river.
c. In what way was this unusual?
This was unusual because most other crocodile mothers carry their young tenderly in their jaws to the water, whereas gharial babies follow their mother on their own.

7. Not for the gharial the still waters of ponds or lakes where other crocodiles thrive—(para 12)
a. Why are ‘still waters’ not for the gharial? What makes it different from other crocodilians?
Gharials are specialized river-dwellers with long, slender snouts adapted for catching fish in deep, flowing water. They do not have the generalist diet or physical adaptation to thrive in the still waters of ponds or lakes like other crocodilians.
b. How is its uniqueness also its biggest problem?
Its uniqueness is its biggest problem because it relies strictly on a specific habitat—deep, free-flowing rivers. When rivers are dammed, dried up, or polluted, the gharial has nowhere else to go, unlike other crocodiles that might adapt to different water bodies.

8. Fishing is a massive problem. (para 15)
a. How does fishing affect the gharials?
Gharials get their long snouts tangled in nylon fishing nets, especially those set at night. Once entangled, they cannot open their jaws to defend themselves or eat, and they often starve to death or drown.
b. What would you suggest to counter the problem of fishing?
To counter this, fishing could be banned in protected gharial sanctuaries. Fishermen could be educated about the gharial and encouraged to use safer fishing methods. Authorities could also patrol rivers to remove illegal nets.

Appreciating the Text

a. Would you call the text factual or opinion-based? What parts of the text support your answer?
The text is a blend of both. It is factual regarding the physical characteristics, breeding habits, and conservation history of the gharial (e.g., descriptions of the snout, the "ghara", egg-laying). It is also opinion-based and personal, evident in the writer's narrative voice ("I wanted to believe", "knees buckling") and persuasive tone regarding conservation.

b. In your opinion, does writing the text as ‘I’—a first-person account of events—make the text more believable or less so? Give reasons for your answer.
Writing as ‘I’ makes the text more believable and engaging. It serves as an eyewitness account from someone directly involved in the conservation efforts, adding authenticity and emotional weight to the facts presented.

c. Would you describe the writing as dry and informational or vivid, visual and interesting? What are the phrases or sentences that caught your eye?
The writing is vivid and visual. Phrases like "ribbon of cobalt swam into view", "knees buckling with exhaustion", "snouts clash like swords", and "churning the water into froth" make the scene come alive.

d. What information about the gharials’ behaviour and lifestyle gives us an emotional connection with them?
The description of the mother gharial caring for her young, the babies calling from beneath the sand, and the image of them following her "like ducklings" creates an emotional connection. The tragic description of gharials starving to death in fishing nets also evokes sympathy.

e. Were you convinced by the writer’s arguments? Did it change the way you think about crocodiles? Why or why not?
(Personal Answer) Yes, the writer's arguments are convincing because she links the survival of the gharial to the health of the rivers we all depend on. It changes the perception of crocodiles from scary predators to vulnerable creatures that are devoted parents and indicators of a healthy ecosystem.

Grammar and Usage

[shouldn't, may, might, could, dare, should, needn't, can, would, will]

1. We shouldn't allow fishermen to use motor boats. That could / will do serious harm to life under water.

2. Bengal Tigers can be seen in India and Bangladesh.

3. I told him that he needn't come all the way to hand over the parcel and that I would / could collect it from him.

4. Akash seemed upset. He might have noticed that you didn’t wish him at the party. Perhaps you should call him now.

5. Could / Would you hold my bag while I unlock the door?

6. I might / may decide to watch the film this Saturday. Should I call you if I do?

7. She looked quite upset but I didn’t dare to ask her why.

8. You shouldn't touch the doors—they’ve just been painted.

9. You needn't go there to submit an application. You can do it online.

10. Perhaps I should book my ticket online, because I might / may not be able to go in person.

B. Complete this conversation with the correct modals from the box. Some of them may be used more than once.

[need to, would, must, will, shall, could, can, can't]

Anand: Good evening! Can you tell me until when the restaurant is open?

Man at front desk: Oh, I am so sorry, sir, it is already closed for the night. But 1. would you like to have a snack sent up to your room?

Anand: Yes, please. I am famished and tired. I have driven straight for eight hours.

Man: You 2. must be exhausted. I 3. will / shall see what they 4. can do for you.

Anand: Something light, a sandwich, perhaps? And some fruit. I 5. can't eat anything heavy so late in the night.

Man: Sure. You 6. would want to order a hot drink too?

Anand: Well, I 7. would prefer something cold, actually. An iced tea?

Man: Done. 8. Shall I charge this to your room? Or 9. will you pay cash now?

Anand: You 10. can charge this to my room. I 11. will settle the laundry charges too. Thank you very much.

D. Circle the correct question tags to complete these sentences.

1. Anita bakes delicious cakes, doesn’t she / does she?

2. The city has a festive look for New Year, hasn’t it / isn’t it?

3. This isn’t a good time to call them, is it / isn’t it?

4. We have had a busy two days, have we / haven’t we?

5. The event went off very well, did it / didn’t it?

6. Teacher didn’t want this assignment today, did she / didn’t she?

7. Karan has designed an attractive poster, hasn’t he / has he?

8. I have never forgotten your birthday, haven’t I / have I?

Words in Use

1. freedom (para 3) — captivity

2. partners or allies (para 5) — rivals

3. plump (para 7) — slender

4. strong (para 7) — fragile

5. advance or move forward (para 7) — retreat

6. animal that is hunted and killed by another for food (para 8) — predators

7. thoughtless or inconsiderate (para 9) — attentive

8. friendly or peaceful (para 11) — aggressive

9. increase in quantity (para 13) — decline

10. extinction (para 16) — survival

B. Complete these sentences with the -ed or -ing forms of the words given in the brackets.

1. The threatening letter made Varun call the police. (threaten)

2. The vanishing habitat of the tiger is contributing to its endangerment. (vanish)

3. The worried parents called up the school to enquire about their sick child. (worry)

4. The story of the television show was a complicated one. (complicate)

5. The results of the competition were pretty disappointing. (disappoint)

6. The child looks terrified. Tell him a different story. (terrify)

7. Look at that poor exhausted child. She needs to sleep. (exhaust)

8. Was the cartoon really so amusing? You couldn’t stop laughing! (amuse)

Dictionary Work

The phrase "do the needful" is often listed in dictionaries as formal, dated, or characteristic of South Asian (Indian) English. It means "to do what is necessary". While it is grammatically functional where "needful" acts as a noun, in modern international English, the phrase "do what is necessary" is typically preferred.

Speech Practice

Writing