1. What was the name of the chemical plant involved in the 1984 Bhopal tragedy? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ୧୯୮୪ ଭୋପାଳ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣାରେ ସମ୍ପୃକ୍ତ ରାସାୟନିକ କାରଖାନାର ନାମ କ’ଣ ଥିଲା?)

Ans: The plant was operated by Union Carbide.

2. What percentage of pure air is oxygen? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ବାୟୁରେ କେତେ ପ୍ରତିଶତ ଅମ୍ଳଜାନ ଥାଏ?)

Ans: Pure air is 21 percent oxygen.

3. Which industries are rated first for discharging high amounts of smoke and ash? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: କେଉଁ ଶିଳ୍ପଗୁଡିକ ସର୍ବାଧିକ ଧୂଆଁ ଓ ପାଉଁଶ ନିର୍ଗତ କରିବାରେ ପ୍ରଥମ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଅଛନ୍ତି?)

Ans: Thermal power stations are rated the first.

4. What percentage of global air pollution are automobiles responsible for? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ବିଶ୍ୱ ବାୟୁ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣର କେତେ ପ୍ରତିଶତ ପାଇଁ ଯାନବାହନ ଦାୟୀ?)

Ans: Automobiles are responsible for 60 percent of air pollution.

5. What is the common name for rain that contains oxides of sulfur and nitrogen? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ସଲଫର୍ ଏବଂ ନାଇଟ୍ରୋଜେନ୍ ଅକ୍ସାଇଡ୍ ଥିବା ବର୍ଷାର ସାଧାରଣ ନାମ କ’ଣ?)

Ans: It is called acid rain.

6. Why is breathing polluted air more dangerous than consuming contaminated food? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଦୂଷିତ ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଖାଇବା ଅପେକ୍ଷା ପ୍ରଦୂଷିତ ବାୟୁରେ ଶ୍ୱାସକ୍ରିୟା କରିବା କାହିଁକି ଅଧିକ ବିପଜ୍ଜନକ?)

Ans: It is more dangerous because an adult exchanges 15 kg of air a day, which is manifold more than the 1.5 kg of food or 2.5 kg of water consumed.

7. How does the text compare living in Kolkata to smoking? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଲେଖାଟି କଲିକତାରେ ରହିବାକୁ ଧୂମପାନ ସହିତ କିପରି ତୁଳନା କରେ?)

Ans: It states that a person in Kolkata is forced to inhale toxic substances equivalent to smoking two packets of cigarettes a day.

8. What two major environmental problems are caused by the increase of gases like carbon dioxide and CFCs? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଅଙ୍ଗାରକାମ୍ଳ ଏବଂ CFC ଭଳି ଗ୍ୟାସର ବୃଦ୍ଧି ଯୋଗୁଁ କେଉଁ ଦୁଇଟି ପ୍ରମୁଖ ପାରିବେଶିକ ସମସ୍ୟା ସୃଷ୍ଟି ହୁଏ?)

Ans: The gases lead to global warming and the destruction of the atmospheric (ozone) layer.

9. What are the three basic approaches to control air pollution mentioned in the text? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ବାୟୁ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣ ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରଣ ପାଇଁ ଲେଖାରେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ ଥିବା ତିନୋଟି ମୌଳିକ ଉପାୟ କ’ଣ?)

Ans: The three approaches are Preventive measures, Dispersal measures, and Collection measures.

10. How does acid rain harm forests? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଅମ୍ଳ ବର୍ଷା ଜଙ୍ଗଲକୁ କିପରି କ୍ଷତି ପହଞ୍ଚାଏ?)

Ans: It leaches away nutrients like potassium and calcium from the soil, which kills large stretches of forests.

11. Why is air pollution considered a 'trans-boundary' problem? Give an example from the text. (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ବାୟୁ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣକୁ କାହିଁକି 'ସୀମା-ପାର' ସମସ୍ୟା ଭାବରେ ବିବେଚନା କରାଯାଏ? ପାଠ୍ୟରୁ ଏକ ଉଦାହରଣ ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ ।)

Ans: It is a trans-boundary problem because pollutants are carried by the wind from one country to another; for example, acid rain in Canada is caused by pollution that originated in the United States.

12. What does the author mean when they say our lungs "slowly become garbage dumps" for pollutants? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଯେତେବେଳେ ଲେଖକ କୁହନ୍ତି ଯେ ଆମ ଫୁସଫୁସ୍ ପ୍ରଦୂଷକମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ "ଧୀରେ ଧୀରେ ଅଳିଆ ଗଦା" ପାଲଟିଯାଏ, ଏହାର ଅର୍ଥ କ’ଣ?)

Ans: It means that without our knowledge, harmful pollutants like obnoxious gases, ash, and dust continuously accumulate in our lungs from breathing polluted air.

13. What is a catalytic converter and how does it help control air pollution? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଏକ କାଟାଲାଇଟିକ୍ କନଭର୍ଟର କ’ଣ ଏବଂ ଏହା ବାୟୁ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣକୁ ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରଣ କରିବାରେ କିପରି ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରେ?)

Ans: It is a device in new cars that changes pollutants into harmless substances, thus reducing air pollution from car exhaust.

14. Which species in Sweden are mentioned as being threatened by acid rain? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ସ୍ୱିଡେନର କେଉଁ ପ୍ରଜାତିଗୁଡିକ ଅମ୍ଳ ବର୍ଷା ଦ୍ୱାରା ବିପଦରେ ଥିବା ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରାଯାଇଛି?)

Ans: The Pied Flycatcher and Apollo Butterfly are threatened.

15. Why do most people feel that the high cost of pollution control is justified? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଅଧିକାଂଶ ଲୋକ କାହିଁକି ଅନୁଭବ କରନ୍ତି ଯେ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣ ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରଣର ଅଧିକ ମୂଲ୍ୟ ଯଥାର୍ଥ ଅଟେ?)

Ans: The cost is justified to achieve the goal of being able to breathe pure air in cities where sunlight is no longer blocked by pollution.

Long Questions (5 Marks each)

1. What was the Bhopal gas tragedy and what were its consequences? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଭୋପାଳ ଗ୍ୟାସ୍ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣା କ’ଣ ଥିଲା ଏବଂ ଏହାର ପରିଣାମ କ’ଣ ଥିଲା?)

Ans: The Bhopal gas tragedy was one of the most tragic industrial accidents on December 3, 1984. Deadly gas escaped from the Union Carbide chemical plant into the atmosphere. The consequences were horrific, killing over 4000 local residents and rendering blind and crippling a large part of the surviving population.

2. List and explain the two main sources of air pollution as discussed in the text (industries and automobiles). (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ପାଠ୍ୟରେ ଆଲୋଚନା କରାଯାଇଥିବା ବାୟୁ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣର ଦୁଇଟି ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଉତ୍ସ (ଶିଳ୍ପ ଏବଂ ଯାନବାହନ) ତାଲିକାଭୁକ୍ତ କରନ୍ତୁ ଏବଂ ବ୍ୟାଖ୍ୟା କରନ୍ତୁ ।)

Ans: The first main source is industries. Thermal power stations are ranked first, discharging high amounts of smoke and ash. Other polluters are cement, steel, and chemical industries releasing toxic fumes. The second source is automobile exhausts. Due to an exploding population, the number of vehicles has increased dramatically. They are responsible for 60% of air pollution and release the maximum amount of carbon monoxide.

3. What is acid rain and what are its various damaging effects on the environment and man-made structures? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଅମ୍ଳ ବର୍ଷା କ’ଣ ଏବଂ ପରିବେଶ ଓ ମଣିଷ-ନିର୍ମିତ ସଂରଚନା ଉପରେ ଏହାର ବିଭିନ୍ନ କ୍ଷତିକାରକ ପ୍ରଭାବ କ’ଣ?)

Ans: Acid rain is precipitation containing oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. It has many damaging effects. It poisons lakes and rivers, killing plants and animals; in Sweden, 4000 lakes have no surviving fish. It damages soil by leaching away nutrients, which kills large stretches of forests. It also destroys buildings and monuments, such as the famous marble monuments in Athens.

4. Explain the two major global threats that have alarmed scientists, as mentioned in paragraphs 13 and 14. (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଅନୁଚ୍ଛେଦ ୧୩ ଏବଂ ୧୪ ରେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରାଯାଇଥିବା ଦୁଇଟି ପ୍ରମୁଖ ବିଶ୍ୱସ୍ତରୀୟ ବିପଦକୁ ବ୍ୟାଖ୍ୟା କରନ୍ତୁ, ଯାହା ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକମାନଙ୍କୁ ସତର୍କ କରାଇଛି ।)

Ans: The first threat is global warming. Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are increasing, which tend to trap the sun's radiation, making the atmosphere warmer. The second threat is the destruction of the protective atmospheric (ozone) layer. This is caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are used in refrigerants, cleaners, and spray cans, leaving us exposed to harmful solar energy.

5. What are the non-health related damages caused by air pollution? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ବାୟୁ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣ ଦ୍ୱାରା ହେଉଥିବା ଅଣ-ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ କ୍ଷୟକ୍ଷତିଗୁଡିକ କ’ଣ?) Ans: The text mentions several non-health damages. It represents a loss of billions of dollars annually. It harms flower and vegetable crops , kills trees , and poisons cattle from smelter fumes. It also causes rubber tires on automobiles to crack and become porous. Finally, it makes fine buildings shabby and blackened with soot, causing their surfaces to deteriorate.

6. The essay mentions three approaches to control air pollution. How have these approaches been practically applied, according to the text? (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ପ୍ରବନ୍ଧଟି ବାୟୁ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣ ନିୟନ୍ତ୍ରଣ ପାଇଁ ତିନୋଟି ଉପାୟ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କରେ । ପାଠ୍ୟ ଅନୁଯାୟୀ, ଏହି ଉପାୟଗୁଡିକ କିପରି ବାସ୍ତବରେ ପ୍ରୟୋଗ କରାଯାଇଛି?) Ans: The text provides practical examples. The preventive measure of changing fuel ingredients is seen in the burning of low-sulfur coal and oil in factories, which has lowered pollution in cities. The collection measure of trapping pollutants is seen in the use of devices like the catalytic converter in new cars. This device changes pollutants into harmless substances and has reduced car exhaust pollution.

7. What does the author mean by "Air Pollution: A Hidden Menace"? Justify the title based on the text. (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: "ବାୟୁ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣ: ଏକ ଲୁକ୍କାୟିତ ବିପଦ" ଦ୍ୱାରା ଲେଖକ କ’ଣ ବୁଝାଇବାକୁ ଚାହାଁନ୍ତି? ପାଠ୍ୟ ଆଧାରରେ ଶୀର୍ଷକଟିର ଯଥାର୍ଥତା ପ୍ରତିପାଦନ କରନ୍ତୁ ।)

Ans: The title is justified because air pollution is a "menace," or a threat, that is "hidden." It is hidden because, unlike contaminated food or water, we cannot easily avoid it; we breathe 15 kg of air daily without choosing. Pollutants like obnoxious gases and ash enter our lungs without our knowledge , slowly turning them into "garbage dumps". Furthermore, its effects like global warming , ozone depletion , and acid rain are gradual and not always immediately visible, making it a truly hidden but dangerous threat.