Class 9 English Unit 7: Reading II: The Resistant Moths

 

Reading II: The Resistant Moths

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Woddcgbrft8 

Vocabulary

1.           resistant: /rɪˈzɪstənt/ (adjective) not affected by something

2.           poisons: /ˈpɔɪzənz/ (noun) substances that can cause harm or death

3.           pests: /pests/ (noun) animals or insects that cause problems

4.           combat: /ˈkɒmbæt/ (verb) to fight against something

5.           pesticides: /ˈpestɪsaɪdz/ (noun) chemicals used to kill pests

6.           plague: /pleɪɡ/ (noun) a widespread disease

7.           moths: /mɒθs/ (noun) insects similar to butterflies

8.           avalanche: /ˈævəlɑːnʃ/ (noun) a large mass of snow sliding down a mountain

9.           indiscriminately: /ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmɪnətli/ (adverb) without careful judgment

10.       nasty: /ˈnɑːsti/ (adjective) very unpleasant

11.       devouring: /dɪˈvaʊərɪŋ/ (verb) eating something eagerly

12.       predators: /ˈpredətəz/ (noun) animals that hunt others for food

13.       immune: /ɪˈmjuːn/ (adjective) protected from a disease

14.       despair: /dɪˈspeə/ (noun) complete loss of hope

15.       fallow: /ˈfæləʊ/ (adjective) land left uncultivated

16.       terrifying: /ˈterɪfaɪɪŋ/ (adjective) causing extreme fear

17.       strain: /streɪn/ (noun) a specific type of plant, animal, or microorganism

18.       potential: /pəˈtenʃəl/ (noun) ability to develop into something in the future

19.       enormous: /ɪˈnɔːməs/ (adjective) very large in size or amount

20.       whims: /wɪmz/ (noun) sudden, unpredictable changes or desires

A.   Use the correct words from the box below to complete the following sentences.

Avalanche             plague                  combat              predator Despair                  resistant                nasty

a.      As responsible citizens it is our duty to combat all social evils.

b.     The whole town is suffering from the new plague of rats.

c.      The minister’s opinion has created avalanche of controversy.

d.     He got a nasty cut above his eye in the accident.

e.      Some animals do not have a natural predator.

f.       Mosquitoes seem to have become resistant to the toughest insecticides.

g.     He is in despair due to all the failures in business.

B.    The word 'devour' refers to a style of eating. It means ‘eating hungrily’. The following words also refer to different styles of eating. Use a dictionary to find their meanings. (Answers only)

a.  munch - to eat something steadily and audibly, often with a repetitive chewing motion

b.     nibble - to take small bites or eat in a gentle and cautious manner

c.      gobble - to eat something quickly and voraciously, often without chewing properly

d.   gnaw - to bite or chew on something persistently, often with the intention of wearing it down or breaking it apart

e.     swallow - to pass food or liquid from the mouth down through the throat and into the stomach; also, to consume something without chewing it.

C.    Write whether the following sentences are True or False.

a.      The first use of pesticides caused further problems to the farmers.

b.     The shopkeepers made the farmers buy many pesticides.

c.      Mahendra Yadav admits that the farmers used chemicals carelessly.

d.     The pesticides not only killed the pests but also increased the fertility of the land.

e.      Mahendra Yadav expects that the moths will go away one day.

D.   Answer the following questions.

a.      Why do you think Mahendra Yadav says “these insects will eat us alive"?

I think Mahendra Yadav says “these insects will eat us alive" because of the destroying the crops by moths.

b.     What did the farmers hope when they bought the pesticides for the first time? 

When they bought the pesticides for the first time, the moths would be away from their crops.

c.      What was the ‘nasty surprise’ for the farmers?

The 'nasty surprise' was that the moths became resistant to the pesticides that were no longer effective in killing the moths.

d.     Find different words in the text that refer to the pesticide and the moth.

The different words in the text that refer to the pesticide and the moth are poison and chemical for pesticide and pests, insects for moths.

e.      Do you think that Mahendra Yadav has made a wise decision at the end? Why?

I think that Mahendra Yadav has made a wise decision at the end. He has decided to return to more natural methods of farming i.e. letting his land lie fallow and changing the irrigation system.

E.    Why is the use of pesticide harmful for both people and the environment? What could be a good alternative to pesticides? Discuss with your friends.

The use of pesticides is harmful to both people and the environment due to their toxic nature, which can lead to health issues such as respiratory problems, skin irritations, and long-term effects like cancer and neurological disorders in humans. Pesticides also disrupt ecosystems by killing not only targeted pests but also beneficial insects, birds, and aquatic life, leading to a loss of biodiversity and the contamination of soil and water sources. Pesticides can also be harmful to the environment. They can pollute water, soil, and air. Pesticides can also harm wildlife, including birds, fish, and beneficial insects. There are a number of alternatives to pesticides.

One alternative is to use natural methods of pest control, such as companion planting, crop rotation, and biological control. Another alternative is to use less toxic pesticides, such as organic pesticides. Another good alternative to pesticides is integrated pest management (IPM), which combines biological control, habitat manipulation, and cultural practices to manage pest populations in an environmentally sustainable and economically viable way.

 

Video on Pros & Cons of Pesticides: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLllZ-qiXJA 

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