A sanctuary may be defined as a place where Man is passive and the rest of Nature active. Till quite recently Nature had her own sanctuaries, where man either did not go at all or only as a tool-using animal in comparatively small numbers. But now, in this machinery age, there is no place left where man cannot go with overwhelming forces at his command. He can strangle to death all the nobler wild life in the world today. Tomorrow he certainly will have done so, unless he exercises due foresight and self-control in the mean time.
There is not the slightest doubt that birds and mammals are now being killed off much faster than they can breed. And it is always the largest and noblest forms of life that suffer most. The whales and elephants, lions and eagles, go. The rats and flies, and all mean parasites, remain. This is inevitable in certain cases. But it is wanton killing off that I am speaking of tonight. Civilized man begins by destroying the very forms of wildlife he learns to appreciate most when he becomes still more civilized. The obvious remedy is to begin conservation at an earlier stage, when it is easier and better in every way, by enforcing laws for close seasons, game preserves, the selective protection of certain species, and sanctuaries.
Questions:
1. What issue does the author address in the above passage? Is he giving a suggestion for the same?
2. Why has the author called Man 'passive' and Nature 'active'?
3. According to author, how has Man become in this machinery age?
4. What extreme steps can Man take with his overwhelming forces?
5. The author suggests to enforce laws for protection of species and sanctuaries. How relevant do you feel will solution be? Will it give better results?
6. Give the synonym of from the passage:
a- devastating -
b- unpreventable -
7. Give the antonym of from the passage:
a- carelessness -
b- uncultured -
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