The island of St. Martin's is the only coral island in Bangladesh located in the north-eastern part of Bay of Bengal. The roughly flat Island is only about 3.6 metres above the sea level. The entire island can be walked about in 3 hours. The Island is known for its unique natural beauty with white sandy beaches fringed with coconut palms and a diverse marine life.
Due to the expansion of unregulated tourism, the Island is facing increasing erosion, contamination of surface and ground water, wildlife displacement, and loss of biodiversity. Other threats include cutting of sand dune vegetation for fuel-wood and hotel establishment; degradation of sand dune habitat; the harvesting of turtle eggs; indiscriminate exploitation of coral resources, etc. To address this, the Government has declared some areas of the Island as Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), prohibiting unauthorized constructions there.
Criticisms of Ecotourism
Despite the popularity of ecotourism the above-mentioned examples suggest, there are several criticisms of ecotourism as well. Increased tourism to sensitive areas without proper planning and management can actually harm the ecosystem and its species because the infrastructure needed to sustain tourism such as roads can contribute to environmental degradation.
Ecotourism is also said by critics to have a negative impact on local communities because the arrival of foreign visitors and wealth can shift political and economic conditions of the area. It can also make the area dependent more on tourism than its domestic economic practices.
While ecotourism becomes popular, we must however, remain cautious about its adverse effects and do our best to protect the environment and ecosystem.
Choose the best answer from alternatives.
(a) Which threat to St. Martin's Island is NOT listed in the passage?
(i) contamination of ground water (ii) loss of biodiversity (iii) wildlife displacement (iv) contamination of the atmosphere
(b) Which statement about St. Martin's Island is NOT explicitly stated in the passage?
(i) It is a coral island. (ii) Its ecosystem faces threats. (iii) It has diverse marine life. (iv) It is a hub for ecotourism.
(c) What does the designation 'Ecologically Critical Area' indicate in this passage?
(i) an environmentally important area needing protection (ii) an area intended only for business expansion (iii) an area without ecological value (iv) a place where any construction is permitted
(d) Ecotourism is criticized because ______.
(i) it is dangerous and risky to undertake (ii) it creates problems among the natives (iii) it hampers the biodiversity of the visited area (iv) it creates indiscrimination among natives
(e) Which one is synonymous with 'degradation'?
(i) disaster (ii) crisis (iii) calamity (iv) deterioration
(f) What is the opposite meaning of the word 'adverse'?
(i) mischievous (ii) hostile (iii) benign (iv) repugnant
(g) "Its domestic economic practices." Here, what does practices refer to?
(i) exercises (ii) cultures (iii) activities (iv) values
(h) Which statement is not true according to the text?
(i) Repeated unmanaged tourism can harm biodiversity. (ii) In ecotourism, natives are influenced politically. (iii) Ecotourism plays role in changing the economic condition of the area. (iv) Due to ecotourism, climates started to become worse.
(i) In 'infrastructure needed to sustain tourism', 'sustain' means ______.
(i) abandon (ii) end (iii) maintain (iv) weaken
(j) What does 'infrastructure' refer to here?
(i) basic physical facilities such as roads (ii) only a single building (iii) a map (iv) an outline
(a) (iv) contamination of the atmosphere
(b) (iv) It is a hub for ecotourism.
(c) (i) an environmentally important area needing protection
(d) (iii) it hampers the biodiversity of the visited area
(e) (iv) deterioration
(f) (iii) benign
(g) (iii) activities
(h) (iv) Due to ecotourism, climates started to become worse.
(i) (iii) maintain
(j) (i) basic physical facilities such as roads