Level: B.A/ B.B.S || Lesson 26 Adaptive Failure: Easter’s End (Jared Diamond, USA 1937)
Words Meaning
Posed = created
Riveting = exciter
Mysteries = secrets
Succumb = surrender
Unsurpassed = matchless
Gigantic = terrible
Canoe = small boat
Frail = weak
Voyage = sea journey
Impoverished = made poor
Enhanced = improved
Beset = surrounded
Mild = moderate
Deserved = earned fame
Flimsy = weak
Trace = massive
Coast = sea shore
Image = statue
Incredulous = uncertain
Savage = enthusiastic
Expedition = journey
Colonized = ruled
Quarries = mines
Trace = print
Astonishment = wonder
Spawned = produced
Peculation = expectation
Ancestors = forefathers
Exotic = foreign
Erected = built
Vanish = disappear
Incredulous = unbelievable
Feasibility = possibility
Ultramodern = very modern
Furnishes = decorates
Sled = walk on snow
Cared = erected
Extinct = disappear
Pristine = scared
Chewed = bitten
Mogul = rich man
Ostentatious = false pride
Ample = enough
Leeched = depended
Dragger = knife or sword
Whimper = slowly
Electorates = voters
Flee = run away
Bureaucrats = policy makers
Exhausted = tried
Famished = hungry
Halt = stop
Fossil = remaining
Thugs = looters
Prodigious = powerful
Discarded = not needed, unnecessary
Doom = death, ruined
Pharaoh = ruler of ancient Egypt
Statuette = small statue
Lugging = pulling
Rival = competitor
Clans = tribes
Surplus = extra
Bang = sound of gum
Galvanizing = motivating
Summary
This is about Easter Island. This island lies in the pacific Ocean. It is 200 miles West of South America. It’s name remained from its discovery by the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen on Easter Day in 1722. Many researchers like Jacob Roggeveen, James Cook, Eric Von Damiken, Tho rHeyerdhal and David Steadman did their research work on this island. The research work was made in the field of archeology, pollen analysis and paleontology.
First of all Jacob discovered this island in 1722, then it wasn’t good place. There were shrubs and small insects. The island was occupied by 2000 human population. Then James Cook observed this island in 1774. The people who lived there used to speak Polynesian language and there were 200 big stone statues. These statues indicate high cultured society different from the Roggeveen saw in 1722. Thor Heyerdahal argued that Easter Island must have been settled by advanced societies. Similarly, Eric Von Daniken viewed that Easter’s statues to be the works of extraterrestrial intelligent beings with ultra modern tools. Modern archeological excavations of Easter Island continued since Heyerdahl’s journey.
The pollen analysis shows that human beings arrived at Easter Island at least 30,000 years ago and human settlement began 1600 years ago. The first settlers of this island ate sea bird, rats, seals etc. the pollen analysis of the plants was done by John Flenley and Sarah King. Gradually trees were destroyed by the people. The deforestation affected the other animals badly. The birds that used to spread seeds of plants disappeared. The water resources dried up. There was starvation and people started killing human beings for food and stated to make stone weapons. Around the 1770, they probably started to destroy the statues of their enemies.
Four Levels of Interpretation
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Literal Comprehension
This is about Easter Island. This island lies in the pacific Ocean. It is 200 miles West of South America. It’s name remained from its discovery by the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen on Easter Day in 1722. Many researchers like Jacob Roggeveen, James Cook, Eric Von Damiken, Tho rHeyerdhal and David Steadman did their research work on this island. The research work was made in the field of archeology, pollen analysis and paleontology.
First of all Jacob discovered this island in 1722, then it wasn’t good place. There were shrubs and small insects. The island was occupied by 2000 human population. Then James Cook observed this island in 1774. The people who lived there used to speak Polynesian language and there were 200 big stone statues. These statues indicate high cultured society different from the Roggeveen saw in 1722. Thor Heyerdahal argued that Easter Island must have been settled by advanced societies. Similarly, Eric Von Daniken viewed that Easter’s statues to be the works of extraterrestrial intelligent beings with ultra modern tools. Modern archeological excavations of Easter Island continued since Heyerdahl’s journey.
The pollen analysis shows that human beings arrived at Easter Island at least 30,000 years ago and human settlement began 1600 years ago. The first settlers of this island ate sea bird, rats, seals etc. the pollen analysis of the plants was done by John Flenley and Sarah King. Gradually trees were destroyed by the people. The deforestation affected the other animals badly. The birds that used to spread seeds of plants disappeared. The water resources dried up. There was starvation and people started killing human beings for food and stated to make stone weapons. Around the 1770, they probably started to destroy the statues of their enemies.
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Interpretation
The writer tries to show the human beings are responsible for the destruction of natural beauty. He shows human beings set up civilization and they themselves destroy the civilization. So, he presents the real picture Easter Island where once there was paradise. People being to destroy that island in 800 AD. People exploited resources.
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Critical Thinking
This essay is based on research work done by different researchers. But the writer hasn’t given facts for what was real cause of destruction and what is the present condition of that island now. He hasn’t clearly mentioned that how the people went there for the first time.
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Assimilation
When I read this essay, I remembered the condition of Mahendranagar. When I joined Siddha Nath Multiple Campus, there used to be lots of saal trees either sides of the road in Katan and there were also statues in the Town. There were beautiful lamps around these statues. But after 12 years these statues were broken down and trees were cut down. In place of green jungle, big houses were built.
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