Chapter 2. Me and the Ecology Bit | BSEB 10 English Solution

Chapter 2. Me and the Ecology Bit by Joan Lexau – Complete Solutions (BSEB Class 10 English Chapter 2 / Panorama)

Looking for easy and complete solutions of “Me and the Ecology Bit” by Joan Lexau for Bihar Board Class 10 English? This interesting chapter from the Panorama textbook shows how difficult it is to make people follow ecological rules even when everyone talks about saving the environment. Here you will find every question answered in simple language – discussion, true/false, short answers, sentence completion, long answers, group discussion, composition, word study, grammar (Active-Passive Voice), activities and translation. All exercises from A to G are covered without skipping anything so you can prepare perfectly for your exam.

About the Chapter

Joan Lexau’s story “Me and the Ecology Bit” is told by a young boy named Jim. He tries to teach people about ecology while delivering newspapers, but nobody listens to him. The story shows that talking about saving the environment is easy, but practising it is very difficult. Even Jim himself does not always follow the rules he preaches.

A. Look at the pictures given in textbook and discuss the questions that follow

1. What are the slogans? Read out aloud.

The slogans are:

• SAVE EARTH
• SAVE TREE
• SAVE WATER

2. Why are these slogans displayed?

Answer: These slogans are displayed to create awareness among people about protecting the environment, trees and water.

3. Do you like these slogans? Why?

Answer: Yes, I like these slogans because they remind us to take care of nature and save our planet for future generations.

4. Have you ever displayed such slogans or participated in any seminar on ecology preservation?

Answer: (Sample answer) Yes, I have participated in a tree plantation drive and displayed “Save Trees” posters in my school.

B.1.1. Write T for True and F for False

• 1. People easily get convinced by Jim. F
• 2. He uses paper route to convince the people. T
• 3. He gives suggestions on ecology free of cost. T
• 4. Mr. Williams was at his house. T
• 5. People listened to Jim gladly; for he was an eco-friendly boy. F

B.2. Answer the following questions very briefly

1. What happens when the narrator calls Ms. Greene, ‘Mrs. Greene’?

Answer: She says she doesn’t have change to pay him.

2. What does the narrator do on Saturdays and Sundays?

Answer: On Saturdays and Sundays he has to look at the big plastic garbage bags on Ms. Greene’s lawn (because she goes away on weekends).

3. Which animal messes up Ms. Greene’s yard?

Answer: The narrator’s dog digs up her garden and messes up her yard.

4. Why does the narrator ask Ms. Greene to save paper and aluminium cans?

Answer: So that they can be recycled and made into new paper and new cans (for the school pickup).

5. Did the narrator succeed in getting Ms. Greene to do something about ecology?

Answer: No, he did not succeed.

B.3.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of the unit you have just studied

1. It is very boring work, this ecology bit.
2. Women use too many electric things.
3. Nobody’s willing to do anything about ecology.
4. The narrator drives his motorbike round and round his backyard all summer and snowmobile all winter.

B.3.2. Answer the following questions very briefly

1. How many blocks away was the post office from Mr. Johnson’s house?

Answer: Only two blocks away.

2. What form of electricity did the narrator use?

Answer: He watched TV (for many hours).

3. Why did Mr. Johnson think that the narrator did not follow the principle of walking?

Answer: Because the narrator drove his motorbike in the backyard all summer and snowmobile all winter.

4. Did the narrator enjoy talking about ecology?

Answer: No, he found it very boring work.

C.1. Long Answer Questions

1. ‘Nobody’s willing to do anything about ecology.’ Do you agree with the statement?

Answer: Yes, I partly agree. Most people talk about saving the environment but do not want to change their own habits. They find it inconvenient. However, some people and students do take small steps like planting trees and saving water.

2. “But anyhow, on Saturday when I collect, I put in a good work on ecology.” This is the narrator’s way of preserving ecology. How are you contributing to ecological preservation in your surroundings?

Answer: I contribute by not throwing garbage on the road, switching off lights and fans when not needed, using less plastic, and planting trees in my locality.

3. ‘I get tired of trying to get Ms. Greene to do something about ecology.’ Explain in detail the meeting between Jim and Ms. Greene and throw light on the outcome of the meeting.

Answer: Jim goes to collect money from Ms. Greene. She asks him to pick up a gum wrapper he threw on her lawn. She also complains about his dog digging her garden. Jim advises her to save newspapers and aluminium cans for recycling. But Ms. Greene reminds him that he never came for the last school pickup. Jim gets tired and leaves without success. The meeting shows that both of them are not perfect in following ecological rules.

4. ‘Sure it is hard to get people to work for ecology.’ Do you agree with this statement? What is ecology? What measures have you and your school taken to preserve it?

Answer: Yes, it is hard because people do not want to change their comfortable habits.

Ecology: Ecology is the science that deals with the relationship between living things and their environment.

Measures taken: In our school we have tree plantation drives, clean campus campaigns, and we save electricity and water.

5. “Women use too many electric things.” What prompts the narrator to say so? How does the use of modern appliances affect ecology?

Answer: Jim says this when he sees his mother using the electric mixer. He thinks women use too many electric gadgets.

Modern appliances consume a lot of electricity, which is often produced by burning coal or gas. This increases pollution and harms the environment.

6. Do you think that Jim is a real ecology friendly boy? Give your opinion.

Answer: No, Jim is not a completely ecology-friendly boy. He preaches a lot but himself drives motorbike and snowmobile, watches TV for long hours, and once threw a gum wrapper. He is only partially aware.

7. Does Jim understand why his advice is being questioned? Explain.

Answer: Yes, slowly he understands. When Mr. Johnson points out his own faults (killing a small tree, driving motorbike and snowmobile), Jim realises that he is also not perfect. That is why he stops talking about ecology on the rest of his route.

8. What happened to the tree referred to by Mr. Johnson?

Answer: There was a small tree which Jim killed by repeatedly jumping over it while taking a short cut.

9. Is Jim aware of all of the aspects? Does he always practise ecology measures? Give arguments in favour of your answer.

Answer: No, Jim is not aware of all aspects. He does not always practise what he preaches. Arguments: He drives motorbike and snowmobile, watches too much TV, threw litter, and killed a small tree. He only talks but does not fully follow.

10. A hero or heroine does not always arrive on a galloping horse to save the day. Sometimes the hero or heroine merely demonstrates potential for action, rather than a completed task. What potential does Jim have as the hero in this story?

Answer: Jim has the potential of awareness and courage to speak about ecology. Even though he is not perfect, he tries to make people think about the environment. His effort shows that he can become a better eco-friendly person in future.

C.2. Group Discussion

1. Environmental degradation leads to ecological imbalance.

Points for Discussion:
Yes, when we cut trees, pollute air and water, the balance of nature is disturbed. This causes floods, droughts, climate change and loss of animals and plants.

2. Modern appliances adversely affect the environment.

Points for Discussion:
Yes, they consume a lot of electricity and many of them use harmful materials. This increases pollution and global warming.

C.3. Composition

1. Morning Assembly Speech

Prompt: Prepare a speech in about 100 words on ‘how students can become ecology friendly’.

Respected Principal, teachers and dear friends,
Good morning to all.

Today I want to speak on how we students can become ecology friendly. We should plant more trees, not waste water, switch off lights and fans when not needed, and avoid plastic bags. We should not throw garbage here and there. If every student takes small steps, we can save our environment. Let us promise today to protect Mother Earth.

Thank you.

2. Letter to a Friend

Prompt: Write a letter to your friend, telling him the measures your school has taken to preserve ecology in the locality.

Exam Hall
Patna
28 August 2026

Dear Rohan,

I hope you are fine. I want to tell you about the measures our school has taken to preserve ecology. We have a “Green Club”. Every month we plant trees. We have dustbins for wet and dry waste. Students are not allowed to bring plastic bottles. We also have a rainwater harvesting system.

These steps are helping a lot. You should also start such activities in your school.

Yours lovingly,
Amit

D. Word Study

D.1. Dictionary Use

Ex.1. Correct the spelling of the following words:

ecology

compost

garbage

stuff

pollution

innings

Ex.2. Match Column A with Column B

Column A	Column B (Correct Meaning)
compost	manure
garbage	filth
pollution	an act of polluting
pretend	to feign
ecology	the science that deals with the relation between living things and environment

E. Grammar (Active Voice and Passive Voice)

Ex.2. Change the following sentences from Active Voice into Passive Voice:

1. The game is being played by the children.
2. The story is told by the teacher.
3. The speech is being delivered by the Minister.
4. Thieves are caught by the policeman.
5. The car is being driven by the driver.
6. The guitar is being played by the children.
7. The letters have been delivered by the postman.
8. The son was scolded by the father.
9. The flowers have been watered by the gardener.
10. The band is being played by the musicians.

F. Activities

1. Do a project work on how to prepare compost.

(Students have to collect organic kitchen waste, leaves, and soil in a pit, layer them properly, and let it decompose naturally for 2–3 months to create rich manure.)

2. Find out what other fertilizers are being used for growing plants. Which of them are good for plants as well as human beings and which are bad. Then write a report on it.

(Organic fertilizers like cow dung, vermicompost, and neem cake are eco-friendly and safe. Chemical fertilizers like urea and DAP give quick yield but harm soil health and ground water over time.)

G. Translation (Translate into Hindi)

Accurate English-to-Hindi translations for textbook sentences:

• 1. Sure it is hard to get people to work for ecology. → निश्चित रूप से लोगों को पर्यावरण के लिए काम करने के लिए तैयार करना कठिन है।
• 2. He somehow has the idea that I hate working with compost. → उसे किसी तरह यह विचार है कि मुझे कम्पोस्ट के साथ काम करना नापसंद है।
• 3. My feelings are hurt but that doesn’t stop me from trying again. → मेरी भावनाएँ आहत हैं लेकिन इससे मैं फिर से कोशिश करने से नहीं रुकता।
• 4. She doesn’t have change to pay me. → उसके पास मुझे पैसे देने के लिए खुले पैसे नहीं हैं।
• 5. I get tired of trying to get Mrs. Greene to do something about ecology. → मैं श्रीमती ग्रीन को पर्यावरण के बारे में कुछ करने के लिए राजी करने की कोशिश से थक जाता हूँ।
• 6. Nobody’s willing to do anything about ecology. → कोई भी पर्यावरण के बारे में कुछ करने को तैयार नहीं है।
• 7. Nobody listens to me. → कोई मेरी बात नहीं सुनता।
• 8. It’s very boring work, this ecology bit. → यह पर्यावरण वाला काम बहुत उबाऊ है।

End of Complete Solutions • All the best for your Bihar Board Class 10 English exam!