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    “First the birds became extinct. The animals followed. The fish couldn’t bear it anymore either. We managed to survive only because of our superior technology, but we were forced to live underground under artificial conditions. Thanks to solar energy, we can generate sufficient power to make our life comfortable. But the machines which make this possible must always be in good working condition. Some of them are on the surface—I belong to the team whose responsibility it is to keep watch on them and to service them.”
 
    “Daddy, can I join the team when I grow up?”

    “Of course, if you want to,” said his father.

    “But for that you must be a good boy and do as your parents tell you.” His mother had, as usual, the last word.
Explanation:
 
In addition to the sun's harshness, Tilloo's father explained the extinction of living creatures from the planet's surface. At first, the birds became extinct, followed by them, animals became extinct. Later the fish could not survive there because of the heat. These living creatures got extinct because of the heat produced by the sunrays. However, human beings managed to survive only because of superior technology. Due to the advanced technology, they were able to survive underground under artificial conditions. The reason they can survive under artificial conditions was because of solar energy.

While Tilloo's family and other members lived beneath the planet's surface, solar energy played an essential role in their lives. Also, his father stated that solar energy generated sufficient power to make their lives comfortable. In addition, he said that the machines that were providing solar energy should always be in good working condition. They were leading their life successfully with the help of the artificial supply of energy. Moreover, he added that some of the life-saving devices were on the surface of the planet, and his job was to look after the conditions of the machine and service them. Here the term "service" means that looking after the running state of the device.

After hearing about the dangerous and challenging aspect of working on the planet's surface, Tilloo asked his father if he could join the team once he grew up. It showed his curiosity and interest in that field. Later, his father agreed that he could join that team once he grew up. While the father and the son were speaking about it, Tilloo's mother interrupted in between and stated that if he wanted to become like his dad, he would have to be a good boy and follow his parent's words. This was the usual advice given to Tilloo by his mother.
 
Meanings of the difficult words:
 
S.No
Words
Meanings
1
ExtinctOf a species, family, or other group of animals or plants having no living members; no longer in existence
2
Sufficient Enough for a particular purpose
3
Artificial Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something natural
4
ComfortableRelaxed and free from pain
5
Solar energyEnergy that uses the power of the sun to produce electricity
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2007). Supplementary. An Alien Hand - Jayant Narlikar (66-73). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.