NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 14 – Reach for the Top

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 14 – Reach for the Top

Page No 102:

Question 1:

Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answers.)

1. Why was the 'holy man' who gave Santosh's mother his blessings surprised? (1)

2. Give an example to show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. (2)

3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school? (3)

4. When did she leave home for Delhi, and why? (4)

5. Why did Santosh's parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are brought into light by this incident? (4)

Answer:

1. The 'holy man' had assumed that Santosh's mother wanted a son as the part of the society she belonged to regarded birth of a son as a blessing. However, he was surprised when the unborn child's grandmother told him that they did not want a son.

2. Santosh, from the very beginning, lived life on her own terms. She was not content with the traditional way of life and was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. One example which proves this is that Santosh, unlike other girls who wore traditional Indian dresses, preferred wearing shorts.

3. Even though Santosh's parents could afford to send their children to the best schools, she was sent to the local village school due to the prevailing custom in the family.

4. When she turned sixteen and was under pressure to get married, Santosh threatened her parents that she would never marry if she did not get a proper education. Therefore, she left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.

5. When Santosh informed her parents about her plan to do a part time job to support her education, they agreed to pay for her schooling in Delhi.

This incident shows that Santosh was a strong headed and determined girl who knew her way towards her goal. .

Page No 103:

Question 2:

Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?

2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh's concern for her team-mates?

3. What shows her concern for the environment?

4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?

5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt Everest. What were the reasons for this?

Answer:

1. In order to investigate as to how the villagers going up the Aravali hills ,vanished after a while, Santosh accompanied a few mountaineers in their climbing expedition. This was how she began to climb mountains.

2. During the Everest mission, Santosh showed immense concern for her fellow climbers. Though she was unsuccessful in saving the life of one of them, she did manage to save another climber through artificial respiration.

3. Santosh was a fervent environmentalist. Her concern for the environment is evident from the fact that she collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas.

4. Santosh asserted that her feeling at the summit of the Everest was 'indescribable'. Unfurling the Indian flag on the top of the world was a spiritual moment for her and she felt proud as an Indian.

5. When Santosh Yadav first scaled Mt Everest, she became the youngest woman in the world to achieve the feat. When she scaled the Everest the second time, she became the only woman to have scaled it twice.

Question 3:

Complete the following statements.

1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to _________

2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because _________

3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her _________ while _________endeared her to fellow climbers.

Answer:

1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch villagers going up the hill and suddenly vanish after a while.

2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she had got herself enrolled at Uttarkashi's Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without his permission.

3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her climbing skills, physical fitness and mental strength while her concern for others and desire to work together with them endeared her to fellow climbers.

Question 4:

Pick out words from the text that mean the same as the following words or expressions. (Look in the paragraphs indicated.)

1. took to be true without proof (1): _________

2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable (2): _________

3. the usual way of doing things (3): _________

4. a strong desire arising from within (5): _________

5. the power to endure, without falling ill (7): _________

Answer:

1. took to be true without proof (1): Assumed

2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable (2): Rational

3. the usual way of doing things (3): Custom

4. a strong desire arising from within (5): Urge

5. the power to endure, without falling ill (7): Resistance

Page No 104:

Question 1:

A Russian girl, Maria Sharapova, reached the summit of women's tennis when she was barely eighteen. As you read about her, see if you can draw a comparison between her and Santosh Yadav.

1. Match the following.

something disarming	quickly, almost immediately
at odds with	more calm, confident and in control than people of her age usually are
glamorous attire	in contrast to; not agreeing with
in almost no time	something that makes you feel friendly, taking away your suspiciousness
poised beyond her years	sent off
packed off	attractive and exciting clothes
launched	causing strong feelings of sadness
heart wrenching	started

2. As you read, look for the answers to these questions.

-Why was Maria sent to the United States?

-Why didn't her mother go with her?

-What are her hobbies? What does she like?

-What motivates her to keep going?

Answer:

1.

something disarming	something that makes you feel friendly, taking away your suspiciousness
at odds with	in contrast to; not agreeing with
glamorous attire	attractive and exciting clothes
in almost no time	quickly, almost immediately
poised beyond her years	more calm, confident and in control than people of her age usually are
packed off	sent off
launched	started
heart wrenching	causing strong feelings of sadness

2.

Maria was sent to the United States for her tennis training.

Her mother could not go with her because of visa restrictions.

Her hobbies are fashion, singing and dancing. She likes reading the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle. She has a fondness for sophisticated evening gowns, pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks.

Apart from money, the motivation to become number one in the world keeps her going.

Page No 107:

Question 1:

Working in small groups of 4-5 students, go back over the two passages on Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova and complete the table given below with relevant phrases or sentences.

	Points of Comparison/Contrast	Santosh Yadav	Maria Sharapova
1.	Their humble beginning
2.	Their parents' approach
3.	Their will power and strong desire to succeed
4.	Evidence of their mental toughness
5.	Their patriotism

Answer:

	Points of Comparison/Contrast	Santosh Yadav	Maria Sharapova
1.	Their humble beginning	-She was born in the small village of Joniyawas of Rewari District in Haryana.	-the Siberian born teenager
2.	Their parents' approach	– in line with the prevailing custom in the family, Santosh had to make do with the local village school. – At sixteen, most of the girls in her village used to get married. Santosh was also under pressure from her parents to do the same. – her parents refused to pay for her education – her father slowly getting used to her urge	– she was packed off to train in the United States. – trip to Florida with her father Yuri launched her on the path to success and stardom. – My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis-training going.
3.	Their will power and strong desire to succeed	-Wishing always to study ‘a bit more’ -her urge for more education -left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. – She saved money and enrolled in a course at Uttarkashi's Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. – I headed straight for the training.	– Instead of letting that depress me, I became more quietly determined and mentally tough. – unwavering desire to succeed and readiness to sacrifice – I work hard at what I do. – the most important thing is to become number one in the world. That's the dream that kept me going.
4.	Evidence of their mental toughness	-She began living life on her own terms from the start. -From the very beginning I was quite determined that if I chose a correct and a rational path, the others around me had to change, not me. -she politely informed them of her plans to earn money by working part time to pay her school fees. – Santosh went on an expedition every year. – an amazing mental toughness – mental strength impressed her seniors	-I learnt how to take care of myself. I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted. -I would have put up with much more humiliation and insults than that to steadfastly pursue my dream.
5.	Their patriotism	-Then I unfurled the Indian tricolour and held it aloft on the roof of the world. The feeling is indescribable. The Indian flag was flying on top of the world. It was truly a spiritual moment. I felt proud as an Indian.	- I'm Russian. It's true that the U.S. is a big part of my life. But I have Russian citizenship. My blood is totally Russian. I will play the Olympics for Russia if they want me.

Question 1:

Look at the following sentences. They each have two clauses, or two parts each with their own subject and verb or verb phrase. Often, one part (italicised) tells us when or why something happened.

- I reached the market when most of the shops had closed. (Tells us when I reached.)

- When Rahul Dravid walked back towards the pavilion, everyone stood up. (Tells us when everyone stood up.)

- The telephone rang and Ganga picked it up. (Tells us what happened next.)

- Gunjan has been with us ever since the school began. (Tells us for how long he has been with us.)

I. Identify the two parts in the sentences below by underlining the part that gives us the information in brackets.

1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.

(Contrasts her dress with that of others)

2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. (Tells us what happened after the first action.)

3. She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived. (Tells us when she was going to fight the system.)

4. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. (Tells us when Maria was sent to the U.S.)

Answer:

1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.

2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.

3. She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived.

4. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States.

Page No 108:

Question 2:

Now rewrite the pairs of sentences given below as one sentence.

1. Grandfather told me about the old days. All books were printed on paper then.

2. What do you do after you finish the book? Perhaps you just throw it away.

3. He gave the little girl an apple. He took the computer apart.

4. You have nothing. That makes you very determined.

5. I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.

Answer:

1. Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper.

2. After finishing the book, perhaps you just throw it away.

3. He gave the little girl an apple and took the computer apart.

4. Having nothing makes you very determined.

5. I never thought of quitting as I knew what I wanted.

Question 1:

Imagine that you are Santosh Yadav, or Maria Sharapova. You have been invited to speak at an All India Girls' Athletic Meet, as chief guest. Prepare a short speech to motivate the girls to think and dream big and make an effort to fulfil their dreams, not allowing difficulties or defeat to discourage them. The following words and phrases may help you.

- self confident/confidence/sure of yourself

- self assured/assurance/belief in yourself

- morale/boost morale/raise morale

- giving somebody a boost/fillip/lift

- demoralising/unsure of yourself/insecure/lack confidence

Answer:

‘Turn Difficulties into Opportunities’- My Success Mantra

A warm good morning to all of you. It is an honour to be invited as a chief guest at the All India Girls' Athletic Meet. Looking at the bright and enthusiastic faces of all of the talented girls present here makes me nostalgic. At one point of time, I too used to be sitting in athletic meets like this. My journey from there to here was not devoid of pot holes, but there were fillips that let me going.

Girls, remember that though there may be factors that will try to pull you back in this male chauvinistic world, your confidence will let you sail. Never let such defeats or difficulties demoralize or depress you. Be focused, practice hard and believe in yourself. You will experience a gradual but permanent boost in your confidence. Moreover, make your womanhood your strongest point. Woman, not only emotionally but physically too, can be stronger than men.

But until and unless you wake up and act, dreams hold no importance. So, dream big to boost your morale and make efforts to fulfil those dreams.

Thank you.

(The above answer is only a sample provided for the student’s help. We recommend that students answer such questions using their own creativity and understanding.)

Page No 109:

Question 1:

Working in pairs, go through the table below that gives you information about the top women tennis players since 1975. Write a short article for your school magazine comparing and contrasting the players in terms of their duration at the top. Mention some qualities that you think may be responsible for their brief or long stay at the top spot.

Top-Ranked Women Players

I. The roll of honour of women who enjoyed life at the summit since everybody's favourite player, Chris Evert, took her place in 1975.

Name	Ranked on	Weeks as No. 1
Maria Sharapova (Russia)	22 August 2005	1
Lindsay Davenport (U.S.)	October 2004	82
Amelie Mauresmo (France)	13 September 2004	5
Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium)	20 October 2003	45
Kim Clijsters (Belgium)	11 August 2003	12
Serena Williams (U.S.)	8 July 2002	57
Venus Williams (U.S.)	25 February 2002	11
Jennifer Capriati (U.S.)	15 October 2001	17
Lindsay Davenport (U.S.)	12 October 1998	82
Martina Hingis (Switzerland)	31 March 1997	209
Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Spain)	6 February 1995	12
Monica Seles (U.S.)	11 March 1991	178
Steffi Graf (Germany)	17 August 1987	377
Tracy Austin (U.S.)	7 April 1980	22
Martina Navratilova (U.S.)	10 July 1978	331
Chris Evert (U.S.)	3 November 1975	362

Answer:

Top Women Players Over The Years

by XYZ

Women’s tennis has seen many legends since Chris Evert of the U.S., who bagged the top position in 1975 and maintained it for 362 weeks. From 1978-97, Martina Navratilova (U.S.), Steffi Graf (Germany), Monica Seles (U.S.) and Martina Hingis (Switzerland) were some other mentally tough and determined girls who retained their top ranks for 331, 377, 178 and 209 weeks respectively. The confidence they had in their capabilities and the urge to excel in life helped them to lead in their career.

Sharing these traits of personality were women like Tracy Austin (U.S.), Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Lindsay Davenport (U.S.), Jennifer Capriati (U.S.), Venus Williams (U.S.), Serena Williams (U.S.), Kim Clijsters (Belgium), Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium), Amelie Mauresmo (France), Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) and Maria Sharapova (Russia), who topped the women’s tennis from the year 1980 to 2005.

Though the period for which these players retained their positions were not equivalent to the likes of Chris Evert or Steffi Graf, yet they too have showcased their competitiveness in a sport like tennis.

(The above answer is only a sample provided for the student’s help. We recommend that students answer such questions using their own creativity and understanding.)

Question 2:

Which of these words would you use to describe Santosh Yadav? Find reasons in the text to support your choices, and write a couple of paragraphs describing Santosh's character.

contented	determined	resourceful	polite	adventurous	considerate
weak-willed	fearful	independent	pessimistic	patient	persevering

Answer:

Words describing Santosh	Lines which support the choice
Determined	- When her parents refused to pay for her education, she politely informed them of her plans to earn money by working part time to pay her school fees.
Polite	- she politely informed them of her plans to earn money - just four years after she had shyly asked the Aravalli mountaineers if she could join them.
Adventurous	- Santosh went on an expedition every year.
Considerate	- Santosh Yadav provided special care to a climber who lay dying at the South Col. - However, she managed to save another climber, Mohan Singh, who would have met with the same fate had she not shared her oxygen with him.
Independent	- I did not go back home; instead, I headed straight for the training.
Persevering	- She saved money and enrolled in a course - The culmination of her hard work and sincerity came in 1992
Patient	- she decided to fight the system in her own quiet way when the right moment arrived.

A rebel since childhood, Santosh Yadav fought the system and lived life on her own terms. She was a polite girl, who had a thirst to study 'a bit more'. Her attitude and assertiveness towards life and education, made her parents to relent.

She was an independent, hard working and adventure-loving mountaineer. Though her path to success was turbulent, her determination and belief in her self was quiet evident. She impressed her seniors with her mental and physical toughness; and her concern and desire to work together with her fellow climbers found her a special place in their hearts. Her involvement and fervour in environmental issues made her bring down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas.