NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 7: Here are the solutions for Chapter 8 Reach for the Top which focuses on the inspiring journeys of Bachendri Pal and Santosh Yadav. In this chapter, we learn how both women overcame numerous challenges to achieve their dreams of climbing Mount Everest.
Reach For The Top Class 9 Questions And Answers cover important questions related to their experiences, emphasizing themes like determination, resilience, and the spirit of adventure. NCERT Solutions highlight key events, characters, and the life lessons that can be learned from their remarkable stories. These solutions will help students in comprehending the chapter more deeply and preparing effectively for their exams.
Reach For The Top Class 9 Questions And Answers
Class 9 English Reach For The Top Question Answers are prepared strictly according to the latest NCERT guidelines. The questions and answers included here help students understand the key events, character traits, and messages of the chapter in a simple and clear manner.
Reach For The Top Class 9 English Beehive solutions are useful for exam preparation as they cover important short and long answer questions, value-based questions, and character analysis. By referring to this section, students can revise effectively and improve their writing skills and confidence in exams.
Thinking about the Text
I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answers.)
Question 1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised? (1)
Answer: The holy man was surprised when Santosh's grandmother asked for blessings to have a daughter instead of a son. Usually, people ask for blessings for a son, so this request was unexpected for him.
Question 2 . Give an example to show that even as a young girl, Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. (2)
Answer: Even from a young age, Santosh refused to accept anything unreasonable. She didn't conform to the traditional way of life and started living life on her own terms early on. While other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred to wear shorts, showing her independence and defiance of societal norms.
Question 3 . Why was Santosh sent to the local school? (3)
Answer: Despite Santosh's parents being wealthy landowners capable of affording the best schools, Santosh was sent to the local school due to family customs and traditions.
Question 4 . When did she leave home for Delhi, and why? (4)
Answer: She left home for Delhi when she was 16 because she wanted to get a proper education.
Question 5 . Why did Santosh’s parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are brought to light by this incident? (4)
Answer: Santosh's parents agreed to finance her education in Delhi after she expressed her intention to work part-time to cover the expenses herself.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words)
Question 1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
Answer: Kasturba Hostel, where Santosh resided during her college years, overlooked the Aravalli Hills. She often observed villagers trekking up the hills, disappearing from sight. Intrigued, she expressed her interest in joining them, and they welcomed her. This marked the beginning of Santosh's mountain-climbing adventures.
Question 2 . What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates?
Answer: During the Everest expedition in 1992, Santosh provided special care to a climber who was dying at the South Col. She could not save him, but she managed to save another climber, Mohan Singh, by sharing her oxygen with him.
Question 3. What shows her concern for the environment?
Answer: He collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas on her way back from the 1992 Everest expedition. This shows her concern for the environment.
Question 4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of Everest?
Answer: She says that it took her some time for the enormity of the moment to sink in. She unfurled the Indian tricolor and held it aloft on the roof of the world.
She tells that the feeling is indescribable to watch the Indian flag flying on top of the world. She felt proud as an Indian.
Question 5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt Everest. What were the reasons for this?
Answer: Santosh Yadav made history on both occasions she conquered Mt. Everest. During her first ascent, she earned the title of the youngest woman in the world to reach the summit. On her second climb, she achieved another remarkable feat by becoming the only woman to successfully summit Mt. Everest twice.
III. 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 from her room, going up the hill and suddenly vanishing 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 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.
IV. 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: assumed
2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable: rational
3. the usual way of doing things: custom
4. a strong desire arising from within: urge
5. the power to endure, without falling ill: resistance
Part II
Maria Sharapova
Thinking about the Text
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. |
“My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis training going.” |
|
2. Their parents’ approach |
But, in line with the prevailing custom in the family, Santosh had to make do with the local village school. |
“My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis training going.” |
|
3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed |
“And I was supposed to be in Uttarkashi on the twenty-first. So, I did not go back home; instead, I headed straight for the training.” |
“When you come from nothing and you have nothing, then it makes you very hungry and determined…” |
|
4. Evidence of their mental toughness |
Equipped with an iron will, physical endurance and an amazing mental toughness, she proved herself repeatedly. |
“Instead of letting that depress me, I became more quietly determined and mentally tough.” |
|
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.” |
“My blood is totally Russian. I will play the Olympics for Russia if they want me.” |
Thinking about Language
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, as shown above.
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 dresse s , 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.)
II. 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 you finish the book, perhaps you just throw it away.
3. He gave the little girl an apple and took the computer apart.
4. When you have nothing, that makes you very determined.
5. I never thought of quitting as I knew what I wanted.
Dictation
Read the passage once. Then close your books. Your teacher will dictate the story to you. Write it down with the correct punctuation and paragraphing.
The Raincoat
After four years of drought in a small town in the Northeast, the Vicar gathered everyone together for a pilgrimage to the mountain, where they would pray together and ask for the rain to return. The priest noticed a boy in the group wearing a raincoat. “Have you gone mad?” he asked. “It hasn’t rained in this region for five years, the heat will kill you climbing the mountain.” “I have a cold, father. If we are going to ask God for rain, can you imagine the way back from the mountain? It’s going to be such a downpour that I need to be prepared.” At that moment a great crash was heard in the sky and the first drops began to fall. A boy’s faith was enough to bring about a miracle that not even those most prepared truly believed in. (translated by JAMES MULHOLLAND)
Answer: Do it yourself.
Speaking
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:
Good Morning Girls!
It is an honor to address you all from this stage. You definitely have sheer will and determination. That is what has brought you this far. As you proceed with the same passion, I want to iterate that everything you have and all that you will achieve in life will solely depend on your confidence. Believe in yourself and your dreams. Do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals. Never ever doubt your skills. Never let the difficulties discourage you. Never lose trust in yourself just because you had to face a defeat. Whenever you fail, remember to rise and chase your passion. Thank you.
Writing
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.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
II. 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: Santosh Yadav is characterized by her determination and politeness. Her adventurous spirit is evident when she approaches mountaineers climbing Everest, expressing her fascination and asking to join them. Additionally, she demonstrates consideration for her fellow climbers, offering assistance during their journey.
Santosh exhibits a strong will to achieve her goals, evident in her perseverance in conquering Mt. Everest. She expresses deep patriotism, describing the indescribable feeling of watching the Indian flag unfurl at the summit of the world's highest peak.
Reach for the Top Summary
Reach for the Top is a biographical chapter that tells the inspiring stories of two successful sportswomen, Santosh Yadav, a mountaineer, and Maria Sharapova, a tennis player. Both stories highlight how determination, discipline, and hard work can help one achieve great heights in life despite difficulties.
Santosh Yadav created history by becoming the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest twice. She came from a conservative background but followed her dreams with courage and confidence. Maria Sharapova, on the other hand, faced loneliness and tough training from a very young age but became one of the world’s top tennis players through sheer dedication. The chapter teaches students to stay focused, work hard, and never give up on their goals.
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