NCERT Solutions for Chapter 8 Reach for the Top Class 9 English Beehive
Chapter Name | Reach for the Top NCERT Solutions |
Class | CBSE Class 9 |
Textbook Name | Beehive |
Related Readings |
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Part I - 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? (Para 1)
Answer
The 'Holy man' was surprised because he had assumed that Santosh's mother wanted a son but actually the unborn child's grandmother did not want a son and she had requested a blessing for a baby girl.
Question 2: Give an example to show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. (Para 2)
Answer
Young Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable and lived life on her terms. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, she wore shorts.Question 3: Why was Santosh sent to the local school? (Para 3)
Answer
Santosh was sent to the local school because of the prevailing custom in the family.
Question 4: When did she leave home for Delhi, and why? (Para 4)
Answer
Santosh left home for Delhi when she was under pressure to get married at the age of sixteen. She did it so because she wanted to pursue higher education.
Question 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? (Para 4)
Answer
Santosh's parents agreed to pay for her schooling in Delhi when she informed them of her plans to earn money by working a part time to pay her school fees.
This incident shows that Santosh was a mentally strong person who determined towards her goal and she had the courage to challenge the norms of society by working hard.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (or about 30 words).
Question 1: How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
Answer
Santosh watched villagers go up the Aravalli Hills and then disappear after a while observing them from her room in Kasturba Hostel. However, after investigating the truth behind it, she found only a few mountaineers and asked if she could join them. Then, they agreed immediately and motivated her to take up Mountain Climbing. Thus, Santosh began climbing mountains.
Question 2: What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh's concern for her team-mates?
Answer
During the 1992 Everest expedition, Santosh showed deep concern for her teammates. Even though she was unsuccessful in saving one of the climbers who lay dying at South Col., she saved another climber, Mohan Singh, who could have lost his life if she hadn't shared her oxygen with him in a timely manner.
Question 3: What shows her concern for the environment?
Answer
Santosh was concerned for the environment. She brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas. It shows her concern and care for the environment and human welfare.
Question 4: How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?
Answer
Santosh's feelings at the summit of Mount Everest was boundless. she said she felt something 'indescribable'. The act of unfurling the Indian Flag on top of the building was a spiritual moment for her and she felt proud of being an Indian.
Question 5: Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt. Everest. What were the reasons for this?
Answer
When Santosh Yadav first scaled Mount Everest, she became the youngest woman in the world to achieve this aim. When she scaled Mount Everest twice, she became the only woman to have scaled the Everest twice. So these were the reasons she got into the record books both times.
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 _____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 in a course at the Uttarkashi's Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without seeking his permission.
(3) During the Everest expedition her seniors in the team admired her climbing skills, mental strength and physical fitness while her concern for others and the immense desire to work together as a team 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 (Para 1): _________
(2) Based on reason; sensible; reasonable (Para 2): _________
(3) The usual way of doing things (Para 3): __________
(4) A strong desire arising from within (Para 5): _________
(5) The power to endure, without falling ill (Para 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 - Thinking about the Text
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.
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Points of Comparison/Contrast |
Santosh Yadav |
Maria Sharapova |
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1. Their humble beginning |
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2. Their parents’ approach |
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3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed |
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4. Evidence of their mental toughness |
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5. Their patriotism |
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Answer
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Points of Comparison/Contrast |
Santosh Yadav |
Maria Sharapova |
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1. Their humble beginning |
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2. Their parents’ approach |
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3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed |
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4. Evidence of their mental toughness |
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5. Their patriotism |
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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 (italicized) 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 US.)
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.
II. Now re-write 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) Having nothing then makes you very determined.
(5) I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.
Speaking
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 fulfill 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
- moral / boost morale / raise morale
- giving somebody a boost/fillip / lift
- demoralizing/unsure of yourself / insecure / lack confidence
Answer
Respected Academicians and my dearest girls. You all know that the All India Girl's Athletic Meet is winding up today with great enthusiasm. All the participants have performed to show their capabilities in different games. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both the participants as well as the spectators who have encouraged their morale. We all know sports are an indispensable part for our lives. They help us in keeping our mind and body healthy and at the same time inculcating the fellow feeling of teamwork and cooperation and most of all, the zeal to succeed.
My journey as a mountaineer has been a quite struggle. Right from facing the challenging norms of the society and receiving education in Delhi to the beginning of my life of expeditions, it has been a very meaningful and memorable journey. All these have inculcated a sense of confidence within me and played the most crucial role in making me what I am today.
Writing
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:
1. The roll of honor of women who enjoyed life at the summit since everybody's favorite player, Chris Evert took her place in 1975.
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Name |
Ranked on |
Weeks as no. 1 |
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Maria Sharapova(Russia) |
22 August 2005 |
1 |
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Lindsay Davenport(U.S.) |
October 2004 |
82 |
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Amelie Mauresmo(France) |
13 September 2004 |
5 |
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Justine Henin Hardenne(Belgium) |
20 October 2003 |
45 |
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Kim Clijsters(Belgium) |
11 August 2003 |
12 |
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Serena Williams(U.S.) |
8 July 2002 |
57 |
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Venus Williams(U.S.) |
25 February 2002 |
11 |
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Jennifer Capriati(U.S.) |
15 October 2001 |
17 |
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Lindsay Davenport(U.S.) |
12 October 1998 |
82 |
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Martina Hingis(Switzerland) |
31 March 1997 |
209 |
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Arantxa Sanchez, Vicario(Spain) |
6 February 1995 |
12 |
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Monica Seles(U.S.) |
11 March 1991 |
178 |
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Steffi Graf(Germany) |
17 August 1987 |
377 |
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Tracy Austin(U.S.) |
7 April 1980 |
22 |
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Martina Navratilova(U.S.) |
10 July 1978 |
331 |
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Chris Evert(U.S.) |
3 November 1975 |
362 |
Answer:
Women Tennis
Tennis is one of the most suitable sports for women and is also a popular worldwide spectator sport. It is a selective game and women have been successful setting massive records in this praiseworthy and interesting event. From 3 November 1975 to 22 August 2005, near about sixteen women from different countries have ranked high. Among them women from the United States, Germany and Switzerland are the toppers. Because of their endurance, tenacity of effort and a constant desire of playing tennis, they have been helpful in emerging victorious. Merit, being high in number or small is at the end of the day merit which has been achieved by each player through constantly driven mind and energy towards playing tennis. Therefore, Be it Maria Sharapova with the shortest record of a week or Steffi Graf with the highest record of 377 weeks stand equal in terms of their passion towards succeeding in reaching their goals.
NOTE- Students can include more information according to the length of the article they wish to keep.
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.
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contented determined resourceful polite adventurous considerate weak-willed fearful independent pessimistic patient persevering |
Answer
Character of Santosh
The following words in the box can be used to describe Santosh Yadav, the conqueror of the Mount Everest:
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contented determined patient adventurous polite resourceful considerate independent persevering |
Santosh Yadav is one of the most determined mountaineers of India who has been successful in setting a world record. It was due to her persevering attitude that she managed to reach the golden heights of victory in such a short span of time. Santosh, being an independent individual determined towards her ambitions in life, possessed the zeal to go beyond the conventions of the society when she left her home to continue her studies in Delhi.
The stay in Kasturba Hostel was inadvertently the turning point in Santosh's life as she discovered her mountaineering skill and the passion to pursue it. Her journey of expeditions that began at the Uttarkashi's Institute of Mountaineering throw light on her adventurous and positive attitude which helped her in reaching the highest peak i.e. The Mount Everest.
Not only did she possess immense potential and mental strength, Santosh Yadav was also a considerate person. During her expeditions, she often used to help and take care of her fellow-climbers which helped her in winning the hearts of her seniors as well.