NCERT solutions for English - Beehive Class 9 chapter 8.1 - Reach for the Top [Latest edition]

Answer these question in one or two sentences. (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answer.)

Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised?

Answer these question in one or two sentences . (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answer.)

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

Answer these question in one or two sentences . (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answer.)

Why was Santosh sent to the local school? 

Answer these question in one or two sentences . (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answer.)

When did she leave home for Delhi, and why? 

Answer these question in one or two sentences . (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answer.)

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?

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

How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?

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

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

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

What shows her concern for the environment?

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

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

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

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

Complete the following statement.

From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to _________

Complete the following statement.

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

Complete the following statement.

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

Pick out word from the text that mean the same as the following word or expression. (Look in the paragraph indicated.)

took to be true without proof : _________

Pick out word from the text that mean the same as the following word or expression. (Look in the paragraph indicated.)

based on reason; sensible; reasonable : _________

Pick out word from the text that mean the same as the following word or expression. (Look in the paragraph indicated.)

 the usual way of doing things : _________

Pick out word from the text that mean the same as the following word or expression. (Look in the paragraph indicated.)

a strong desire arising from within : _________

Pick out word from the text that mean the same as the following word or expression. (Look in the paragraph indicated.)

the power to endure, without falling ill : _________

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.

Match the following.

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.

 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?

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.

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 You have nothing. That makes you very determined.

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

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

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

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.

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