Reach for the Top - NCERT Class 9, Chapter 7 - Summary, Questions, Answers, Extra Questions

Summary of Reach for the Top (Part 1)

The first part of the chapter is about Santosh Yadav, the only woman to have scaled Mt. Everest twice. She was born in a small village in Haryana, where girls were traditionally not encouraged to pursue education or sports. However, Santosh was determined to break these barriers and lead her life on her own terms. She defied norms, studied in Delhi, and then trained as a mountaineer, eventually climbing Everest. Santosh's journey is a story of determination, courage, and breaking gender stereotypes.

Reach for the Top (Part 1) in Hindi

इस अध्याय का पहला भाग संतोष यादव के बारे में है, जो माउंट एवरेस्ट पर दो बार चढ़ने वाली एकमात्र महिला हैं। उनका जन्म हरियाणा के एक छोटे से गाँव में हुआ था, जहाँ लड़कियों को शिक्षा या खेलों में भाग लेने के लिए प्रोत्साहित नहीं किया जाता था। लेकिन संतोष ने इन बाधाओं को तोड़ने का निश्चय किया और अपने तरीके से जीवन जीने का निर्णय लिया। उन्होंने दिल्ली में पढ़ाई की और फिर पर्वतारोहण का प्रशिक्षण लिया, अंततः एवरेस्ट पर चढ़ाई की। संतोष की यात्रा दृढ़ संकल्प, साहस और लिंग रूढ़ियों को तोड़ने की कहानी है।

Summary of Reach for the Top (Part 2)

The second part of the chapter is about Maria Sharapova, a world-famous tennis player. Born in Siberia, Russia, she moved to the United States at the age of seven to pursue tennis. Despite challenges like being separated from her mother, Maria remained focused and determined. She worked hard and eventually won the Wimbledon title at just 17. Her story is a testament to perseverance, ambition, and dedication to achieving one’s dreams.

Reach for the Top (Part 2) in Hindi

इस अध्याय का दूसरा भाग मारिया शारापोवा के बारे में है, जो विश्व प्रसिद्ध टेनिस खिलाड़ी हैं। उनका जन्म साइबेरिया, रूस में हुआ और वह सात साल की उम्र में टेनिस खेलने के लिए संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका चली गईं। अपनी मां से अलग होने जैसी चुनौतियों के बावजूद, मारिया ने ध्यान केंद्रित किया और दृढ़ निश्चयी रहीं। उन्होंने कड़ी मेहनत की और अंततः 17 साल की उम्र में विंबलडन का खिताब जीता। उनकी कहानी दृढ़ता, महत्वाकांक्षा और अपने सपनों को पूरा करने के समर्पण की मिसाल है।

Thinking about the Text

1. I. 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)

   The holy man was surprised because Santosh's grandmother wanted a blessing for a daughter rather than a son, which was not a common request in their society.

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

   When Santosh was told to wear traditional Indian dresses, she refused and opted to wear shorts because she found the traditional dress code unreasonable.

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

   Though Santosh’s parents could afford to send her to a school in the city, she was sent to the local village school in line with the prevailing traditions of her family.

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

   Santosh left home for Delhi when she was 16 years old because she wanted to get a proper education, something she felt the local village school couldn’t provide.

   • 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)

   Santosh’s parents agreed to pay for her schooling in Delhi when she threatened them that she would work part-time to pay her fees. This shows her determination and courage to pursue her education despite family opposition.

2. II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
   • 1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?

   Santosh’s fascination with mountaineering began when she watched villagers climbing the hills near her hostel. This inspired her to enroll in a course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.

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

   During the Everest expedition, Santosh helped a fellow climber who had difficulty breathing by sharing her oxygen supply, showing her selflessness and concern for her teammates.

   • 3. What shows her concern for the environment?

   Santosh collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas, showing her dedication to environmental conservation.

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

   At the summit of Everest, Santosh felt a deep sense of pride and satisfaction, but her feelings were also accompanied by the realization of the responsibility she now had to inspire others.

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

   Santosh got into the record books because she was the youngest woman to scale Everest and the first woman to do it twice.

3. III. Complete the following statements.
   • 1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to --

   ...watch the villagers going up the Aravalli hills and sometimes climbed them herself.

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

   ...she had secretly joined a course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without informing him.

   • 3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her --

   ...climbing skills, while her concern for fellow climbers endeared her to the team.

4. 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): 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

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.

Thinking about Language

1. 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.)
2. 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.
     Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper.
   • 2. What do you do after you finish the book? Perhaps you just throw it away.
     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.
     He gave the little girl an apple and then took the computer apart.
   • 4. You have nothing. That makes you very determined.
     Having nothing makes you very determined.
   • 5. I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.
     I never thought of quitting because 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)

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

Here is some information on Maria Sharapova’s rankings for reference:

• Maria Sharapova (Russia) - Ranked No. 1 on 22 August 2005
• Steffi Graf (Germany) - Ranked No. 1 for 377 weeks
• Martina Navratilova (U.S.) - Ranked No. 1 for 331 weeks

Character Traits of Santosh Yadav

Which of these words would you use to describe Santosh Yadav?

• contented
• determined
• resourceful
• polite
• adventurous
• considerate
• independent
• patient
• persevering

Write a couple of paragraphs describing Santosh's character.

Santosh Yadav was a determined and independent woman. From a young age, she exhibited a strong will to defy societal norms and chart her own path. Her perseverance was evident in her decision to pursue mountaineering, a field traditionally dominated by men. Despite the hardships, she remained focused and continued to climb, eventually becoming the first woman to scale Mount Everest twice.

She was also resourceful and considerate. During her expeditions, she not only took care of herself but also showed deep concern for her fellow climbers, helping save lives and maintaining the spirit of teamwork. Santosh’s courage and dedication made her an inspirational figure for many young girls across India.

About the Author

The story 'Reach for the Top' is a motivational account of two extraordinary individuals, Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova, who overcame societal and personal challenges to achieve great success in their respective fields. Their stories inspire readers to follow their dreams and break barriers.