NCERT Solution for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 8 Reach for the Top

Part I :- Santosh Yadav

Thinking about the Text

Question:- 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)

Answer:- The ‘holy man’ who blessed Santosh’s mother was surprised since her grandmother had asked for blessings for a girl whereas ,m ost people in this society pray for having son.

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

Answer:-  Santosh used to wore shorts rather than the typical traditional dresses for girls. this show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable.

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

Answer:- Despite the fact that Santosh’s parents were wealthy landowners who could afford to send her to the top schools, Santosh was sent to the local school due to family tradition.

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

Answer:- She left home for Delhi when she was sixteen because she wanted for her to get a proper education.

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:- Santosh’s parents agreed to pay for her education in Delhi after she informed them of her plans to finance her school expenses by working part-time.

Question:- II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?

Answer:- Santosh used to stay in Kasturba Hostel, which fronted the Aravalli Hills throughout her undergraduate days. She used to watch the peasants up the hill and then vanish. She made the decision to go see the mountains for herself. She asked the people to join them, and they agreed.  She later gathered money and enrolled in a course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi. Santosh began climbing mountains in this manner.

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

Answer:- Santosh offered special care to a climber who was dying at the South Col during the 1992 Everest expedition. Although she was unable to save him, but by sharing her oxygen with another climber, Mohan Singh, she was able to save him. These incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates.

3. What shows her concern for the environment?

Answer:- On her way back from the 1992 Everest expedition, Santosh collected and transferred 500 kg of garbage from the Himalayas. This shows her concern for the environment.

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

Answer:- She says it took her some time to realise the enormity of the situation. The Indian tricolour was unfurled and held aloft on the world’s roof by her.

The emotion of seeing the Indian flag fluttering at the top of the world, she says, is indescribable. She filled with proud as an Indian at that moment.

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

Answer:- Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt Everest, When she first climbed Mt. Everest, she set the record for being the world’s youngest woman to do it.  On her second attempt,  She became the first and only woman to climb Mt Everest twice.

Question:- 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 observe villagers, walking 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 without his permission she had got herself enrolled at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi.
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 working togetherness endeared her to fellow climbers.

Question:- 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. Assumed
2. Rational
3. Custom
4. Urge
5. resistance