9th Unit-7 Reach for the Top

9th Unit-7

Reach for the Top

Part-1 Santosh Yadav

Part-2 Maria Sharapova

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Complete Notes and Solved Textual Exercises

Glossary

Glossary:

Sl. No.	Word / phrase	Meaning in English	Meaning in Telugu/Illustrative image
Part-1 Santosh Yadav
1	Scaled Mt Everest (phr)	Climbed Mt Everest
2	Holy man (n)	A man who leads a pious life
3	Affluent landowners (n)	Landowners who own a large amount of land and have a lot of wealth
4	In line with (phr)	Following or in accordance with	అనుగుణంగా
5	Culmination (n)	climax	పతాక సన్నివేశం
6	Altitude (n)	The height above the sea level
7	Expedition (n)	a journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration, research, or trekking
8	Fervent (adj)	having strong and sincere feelings	బలమైన మరియు నిష్కపటమైన భావాలను కలిగి ఉన్న
9	Physical endurance (phr)	a general ability to do any kind of physical activity
10	Mountaineers(n)	The people who climb mountains
Part-2 Maria Sharapova
11	Bagging (v)	To win a prize
12	Teenaged sensations (phr)	someone who has similar interests to other teenagers, such as fashion, singing, dancing, reading novels etc.,
13	Steadfastly (adv)	Strong and without stopping	నిరంతరముగా
14	Pigeon-holed (adj)	Belonging to a single or a particular category of interest.	ఒకే వక ఆలోచనతో
15	Unwavering desire (phr)	a strong and unyielding desire to achieve or attract something
16	Humiliation (n)	Insult
17	Put up with (phr v.)	Tolerate	సహించుట
18	Quietly determined (phr)	Having a strong desire to achieve something	బలంగా నిశ్చయించు కొనుట
19	Meteoric rise (phr)	Suden rise	అకస్మాత్తుగా ఎదుగుట
20	Sophisticated gowns (phr)	Graceful gowns	అందమైన / ఖరీదైన గౌన్స్

Thinking about the Text

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answers. (pg.no.87)

1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised? (1) The 'holy man' was surprised because he assumed Santosh's mother wanted a son, but her grandmother corrected him, saying they did not want a son but were expecting a daughter.

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

As a young girl, Santosh preferred wearing shorts instead of traditional Indian dresses, showing her determination to live life on her own terms.

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

Santosh was sent to the local village school due to the prevailing custom in her family, despite their ability to send their children to better schools.

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

Santosh left home for Delhi at the age of sixteen to pursue a proper education, as she was under pressure to marry early, which she refused.

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 after she threatened not to marry and offered to work part-time to cover her fees. This incident highlights her determination, independence, and willingness to work hard to achieve her goals.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words) (pg.no.88)

1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?

Santosh began climbing mountains when she noticed mountaineers near the Aravalli Hills and decided to join them. They encouraged her, and this sparked her interest in mountaineering.

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

During the Everest expedition, Santosh provided special care to a climber who was dying at the South Col and shared her oxygen with another climber, Mohan Singh, saving his life.

3. What shows her concern for the environment?

Santosh showed her concern for the environment by collecting and bringing down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas during her expedition.

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

Santosh described her feelings at the summit as spiritual and overwhelming, saying that the enormity of the moment took time to sink in. She felt immense pride in unfurling the Indian flag on top of the world.

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

Santosh Yadav entered the record books because she became the youngest woman in the world to scale Mt Everest at the age of 20, and she was the first woman to scale it twice within a year.

III. Complete the following statements.

1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to see the villagers 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 enrolled at Uttarkashi without her father’s permission.

3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her physical fitness and mental strength while her concern for others and desire to work 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): 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): endurance

PART-II : Maria Shara

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. (pg.no.92)

Answer:

Points of Comparison/ Contrast	Santosh Yadav	Maria Sharapova
1. their humble beginning	Born in a traditional family in rural Haryana, India.	Born in Siberia, Russia, and moved to the U.S. for tennis training.
2. their parents approach	Initially resisted, but eventually supported her education.	Fully supported by her father, despite financial challenges.
3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed	Determined to fight societal norms and pursue mountaineering.	Unwavering in her pursuit of tennis success despite hardships.
4. evidence of their mental toughness	Endured physical and mental challenges of mountaineering.	Overcame loneliness and difficult training conditions.
5. their patriotism	Proudly waved the Indian flag on Mt Everest.	Proudly identifies as Russian and aims to represent Russia in the Olympics.

II. Thinking about Language (pg.no.92)

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.)

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.

Ans: 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.

Ans: Perhaps you just throw the book away after reading it.

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

Ans: After giving the little girl an apple, he took the computer apart.

4. You have nothing. That makes you very determined.

Ans: You have nothing which makes you very determined.

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

Ans: I never thought of quitting as I knew what I wanted

Dictation (pg.no.93) : Do it with the help of your teacher.

Speaking (pg.no.93)

Answer:

Speech for All India Girls' Athletic Meet (As Santosh Yadav or Maria Sharapova)

Hello everyone,

It’s an honour to be here with all of you today. I want to share something important: always believe in yourself. When I was young, many people told me I couldn’t do certain things. But I had a dream, and I was sure of myself. No matter how hard things got, I kept moving forward.

Sometimes, you might feel unsure or lose your confidence. That’s okay. But remember, you are strong. Every step you take toward your dream makes you stronger. Difficulties will come, but don’t let them stop you. Let them push you harder.

Your dreams are big, and with confidence and hard work, you can make them real. Boost your own morale and lift others up. Together, we can achieve amazing things!

Thank you, and keep dreaming big!

Writing (pg.no.94)

Question I: Answer

Top Women Tennis Players: A Brief Comparison

Since 1975, many top women players have held the No. 1 spot in tennis, with varying durations at the top. Steffi Graf (377 weeks) and Martina Navratilova (331 weeks) dominated due to their consistency and mental toughness. Chris Evert (362 weeks) also enjoyed a long reign, thanks to her strategic play.

In contrast, players like Maria Sharapova and Amelie Mauresmo had brief stays at No. 1, lasting only 1 and 5 weeks. Serena Williams (57 weeks) and Martina Hingis (209 weeks) had significant time at the top due to their power and skill.

Longevity at the summit is linked to resilience, consistency, and avoiding injuries, traits that set apart tennis legends from short-term champions.

Question II: Answer

Santosh Yadav can be described as determined, resourceful, independent, polite, adventurous, and persevering. She showed determination from a young age by wanting to live life on her own terms. Instead of following the traditional path for girls in her village, she chose to wear shorts and fight for her education, even when her parents wanted her to get married at sixteen. This determination helped her pursue her dream of becoming a mountaineer.

Santosh was also very resourceful and independent. When her parents refused to pay for her education, she said she would work part-time to earn the money herself. Her adventurous nature shone through when she decided to try mountaineering after meeting climbers near her college. She was also considerate and brave, as shown when she saved a fellow climber's life on Everest. Santosh's qualities helped her achieve great success and break barriers for women.

On Killing a Tree (poem)

1. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?

No, a “simple jab of the knife” cannot kill a tree. It only causes surface damage. The tree is strong and can heal from such wounds.

2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.

The tree has grown by taking nutrients from the earth, rising, and absorbing sunlight, air, and water. Words that show its life and activity include consuming, feeding, absorbing, sprouting, and growing.

3. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?

“Bleeding bark” means the sap(/liquid) that comes out when a tree is cut. The injury to the bark causes it to bleed sap, which helps the tree heal.

4. The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?

By saying “No,” the poet means that chopping the tree is not enough to kill it. A deeper and more thorough action is needed.

5. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?

“Anchoring earth” refers to the soil that holds the tree in place. “Earth cave” describes the underground space where the roots grow, which is hidden from view.

6. What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”?

“The strength of the tree exposed” means showing the important roots that support the tree. It indicates that the vital part of the tree is now visible and vulnerable.

7. What finally kills the tree?

The tree is finally killed by pulling out its roots completely from the ground and exposing it to harsh conditions like strong sunlight and dry air, which lead to its drying and wilting.

******** End of Unit-7********

Access the Following Resources

Glossary:

Sl. No.	Word / phrase	Meaning in English	Meaning in Telugu/Illustrative image
Part-1 Santosh Yadav
1	Scaled Mt Everest (phr)	Climbed Mt Everest
2	Holy man (n)	A man who leads a pious life
3	Affluent landowners (n)	Landowners who own a large amount of land and have a lot of wealth
4	In line with (phr)	Following or in accordance with	అనుగుణంగా
5	Culmination (n)	climax	పతాక సన్నివేశం
6	Altitude (n)	The height above the sea level
7	Expedition (n)	a journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration, research, or trekking
8	Fervent (adj)	having strong and sincere feelings	బలమైన మరియు నిష్కపటమైన భావాలను కలిగి ఉన్న
9	Physical endurance (phr)	a general ability to do any kind of physical activity
10	Mountaineers(n)	The people who climb mountains
Part-2 Maria Sharapova
11	Bagging (v)	To win a prize
12	Teenaged sensations (phr)	someone who has similar interests to other teenagers, such as fashion, singing, dancing, reading novels etc.,
13	Steadfastly (adv)	Strong and without stopping	నిరంతరముగా
14	Pigeon-holed (adj)	Belonging to a single or a particular category of interest.	ఒకే వక ఆలోచనతో
15	Unwavering desire (phr)	a strong and unyielding desire to achieve or attract something
16	Humiliation (n)	Insult
17	Put up with (phr v.)	Tolerate	సహించుట
18	Quietly determined (phr)	Having a strong desire to achieve something	బలంగా నిశ్చయించు కొనుట
19	Meteoric rise (phr)	Suden rise	అకస్మాత్తుగా ఎదుగుట
20	Sophisticated gowns (phr)	Graceful gowns	అందమైన / ఖరీదైన గౌన్స్

Thinking about the Text

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answers. (pg.no.87)

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

As a young girl, Santosh preferred wearing shorts instead of traditional Indian dresses, showing her determination to live life on her own terms.

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

Santosh was sent to the local village school due to the prevailing custom in her family, despite their ability to send their children to better schools.

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

Santosh left home for Delhi at the age of sixteen to pursue a proper education, as she was under pressure to marry early, which she refused.

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)

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words) (pg.no.88)

1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?

Santosh began climbing mountains when she noticed mountaineers near the Aravalli Hills and decided to join them. They encouraged her, and this sparked her interest in mountaineering.

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

During the Everest expedition, Santosh provided special care to a climber who was dying at the South Col and shared her oxygen with another climber, Mohan Singh, saving his life.

3. What shows her concern for the environment?

Santosh showed her concern for the environment by collecting and bringing down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas during her expedition.

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

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

Santosh Yadav entered the record books because she became the youngest woman in the world to scale Mt Everest at the age of 20, and she was the first woman to scale it twice within a year.

III. Complete the following statements.

1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to see the villagers 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 enrolled at Uttarkashi without her father’s permission.

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): endurance

PART-II : Maria Shara

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. (pg.no.92)

Answer:

Points of Comparison/ Contrast	Santosh Yadav	Maria Sharapova
1. their humble beginning	Born in a traditional family in rural Haryana, India.	Born in Siberia, Russia, and moved to the U.S. for tennis training.
2. their parents approach	Initially resisted, but eventually supported her education.	Fully supported by her father, despite financial challenges.
3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed	Determined to fight societal norms and pursue mountaineering.	Unwavering in her pursuit of tennis success despite hardships.
4. evidence of their mental toughness	Endured physical and mental challenges of mountaineering.	Overcame loneliness and difficult training conditions.
5. their patriotism	Proudly waved the Indian flag on Mt Everest.	Proudly identifies as Russian and aims to represent Russia in the Olympics.