We have tried to provide NCERT Solutions for Class- 9 English Beehive Chapter-8 Reach for the Top covering each & every question of the textbook Beehive. Students will improve their answer writing skills by referring to the following NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive.
The following NCERT Solutions will help students be set for their exams by providing a clear picture of how to come up with proper solutions to the questions. The NCERT Solutions for Class- 9 have been crafted by our subject-matter experts to give the best solutions. The questions in the textbook are answered in a way to improve one's command over language, grammar & score.
NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 8NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 8 Reach for the Top
Thinking about the Text
I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answers.)
Que 1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised? (1)
Answer-
The ‘holy man’ was surprised when he gave Santosh’s mother his blessings because Santosh’s grandmother wished that Santosh’s mother be blessed with a daughter. This was quite surprising for the holy man because people mostly seek blessings for having a son.
Que 2. Give an example to show that even as a young girl, Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. (2)
Answer-
As a young girl, Santosh was not ready to accept unreasonable things. She was not satisfied with the traditional way of living & started living life on her own terms right from the start. While other girls used to wear traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred wearing shorts.
Que 3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school? (3)
Answer-
Santosh’s parents were rich landowners & could have easily sent her to the best schools, but they chose to send her to the local school as per the prevailing custom in the family.
Que 4. When did she leave home for Delhi, and why? (4)
Answer-
Santosh as a 16-year-old, left home for Delhi because she wanted to get a proper education.
Que 5. Why did Santosh’s parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are brought to light by this incident? (4)
Answer-
When Santosh informed her parents about her plans to earn money by working part-time to pay for her education. Her parents agreed to pay for her schooling in Delhi.
With this, we get to know that Santosh was quite clear about getting a proper education despite all odds.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph. (about 30 words)
Que 1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
Answer-
Kasturba Hostel is where Santosh stayed during her college days, which faced Aravalli Hills. She would watch the villagers go up the hill & vanish after a while. So she decided to check out the mountains herself. When she asked the villagers if she could join them, they agreed. This is how she began to climb mountains.
Que 2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her teammates?
Answer-
In the Everest expedition of 1992, Santosh provided special care to a climber who was dying at the South Col. Even though she could not save him, she managed to save another climber, Mohan Singh, by sharing her oxygen with him.
Que 3. What shows her concern for the environment?
Answer-
Santosh was concerned about the environment. On her way back from the 1992 Everest expedition, she collected & brought down 500 kgs of garbage from the Himalayas.
Que 4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of Everest?
Answer-
It took some time for the moment to sink in when she successfully climbed Everest. On the roof of the world, she unfurled the Indian tricolor.
Santosh watching the Indian flag flying on top of the world, felt proud being an Indian. It was a feeling that can not be described.
Que 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. First, when she climbed Mt Everest & became the youngest woman in the world to achieve this feat. Second, when she climbed Mt Everest & became the only woman to climb Everest twice.
III. Complete the following statements.
- From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to _________________.
- When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because _________________.
- During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her _________________ while _________________ endeared her to fellow climbers.
Answers-
- From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch villagers from her room, going up the hill & suddenly vanishing after a while.
- When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she had got herself enrolled at Uttarkashi without his permission.
- During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her climbing skills, physical fitness & mental strength, while her concern for others & desire to work together 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.)
- took to be true without proof (1):
- based on reason; sensible; reasonable (2):
- the usual way of doing things (3):
- a strong desire arising from within (5):
- the power to endure, without falling ill (7):
Answers-
- took to be true without proof: assumed
- based on reason; sensible; reasonable: rational
- the usual way of doing things: custom
- a strong desire arising from within urge
- the power to endure, without falling ill: resistance
Part II
Maria Sharapova
Thinking about the Text
Working in small groups of 4–5 students, go back over the two passages on Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova & complete the table given below with relevant phrases or sentences.
| Points of Comparison/Contrast | Santosh Yadav | Maria Sharapova |
| 1. Their humble beginning | | |
| 2. Their parents’ approach | | |
| 3. Their willpower and strong desire to succeed | | |
| 4. Evidence of their mental toughness | | |
| 5. Their patriotism | | |
Answers-
| Points of Comparison/Contrast | Santosh Yadav | Maria Sharapova |
| 1. Their humble beginning | She was born in the small village of Joniyawas in Rewari District in Haryana. | “My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis training going.” |
| 2. Their parent’s approach | But, in line with the prevailing custom in the family, Santosh had to make do with the local village school. | “My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis training going.” |
| 3. There will power & strong desire to succeed | “And I was supposed to be in Uttarkashi on the twenty-first. So, I did not go back home; instead, I headed straight for the training.” | “When you come from nothing and you have nothing, then it makes you very hungry & determined…” |
| 4. Evidence of their mental toughness | Equipped with an iron will, physical endurance, and amazing mental toughness, she proved herself repeatedly. | “Instead of letting that depress me, I became more quietly determined & mentally tough.” |
| 5. Their patriotism | “Then I unfurled the Indian tricolor and held it aloft on the roof of the world. The feeling is indescribable. The Indian flag was flying on top of the world. It was truly a spiritual moment. I felt proud as an Indian.” | “My blood is totally Russian. I will play in the Olympics for Russia if they want me.” |
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 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.
- Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. (Contrasts her dress with that of others)
- She left home & got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. (Tells us what happened after the first action.)
- She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived. (Tells us when she was going to fight the system.)
- 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.)
Answers-
- Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. (Contrasts her dress with that of others)
- She left home & got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. (Tells us what happened after the first action.)
- She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived. (Tells us when she was going to fight the system.)
- 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.
- Grandfather told me about the old days. All books were printed on paper then.
- What do you do after you finish the book? Perhaps you just throw it away.
- He gave the little girl an apple. He took the computer apart.
- You have nothing. That makes you very determined.
- I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.
Answers-
- Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper.
- After you finish the book, perhaps you just throw it away.
- He gave the little girl an apple & took the computer apart.
- When you have nothing, that makes you very determined.
- I never thought of quitting as 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 & 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 & 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)
Answer-
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 & 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 & 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.
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 & phrases may help you.
- self-confident/confident/sure of yourself
- self-assured/assurance/belief in yourself
- morale/boost morale/raise morale
- giving somebody a boost/fillip/lift
- demoralizing/unsure of yourself/insecure/lack confidence
Answer-
Good Morning Girls!
It's an honor to be heard amongst all of you today. All of you present here have it in you to achieve what you want. Just have faith in yourself & keep on raising your morale even if you suffer from certain setbacks in your journey. Don’t let anything deter you from your path. Be open to criticism & always be ready to work on yourselves. Failures are the greatest teachers. So learn from them, lift up your spirits & build up your self-confidence to work towards achieving your goal.
Thank you.
Writing
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 & 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 honor of women who enjoyed life at the summit since everybody’s favorite player, Chris Evert, took her place in 1975.
| Name of Players | Ranked on | Weeks as No. 1 |
| Maria Sharapova (Russia) | 22 August 2005 | 1 |
| Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) | October 2004 | 82 |
| Amelie Mauresmo (France) | 13 September 2004 | 5 |
| Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) | 20 October 2003 | 45 |
| Kim Clijsters (Belgium) | 11 August 2003 | 12 |
| Serena Williams (U.S.) | 8 July 2002 | 57 |
| Venus Williams (U.S.) | 25 February 2002 | 11 |
| Jennifer Capriati (U.S.) | 15 October 2001 | 17 |
| Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) | 12 October 1998 | 82 |
| Martina Hingis (Switzerland) | 31 March 1997 | 209 |
| Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Spain) | 6 February 1995 | 12 |
| Monica Seles (U.S.) | 11 March 1991 | 178 |
| Steffi Graf (Germany) | 17 August 1987 | 377 |
| Tracy Austin (U.S.) | 7 April 1980 | 22 |
| Martina Navratilova (U.S.) | 10 July 1978 | 331 |
| Chris Evert (U.S.) | 3 November 1975 | 362 |
Answer-
Top-ranked Women Players
It’s a great feeling to see that women have excelled so well in Tennis. Different women players have contributed throughout. For example, Steffi Graf of Germany enjoyed the 1st rank for the longest duration of 377 weeks. Followed by Chris Evert of the US who enjoyed being No.1 for 362 weeks. Martina Navratilova of the US enjoyed it for 33 weeks. Then Martina Hingis of Switzerland was No. 1 for 209 weeks. Monica Seles of the US was No. 1 for 178 weeks.
After that, Serena William & Lindsay Davenport of the US remained World’s No.1 for 57 & 82 weeks respectively. Maria Sharapova of Russia enjoyed the No.1 rank for 1 week. All these women have worked very hard to achieve this feat. They worked on their playing skills with determination. Along with physical fitness, they had the mental strength to succeed.
Not only are they dedicated & focused, but they also have the ability to sacrifice in order to achieve their goals. These qualities are a must in order to achieve our goals in life.
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
| Contented | Determined |
|---|
| Resourceful | Polite |
|---|
| Independent | Adventurous |
|---|
| Pessimistic | Weak-willed |
|---|
| Persevering | Patient |
|---|
| Fearful | Considerate |
|---|
Answer-
Santosh Yadav is determined & polite. She is adventurous as she gets fascinated by the mountaineers climbing Everest & approaches them to ask if she could join them. She is a considerate person who helps her fellow climbers in their journey. She has determination & a strong will to achieve her goals. She is a patriot & says that the feeling of watching the Indian flag on top of the world is an indescribable feeling.