Reach for the Top Class 9 Worksheet English Chapter 1

Q.1. Read the following passages and answer the questions:

Santosh’s parents were affluent landowners who could afford to send their children to the best schools, even to the country’s capital, New Delhi, which was quite close by. But, in line with the prevailing custom in the family, Santosh had to make do with the local village school. So, she decided to fight the system in her own quiet way when the right moment arrived. And the right moment came when she turned sixteen. At sixteen, most of the girls in her village used to get married. Santosh was also under pressure from her parents to do the same.

(i) Why was Santosh sent to the local village school despite being from an affluent family?

Santosh was sent to the local village school despite being from an affluent family because it was the prevailing custom not to send girls out of the village.

(ii) Why was Santosh waiting to turn sixteen?

Santosh was waiting to turn sixteen, because she had decided to fight the system in her own quiet way when the right moment arrived.

(iii) What was the normal custom of the society?

The normal custom of the society was to marry a girl child when she turned sixteen.

(iv) What was the pressure of parents on Santosh?

Parents pressurized Santosh to get married on the turn of sixteen but she was adamant to study further and thus refused to get married.

Q.2. What did the holy man assume the family would ask as a blessing?

The holy man assumed that the family would ask for the birth of a boy as a blessing. But the grandmother who was standing next to the pregnant woman asked the holy man to bless her to give birth to a girl child.

Q.3. How was Santosh’s upbringing?

Santosh was brought up in the same manner as the other girls of the society. Though they were affluent, they made her study in the village school and wanted her to marry at the turn of sixteen.

Q.4. What reason did Santosh give her parents to avoid getting married at the age of sixteen?

Santosh vehemently refused to get married at the age of sixteen and told her parents that she wanted to study further. If they forced her and did not allow her for further education, she would never get married in life.

Q.5. Do you think that Santosh had a nature in accordance with her name?

No, Santosh didn’t have a nature in accordance with her name. Santosh means contentment. But she was not contented right from her childhood. She went against the norms of the society and wore shorts whereas other girls wore traditional dresses. She resented when she was admitted to village school. She rebelled when she was asked to get married at sixteen and told that she would never get married if not allowed to study further. She took admission in Delhi and completed her high school. She then joined Maharani College against her parents wishes. She got herself admitted to Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi without informing her parents.

Q.6. Read the following passages and answer the questions:
The only woman in the world who has scaled Mt Everest twice was born in a society where the birth of a son was regarded as a blessing, and a daughter, though not considered a curse, was not generally welcome. When her mother was expecting Santosh, a travelling ‘holy man’, giving her his blessing, assumed that she wanted a son. But, to everyone’s surprise, the unborn child’s grandmother, who was standing close by, told him that they did not want a son. The ‘holy man’ was also surprised! Nevertheless, he gave the requested blessing ... and as destiny would have it, the blessing seemed to work.

(i) What are the records that Santosh has made while scaling the Mt. Everest?

Santosh became only woman in the world who has scaled Mt. Everest twice. She also became the youngest woman to scale it.

(ii)In which society was Santosh born?

Santosh was born in a society where birth of a daughter, if not considered a curse, is not welcomed.

(iii)Why was the holy man surprised?

The requested blessing that worked was that Santosh’s mother should bear a girl child and not a boy. The blessing worked and Santosh was born in the family.

(iv)What was the requested blessing that worked?

The requested blessing that worked was that Santosh’s mother should bear a girl child and not a boy. The blessing worked and Santosh was born in the family.

Q.7. What is the normal custom of the society about the birth of a girl child?

The birth of a girl child was considered a curse. Only the boys were welcomed in the society. However, Santosh’s family didn’t consider it a curse as was the normal custom of the society.

Q.8. Why did the grandmother ask for a different blessing than one would normally ask for?

The grandmother asked for a different blessing than one would normally ask for because she already had five grandsons and didn’t want another grandson, so she asked for a girl child.

Q.9. How did Santosh think of becoming a mountaineer?

Santosh joined Maharani College in Jaipur and was staying in Kasturba Hostel. The hostel faced the Aravalli Hills. She used to see people climbing and disappearing. She tried to find out personally and met the mountaineers there who encouraged her to become a mountaineer.

Q.10. How did Santosh manage to pursue her mountaineering career?

Santosh, after meeting the mountaineers on the Aravalli hills who encouraged her to take mountaineering as a career, she got herself enrolled in Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without informing her parents. She had to join the institute on 21st May after her final exams in the college. The exams were to get over by April end. However, they got over only on 19th May. She straightway went to Uttarkashi. She wrote a letter of apology to her father as she had joined the Institute without his permission.

Reference to Context

Q1: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
There is something disarming about Maria Sharapova, something at odds with her ready smile and glamorous attire. And that something in her lifted her on Monday, 22 August 2005, to the world number one position in women’s tennis. All this happened in almost no time.
(a) What contrast does Maria present?
Ans: Maria Sharapova has a charming manner and is quick to smile. This spontaneous behaviour is at odds with her glamorous attire.

(b) What position did Maria achieve in 2005?
Ans: She became world number one in women’s tennis.

(c) How long had it taken her to reach this position?
Ans: It had taken her merely four years to reach this position.

(d) Where had Maria come from? How old was she then?
Ans: Maria had come to the USA from Siberia at the age of nine.

Q2: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
However, the rapid ascent in a fiercely competitive world began nine years before with a level of sacrifice few children would be prepared to endure.
(a) What does the phrase “rapid ascent” refer to?
Ans: The phrase “rapid ascent” refers to the short period of time in which Maria Sharapova achieved so much success.

(b) What had happened nine years ago?
Ans: Nine years ago, Maria came to the USA from Siberia to receive training in tennis.

(c) What sacrifice did Maria have to make?
Ans: Maria came to the USA with her father while her mother had to stay back in Russia.

(d) What lesson did this teach the young Maria?
Ans: Maria learnt that tennis excellence would only come at a price, and she would need to pay that price.

Q3: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. That trip to Florida with her father Yuri launched her on the path to success and stardom. But it also required a heart-wrenching two-year separation from her mother, Yelena.
(a) How old was Maria when she came to the United States?
Ans: Maria Sharapova came to the United States when she was just nine years old.

(b) From where did she make the journey to Florida, and why?
Ans: She came to Florida from the frozen plains in Russia with the purpose of taking training in tennis.

(c) What was the ‘heart-wrenching’ thing about the journey?
Ans: The ‘heart-wrenching’ thing was that she had to part from her mother for two years.

(d) Why could her mother not accompany her?
Ans: Her mother could not accompany her because of visa restrictions.

Q4: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
“I used to be so lonely, ” Maria Sharapova recalls. “I missed my mother terribly. My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis training going. So, he couldn’t see me either. ”
(a) What does the word ‘recalls’ in the passage imply?
Ans: The word ‘recalls’ implies that Maria is sharing her memories with someone.

(b) Why was Maria lonely at the time?
Ans: Maria was staying at the tennis academy at the time. She was only nine years old and did not speak English, so she could not communicate with the others. That is why she felt very lonely.

(c) Why did Maria’s father have to work so hard?
Ans: ‘ Maria’s father worked hard to earn enough money to pay the fees at the tennis training academy in Florida. ‘

(d) Where was Maria’s mother at the time? How long did it take for her to arrive in the USA?
Ans: Maria’s mother was still in Russia at the time due to visa restrictions. She joined her husband and Maria after two years.

Q5: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
Instead of letting that depress me, I became more quietly determined and mentally tough.
(a) Where was the speaker at the time?
Ans: The speaker, Maria Sharapova, was at the tennis academy in Florida.

(b) What was ‘that’ which could not depress her?
Ans: The senior trainees in the tennis training academy in Florida bullied and tormented Maria. They would wake her up late at night and order her to tidy up the room and clean it.

(c) What was the impact of ‘that’ on her?
Ans: The bullying of her seniors made her more determined and mentally strong.

(d) What does the extract reveal about the speaker’s character?
Ans: The extract reveals that the speaker had the ability to face difficult situations boldly and not yield to adverse circumstances.

Q6: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
The straight looks and the answers she gives when asked about her ambition make it amply clear that she considers the sacrifices to be worth it. “I am very, very competitive. I work hard at what I do. It’s my job. ” This is her mantra for success.
(a) How does Maria show she is not a sentimental person?
Ans: Maria shows she is not sentimental by not talking too much about her struggle and sacrifice.

(b) What does the writer mean by “straight looks”?
Ans: The writer means that as she talks about herself, Maria looks boldly and steadily, and does not show much emotion or sentimentality.

(c) What helped Maria win the women’s singles crown at Wimbledon in 2004?
Ans: Her ambition and desire to succeed, her toughness and her competitive spirit helped Maria win the women’s singles crown at Wimbledon in 2004.

(d) Why does the writer say there is no room for sentiment in her life?
Ans: Sentiment would make her softer and less competitive.

Q7: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
“I’m Russian. It’s true that the U.S. is a big part of my life. But I have Russian citizenship. My blood is totally Russian. I will play the Olympics for Russia if they want me. ”
(a) What light does this statement throw on Maria’s character?
Ans: Maria Sharapova takes immense pride in her nationality.

(b) What does she say about the US?
Ans: Maria acknowledges the contribution of the USA, where she took training in tennis and became the world number one tennis player.

(c) Why does the speaker say, ‘My blood is totally Russian’?
Ans: Maria claims this because she was born to Russian parents in Russia. She did spend a large part of her life in the USA, but she proudly declares her Russian identity.

(d) Given a chance, what would Maria like to do for Russia?
Ans: Being a Russian and proud of her nationality, Maria would like to represent Russia in the Olympics and make them proud, if given an opportunity.

Q8: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
Few would grudge her the riches she is now reaping.
(a) How is she ‘reaping’ the ‘riches’?
Ans: Maria has been declared the number one in women’s tennis. She earns a good deal of money from her game.

(b) Why would few grudge her the riches?
Ans: Everybody is aware of the fact that Maria has reached the top by making a lot of sacrifices and by working extremely hard. Hence, the riches that she is earning from her game are well deserved, and everybody readily agrees on this.

(c) Why has the word ‘reaping’ been used for riches?
Ans: The word ‘reaping’ has been used metaphorically. Just as reaping the harvest is the reward for the hard work of the farmer, similarly, earning money is the reward for Maria Sharapova’s labour and sacrifice.

(d) What, according to her, is the biggest motivation for her to do well?
Ans: The biggest motivation for Maria to do well is to become the World number one in tennis.

Q9: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
Tennis is a business and a sport, but the most important thing is to become number one in the world.
(a) Why does Maria call tennis “a business”?
Ans: For Maria, playing tennis as a professional game requires following rules and regulations and hard work, just as running a business does. Also, as in business, tennis too brings profits in terms of name, fame and money.

(b) According to Maria, why is tennis also a ‘sport’ in addition to being a business?
Ans: Maria calls tennis a sport, in addition to being a business, as it gives excitement and thrill, just like other sporting events do. Every match is filled with expectations and anxiety, both among the players and the spectators.

(c) What light does the extract throw on Maria’s personality?
Ans: The extract shows that Maria is very practical and pragmatic in her views. She does not deny that winning at tennis is monetarily rewarding.

(d) Why did Maria wish to become number one in the world?
Ans: Maria’s childhood dream was to become the number one tennis player in the world. She worked very hard and made a lot of sacrifices to train herself for this feat.

Q10: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
Like any number of teenage sensations, Maria Sharapova lists fashion, singing and dancing as her hobbies. She loves reading the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle. Her fondness for sophisticated evening gowns appears at odds with her love of pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks.
(a) What are Maria’s hobbies?
Ans: Maria’s hobbies include fashion, singing and dancing.

(b) What does Maria like to read?
Ans: Maria likes to read the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle.

(c) What contrast does Maria present in her tastes?
Ans: While Maria lists fashion as her hobby and likes to wear sophisticated evening gowns, she is also fond of junk food like pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks.

(d) What light does this throw on Maria’s character?
Ans: She combines the sophistication of a fashionista with the simplicity of a teenager.