NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 6 - The Making of a Scientist

Page No: 32

Read and Find Out

Q1: How did a book become a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life?

Ans: Richard Ebright had a strong interest in collecting different types of butterflies. By the time he reached second grade, he had already collected all twenty-five species of butterflies found in his hometown. He might have stopped there, but then his mother gave him a children's book called ‘The Travels of Monarch X.’ The book described how monarch butterflies travelled to Central America, sparking Richard’s curiosity in science. After reading it, he became very interested in studying butterfly migration. This passion led him to work on many other projects related to Monarch butterflies, eventually becoming a well-known scientist. The book played a key role in shaping his future.

Q2: How did his mother help him?

Ans: Richard’s mother was always supportive of his curiosity and love for learning. She would take him on trips and buy him scientific tools like telescopes, microscopes, cameras, and other equipment to encourage his interests. Whenever he had free time, she found new activities for him to explore. Her support, both directly and indirectly, played a big role in his growth. She even gave him the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X,’ which became a major turning point in his life and inspired him to become a great scientist.

Page No: 34

Read and Find Out

Q1: What lesson does Ebright learn when he does not win anything at a science fair?

Ans: Ebright’s entry at a science fair involved showing slides of frog tissues under a microscope, but he didn’t win any prize for his display. He realized that to succeed in such competitions, he needed to conduct real experiments rather than just presenting a tidy display. After this experience, he began working on various projects and carried out actual experiments.

Q2: What experiments and projects does he then undertake?

Ans: Ebright worked on numerous projects and experiments. In eighth grade, he focused on finding the cause of a viral disease that wipes out nearly all monarch caterpillars every few years, suspecting that a beetle might be responsible. For the next year’s science fair, he tested viceroy butterflies to demonstrate that they mimic monarch butterflies. Additionally, he studied bright spots on the monarch pupa and discovered an insect hormone, which eventually led him to develop a new theory about how cells function and read their DNA.

Q3: What are the qualities that go into the making of a scientist?

Ans: According to the author, three important qualities make a scientist: a sharp mind, curiosity, and the drive to excel and achieve for the right reasons. Richard Ebright had all these qualities. He was not only a bright student but also a champion debater, public speaker, skilled canoeist, and an avid outdoorsman. He was also a talented photographer, especially in capturing nature and scientific subjects. His competitive nature, combined with his curious mind, equipped him with everything he needed to become a successful scientist, eventually leading to his theory on the life of cells.

Page No: 38

Think about It

Q1: How can one become a scientist, an economist, a historian…? Does it simply involve reading many books on the subject? Does it involve observing, thinking and doing experiments?

Ans: Reading books is just one aspect of learning. This is an exercise in information gathering. It is how your brain processes the information that affects the degree of learning. The first and foremost criterion to become a genius in one’s chosen field is to have great curiosity and an unending hunger to discover more. The next criterion is a good sense of observation, which helps you to correlate your findings with what you see or experience in the real world. Experiments are a must to test your findings against possible variables and in real-life situations. And last, but not the least criteria is an urge to work really hard on your area of interest.

Q2: You must have read about cells and DNA in your science books. Discuss Richard Ebright’s work in the light of what you have studied. If you get an opportunity to work like Richard Ebright on projects and experiments, which field would you like to work on and why?

Ans: Ebrights’ work is directly related to Biology. The discovery of a cell’s structure has helped the scientific community to understand the way any organism functions and grows. This has helped scientists to discover how disease-causing organisms attack us and grow inside our bodies. This must have given them an idea to counter a particular disease. DNA fingerprinting helps police pinpoint the real culprit. This was not possible when DNA was discovered. Monarch butterflies present an amazing example of a tiny creature migrating thousands of miles from North America to the rainforest of the Amazon. Someday, we will be in a position to develop a sturdy and reliable navigation system like that of the Monarch butterflies.