Class 10 English Chapter 6 Question Answers - The Making of a Scientist

Q1. Which project did Ebright submit in his eighth grade? Why did he win?
Ans: In his eighth grade, Ebright conducted a project to investigate the cause of a viral disease that periodically wiped out nearly all monarch caterpillars. He hypothesised that the disease might be transmitted by a beetle. Although his attempts to raise caterpillars alongside beetles did not yield significant results, he presented his experiments and trials. This effort earned him first place at the county fair and entry into the International Science and Engineering Fair, where he secured third place in zoology.

Q2. 'Richard was the focus of his mother’s attention.' Compose a thesis on this.
Ans: The thesis statement is that Richard's father's death when he was just three years old made him the sole focus of his mother. This created a strong bond and a nurturing environment that fostered his interest in learning. As a result, Richard achieved success in various fields, particularly in science.

Q3. Which project of Ebright won first prize in the county science fair?
Ans: Initially, Ebright did not win any awards at his first science fair, which made him realise that successful projects require real experiments. However, he later achieved significant success. Ebright, alongside a fellow scientist, created a device that demonstrated that the tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa produced a hormone essential for the butterfly's complete development. This project earned him first prize at the county science fair and third prize in zoology at the international science fair.

Q4. 'Science shows a connection between structure and function.' Show this to be so, for the spots Ebright saw on Monarch pupas.
Ans: Richard Ebright conducted experiments on a monarch's wing cells, demonstrating that they could only grow into normal butterfly wing scales when supplied with hormones from the gold spots on the pupa. This significant finding won him first place in zoology at the International Fair. Later, he identified the chemical structure of the hormone, which helped him understand how cells interpret the blueprints of their DNA.

Q5. What was Richard A Weiher’s opinion of his student Richard, Ebright?
Ans: Mr. Richard A. Weiherer, Ebright's Social Studies teacher and adviser, regarded him as a student with varied interests. Ebright dedicated three to four hours each night to debate research, alongside his butterfly studies and other pursuits. Weiherer noted that Ebright was competitive, but in a positive way, focusing on doing his best rather than merely winning.

Q6. How did Richard Ebright grow cells from a monarch butterfly’s wing? What did that project win for Ebright?
Ans: Richard Ebright successfully grew cells from a monarch butterfly's wing in a culture. He demonstrated that these cells could divide and develop into normal butterfly wing scales, provided they were nourished with a hormone from the gold spots. This project earned him first place in zoology at the International Fair.

Q7. Why and where did Richard Ebright send the tagged butterflies?
Ans: At the end of The Travels of Monarch X, readers were invited to assist in studying the migration of monarch butterflies. They were encouraged to tag butterflies for research conducted by Dr. Frederick A. Urquhart from the University of Toronto. Richard Ebright began attaching light adhesive tags to the wings of these butterflies and sent them to Dr. Urquhart for his research.

Q8. How did Ebright’s basement become home to thousands of monarch butterflies?
Ans: Richard Ebright became interested in monarch butterflies while assisting Dr. Urquhart with his research. Catching butterflies one by one proved challenging, so Ebright decided to raise them in his basement. He would capture a female monarch, collect her eggs, and nurture them through their life cycle—from egg to caterpillar, then to pupa, and finally to adult butterfly. After tagging their wings, he would release them. Over the years, his basement became home to thousands of monarchs at various stages of development.

Q9. What did Ebright realize when he started tagging butterflies?
Ans: Ebright began tagging monarch butterflies and quickly realised that chasing them individually would limit his observations. To see more butterflies, he decided to raise a flock instead. He captured a female monarch, collected her eggs, and nurtured them through their life cycle in his basement. This process allowed him to observe thousands of monarchs at various stages, from egg to adult butterfly. After they matured, he tagged their wings and released them.

Q10. Why did Ebright begin to lose interest in tagging butterflies?
Ans: Ebright began to lose interest in tagging butterflies because there was little feedback from his efforts. He felt disappointed as only two of the butterflies he tagged were recaptured, and they were found within seventy-five miles of his home.

Q11. What happened when Ebright wrote to Dr. Urquhart for ideas?
Ans: Ebright wrote to Dr. Urquhart seeking ideas, and in response, the renowned scientist provided him with numerous suggestions for experiments. These experiments kept Ebright engaged throughout high school and led to him winning several prizes at both county and international science fairs.

Q12. Why do the viceroy butterflies imitate the monarch butterflies?
Ans: The viceroy butterflies imitate monarch butterflies to avoid being eaten by birds. Research indicates that birds find monarchs unappetising due to their toxicity. In contrast, viceroys are tasty to birds. By resembling monarchs, viceroys reduce their chances of predation, as birds are less likely to eat something that looks like a monarch.

Q13. Which simple question led to the discovery of an unknown insect hormone?
Ans: In his second year of high school, Richard Ebright's research led to the discovery of an unknown insect hormone, which also contributed to his new theory on cell life. He sought to answer a simple question: What is the purpose of the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa? While many believed the spots were merely decorative, Ebright and a fellow student built a device that demonstrated these spots produced a hormone essential for the butterfly's complete development.

Q14. What idea did Ebright get when he was looking at the X-ray photos of cells?
Ans: While examining X-ray photos of the chemical structure of cells, Ebright conceived a new theory about cell life. These images helped him solve a significant biological question: how cells can 'read' the blueprint of their DNA. DNA, located in the nucleus, controls heredity and determines the cell's form and function, serving as the blueprint for life.

Q15. Richard Ebright was a famous scientist but he had time for other interests too. What were the other interests and hobbies of Ebright?
Ans: Richard Ebright's journey as a scientist began with his passion for collecting butterflies. Alongside this, he pursued several other interests and hobbies. He became a champion debater and public speaker, showcasing his skills in various competitions. Ebright was also an accomplished canoeist and enjoyed outdoor activities. Additionally, he developed expertise in photography, particularly focusing on nature and scientific exhibits.

Q16. “… There was one thing I could do —collect things.” What did Richard Ebright do in his childhood?
Ans: Richard Ebright, an only child, grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania. He mentioned, “There wasn’t much I could do there,” but he found joy in collecting things. Starting in kindergarten, he began collecting butterflies with great enthusiasm. By second grade, he had gathered all 25 species of butterflies native to his area. In addition to butterflies, Ebright also collected rocks, fossils, and coins. He developed a keen interest in astronomy, often spending nights stargazing.

Q17. How and where did Richard Ebright identify the hormone’s chemical structure?
Ans: After his freshman year at Harvard University, Richard Ebright returned to the Department of Agriculture laboratory. There, he conducted further research on the hormones from the gold spots. Using the laboratory's sophisticated instruments, he successfully identified the hormone's chemical structure.

Q18. What book opened the world of science to the eager young collector, Richard Ebright?
Ans: Richard Ebright developed a passion for collecting at a young age, amassing all twenty-five species of butterflies in his hometown by the second grade. The book that truly opened the world of science for him was The Travels of Monarch X, a children's book given to him by his mother. This book detailed the migration of monarch butterflies to Central America, sparking Ebright's interest in scientific exploration.

Q19. When and how did Richard Ebright get a hint of what real science is?
Ans: Richard Ebright first discovered what real science is in seventh grade when he participated in a county science fair and did not win. He felt disheartened as he did not receive any recognition while others were awarded. His project involved slides of frog tissues viewed under a microscope. This experience made him realise that the successful participants had conducted genuine experiments, whereas he had merely created a neat display.
Determined to improve, Ebright resolved to undertake a real experiment for the following year's fair. He decided to focus on the insect work he had been doing for several years. He reached out to Dr Urquhart for ideas, which resulted in a plethora of suggestions that kept him engaged throughout high school and led to award-winning projects at both county and international science fairs.

Q20. Who was Dr. Frederick A Urquhart? Why did Richard Ebright look to him for fresh ideas?
Ans: Dr. Frederick A Urquhart was a renowned scientist and educator at the University of Toronto, Canada, known for his research on butterfly migrations. Richard Ebright, a budding scientist, sent him numerous tagged butterflies for his studies. Ebright sought Dr. Urquhart's insights and fresh ideas, which proved invaluable. The suggestions he received led Ebright to conduct various experiments, ultimately helping him achieve success in both county and international science fairs.