Chapter 14. Reach for the Top
NCERT Solution:
I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each. (The paragraph numbers within brackets provide clues to the answers.)
Q1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised? (1)
Ans: Santosh’s grandmother sought blessings for a daughter, not for a son from the holy man. Most of the expecting women wish a son to be born to them. So this surprised the holy man.
Q2. Give an example to show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable. (2)
Ans: She wore shorts and not the traditional Indian dress for girls.
Q3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school? (3)
Ans: She was sent to the local school. It was in line with the prevailing custom in her family.
Q4. When did she leave home for Delhi, and why? (4)
Ans: She left home for Delhi when she got admission in a school. She did so as she wanted to get a,proper education.
Q5. 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)
Ans: They agreed to pay for her schooling in Delhi when Santosh got adament. She told them that she would work part time to get more education. The qualities of determination coupled with a strong desire are seen here.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
Q1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
Ans: She began to climb hills. She did so when she decided to check why the villagers climbing the hills vanished. Then she took admission in Uttarkashi’s Institute of Mountaineering. She went on an expedition every year.
Q2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates?
Ans: One climber lay dying at the South Col. Another climber Mohan Singh would have died if Santosh had not shared her oxygen with him. She gave her oxygen to save him from a sure death.
Q3. What shows her concern for the environment?
Ans: Santosh returned from Mount Everest. While doing so, she collected garbage from the Himalayas. She then brought it down with her. It weighed 500 kilograms.
Q4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?
Ans: She describes her feelings in saying that that moment was simply great. It took sometime to sink in. She felt it was a spiritual moment. She felt proud as an Indian when she unfurled the Indian tricolour.
Q5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt Everest. What were the reasons for this?
Ans: She set a record as the only woman to have conquered the Everest twice. Also she is the only Indian woman in the world to have set such a record.
III. Complete the following statements.
1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to
2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her
father because
3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her
while 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):
2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable (2):
3. the usual way of doing things (3):
4. a strong desire arising from within (5):
5. the power to endure, without falling ill (7):
Ans:
- blessing
- rational
- in her own quiet way
- urge
- resistance/endurance
