NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 7 – Reach for the Top

Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 7 – Reach for the Top consists of two inspiring biographical accounts of extraordinary Indian women who reached the pinnacle of achievement in their respective fields through sheer determination, courage, and hard work. The first part tells the story of Santosh Yadav, the first woman in the world to scale Mount Everest twice. The second part tells the story of Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis player who became a world champion after years of sacrifice and relentless effort. Both stories celebrate the power of ambition, focus, and the refusal to give up in the face of obstacles.

This chapter is an important part of the CBSE Class 9 English Beehive syllabus and is frequently tested in school examinations. Questions from this chapter cover comprehension, character analysis, understanding of themes like ambition and perseverance, and vocabulary exercises. The stories of Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova serve as powerful motivators for students, showing that extraordinary success is achievable through determination and hard work regardless of one's background or circumstances.

Part I – Santosh Yadav

Question 1. How was Santosh different from the other girls in her village?

Answer:

Santosh Yadav was very different from the other girls in her village. While the girls in her village were content to follow traditional roles — getting married early and accepting the limitations placed on them — Santosh had a fiercely independent spirit from childhood. She refused to wear the traditional dress, insisting instead on shorts. She rejected the idea of early marriage and convinced her parents to let her study in Delhi. She was determined to live life on her own terms and pursue her ambitions, which was highly unusual for a girl from a conservative village background in Haryana.

Question 2. When did Santosh Yadav develop an interest in climbing?

Answer:

Santosh developed an interest in climbing when she was studying at Kasturba Vidyalaya in the Aravalli Hills. She would regularly watch the climbers scaling the hills near her school. Fascinated by what she saw, she decided to try climbing herself. She started climbing the Aravalli Hills at the age of twelve and quickly discovered her natural talent and passion for mountaineering.

Question 3. How did she pay for her climbing expenses?

Answer:

Santosh managed her climbing expenses by convincing her reluctant parents to give her a meagre amount of money. When this was not sufficient, she took up the challenge with great determination and controlled her expenses very strictly. She also proved her worth through her talent and perseverance, which eventually earned her sponsorships and support from mountaineering organisations that helped fund her expeditions.

Question 4. How did Santosh feel when she scaled Mount Everest the first time?

Answer:

When Santosh scaled Mount Everest for the first time in 1992, she felt an overwhelming sense of pride and patriotism. She unfurled the Indian national flag on the top of the world and felt immense joy at having achieved something extraordinary for her country. She also felt a deep sense of personal accomplishment — the fulfilment of a dream that she had pursued with total dedication despite all the obstacles and doubts she had faced.

Question 5. Why is Santosh Yadav's achievement considered extraordinary?

Answer:

Santosh Yadav's achievement is considered extraordinary for several reasons. She was the first woman in the world to scale Mount Everest twice — a feat that no woman had accomplished before her. She came from a small, conservative village in Haryana where girls were expected to marry young and live traditional lives. She challenged every social expectation placed on her, fought her way through financial difficulties, and demonstrated remarkable physical endurance and mental strength. Her achievement brought great honour to India and continues to inspire generations of young women.

Part II – Maria Sharapova

Question 6. What qualities made Sharapova a champion?

Answer:

Maria Sharapova became a champion through an extraordinary combination of qualities. She had an intense competitive drive and an unshakeable desire to be the best. She made tremendous personal sacrifices from a very young age — she left Russia at the age of nine to train in Florida, living away from her mother for years because of visa restrictions. She endured homesickness, loneliness, and the cruelty of her peers at the tennis academy, yet she never gave up. Her mental toughness, physical discipline, and absolute focus on her goal of becoming the world's best tennis player drove her to the top.

Question 7. Why was it difficult for Maria to leave Russia for Florida?

Answer:

It was extremely difficult for Maria to leave Russia for Florida because she was only nine years old at the time. She had to leave her mother behind because her mother could not get a visa to accompany her to the United States. Only her father Yuri was able to go with her. Leaving her mother and her home country at such a young age was emotionally very painful. She was lonely and homesick in Florida, and the other students at the tennis academy were often unkind to her. Despite all this, she endured the hardship with remarkable courage and determination.

Question 8. What does Maria say about her Russian identity?

Answer:

Maria Sharapova is very proud of her Russian identity. Despite having lived in the United States for most of her life, she has always considered herself Russian at heart. She says that although she has lived away from Russia for so long and carries an American accent, she is Russian and will always be Russian. She has never lost her sense of connection to her roots and her homeland, even as she became a global superstar.

Question 9. What does Maria feel about tennis and money?

Answer:

Maria Sharapova makes a very clear distinction between her passion for tennis and her desire for money. She says that she is motivated first and foremost by the love of tennis and the desire to be the best — not by money. She acknowledges that money is important and that she enjoys the rewards of success, but she insists that if she had played tennis only for the money, she would never have had the drive to push through the difficult years of sacrifice and loneliness. Her passion for the sport is what truly drives her.

Question 10. What are the similarities between Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova?

Answer:

Both Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova share several important qualities. Both showed extraordinary determination and a fierce desire to succeed from a very young age. Both made great personal sacrifices to pursue their dreams — Santosh defied social norms and family expectations, while Maria left her home and mother behind at the age of nine. Both faced significant hardships and obstacles but refused to give up. Both reached the very top of their chosen fields and became inspirations not just for women but for people everywhere. Both stories demonstrate that passion, hard work, and mental strength can overcome any barrier.

FAQs – Chapter 7 Reach for the Top

Q1. What is the central theme of Reach for the Top?

The central theme is that determination, courage, and an unwillingness to accept limitations can take a person to the very top of their field. Both Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova came from very different backgrounds but shared the same burning desire to excel. Their stories show that success is not determined by circumstances but by the strength of one's will and the willingness to sacrifice and work hard.

Q2. What obstacles did Santosh Yadav face in pursuing mountaineering?

Santosh faced several major obstacles. She grew up in a conservative village in Haryana where girls were expected to marry young and not pursue ambitious careers. Her parents were initially reluctant to support her unconventional ambitions. She also had very limited financial resources and had to manage her expenses carefully. Despite these social and financial barriers, she persisted and became the first woman in the world to climb Everest twice.

Q3. What sacrifices did Maria Sharapova make to become a tennis champion?

Maria made extraordinary sacrifices from a very young age. At nine, she left her home in Russia and travelled to Florida with only her father, leaving her mother behind because of visa restrictions. She lived away from her mother for years, enduring loneliness and the unkindness of her peers at the tennis academy. She gave up a normal childhood, dedicating herself entirely to tennis training. These sacrifices ultimately paid off when she became the world's number one tennis player.

Q4. What is the significance of Santosh Yadav unfurling the Indian flag on Everest?

The act of unfurling the Indian national flag on the summit of Mount Everest is deeply symbolic. It represents not only Santosh's personal triumph but also her pride in her country and her desire to honour India through her achievement. It was a moment of national pride and an inspiration to millions of Indians, especially young women, showing that with courage and determination, the highest peaks — both literally and figuratively — are within reach.

Q5. Why are these two stories placed together in the same chapter?

The two stories are placed together because they share the same central message — that extraordinary achievement is possible through unwavering determination, sacrifice, and passion. Both Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova are women who defied expectations and reached the very top of their fields. By placing the stories side by side, the chapter reinforces the idea that the qualities needed for success are universal, transcending gender, nationality, and background.