Reach for the Top Class 9 SEBA: All Textual Questions & Exercises
Part I: Santosh Yadav
I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.
1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised?
Ans.The holy man was surprised because Santosh’s grandmother requested a blessing for a daughter, whereas in their society, everyone usually wanted a son.
2. Give an example to show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable.
Answer. While other girls in her village wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred wearing shorts, stating that if she chose a correct path, others should change, not her.
3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school?
Ans. She was sent to the local village school because it was the prevailing custom in the family, even though her parents were affluent enough to send her to Delhi.
4. When did she leave home for Delhi, and why?
Answer. She left home for Delhi at the age of sixteen because her parents were pressuring her to get married, and she wanted to pursue a proper education instead.
5. 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?
Answer. Her parents agreed to pay because Santosh politely informed them of her plan to earn money by working part-time to pay her fees. This incident highlights her determination, independence, and willingness to work hard for her goals.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph.
1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
Answer. While living in the Kasturba Hostel in Jaipur, Santosh used to watch villagers climb the Aravalli Hills and vanish. Motivated by curiosity, she checked it out herself and met mountaineers who encouraged her to join them, marking the beginning of her climbing journey.
2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates?
Answer.During the 1992 Everest mission, Santosh tried to save a dying climber at the South Col, though unsuccessfully. However, she successfully saved another climber, Mohan Singh, by sharing her oxygen with him, preventing him from meeting the same fate.
3. What shows her concern for the environment?
Answer.Her concern for the environment is evident from the fact that she collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas.
4. How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?
Answer.She describes the moment as “indescribable” and spiritual. She felt proud as an Indian when she unfurled the Indian tricolour and held it aloft on the “roof of the world”.
5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt Everest. What were the reasons for this?
Answer.The first time she scaled Mt. Everest, she set a record for being the youngest woman in the world to achieve the feat. The second time, she became the only woman to have scaled Everest twice.
- Complete the Statements
- From her hostel room, Santosh used to watch villagers climbing the hill, who disappeared over its summit.
- She apologized to her father for joining the mountaineering institute without his permission.
- Her team seniors admired her climbing skills, physical fitness, and mental strength during expeditions.
- Match Words With Meanings
| Expression | Word |
| took to be true, without proof (1) | Assumed |
| based on reason, sensible (2) | Rational |
| traditional way of doing (3) | Custom |
| strong desire arising from within (5) | Urge |
| power to endure without falling ill (7) | Endurance |
Reach for the Top — II. Maria Sharapova
- Textual Question Answers
- Why was Maria sent to the United States?
Answer: For tennis training and better opportunities in the sport. - Why didn’t her mother accompany her to the US?
Answer: Due to visa restrictions, her mother had to stay in Russia for over two years. - What are Maria’s hobbies and likes?
Answer: She enjoys fashion, singing, dancing, reading novels (Arthur Conan Doyle), pancakes with chocolate spread, and fizzy orange drinks. - What keeps Maria going?
Answer: Her ambition to be world number one is her biggest motivator. Although money is important, her focus is on tennis excellence. - What was Maria’s achievement in August 2005, and how quickly did she rise?
Answer: She became the world number one in women’s tennis in just four years.
- Vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
| something disarming | makes you feel friendly, removes suspicion |
| at odds with | not agreeing, in contrast |
| poised beyond her years | maturity well above her age |
| heart-wrenching | causing deep sadness |
| glamorous attire | fashionable/exciting clothing |
| packed off | sent away |
On Killing a Tree — Gieve Patel
- Summary/Substance
- The poem is a satire on humanity’s ruthless destruction of nature. It describes in detail the persistent, destructive process needed to actually kill a full-grown tree — hacking isn’t enough; the roots must be uprooted, dried, and killed completely. Patel highlights nature’s resilience and the tragic futility and violence of human acts against the environment
- B. Textual Questions & Answers
- Who composed the poem “On Killing a Tree”?
Answer: Gieve Patel. - How much time does it take to kill a tree?
Answer: It takes a long time—a simple jab of a knife or chopping can’t kill a tree quickly. - What can’t kill a tree?
Answer: A simple jab of a knife can’t kill a tree as it heals and grows again. - Which part is most sensitive?
Answer: The white, wet root buried in the earth is most sensitive. - What needs to be done to kill a tree completely?
Answer: The tree must be uprooted, the roots exposed to sunlight and air, then dried, scorched, and withered until dead. - Justify the title “On Killing a Tree”.
Answer: The title is fitting as the poem meticulously details how killing a tree is not simple and highlights the tragic persistence and violence of such destruction. It also symbolizes the broader destruction of nature by humans. - What is the bleeding bark, and how does it heal?
Answer: After a tree is cut, the bark ‘bleeds’ (oozes sap) but eventually heals and even sprouts new branches, showing nature’s resilience.
- Central Theme
- The poem warns against human carelessness and the devastating, irreversible impact on nature. There is an urgent environmental message — trees are deeply rooted, resilient, and killing them is a long, destructive process that symbolizes humanity’s violence