Class-9 Chapter-8 Part-II Reach for the top- NCERT Solution

TEXTUAL QUESTIONS

Page No.107

Thinking about the Text

1. Working in small groups of 4-5 students, go back over the two passages on Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova and complete the table given below with relevant phrases or sentences.

Answer:

 Thinking about Language

Look at the following sentences. They each have two clauses or two parts each with their own subject and verb or verb phrase. Often, one part (italicised) tells us when or why something happened.

• I reached the market when most of the shops had closed (Tells us when I reached)
• When Rahul Dravid walked back towards the pavilion, everyone stood up. (Tells us when everyone stood up.)
• The telephone rang and Ganga picked it up. (Tells us what happened next)
• Gunjan has been with us ever since the school began. (Tells us for how long he has been with us.)

Identify the two parts in the sentences below by underlining the part that gives us the
information in brackets, as shown above.

1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. (Contrasts her dress with that of others)

Go to the Extra Questions and Notes of “Reach for the top Part I”

 Page No.108

2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. (Tells us what happened after the first action.)

3. She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived. (Tells us when she was going to fight the system.)

4. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. (Tells us when Maria was sent to the U.S.)

Answers :

1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. (Contrasts her dress with that of others)

2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. (Tells us what happened after the first action.)

3. She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived. (Tells us when she was going to fight the system.)

4. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. (Tells us when Maria was sent to the U.S.)

Go to the Extra Questions and Notes of “On Killing a Tree”

 II. Now rewrite the pairs of sentences given below as one sentence.

1. Grandfather told me about the old days. All books were printed on paper then.

2. What do you do after you finish the book? Perhaps you just throw it away.

3. He gave the little girl an apple. He took the computer apart.

4. You have nothing. That makes you very determined.

5.I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.

 Answers :

1. Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper.

2. What do you do after you finish the book except keeping it safe in your almirah?

3. He gave the little girl an apple and took the computer apart.

4. You have nothing that makes you very determined.

5.I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.

Dictation

Read the passage once. Then close your books. Your teacher will dictate the story to you. Write it down with the correct punctuation and paragraphing.

Go to the Extra Questions and Notes of “ The Bond of Love”

The Raincoat

 After four years of drought in a small town in the Northeast, the Vicar gathered everyone together for a pilgrimage to the mountain, where they would pray together and ask for the rain to return.

The priest noticed a boy in the group wearing a raincoat.

“Have you gone mad ?” he asked. “It hasn’t rained in this region for five years, the heat will kill you climbing the mountain.”

“ I have a cold, father, If we are going to ask God for rain, can you imagine the way back from the content? It’s going to be such a downpour that I need to be prepared”

 At that moment a great crash was heard in the sky and the first drops began to tall. A boy’s faith was enough to bring about a miracle that not even those most prepared truly believed in.

translated by JAMES MULHOLLAND

Speaking

 Imagine that you are Santosh Yadav or Maria Sharapova. You have been invited to speak at an All India Girls’ Athletic Meet, as chief guest. Prepare a short speech to motivate the girls to think and dream big and make an effort to fulfil their dreams, not allowing difficulties or defeat to discourage them. The following words and phrases may help you.

• self confident/confidence/sure of’ yourself
• self-assured/assurance/belief in yourself
• moral/boost morale/raise morale
• giving somebody a boost/fillip/lift
• demoralising/unsure of yourself/insecure/lack confidence

Page No.109

Writing

Working in pairs, go through the table below that gives you information about the top women tennis players since 1975. Write a short article for your school magazine comparing and contrasting the players in terms of their duration at the top. Mention some qualities that you think may be responsible for their brief or long stay at the top spot.

Top-Ranked Women Players

1. The role of honour of women who enjoyed life at the summit since everybody’s favourite player, Chris Evert, took her place in 1975.

 (ii) Which of these words would you use to describe Santosh Yadav? Find reasons in the text o Your choices, and write a couple of paragraphs describing Santosh’s character.