This chapter narrates the inspiring life story of Santosh Yadav, the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice, and it emphasizes themes of determination, self-reliance, and breaking societal barriers. The following are the corrected NCERT Solutions for Chapter 8 of the Beehive textbook.
Thinking about the Text
I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.
Question 1:
Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised?
Answer:
The ‘holy man’ was surprised because Santosh’s grandmother asked for blessings for a daughter, whereas most people in society typically asked for blessings for a son.
Question 2:
Give an example to show that even as a young girl, Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable.
Answer:
Santosh used to wear shorts instead of the traditional dresses meant for girls, which shows her defiance against unreasonable social norms.
Question 3:
Why was Santosh sent to the local school?
Answer:
Santosh was sent to the local school because it was the custom in her family to educate children in the village school.
Question 4:
When did she leave home for Delhi, and why?
Answer:
Santosh left home for Delhi at the age of sixteen to pursue proper education, as she felt that the local school could not provide the kind of education she desired.
Question 5:
Why did Santosh’s parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are highlighted by this incident?
Answer:
Santosh’s parents agreed to pay for her schooling because she promised to work part-time to support her fees. This shows her determination, independence, and resourcefulness.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
Question 1:
How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
Answer:
Santosh became interested in mountaineering after watching villagers climb a hill and disappear into the mountains. Later, she saved money to join the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi.
Question 2:
What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her teammates?
Answer:
During the 1992 Everest expedition, Santosh showed her concern by sharing her oxygen with a climber named Mohan Singh, who was near death, ensuring his survival.
Question 3:
What shows her concern for the environment?
Answer:
Santosh’s concern for the environment is evident when she brought back 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas, showing her dedication to preserving nature.
Question 4:
How does she describe her feelings at the summit of Everest?
Answer:
At the summit of Everest, Santosh was initially overwhelmed by the moment but felt immense pride and joy as she unfurled the Indian tricolor, marking a personal achievement.
Question 5:
Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt. Everest. What were the reasons for this?
Answer:
Santosh Yadav became famous for being the youngest woman to scale Mount Everest and for being the only woman to have climbed it twice.
III. Complete the following statements:
- From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to see the villagers going up the hill and suddenly vanishing after a while.
- When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she was going directly for training and not home, which she should have done.
- During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her climbing skills, physical fitness, and mental strength while working together endeared her to fellow climbers.
IV. Pick out words from the text that mean the same as the following words or expressions.
- took to be true without proof — blessing
- based on reason; sensible; reasonable — rational
- the usual way of doing things — custom
- a strong desire arising from within — urge
- the power to endure, without falling ill — resistance/endurance
Thinking about the Text
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.
| Points of Comparison/Contrast | Santosh Yadav | Maria Sharapova |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Their humble beginning | Santosh’s family was affluent but she chose a different path. | Maria’s father worked multiple jobs to support her. |
| 2. Their parents’ approach | Santosh’s father was initially hesitant but supportive. | Maria’s mother stayed in Siberia while Maria moved. |
| 3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed | Santosh had an iron will to conquer Everest. | Maria became determined after facing setbacks. |
| 4. Evidence of their mental toughness | Santosh endured extreme physical conditions on Everest. | Maria overcame injuries and challenges in tennis. |
| 5. Their patriotism | Santosh felt proud to unfurl the Indian tricolor on Everest. | Maria has represented Russia at international events. |
Thinking about Language
I. Identify the two parts in the sentences below by underlining the part that gives us the information in brackets, as shown above.
- Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.
(Contrasts her dress with that of others) - She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.
(Tells us what happened after the first action) - She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived.
(Tells us when she was going to fight the system) - 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 US)
II. Now rewrite the pairs of sentences given below as one sentence.
- Grandfather told me about the old days. All books were printed on paper then.
Answer: Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper. - What do you do after you finish the book? Perhaps you just throw it away.
Answer: Perhaps you just throw the book away after reading it. - He gave the little girl an apple. He took the computer apart.
Answer: After giving the little girl an apple, he took the computer apart. - You have nothing. That makes you very determined.
Answer: You have nothing, which makes you very determined. - I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.
Answer: I never thought of quitting as I knew what I wanted.
Dictation
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, and 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 mountain? 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 fall. 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 fulfill their dreams, not allowing difficulties or defeat to discourage them.
Answer (Sample Speech by Santosh Yadav):
Good Morning, everyone!
I am truly honored to be here with all of you today. Each of you has the power to achieve greatness. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because of your gender or your background. My journey wasn’t easy, but my belief in myself and my dreams kept me going. Remember, success comes from persistence, determination, and the will to push yourself beyond your limits. If you keep striving, the world will open up to you. So, dream big, work hard, and never give up, no matter how many challenges you face. You are capable of far more than you think.
Thank you!
Writing
Write a short article comparing and contrasting the top women tennis players.
Answer (Sample Article):
Comparison of Top Women Tennis Players
Tennis has witnessed some extraordinary women players who have dominated the sport for years. Serena Williams from the United States, with her unparalleled physical strength and mental toughness, has ruled the tennis court for 57 weeks as the world No.1.
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