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CBSE Class 9 English Question 19 of 21

Reach for the Top — Question 19

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19
Question
I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.
Answer

I never thought of quitting as I knew what I wanted.
Dictation
(Page 108)
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.
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 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)
Answer:
Do it yourself.

Overview: Reach for the Top

Part I: Santosh Yadav, from a small Haryana village, defied social norms that expected her to marry young. She chose education, joined a mountaineering institute, and became the youngest woman to climb Everest — and the only woman to do it twice. She also collected 500 kg of garbage from the Himalayas. Part II: Maria Sharapova, sent from Siberia to the USA at age 9, endured years of loneliness, homesickness, and bullying before winning Wimbledon at 17.

Key Points

  • Part I: Santosh Yadav from Joniyawas village, Haryana
  • Defied social norms — chose education over early marriage
  • Joined Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi
  • Youngest woman to climb Mount Everest
  • Only woman to scale Everest twice
  • Collected 500 kg garbage from Himalayas — environmentally conscious
  • Part II: Maria Sharapova — born in Siberia, Russia
  • Sent to USA at age 9 for tennis training
  • Endured loneliness, homesickness, bullying by older girls
  • Won Wimbledon at age 17
  • Both stories celebrate determination and breaking barriers

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Santosh Yadav break social barriers?
In Haryana, girls were expected to marry young and stay home. Santosh refused. She left home to get educated in Delhi, joined a mountaineering institute, and became the youngest woman to climb Everest. Her determination was stronger than social pressure.
What sacrifices did Maria Sharapova make?
Maria was sent to the USA at age 9, separated from her mother for two years. She was bullied by older girls at the training academy. She endured loneliness and homesickness but never gave up, eventually winning Wimbledon at 17.

Common Mistakes

  • Not reading the text carefully before attempting questions.
  • Giving vague answers without specific textual references.
  • Confusing characters, events, or themes from different chapters.
  • Writing too much for short-answer questions (should be 30-40 words).

Scoring Tips

  • For extract-based MCQs: read the passage carefully; eliminate wrong options systematically.
  • For short answers: be concise (30-40 words), use key vocabulary from the text.
  • For long answers: structure with introduction, body, conclusion. Quote from the text.
  • Always identify the chapter/poem name and author when answering.