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CBSE Class 9 English Question 21 of 21

Reach for the Top — Question 21

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21
Question
Which of these words would you use to describe Santosh Yadav? Find reasons in the text to support your choices, and write a couple of paragraphs describing Santosh’s character. contented   determined   resourceful polite   adventurous   considerate weak-willed   fearful   independent pessimistic   patient   persevering
Answer

Santosh Yadav was determined, considerate, polite and hard working. She was a rebel who did not want to follow the traditional ways of living. She developed a remarkable resistance to cold and altitude that is required for mountaineering. She proved herself repeatedly because of her iron will, physical endurance and amazing mental toughness. She was a fervent environmentalist who brought 500 kgs of garbage from the Himalayas.
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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.