Reach for the Top Notes: Class 9 English Chapter 7

Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 7 Reach for the Top covers both parts of the chapter - the mountaineer Santosh Yadav and the tennis star Maria Sharapova - along with important questions and answers.

Overview of Topics & Subtopics (Click to Jump)

1. Part I: Santosh Yadav
2. Part II: Maria Sharapova
3. Theme & Message

1. Part I: Santosh Yadav

Short Note:

• Santosh Yadav is the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest twice, coming from a small village in Haryana where girls were often discouraged from pursuing such ambitions.

• She faced strong opposition from her family regarding higher education and her choice of mountaineering as a career, but her determination helped her overcome these barriers.

• During her second Everest expedition, she displayed great humanity by helping an exhausted teammate descend safely instead of prioritising her own success.

2. Part II: Maria Sharapova

Short Note:

• Maria Sharapova moved from Russia to the United States at a young age with her father to pursue serious tennis training, leaving her mother behind temporarily due to visa issues.

• She trained rigorously under difficult financial and emotional circumstances, eventually becoming the Wimbledon champion in 2004 at the age of seventeen.

• Her success is attributed to intense discipline, sacrifice, and the constant support and coaching push from her father, Yuri Sharapov.

3. Theme & Message

Short Note:

• Both accounts show that reaching the top in any field requires overcoming social, financial or personal obstacles through determination, hard work and sacrifice.

• The chapter inspires young readers to pursue their goals passionately despite challenges and to value both personal achievement and compassion for others along the way.

Reading With Insight (Textbook Questions)

Q1: What difficulties did Santosh Yadav face in pursuing mountaineering?

Answer: Santosh Yadav faced resistance from her family who did not support a woman's ambition of mountaineering, financial constraints, and the immense physical dangers of climbing Mount Everest, yet she persisted and achieved her extraordinary feat twice.

Q2: How did Santosh Yadav show her humanity during her second Everest expedition?

Answer: During her second climb, Santosh Yadav chose to help a fellow, exhausted mountaineer descend safely rather than focus solely on completing her own summit attempt, demonstrating compassion and prioritising human life over personal glory.

Q3: What sacrifices did Maria Sharapova and her family make for her tennis career?

Answer: Maria Sharapova and her father moved to the United States with very limited money, lived apart from her mother for two years due to visa restrictions, and endured a demanding training schedule, all in pursuit of her tennis dream.

Extract-Based / Short Answer Questions

Q4: What common qualities do Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova share?

Answer: Both women display exceptional determination, resilience in the face of obstacles, willingness to sacrifice comfort for their goals, and the courage to pursue unconventional paths despite social or financial difficulties.

Q5: What message does the chapter give about achieving success?

Answer: The chapter conveys that true success at the top of any field is earned through relentless hard work, willingness to face hardships, strong family or mentor support, and sometimes choosing compassion over personal ambition.