Jharkhand Board Class 9TH English Notes | REACH FOR THE TOP-I (Santosh Yadav)
JAC Board Solution For Class 9TH English Prose Chapter 9
COMPREHENSION
■ Read the following passage and answer the questions than
follow :―
1. The only woman in the world who has scaled Mt Everest
twice was born in a society where the brith of a son was regarded as
a blessing, and a daughter, though not considered a curse, was not
generally welcome. When her mother was expecting Santosh, a
travelling 'holy man', giving her his blessing, assumed that she
wanted a son. But, to everyone's surprise, the unborn child's
grandmother, who was standing close by, told him that they did
not want a son. The 'holy man' was also surprised! Nevertheless, he
gave the requested blessing ... and as destiny would have it, the
blessing seemed to work. Santosh was born the sixth child in a
family with five sons, a sister to five brothers. She was born in the
small village of Joniyawas of Rewari District in Haryana.
Q. (a) Identify ther' in the above lines.
(b) Who visited their house and what did he do?
(c) Explain-'the blessing seemed to work'.
(d) Why was the holy man surprised?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means 'got
victory'.
Ans. (a) 'Her' here the mother of Santosh.
(b) A holy man visited their house and blessed Santosh's
mother with a girl.
(c) Holy man blessed Santosh's mother with a daughter.
Santosh, as a daughter, was born after that.
(d) The holy man surprised for the grandmother's requested
of a girl.
(e) got victory - scaled.
2. Wishing always to study "a bit more" and with her father
slowly getting used to her urge for more education, Santosh passed
the high school examinations and went to Jaipur. She joined
Maharani College and got a room in Kasturba Hostel. Santosh
remembers, "Kasturba Hostel faced the Aravalli Hills. I used to
watch villagers from my room, going up the hill and suddenly
vanishing after a while. One day I decided to check it out myself.
I found nobody except a few mountaineers. I asked if I could join
them. To my pleasant surprise, they answered in the affirmative
and motivated me to take to climbing."
Q. (a) What strange wish did Santosh have?
(b) Why did she go to Jaipur ?
(c) What would she look at from her hostel room in
Jaipur?
(d) What did she go out to check herself?
(e) Find a word from the passage which means.
'encouraged'.
Ans. (a) She wanted to study a bit more.
(b) She went there to get higher education.
(c) She would look at the villagers going up the hill and
suddenly vanishing after a while.
(d) She went out to check herself the vanishing of the
villagers among the hills.
(e) encouraged motivated.
4. Describing her feelings when she was literally on top of the
world', Santosh has said, "It took some time for the enormity of the
moment to sink in ... Then I unfurled the Indian tricolour and held
it aloft on the roof of the world. The feeling is indescribable. The
Indian flag was flying on top of the world. It was truly a spiritual
moment. I felt proud as an Indian." Also a fervent environmentalist,
Santosh collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage
from the Himalayas.
Q.(a) When Santosh was on the top, how did she feel?
(b) What did she bring from the Himalayas?
(c) How did Santosh conduct on the top?
(d) How many colours are there in our national flag?
(e) Trace a word that means 'having a strong feeling!
Ans. (a) When Santosh was on the top she felt proud as an Indian.
(b) She brought 500 kilograms of garbage from the
Himalayas.
(c) Santosh unfurled the National Flag and held it high.
(d) There are three colours 'Saffron, White and Green'.
(e) Having a strong feeling 'Fervent'.
Long Answer Type Quesions
■ Answer these questions in about 80-100 words cach:
Q.1. Write a brief character sketch of Santosh Yadav.
Ans. Santosh Yadav knew no contentment. She was rebellious
by nature. She had a lot of patience to wait for the right moment
and tolerate the odds that came in her way. She had a strong will
power and determined approach. Nothing could compel her to do
what she didn't want to do. She was fearless and independent and
hard working. She strived for better and more education. She is
adventurous and thus is attracted to the mountaineering. She is
physically and mentally strong and a truly teammate. She is helpful
ambitious, and sincere. She is a sincere environmentalist and also
a proud Indian.
Q. 2. How did Santosh pursue her urge to study better and 'a
bit more?
Or, How did Santosh make her parents agree to let her study
in Delhi and to study 'a bit more'?
Ans. Santosh was not content with her place in the traditional
way of life. Her parents were affluent landowners and could have
sent their children to study in better schools. But she had to study
in the local village school as per the custom. But she wished to
study in a better way and a bit more'. She waited for the right
moment and refused to get married at sixteen. She left home and
get enrolled herself in a school in Delhi. When her parents refused
to pay for her education, she politely informed them about her
decision to earn herself to pay for her education. Thus she made
her parents agree to pursue her urge to study in a better way
and a bit more'.
Q. 3. Describe Santosh's childhood. How was she different
from others?
Or, Since when her rebellion start? How?
Ans. Santosh was born in a small village of Joniyawas in
Haryana. She was a welcomed daughter. She was never satisfied
with her place in a traditional way of life. She since her childhood
started living life on her own terms. While other girls wore
traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. She was
courageous enough to chose an untrodden path and make others
follow her. He had the enough courage to threaten her parents to
let her study in Delhi, thus defying the customs of society. She did
not get married at sixteen as other girls of her village did. She went
against her parents wish and planned to earn herself to pay for her
education. Thus her rebellion started since her birth and that makes
her different from others.
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