Class 9 English Lesson 7 ‘Reaching for The Top’ Part 2 ‘Maria Sharapova’ Question & Answers are given here. The lesson comprises two parts. Click here for Part 1 ‘Santosh Yadav’ question & answers.
Intext-Questions & Answers
Page: 89
A Russian girl, Maria Sharapova, reached the summit of women’s tennis when she was barely eighteen. As you read about her, see if you can draw a comparison between her and Santosh Yadav.
Answer:
| Phrases | Matching Phrases |
|---|---|
| something disarming | something that makes you feel friendly, taking away your suspiciousness |
| quickly, almost immediately | in almost no time |
| at odds with | in contrast to; not agreeing with |
| poised beyond her years | more calm, confident, and in control than people of her age usually are |
| packed off | sent off |
| glamorous attire | attractive and exciting clothes |
| launched | started |
| heart-wrenching | causing strong feelings of sadness |
As you read, look for the answers to these questions.
– Why was Maria sent to the United States?
– Why didn’t her mother go with her?
– What are her hobbies? What does she like?
– What motivates her to keep going?
Answers:
1. Why was Maria sent to the United States?
- Ans. Maria Sharapova was sent to the United States for tennis training, launching her on the path to success in her professional tennis career.
2. Why didn’t her mother go with her?
- Ans. Maria’s mother, Yelena, did not go with her to the United States due to visa restrictions. This resulted in a heart-wrenching two-year separation.
3. What are her hobbies? What does she like?
- Ans. Maria Sharapova lists fashion, singing, and dancing as her hobbies. She also expresses a love for reading the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle. The text does not provide an exhaustive list of her likes, but it does mention her fondness for sophisticated evening gowns, as well as enjoying pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks.
4. What motivates her to keep going?
- Ans. Maria Sharapova is motivated by her dream of becoming number one in the world in tennis. She mentions that money is a motivation, considering tennis as both a business and a sport, but emphasizes that the most important thing for her is to achieve the top ranking in the world. This dream serves as a powerful motivator that keeps her going.
Textbook Exercise Answers
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.
Answer: Here is a completed table comparing Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova based on the provided information:
| Points of Comparison/Contrast | Santosh Yadav | Maria Sharapova |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Their humble beginning | Born in a small village in Haryana, India, with limited resources. | Born in Siberia, Russia, in a challenging environment. |
| 2. Their parents’ approach | Supportive parents who encouraged education and outdoor activities. | Sent to the United States for tennis training at a young age, with her father being actively involved. Separation from mother due to visa restrictions. |
| 3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed | Displayed a strong will to succeed in mountaineering, becoming the first woman to climb Everest twice. | Showed unwavering desire and mental toughness in tennis, reaching the world number one position. |
| 4. Evidence of their mental toughness | Conquered Mount Everest twice, facing extreme conditions and challenges. | Overcame challenges, sacrifices, and separation from family to achieve success in professional tennis. |
| 5. Their patriotism | Displayed patriotism by carrying the Indian flag to the summit of Everest. | Expresses pride in Russian nationality and willingness to represent Russia in the Olympics. |
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.) 3.
- 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 U.S.)
Answers:
- 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 U.S.)
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.
- What do you do after you finish the book? Perhaps you just throw it away.
- He gave the little girl an apple. He took the computer apart.
- You have nothing. That makes you very determined. 5. I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.
Answers:
- 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.
- He gave the little girl an apple before taking the computer apart.
- Having nothing makes you very determined.
- I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.
Dictation
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.
Answer: Here is the punctauted part
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)