This article covers the complete question-answer solution for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 8 – Reach for the Top, prescribed by ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education). The chapter is divided into two parts: Part I features the inspiring story of Santosh Yadav, the only woman in the world to have scaled Mount Everest twice, and Part II presents the journey of Maria Sharapova, the Russian tennis sensation who became world number one. Both biographical sketches teach students the value of determination, sacrifice, and self-belief. All textbook exercises — Thinking about the Text, Thinking about Language — along with Additional Questions and MCQs are covered below.
Summary
Part I: Santosh Yadav – Summary
Santosh Yadav was born in the small village of Joniyawas in the Rewari district of Haryana. Even before her birth, she was special — her grandmother asked for blessings for a daughter, not a son, which surprised the holy man who gave the blessings. Growing up, Santosh refused to conform to social norms. While other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, she preferred shorts. Though her family was wealthy, she was sent to the local village school following family custom. At sixteen, she left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi, driven by a strong desire to receive proper education. When her parents initially refused to support her financially, she threatened to work part-time — a display of extraordinary determination. Her parents eventually agreed to fund her studies.
Her passion for mountaineering began when she watched villagers from her hostel room at Kasturba Hostel climbing the Aravalli Hills and mysteriously disappearing over the top. Curious, she began joining them. She later enrolled at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi — without her father’s permission — and participated in annual expeditions to sharpen her climbing skills. In 1992, Santosh Yadav scaled Mount Everest and became the youngest woman in the world to achieve the feat. She scaled Everest a second time within a year, becoming the only woman in the world to have scaled Everest twice. During her expeditions, she also cared for a dying climber at South Col and shared her oxygen with fellow climber Mohan Singh, saving his life. On her descent, she collected 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas, showing her concern for the environment. She was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India. At the summit, she unfurled the Indian tricolour and felt an indescribable sense of spiritual pride and national honour.
Part II: Maria Sharapova – Summary
Maria Sharapova is a Russian tennis player who rose to become one of the greatest in the sport. Born in Siberia, Russia, she showed extraordinary talent in tennis from a very young age. At the age of nine, she was sent to train in the United States — a decision that separated her from her mother for two long years, as her mother could not get a visa. Her father, Yuri, worked hard and struggled financially to keep her training going in Florida. Despite being very young and away from home, Maria endured the loneliness and the mockery of senior trainees at the tennis academy with quiet determination.
Maria’s hard work and sacrifice paid off spectacularly. In 2004, she won the Wimbledon title, announcing herself to the world. On August 22, 2005, she became the world number one in women’s tennis — a crowning achievement she had dreamed of since childhood. Maria is known not only for her talent but also for her sharp business instincts. She maintains strong ties to Russia and has stated, “My blood is totally Russian,” expressing her wish to represent Russia in the Olympics. Her story is one of sacrifice, loneliness, and unwavering ambition that ultimately led her to the very top of the sporting world.
Thinking about the Text
Part I: Santosh Yadav
Section I – Answer in one or two sentences.
Q1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised?
Answer: The holy man was surprised because Santosh’s grandmother asked for blessings for a daughter, not a son. At that time, most families desired male children, so the request for a daughter was unusual and unexpected.
Q2. Give an example to show that Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable as a young girl.
Answer: While other girls in her village wore traditional Indian dresses, young Santosh chose to wear shorts. This shows that she refused to blindly follow social conventions and had an independent, rational mindset even as a child.
Q3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school?
Answer: Santosh was sent to the local village school because it was the established family custom at that time. Despite her family being wealthy landowners, tradition dictated that children attend the nearby school.
Q4. When did she leave home for Delhi, and why?
Answer: She left home for Delhi at the age of sixteen. She wanted to pursue a proper, quality education that was not available in her village, and her strong desire to study drove her to take this bold step.
Q5. Why did Santosh’s parents agree to fund her education in Delhi? What qualities does this reveal in her?
Answer: Santosh’s parents agreed to fund her education after she insisted on studying and proposed that she would take up part-time work to support herself if they did not help. This reveals her extraordinary determination, self-reliance, and strong willpower — she was not willing to give up her dream of education under any circumstances.
Section II – Answer each question in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
Q1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
Answer: From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch villagers going up the Aravalli Hills and suddenly vanishing. Driven by curiosity, she started joining them. This early interest eventually led her to enrol at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi and pursue serious mountaineering expeditions every year.
Q2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for others?
Answer: During the 1992 Everest expedition, Santosh cared for a climber who lay dying at South Col. She also shared her oxygen supply with fellow climber Mohan Singh, saving his life at great personal risk. These acts show her selfless and compassionate nature even in the most dangerous conditions.
Q3. How does Santosh demonstrate concern for the environment?
Answer: On her descent from Mount Everest, Santosh collected approximately 500 kilograms of garbage left behind by previous expeditions and carried it down from the Himalayas. This act of environmental responsibility shows that she valued the preservation of the natural world alongside her personal achievements.
Q4. How does Santosh describe her feelings at the summit of Everest?
Answer: Santosh describes her feelings at the summit as deeply spiritual and overwhelming. She found it difficult to believe she was actually standing at the top of the world. When she unfurled the Indian tricolour, she felt immense national pride and an indescribable sense of joy and fulfilment.
Q5. Why did Santosh set two different records when she scaled Mount Everest?
Answer: When Santosh scaled Everest for the first time in 1992, she became the youngest woman in the world to reach its summit. When she scaled it again within a year, she became the only woman in the world to have scaled Everest twice. These two separate achievements earned her two distinct world records.
Section III – Complete the following statements.
Q1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to ___________.
Answer: From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch villagers going up the hill and suddenly vanishing after a while.
Q2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because ___________.
Answer: When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she had got herself enrolled at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without his permission.
Q3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her ___________, while her ___________ endeared her to her fellow climbers.
Answer: During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her climbing skills, physical fitness and mental strength, while her concern for others and desire to work as a team endeared her to her fellow climbers.
Section IV – Find the words in the text that match the following meanings.
Q1. took to be true without proof
Answer: assumed
Q2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable
Answer: rational
Q3. the usual way of doing things
Answer: custom
Q4. a strong desire arising from within
Answer: urge
Q5. the power to endure without falling ill
Answer: resistance
Part II: Maria Sharapova
Q1. What qualities does Maria Sharapova have that helped her reach the top?
Answer: Maria Sharapova possesses several extraordinary qualities that helped her reach the pinnacle of tennis. She has an unwavering desire to succeed, immense mental toughness, and a readiness to sacrifice personal comforts. She endured two years of separation from her mother, faced mockery from senior trainees, and lived in difficult conditions in the United States — all without losing focus. Her determination and self-belief are what set her apart from others.
Q2. How did Maria Sharapova’s father contribute to her success?
Answer: Maria’s father, Yuri Sharapova, played a crucial role in her success. When Maria was sent to train in the United States at the age of nine, her mother could not accompany her due to visa restrictions. Her father worked extremely hard, often struggling financially, to ensure that Maria could continue her training in Florida. His sacrifices and dedication formed the backbone of her rise to fame.
Q3. What were the difficulties Maria faced during her early training in the USA?
Answer: When Maria arrived in the United States at just nine years of age, she was far away from her homeland and family. Her mother could not accompany her for two years due to visa issues, leaving Maria extremely lonely. At the tennis academy, senior trainees mocked and made fun of her. Despite these hardships, she did not let these experiences depress her. Instead, she became more quietly determined and mentally tough.
Q4. Compare and contrast Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova.
Answer: Both Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova are inspiring figures who rose to the top through sheer determination and sacrifice. The table below highlights key similarities and differences:
| Aspect | Santosh Yadav | Maria Sharapova |
|---|---|---|
| Humble Beginning | Born in a small village in Haryana; from a traditional family | Born in Siberia; father struggled financially to fund her training |
| Parents’ Approach | Family followed customs; initially restricted her education | Father sacrificed greatly; mother could not join her for two years |
| Willpower and Determination | Enrolled at mountaineering institute without permission; refused to return home | “When you have nothing, that makes you very hungry and determined” |
| Mental Toughness | Iron will; endured physical and mental hardships on Everest | Faced mockery but “became more quietly determined and mentally tough” |
| Patriotism | Unfurled the Indian tricolour at the summit; felt deep spiritual pride | “My blood is totally Russian. I will play the Olympics for Russia” |
Thinking about Language
Exercise I: Identify the two parts of each sentence
Each sentence below contains two parts — one that describes the main event or action, and one that provides context (time, contrast, or reason). Underline the part that gives this additional information.
1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.
Answer: The two parts are: (i) Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses — this is the contrasting context. (ii) Santosh preferred shorts — this is the main action. The underlined contrasting part is: Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses.
2. She left home when she decided that she wanted a proper education.
Answer: The two parts are: (i) She left home — the main action. (ii) when she decided that she wanted a proper education — the reason/time. Underlined: when she decided that she wanted a proper education.
3. When the right moment arrived, she decided to fight the system.
Answer: The two parts are: (i) When the right moment arrived — temporal context. (ii) she decided to fight the system — main action. Underlined: When the right moment arrived.
4. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States.
Answer: The two parts are: (i) Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday — contextual detail about her age. (ii) when she was packed off to train in the United States — the main event. Underlined: Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday.
Exercise II: Combine the following pairs of sentences
1. My grandfather told me about the old days. In those days, all books were printed on paper.
Answer: My grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper.
2. Perhaps you just throw the book away when you have finished reading it. The book is printed on paper.
Answer: Perhaps you just throw the book away after you have finished reading it, though it is printed on paper.
3. He gave the little girl an apple. Then he took the computer apart.
Answer: After giving the little girl an apple, he took the computer apart.
4. You have nothing. That makes you very determined.
Answer: When you have nothing, that makes you very determined.
5. I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.
Answer: I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.
Additional Questions
Short Answer Questions
Q1. What is Santosh Yadav’s greatest achievement?
Answer: Santosh Yadav’s greatest achievement is being the only woman in the world to have scaled Mount Everest twice. She first scaled it in 1992, becoming the youngest woman to do so, and then scaled it again within a year.
Q2. Where was Santosh Yadav born?
Answer: Santosh Yadav was born in the small village of Joniyawas in the Rewari district of Haryana, India.
Q3. What award did the Government of India give Santosh Yadav?
Answer: The Government of India honoured Santosh Yadav with the prestigious Padma Shri award in recognition of her extraordinary mountaineering achievements.
Q4. When and where was Maria Sharapova born?
Answer: Maria Sharapova was born in Siberia, Russia. She went on to become one of the greatest tennis players of her era after moving to the United States for training at a young age.
Q5. At what age was Maria Sharapova sent to the United States for training?
Answer: Maria Sharapova was sent to the United States for professional tennis training at the age of nine years, which was before she had even celebrated her tenth birthday.
Q6. Which Grand Slam tournament did Maria Sharapova win in 2004?
Answer: In 2004, Maria Sharapova won the Wimbledon championship — one of the most prestigious Grand Slam tournaments in tennis — announcing herself as a world-class player.
Q7. What does Santosh Yadav say about reaching the summit of Everest?
Answer: Santosh Yadav describes reaching the summit of Everest as a deeply spiritual experience. She found the feeling indescribable — like standing on top of the world. Unfurling the Indian tricolour at the summit filled her with immense national pride.
Q8. How did Santosh Yadav save Mohan Singh’s life during the Everest expedition?
Answer: During the 1992 Everest expedition, fellow climber Mohan Singh was in danger of losing his life. Santosh Yadav shared her oxygen supply with him at great personal risk, which saved his life in the harsh, oxygen-thin conditions near the summit.
Q9. Why does Maria Sharapova say that having “nothing” makes one determined?
Answer: Maria Sharapova experienced poverty, loneliness, and hardship during her early training years in the USA. She says, “When you come from nothing and you have nothing, then it makes you very hungry and determined.” She means that adversity and lack of comfort fuel a person’s hunger for success.
Q10. What does Santosh’s act of collecting garbage from the Himalayas tell us about her character?
Answer: Santosh’s act of collecting 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas on her descent shows that she is not only a great mountaineer but also a responsible and caring human being. She is an environmentalist at heart who believes in protecting nature alongside achieving personal glory.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. Write a character sketch of Santosh Yadav based on the chapter.
Answer: Santosh Yadav is one of the most inspiring figures presented in the Class 9 English textbook. She is a woman of extraordinary determination, courage, and compassion. From childhood, she showed a spirit of independence — refusing to wear traditional dress when others did, and insisting on receiving a quality education even when her family resisted. She displayed immense willpower when she threatened to work part-time rather than give up her dream of studying in Delhi.
Her mountaineering journey reveals her adventurous and curious nature. She began by joining villagers on treks from her hostel window, and eventually enrolled at a mountaineering institute — without permission — showing her bold initiative. Her seniors admired her climbing skills, physical fitness, and mental strength, while her teammates loved her for her concern and teamwork. Sharing oxygen with a dying climber and caring for others on the mountain show her deep humanity. Her act of collecting 500 kg of garbage from the Himalayas makes her an environmentalist as well. Overall, Santosh Yadav is a role model who proves that determination, selflessness, and hard work can help any individual reach the top.
Q2. How did Maria Sharapova overcome the challenges she faced in her early life to become world number one?
Answer: Maria Sharapova’s journey to the top of world tennis is a story of remarkable sacrifice and resilience. She was sent to train in the United States at the tender age of nine, leaving behind her homeland, Russia, and her mother, who could not accompany her for two years due to visa restrictions. Her father, Yuri, worked extremely hard to fund her training, often struggling financially.
At the tennis academy, young Maria had to endure loneliness and the mockery of older trainees. Rather than breaking her spirit, these difficulties made her stronger. As she herself says, “Instead of letting that depress me, I became more quietly determined and mentally tough.” She channelled all her pain and loneliness into her training, developing a fierce desire to succeed. Her hard work bore fruit when she won the Wimbledon title in 2004 and became the world number one on August 22, 2005. Maria’s story teaches us that true champions are not made in comfort — they are forged in adversity. Her combination of talent, sacrifice, and unshakeable mental strength carried her from a struggling child in Florida to the pinnacle of world tennis.
Q3. Both Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova come from humble beginnings. How did both of them achieve success against all odds?
Answer: Both Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova share a common thread: they rose to the very top of their respective fields through determination, sacrifice, and an unbreakable will to succeed despite difficult circumstances.
Santosh Yadav was born in a traditional village in Haryana where girls were expected to conform to social norms. She challenged every convention — from the way she dressed to insisting on a quality education far from home. She trained in gruelling mountain conditions, year after year, until she scaled Everest — not once, but twice — becoming a world record holder. Her patriotism, environmental awareness, and compassion for others make her achievement even more remarkable.
Maria Sharapova left her home country at nine to pursue a dream in a foreign land, separated from her mother and dependent on her father’s hard work. She endured loneliness and ridicule but transformed those negative experiences into fuel for her ambition. Her Wimbledon victory in 2004 and the number one ranking in 2005 are the fruits of years of quiet, determined toil.
Together, their stories illustrate that greatness does not come from privilege or easy circumstances. It comes from the courage to dream, the willingness to endure hardship, and the determination to never give up. Both women are true inspirations for students and young people everywhere.
Q4. What is the significance of the title “Reach for the Top”? How does the chapter justify this title?
Answer: The title “Reach for the Top” is deeply meaningful and perfectly captures the essence of both biographical sketches presented in the chapter. The word “top” carries both a literal and a figurative meaning. For Santosh Yadav, the “top” is the literal summit of Mount Everest — the highest point on Earth — which she reached not once but twice. For Maria Sharapova, the “top” is the number one ranking in world women’s tennis, the pinnacle of competitive achievement in her sport.
Beyond their literal achievements, both women reached the “top” in a deeper sense. They overcame social barriers, personal sacrifices, and immense hardships to stand where very few ever stand. Santosh defied the expectations of a conservative society and scaled the world’s highest peak. Maria left behind her home, her mother, and the comforts of childhood to forge herself into a world champion. The chapter uses their stories to send a universal message: with determination, hard work, and self-belief, anyone can reach the top — whatever that “top” may mean for them.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Where was Santosh Yadav born?
(a) Jaipur, Rajasthan (b) Joniyawas, Haryana (c) Dehradun, Uttarakhand (d) Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Answer: (b) Joniyawas, Haryana
Q2. Why was the holy man surprised when he blessed Santosh’s mother?
(a) He had not expected a visitor that day (b) He was asked to bless the family for wealth (c) The grandmother asked for blessings for a daughter (d) Santosh’s mother had come alone
Answer: (c) The grandmother asked for blessings for a daughter
Q3. What did young Santosh wear instead of traditional Indian dresses?
(a) Jeans (b) Shorts (c) Salwar kameez (d) Saree
Answer: (b) Shorts
Q4. At what age did Santosh Yadav leave home for Delhi?
(a) Fourteen (b) Fifteen (c) Sixteen (d) Eighteen
Answer: (c) Sixteen
Q5. How much garbage did Santosh collect from the Himalayas during her Everest expedition?
(a) 100 kilograms (b) 250 kilograms (c) 400 kilograms (d) 500 kilograms
Answer: (d) 500 kilograms
Q6. What record did Santosh Yadav set when she scaled Everest for the second time?
(a) First Indian woman to climb Everest (b) Youngest woman to climb Everest (c) Only woman in the world to scale Everest twice (d) First woman to climb Everest without oxygen
Answer: (c) Only woman in the world to scale Everest twice
Q7. Where was Maria Sharapova born?
(a) Moscow, Russia (b) Siberia, Russia (c) Florida, USA (d) London, England
Answer: (b) Siberia, Russia
Q8. At what age was Maria Sharapova sent to the United States for tennis training?
(a) Seven (b) Eight (c) Nine (d) Ten
Answer: (c) Nine
Q9. Which Grand Slam title did Maria Sharapova win in 2004?
(a) French Open (b) US Open (c) Australian Open (d) Wimbledon
Answer: (d) Wimbledon
Q10. When did Maria Sharapova become world number one in tennis?
(a) August 22, 2004 (b) August 22, 2005 (c) July 15, 2004 (d) September 1, 2005
Answer: (b) August 22, 2005
Q11. What national honour did the Government of India give Santosh Yadav?
(a) Padma Vibhushan (b) Arjuna Award (c) Padma Shri (d) Bharat Ratna
Answer: (c) Padma Shri
Q12. What does Maria Sharapova say about her nationality?
(a) “I am proud to be American.” (b) “My blood is totally Russian.” (c) “I belong to the whole world.” (d) “Tennis has no nationality.”
Answer: (b) “My blood is totally Russian.”