Chapter 8

Reach for the Top


Question 1. Why was the ‘holy man’ who gave Santosh’s mother his blessings surprised?
Answer: The holy man was taken aback because Santosh’s grandmother requested blessings for a girl child, whereas most people in that region usually wished for a boy. This wish broke the societal norm and hence surprised him.

Question 2. Give an example to show that even as a young girl Santosh was not ready to accept anything unreasonable.
Answer: Santosh refused to follow unquestioned traditions. Unlike other girls in her village, she chose to wear shorts instead of skirts or traditional attire. This was her way of rejecting outdated customs and asserting her freedom.

Question 3. Why was Santosh sent to the local school?
Answer: Santosh was enrolled in the local village school because it was the conventional practice in her community, and her family followed it without questioning.

Question 4. When did she leave home for Delhi, and why?
Answer: At the age of sixteen, Santosh left her home and went to Delhi to pursue higher education. She was determined to go beyond the boundaries set by tradition.

Question 5. Why did Santosh’s parents agree to pay for her schooling in Delhi? What mental qualities of Santosh are brought into light by this incident?
Answer: Santosh convinced her parents by telling them she would manage her education expenses by working part-time. This shows her determination, independence, courage, and strong sense of self-reliance.

Question 1. How did Santosh begin to climb mountains?
Answer: Santosh Yadav’s interest in mountaineering began when she saw some villagers climbing the nearby Aravalli hills. Curiosity made her follow them one day, where she saw mountaineers practicing. This inspired her deeply. She then joined the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering at Uttarkashi by saving money herself. That’s how her journey as a mountaineer started.

Question 2. What incidents during the Everest expedition show Santosh’s concern for her team-mates?
Answer: During her first Everest expedition in 1992, Santosh helped a fellow climber who was seriously ill at the South Col. In another instance, she saved a teammate, Mohan Singh, by giving him her extra oxygen. These acts show how caring and brave she was towards her team members.

Question 3. What shows her concern for the environment?
Answer: Santosh showed her love for nature by collecting and bringing back around 500 kg of waste left by climbers on the Himalayas. This act reflected her environmental awareness and responsibility.

Question 4.How does she describe her feelings at the summit of the Everest?
Answer: Santosh said that reaching the top of Mt. Everest was an overwhelming moment. It took her a while to believe it was real. She felt proud and happy when she raised the Indian national flag on the highest peak.

Question 5. Santosh Yadav got into the record books both times she scaled Mt. Everest. What were the reasons for this?
Answer: Santosh Yadav became the youngest woman in the world to climb Mount Everest. Later, she also became the first woman to reach the summit of Everest twice. These two achievements placed her name in the record books.

III. Complete the following statements:

  1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to
     watch the villagers trekking up the hill and then disappearing from sight.

  2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because
     she went straight to the mountaineering institute instead of returning home as expected.

  3. During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her
     exceptional mountaineering talent, physical strength, and willpower,
     while her cooperative spirit and team attitude endeared her to fellow climbers.

IV. Pick out words from the text that mean the same as the following words or expressions:

  1. took to be true without proof – assumed

  2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable – rational

  3. the usual way of doing things (para 3) – custom

  4. a strong desire arising from within (5) – urge

  5. the power to endure, without falling ill (7) – endurance

Question 1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. (Contrasts her dress with that of others.)
 Answer: Unlike other girls who usually wore traditional Indian clothes, Santosh chose to wear shorts.

Question 2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. (Tells us what happened after the first action.)
Answer: After leaving her home, she took the initiative to join a school in Delhi.

Question 3. She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived. (Tells us when she was going to fight the system.)
Answer: She made up her mind to challenge the system at the appropriate time.

Question 4. 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 US.)
Answer:Before she could even turn ten, young Maria was sent to the United States for training.

Question 1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.
(Contrasts her dress with that of others)
Answer: While most girls dressed in traditional Indian attire, Santosh stood out by choosing to wear shorts.

Question 2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.
(Tells us what happened after the first action)
 Answer: She walked away from home and subsequently enrolled herself in a school in Delhi.

Question 3. She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived.
(Tells us when she was going to fight the system)
Answer: She resolved to oppose the system as soon as the time was right.

Question 4. 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 US)
 Answer: Even before turning ten, Maria was sent away to the United States for training.

Question 1. The roll of honour of women who enjoyed life at the summit since Chris Evert took her place in 1975.

 Answer: The list highlights some of the greatest female tennis players who reached the No. 1 spot in the world rankings. Among them, Steffi Graf from Germany reigned at the top for a record-breaking 377 weeks, the longest by any player. She was closely followed by Chris Evert of the U.S. who held the No. 1 position for 362 weeks, and Martina Navratilova with 331 weeks. Other notable players include Martina Hingis (209 weeks), Monica Seles (178 weeks), and Serena Williams (57 weeks), all of whom dominated during their era.

Although Maria Sharapova held the No. 1 position for only 1 week in 2005, it still marked a major achievement in her career. Each of these players demonstrated exceptional talent, grit, and perseverance. Their journeys to the top were driven by their discipline, strength, and unrelenting focus. These athletes serve as powerful role models, showing that reaching the peak requires both physical prowess and mental toughness.

Question 2. Which of these words would you use to describe Santosh Yadav?

Answer: Santosh Yadav can be best described as determined, adventurous, independent, and considerate. From a young age, she challenged social norms. Instead of accepting life as it was laid out for girls in her community, she chose her own path—wearing shorts instead of traditional attire and pursuing higher education despite resistance.

Her decision to join mountaineering, and her achievement of scaling Mount Everest twice, showcases her extraordinary determination and fearlessness. During her expeditions, she showed deep concern for others, helping a fellow climber survive by sharing her oxygen, and taking the initiative to clean the mountain by bringing down garbage. These actions reflect her compassionate and responsible nature.

Santosh Yadav is truly an example of a strong, independent individual who not only broke barriers but also cared deeply for people and the environment. Her courage, commitment, and inner strength continue to inspire many.