📖 Chapter 7: Reach for the Top

Answer: The holy man was surprised because Santosh's grandmother told him that they did not want a son. He had assumed that they wanted a son.

Answer: Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. She was determined to live life on her own terms from the start.

Answer: Santosh was sent to the local school because, in line with the prevailing custom in the family, she had to make do with the local village school, even though her parents were affluent landowners.

Answer: She left home for Delhi at the age of sixteen because she was under pressure from her parents to get married. She threatened her parents that she would never marry if she did not get a proper education.

Answer: Santosh's parents agreed to pay for her schooling in Delhi when she politely informed them of her plans to earn money by working part-time to pay her school fees. This incident shows Santosh's determination, independence, courage, and self-respect.

Answer: Santosh began to climb mountains when she saved money and enrolled in a course at Uttarkashi's Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. Before that, she used to watch the Aravalli mountaineers from her hostel room and asked if she could join them.

Answer: During the Everest expedition, Santosh provided special care to a climber who lay dying at the South Col. She also shared her oxygen with Mohan Singh, saving his life.

Answer: Her concern for the environment is shown by the fact that she collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas.

Answer: Santosh described her feelings at the summit saying that it took some time for the enormity of the moment to sink in. She unfurled the Indian tricolour and held it aloft on the roof of the world. The feeling was indescribable and truly a spiritual moment. She felt proud as an Indian.

Answer: The first time, she became the youngest woman in the world to scale Mt Everest at barely twenty years of age. The second time, she set a record as the only woman to have scaled the Everest twice.

1. From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch the Aravalli mountaineers.

2. When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she had got herself enrolled at Uttarkashi without his permission.

3. 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 together endeared her to fellow climbers.

1. took to be true without proof (1): assumed
2. based on reason; sensible; reasonable (2): rational
3. the usual way of doing things (3): custom
4. a strong desire arising from within (5): urge
5. the power to endure, without falling ill (7): endurance

Column A	Column B
something disarming	that makes you feel friendly, taking away your suspiciousness
at odds with	in contrast to; not agreeing with
glamorous attire	attractive and exciting clothes
in almost no time	quickly, almost immediately
poised beyond her years	more calm, confident and in control than people of her age usually are
packed off	sent off
launched	started
heart wrenching	causing strong feelings of sadness

Points of Comparison/Contrast	Santosh Yadav	Maria Sharapova
1. Their humble beginning	Born in a society where the birth of a son was regarded as a blessing and a daughter was not generally welcome. She was the sixth child in a family with five sons.	Born in Siberia. She was packed off to train in the United States before she turned ten. Her father worked hard to keep her tennis training going.
2. Their parents' approach	Parents were affluent landowners but followed custom. Initially refused to pay for her education in Delhi, but later agreed. Her father slowly got used to her urge for more education.	Her father Yuri took her to Florida. Her mother Yelena had to stay back in Siberia because of visa restrictions. Her father worked as much as he could to support her training.
3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed	Determined to live life on her own terms. Threatened her parents that she would never marry if she did not get a proper education. Worked part-time to pay school fees. Saved money and enrolled in a mountaineering course. Had an iron will, physical endurance and mental toughness.	Quietly determined and mentally tough. Never thought of quitting because she knew what she wanted. Willing to put up with humiliation and insults to pursue her dream. Very competitive and worked hard.
4. Evidence of their mental toughness	Developed a remarkable resistance to cold and altitude. Provided special care to a dying climber. Shared her oxygen with Mohan Singh, saving his life. Collected 500 kg of garbage from the Himalayas.	Lived alone without her mother for two years. Other tennis pupils woke her at 11 p.m. and ordered her to tidy and clean the room. Instead of getting depressed, she became more determined and mentally tough.
5. Their patriotism	Unfurled the Indian tricolour on the roof of the world. Said she felt proud as an Indian.	Proudly parades her Russian nationality. Says her blood is totally Russian. Will play the Olympics for Russia if they want her.

1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. (Contrasts her dress with that of others)

2. 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.)

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 U.S.)

1. Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper.

2. After you finish the book, perhaps you just throw it away.

3. He gave the little girl an apple and took the computer apart.

4. You have nothing, which makes you very determined.

5. I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.

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.

Sample Speech:

Good morning, everyone!

I am honoured to be here today. When I look at all of you, I see dreams waiting to take flight. I want to tell you one thing — never let anyone tell you that you cannot achieve something because you are a girl.

I came from a small town. I faced many difficulties. But I was determined. I knew what I wanted, and I worked hard for it. There were times when I was lonely, times when I was scared, times when I wanted to give up. But I never did. Because I believed in myself.

You have the strength within you. Be self-confident. Be sure of yourself. When you fall, get up and try again. Do not let difficulties discourage you. Do not let defeat demoralise you. Raise your morale, boost your confidence, and fill yourself with the belief that you can do it.

Dream big. Work hard. And one day, you will reach the top. Thank you.

Sample Article:

The Top Spot: A Game of Skill and Stamina

The history of women's tennis is filled with incredible athletes who have reached the world number one spot. But how long they stay there varies greatly. Some like Steffi Graf (377 weeks), Martina Navratilova (331 weeks), and Chris Evert (362 weeks) dominated for years. Others like Maria Sharapova, Amelie Mauresmo, and Lindsay Davenport had shorter stays at the top.

What makes the difference? Longevity at the top requires more than just talent. It requires consistency, mental toughness, physical fitness, and the ability to handle pressure. Players like Graf and Navratilova had an unwavering desire to succeed, combined with remarkable discipline and resilience. They could adapt their game, stay injury-free, and maintain their focus over many years.

Shorter stays at the top often happen due to injuries, loss of form, or the rise of new competitors. But reaching the top at all is a huge achievement. Every player on this list has shown extraordinary skill and determination.

In conclusion, while talent can take you to the top, it is character, perseverance, and hard work that keep you there. The legends of tennis teach us that true greatness is not just about reaching the summit, but about staying there.

Words: determined, independent, adventurous, considerate, persevering, resourceful, polite.

Santosh Yadav is a truly inspiring figure. She was determined and independent from a young age. She refused to accept the traditional role assigned to her and chose to live life on her own terms. When her parents pressured her to marry at sixteen, she threatened never to marry if she did not get a proper education. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. When her parents refused to pay, she politely told them she would work part-time to pay her fees.

Santosh was also adventurous and persevering. She saved money and enrolled in a mountaineering course. She faced many difficulties but never gave up. Her mental toughness and physical endurance helped her scale Mt Everest twice. She was considerate and caring — she tried to save a dying climber and shared her oxygen with Mohan Singh. Her concern for the environment led her to collect 500 kg of garbage from the Himalayas. Santosh Yadav is a role model for all young girls who dare to dream big.