CBSE Class 9 English (Beehive) Important Questions Chapter 7 - Reach for The Top

1. Who was the only woman in the world to scale Mt Everest twice?
Ans. Santosh Yadav was the only woman to achieve this feat.

2. Where was Santosh Yadav born?
Ans. She was born in the village of Joniyawas in Rewari District, Haryana.

3. What does the name 'Santosh' mean?
Ans. The name 'Santosh' means contentment.

4. What was Santosh's attitude towards traditional customs?
Ans. She was determined to live life on her own terms and often challenged traditional customs.

5. Where did Santosh join a mountaineering course?
Ans. She joined a mountaineering course at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.

6. What kind of family background did Santosh Yadav belong to?
Ans. Santosh Yadav belonged to an affluent family of landowners in Haryana. Despite their wealth, her family followed traditional customs, and Santosh had to fight to get a proper education.

7. How did Santosh convince her parents to support her education?
Ans. When Santosh's parents pressured her to get married at the age of sixteen, she threatened that she would never marry if she did not receive a proper education. She also informed them that she would work part-time to pay her school fees. This determination convinced her parents to support her education.

8. How did Santosh develop an interest in mountaineering?
Ans. While staying at Kasturba Hostel in Jaipur, Santosh used to watch villagers climb the Aravalli Hills. One day, she decided to check it out herself and met a group of mountaineers. They encouraged her to join them, and this sparked her interest in mountaineering.

9. What challenges did Santosh face during her mountaineering training?
Ans. Santosh faced several challenges, including having to attend her training without her father’s permission. Despite these challenges, she was determined and headed straight to Uttarkashi for her training after her college semester ended, even writing an apology letter to her father.

10. How did Santosh Yadav save Mohan Singh during the Everest expedition?
Ans. During the 1992 Everest mission, Santosh Yadav saved the life of fellow climber Mohan Singh by sharing her oxygen with him when he was in danger of losing his life.

11. Describe Santosh Yadav's early life and her determination to pursue education.
Ans. Santosh Yadav was born in a small village in Haryana, into a society where the birth of a son was considered a blessing. Despite being born into a traditional family, she was determined to live life on her own terms. Unlike other girls in her village, she wore shorts instead of traditional dresses. At the age of sixteen, when her parents pressured her to get married, Santosh fought against it and insisted on getting a proper education. She left home and enrolled herself in a school in Delhi. When her parents refused to support her financially, she threatened to work part-time to pay her fees. Eventually, her parents agreed to support her education.

12. How did Santosh Yadav's mountaineering career begin, and what were her achievements?
Ans. Santosh Yadav's mountaineering career began when she joined a group of mountaineers while studying in Jaipur. She then enrolled in a mountaineering course at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. Her skills developed rapidly, and within four years, she scaled Mt Everest for the first time in 1992, becoming the youngest woman to do so. She later scaled Mt Everest again, becoming the only woman in the world to achieve this feat twice. Her achievements earned her the Padmashri, one of India’s top honours.

13. What challenges did Santosh face during her mountaineering expeditions, and how did she overcome them?
Ans. During her mountaineering expeditions, Santosh faced numerous challenges, including extreme weather conditions, high altitudes, and the physical demands of climbing. During her 1992 Everest mission, she provided special care to a climber who was dying at the South Col, though she was unable to save him. She also saved the life of Mohan Singh by sharing her oxygen with him. Her determination, physical endurance, and mental toughness helped her overcome these challenges and succeed as a mountaineer.

14. How did Santosh Yadav’s achievements impact Indian society, especially for women?
Ans. Santosh Yadav’s achievements had a significant impact on Indian society, particularly for women. She broke the stereotypes associated with women’s roles and showed that women could excel in fields traditionally dominated by men. By becoming the first woman to scale Mt Everest twice, she inspired many young girls to pursue their dreams, regardless of societal expectations. Her success also highlighted the importance of determination and perseverance in overcoming obstacles.

15. Describe Santosh Yadav's qualities that made her a successful mountaineer.
Ans. Santosh Yadav possessed several qualities that made her a successful mountaineer. She had an iron will, physical endurance, and mental toughness, which helped her withstand the challenges of high altitudes and harsh weather conditions. She was also compassionate, as demonstrated by her efforts to save her fellow climbers during expeditions. Her ability to work as part of a team and her leadership skills earned her the respect of her peers and made her an effective and inspiring mountaineer.

16. Why do you think Santosh Yadav was determined to live life on her own terms?
Ans. Santosh Yadav was determined to live life on her own terms because she believed in the importance of making choices based on reason and fairness. Growing up in a traditional society, she saw the limitations imposed on women and was unwilling to accept them. Her determination to pursue education and mountaineering, despite opposition, shows her strong will and desire to break free from societal constraints.

17. How did Santosh Yadav challenge gender stereotypes through her actions?
Ans. Santosh Yadav challenged gender stereotypes by pursuing activities that were not considered suitable for women in her society. She chose to wear shorts instead of traditional dresses, pursued higher education against her parents' wishes, and took up mountaineering, a field dominated by men. By scaling Mt Everest twice, she proved that women are equally capable of achieving great feats, thereby challenging the traditional views of women's roles in society.

18. What role did Santosh's parents play in her journey to becoming a mountaineer?
Ans. Initially, Santosh's parents were not supportive of her aspirations. They pressured her to get married at a young age, and her father was reluctant to support her education in Delhi. However, Santosh’s determination eventually led her parents to support her. Although her father did not initially approve of her mountaineering, he gradually accepted her passion. Their eventual support played a crucial role in her journey to becoming a successful mountaineer.

19. How did Santosh Yadav’s actions reflect her concern for the environment?
Ans. Santosh Yadav's concern for the environment was evident when she brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas during her expeditions. This action reflects her commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the mountains and her awareness of the environmental impact of human activities. Her efforts to clean up the mountains set an example for other climbers and highlighted the importance of environmental responsibility.

20. What can we learn from Santosh Yadav’s life about overcoming societal pressures?
Ans. From Santosh Yadav’s life, we learn that overcoming societal pressures requires determination, courage, and a willingness to stand up for one’s beliefs. Despite facing pressure from her family and society to conform to traditional expectations, Santosh pursued her passion for education and mountaineering. Her story teaches us the importance of following our dreams, even when faced with opposition, and the value of perseverance in achieving our goals.

21. What was the significance of Santosh Yadav's name, and how did it contrast with her personality?
Ans. Santosh Yadav’s name means 'contentment,' but it contrasted with her personality as she was not content with following traditional customs. She was determined to break free from societal norms and pursue her own path, showing that she valued progress and personal growth over mere contentment.

22. How did Santosh Yadav prepare herself for a career in mountaineering?
Ans. Santosh Yadav prepared herself for a career in mountaineering by enrolling in a course at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. She saved money to pay for her training and worked hard to develop her climbing skills. Her dedication and rigorous training helped her become a successful mountaineer.

23. What role did Santosh's upbringing play in shaping her character?
Ans. Santosh’s upbringing in a traditional village in Haryana played a significant role in shaping her character. Growing up in an environment where gender roles were strictly defined, Santosh developed a strong desire to challenge these norms. Her parents' initial resistance to her education and her determination to fight for her rights helped her develop resilience and independence.

24. Why did Santosh Yadav join the mountaineers she saw climbing the Aravalli Hills?
Ans. Santosh Yadav joined the mountaineers she saw climbing the Aravalli Hills out of curiosity and a desire for adventure. She wanted to explore what the villagers were doing and, upon meeting the mountaineers, she was motivated to take up climbing herself. This spontaneous decision marked the beginning of her journey into mountaineering.

25. How did Santosh Yadav contribute to the Indo-Nepalese Women’s Expedition?
Ans. Santosh Yadav contributed to the Indo-Nepalese Women’s Expedition by becoming a key member and successfully scaling Mt Everest for the second time. Her achievement of scaling the mountain twice set a world record and brought recognition to the expedition, highlighting the capabilities of women mountaineers.

Benefits of Important Questions for Class 9 English Chapter 7: Reach for the Top

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Conclusion

“Reach for the Top" in Class 9 English (Beehive) is an inspiring story about Santosh Yadav’s determination and courage to achieve her dreams. Despite the challenges of her traditional upbringing, Santosh followed her passion for mountaineering and became the first woman to scale Mount Everest twice. Her journey teaches us the importance of courage, perseverance, and the belief that with hard work, anything is possible. Vedantu’s important questions FREE PDF for this chapter helps students understand the key events and themes, making it easier to prepare effectively for exams.

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