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.
| Points of Comparison/Contrast | Santosh Yadav | Maria Sharapova |
| 1. Their humble beginning | ||
| 2. Their parents’ approach | ||
| 3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed | ||
| 4. Evidence of their mental toughness | ||
| 5. Their patriotism |
Answer:
| Points of Comparison/Contrast | Santosh Yadav | Maria Sharapova |
| 1. Their humble beginning | -“She was born in the small village of Joniyawas of Rewari District in Haryana.” | “the Siberian born teenager” |
| 2. Their parents’ approach | – “in line with theprevailing custom in the family, Santosh had to make do with the local village school.”- “At sixteen, most of the girls in her village used to get married. Santosh was also under pressure from her parents to do the same.”- “her parents refused to pay for her education”- “her father slowly getting used to her urge”. – “her parents refused to pay for her education” | – “she was packed off to train in the United States.”- “trip to Florida with her father Yuri launched her on the path to success and stardom.”- “My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis-training going.” – “My father was working as much as he could to keep my tennis-training going.” |
| 3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed | -“Wishing always to study ‘a bit more’”-“her urge for more education”-“She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.”- “She saved money and enrolled in a course at Uttarkashi’s Nehru Institute of Mountaineering.”- “I headed straight for the training.” – “I headed straight for the training.” | – “Instead of letting that depress me, I became more quietly determined and mentally tough.”- “unwavering desire to succeed and readiness to sacrifice”- “I work hard at what I do.”- “the most important thing is to become number one in the world. That’s the dream that kept me going.” – “the most important thing is to become number one in the world. That’s the dream that kept me going.” |
| 4. Evidence of their mental toughness | -“She began living life on her own terms from the start.”-“From the very beginning I was quite determined that if I chose a correct and a rational path, the others around me had to change, not me.”-“she politely informed them of her plans to earn money by working part-time to pay her school fees.”- “Santosh went on an expedition every year.”- “an amazing mental toughness”- “mental strength impressed her seniors”. – “Santosh went on an expedition every year.” | -“I learnt how to take care of myself. I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.”-“I would have put up with much more humiliation and insults than that to steadfastly pursue my dream.” -“I would have put up with much more humiliation and insults than that to steadfastly pursue my dream.” |
| 5. Their patriotism | -“Then I unfurled the Indian tricolour and held it aloft on the roof of the world. The feeling is indescribable. The Indian flag was flying on top of the world. It was truly a spiritual moment. I felt proud as an Indian.” | “I’m Russian. It’s true that the U.S. is a big part of my life. But I have Russian citizenship. My blood is totally Russian. I will play the Olympics for Russia if they want me. |
Thinking about the Language
I. Identify the two parts in the sentences below by underlining the part that gives us the information in brackets.
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.)
Answer:
1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.
2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.
3. She decided to fight the system 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.
II. Now rewrite the pairs of sentences given below as one sentence.
1. Grandfather told me about the old days. All books were printed on paper then.
2. What do you do after you finish the book? Perhaps you just throw it away.
3. He gave the little girl an apple. He took the computer apart.
4. You have nothing. That makes you very determined.
5. I never thought of quitting. I knew what I wanted.
Answer:
1. Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper.
2. After finishing the book, perhaps you just throw it away.
3. After giving the little girl an apple, he took the computer apart.
4. Having nothing makes you very determined.
5. I never thought of quitting as I knew what I wanted.