#Maria Sharapova # CBSE Beehive #Class IX
Reach for the Top Part II
Maria Sharapova
Words & Phrases
1.
Something
disarming: Something that makes you feel friendly
2.
Glamorous
attire: attractive and exciting clothes
3.
In no
time: quickly , almost immediately
4.
Pinnacle:
top, summit
5.
Packed
off: sent off
6.
Heart-wrenching:
causing strong feelings of sadness
7.
Launched:
Started
8.
Poised
beyond her years: More calm, donfident and in control than people of her age usually
are.
9.
Stardome:
the status of being a very famous sports player.
10.
Compelled
: forced
Question & Answer
Q1. When did Sharapova reach on the top of the world-tennis?
Ans: On Monday, 22 August 2005 she won the first position in women’s tennis.
Q2. Is it easy to get to the top of the women’s tennis?
Ans: No, it is not easy because it is a fiercely competitive world.
Q3. At what age did Maria start her training in US? Ans: Maria had not yet celebrated her 10th birthday when she was sent to train in Florida, USA.
Q4. What was father’s contribution in making Maria the best tennis player? Ans:Father went with Maria to the United States and worked there as much as he could to pay the training fees.
Q5. Sharapova had to sacrifice many things on the way to success. What were they? Ans: She had to sacrifice (a) The comfort of home at a tender age. (b) Mother’s loving presence and care due to visa problem. (c) Rest and sleep in order to serve the elder inmates who used to wake her up at 11 pm.
Q6. Has Sharapova any regrets about the sacrifice she made to attain no.1 position in the world?
Ans: Though she had to live without her mother; though she was given a hard time by her elder inmates, Maria has no regrets about the sacrifices, for she has – it seems – no room for sentiments. On the contrary, she considers the sacrifices were worth it.
Q7. Maria was given a hard time by other tennis pupils. How did it affect her?
Ans: It affected her in a positive way. (a) It did not depress her. It made her more quietly determined and mentally tough. (b) She learnt to take care of herself. She became so strong that she could have put up with much more humiliation and insults to keep moving steadily to her dream.
Q8. In which year did Maria win Wimbledon? Ans: Maria won the prestigious Wimbledon in 2004.
Q9. According to Maria, what is the secret of her success? Ans: Her very competitive spirit combined with hard work is her mantra of success.
Q10. What does Sharapova feel about her country? Ans: She loves her country and considers herself Russian. She proudly says that she has Russian citizenship; her blood si totally Russian; and she would participate in the Olympics for Russia.
Q11.What are her hobbies and interests?
Ans: (a) Her hobbies are fashion, singing and dancing. (b) She loves reading the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle. (c) She is fond of wearing beautiful evening gowns. (d) She loves pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks.
Q12: Which qualities have lifted her to the top of the world?
Ans: Her talent, unwavering desire to succeed and readiness to sacrifice have lifted her to the top of the world.
Q13: What motivated her to keep playing tennis?
Ansh: According to her money has definitely been a motivation, but the desire to become number one in the world kept her going.
Thinking about the Text
Q. Draw a comparision between Maria Sharapova
and Santosh Yadav?
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.
Ans: Their humble beginning :They both had a very humble beginning. Though santosh
belonged to an affluent family, she belonged to a backword, traditional rural
family. Unlike Santosh, Maria belonged
to a middle class family. No one knew them until they created sensation in
their respective fields.
Their
parents’ approach: Santosh Yadav’s parents never wanted
their daughter to move out of the village for higher education. They wanted to
get her married at the age of 16. Maria’s parents helped her pursue her dreams
by taking pains to support her training.
Their
will power and strong desire to succeed
& Evidence of their mental
toughnessf: Both,
Santosh and Maria were gifted with a strong will power and strong desire to
succeed. Santosh wanted good education, she went against the desire of her
parents and took admission in a school on her own. Later, she persued her own
will to become a mountaineer. It was her desire to succeed that helped her to
become the youngest girl to scale Mount Everest twice. Maria was also gifted
with strong will power from a very tender age. When her inmates gave her a
tough time she became quietly determined and mentally tough to remain focused
on her dream.
Their
patriotism: Both of them had a deep sense
of inbuilt patriotism. For Santosh, waving the national flag was a was the
greatest moment of her life. She felt proud as an Indian. Maria loved her
country and her desire to play for Russia reflects that blood is totally
Russian.
Thanks for your great response.
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