Class 9 English (Beehive) — Lesson 7 • Reach for the Top (Part II): Maria Sharapova
Before You Read
A Russian girl, Maria Sharapova, reached the summit of women’s tennis when she was barely eighteen. As you read about her, see if you can draw a comparison between her and Santosh Yadav.
Match the following — Solved
Column A | Column B (Meaning) |
---|---|
something disarming | something 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 |
As you read — Answers (Original Text: Paragraphs 1–5)
- Why was Maria sent to the United States?
She was packed off to train in the United States; the trip to Florida with her father Yuri launched her on the path to success and stardom. Para 2 - Why didn’t her mother go with her?
Due to visa restrictions, her mother Yelena was compelled to stay back in Siberia for two years. Para 2 - What are her hobbies? What does she like?
Like many teenagers, Maria Sharapova enjoys fashion, singing and dancing. She also loves reading Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels, and her favourites include pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks. Para 9 - What motivates her to keep going?
She became quietly determined and mentally tough; she never thought of quitting because she knew what she wanted. Coming from nothing made her very hungry and determined, willing to endure humiliation to steadfastly pursue her dream. Para 5
Class 9 English (Beehive) — “Reach for the Top (Part II): Maria Sharapova” — Paragraphs 1–2 (FULL)
Paragraph 1 — Original Text (FULL)
Hindi Uchchāraṇ (लाइन-बाय-लाइन)
Hindi Arth (पूरा, आसान)
Hard Words (Para 1)
Word / Phrase | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
disarming | डिज़ार्मिंग | मन मोह लेने वाला, शंका दूर करने वाला |
at odds (with) | ऐट ऑड्स | मेल न खाना, विरोध में |
glamorous attire | ग्लैमरस अटायर | आकर्षक/भव्य पहनावा |
poised beyond her years | पॉइज़्ड बियॉन्ड हर इयर्स | उम्र से अधिक संतुलित/परिपक्व |
pinnacle | पिनैकल | शिखर, सर्वोच्च बिंदु |
in almost no time | इन ऑलमोस्ट नो टाइम | बहुत कम समय में |
world number one | वर्ल्ड नंबर वन | विश्व नंबर-1 |
professional | प्रोफेशनल | पेशेवर खिलाड़ी |
Siberian-born | सिबेरियन-बॉर्न | साइबेरिया में जन्मी |
Paragraph 2 — Original Text (FULL)
Hindi Uchchāraṇ (लाइन-बाय-लाइन)
Hindi Arth (पूरा, आसान)
Hard Words (Para 2)
Word / Phrase | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
rapid ascent | रैपिड असेंट | तेज़ी से ऊपर उठना |
fiercely competitive | फियरस्ली कम्पेटिटिव | अत्यंत प्रतिस्पर्धी |
sacrifice | सैक्रिफ़ाइस | त्याग |
endure | इंड्यूर | सहन करना |
packed off | पैक्ड ऑफ | भेज देना |
stardom | स्टार्डम | सितारा-दर्जा/ख्याति |
heart-wrenching | हार्ट-रेन्चिंग | दिल दहला देने वाला/बहुत दुखद |
separation | सेपरेशन | बिछोह/विछोह |
visa restrictions | वीज़ा रेस्ट्रिक्शन्स | वीज़ा पाबंदियाँ |
compelled | कम्पेल्ड | मजबूर होना |
excellence | एक्सिलेंस | उत्कृष्टता |
come at a price | कम ऐट अ प्राइस | कीमत चुकाकर मिलना |
Class 9 English (Beehive) — “Reach for the Top (Part II): Maria Sharapova” — Paragraphs 3–4 (FULL)
Paragraph 3 — Original Text
Hindi Uchchāraṇ
Hindi Arth
Hard Words (Para 3)
Word | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
lonely | लोनली | अकेलापन महसूस करना |
recalls | रिकॉल्स | याद करती हैं |
terribly | टेरिब्ली | बहुत ज़्यादा, अत्यधिक |
as much as he could | ऐज़ मच ऐज़ ही कुड | जितना हो सकता था उतना |
tennis-training | टेनिस-ट्रेनिंग | टेनिस का प्रशिक्षण |
either | ईदर | भी नहीं/भी |
Paragraph 4 — Original Text
Hindi Uchchāraṇ
Hindi Arth
Hard Words (Para 4)
Word | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
pupils | प्यूपिल्स | प्रशिक्षु, छात्र |
wake me up | वेक मी अप | जगाना |
order | ऑर्डर | आदेश देना |
tidy up | टाइडी अप | समेटना, व्यवस्थित करना |
clean | क्लीन | साफ़ करना |
Class 9 English (Beehive) — “Reach for the Top (Part II): Maria Sharapova” — Paragraphs 5–6 (FULL)
Paragraph 5 — Original Text (FULL)
Hindi Uchchāraṇ (लाइन-बाय-लाइन)
Hindi Arth (पूरा, आसान)
Hard Words (Para 5)
Word / Phrase | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
depress | डिप्रेस | हतोत्साहित/उदास करना |
quietly determined | क्वाइटली डिटरमाइंड | अंदर-ही-अंदर दृढ़ |
mentally tough | मेंटली टफ | मानसिक रूप से मज़बूत |
quitting | क्विटिंग | हार मानना, छोड़ देना |
hungry (figurative) | हंग्री | जुनूनी, लक्ष्य के लिए व्याकुल |
humiliation | ह्यूमिलिएशन | अपमान |
insults | इंसल्ट्स | गालियाँ/ताना-उलाहना |
steadfastly | स्टेडफास्टली | दृढ़ता से, अटल होकर |
pursue | पर्स्यू | अनुसरण/पीछा करना, साधना |
Paragraph 6 — Original Text (FULL)
Hindi Uchchāraṇ (लाइन-बाय-लाइन)
Hindi Arth (पूरा, आसान)
Hard Words (Para 6)
Word / Phrase | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
toughness | टफ्नेस | कठोरता/दृढ़ता |
bagging (a crown) | बैगिंग | खिताब जीतना/हासिल करना |
singles crown | सिंगल्स क्राउन | एकल खिताब |
Wimbledon | विम्बलडन | टेनिस का प्रमुख चैम्पियनशिप टूर्नामेंट |
meteoric rise | मेटिऑरिक राइज़ | अत्यंत तेज़/चमकदार उन्नति |
the following year | द फ़ॉलोइंग ईयर | अगले वर्ष |
Class 9 English (Beehive) — “Reach for the Top (Part II): Maria Sharapova” — Paragraphs 7–8 (FULL)
Paragraph 7 — Original Text (FULL)
Hindi Uchchāraṇ (लाइन-बाय-लाइन)
Hindi Arth (पूरा, आसान)
Hard Words (Para 7)
Word / Phrase | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
frozen plains | फ्रोज़न प्लेन्स | जमे हुए मैदान/धरती |
summit | समिट | शिखर, सर्वोच्च बिंदु |
sentiment | सेंटिमेंट | भावुकता, भावनात्मकता |
ambition | अंबिशन | महत्वाकांक्षा |
amply clear | एम्प्ली क्लियर | पूरी तरह स्पष्ट |
sacrifices were worth it | सैक्रिफ़ाइसेज़ वर वर्थ इट | त्याग सार्थक थे |
competitive | कम्पेटिटिव | प्रतिस्पर्धी स्वभाव |
mantra | मंत्रा | सफलता का सिद्धांत/सूत्र |
Paragraph 8 — Original Text (FULL)
Hindi Uchchāraṇ (लाइन-बाय-लाइन)
Hindi Arth (पूरा, आसान)
Hard Words (Para 8)
Word / Phrase | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
pronounced (accent) | प्रोनाउन्स्ड | स्पष्ट, उभरा हुआ |
accent | ऐक्सेंट | लहजा |
parades (her nationality) | परेड्स | प्रदर्शित/दिखाती हैं |
nationality | नैशनलिटी | राष्ट्रीयता |
citizenship | सिटिजनशिप | नागरिकता |
totally | टोटली | पूरी तरह |
Olympics | ओलिंपिक्स | ओलंपिक खेल |
Class 9 English (Beehive) — “Reach for the Top (Part II): Maria Sharapova” — Paragraphs 9–10 (FULL)
Paragraph 9 — Original Text
Hindi Uchchāraṇ
Hindi Arth
Hard Words (Para 9)
Word / Phrase | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
teenaged sensations | टीनेज्ड सेंसैशन्स | किशोर आयु के लोकप्रिय सितारे |
lists (as hobbies) | लिस्ट्स | गिनाना/गिनती करना |
novels | नॉवेल्स | उपन्यास |
Arthur Conan Doyle | आर्थर कोनन डॉयल | शरलॉक होम्स के लेखक |
fondness | फ़ॉन्डनेस | लगाव, पसंद |
sophisticated | सोफ़िस्टिकेटेड | भव्य, परिष्कृत |
evening gowns | ईवनिंग गाउन्स | शाम की भव्य पोशाकें |
at odds with | ऐट ऑड्स विद | विरोधाभास होना |
pancakes | पैनकेक्स | एक प्रकार का मीठा केक |
fizzy drinks | फ़िज़ी ड्रिंक्स | गैस वाली ड्रिंक |
Paragraph 10 — Original Text
Hindi Uchchāraṇ
Hindi Arth
Hard Words (Para 10)
Word / Phrase | Uchchāraṇ | हिंदी अर्थ |
---|---|---|
pigeon-holed | पिजन-होल्ड | एक खाँचे में बाँधना, वर्गीकृत करना |
categorised | कैटेगराइज़्ड | वर्गीकृत करना |
unwavering | अनवेवरिंग | अटल, दृढ़ |
desire to succeed | डिज़ायर टू सक्सीड | सफल होने की इच्छा |
readiness to sacrifice | रेडिनेस टू सैक्रिफ़ाइस | त्याग के लिए तत्परता |
grudge | ग्रज | ईर्ष्या/ख़राब भावना |
riches | रिचेस | धन-संपत्ति |
reaping | रीपिंग | कमाना/पाना |
monetary gains | मॉनेटरी गेन्स | आर्थिक लाभ |
motivation | मोटिवेशन | प्रेरणा |
🌟 Class 9 English (Beehive) — Lesson 7 • Reach for the Top (Part II): Maria Sharapova 🌟
📝 Thinking about Language — Solutions
I. Identify the two parts
- 1. Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. 👉 संतोष ने शॉर्ट्स चुने, जबकि बाकी लड़कियाँ भारतीय पोशाक पहनती थीं।
- 2. She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi. 👉 घर छोड़ने के बाद उसने दिल्ली के स्कूल में दाख़िला लिया।
- 3. She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived. 👉 सही समय आने पर उसने सिस्टम से लड़ने का निश्चय किया।
- 4. Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States. 👉 दसवाँ जन्मदिन मनाने से पहले ही उसे ट्रेनिंग के लिए अमेरिका भेज दिया गया।
II. Rewrite as one sentence
- 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 then he took the computer apart.
- 4. When you have nothing, that makes you very determined.
- 5. I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.
📖 Dictation — The Raincoat
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.
🎤 Speaking — Short Speech (Maria Sharapova)
Good morning everyone, It is a great honour for me to be here at the All India Girls’ Athletic Meet. Always believe in yourself. Be self-confident, raise your morale, and never allow defeat to demoralise you. Success comes only when you are ready to work hard and sacrifice. Think big, dream big, and work with determination. Remember, every difficulty is only a step towards your dream. Thank you.
✍️ Writing — Article for School Magazine
Top Women in Tennis — A Comparison
Since 1975, women’s tennis has seen many champions at the top of the world rankings. Some players like Steffi Graf and Serena Williams remained number one for long durations because of their consistency, fitness, and mental strength. Others like Maria Sharapova or Martina Hingis stayed at the top for shorter periods, yet inspired millions. Longevity at the top requires discipline, sacrifice, and determination. Those who combined talent with self-belief stayed longer; others could not hold the spot for long.
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