Reach for the Top & On Killing a Tree

Given: A holy man blessed Santosh's mother before Santosh was born.

The holy man had given blessings for the birth of a son. He was surprised because, contrary to the tradition of preferring a male child in the family, Santosh's parents were perfectly happy and content with the birth of a daughter. They did not seem disappointed at all, which was unusual in that social setting.

Given: Santosh grew up in a traditional village environment.

As a young girl, Santosh refused to wear traditional Indian dresses like other girls and instead preferred to wear shorts. This shows she questioned and rejected social norms she found unreasonable, demonstrating her independent and rational thinking from a very early age.

Given: Santosh belonged to a wealthy family.

Santosh was sent to the local village school not because her family could not afford a better school, but because it was the 'norm' — the usual practice followed in her village. Her parents simply followed the convention of sending children to the local school, regardless of their financial status.

Given: Santosh wanted to continue her education.

Santosh left home for Delhi after finishing school. She left because she wanted to study further and pursue higher education. When her parents suggested she should get married instead, she firmly refused and insisted on continuing her studies, eventually making her way to Delhi to enroll in a school there.

Given: Santosh's parents were initially reluctant to send her to Delhi.

Santosh's parents agreed to pay for her schooling in Delhi because she threatened to earn money on her own and pay for her education herself if they refused. She was determined not to give up her dream of studying.

This incident highlights the following mental qualities of Santosh:
1. Determination and strong will — she was firm in her decision to study.
2. Independence — she was ready to be self-reliant rather than depend on unwilling parents.
3. Courage — she was not afraid to stand up to her parents and challenge their wishes.

Santosh began climbing mountains after she moved to Delhi and enrolled at Kasturba Hostel. From her room, she used to watch the Aravalli Hills and the people climbing them. Inspired by this sight, she decided to join a mountaineering course at Uttarkashi's Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. This marked the beginning of her mountaineering journey.

During the 1992 Everest expedition, Santosh showed great concern for her team-mates in two notable incidents. First, she provided special care to a climber who lay dying at the South Col, though she was unfortunately unable to save him. Second, she shared her oxygen supply with fellow climber Mohan Singh, who would have died otherwise. Her selfless act saved his life.

Santosh Yadav is described as a fervent environmentalist. Her concern for the environment is clearly shown by the fact that she collected and brought down 500 kilograms of garbage from the Himalayas during her Everest expeditions. This act demonstrates her deep commitment to preserving the natural environment of the mountains.

Santosh described her feelings at the summit as indescribable and deeply spiritual. She said it took some time for the enormity of the moment to sink in. She then unfurled the Indian tricolour and held it aloft on the roof of the world. She felt immensely proud as an Indian and described the experience as a truly spiritual moment.

The first time Santosh scaled Everest, she became the youngest woman in the world to achieve this feat. The second time, within twelve months of her first climb, she scaled Everest again as part of an Indo-Nepalese Women's Expedition, thereby becoming the only woman in the world to have scaled Mount Everest twice. Both achievements secured a unique place for her and India in the annals of mountaineering.

From her room in Kasturba Hostel, Santosh used to watch the Aravalli Hills and the people who climbed them, which inspired her to take up mountaineering.

When she finished college, Santosh had to write a letter of apology to her father because she had got herself enrolled in a course at Uttarkashi's Nehru Institute of Mountaineering without taking his permission, going against his wishes.

During the Everest expedition, her seniors in the team admired her climbing skills and physical fitness while her concern and care for other climbers (her team spirit and selflessness) endeared her to fellow climbers.

The word is assumed.

Explanation: 'Assumed' means to take something for granted or accept it as true without proof, which matches the given meaning.

The word is rational.

Explanation: 'Rational' means based on reason or logic, which matches the given meaning.

The word is norm.

Explanation: 'Norm' refers to the standard or usual way of doing things in a particular society or group.

The word is urge.

Explanation: 'Urge' means a strong inner desire or impulse to do something.

The word is endurance (or stamina).

Explanation: 'Endurance' refers to the ability to withstand hardship, pain, or difficult conditions without giving in or falling ill.

| Points of Comparison/Contrast | Santosh Yadav | Maria Sharapova |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Their humble beginning | Born in a small village, Joniyawas, in Rewari district; belonged to a traditional family where girls were not given much freedom. | Born in Siberia; her family had very little money; her father Yuri scraped together money to take her to Moscow for training. |
| 2. Their parents' approach | Parents were traditional and wanted her to marry early; they were initially reluctant to support her ambitions but eventually agreed. | Father was extremely supportive and sacrificed a great deal; mother could not accompany them to the U.S. due to visa issues; parents made huge sacrifices for her career. |
| 3. Their will power and strong desire to succeed | Refused to accept social norms; threatened to earn her own money for education; was determined to climb Everest against all odds. | Left home at age nine; endured loneliness and hardship in the U.S.; was determined to become the world's number one tennis player. |
| 4. Evidence of their mental toughness | Scaled Everest twice; saved a fellow climber by sharing her oxygen; collected 500 kg of garbage from the Himalayas. | Endured years of separation from her mother; overcame homesickness and financial hardship; rose to become world number one. |
| 5. Their patriotism | Unfurled the Indian tricolour on the summit of Everest and felt proud as an Indian. | Proudly represents Russia; says she is Russian through and through and is very proud of it. |

The part that gives the contrasting information is underlined:

Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts.

The italicised/underlined part 'Where other girls wore traditional Indian dresses' contrasts her dress with that of others.

The part that tells us what happened after the first action is:

She left home and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi.

The second part 'and got herself enrolled in a school in Delhi' tells us what happened after she left home.

The part that tells us when she was going to fight the system is:

She decided to fight the system when the right moment arrived.

The clause 'when the right moment arrived' tells us the time she chose to fight the system.

The part that tells us when Maria was sent to the U.S. is:

Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday when she was packed off to train in the United States.

The clause 'Little Maria had not yet celebrated her tenth birthday' tells us the time (before her tenth birthday) when she was sent to the U.S.

Combined sentence: Grandfather told me about the old days when all books were printed on paper.

(The second sentence is joined using the relative adverb 'when' to indicate the time referred to.)

Combined sentence: After you finish the book, perhaps you just throw it away.

(The two sentences are combined using the subordinating conjunction 'after' to show the sequence of actions.)

Combined sentence: While he gave the little girl an apple, he took the computer apart.

(The two actions are combined using 'while' to show they happened around the same time, or they can be joined with 'and': He gave the little girl an apple and took the computer apart.)

Combined sentence: Having nothing makes you very determined.

(Or: When you have nothing, it makes you very determined.)

Combined sentence: I never thought of quitting because I knew what I wanted.

(The subordinating conjunction 'because' is used to show the reason/cause for not quitting.)

Words that describe Santosh Yadav: determined, resourceful, adventurous, considerate, independent, patient, persevering.

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Character Description:

Santosh Yadav is, above all, a determined and persevering individual. From a very young age, she refused to accept social norms that she found unreasonable. When her parents wanted her to marry instead of studying, she firmly stood her ground and even threatened to earn her own money for education. This determination carried her all the way to the summit of Mount Everest — not once, but twice — making her the only woman in the world to achieve this feat.

She is also deeply considerate and resourceful. During the 1992 Everest expedition, she unhesitatingly shared her oxygen with a fellow climber, Mohan Singh, saving his life. She also tended to a dying climber at the South Col, showing immense compassion. Her adventurous spirit and independent nature drove her to pursue mountaineering at a time when it was not a conventional career choice for a girl from a small Indian village. Her patriotism shone through when she unfurled the Indian tricolour on the roof of the world, feeling immensely proud as an Indian.

Given: The poem 'On Killing a Tree' by Gieve Patel describes the process of killing a tree.

Answer: No, a simple jab of the knife cannot kill a tree. A tree has grown over many years, absorbing sunlight, water, and nutrients from the earth. It has developed a strong, deep root system. A mere jab of the knife will only cause a small wound, from which the tree will quickly recover. New twigs and leaves will sprout from the cut, and the tree will heal itself and grow back to its original size. To kill a tree completely, one must uproot it entirely so that its source of life — the roots — is exposed and destroyed.

Given: The poem describes the growth of a tree.

Answer: The tree has grown to its full size slowly, over many years, by consuming the earth's crust, absorbing sunlight, air, and water. It has risen out of the earth and spread its leaves.

Words suggestive of its life and activity:
- *consuming* — the tree feeds on the earth
- *rising* — it grows upward
- *feeding* — it takes nourishment
- *absorbing* — it takes in sunlight and water
- *sprouting* — new growth appears
- *expanding* — it grows larger
- *bleeding* — it shows life-force when cut

These words give the tree a living, active, almost human-like quality.

Given: The phrase 'bleeding bark' appears in the poem.

Answer: 'Bleeding bark' refers to the sap or resin that oozes out of the tree when its bark is cut or hacked. Just as a human being bleeds when wounded, the tree 'bleeds' when it is injured. The bark bleeds when a knife or axe is used to cut into it — the wound causes the tree's sap to flow out, much like blood flows from a wound. This image gives the tree a living, feeling quality and makes the act of cutting it seem like an act of violence.

Given: The third stanza begins with the word 'No'.

Answer: By saying 'No' at the beginning of the third stanza, the poet emphasises that simply hacking and chopping the tree is not enough to kill it. The tree has tremendous regenerative power — it will sprout new branches and leaves from the cut and grow back. The 'No' is a strong, emphatic denial that such superficial methods can destroy the tree. The poet is saying that to truly kill a tree, one must go further — one must pull it out entirely from the earth, exposing and destroying its roots, which are the real source of its life and strength.

Given: The phrases 'anchoring earth' and 'earth cave' are used in the poem.

Answer:

- 'Anchoring earth' refers to the soil that holds the tree firmly in place, like an anchor holds a ship. The earth grips the roots of the tree tightly, giving it stability and nourishment. The tree is 'anchored' to the ground through its root system.

- 'Earth cave' refers to the dark, deep hollow or cavity in the earth where the roots of the tree lie hidden. The roots are buried deep underground, in a cave-like space within the earth, drawing moisture and nutrients from there. This is the hidden source of the tree's life and strength.

Given: The phrase 'the strength of the tree exposed' appears in the poem.

Answer: 'The strength of the tree exposed' means that when the tree is pulled out entirely from the earth, its roots — which are the real source of its strength and life — are brought out into the open. The roots, described as 'white and wet', have been hidden inside the earth for years. They are the most sensitive and vital part of the tree. When they are exposed to the sun and air, they begin to dry out, scorch, and wither. Thus, 'exposing the strength' is actually the first step towards destroying it — once the hidden source of life is brought out and left unprotected, the tree can finally be killed.

Given: The poem describes the entire process of killing a tree.

Answer: What finally kills the tree is the complete uprooting of its roots from the earth and their subsequent exposure to the sun and air. The process is as follows:

1. The tree must be pulled out entirely from the earth — its roots, which are the 'earth cave', must be yanked out.
2. The roots, which are white, wet, and sensitive, are then exposed to sunlight and open air.
3. Scorching in the sun and choking in the air, the roots begin to brown, harden, twist, and wither.
4. This process of drying and withering finally kills the tree.

In short, it is the destruction of the root system — the source of the tree's life — that ultimately kills it. A mere cut or hack is not enough; the tree must be uprooted and its roots left to dry out completely.