Reach for the Top
Reach for the Top tells the inspiring stories of two determined women — mountaineer Santosh Yadav and tennis champion Maria Sharapova. The page summarises both parts and provides exam-style questions.
Learning objectives
- Recall the two parts of the lesson.
- Understand how each woman reached the top.
- Identify the themes of determination and sacrifice.
- Answer comprehension and exam questions.
Key concepts
Part I — Santosh Yadav
This part is about Santosh Yadav, a determined woman from a village in Haryana, who became the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice. From childhood she fought against gender bias, insisting on her right to study and to live her own life. With courage and hard work, she trained in mountaineering and achieved remarkable success, showing that women can excel in even the most demanding fields.
Part II — Maria Sharapova
This part tells the story of Maria Sharapova, the tennis player who rose to become the world's number one. As a young girl she left her home in Russia to train in the United States, enduring loneliness and hardship far from her family. Through immense dedication, discipline and sacrifice, she worked her way to the very top of women's tennis, proving how ambition and effort can lead to greatness.
Theme
Both parts celebrate determination, hard work and the breaking of barriers. Santosh Yadav's story shows a woman overcoming social prejudice to succeed, while Maria Sharapova's story shows the sacrifices and discipline behind sporting success. Together they inspire readers to pursue their goals with courage and perseverance.
Two role models
The lesson brings together two women from very different backgrounds and fields — mountaineering and tennis — yet both reached the top through similar qualities: a clear goal, fearless determination, hard work, and the willingness to make sacrifices. Their lives serve as powerful examples for young people everywhere.
Key definitions
- Determination
- Firmness of purpose; the will to keep trying despite difficulties.
- Gender bias
- Unfair treatment based on a person's sex, which Santosh Yadav fought.
- Sacrifice
- Giving up something valued for the sake of a goal, as Sharapova did.
- Mountaineer
- A person who climbs mountains, like Santosh Yadav.
Solved examples
Q1. What record did Santosh Yadav set?
Solution: She became the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice.
Q2. Where did Maria Sharapova go to train?
Solution: To the United States, far from her family in Russia.
Q3. What is the shared theme of the lesson?
Solution: Determination, hard work and breaking barriers to reach the top.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up the two women or their fields (mountaineering vs tennis).
- Forgetting Santosh Yadav fought gender bias in her village.
- Overlooking the sacrifices behind Sharapova's success.
- Missing the common theme of determination and reaching the top.
Reach for the Top — MCQ Quiz
10 questions with instant feedback. Use number keys 1–4 to answer.
Reach for the Top has ___ parts.
Practice questions
Short answer
Who are the two women in the lesson?
Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova.
What did Santosh Yadav achieve?
She became the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice.
What did Sharapova sacrifice for success?
She left her home and family to train hard far away.
Long answer
How did Santosh Yadav overcome obstacles to reach the top in mountaineering?
Santosh Yadav's success is a story of determination overcoming social obstacles. Born in a village in Haryana, she faced gender bias from an early age, as girls were expected to follow traditional roles rather than pursue their own ambitions. But Santosh was strong-willed and insisted on her right to study and to shape her own life, refusing to be held back simply because she was a girl. Drawn to mountaineering, she trained hard and developed the skill, courage and endurance the sport demands. Her determination took her to the greatest heights, and she became the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest twice. Her achievement shows that with courage and perseverance, a woman can break free of prejudice and excel even in the most challenging fields, making her an inspiration for others.
What do the stories of Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova have in common?
Although Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova come from very different backgrounds and fields — one a mountaineer from a village in Haryana, the other a tennis champion from Russia — their stories share important qualities. Both had a clear goal and the fierce determination to achieve it. Santosh Yadav fought against gender bias and social prejudice to pursue mountaineering, while Maria Sharapova left her home and family as a young girl to train in a faraway country, enduring loneliness and hardship. Both worked extremely hard and were willing to make great sacrifices for their dreams. As a result, each rose to the very top of her field — Santosh climbing Everest twice and Maria becoming the world's number one in tennis. Together, their lives show that determination, hard work and the courage to overcome obstacles are the keys to reaching the top.
HOTS (Higher Order Thinking)
Why is Santosh Yadav's success especially significant for girls?
Because she overcame gender bias to excel in a demanding field, showing girls that they too can break social barriers and achieve great things.
What does Sharapova's story teach about the price of success?
It teaches that great success often demands hard work, discipline and painful sacrifices, such as leaving home and family to pursue one's goal.
Quick revision
Revision notes
- Two parts: Santosh Yadav (Part I) and Maria Sharapova (Part II).
- Santosh Yadav: first woman to climb Everest twice; fought gender bias in Haryana.
- Maria Sharapova: left Russia to train in the US; became world no. 1 in tennis through sacrifice.
- Theme: determination, hard work, breaking barriers to reach the top.
Key takeaways
- Determination breaks barriers (Santosh Yadav).
- Success demands sacrifice (Maria Sharapova).
- Hard work and courage lead to the top.
Frequently asked questions
How many parts are in Reach for the Top?
Two — about Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova.
What did Santosh Yadav achieve?
She became the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice.
What is the theme?
Determination, hard work and breaking barriers to reach the top.