NCERT Solutions Class 6 English

Chapter 4: An Indian American Woman in Space: Kalpana Chawla

Summary:
“An Indian American Woman in Space: Kalpana Chawla” is a biography of Kalpana Chawla, who was the first woman of Indian origin in space. The chapter highlights her journey from a small town in India to becoming a NASA astronaut. It discusses her passion for flying, her struggles and challenges, and her ultimate success in achieving her dream of space travel. Kalpana’s story inspires readers to pursue their goals with determination and perseverance.

WORKING WITH THE TEXT

A. Answer the following questions.


Question 1. Where was Kalpana Chawla born? Why is
she called an Indian – American? (3)

Answer : Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana, India. She is called an Indian-American because although she was born in India, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Question 2. When and why did she go to the U.S.? Who
did she marry? (2, 3)

Answer : Kalpana Chawla went to the U.S. for higher education and career opportunities. She married Jean-Pierre Harrison, who was a flight instructor.

Question 3. How did she become an astronaut? What
gave her the idea that she could be an
astronaut? (3)

Answer : Kalpana Chawla became an astronaut after being selected by NASA in 1994. She was originally a research scientist at NASA before being chosen for astronaut training. Her belief in herself and the encouragement from those around her fueled her ambition to pursue a career as an astronaut.

Question 4. What abilities must an astronaut have,
according to the journalist? (6)

Answer : According to the journalist, an astronaut must have a wide range of knowledge spanning from biology to astrophysics to aeronautical engineering. They must be highly knowledgeable and skilled in various fields due to the complex nature of space exploration.

Question 5. Describe Kalpana Chawla’s first mission in
space. (5)

Answer : Kalpana Chawla’s first space mission was aboard the space shuttle Columbia. It lasted 15 days, 16 hours, and 34 minutes during which she orbited the Earth 252 times, covering a distance of 10.45 million kilometers. The crew conducted experiments including pollinating plants and testing for stronger metals and faster computer chips.

Question 6. What does Kalpana Chawla say about
pursuing a dream? Do you agree with her
that success is possible? (7)

Answer : Kalpana Chawla encouraged pursuing dreams by saying, “The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get onto it…” She believed that with determination and support, success is achievable. Whether or not one agrees with her depends on individual beliefs, but her achievements serve as inspiration for many aspiring to reach their goals.

WORKING WITH LANGUAGE

B. Read the newspaper report to find the following facts about the
Columbia’s ill-fated voyage.


l. Date and place of lift off: ————————————————————

2. Number of astronauts on board: ————————————————–

3. Number of days it stayed in space: ———————————————–

4. Number of experiments done by scientists: ———————————––

5. Date of return journey: ———————————————–————–––

6. Height at which it lost contact: —————————————————–

Answers:

  1. Date and place of lift off:

Answer: Date: The Columbia Space Shuttle lifted off on January 16, 2003.
Place: The launch took place from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

  1. Number of astronauts on board:

Answer: There were seven astronauts on board the Columbia Space Shuttle.

3.Number of days it stayed in space:

Answer: The Columbia mission lasted for 16 days in orbit.

  1. Number of experiments done by scientists:

Answer: The crew conducted 80 experiments during the mission.

  1. Date of return journey:

Answer: The Columbia tragically broke apart during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere on Saturday, February 1, 2003.

  1. Height at which it lost contact:

Answer: The shuttle lost contact with NASA at an altitude of over 200,000 feet (approximately 61 kilometers) while traveling at over 20,000 kilometers per hour.

    WORKING WITH LANGUAGE

    A. Match the following.

    1. unprecedented space tragedy

    2. certified flight instructor

    3. space mission

    4. super specialisation

    5. encyclopaedic knowledge

    6. awe-inspiring

    7. in this age
    • something that causes feelings of respect and wonder
    • having knowledge of a wide variety of subjects
    • nowadays, in these times

    • a set of jobs to be done in space by a group
    • a person with the correct qualification to teach people to fly planes
    • a sad accident of a kind that has never happened before in space
    • great expertise in a limited field or a particular subject

    B. Use these phrases in sentences of your own, after finding out
    their meanings.

    1. broke apart              4. lifted off          7. cheered along
    2. streaked over            5. blast off           8. on board
    3. spread across            6. went on             9. carry on

    Answers:

    1. The old bridge finally broke apart under the weight of the heavy truck.
    2. The rocket lifted off smoothly, leaving a trail of smoke behind it.
    3. News of the scandal quickly spread across the entire city, causing a sensation.
    4. The shooting star streaked over the night sky, captivating everyone who saw it.
    5. With a deafening roar, the spaceship prepared to blast off into outer space.
    6. Despite facing challenges, she decided to carry on with her studies and achieve her dreams.
    7. Her family from India cheered along with the crowd at the stadium as she crossed the finish line.
    8. There were several astronauts on board the spacecraft during its mission to the International Space Station.
    9. The concert went on late into the night, much to the delight of the enthusiastic audience.

    C. We add ‘un-’ to make opposites.

    For example, true — untrue.
    Add ‘un’– to the words below to make their opposites. Then look
    up the meanings of the words you have formed in the dictionary.

    l. identified —————————          6. educated ——————––———
    2. controlled ——————–—––         7. interesting ——————––——
    3. attended ————————–—           8. qualified —————————––
    4. successful ———————–—          9. trained ——————–—–———
    5. important —————————           10. answerable ———–—————
    1. identified — unidentified
    • Meaning: Not identified or recognized.

    2. controlled — uncontrolled

    • Meaning: Not restrained or managed; not governed.

    3. attended — unattended

    • Meaning: Not looked after or taken care of; not attended to.

    4. successful — unsuccessful

    • Meaning: Not achieving or having achieved success.

    5. important — unimportant

    • Meaning: Not significant or of little significance.

    6. educated — uneducated

    • Meaning: Not having received education; lacking knowledge and skills typically gained from education.

    7. interesting — uninteresting

    • Meaning: Not holding or attracting interest; boring or dull.

    8. qualified — unqualified

    • Meaning: Not having the necessary qualifications, skills, or credentials.

    9. trained — untrained

    • Meaning: Not having been taught or prepared for a particular job or skill; lacking training.

    10. answerable — unanswerable

    • Meaning: Not able to be answered or explained; impossible to answer.