On the topic of chasing dreams, Kalpana expressed that there is indeed a path from dreams to success. One must possess the insight to identify it, and the bravery to embark on it.

Here, we provide answers to all the questions from the English textbook Honeysuckle. This lesson throws light upon a tragic incident that had never happened before. It was when an Indian – American, Kalpana Chawla, the magic woman was part of the international crew aboard in the U.S. Space Shuttle, Columbia, becoming the first woman born in India to go into space.

WORKING WITH THE TEXT :

A: Answer the following questions.

Q1: Where was Kalpana Chawla born? Why is she called an Indian– American? (3)

Ans:

Ans: Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana. She got married to a person from the United States and became a naturalized American citizen. Therefore, she is referred to as an Indian-American.

Q2: When and why did she go to the U.S.? Who did she marry? (2, 3)

Ans :

 She travelled to the United States for advanced education in aeronautical engineering. Later, she wed flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison.

Q3: How did she become an astronaut? What gave her the idea that she could be an astronaut? (3)

Ans :

 She submitted her application for NASA’s space shuttle initiative and was employed as a research scientist at NASA. Later, she was chosen for astronaut training in 1994.

Q4: What abilities must an astronaut have, according to the journalist? (6)

Ans :

As per the reporter, to become an astronaut, one must have knowledge in various fields like biology, astrophysics, and aeronautical engineering.

Q5: Describe Kalpana Chawla’s first mission in space. (5)

Ans : 

Kalpana Chawla’s initial space journey took 15 days, 16 hours, and 34 minutes. During this time, she orbited the Earth 252 times, covering a distance of 10.75 million kilometers. The crew also included an astronaut from Ukraine and Japan.

Q6: What does Kalpana Chawla say about pursuing a dream? Do you agree with her that success is possible?

Ans : 

Kalpana says, “The path from dreams to success does exist. May you have the vision to find it, the courage to get onto it… Wishing you a great journey.”

Yes, I do agree with her that with vision and courage, success is possible.

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

1. 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: ———————————————

Ans :

1. Date and place of lift-off: 16 January 2003

2. Number of astronauts on board: Seven

3. Number of days it stayed in space: 15 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes

4. Number of experiments done by scientists: 80

5. Date of return journey: 1 February 2003

6. Height at which it lost contact: 200000 feet

WORKING WITH LANGUAGE :

A: Match the following:

Ans :

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

Ans :

1. broke apart: The fire broke the house apart.
2. streaked over: The jet plane streaked over the valley this morning.
3. spread across: The disease is spread across the entire world.
4. lifted off: The helicopter made a lot of noise when it lifted off from the helipad.
5. blast off: The rocket blasted off at midnight.
6. went on: The meeting went on the whole evening.
7. cheered along: The cricketers were cheered along by the audience.
8. on board: There were 600 passengers on board.
9. carry on: She was convinced to carry on her career in singing.

C: We add ‘un-’ to make opposites.

Add ‘un’– to the words below to make their opposites. Then look up the meanings of the words you have formed in the dictionary.

1. identified ————————— 6. educated ——————––———

2. controlled ——————–—– 7. interesting ——————––—

3. attended ————————–— 8. qualified —————————

4. successful ———————–— 9. trained ——————–—–———

5. important ————————— 10. answerable ———–————

Ans :

unidentified uneducated

uncontrolled uninteresting

unattended unqualified

unsuccessful untrained

unimportant unanswerable

SPEAKING :

In her message to students of her college, Kalpana Chawla said, “May you have the vision to find the path from dreams to success… Wishing you a great journey.”

Form pairs. Use “May you…” and “I wish you/Wishing you” to wish your partner good luck and success in

(i) a sports event,

(ii) a quiz or a competition, and

(iii) a test or examination.

Be sure to thank your partner when she/he wishes you in turn. You may also look up a telephone directory, or go to a post office, and get a list in English and Hindi of standard phrases that can be sent in greeting telegrams anywhere in India. Discuss which of these you might use, and when. Compare the English and Hindi phrases for expressing good wishes. Do you know such phrases in any other language?

Ans :

(i) May you win the sports event.

(ii) I wish you good luck in performing well in the quiz competition.

(iii) Wishing you all the best for your examination.

WRITING :

A: Do you have a ‘dream’, or something you very much wish to do? Write a paragraph saying what you want or wish to do. Then say (in another paragraph) how you think you can make your dream
come true.

Answer: I aspire to be a scientist and create something beneficial for society and future generations. I hope to impact people’s lives positively with my invention, making things simpler and better for them, and leading to happier lives. I believe I can achieve this dream by studying strategically and adhering to a well-planned timetable.
B: Given below are some words that are spelt differently in British and American English. Fill in the blanks accordingly.

Ans:

British American

1. colour color

2. labour labor

3. traveller traveler

4. counsellor counselor

5. centre center

6. threater theater

7. organise organize

8. realise realize

9. defense defence

10. offence offence

An Indian American Woman in Space: Kalpana Chawla Summary :

Kalpana Chawla was born in Karnal, Haryana but became a U.S. citizen after her marriage to an American flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison. So she is called an Indian-American. She graduated from Tagore School Karnal. After this, she joined an engineering college. Then, she went for a master’s degree to the U.S. After getting that degree, she earned her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering.

After qualifying as a pilot, she applied to NASA for a space shuttle program. It was her success as a pilot that gave her the idea that she could be ar astronaut. She was first hired as a research scientist. In 1994, she was selected by NASA for training as an astronaut among others. Thus she became the first Indian-American woman astronaut.

Kalpana's journey was not just about her personal achievements; it also served as an inspiration for countless individuals, especially women, to pursue careers in science and technology. Her story highlighted the importance of perseverance, education, and the belief that dreams can be realized regardless of one's background. She often spoke about the challenges she faced and how they shaped her determination to succeed. By breaking barriers and reaching for the stars, Kalpana Chawla became a symbol of hope and empowerment, encouraging others to follow their passions and strive for greatness in their own lives.

Chawla’s first space mission in space was 15 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes long. The crew included a Japanese and a Ukrainian astronaut. They performed different experiments for a price tag of about 56 million dollars.

When the news about the Columbia disaster broke, there was shock and disbelief. But it became clear that Kalpana Chawla had died. All other crewmembers of the space shuttle had also died.

A journalist wrote that Kalpana Chawla was a heroine. According to him, an astronaut is a very able person. He has to know everything from biology to astrophysics to aeronautical engineering. An astronaut has encyclopedic knowledge.