NCERT Solutions for Class 6 English Chapter 4 An Indian American Woman in Space

NCERT Class 6 English Literature Prose Chapter 4 An Indian-American Woman In Space: Kalpana Chawla Question And Answers

The chapter ‘An Indian-American Woman in Space: Kalpana Chawla’ is taken from the 1998 January/ February issue of the magazine called ‘Span’.

It is about the inspiring journey and the tragic ending of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-American woman in space. In 1997, Kalpana Chawla was part of the International crew aboard the US Space Shuttle, Columbia which led to her tragic end.

Tragedy in Space

The US Space Shuttle Columbia, which carried astronaut Kalpana Chawla and six others burst into flames on 1st February 2003. All of the seven astronauts aboard were killed in this accident.

The shuttle could not contact NASA while preparing to land. It was flying at a height of over 200,000 feet and a speed of over 20,000 km per hour the contact was lost.

The shuttle launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 16th January 2003. The astronauts conducted 80 experiments during their 16-day journey before preparing to land.

The shuttle Columbia was destroyed on its 28th space flight, but it was expected to last up to 100 flights.

Kalpana Chawla’s Background

Kalpana was born in Karnal, Haryana. After completing her education at Tagore School, she got a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering against the wishes of her father.

She went to the United States to complete her master’s degree and later got her Ph.D in aerospace engineering.

She was a naturalized citizen of America (got American citizenship due to her marriage) after her marriage to the flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison.

Kalpana Chawla was also licensed to fly single and multi-engine land airplanes as well as single-engine seaplanes and gliders. She was also a certified flight instructor.

After qualifying as a pilot, Kalpana applied to NASA’s space shuttle program.

Kalpana Chawla had never dreamed of going to space. She thought that her parents wouldn’t allow her to attend engineering college. The fact that they agreed was enough for her.

The First Step Towards Space

Kalpana was first hired as a research scientist at NASA. In 1994, she was selected for training as an astronaut by NASA.

When asked what it was like being a woman in her field, she replied that she never focused on the fact that she was a woman or a person from a small city or a different country.

Kalpana said that she just had dreams and she followed them. She was thankful that the people around her encouraged her to keep moving forward.

When the space shuttle Columbia launched into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida, her family from India cheered along with staff at the Kennedy Space Center.

Kalpana Chawla’s First Space Mission

Kalpana’s first space mission in the space shuttle, Columbia, lasted for 15 days, 16 hours, and 34 minutes.

They circled the Earth 252 times while traveling over 10.45 million kilometers.

The crew also had a Japanese and a Ukrainian astronaut. They performed experiments such as pollinating plants to observe food growth in space and tests for making stronger metals and faster computer chips. entire mission cost around 56 million dollar

The Space Tragedy

When the news about the Columbia disaster broke out on Saturday night, people were in shock. The whole town of Karnal was looking at their television sets in the hope that Kalpana and the crew would survive.

Kalpana Chawla – The Inspiration

A journalist called Kalpana Chawla a heroine and stated that her achievements were awe-inspiring because becoming an astronaut was a very difficult thing to do.

An astronaut must know a lot about everything from biology to astrophysics to aeronautical engineering. Today, Kalpana Chawla is an inspiration for many young Indians because she was a girl from a small town who touched the skies.

During her space mission, she sent out a message to students of her college in Chandigarh.

She told them that the path connecting dreams to success exists. She hoped that they would have the vision and courage to find it and get over it. She wished the students to have a great journey.

Word Meaning

Ncert Folder

Question 1. Use a dictionary to do the tasks below. Find out the meanings of the following words and phrases (look up the words underlined in the phrases).

1. Naturalized US citizen
2. Frontiers of Space
3. Space
4. Aboard ……
5. Lift off (How is it different from ‘take off?)
6. Crew ….

Answer:

1. A person who was born outside the US but later obtained US citizenship, generally through marriage.
2. The area which surrounds the planet Earth and other planets and stars.
3. The territory forming the furthest extent of the space that had been previously explored
4. Getting on or into a vehicle.
5. The process of launching a spacecraft vertically. Take-off means that the aircraft gradually flies off the ground horizontally and into the atmosphere.
6. Crew refers to all of the people who work on a ship or vessel of any kind.

2. Notice the spellings of these words in this lesson: airplane, program. This is how these words are spelled in American English. How are they spelled in British English?
Answer:

American British 

Airplane Aeroplane
Program Programme

Working With The Text

Answer The Following Questions.

Question 1. Where was Kalpana Chawla born? Why is she called an Indian-American?
Answer: Kalpana Chawla was born in the town of Karnal, Haryana. She also had citizenship in the United States of America as she was married to a United States citizen and became a naturalized citizen. That is why, she was called an Indian-American.

Question 2. When and why did she go to the United States?
Who did she marry?
Answer: After completing her Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering, Kalpana Chawla went to the United States of America for higher studies. She was married to a flight instructor named Jean-Pierre Harrison.

Question 3. How did she become an astronaut? What gave her the idea that she could be an astronaut?
Answer: After qualifying as a pilot, Kalpana Chawla applied for NASA’s Space Programme. She was first hired as a research scientist at NASA and was later trained as an astronaut. Her success as a pilot gave her the idea and motivated her to become an astronaut.

Question 4. What abilities must an astronaut have, according to the journalist?
Answer: An astronaut should know everything from biology to astrophysics to aeronautical engineering. According to the journalist, one needs to have an encyclopedic knowledge to become an astronaut.

Question 5. Describe Kalpana Chawla’s first mission in space.
Answer: Kalpana Chawla’s first mission in the space shuttle Columbia was 15 days, 16 hours, and 34 minutes long.

During her journey, she went around the Earth 252 times travelling a distance of 10.45 million kilometres. There were seven crew members in total including a Japanese astronaut and a Ukrainian astronaut.

Question 6. What does Kalpana Chawla say about pursuing a dream? Do you agree with her that success is possible? According to Kalpana, what does one need to fulfill one’s dreams?
Answer: According to Kalpana Chawla, the path from dreams to success does exist and one must have the vision to find it and the courage to get onto it. Yes, I agree with her that success is possible.

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

• Date and place of lift-off…….
• Number of astronauts on board ……
• Some days it stayed in space…

Number of experiments done by scientists:

• Date of return journey ………
• Height at which it lost contact ………

Answer:

1. 16th January, 2003 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida
2. Seven.
3. 15 days, 16 hours and 34 minutes
4. 80 experiments
5. 1st February, 2003
6. 200,000 feet

Working With Language

Question 1. Match the following

Answer:

Question 2. Use these phrases in sentences of your own, after finding out their meanings

1. Broke Apar
2. Streaked Over
3. Spread Across
4. Lifted Off
5. Blast Off
6. Went On
7. Cheered Along
8. On Board
9. Carry On

Answer:  

1. Broke apart (separated, break up) The coaches of the train broke apart on its own.
2. Streaked over (a line, mark) A plane was seen streaking over our town.
3. Spread across (spread everywhere) The news about their fight spread across the entire nation.
4. Lifted off (to direct or carry from a lower to a higher position) The rocket lifted off from a space station in Chennai.
5. Blast off (of a rocket or spacecraft take off from a launching site) The rocket blasted off in the morning.
6. Went on (to continue) He went on teaching us after the lunch break.
7. Cheered along (motivated, encouraged) The performers were cheered along by their fans.
8. On board (inside a ship, train, and aircraft) There were 250 passengers in the aircraft.
9. Carry on (to continue) She decided to carry on with her studies

Question 3. 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

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

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

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

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

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

Answer:

1. unidentified 6. uneducated

2. uncontrolled 7. uninteresting

3. unattended 8. unqualified

4. unsuccessful 9. untrained

5. unimportant 10. unanswerable

Speaking And Writing

Question 1. 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

A sports event

A quiz or a competition and

A test or examination.

Answer:

• I wish you great success in the sports event.
• May you succeed in the forthcoming quiz competition!
• Wishing you to perform better in the examination.

Question 2. Be sure to thank your partner when she/he wishes you in turn. You may also lookup 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?

Answer: There is a conversation between Rita and Sunita.

• Rita: May this Diwali bring happiness and prosperity to you and your family.
• Sunita: Thanks for the wishes. Wish you the same.
• Rita: I wish you success in your final examination.
• Sunita: Thanks a lot!
• Rita: Best wishes for a safe and happy journey
• Sunitha: thanks

Writing

1. Do you have a ‘dream’ or something you very much wish to do? Write a paragraph saying what you want to do. Then say (in another paragraph) how you think you can make your dream come true.
Answer: Everybody has some kind of dream in his or her life. They want to lead a better life and be successful. It means people are ambitious and have a keen desire to have something in life.

As stated by Roosevelt, the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. I want to become a pilot and fly high in the sky. I had this dream since childhood and I want to achieve it in any case. Whenever I see a plane in the sky, I wish to fly it.

It is not easy to become a pilot and one could achieve it only through hard work. One has to study a lot and be physically fit to control an aircraft.

Besides, one needs to be patient while flying a plane. I will have to work very hard to pass the entrance test

Question 2. Given below are some words that are spelled differently in British and American English. Fill in the blanks accordingly

British American

1. color ————————
2. ———————— labor
3. ———————— traveler
4. counselor ————————
5. center ————————
6. ———————— theater
7. ———————— organize
8. realize ————————
9. ———————— defense
10. offense ————————

Answer:

British American

1. color color
2. labor labor
3. traveler traveler
4. counselor counselor
5. center center
6. theatre theater
7. organize organize
8. realize realize
9. defense defense
10. offense offense

Chapter 4 An Indian-American Woman In Space: Kalpana Chawla Review Exercise Part 1 Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1. What is the main purpose of the news report at the beginning?

1. To introduce the main idea
2. To set the background for the text
3. To create curiosity among the readers
4. To highlight the present-day relevance ofthe text

Answer: 2. To set the background for the text

Question 2. What did Kalpana’s father oppose?

1. Sending her to another city.
2. Sending her to the United States for further studies.
3. Marrying a foreigner.
4. Going for a space mission.

Answer: 2. Sending her to the United States for further studies.

Question 3. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

1. Kalpana’s early life.
2. Kalpana’s desire to go to space.
3. Kalpana’s experience flying aircraft.
4. Kalpana’s journey to become an astronaut.

Answer: 4. Kalpana’s journey to become an astronaut.

Question 4. Read the given statements and choose the correct answer.

1. Statement1 Kalpana Chawla was born in Austin, Texas.
2. Statement 2 Kalpana Chawla lived in India in Karnal, Haryana.
3. Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect.
4. Statement 1 is incorrect, but statement 2 is correct.
5. Both statements are correct.
6. Both the statements are incorrect.

Answer: 2. Statement 1 is incorrect, but statement 2 is correct

Question 5. Where is Kennedy Space Center located

1. Florida
2. Texa
3. New York
4. Atlanta

Answer: 1. Florida

Question 6. What was the profession of Kalpana’s husband?

1. Flight Attendant
2. Flight Instructor
3. Astronaut
4. Scientist

Answer: 2. Flight Instructor

Question 7. When was Kalpana selected for training as an astronaut by NASA?

1. In 1993
2. In 1992
3. In 1994
4. In 1996

Answer: 3. In 1994

Question 8. The crew of Kalpana’s first space mission did not include a….. astronaut.

1. Russian
2. India
3. Ukrainian
4. Japanese

Answer: 1. Russia

Question 9. Which of these is true?

1. Two crew members survived the Columbia disaster.
2. Kalpana Chawla was the first woman to fly to space
3. Communication was cut off while Columbia was descending.
4. Kalpana’s first space mission was also Columbia’s first flight.

Answer: 3. Communication was cut off while Columbia was descending.

Question 10. Read the given statements and choose the correct answer.

1. Statement 1 Kalpana Chawla’s first mission lasted for 15 days.
2. Statement 2 The name of the space shuttle was Columbo.
3. Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect.
4. Statement 1 is incorrect, but statement 2 is correct.
5. Both statements are correct.
6. Both the statements are incorrect.

Answer: 1. Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect.

Question 11. What does Kalpana’s response to the question about being a woman in her field indicate?

1. Most of her friends were women
2. She always felt she was different from others
3. She did not focus on her identity as a woman
4. As a woman, she found it difficult to pursue her dreams

Answer: 3. She did not focus on her identity as a woman

Question 12. What is the tone of the journalist who wrote about Kalpana after the disaster?

1. Admiring
2. Affectionate
3. Disbelieving
4. Sympathetic

Answer 1. Admiring

Question 13. What is the purpose of the text?

1. To narrate Kalpanas struggles in life
2. To inspire the readers through Kalpana’s story
3. To describe the various dangers faced by astronauts
4. To explain why there have been few female astronauts
5. After Kalpana’s death

Answer: To inspire the readers through Kalpana’s story

Question 14. Arrange the following options in the correct sequence.

• The crew did experiments such as pollinating plants to observe food growth in space.
• Kalpana Chawla’s space shuttle launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
• Columbia lost contact with NASA on 1st February 2003.
• During the mission, Columbia went around the Earth 252 times.

Choose the correct option 

1. (1), (2), (3), (4)
2. (4), (3), (2), (1)
3. (2), (4), (1), (3)
4. (4), (1), (2), (3)

Answer: 4. (4), (1), (2), (3)

Extract Based Questions

Question 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Kalpana was born in Karnal, Haryana, but was a naturalized US citizen, married to flight instructor Jean-Pierre Harrison. Besides being an astronaut, she was licensed to fly single and multi-engine land airplanes, single-engine seaplanes, and gliders.

She was also a certified flight instructor. After qualifying as a pilot, Kalpana began to consider another challenge: applying to NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

She was first hired as a research scientist at NASA. In 1994 she was selected by NASA for training as an astronaut.

1. What is the meaning of a naturalized US citizen?
Answer: Naturalised US citizen means a person born outside
the US but who later obtained US citizenship.

2. What was the challenge for Kalpana Chawla?
Answer: The challenge for Kalpana Chawla was to enter into NASA’s Space Shuttle Programme.

3. What kind of license did she have?
Answer: She had the license to fly single and multi-engine land airplanes, single-engine seaplanes, and gliders.

4. Give a one-word substitute for a person who is trained to travel in a spacecraft.
Answer: Astronaut

5. The word … from the extract is the synonym of ‘trainer’.
Answer: Instructor

Question 2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Kalpana’s first space mission in the space shuttle, Columbia, was 15 days, 16 hours, and 34 minutes long.

During this time she went around the Earth 252 times, travelling 10.45 million kilometers! The crew included a Japanese and a Ukranian astronaut.

The crew performed experiments such as pollinating plants to observe food growth in space and tests for making stronger metals and faster computer chips – all for a price tag of about 56 million dollars.

1. What kind of experiments did the crew perform?
Answer: The crew performed experiments on plants and tests for making stronger metals and faster computer chips

2. How many times did Kalpana go around the Earth and how much distance did she cover?
answer: She went around the Earth 252 times and covered a distance of 10.45 million kilometers.

3. How much money was spent on the entire space mission?
Answer: A total of 56 million dollars was spent on the entire space mission.

Question 4. Give a one-word substitute for a group of people who work and operate an aircraft.
Answer: Crew

Question 5. The word………in the extract is the opposite of excluded’.
Answer: Included

Question 3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Kalpana was born in Karnal, Haryana, but was a naturalized US citizen, married to flight instructor Jean-Peirre Harrison.

Besides being an astronaut, she was licensed to fly single and multi-engine land airplanes, single-engine seaplanes, and gliders. She was also a certified flight instructor.

After qualifying as a pilot, Kalpana began to consider another challenge applying to NASA’s space shuttle program. She was first hired as a research scientist at NASA.

In 1994 she was selected by NASA for training as an astronaut.

When asked what it was like being a woman in her field she replied, “I never, ever thought, while pursuing my studies or doing anything else, that I was a woman, or a person from a small city, or a different country.

I pretty much had my dreams like anyone else and I followed them. And people who were around me, fortunately, always encouraged me and said, ‘If that’s what you want to do, carry on.’

1. For what post did NASA first hire Kalpana Chawla?

1. For the post-of flight instructor
2. For the post of research scientist
3. For the post of a multi-engine land airplane pilot
4. For the post of seaplane pilot

Answer: 2. For the post of a research scientist

Question 2. Before being selected by NASA, what was one of Kalpana’s important professional achievements?

1. Being part of a space shuttle program
2. Being the world’s first woman astronaut
3. Being a certified flight instructor
4. Being a naturalized US citizen

Answer: 3. Being a certified flight instructor

Question 3. Which of the following statements is false?

1. Kalpana was born in India.
2. Kalpana was first hired as an instructor at NASA.
3. She was selected in 1994 as an astronaut.
4. People around her encouraged her to pursue her dreams.

Answer: 2. Kalpana was first hired as an instructor at NASA.

Question 4. Which of the following words is not an antonym of ‘encouraged’?

1. Discouraged
2. Disheartened
3. Inspired
4. Dispirited

Answer: 3. Inspired

Question 5. The word ‘fortunately’ in the extract means

1. Unluckily
2. Punctually
3. Sadly
4. Luckily

Answer: 4. luckily

Question 4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

On Saturday night when the news about the Columbia disaster broke, there was shock and disbelief. The town of Karnal spent a sleepless night as thousands of households stayed glued to their television sets in the hope that Kalpana and the crew had somehow survived

Question 1. When did the news about the Columbia disaster break out?

1. On a Friday night
2. On a Saturday noon
3. On a Saturday night
4. On a Friday noon

Answer: On a Saturday night

Question 2. Why did the residents of Karnal spend a sleepless night?

1. Because there was no electricity.
2. Because Kalpana Chawla was a member of the Columbia Crew.
3. Because the disaster occurred in Karnal.
4. Because India lost a cricket match.

Answer: 2. Because Kalpana Chawla was a member of the Columbia Crew

Question 3. How Many Crew Members were on board Columbia?

1. Six
2. Seven
3. Three
4. Four

Answer: 2. Seven

Question 4. The Phrase Glued To’ In The Extract Mean

1. Stuck To
2. Different From
3. Trained To
4. Away From

Answer: 1. Stuck To

Question 5. Which Of The Words From The Given Options Is The Synonym Of ‘Disaster’

1. Tragedy
2. Happening
3. Comment
4. News

Answer: 1. Tragedy

Chapter 4 An Indian-American Woman In Space: Kalpana Chawla Question And Answers Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Who was Kalpana Chawla?
Answar: Kalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut. She died in an unprecedented tragedy while on a space mission.

Question 2. What do you mean by the Columbia?
Answer: The Columbia was a space shuttle that broke apart in flames while returning to the Earth. Diksha

Question 3. What barrier did Kalpana face in attaining her dreams? Competency-Based
Answer: Kalpana Chawla faced a barrier in the form of her father who was against her wish to study in the United States of America.

Question 4. What else could she fly besides being an astronaut?
Answer: She was licensed to fly single and multi-engined land airplanes, single-sea planes, and gliders

Question 5. From where did Columbia lift off?
The name of the space center from where Columbia lifted off was Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Question 6. Who was Jean-Pierre Harrison?
Answer: Jean-Pierre Harrison was an American flight instructor and he was married to Indian-born astronaut Kalpana Chawla.

Question 7. In which year did Kalpana Chawla get selected as an astronaut at NASA? Ans. Kalpana Chawla was selected as an astronaut at NASA in
Answer: Kalpana Chawla was selected as an astronaut at NASA in 1994.

Chapter 4 An Indian-American Woman In Space: Kalpana Chawla Question And Answers Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Who cheered Kalpana Chawla when the Columbia lifted off?
Answer: Kalpana Chawla’s family from India cheered along with the staff at the Kennedy Space Center when Columbia lifted from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida

Question 2. Why was the takeoff of Columbia a proud moment for India?
Answer: The take-off of Columbia was a proud moment for India because Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-born woman was one ofthe crew members.

She was a small-town girl and her achievements were unbelievable as an astronaut.

Question 3. List out a few experiments done in the space by Kalpana Chawla and her crew.
Answer: The crew performed many experiments like pollinating plants to observe food growth in space, and various tests for making stronger metals and faster computer chips. In total, the crew conducted 80 experiments over 15 days.

Question 4. How did the people of Karnal react when they got to know about the Columbia space shuttle tragedy?
Answer: People in Karnal were shocked to hear about the Columbia disaster. Nobody could sleep that night and they remained glued to their television sets in the hope that Kalpana Chawla and the crew may survive.

Question 5. Which statement supports that people from her hometown loved her?
Answer: The following statement supports the fact that people from her hometown loved Kalpana;

“The town of Karnal spent a sleepless night as thousands of households stayed glued to their television sets in the hope that Kalpana and the crew had somehow survived.”

Question 6. What was the moment of joy for all Indians? How did it change into grief?
Answer: The moment of joy for all Indians was that astronaut Kalpana Chawla was about to reach the Earth after her space mission.

It changed into shock and disbelief when people got to know about the Columbia space shuttle disaster in which she died tragically

Question 7. What happened to Columbia’s 28th space flight?
Answer: Columbia’s 28th space flight was lifted off on 16th January 2003 from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

It stayed in the orbit for 16 days before it began its downward journey which resulted in a tragedy that killed all seven crew members.

long answer type questions

Question 1. What do you know about Kalpana Chawla’s achievements?
Answer: Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian-American woman astronaut to participate in a successful mission in space.

She had a Bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering and went to the United States of America to get a master’s degree. She later earned a Ph.D degree.

She had a license to fly single and multi-engine land airplanes, single-engine seaplanes, and gliders. She was also a certified flight instructor.

She was hired as a research scientist at NASA. She was later selected by NASA for training as an astronaut.

Question 2. Briefly discuss the qualities possessed by Kalpana Chawla that helped her to fulfill her dreams.
Answer: Kalpana Chawla was a courageous person. It was not easy for a woman born in Karnal to study abroad and become an astronaut.

She struggled a lot to be successful in her life. Her father was against her wish to study in the US. She always thought she could achieve

what she wanted and being a woman or a person from a small town or a different country did not affect her dreams. She was encouraged by people around her.

She also motivated students to follow their dreams and make their paths.

Question 3. How would you apply what you have learned from this chapter?
Answer: We learn from Kalpana Chawla’s life that we should follow our dreams and aspirations. If we are focused on achieving our goal, nothing can stop us.

One should be brave enough to overcome all the obstacles. She sent a message to the students of her college to motivate them. She said that there is a path between success and dreams, one only has to walk on it courageously.

There is no shortcut in life and one has to make their way to fulfill their dreams.

Question 4. Was Kalpana’s family proud of her achievements? Justify your answer.
Answer: Yes, Kalpana’s family was proud of her achievements. When she took off her first space mission in Columbia from the launch

pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, her family had cheered with the staff at the Kennedy Space Center. Being from a small town, Kalpana hadn’t even thought that she would cross the frontiers of space.

Her parents had supported her and allowed her to attend an engineering college from where her career in space had taken shape. Kalpana, becoming the first woman in the space mission of Indian origin was a proud moment for her parents as well as her other family members.