NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 6: The Making of a Scientist (Footprints Without Feet)

Read and Find Out

1. How did a book become a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life?

Ans: The butterfly collection was a hobby for Richard Ebright. He had gathered all twenty-five species of butterflies found in his hometown by the time he was in second grade. His butterfly collection would have come to an end at this point. His mother, on the other hand, had gotten him a book called "The Travels of Monarch X" at this point. This book informed him of the monarch butterfly's trek to Central America. This book piqued his interest in Monarch butterflies while also introducing him to the realm of science. This proved to be a watershed moment in Richard Ebright's life. He started raising Monarch butterflies in his basement and studying them at various stages of life.

2. How did his mother help him?

Ans: Richard Ebright's mother aided him by fostering his desire to learn. She went on holiday with him, bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials, and other equipment, and helped him in a number of ways. She found things for him to learn if he didn't have something to do. His mother even gave him the book that became a turning point in his life. As a result, his mother can be said to have played a significant impact in his development as a scientist.

3. What lesson does Ebright learn when he does not win anything at a science fair?

Ans: Ebright knows that just because something is on display does not mean it is scientific. To win a science fair, he'll have to do real experiments.

4. What experiments and projects does he then undertake?

Ans: Ebright had spent the majority of his time learning about butterflies, particularly monarch butterflies. It was the sole topic that sprang to mind for the following year's fair. Dr Urquhart gave him a lot of ideas, and he worked on them one by one. He set out to discover the cause of a viral sickness that killed nearly all monarch caterpillars every few years. For this, he attempted rearing caterpillars in the presence of the disease-carrying beetles. He didn't get a good result, but he did win for doing the experiment. Later, he tested the notion that viceroy butterflies imitate monarch butterflies to avoid being eaten by birds.

5. What are the qualities that go into the making of a scientist?

Ans: A sharp mind, curiosity, and the will to succeed for the right reasons, according to the author, are three qualities that go into being a scientist. Richard Ebright was an exceptionally bright student. He was a skilled debater, public speaker, canoeist, and photographer, among other things. He was always willing to go above and above. He was fiercely competitive but in a good manner. From the outset, he had a keen interest and a smart mind, and it was this curiosity that led him to his cell-life idea.

Think About It

1. How can one become a scientist, an economist, a historian…? Does it simply involve reading many books on the subject? Does it involve observing, thinking, and doing experiments?

Ans: Learning entails more than just reading books. This is an information-gathering activity. The degree of learning is determined by how your brain processes information. The first and most important requirement for becoming a genius in one's chosen profession is a strong sense of curiosity and an insatiable desire to learn more. The following criterion is a keen sense of observation, which allows you to link your findings to what you see or experience in the real world. Experiments are required to validate your findings against a variety of variables and in real-world scenarios. Last but not least, you must have a strong desire to work hard in your field of interest.

2. You must have read about cells and DNA in your science books. Discuss Richard Ebright’s work in light of what you have studied. If you get an opportunity to work like Richard Ebright on projects and experiments, which field would you like to work in and why?

Ans: The work of Ebright is directly tied to biology. The discovery of the structure of a cell has aided scientists in their understanding of how organisms function and grow. This has aided scientists in their understanding of how disease-causing microbes assault and flourish within our bodies. This has to have given them an idea of how to combat a certain sickness. DNA fingerprinting assists police in identifying the true criminal. When DNA was found, this was not possible. Monarch butterflies are a remarkable example of a small species travelling thousands of kilometres from North America to the Amazon jungle. We may one day be able to design a navigation system as robust and reliable as the Monarch butterflies.

Talk About It

1. Children everywhere wonder about the world around them. The questions they ask are the beginning of the scientific inquiry. Given below are some questions that children in India have asked Professor Yash Pal and Dr Rahul Pal, as reported in their book, Discovered Questions (NCERT, 2006).

(i) What is DNA fingerprinting? What are its uses?

Ans: The blueprint for life is DNA. Because a son or a daughter will always have a pattern that can be identified as coming from both parents, DNA fingerprinting is a valuable forensic approach for determining parentage. A single strand of hair or a little drop of blood can be used to identify genes. It's also commonly utilised in criminal investigations to prove a murder suspect's innocence or guilt at the crime scene.

(ii) How do honeybees identify their own honeycombs?

Ans: Honeybees are highly intelligent insects who are well aware of their surroundings, positions, and navigation. They have chemicals that leave trails for other honeybees to follow in order to find their honeycomb. Bees also have some kind of pictorial memory, a direction-finding system, and a technique for calculating distance, all of which help them find their own honeycombs.

(iii) Why does rain fall in drops?

Can you answer these questions? You will find Professor Yash Pal and Dr Rahul Pal’s answers (as given in Discovered Questions) on page 75.

Ans: When the atmospheric temperature falls below the dew point, vapour condensation occurs. Some of the vapour in a cloud cannot condense at the same time, resulting in a big pool of water. Most raindrops begin as microscopic ice crystals that slowly acquire moisture as they descend to lower altitudes, melting into water droplets and falling to Earth as rain.

2. You also must have wondered about certain things around you. Share these questions with your class, and try to answer them.

Ans: Like many others, I've considered some of the changes that have occurred in my environment. I tried to consider their answers. These are the questions:

What makes the sky so blue?

What causes stars to twinkle?

What exactly is a rainbow?

Benefits of Class 10 English Chapter 6 The Making of a Scientist Questions and Answers

• The Making of a Scientist Class 10 Question Answers provide thorough explanations of each part of the chapter, helping students understand the life and achievements of Richard Ebright clearly and concisely.

• Class 10 English chapter 6 The Making of a Scientist Question Answer break down complex scientific concepts and historical events related to Ebright’s discoveries, making it easier for students to grasp the key ideas.

• These Solutions helps in enhancing students' reading and comprehension skills by providing summaries, analyses, and explanations of difficult words and phrases.

• NCERT solutions to The Making of a Scientist include important textbook questions that are often asked in exams, ensuring that students are well-prepared for their assessments.

• By providing detailed answers and explanations, these Questions and Answers encourages students to think critically about the scientific processes and the importance of curiosity and perseverance in scientific discoveries.

Conclusion

The Making of a Scientist Class 10 highlights the story of Richard Ebright and his journey from when his mother gifted him a science book, all the way to when he achieved the highest honour at Harvard. Vedantu offers complete and comprehensive NCERT Solutions for The Making of a Scientist. These solutions are sure to boost the confidence of all students using them to prepare for the examinations and make them exam-ready.

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