NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 6: The Making of a Scientist (NCERT 2026–27)

Complete solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 6 – “The Making of a Scientist” by Robert W. Peterson: an original summary, theme, word meanings and every textbook exercise (Read and Find Out, Think about it and Talk about it) reproduced verbatim and answered in full. We also add extra questions, MCQs with answer key, assertion–reason items and exam tips.

Class: 10 Subject: English Book: Footprints Without Feet Type: Prose (Chapter 6) Author: Robert W. Peterson Session: 2026–27
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About the author

Robert W. Peterson was an American writer and journalist known for his clear, story-style profiles of remarkable people. In this biographical sketch he traces the early life of Richard H. Ebright, a real American scientist who, at the age of twenty-two, proposed a new theory about how cells work. Peterson writes in a simple, engaging manner, using Ebright’s own words and those of his mother and his teacher to show how an ordinary boy’s curiosity grew into world-class scientific achievement.

Summary

Richard Ebright won the Searle Scholar Award and the Schering Plough Award for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, but his journey into science began with a simple childhood hobby – collecting butterflies. An only child growing up north of Reading, Pennsylvania, he could not play team sports alone, so he collected things: butterflies, rocks, fossils and coins, and even took up star-gazing. His mother encouraged this curiosity by taking him on trips and buying him telescopes, microscopes and other equipment, and by spending almost every evening helping him learn.

By the second grade he had collected all twenty-five species of butterflies found around his hometown. The turning point came when his mother gave him a children’s book, The Travels of Monarch X, which opened the world of real science to him. Following the book, he began tagging monarch butterflies for Dr Frederick A. Urquhart of the University of Toronto, eventually raising thousands of monarchs in his basement.

In the seventh grade Ebright entered a county science fair and lost. He realised that the winners had done real experiments rather than neat displays. Spurred by this, he wrote to Dr Urquhart for ideas and began a series of prize-winning projects – on a viral disease of monarchs, on the viceroy’s mimicry, and finally on the purpose of the twelve gold spots on a monarch pupa. This last line of work led him to discover an unknown insect hormone and, later, a new theory on how a cell can ‘read’ the blueprint of its DNA. Graduating from Harvard with highest honours, Ebright became a researcher whose curiosity, bright mind and will to win ‘for the right reasons’ made him a true scientist.

Theme & message

The lesson shows that a scientist is made, not born – through curiosity, careful observation, real experimentation and persistence. Ebright’s story highlights the ‘ingredients in the making of a scientist’: a first-rate mind, deep curiosity, and the will to do one’s best for the right reasons rather than merely to win prizes. It also underlines the importance of encouragement – from a devoted mother and an inspiring teacher – and the value of learning from failure, as Ebright did after losing the county science fair.

Word meanings

WordEnglish meaning
fascinationstrong attraction or interest
scoutmember of an organisation for young people; one who explores
theorya system of ideas explaining something
cellsthe basic structural units of living things
proceedingspublished record of a learned society
leaguesgroups of sports clubs/teams playing among themselves
home run(baseball) a hit that lets the batter score by running all bases
determinationfirmness of purpose
fossilsremains of ancient organisms preserved in rock
astronomerone who studies the stars and planets
curiositya strong desire to know or learn
migrateto move from one region to another (seasonally)
adhesivesticky; a sticky substance
tediousboring because it is slow and repetitive
countyregion; a small administrative area
viral diseaseillness caused by a virus
beetlean insect with hard wing-cases
viceroya butterfly that resembles the monarch
starlinga common European bird and good mimic
entomologythe scientific study of insects
hormonea chemical that controls processes in the body
pupathe stage between larva and adult insect
blueprinta detailed plan or design
eurekaa cry of triumph at a discovery
hereditypassing of traits from parents to offspring

Read and Find Out

These ‘Read and Find Out’ questions appear within the lesson, before and during the text.

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

ANSWERHis mother gave him a children’s book called The Travels of Monarch X, which described how monarch butterflies migrate to Central America. The book opened the world of real science to the eager young collector. At its end, readers were invited to help study butterfly migrations by tagging monarchs for Dr Frederick A. Urquhart. This drew Ebright from merely collecting butterflies into actual scientific research, making the book a true turning point in his life.

2. How did his mother help him?

ANSWEREbright’s mother encouraged his interest in learning in every way she could. She took him on trips and bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials and other equipment. After his father died, she became his closest companion, spending almost every evening with him at the dining table and finding learning activities to keep him busy. It was she who got him the book The Travels of Monarch X and wrote to Dr Urquhart, opening the door to scientific research.

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

ANSWERWhen Ebright lost at the county science fair in seventh grade with only slides of frog tissues, he realised that the winners had succeeded because they had done real experiments, not simply made a neat display. He learnt that genuine science means investigation and experimentation, and he resolved that for the next fair he would carry out a real experiment of his own.

4. What experiments and projects does he then undertake?

ANSWERGuided by suggestions from Dr Urquhart, Ebright undertook several projects: (i) in the eighth grade he tried to find the cause of a viral disease that kills monarch caterpillars, testing whether a beetle carried it; (ii) the next year he tested the theory that viceroy butterflies copy monarchs because birds dislike the monarch’s taste; (iii) he then studied the purpose of the twelve gold spots on a monarch pupa, building a device that showed the spots produce a hormone needed for the butterfly’s development; and (iv) finally he grew monarch wing cells in culture and identified the hormone’s chemical structure, which led to his new theory on cell life.

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

ANSWERAccording to the lesson, the making of a scientist needs a first-rate mind, intense curiosity, and the will to win for the right reasons – that is, the wish to do the best possible work rather than to win merely for a prize. To these are added careful observation, the readiness to do real experiments, hard work and the encouragement of good guides such as a supportive parent and an inspiring teacher.

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?

ANSWERReading books is important, but by itself it is not enough to make one a scientist, an economist or a historian. Real expertise grows from observing, thinking and doing. A scientist observes nature, asks questions, frames a hypothesis and tests it through experiments. An economist studies real markets and data and reasons about cause and effect. A historian examines original sources, compares evidence and interprets it critically. In every case, books supply knowledge and direction, but it is active curiosity, careful observation, independent thinking and practical work – experiments, fieldwork or research – that truly make a person an expert, exactly as they did for Richard Ebright.

2. You must have read about cells and DNA in your science books. Discuss Richard Ebright’s work in the 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 on and why?

ANSWERIn our science books we learn that the cell is the basic unit of life and that DNA, present in the nucleus, controls heredity and acts as the ‘blueprint’ for the form and function of the cell. Richard Ebright’s work fits closely with this. By studying the gold spots on a monarch pupa, he discovered an insect hormone needed for development; and while examining X-ray photos of that hormone’s structure, he proposed a theory of how a cell can ‘read’ the blueprint of its DNA. His research thus connected hormones, cell division and the working of DNA.(Sample personal response) If I got such an opportunity, I would like to work in biotechnology / medical research, because understanding how cells and DNA function can lead to cures for diseases like cancer – just as Ebright hoped his theory might one day help prevent some illnesses. (Write your own choice and reason.)

Talk about it

1. Children everywhere wonder about the world around them. The questions they ask are the beginning of 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?(ii) How do honeybees identify their own honeycombs?(iii) Why does rain fall in drops?Can you answer these questions?

ANSWER(i) DNA fingerprinting: It is a technique that identifies a person from the unique pattern in their DNA. Since every individual (except identical twins) has a unique DNA sequence, a small sample of blood, hair or skin can be used to identify someone. Its uses include solving crimes, settling disputes about parentage, identifying disaster victims and studying genetic relationships.(ii) How honeybees identify their honeycombs: Honeybees recognise their own hive mainly by smell. Each colony has a distinctive odour (pheromones), and guard bees at the entrance detect this scent. Bees also use visual landmarks and the position of the sun to navigate back to the correct comb.(iii) Why rain falls in drops: As water vapour cools and condenses in clouds, it forms tiny droplets. Surface tension pulls each droplet into a rounded shape. When the droplets grow heavy enough to overcome the upward air currents, they fall as separate drops rather than as a continuous sheet of water.(Group activity) Discuss these answers in class; Professor Yash Pal’s and Dr Rahul Pal’s answers can be read on page 75 of the textbook.

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

ANSWERThis is a speaking and discussion activity. Note down questions you genuinely wonder about – for example, “Why is the sky blue?”, “Why do we dream?”, “How do plants make their food?” or “Why does ice float on water?” Share them in class, let classmates suggest answers, and then check them against a reliable book or teacher. The aim is to practise the habit of asking and investigating questions – the very beginning of scientific inquiry.

Extra questions

Short answer

1. What awards has Richard Ebright received?

ANSWERHe received the Searle Scholar Award and the Schering Plough Award for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

2. What did Ebright collect as a child besides butterflies?

ANSWERBesides butterflies he collected rocks, fossils and coins, and he was also a keen astronomer who would star-gaze through the night.

3. Why did Ebright lose interest in tagging butterflies?

ANSWERHe found tagging tedious and unrewarding because there was little feedback – in all his years of tagging, only two of his butterflies were ever recaptured, and that too within seventy-five miles of his home.

4. Who was Richard A. Weiherer and how did he influence Ebright?

ANSWERRichard A. Weiherer was Ebright’s social studies teacher and adviser to the Debating and Model United Nations clubs. He inspired Ebright by opening his mind to new ideas and encouraging him to give his best effort.

5. What did Ebright discover about the gold spots on a monarch pupa?

ANSWERHe discovered that the twelve gold spots, which everyone had thought were merely ornamental, actually produce a hormone necessary for the butterfly’s full development.

Long answer

6. Trace the various steps that led Richard Ebright from collecting butterflies to a new theory about cell life.

ANSWEREbright began by collecting butterflies in kindergarten and, by the second grade, had all twenty-five local species. The book The Travels of Monarch X turned his hobby into research, and he started tagging monarchs for Dr Urquhart and raising them in his basement. Losing a county science fair taught him to do real experiments. He then investigated a viral disease of monarchs, the viceroy’s mimicry, and the purpose of the gold spots on a monarch pupa, discovering that the spots produce a developmental hormone. Growing wing cells in culture, he identified the hormone’s chemical structure, and while studying its X-ray photos he conceived a new theory of how a cell can ‘read’ the blueprint of its DNA – a step-by-step rise from hobby to scientific discovery.

7. What qualities of Richard Ebright made him a successful scientist? Explain with examples.

ANSWEREbright combined a first-rate mind with curiosity and a will to win for the right reasons. His curiosity is seen in his lifelong butterfly collecting and his question about the gold spots. His determination shows in raising thousands of monarchs and in returning to compete after losing a fair. He valued real work over showy displays, learning from failure. He was competitive but only because he wanted to do the best job he could, not merely to win prizes. Added to these were hard work, sharp observation and the readiness to experiment. He was also well-rounded – a champion debater, public speaker, canoeist and photographer – proving that a great scientist can have many interests.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. At what age did Richard Ebright excite the scientific world with a new theory on how cells work?

(a) eighteen   (b) twenty   (c) twenty-two   (d) twenty-five

2. Where did Richard Ebright grow up?

(a) Toronto, Canada   (b) north of Reading, Pennsylvania   (c) Harvard, Massachusetts   (d) Central America

3. Which book opened the world of science to Ebright?

(a) The Travels of Monarch X   (b) Discovered Questions   (c) Children Who Made It Big   (d) School Days

4. For whom did Ebright begin tagging monarch butterflies?

(a) Dr Frederick A. Urquhart   (b) James R. Wong   (c) Richard A. Weiherer   (d) Robert W. Peterson

5. What did Ebright enter at the seventh-grade county science fair?

(a) live monarch butterflies   (b) slides of frog tissues   (c) a model of a cell   (d) a collection of rocks

6. According to the lesson, the twelve gold spots on a monarch pupa actually:

(a) are purely ornamental   (b) protect it from birds   (c) produce a developmental hormone   (d) help it camouflage

7. Who was Ebright’s college room-mate who helped him with the cell theory?

(a) Dr Urquhart   (b) James R. Wong   (c) Yash Pal   (d) Richard Weiherer

8. Ebright graduated from Harvard:

(a) with average grades   (b) with highest honours, second in his class   (c) first in his class   (d) without distinction

9. Which clubs did Ebright devote his energy to in high school?

(a) Music and Drama   (b) Debating and Model United Nations   (c) Science and Maths   (d) Art and Photography

10. According to the author, the ingredients in the making of a scientist are a first-rate mind, curiosity and:

(a) wealth   (b) luck   (c) the will to win for the right reasons   (d) fame

Answer key: 1-(c)   2-(b)   3-(a)   4-(a)   5-(b)   6-(c)   7-(b)   8-(b)   9-(b)   10-(c)

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Collecting butterflies became the starting point of Ebright’s scientific career.

Reason (R): The book The Travels of Monarch X turned his hobby into real scientific research.

2. Assertion (A): Ebright was discouraged for life after losing the county science fair.

Reason (R): He realised the winners had done real experiments, so he resolved to do a real experiment himself.

3. Assertion (A): Ebright’s mother played a key role in shaping his curiosity.

Reason (R): She took him on trips, bought him scientific equipment and spent evenings helping him learn.

4. Assertion (A): The gold spots on a monarch pupa are merely decorative.

Reason (R): Ebright’s experiments showed the spots produce a hormone essential for the butterfly’s development.

5. Assertion (A): Ebright was competitive in a healthy way.

Reason (R): He wanted to win for prizes rather than to do the best job he could.

Answer key: 1-(a)   2-(d) [A is false: the loss motivated rather than discouraged him; R is true]   3-(a)   4-(d) [A is false: the spots are not decorative; R is true]   5-(c) [A is true; R is false: he won to do his best, not for prizes]

Exam tips

Score better in this chapter

Remember the three ‘ingredients’ of a scientist – first-rate mind, curiosity, and the will to win for the right reasons – as they are a favourite exam question. Keep the sequence of Ebright’s projects in order (viral disease → viceroy mimicry → gold spots → cell theory). Spell proper nouns correctly: Ebright, Urquhart, Weiherer, Pennsylvania, Harvard. For long answers, support every point with a brief example from the text, and link Ebright’s work to your science knowledge of cells and DNA.

FAQs

Who wrote ‘The Making of a Scientist’?

The lesson was written by Robert W. Peterson, who profiles the life of the scientist Richard H. Ebright.

What is the main theme of ‘The Making of a Scientist’?

It shows that a scientist is made through curiosity, careful observation, real experiments and the will to do one’s best for the right reasons, with the support of good mentors.

How did a book change Ebright’s life?

The book The Travels of Monarch X introduced him to monarch migration and invited readers to tag butterflies for research, turning his hobby into genuine science.

Questions are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT Footprints Without Feet textbook; summaries and answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

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