The World of Limitless Possibilities Questions and Answers | Class 9 Kaveri

Class: 9Subject: EnglishBook: Kaveri (January 2026 edition)Unit: 5 (Prose – Interview)Featuring: Dr. Deepa MalikPaired Poem: Nine Gold Medals

Checked against NCERT Kaveri, first edition January 2026, pages 137–155; listening transcript 268. Personal, discussion and creative responses are samples: adapt them to your experience. This independent study guide is not an official NCERT answer key.

Chapter Overview

The World of Limitless Possibilities introduces the Paralympics and presents an interview with Dr. Deepa Malik, India’s first woman Paralympic medallist. She discusses her sporting journey, family support, barriers created by social attitudes and advocacy for inclusion. Study both the factual details and how the interview separates achievements from personal reflections.

About Dr. Deepa Malik

Dr. Deepa Malik won silver in women’s shot put F53 at Rio 2016. The textbook records her Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Padma Shri honours. It also describes recognition by the International Paralympic Committee and her work supporting women and para-athletes.

Terminology correction: the interview uses “Asian Games”, but the relevant competition is the Asian Para Games. The IPC records her medals there, including a 2010 javelin bronze. Sources: IPC athlete results and IPC account of Asian Para Games medals. The textbook’s top-ten reference is part of its account, not a current ranking asserted by this guide.

Summary in English

The introduction describes the Paralympics and notes India’s debut in 1968 and first medal in swimming in 1972. Dr. Malik recalls being diagnosed with a spinal tumour at twenty-nine and experiencing lower-body paralysis after surgery. A sports enthusiast and former swimmer, she took up para-athletics. Her shot-put silver at Rio 2016 became a personal breakthrough and challenged others’ low expectations.

She credits mental resilience and family support as well as physical training. Beyond medals, she promotes inclusion, emotional well-being, women’s participation in outdoor activities and equipment support for para-athletes from lower-income backgrounds. She involves young people through awareness sessions. Her message encourages people to recognise ability and pursue opportunities. It does not mean that determination alone removes physical, financial or accessibility barriers.

Summary in Hindi (सारांश हिंदी में)

पाठ पैरालंपिक खेलों का परिचय देकर डॉ. दीपा मलिक का साक्षात्कार प्रस्तुत करता है। उनतीस वर्ष की आयु में उन्हें रीढ़ में ट्यूमर होने का पता चला। शल्य-चिकित्सा के बाद उनके शरीर का निचला भाग लकवाग्रस्त हो गया और वे व्हीलचेयर का उपयोग करने लगीं। पहले तैराकी कर चुकीं दीपा ने पैरा-एथलेटिक्स अपनाया। रियो 2016 में गोला फेंक में रजत पदक जीतकर वे भारत की पहली महिला पैरालंपिक पदक विजेता बनीं।

वे अपनी यात्रा में अभ्यास, मानसिक दृढ़ता और परिवार के सहयोग का महत्त्व बताती हैं। वे समावेशी सोच, भावनात्मक स्वास्थ्य, खेलों में महिलाओं की भागीदारी और कम आय वाले पैरा-खिलाड़ियों के लिए उपकरण उपलब्ध कराने की समर्थक हैं। पाठ में एशियाई खेलों का उल्लेख वास्तव में एशियाई पैरा खेलों के संदर्भ में है। उनका संदेश क्षमताओं को पहचानने और अवसर देने का है; इससे यह निष्कर्ष नहीं निकलता कि केवल सकारात्मक सोच से सभी बाधाएँ समाप्त हो जाती हैं।

Three classmates, including a girl using a wheelchair, meet at a level entrance to a school playing field.
Concept illustration: welcoming participation and step-free access support inclusion. These are imagined students, not portraits of the athletes discussed in the chapter.

Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)

WordEnglish Meaningहिंदी अर्थ
resilienceability to recover quickly from difficult circumstancesउत्तरजीविता, जिजीविषा
locomotorrelated to bones, joints or musclesगति-संबंधी (अस्थि/मांसपेशी)
quellto overcome, suppressदबाना, समाप्त करना
indelibleenduring or permanentअमिट
squanderwasteगँवाना, बर्बाद करना
remorseregretपछतावा
trailblazerpioneer or leaderपथप्रदर्शक
covetedstrongly desired by manyप्रतिष्ठित, बहुप्रतीक्षित
accoladespraise and honoursसम्मान, प्रशंसा
proponenta person who supports a particular ideaसमर्थक
fortitudestrength to face adversityधैर्य, मनोबल
testamentproofप्रमाण
preconceived notionsopinions formed before knowing the truthपूर्वाग्रह
inclusivityincluding and treating everyone equallyसमावेशिता
advocatingsupporting or suggesting an ideaपैरवी करना
unleashedreleased (a powerful force)उन्मुक्त किया गया
in hindsightunderstanding something after it has happenedबीती बात समझकर
a new lease of liferenewed energy and enthusiasm for livingनया जीवन

NCERT Exercise Solutions

Reflect and Respond

I. Observe Sheetal Devi’s picture; discuss inspiration and suggest a caption.

  1. Observation: the illustration shows Sheetal Devi seated and aiming a bow held with her foot. Her posture suggests concentration. The introductory note says she received the Arjuna Award in January 2024.
  2. Sample reflection: I admire her training, concentration and adapted technique. Her example encourages me to practise patiently and to support equal opportunities in sport.
  3. Sample caption: “Skill, Focus and Possibility”.

Separate what the picture shows from information supplied by its introduction. A person’s disability should not be used to shame others or dismiss their difficulties.

II. What I know / What I want to know — sample KWL entries.

What I knowWhat I want to know
The Paralympics are international sporting competitions for eligible athletes with disabilities.How do sport-specific classifications work?
India has won Paralympic medals.How can schools provide accessible facilities and coaching?

Use your own questions and update the table after reading.

Check Your Understanding

I. Fact table

ItemAnswer
1. Age at diagnosis29 years
2. Result of surgeryLower-body paralysis; she became a wheelchair user.
3. OrganisationInternational Paralympic Committee (IPC). The table says “effective”; the interview describes “inspirational women para-athletes”.
4. First successful Paralympic eventShot put, Rio 2016 — silver medal.
5. Two firstsFirst Indian woman to win an Asian Para Games athletics medal; first Indian woman Paralympic medallist.
6. AwardsKhel Ratna; Arjuna Award; Padma Shri.
7. Two supported causesEmotional well-being and women’s participation in outdoor/adventure sports; equipment support for para-athletes from lower-income backgrounds.

II. Identify the relationships.

Set 1: fact–opinion. The medal is verifiable; its personal meaning is the speaker’s interpretation.

Set 2: cause–effect is the intended answer in her account: diagnosis led to treatment, after which she experienced paralysis. This describes her particular experience, not a claim that every spinal tumour or operation has that outcome.

III. Choose 1 (cause–effect) or 2 (fact–opinion).

(i) 2: membership of the Working Group is presented as fact; “contributed greatly” is an evaluation.
(ii) 1: the passage presents showcasing athletes’ abilities as contributing to a change in perceptions.

Critical Reflection

I. Extract 1 — five answers

  1. The caterpillar–butterfly comparison suggests transformation and new possibilities. It refers to her outlook and sporting journey, not a physical cure.
  2. She already loved sport and had been a swimmer. That experience helped her transition; “comfortably” does not mean training required no effort.
  3. She won shot-put silver at Rio 2016, achieving a personal milestone and challenging stereotypes.
  4. B — reflective. “In hindsight” means looking back with later understanding.
  5. One perception she challenged was that a woman with a disability could not compete successfully at the highest sporting level.

I. Extract 2 — five answers

  1. (a) A and D — appreciative and optimistic.
  2. Stereotypes.
  3. True.
  4. “Push boundaries” means testing and extending what she can achieve rather than accepting other people’s restrictive expectations.
  5. “A new lease of life”.

II.1. How do her achievements challenge social perceptions?

Her international medals contradict assumptions that disability or gender prevents sporting achievement. The interview shows that skill and sustained effort deserve recognition. Access to equipment, coaching and opportunity is also necessary; respect should not depend on winning a medal.

II.2. What may be the long-term impact of involving young people?

Awareness can help students question stereotypes and include classmates in everyday activities. As future citizens and decision-makers, they may support accessible spaces and fair opportunities. This is a possible positive effect, not an automatic result of every awareness session.

II.3. Why is the title appropriate?

The title echoes Dr. Malik’s choice to pursue new possibilities after a major change in her life. Her move into para-athletics, Rio medal and inclusion work demonstrate that journey. “Limitless” expresses her hopeful outlook rather than literally denying every practical limit.

II.4. How can her advice about setbacks apply beyond sport?

A setback can prompt reflection, help-seeking and a revised plan. For example, after a disappointing examination, a student can identify gaps and seek support. The lesson encourages persistence while acknowledging that difficult circumstances are real and people may need time and assistance.

II.5. How does recognition contribute to gender equality in sport?

The recognition described in the interview makes a woman para-athlete’s achievements visible and challenges overlapping gender and disability stereotypes. Such visibility can encourage participation and strengthen calls for fair training and resources. Recognition alone does not establish that equality has been achieved.

II.6. How can “ability beyond disability” guide future para-athletes?

It encourages athletes and institutions to recognise skills and potential rather than assume inability. Athletes can set suitable goals, practise and seek coaching. Organisations should provide accessible facilities and appropriate equipment so that this principle becomes practical opportunity.

II.7. What have you learnt? — sample personal answer

I have learnt to question assumptions, practise patiently and ask for help when needed. I can include classmates in group activities, listen to their preferences and support accessible school events. I also recognise the value of family and community support in a sporting journey.

Vocabulary and Structures in Context

I. Match the phrases with their meanings; use them in sentences.

ANSWER

1. defy the odds — (iii) succeed when most expect failure  |  2. a new lease of life — (v) an occasion when you become more energetic and active than earlier  |  3. in hindsight — (iv) ability to understand something after it has happened  |  4. breakthrough moment — (i) a time of significant development or discovery  |  5. turn obstacles into stepping stones — (ii) overcome challenges and achieve goals

Sentences: The young farmer defied the odds and topped the state exam. • The successful surgery gave grandfather a new lease of life. • In hindsight, losing that match taught me more than winning. • Cracking the trials was the breakthrough moment of her career. • True achievers turn obstacles into stepping stones.

II. Arrange the movement words on the word cline from slowest to fastest.

ANSWER

crawl → creep → plod → amble → saunter → stroll → walk → jog → run → dart → sprint

Teacher note: this model keeps the printed anchors crawl (1), amble (4), walk (7) and sprint (11). Several walking words overlap in pace; the cline is an approximate language activity, not a measured speed scale.

III. Match the highlighted verbs with their functions. There are two extra functions.

ANSWER

1. could hear — (v) past ability  |  2. couldn’t be helped — (vi) impossibility  |  3. should give — (iv) obligation  |  4. would win — (iii) prediction. Extra functions: (i) promise and (ii) possibility.

IV. Make sentences with the modal verbs for each function.

ANSWER

could: It could rain this evening. (possibility) • If I had wings, I could fly to the stadium. (unreal ability) • Could you open the window, please? (request) • You could try swimming for fitness. (suggestion)
couldn’t: Despite trying hard, he couldn’t lift the weight. (inability)
should: She left an hour ago; she should be home by now. (probability) • You should practise every day. (advice)
would: Would you kindly share your notes? (request) • As a child, she would swim in the village pond every morning. (past habit)

V. Identify the speech and sentence type; note the changes from direct to reported speech.

ANSWER

The sentences given are in Direct Speech; they are declarative sentences.

RowChanges noted
Dr. Malik (love sports…)1. ‘said’ added  2. linking word ‘that’ added  3. I → she (given)  4. had been → had been (past perfect remains unchanged)  5. love → loved  6. decided → had decided (given)
Interviewer (your story…)1. ‘said’ added  2. ‘that’ added  3. your → her  4. is → was
Dr. Malik (youth is the voice…)1. reporting verb ‘says’ is in the present, so there is no tense backshift (believe → believes agrees with she)  2. ‘that’ added; I → she

VI. Change the conversation to reported speech.

ANSWER

Siya said that she 1. had watched a documentary on the para equestrian event on television the previous night. Tarun replied that he hadn’t known that Paralympics had equestrian events. Siya added that 2. it did, and that it had been very interesting to watch. Tarun remarked that it was wonderful and that para equestrians must be training for months for that. Siya replied that 3. they also had to find and develop their own style of communication with their horse. Tarun said that 4. he would watch that documentary the following weekend.

Listen and Respond

I. You will listen to an announcement for a special assembly in school. Fill in the blanks with one or two exact words.

ANSWER (as per the official transcript)

1. The venue for the special assembly is the school auditorium.
2. A presentation on inclusion will be made by the Interact Club.
3. The dance performance will focus on the themes of diversity and acceptance.
4. A panel discussion will be conducted by experts who support inclusion.
5. The celebration will end with a song to encourage team work.

Speaking Activity

I. Interview the Sports Captain (informal) and the Sports Coach (formal) of your school.

GUIDE

Use the textbook’s parallel openers: informal — “Hello! I’m so glad you agreed to meet me… Tell me about yourself and your love for sports… Did you face any challenges?”; formal — “Good morning, it is my privilege… Could you tell me how your journey in sports began?… Could you share something about the challenges you faced and how you overcame them?… What advice do you have for aspiring athletes?” Note how the formal version uses polite modals (could/would), full forms and respectful address, while the informal one is friendly and direct. Swap roles for each interview.

Writing Task

II. Notice for an Inter-school Athletic Meet — model within 50 words

These names and dates are fictional. Replace them with your school’s confirmed details.

SUNRISE SCHOOL
NOTICE

12 June 2026
ATHLETICS SELECTION

The Sports Club invites registrations for the Inter-school Athletic Meet on 5 July. Interested students should register for running, jumping or throwing events with me by 20 June. Selection trials: school ground, 24 June, 7 a.m.

Aman
Sports Captain

Learning Beyond the Text

I. Distinguish the two historical events.

1948: Ludwig Guttmann organised the Stoke Mandeville competition in England. 1960: Rome hosted the first Paralympic Games. These are related events, not the same event in two places. Summer and Winter editions are normally each held every four years, alternating two years apart. The same Olympic host-city arrangement dates from Seoul 1988 for Summer and Albertville 1992 for Winter. See IPC history and IPC Games overview.

II. Group presentation — sample nine-slide plan

  1. Introduce the topic: two Indian women Paralympians, Deepa Malik and Avani Lekhara.
  2. Explain the 1948 origins.
  3. Distinguish Rome 1960 and outline the modern Games.
  4. Introduce Malik and shot put.
  5. Explain her Rio 2016 silver and the interview’s inclusion message.
  6. Introduce Lekhara and shooting.
  7. Explain her Tokyo 2020 gold: she became the first Indian woman Paralympic champion. The Games retained the Tokyo 2020 name when held in 2021.
  8. Compare the skills, training and access needed in their different sports. Credit image and information sources.
  9. Conclude with practical ways to make school sport inclusive.

Evidence for the additional athlete: IPC report on Lekhara’s gold. Divide speaking turns among four group members. Alternatively, choose two Paralympic sports and research their rules from official sport bodies; do not confuse the Paralympics with the Special Olympics.

Extra Questions with Answers

1. What makes this text an interview?

Questions from an interviewer alternate with Dr. Malik’s first-person responses. The exchange explores achievements, challenges, views and advice. Distinguish the interviewee’s opinions from independently verifiable results.

2. How did support matter in her journey?

She credits her family alongside personal fortitude. Her equipment-support work also recognises that opportunity depends partly on resources and social support.

3. What practical action could make a school sports event more inclusive?

Ask participants about their access requirements, provide a step-free route, share information in accessible forms and arrange suitable equipment and coaching. This is a sample application of the chapter’s theme.

Additional MCQs

1. India made its Paralympic debut in — (a) 1948 (b) 1960 (c) 1968 (d) 1972

2. India’s first Paralympic medal (1972) came in — (a) athletics (b) swimming (c) archery (d) shooting

3. Dr. Deepa Malik was diagnosed with a spinal tumour at the age of — (a) 25 (b) 29 (c) 32 (d) 35

4. Her Paralympic silver medal came in — (a) javelin (b) discus (c) shot-put (d) swimming

5. The Rio Paralympic Games were held in — (a) 2012 (b) 2014 (c) 2016 (d) 2020

6. She was listed among the 10 most inspirational women para-athletes by — (a) UNESCO (b) the IOC (c) the International Paralympic Committee (d) the Sports Ministry

7. Her motto is — (a) “Play to win” (b) “Ability beyond disability” (c) “Never look back” (d) “Strength in unity”

8. Before para-athletics, Dr. Malik had been a — (a) runner (b) swimmer (c) shooter (d) cyclist

9. The Paralympics were first organised in Olympic style in Rome in — (a) 1948 (b) 1952 (c) 1960 (d) 1968

10. Which award is NOT among the three honours named in this interview? — (a) Khel Ratna (b) Arjuna Award (c) Padma Shri (d) Bharat Ratna

Answer key: 1-c, 2-b, 3-b, 4-c, 5-c, 6-c, 7-b, 8-b, 9-c, 10-d

Assertion–Reason Questions

Options for each: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A. (c) A is true, R is false. (d) A is false, R is true.

1. A: Dr. Malik switched to para-athletics after her surgery. R: She loved sports and had been a swimmer earlier. — (a)

2. A: The 2016 Rio Games were her breakthrough moment. R: She won the gold medal in javelin there. — (c)

3. A: Dr. Malik conducts awareness sessions in schools and colleges. R: She believes youth is the voice of tomorrow. — (a)

4. A: The Paralympics can change attitudes towards disability. R: Witnessing para-athletes’ strength and skill breaks down preconceived notions. — (a)

5. A: Dr. Malik calls disability a limitation that must be accepted quietly. R: She advises letting one’s journey inspire others. — (d)

Revision: distinguish facts from interpretations, use the correct Asian Para Games name, and practise reported speech. Choose relevant evidence; do not repeat a slogan in every answer.

FAQs

What type of text is The World of Limitless Possibilities?

It is an interview — a conversation with Dr. Deepa Malik, India’s first woman Paralympic medallist, preceded by a short introduction to the Paralympic Games.

Who is Dr. Deepa Malik?

A trailblazing Indian para-athlete who, after being paralysed waist-down at 29, won silver in shot-put at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and received the Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Padma Shri.

What is the central message of the chapter?

The interview encourages recognition of ability, persistence and inclusion. Family support, accessible opportunities and fair resources also matter.

Also read: Chapter 4 – Vitamin-M · Kaveri – All Chapters · NCERT Solutions Home. Official textbook PDF: ncert.nic.in

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