The Making of a Scientist Question And Answers| Class 10 English Footprint Without Feet Chapter 6

Ans. Richard had a rare achievement at the age of twenty-two.He wrote an article with his friend about a theory of how cells work. The article was published in the scientific journal ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.’ It was the first time that this journal had ever published the work of college students.

Ans. Richard raised thousands of butterflies, tagged them and released them to study their migration. But soon, he lost interest because only two of his tagged butterflies were recaptured and they had travelled only seventy-five

Ans. Richard Ebright’s mother helped him in becoming a scientist by encouraging his interest in learning She took him on trips and bought scientific equipment for him. She spent all her time in setting up challenges for him. This helped Richard to learn a lot. She presented him the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’. The book changed Richard’s life forever

Ans. The book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’ became a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life as after reading it, he became interested in studying the migration of butterflies. It opened the world of science for Richard.

Ans. When Ebright entered the county science fair he learnt what science was all about. He learnt that science was not a neat and tidy display of tissues on a slide. It was about the real experiments that were performed to get some real results

Ans. Richard Ebright undertook many projects and experiments. His first project was to prove that a beetle carries a viral disease that kills monarch caterpillars. Then, he tried to prove that viceroy butterflies copy monarchs. Later, he studied the twelve golden spots on monarch pupa and discovered a new hormone. Also, he found out how cells read their DNA.

Ans. Dr. Frederick A Urquhart was a scientist and teacher at the University of Toronto, Canada. He was doing research on butterfly migrations. Ebright sent him many tagged butterflies for his research work. Richard looked to him for fresh ideas and suggestions because the suggestions sent by Dr. Urquhart helped in shaping Ebright’s career as a scientist.

Ans. Birds eat viceroy butterflies because they taste good to them, whereas monarch butterflies do not. So, the viceroys try to copy the monarchs to protect themselves
from the birds.

Ans. The two contributions of Ebright to the world of science were
● Ebright built a device that showed that the spots on monarch butterflies wings produce a hormone that is necessary for the growth of the butterfly.
● His other important contribution was his study of how cells read their DNA

Apart from science, Richard was a good debater and a public speaker as well as a canoeist and an outdoor person. He also loved photography and likes to collect different kinds of things and butterflies

Mr Weiherer was Ebright’s social studies teacher and the advisor to the clubs that Richard Ebright had joined. He praised him for his brilliant mind, his curiosity and a will to win for the right reason. He also admired Richard for his spirit to do his best all the time

It is true that hobbies play a very important role in one’s life. It was Richard Ebright’s hobbies that led him into the field of science.
His hobbies were encouraged by his mother who always motivated him to learn new things.
Further, it is because of his hobbies that he became a curious all rounder, always ready to participate in things that he loved to do.

I don’t think that Richard’s mother was too indulgent when she bought him things like cameras, telescopes, etc. due to the following reasons
(a) She knew that Richard was highly curious and had a bright mind.
(b) He wanted to learn things. Thus, Richard’s mother was justified in providing him the appropriate equipment to help him in the process.

Richard’s mother played a huge role in making him a great scientist. She would take him on trips to encourage learning. He was a single child. After his father died, his
mother made him the focus of her life.
She would buy him all kinds of microscopes, telescopes and other equipments. After dinner, she gave him problems to solve. This helped Richard to learn a lot.
She was his only companion for a long time. She always tried to give him work that required no physical labour but those which enhanced his learning skill. It was his mother who got him the book ‘The Travels of Monarch X’. This book opened the world of science for Richard. She also wrote to Dr Urquhart to guide her son.
The scientist helped Richard and guided him. Thus, his mother shaped him into an extraordinary scientist

Richard Ebright displayed a well-rounded personality from his childhood. His genius was obvious by the time he was in second grade. He not only collected butterflies but also collected rocks, fossils and coins. He had managed to collect all the twenty-five species of butterflies that were found in his hometown and had classified them. Science was not his only passion. He was an active member of his school’s debating club and Model United Nations Clubs and was also an effective debator and public speaker. He was an enthusiastic canoeist and an all-round outdoor person with a keen interest in photography. Because of his interest and hobbies, it was simple for him to devote time and energy to many other interests. He was a champion, not because of his desire to win for the sake of winnings but for attempting to do his best. All of these qualities make him a well-rounded personality.

Ebright was a keen observer and a hardworking child. He was sharp-minded and had great curiosity. He started working when he was very young, i.e. in kindergarten. He collected all 25 species of butterflies found around his hometown by the time he was in second grade. He raised a flock of butterflies and tagged them to help Dr. Fredrick to study their migration. In the seventh grade, when he lost in county science fair he learnt that actual science was about real experiments which give results. His competitive spirit derived him to perform real experiments. In his high school, he led to the discovery of new theory on the life of cells. With his perseverance, dedication and continuous hard work to achieve his aim, he could determine that DNA is the blueprint for life. This discovery helped him to become a renowned scientist all over the world. Thus, Richard Ebright had all the ingredients required for the making of a scientist-analytical mind, providing ideas through experiment, a strong will to win and work for the benefits of others.

Richard H Ebright’s mother was a gentle and kind lady who encouraged and inspired Ebright’s interest in learning. It was she who laid the foundation of his success as a scientist. After her husband’s death, her son, who was studying in the third grade, became her life.
She encouraged her son’s keen interest in learning. She understood that her son had a curious and a bright mind. She recognised his son’s scientific temper, so she made sure that her son had everything that he needed. She took him on trips and bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting material and all other equipments.
She was his only companion before Richard started going to school. When Richard’s school started it was she who encouraged him to make friends. She would invite his
friends to their house. She would sit with him at night. Even when Richard did not have any work to do, his mother made sure that she finds something to engage her son. It was she who got him the book “The Travels of Monarch X” and opened the world of science for him.
She knew that her son had a passion and did all things
possible to fulfill them. This support, guidance, care and
concern of Ebright’s mother made him into the prodigal
and successful scientist.