The Making of a Scientist class 10 NCERT solutions

The Making of a Scientist class 10 NCERT solutions: The Making of a Scientist is the lesson no six from the class 10 NCERT English textbook supplementary reader "Footprints without foot". The Making of a Scientist is written by " Robert W Peterson".

The Making of Scientist is about the great scientist Richard H Ebright , He had a habit of collecting butterflies, rocks fossils and coins since he was a kid. He started scientific research on the study of butterflies. His curiosity and a will to win for the right reasons made him successful.

The Making of a Scientist class 10 questions answers

Here, in this article we have tried to cover up The Making of a Scientist class 10 questions answers along with the other important topics related to the chapter as mentioned bellow

1. The Making of a Scientist summary
2. The Making of a Scientist explanation
3. The Making of a Scientist text-book questions answers
4. The Making of a Scientist short questions answers
5. The Making of a Scientist important questions answers
6. The Making of a Scientist long questions answers

Richard H. Ebright is a brilliant scientist, an American molecular biologist. He is the Board of Governors Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University and Laboratory Director at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology. Follow this link to read more

1. The Making of a Scientist summary

The summary of the lesson "The Making of a Scientist" is about Richard's article on how cells work was published in a science journal at the age of twenty-two. Richard was a single child to his parents and didn't have friends to play. So, he became interested in collecting butterflies and various other items.

His mother bought him all the equipments he needed. she guided him and helped him to learn. He read a book "The Travels of Monarch X" which created a love for science in him.

He raised thousands of monarch butterflies at home over a few years. He tagged them as they grew and freed them to study their migration. Richard put up a slide of frogs at the country science fair but did not win any ward. His defeat inspired him to experiment. He took help from 'Dr Urquhart' to work on various projects. He won many awards at the Country and International Science Fairs in subsequent years.

His work on viceroy butterflies got him the first position award in a fair. Richard discovered a hormone necessary for the growth of monarch butterfly. He worked at the Army laboratory and the US Department of Agriculture laboratory.

Richard spent a year at Havard as a freshman before going back to the laboratory to discover the chemical structure of the harmone responsible for the gold spots on the monarch pupa. His findings motivated him to study cells and how they read their DNA.

His theory may help to prevent many kinds of cancers and other diseasea. He graduated from Harvard with second position among 1510 students. His other interests include debating, public speaking and photography. Richard's social studies teacher praises him for his excellent mind, curiosity and a will to win- the essential qualities of a scientist.

Dr Frederick Albert Urquhart, CM was a Canadian zoologist who studied the migration of monarch butterflies, He is a prominent scientist. He provided valuable guidance to Richard for his projects. Follow this link to read more

2. The Making of a Scientist explanation

The article of Richard and his friend was published in the scientific journal 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Science'. He was only twenty two years old at that time. It was the first time that the research work of college students was published. It was a rare honour for Richard.

Richard was the only child of his parents. He grew up at the reding in Pennsylvania, USA. He had no one to play with. So, he started collecting things like rocks, fossils and coins. Gazing at stars and collecting butterflies were his hobbies.

Richard mother was constantly with him. She encouraged him by taking him on trips and bought him telescopes and other equipment. She found work to challenge him and helped him to learn a lot.

The reading of a children's book titled 'The Travels of Monarch X' inspired him. He became interested in the world of science. The book asked the readers to study butterfly migrations. Richard came in contact with the scientist Dr Urquhart through this book, who influenced him greatly.

Richard decided to raise butterflies at his home to study their migration pattern. He would catch a female monarch and take her eggs. He would watch all the stages of development of the butterfly. Then he would tag their wings and free them. He did it for many years and raised thousands of butterflies in the basement of his home.

Richard displayed his slides of frogs at the country science fair, but did not win any ward. He realised that he needed to carry out real experiments to win an award. He took suggestions from Dr Urquhart. As a result of his may experiments, he won many prizes at the country and international science fairs in the following years.

Richard tried to find the cause of viral fever that kills thousands of monarch butterflies. He thought that a beetle may carry the virus that causes viral fever. Although this was not the case, but he still won a prize for his project.

Richard experimented on viceroy butterflies. He tried to prove that viceroys copy monarchs. Viceroys do it to protect themselves from birds as birds don't eat monarchs. The project won the first prize in Zoology division and overall third prize in the country science fair.

Richard was curious to know the reason behind twelve gold spots on a monarch pupa. He and his friends built a device to prove that the spots were producing a hormone necessary for its full development. The project got him first prize in the country fair. He also entered the International Science and Engineering Fair. He got third prize for Zoology in this fair.

Richard grew cells from the wings of a monarch butterfly. He further proved that cells grow into scales of wings only when they are injected with the hormone from the gold spots. He carried on his work at the Army laboratory and laboratory of the US Department of Agriculture. After his freshman year at Harvard, he returned to the laboratory of Department of Agriculture to identify the chemical structure of hormone. This gave him a new idea about cell life.

Richard's research on the hormone gave him an idea. He believed that his study could tell how cells read their DNA. He, along with his college roommate, James R Wong, worked on the idea. Then, they wrote a paper explaining their theory.

Richard graduated with a second position in a class of 1510 students. He became a graduate student researcher. He started experimenting to prove his new theory. His theory may create new ways to prevent some types of cancer and other diseases.

Richard was not just a scientist. He was an all rounder. He was a good debater and a public speaker. He was also a photographer and an outdoors person. His social studies teacher praised him for his will to work hard, do his best and win.

Richard had all qualities that made him a true scientist. He had curiosity and a first rate mind. He wanted to win for the right reasons.

What is DNA ?  

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a molecule composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix carrying genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses. DNA and ribonucleic acid are nucleic acids.Read more

3. The Making of a Scientist NCERT textbook questions answers

• Page No 32
Q1. How did a book become a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life ?
Ans: After reading the book 'The Travels of Monarch X', he became interested in tracking the migration of butterflies. This interest led him to other projects and experiments and he became a great scientist.

Q2. How did his mother help him ?
Ans: Richard mother was constantly with him. She encouraged him, took him on trips and bought scientific equipment for him. She set up challenges to make him learn a lot and presented the book 'The Travels of Monarch X'.

• Page No 34
Q1. What lesson does Ebright learn when he does not win anything at a science fair?
Ans: Ebright exhibited slides of frog tissues at a science fair. He did not get any prize. He learnt an important lesson that science is not just about display. It is about projects and experiments. He began conducting experiments from that day onwards.

Q2. What experiments and projects does he then undertake ?
Ans: He undertook many projects and experiments. He worked on viceroy butterflies to show that they copy monarch butterflies. He studied bright spots on the monarch pupa and discovered a new hormone. Also, he found out how cells read their DNA.

Q3. What are the qualities that go into the making of a scientist ?
Ans: There are three essential qualities that make a scientist. The first is a first rate mind, second is the presence of curiosity and the will to do the best and win.

• Page No 38
Q2. 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 ?
Ans: DNA carry the blue print of life and heredity. They pass information from one generation to the other. If I get an opportunity to work like Richard Ebright, I would choose to study about virus and diseases so that I may find ways to cure many diseases.

• Page No 38
Q1. 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 ? You will find Professor Yash Pal’s and Dr Rahul Pal’s answers (as given in Discovered Questions) on
page 75.
Ans:
(i) DNA fingerprinting is a forensic technique used to identify individuals by the characteristics of their DNA. It is used in parentage testing. It is also used in criminal investigation to identify a person or to place him at the scene of crime.

(ii) Honeybees have signalling chemicals. They leave trails for fellow honeybees so that they can reach their honeycomb.

(iii) The only solid thing in the air are dust particles. Water vapour uses it as a centre of attraction when it becomes too heavy. Water vapour condenses on the dust particle as a drop and falls on Earth.

The monarch butterfly or simply monarch is a milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names depending on region include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black veined brown. It may be the most familiar North American butterfly, and is considered an iconic pollinator species. Follow this link to read more

4. The Making of a Scientist short questions answers

Q1. Richard became a collector at an early age. How?
Ans: Richard was the only child of his parents. He had no company at home to play with. So, he started collecting things in his spare time. He would collect coins, fossils, rocks and butterflies as a hobby. He also had a sharp mind and curiosity to know, so it helped him in his learning.

Q2. Which project did Richard undertake in the eight grade ?
Ans: Richard undertook the project to find the cause of a viral fever that killed thousands of butterflies. He thought that a beetle might carry the virus, so he rose caterpillars in the presence of beetles.

Q3. What rare achievement did Richard manage at the age of twenty two ?
Ans: Richard had a rare honour 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'.

Q4. How did ' The Travels of Monarch X' prove a turning point Richard's life ?
Ans: Richard was bored with collecting butterflies, His mother presented him the book 'The Travels of Monarch X'. After reading this book, he studied the migration of butterflies and this led him interested to other projects and finally, he became a great scientist.

Q5. Why did Richard lose interest in tagging butterflies ?
Ans: Richard raised thousands of butterflies, tagged them and released them to study their migration. But soon, he lost interest in tagging butterflies because only two of his tagged butterflies were returned to him and they had travelled only seventy five miles.

Q6. Why do viceroy butterflies copy the monarch butterflies ?
Ans: Birds eat viceroy butterflies because they taste good to them but birds do not eat monarch butterflies. So, the viceroy try to copy the monarch butterflies to protect themselves from the birds.

Q7. Richard's project on the purpose of the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa was highly valuable in two ways. List the two ways.
Ans: His project on the twelve tiny gold project had a huge impact. First, he discovered a hormone that was necessary for the growth of the pupa. Second, he got a chance to work at a famous laboratory as he won the first prize in the country fair and entry into the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Q8. In addition to science, what were the other interests of Richard ?
Ans: Apart from science, Richard was a good debater and a public speaker as well as a canoeist and an outdoors person. He loved photography as well. He loved to collect different kinds of things and butterflies.

Q9. Mr Weiherer pays a glowing tribute to Richard. What did he say ?
Ans: Mr Weiherer was Ebright's social studies teacher. 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 very best all the time.

5. The Making of a Scientist important questions answers

Q1. Mention any two of Ebright's contributions to the world of science.       CBSE 2011
Ans: Richard Ebright built a device that showed that the spots on butterflies wings produce a hormone that is necessary for the growth of a butterfly. His other important contribution proved to be his study of how cell read their DNA.

Q2. What were the factors which contributed in making Ebright a scientist ?     CBSE 2014
Ans: Three qualities of Ebright which contributed were - a first rate of mind, curiosity and the will to win for the right reason. So, he became one of the greatest scientist.

Q3. How did Ebright's mother help him in becoming a scientist ?         CBSE 2015
Ans: Richard mother helped him a lot in becoming a scientist. She encouraged him, took him to trips, bought equipments like microscopes, telescopes, books. She prepared task for him to learn a lot.

Q4. Hobbies play a very important role in one's life; elaborate this with reference to "The Making of a Scientist".       CBSE 2016
Ans: As there were no one to play with Ebright, his mother encouraged him to learn new things. Ebright started collecting butterflies as a hobby but this led him to research and discover many things. Hence, hobbies play an important role in one's life.

Q5. Which book did Ebright's mother get for him ? How did it change his life ?     CBSE 2017
Ans: Ebright's mother presented him the book 'The Travels of Monarch X'. After reading the book 'The Travels of Monarch X', he became interested in tracking the migration of butterflies. This interest led him to other projects and experiments and he became a great scientist.

The viceroy is a North American butterfly that ranges through most of the contiguous United States as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. The westernmost portion of its range extends from the Northwest Territories along the eastern edges of the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada mountains, southwards into central Mexico. Follow this link to read more

6. The Making of a Scientist long questions answers

Q1. Richard's mother had a great influence on him. Discuss
Or
Discuss the role of Ebright's mother in making him a scientist.         CBSE 2011
Ans: 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 equipment. 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 works enhanced his learning skill. His mother presented the book 'The Travel of Monarch X'. After reading this book the world of science opened for Richard. She also wrote to Dr. Frederick A Urquhart to guide her son. Thus, his mother had great influence on him.

Q2. Richard Ebright displayed a well rounded personality. Do you agree ? Elucidate in the context of the given text.            CBSE 2016
Ans: Richard's genius was obvious by the time he was in his second grade. He managed to collect all twenty five spices of butterflies around his hometown and classify them. He also loved to collect coins, fossils and rocks. Science was not his passion. He was an active member of his school's oratory club and model United Nations Club and was an effective debater and a public speaker. He loved photography as well. He was an enthusiastic canoeist and an outdoors person. Learning was easy for him. So, he found it simple to devote time and energy and became a champion in whatever he did. He wanted to win to do his best.

Q3. How did Ebright use determination and perseverance to achieve his aim of becoming a scientist ?                    CBSE 2019
Ans: Beginning in kindergarten, Ebright collected butterflies with the same determination and marked all his activities. In the second grade, he had collected all twenty five spices of butterflies found around his home. His determination to study butterflies made him raise a flock of butterflies. He participated in science fairs, completed a number of research projects and graduate from Harvard with highest honours. He went on to become a graduate student researcher at Harvard Medical School. There he began doing experiments to test his theory on DNA. Thus, his determination and perseverance made him one of the greatest scientist.

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