Sachin’s favourite players were Gavaskar and West Indian legend Viv Richards.

       Towards the last fifteen minutes, Achrekar would place a one rupee coin on top of the Ans stumps and if Sachin managed to avoid getting out, the coin was his. In this session every bowler in the camp, would come and bowl to him with some sixty to seventy boy fielding. it meant that he had to hit every ball along the ground to survive those intense fifteen minutes.

       Sachin’s father would always end up giving Sachin what he wanted just to see him happy.

       It was a challenge for Sachin to stand with his kitbag in the bus. The conductors would complain about Sachin taking up the space of another passenger. They were often rude to him and would sometimes ask him to buy two tickets. This situation was so embarrassing Ans to Sachin.

       Sachin felt that playing with his friends at home was such a fun that he would conveniently forget to go to the nets.

       Achrekar would advise Sachin not to waste his time playing disordered games with the Ans kids. Cricket is waiting for him at the nets. Practise hard and see what magic it can show.

       Achrekar’s first impression on Sachin was that he felt he was too young to make the camp.

       The camp involved a session every morning and evening at Shivaji Park Sachin would practise between 7.30 am and 10.30 am. He would again go in the afternoon and practise till late evening. He would be exhausted at the end of the day. Thus the schedule was rigorous.

       A note, which was given by his brother Ajit, served as a very personal coaching manual. It contained some thoughts about batting.

       Sachin was asked to change the school, as the New English School did not have any cricket facilities.

       The condition laid down by Sachin’s father for changing the school was that if Sachin is really serious about playing cricket, he would change his school.

       Winning the one-rupee coin used to give Sachin immense satisfaction and taught him to concentrate even after he was physically drained.

       Sachin was compelled to run two full circuits of Shivaji Park with his pads and gloves on. It was a routine he would repeat right through his summer holidays. This helped him to build up his physical and mental stamina.

       Once, Sachin avoided his daily evening practice to watch an inter-school cricket match. Least did he expect that his coach would be there. The coach became angry on Sachin and told him that people all over the world should watch him play.

       When the coach Achrekar was trying to teach a very important lesson, Sachin was inattentive and did not carry out his orders. So he was punished.

       Had it not been for the coach Ramakant Achrekar, Sachin would not be the cricketer Ans he turned out to be. Achrekar was a strict disciplinarian and did everything, he could for Sachin. So Sachin says that he owes himself to Achrekar.

1. “Achrekar was a sincere coach’. Substantiate. (QY. I9)

       Ans:   Ramakant Achrekar coached young cricketers at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. At the a of twelve, Tendulkar would practise for hours and hours in the nets. If he became exhausted. Achrekar would put a one rupee coin on top of the s umps and the bowler who dismissed Tendulkar would get the coin. If Tendulkar passed the whole session without getting dismissed, the coach would give him the coin. Achrekar used to encourage Sachin at all times and gave him practice thoroughly. Tendulkar lauded his contribution to cricket and said his mentor looked after ail players real well. During the training session, Achrekar worked sincerely and gave rigorous training to everyone in the camp. Had it not been for Achrekar, Sachin would ne be the cricketer he turned out to be. The coach Achrekar was a strict disciplinarian and did everything he could for Sachin.

      (HY. 19)

         Ans:   Sachin started playing cricket at the age at eleven in 1984. He was trained at Shivaji Park by his coach Ramakant Achrekar, who worked in Shardashram Vidyamandir He ran summer camps ton. Sachin had a vigorous training under him. He would practise between 7.30 am and 10.30 am in the morning. Then he would come back in the afternoon and practise till evening. The schedule was rigorous and he would be exhausted by the end of the day. During the bus journeys, he would have i conversation with his brother Ajit about the various changes in batting. He used have only one set of cricket clothes. So he had to wash the set after every session, to wear them for his next session. He had to face a lot of embarrassing moments, while travelling in the bus to Shivaji Park. There was also an immense fifteen minute training with a one rupee coin by the coach. Though his coach punished hi on one occasion, the coach contributed a lot in the success of Sachin Tendulkar Without the coach Achrekar. Sachin would not be the cricketer, he turned out be. Sachin says he owes himself to Achrekar.

         Ans:   The game would be most inspiring to the youngsters of today such ones are All my excess energies were getting channelled into cricket, which acted as a kind f safety valve”. My father always said that all he wanted me to do was give it my best  effort without worrying about the results. “Winning the one rupee coin used to give me immense satisfaction and taught me how to concentrate even when physically drained”. “Had it not been for sir, I would not be the cricketer I turned out to be”. “I owe myself to him”.  All these sentences would inspire each and everyone ho reads this extract as it reads the determination, the will power, hard work and the difficulties undergone by Sachin Tendulkar and his family to achieve his goal as a cricketer. His family members also supported him and encouraged him throughout his career. The youngsters should learn a lot from this all-rounder.

1. ease          – effortless

2. evolve      – progress

3. excess      –  surplus

4. survive     – endure

5. immense  – great

C. Match the Antonym:

3. occasional   – continual

4. complete     – incomplete

5. insane          – wise

Homonyms

     Cricket is a popular spot.

     Cricket is active at night.

     I went to bank to deposit money.

     The river bank is polluted.

     Caesar’s will was shown to the Romans.

     I will work hard.

     Dog bark loudly.

     The bark of the tree is medicinal

     I bought a watch.

     We will watch you.

     I am afraid of bats.

     He his the ball hard with his bat.

1. in           – inn

2. know     – no

3. be          – bee

4. to           – two, too

5. watt       – what

6. right      – rite, write

7. were      – wear, where

8. bare       – bear

9. herd       – heard

10. throne  – thrown

G. Prefix

2. un     –  unclear, uncertain

3. re      –  reopen, rethink

4. en     –  enclose, encircle

5. dis    –  disappoint, display

6. ir      –  irresponsible, irrational

Suffix

2. or     –  inventor, distributor

3. er     –  explorer, manager

4. ness –  happiness, darkness

5. ian   –  electrician, musician

6. ist    –  dentist, scientist

Listening:

2. (b) every four years

3. (a) 1960

4. (a) Roman

5. (b) Sir Ludwig Guttmann.

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