The World of Limitless Possibilities
Reflect and Respond — Sheetal Devi
The picture shows Sheetal Devi, a young para-archer who is shooting with a bow and arrow using her feet, as she does not have arms. She is wearing a sports dress and looks focused and confident. The Paralympics logo is visible behind her, showing she is a para-athlete representing India.
Yes, Sheetal Devi inspires me greatly. Even without arms, she learnt archery using her feet and became so skilled that she won the Arjuna Award in January 2024. She teaches us that our limitations cannot stop us if we have determination and hard work.
Dr. Deepa Malik — Fact Table
Fact-Opinion & Cause-Effect
| Set | Sentences | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Set 1 | (i) In the 2016 Rio Games, I secured the silver medal in shot-put. (Fact) (ii) I feel it was a moment of personal victory and a step forward in changing perceptions. (Opinion) | 📋 Fact-Opinion |
| Set 2 | (i) I was diagnosed with a tumour in my spine. (Cause) (ii) I was told I would be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of my life. (Effect) | ⚡ Cause-Effect |
| Pair | Type | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Malik was a member of the Twelfth Five Year Plan Working Group. / It is believed she contributed greatly to sports policies. | 2 — Fact-Opinion | First is a verifiable fact; second uses “It is believed” — an opinion. |
| Paralympics showcases incredible talent. / Global perception on disabilities shifts, inspiring para-athletes. | 1 — Cause-Effect | Showcasing talent is the cause; changing global perception is the effect. |
Critical Reflection — Extract 1
Just like a caterpillar struggles inside a cocoon and finally becomes a beautiful butterfly, Dr. Malik faced a very difficult time after her surgery. Instead of giving up, she transformed her sad situation into a successful life full of achievements as a para-athlete.
Because she already loved sports and had been a swimmer earlier. She had a sporting background and natural interest, which made the switch comfortable.
…she won the silver medal in shot-put, which became a moment of personal victory and a big step forward in changing how society viewed persons with disabilities.
B — reflective. “In hindsight” means thinking back and reflecting on past events.
That people with physical disabilities cannot achieve great things or compete in sports at a high level. By winning a Paralympic medal, she proved that disability does not limit one’s potential.
Critical Reflection — Extract 2
(a) A and D — appreciative and optimistic. The speaker appreciates the power of Paralympics and speaks with hope about changing attitudes.
ability : potential :: preconceived notions : stereotypes — both mean fixed opinions formed without knowing the truth.
True — Dr. Malik clearly says Paralympics challenges stereotypes and changes attitudes towards disability.
It tells us the speaker is brave, determined, and willing to go beyond her limits. She kept challenging herself to do more than what people thought was possible.
The phrase “a new lease of life” — it suggests Paralympics helped her transform her life and gave her a fresh start.
Long Answer Questions
Society often believes people with disabilities cannot achieve big goals. Dr. Malik proved this wrong. Even though she is paralysed waist down, she became India’s first female Paralympics medallist and won Khel Ratna, Arjuna, and Padma Shri. Her achievements show that physical limitations do not define one’s potential — disability is not a weakness but a strength.
Youth who become aware about disability grow up with kindness, respect, and an inclusive mindset. In the long term, this will create a society where persons with disabilities are treated equally and given fair opportunities. The youth will become future leaders, employers, and citizens who support inclusion in every field.
Dr. Malik’s life proves there are no limits when one has determination. After being paralysed at 29, instead of feeling sorrowful, she chose to transform her life — won a Paralympic medal, received national awards, and became a voice for disability rights. Her journey shows that possibilities are endless if one believes in oneself.
Every person faces problems — failures, family issues, health problems, or job loss. Instead of giving up, we should see setbacks as chances to become stronger. Just like Dr. Malik turned her paralysis into a successful sports career, any individual can use difficult times to discover hidden strengths, learn new things, and grow as a person.
For a long time, women athletes — especially para-athletes — were not given equal importance. Her name being listed by the IPC shows that women can reach the top in sports. It inspires young girls to take up sports without fear and encourages society to give equal opportunities and respect to female athletes.
This thought teaches para-athletes that their abilities are far greater than their physical limitations. This positive thinking will give them courage to dream big, work hard, and not let disability stop them from winning medals and making India proud.
Vocabulary — Phrases & Word Cline
| Phrase | Meaning | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| defy the odds | Succeed when most think it would result in failure | Sheetal Devi defied the odds and won the Arjuna Award. |
| a new lease of life | Become more energetic and active than before | After joining sports, Rahul got a new lease of life. |
| in hindsight | Ability to understand something after it happened | In hindsight, I should have studied harder for my exam. |
| breakthrough moment | A time of significant development or discovery | Winning the gold medal was her breakthrough moment. |
| turn obstacles into stepping stones | Overcome challenges and achieve goals | Successful people turn obstacles into stepping stones. |
| Sentence | Function |
|---|---|
| “I could hear the audience clapping.” | Past ability |
| “It couldn’t be helped.” | Impossibility |
| “I should give it my best shot.” | Obligation |
| “I knew if I tried, I would win.” | Prediction |
Grammar — Modal Verbs
| Modal | Function | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| could | Possibility | It could rain tonight. |
| Unreal ability | If I had wings, I could fly. | |
| Request | Could you please pass me the book? | |
| Suggestion | We could go to the park today. | |
| couldn’t | Inability | I couldn’t solve the maths problem yesterday. |
| should | Probability | The train should arrive at 5 p.m. |
| Advice | You should drink more water daily. | |
| would | Request | Would you help me carry this bag? |
| Past habit | When I was young, I would play cricket every evening. |
Direct & Reported Speech
| Change | Direct Speech | Reported Speech |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting verb | (quotation marks) | ‘said’ added |
| Linking word | — | ‘that’ added |
| Pronoun | I | she |
| Pronoun | Your | her |
| Tense | love → present | loved → past |
| Tense | decided → past | had decided → past perfect |
| Tense | is → present | was → past |
| Special case | ‘says’ (present) reporting verb | No tense change in reported clause |
Notice Writing & Paralympics
Sports Captain