Std 10 English chapters › Unit 4
In short: An interview with champion boxer Mary Kom, who talks about her humble beginnings in Manipur, her struggles, and balancing boxing with motherhood.
(जगज्जेती बॉक्सर मेरी कोम यांची मुलाखत; मणिपूरमधील साधी सुरुवात, संघर्ष आणि बॉक्सिंग व मातृत्व यांचा समतोल याबद्दल त्या बोलतात.)
- Type: Prose (interview)
- About: M. C. Mary Kom, Indian boxer from Manipur
- Unit: 4
4.4 Unbeatable Super Mom: Mary Kom: English Workshop Question Answers
Answers to every activity in the Std 10 English Kumarbharati textbook (Maharashtra Board), written by a practising English teacher. Read the lesson in your textbook first, then try each activity here before you check the answer.
Chit-chat: Indian sportswomen at international level
| Name | Sport | Level and achievements |
|---|---|---|
| P. V. Sindhu | Badminton | World Champion (2019); Olympic silver (2016) and bronze (2020) |
| Saina Nehwal | Badminton | Olympic bronze (2012); former world No. 1 |
| Mithali Raj | Cricket | Former captain of the Indian women’s team; highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs |
| Sakshi Malik | Wrestling | Olympic bronze (2016) |
| Mirabai Chanu | Weightlifting | Olympic silver (2020) |
Warming up 1: Fill in the table
| Sport / game | Place where played | Individual or team | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxing | Ring | Individual | Boxing gloves |
| Cricket | Ground / pitch | Team | Bat, ball, stumps |
| Badminton | Court | Individual or doubles | Racket, shuttlecock |
| Football | Field | Team | Football, goalposts |
| Swimming | Pool | Individual | Swimsuit, goggles |
| Hockey | Field | Team | Hockey stick, ball |
Warming up 2: Complete the interview with Vijetha Bhide
✍️ Add 4 to 5 questions and answers first.
Show a model interview
J. P.: Congratulations on your win! How do you feel?
V. B.: I am thrilled. The whole team worked very hard for this victory.
J. P.: What was the turning point of the final?
V. B.: Our bowlers took three quick wickets in the last five overs. That changed the match.
J. P.: How do you keep the team united?
V. B.: We respect each other, practise together every day and celebrate every small success.
J. P.: What is your next goal?
V. B.: We want to win the national championship next year.
J. P.: Any message for young girls?
V. B.: Follow your dream. Work hard and never let anyone tell you that a game is “only for boys”.
J. P.: Thank you, Vijetha, and all the best for the future!
Short questions from the lesson (margin questions)
- What was Mary Kom’s exceptional achievement?
She is a five-time World Boxing Champion and the only boxer to win a medal in every one of the six world championships. She was also the first Indian woman boxer to win an Olympic medal (bronze, 2012). - How did Kom’s parents make a living?
They were tenant farmers who worked in jhum fields. - What has added to Kom’s greatness as a boxing champion?
After winning silver at her first world championship, she apologised to the whole nation for not winning the gold. - What failed to pressurise Mary Kom during the Olympics?
Being the only female boxer from India did not put pressure on her, because she was confident. - What can help Indian sportspersons win more Olympic medals?
More people should take up sports as a full-time career, and more companies should sponsor players so that they have no financial pressure. - How did Mary Kom increase her weight?
She gained 3 kg by eating the right kind of healthy food, not unhealthy saturated fats. - What did OGQ do for Mary Kom?
Olympic Gold Quest helped her whenever she needed something and took care of everything, so she could focus on boxing and stay stress-free. - What is Mary Kom more proud of: being a boxer or a mother?
Being a mother. She says it is the best thing that has ever happened to her.
Q1. Choose the correct alternatives
👉 Tap the correct answer.
(a) What kind of text is it?
Answer: interview. Most of the lesson is an interview with Mary Kom.
(b) Which State does Mary Kom belong to?
Answer: Manipur. She was born in Kangthei village in Manipur.
(c) Who inspired Mary Kom to choose boxing?
Answer: Dingko Singh. He won gold at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
(d) What did Mary Kom prefer being called?
Answer: Super Mom. She loves being a mother.
Q2. Places and their importance in Mary Kom’s life
- Kangthei: Mary Kom’s birthplace
- Bangkok: where Dingko Singh won gold at the 1998 Asian Games, which inspired her to take up boxing
- West Bengal: where she won the regional championship in 2000
- United States: where she made her international debut and won silver at the first AIBA Women’s World Championship
- Pune: where she trained hard and sparred with male boxers before the Olympics
Q3. Full forms of the short forms
👉 Choose the full form, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Short form | Full form |
|---|---|
| OGQ | Olympic Gold Quest |
| IBN | Indian Broadcasting Network |
| MTV | Music Television |
| YPA | Young Paite Association |
| AIBA | Amateur International Boxing Association |
| CNN | Cable News Network |
Q4. Factfile of Mary Kom
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| (a) Full name | Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom (M. C. Mary Kom) |
| (b) Native of | Kangthei village, Churachandpur district, Manipur |
| (c) Early life and interests | Poor family of tenant farmers; helped on the farm; loved athletics |
| (d) Special sport | Boxing |
| (e) Inspired by | Dingko Singh, the Manipuri boxer |
| (f) Coach | Charles Atkinson |
| (g) Early achievements | Manipur State women’s boxing champion and regional champion (2000) |
| (h) International achievements | Five-time World Champion; Olympic bronze (2012); first Indian woman boxer to win gold at the Commonwealth Games (2018) |
| (i) Her passion | Boxing, and being a mother |
| (j) Future plans | May coach Indian women boxers one day |
Q5. Qualities of Mary Kom (web)
humble · hardworking · determined · confident · patriotic · a loving mother
Q6. Why “Super” is added to “Mom”
- She is a mother of twins and still became a world champion.
- She balances her family, household work and tough boxing training.
- She proudly says that being a mother is the best thing in her life.
Q7. Answer in your own words
- Why a legend: She rose from a poor farming family to become a five-time World Champion and the only boxer to win a medal at every one of six world championships. Her humility made her an idol for all sportswomen.
- Quality and bad luck: She showed confidence: she did not feel pressure even as India’s only woman boxer. Her bad luck was that her coach was not allowed to go with her, and some judging decisions in the semi-final went against her.
- Her suggestion: More people should take up sports as a full-time career, and more companies should sponsor players so that they can focus only on their game.
Q8. Arrange the facts in order (flow chart)
Put the events of Mary Kom’s career in order:
- Mary Kom decided to take up boxing.
- Mary Kom won the Manipur State Women's boxing championship.
- Mary Kom made her first appearance at international level.
- She sparred with male boxers in Pune.
- She won a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics.
Answer key: correct order
- Mary Kom decided to take up boxing.
- Mary Kom won the Manipur State Women's boxing championship.
- Mary Kom made her first appearance at international level.
- She sparred with male boxers in Pune.
- She won a bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics.
Q9. Sentences with the words
| Word | Sentences |
|---|---|
| debut | 1. The young singer made her debut on television. 2. He scored a century on his Test debut. |
| elation | 1. There was great elation when India won the match. 2. She jumped with elation at her result. |
| sponsor | 1. A big company will sponsor our school’s sports meet. 2. Who is the sponsor of this programme? |
| reinforced | 1. Her victory reinforced her confidence. 2. The wall was reinforced with steel. |
| humble surroundings | 1. Dr Kalam grew up in humble surroundings. 2. Many great people come from humble surroundings. |
Q10. Antonyms from the text
👉 Choose the antonym, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Word | Antonym |
|---|---|
| (a) arrogant | humble |
| (b) finally | initially |
| (c) disqualify | qualify |
| (d) diffident | confident |
Writing Skills: Question Answers
Q11. Ten interview questions for a famous cricketer
- Where were you born, and what was your childhood like?
- When did you first become interested in cricket?
- Who inspired you to play cricket?
- Who was your first coach, and how did he or she guide you?
- How many hours do you practise every day?
- What was your most memorable match?
- Which record or achievement are you most proud of?
- How do you handle pressure and failure?
- What are your future plans?
- What advice would you give to young cricketers like us?
Q12. Paragraph: the life and work of Mary Kom
✍️ Write your own paragraph first.
Show a model paragraph
Mary Kom was born in Kangthei village in Manipur to a poor family of tenant farmers. As a child, she helped her parents in the fields, went to school and loved athletics. Inspired by the boxer Dingko Singh, she took up boxing. She trained with great dedication, and in 2000 she won the Manipur State women’s boxing championship. At just 18, she won a silver medal at her first World Championship in the United States. She went on to become a five-time World Champion and won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics, the first Indian woman boxer to do so. In 2018, she won gold at the Commonwealth Games. She has received the Arjuna Award, the Padma Shri and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. A proud mother of twins, she may coach Indian women boxers in the future. Mary Kom is a true inspiration for every girl in India.
Q13. Debate: “What men can do, women can do better”
✍️ Note down points for and against with your group first.
Show sample points for both sides
For the topic: “Women: Equal and Excellent”
Women have proved themselves in every field. Mary Kom became a world boxing champion, Kalpana Chawla went into space and Indira Gandhi led the nation. Women manage both home and work with great patience and skill. They are often more careful, more organised and better at multitasking. In education, girls often top board exams. When given equal chances, women do not just match men, they often do better.
Against the topic: “Equal, Not Better”
Men and women are equal; neither is better than the other. Each person has different strengths, and success depends on hard work, not on being a man or a woman. Saying that one gender is “better” creates competition instead of cooperation. Families, workplaces and countries grow best when men and women work together as a team and respect each other. So the real goal should be equal opportunity for all.
Language Study: Question Answers
1. Subordinate clauses and their kinds
👉 Choose the kind of clause, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Subordinate clause | Kind | Why |
|---|---|---|
| (a) …who conquered the world | Adjective clause | It describes the noun "warrior". |
| (b) …whenever I required them | Adverb clause | It tells us when (time). |
| (c) …that more people should take up sports as a full-time career | Noun clause | It is the object of "think". |
| (d) …(that) nutrition is a neglected area in Indian sports | Noun clause | It is the object of "think". |
| (e) …that has happened to me | Adjective clause | It describes the noun "thing". |
| (f) …even though we are a nation of 1.3 billion people | Adverb clause | It shows contrast (concession). |
2. Word forms from the text
| (A) Verb forms | (B) Noun forms | (C) Adjective forms |
|---|---|---|
| qualification → qualify | represent → representative | favour → favourite |
| negligence → neglect | change → change | proportion → proportionate |
| company → accompany | prepare → preparation | finance → financial |
| decisions → decide | achieve → achievement | nutrition → nutritional |
| practice → practise | aware → awareness | female → female (already an adjective: “female boxer”) |
| succeed → success | addition → additional |
मराठी टीप: Noun clause (नाम उपवाक्य) = “काय?” चे उत्तर; Adjective clause (विशेषण उपवाक्य) = नामाचे वर्णन; Adverb clause (क्रियाविशेषण उपवाक्य) = कधी, का, कसे.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the 'Unbeatable Super Mom' in the lesson?
Mary Kom, the Indian boxer from Manipur, a five-time World Champion and the mother of twins.
What medal did Mary Kom win at the 2012 Olympics?
She won a bronze medal in the 51 kg flyweight category. She was the first Indian woman boxer to qualify for and win a medal at the Olympics.
Who inspired Mary Kom to take up boxing?
The Manipuri boxer Dingko Singh, who won a gold medal at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
What does OGQ stand for?
OGQ stands for Olympic Gold Quest, which supported Mary Kom and kept her stress-free.
What does Mary Kom suggest for India to win more Olympic medals?
More people should take up sports as a full-time career, and more companies should sponsor players.
Summary in English
The chapter is an interview with Mary Kom. She grew up in a poor farming family in a village in Manipur, and took up boxing at a time when very few girls in India did. Her parents were tenant farmers who worked in jhum fields, and the success of the Manipuri boxer Dingko Singh inspired her.
Through hard work and determination she became one of the world’s greatest amateur boxers, winning several world championship titles and a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. She has received national honours for her achievements.
She also speaks about her twins and her love for being a mother, and about the need for more sponsors, better nutrition and support for young athletes, especially girls. Her story shows that women can succeed in any field.
मराठीत सारांश (Summary in Marathi)
हा धडा मेरी कोम यांची मुलाखत आहे. मणिपूरमधील एका गावात गरीब शेतकरी कुटुंबात त्या वाढल्या; भारतात फार कमी मुली बॉक्सिंग करत असताना त्यांनी हा खेळ निवडला. त्यांचे आई-वडील झूम शेती करणारे कूळ शेतकरी होते; मणिपूरचे बॉक्सर डिंको सिंग यांच्या यशाने त्यांना प्रेरणा मिळाली.
मेहनत आणि जिद्दीच्या जोरावर त्या जगातील सर्वोत्तम हौशी बॉक्सरपैकी एक झाल्या; त्यांनी अनेक जागतिक अजिंक्यपद स्पर्धा जिंकल्या आणि २०१२ च्या लंडन ऑलिम्पिकमध्ये कांस्यपदक मिळवले. त्यांच्या कामगिरीसाठी त्यांना राष्ट्रीय सन्मान मिळाले आहेत.
आपल्या जुळ्या मुलांबद्दल आणि आई असण्याच्या आनंदाबद्दल आणि तरुण खेळाडूंना, विशेषतः मुलींना, चांगले पाठबळ व सुविधा मिळण्याच्या गरजेबद्दलही त्या बोलतात. स्त्रिया कोणत्याही क्षेत्रात यशस्वी होऊ शकतात, हे त्यांची गोष्ट दाखवते.
Theme and Message (मध्यवर्ती कल्पना)
Determination can overcome poverty and prejudice. Women can excel in any field, even one that many think is only for men.
जिद्दीने गरिबी आणि पूर्वग्रहांवर मात करता येते. पुरुषांचे मानले जाणारे क्षेत्र असले तरी स्त्रिया कोणत्याही क्षेत्रात उत्तम कामगिरी करू शकतात.
Useful Words (शब्दार्थ)
| Word | मराठी अर्थ | Use it in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| unbeatable | अजेय | The team seemed unbeatable this season. |
| champion | विजेता, अजिंक्यवीर | She became the national champion. |
| struggle | संघर्ष | His early life was a struggle. |
| nutrition | पोषण | Good nutrition is important for athletes. |
| dedication | समर्पण | Her dedication to sport is amazing. |
| inspiration | प्रेरणा | Mary Kom is an inspiration to girls. |
For the Exam (परीक्षेसाठी)
- Be ready to write about Mary Kom’s struggles and qualities, and to frame interview questions of your own.
- The activities practise subordinate clauses and word forms. Revise Lesson 12: Question Tags and practise question tags and tenses.
Think and Write (विचार करा, लिहा)
- Write five questions you would ask a sportsperson you admire.
- What difficulties do girls in your area face in sports?
- Write a paragraph on ‘Nothing is impossible for a determined person’.
🎮 Practice Games: Unbeatable Super Mom: Mary Kom
Extra practice for revision, beyond the textbook activities. Play every game, then check your total score and stars! (उजळणीसाठी खेळ.)
🥊 Mary Kom fact file
🧩 Match each fact.
Fact → answer
🔤 Word meanings
🎯 Tap the English word and its Marathi meaning.
English ↔ मराठी
⚡ Quick quiz
👉 Tap the correct answer.
What form is this chapter written in?
Answer: Questions and Mary Kom’s answers.
Why is she called ‘Super Mom’?
Answer: She balanced motherhood and world-class sport.
What does she say young athletes need more of?
Answer: Especially girls from poor families.
✏️ Question words
👉 Tap the question word for an interview.
___ did you start boxing? (In 2000)
Answer: When asks about time.
___ inspired you to box? (Dingko Singh)
Answer: Who asks about a person.
Online test · 15 questions
4.4 Unbeatable Super Mom: Mary Kom: Lesson Test
Multiple choice · instant score with answers · certificate for 80% and above · free, no login
शिक्षकांसाठी: धडा शिकवून झाल्यावर ही test वर्गाला पाठवा. प्रत्येक विद्यार्थ्याचे गुण तुम्हाला आपोआप मिळतील.
These are original study notes and answers by englishresources.in to help you revise. Read the lesson in your Balbharati textbook first: these notes do not replace it. Only short phrases from the lesson and the activities are quoted, for reference.