🧪 Class 10 English Chapter 6 – The Making of a Scientist (Summary, Q&A, PDF)
Book: Footprints Without Feet
Chapter: 6 – The Making of a Scientist
Author: Robert W. Peterson
Board: CBSE Class 10 (2025)
✍️ Introduction
“The Making of a Scientist” is a biographical account written by Robert W. Peterson about a real-life scientist named Richard Ebright. The story traces the journey of Ebright from a curious child to a world-class scientist. It highlights the role of curiosity, dedication, and encouragement in shaping one’s career and success.
📖 Summary of the Chapter
Richard Ebright was a bright and curious child from Pennsylvania, USA. He started collecting butterflies at a young age and had already gathered all 25 species of butterflies found in his hometown by the time he was in second grade. His mother played a vital role in encouraging his interests—she bought him microscopes, telescopes, books, and other materials to keep him engaged and learning.
Ebright’s interest grew when he started reading a book titled The Travels of Monarch X. It opened his eyes to the world of scientific research and led him to tag butterflies to track their migration. This was his first step into serious scientific exploration.
In school, he actively participated in science fairs and won awards. His first project did not win anything, but he didn’t give up. Each year, he worked harder and smarter. One of his important projects involved studying how a hormone affects the growth of a butterfly’s wings. This project won him a chance to work at a university lab, where he co-authored a scientific paper—a rare feat for a high school student.
His journey shows how determination, curiosity, and proper guidance can shape a brilliant scientist.
🌟 Central Theme
This story emphasizes that success in any field—especially science—comes from constant curiosity, hard work, and support. It also highlights the importance of early education and the right motivation in building a successful future.
👤 Character Sketch – Richard Ebright
- Intelligent: From a young age, he was extremely bright and always eager to learn more.
- Curious: He never stopped asking questions and wanted to find out the “why” behind everything.
- Hardworking: He put continuous effort into his research, improving after every failure.
- Determined: Even when he didn’t win in early science fairs, he kept going with better ideas each year.
📚 Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Curiosity | Desire to know or learn something |
| Exhibition | A public display of items or information |
| Microscope | An instrument used to see very small things |
| Monarch | A type of butterfly |
| Viral disease | An illness caused by viruses |
❓ Important Questions and Answers
- Q1. What inspired Richard Ebright to become a scientist?
Ans: His curiosity, love for science books, encouragement from his mother, and reading the book The Travels of Monarch X inspired him to become a scientist. - Q2. What role did Ebright’s mother play in his success?
Ans: She encouraged his curiosity, bought him science tools and books, and gave him the freedom to explore new ideas. She played a key role in shaping his early interest in science. - Q3. How did Richard Ebright achieve success in science fairs?
Ans: Through hard work, innovative ideas, and continuous improvement each year. He learned from failures and kept upgrading his projects until he started winning. - Q4. What qualities make Richard Ebright a successful scientist?
Ans: His observation skills, patience, sharp brain, curiosity, and perseverance made him a successful scientist.
📥 Download PDF Notes
👉 Click here to download PDF of The Making of a Scientist Notes
📌 Tags: Class 10 English Chapter 6, The Making of a Scientist Summary, Richard Ebright, Robert W. Peterson, CBSE 2025, Science Biography, ToppersNoteHub
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