Chapter 5
The Summit Within
Comprehension Check (Page 79)
1:Standing on Everest, the writer was
(i) overjoyed.
(ii) very sad.
(iii) jubilant and sad.
Choose the right item.
Answer:(iii) jubilant and sad – The author mentioned that he had already done the ‘ultimate’ in climbing and there would be nothing higher to climb and all roads would lead down thereafter.
2:The emotion that gripped him was one of
(i) victory over hurdles.
(ii) humility and a sense of smallness.
(iii) greatness and self importance.
(iv) joy of discovery.
Choose the right item.
Answer: (ii) humility and a sense of smallness – The author explains that anyone who reaches the summit of Everest can take in the vast panoramic view and truly feel how small they are in comparison to the grandeur of nature’s creation.
3:“The summit of the mind” refers to
(i) great intellectual achievements.
(ii) the process of maturing mentally and spiritually.
(iii) overcoming personal ambition for common welfare.
(iv) living in the world of thought and imagination.
(v) the triumph of mind over worldly pleasures for a noble cause.
(vi) a fuller knowledge of oneself.
Mark the item(s) not relevant.
Answer:The following item(s) not relevant:
(i) great intellectual achievements.
(iii) overcoming personal ambition for common welfare.
(iv) living in the world of thought and imagination.
Working with the text (Page 80)
Question 1:
Answer the following questions.
(i) What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?
Answer: The three qualities that were crucial to the author’s climb are endurance, persistence, and strong willpower.
(ii) Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?
Answer: Adventure, despite being risky, is also enjoyable because it presents a challenging experience that tests a climber’s endurance, confidence, and willpower. For instance, reaching the summit of Mount Everest is a remarkable achievement that brings immense joy, exhilaration, and a sense of fulfillment. The pleasure of adventure is not just physical; it is equally emotional and spiritual, giving a feeling of victory and happiness.
(iii) What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?
Answer: Mount Everest, being one of the tallest and most formidable mountains in the world, captivated the author with its unique beauty and rugged challenges. He found it irresistible because climbing it demanded every bit of his strength and determination. Turning back midway was not an option, even at the risk of life, as reaching the summit brings immense exhilaration, joy, and fulfillment. The sense of victory, extreme happiness, and satisfaction from conquering such heights made Everest utterly compelling for the author.
(iv) One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?
Answer:Scaling a mountain is not done for fame alone. The real purpose lies in testing one’s endurance, persistence, and willpower. The experience goes beyond the physical, touching both emotional and spiritual aspects. It fulfills a climber’s passion for adventure, providing a sense of accomplishment, deep satisfaction, and the urge to rise above challenges and surroundings.
(v) “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe.” This awareness defines an emotion mentioned in the first paragraph. Which is the emotion?
Answer: The awareness of one’s smallness in the vast universe, as described, reflects the emotion of humility in a person.
(vi) What were the “symbols of reverence” left by members of the team on Everest?
Answer:On Mount Everest, the team left several “symbols of reverence”: the author placed a picture of Guru Nanak, Rawat left a picture of Goddess Durga, Phu Dorji left a Buddha relic, and Edmund Hillary buried a cross under a cairn of rocks and stones in the snow. These were meant not just as marks of conquest but as expressions of deep respect.
(vii) What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everester teach him?
Answer: The author’s experience as an Everester gave him a profound sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It inspired him to face life’s challenges with determination and taught him that conquering one’s inner self is as important as scaling a mountain. He understood that this journey offers deeper self-knowledge, a personal summit that only he can reach to truly understand himself.
2:Write a sentence against each of the following statements. Your sentence should explain the statement. You can pick out sentences from the text and rewrite them. The first one has been done for you.
(i) The experience changes you completely.
One who has been to the mountains is never the same again.
(ii) Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles.
_________________________________________
Answer:(ii) Endurance, persistence and will power are the qualities that are required in a climber to overcome the challenges and have a delightful experience.
(iii) Mountains are nature at its best.
_________________________________________
Answer:(iii) The majestic beauty of the mountains poses a considerable challenge for climbers as they are the medium of communion with the Almighty.
(iv) The going was difficult but the after-effects were satisfying.
_________________________________________
Answer:(iv) Although climbing a mountain is a difficult task, reaching the summit gives a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction to the climber.
(v) The physical conquest of a mountain is really a spiritual experience.
_________________________________________
Answer:(v) Climbing a mountain is not merely a physical activity, but it is indeed both emotional and spiritual, as mountains are a means of communion with God.
Working with language (Page 81-82)
Question 1:
Look at the italicised phrases and their meanings given in brackets.
Mountains are nature (nature’s best form and appearance) at its best.
Your life is at risk. (in danger; you run the risk of losing your life.)
He was at his (it was his best/worst performance.) best/worst in the last meeting.
Fill in the blanks in the following dialogues choosing suitable phrases from those given in the box.
(i) Teacher: You were away from school without permission. Go to the principal ________________ and submit your explanation.
Pupil: Yes, Madam. But would you help me write it first?
(ii) Arun: Are you unwell?
Ila: No, not ________________ Why do you ask?
Arun: If you were unwell, I would send you to my uncle. He is a doctor.
(iii) Mary: Almost every Indian film has an episode of love ________________.
David: Is that what makes them so popular in foreign countries?
(iv) Asif: You look depressed. Why are your spirits ________________ today? (Use such in the phrase)
Ashok: I have to write ten sentences using words that I never heard before.
(v) Shieba: Your big moment is close ________________.
Jyoti: How should I welcome it?
Shieba: Get up and receive the trophy.
Answer:
(i) Teacher: You were away from school without permission. Go to the principal at once and submit your explanation.
Pupil: Yes, Madam. But would you help me write it first?
(ii) Arun: Are you unwell?
Ila: No, not at all Why do you ask?
Arun: If you were unwell, I would send you to my uncle. He is a doctor.
(iii) Mary: Almost every Indian film has an episode of love at first sight.
David: Is that what makes them so popular in foreign countries?
(iv) Asif: You look depressed. Why are your spirits at a low ebb today? (Use such in the phrase)
Ashok: I have to write ten sentences using words that I never heard before.
(v) Shieba: Your big moment is close at hand.
Jyoti: How should I welcome it?
Shieba: Get up and receive the trophy.
2:Write the noun forms of the following words adding -ance or -ence to each.
(i) endure ________________ (ii) persist ________________
(iii) signify ________________ (iv) confide ________________
(v) maintain ________________ (vi) abhor ________________
Answer:
- endure endurance
- persist persistence
- signify significance
- confide confidence
- maintain maintenance
- abhor abhorrence
Answer by Mrinmoee
