Class 8 Lesson 5 The Summit Within and The School Boy English NCERT book Honeydew answers.
Comprehension Check (Page 79)
Question 1: Standing on Everest, the writer was
(i) overjoyed.
(ii) very sad.
(iii) jubilant and sad.
Choose the right item.
Answer: (iii) Jubilant yet sad – The author expressed that he had already achieved the ‘ultimate’ in climbing, realizing there would be no higher peak to conquer, and from that point on, all paths would lead downward.
Question 2: The emotion that gripped him was one of
(i) victory over hurdles.
(ii) humility and 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 notes that anyone who reaches the summit of Everest can marvel at the expansive view, gazing across miles of terrain, and feel a profound sense of smallness in the face of nature’s majestic creation.
Question 3:
“The summit of the mind” refers to
(i) great intellectual achievements.
(ii) the process of maturing 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?
(ii) Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?
(iii) What is about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?
(iv) One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?
(v) “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe.” The awareness defines an emotion mentioned in the first paragraph. Which is the emotion?
(vi) What were the “symbols of reverence” left by members of the learn on Everest?
(vii) What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everest teach him?
Answer:
(i) The three key qualities that greatly contributed to the author’s success in climbing were endurance, persistence, and willpower.
(ii) Though adventure involves risks, it also brings immense pleasure. This suggests that climbing a mountain is a formidable challenge filled with obstacles, but overcoming them strengthens the climber’s confidence, endurance, and willpower. The author cites Mount Everest as an example; reaching its peak is a monumental accomplishment. Scaling such heights brings a profound sense of exhilaration, joy, and fulfillment. It evokes a feeling of victory and contentment, making the experience not just a physical one, but also deeply emotional and spiritual.
(iii) As one of the highest and most formidable mountains in the world, Mount Everest possesses a unique allure and majesty. The author was irresistibly drawn to it, captivated by its beauty, ruggedness, and the challenges it presented during the climb. Every ounce of his energy was expended in conquering the rock and ice-covered mountain. A climber of Everest cannot abandon their dream midway, even when life itself is at risk. Reaching the summit fills the climber with immense exhilaration, joy, and a sense of triumph. These emotions, along with the satisfaction of overcoming such a challenge, were why the author found Everest so irresistible.
(iv) Climbing a mountain and reaching its summit successfully demands endurance, persistence, and willpower. Thus, the experience transcends the physical and becomes both emotional and spiritual. It satisfies a climber’s deep-seated love for adventure, providing a sense of fulfillment, satisfaction, and the strong urge to rise above one’s surroundings.
(v) “He becomes conscious in a special way of his own smallness in this vast universe.” This recognition evokes a profound sense of humility.
(vi) On Mount Everest, the author left a picture of Guru Nanak. Rawat placed an image of Goddess Durga, Phu Dorji left a relic of the Buddha, and Edmund Hillary buried a cross beneath a cairn of rocks in the snow. These were not just symbols of conquest, but of deep reverence.
(vii) As an Everester, the author experienced immense fulfillment and satisfaction. This accomplishment motivated him to face life’s challenges with determination. He learned that conquering the internal summit—the journey of self-discovery—is just as important as climbing a physical mountain. This realization provided him with a deeper understanding of himself, something only he could achieve in his pursuit of his true self.
Question 2: Write a sentence against each of the following statements. You sentence 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 charges you completely.
One who has been to the mountains is never the same again.
(ii) Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles.
(iii) Mountains are nature at its best.
(iv) The going was difficult but the after-effects were satisfying.
(v) The physical conquest of a mountain is really a spiritual experience.
Answer:
(ii) A climber needs endurance, persistence, and willpower to overcome challenges and fully enjoy the experience.
(iii) The majestic beauty of mountains presents a significant challenge to climbers, serving as a medium for communion with the divine.
(iv) Although climbing a mountain is challenging, reaching the summit brings the climber a deep sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
(v) Climbing a mountain is not just a physical endeavor; it is both an emotional and spiritual journey, as mountains provide a path to connect with God.
Working with language (Page 81-82)
Question 1:
Look at the italicised phrases and their meaning 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 meeting.
Fill in the blanks in the following choosing suitable phrases from given in the box.
| at hand | at once | at all | at a low ebb | at first sight |
(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?
IIa: No, not ________ Why are 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 foregin 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 _______.
Joyti: 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.
Question 2: Write the noun forms of the following words adding-ance ot -ence to each.
(i) endure _______________
(ii) persist _______________
(iii) signify ______________
(iv) confide _______________
(v) maintain _______________
(vi) abhor _______________
Answer:
1. endure endurance
2. persist persistence
3. signify significance
4. confide confidence
5. maintain maintenance
6. abhor abhorrence
Question 3:
(i) Match words under A with their meanings under B.
| A remote means | B difficult to overcome most prominent |
| dominant | be overcome/overpowered |
| formidable | method (s) |
| overwhelmed | far away from |
(ii) Fill in the blanks in the sentence below with appropriate words from under A.
(a) There were __________ obstacles on the way, but we reached our destination safety.
(b) We have no _______ of finding out what happened there.
(c) Why he lives n a house _______ from any town or village is more than I can tell.
(d) ________ by gratitude we bowed to the speaker for his valuable advice.
(e) The old castle stands in a _______ position above the sleepy town.
Answer: (i)
| A | B |
| remote | far away from |
| means | method(s) |
| dominant | most prominent |
| formidable | difficult to overcome |
| overwhelmed | be overcome/overpowered |
(ii)
(a) There were formidable obstacles on the way, but we reached our destination safely.
(b) We have no means of finding out what happened there.
(c) Why he lives in a house remote from any town or village is more than I can tell.
(d) Overwhelmed by gratitude, we bowed to the speaker for his valuable advice.
(e) The old castle stands dominant above the sleepy town.
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