Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5 Extract Based Question Answers - The Summit Within

Q1: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
Consider a typical climb, towards the summit on the last heights. You are sharing a rope with another climber. You firm in. He cuts the steps in the hard ice. Then he belays and you inch your way up. The climb is grim. You strain every nerve as you take every step. Famous climbers have left records of the help given by others. They have also recorded how they needed just that help. Else they might have given up.
Breathing is difficult. You curse yourself for having let yourself in for this. You wonder why you ever undertook the ascent. There are moments when you feel like going back. It would be sheer relief to go down, instead of up. But almost at once you snap out of that mood. There is something in you that does not let you give up the mystical: spiritual ascent: climb firm in: make yourself firm belays: fixes a rope.
The Summit Within 79 struggle. And you go on. Your companion keeps up with you. Just another fifty feet. Or a hundred, maybe. You ask yourself: Is there no end? You look at your companion and he looks at you. You draw inspiration from each other. And then, without first being aware of it, you are at the summit.

(i) Explain ‘the climb is grim’.
Ans: Towards the summit one cuts the step in the hard ice and make one for other. Strenuous efforts make a climber successful.

(ii) How are the records of famous climbers helpful?
Ans: The records of famous climbers help in facing the difficulties.

(iii) It also boosts the morale of the climbers. Do you think Major also wanted to ‘give up’?
Ans: Major revealed that climbers curse themselves for putting their lives in danger. Because they feel exhausted and breathless.

(iv) How does the mood give a boost?
Ans: Sometimes depressing thoughts took over a climber but the companions draw inspiration from each other.

(v) Change the word ‘grim’ an adjective into a noun.
Ans: Grim – grimace.

Q2: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
Of all the emotions which surged through me as I stood on the summit of Everest, looking over miles of pan-orama below us, the dominant one I think was humility. The physical in me seemed to say, ‘Thank God, it’s all over!” However, instead of being jubilant, there was a tinge of sadness. Was it because I had already done the ‘ultimate’ in climbing and there would be nothing higher to climb and all roads hereafter would lead down? By climbing the summit of Everest you are overwhelmed by a deep sense of joy and thankfulness. It is a joy which lasts a lifetime. The experience changes you completely. The man who has been to the mountains is never the same again.

(i) What emotion took over Major Ahluwalia when he reached the summit?
Ans: Major Ahluwalia successfully climbed the Everest, the emotion that took over was ‘humility’.

(ii) Why was Major not that happy after conquering the highest mountain?
Ans: Major took a panoramic view but he was not as jubilant as he should have been. He felt that there would be nothing higher to climb than the highest peak.

(iii) Why was he thankful?
Ans: Major admired the vastness of the earth. He was very much thankful for attaining success in climbing the Mount Everest.

(iv) Why can the man be never the same again?
Ans: After climbing the highest mountain, one would feel the smallness in the vast universe.

(v) Give the meaning of the word ‘Panorama’.
Ans: Complete view.

Q3: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.
All these thoughts led me to question myself as to why people climb mountains. It is not easy to answer the question. The simplest answer would be, as others have said, “Because it is there.” It presents great difficulties. Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles. The obstacles, in climbing a mountain are physical. A climb to a summit means endurance, persistence and will power. The demonstration of these physical qualities is no doubt exhilarating, as it was for me also. I have a more personal answer to the question. From my childhood I Save been attracted by mountains. I had been miserable, lost, when away from mountains, in the plains. Mountain are nature at its best. Their beauty and majesty pose a great challenge, and like many, I believe that mountains are a means of communion with God.

(i) Why do people climb mountains?
Ans: Mountains always pose challenge to a man. It stands for firmness and put obstacles in the path.

(ii) What is the meaning of ‘A climb to a summit’?
Ans: Endurance, persistence and will power.

(iii) What quality is ‘exhilarating for him?
Ans: The demonstration of these physical qualities is exhilarating for him.

(iv) What was his childhood belief about mountain?
Ans: Mountains are a means of communion with God.

(v) Find a suitable word with the same meaning as ‘state or feeling of close relationship’.
Ans: Communion.