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NCERT Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5 is a description of the journey to the peak of Mount Everest by a group of Indians led by Major HPS Ahluwalia. This story expresses the might of the mountains and the mysticism attached to them. It is a great read for students as it will encourage them to overcome obstacles using physical strength and willpower. To help you navigate the story successfully, we have included word meanings and NCERT solutions in the blog. Read and learn!!
Download NCERT Solutions Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5: The Summit Within
Explore Notes for all chapters of Honeydew:
| Unit 1 Chapter | Unit 2 Chapter | Unit 3 Chapter | Unit 4 Chapter |
| Unit 5 Chapter | Unit 6 Chapter | Unit 7 Chapter | Unit 8 Chapter |
NCERT Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5: The Summit Within
Table of Contents
Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5 ‘The Summit Within’ is about the first Indian expedition to Mount Everest under the leadership of Major HPS Ahluwalia in 1965. In the story, Major Ahluwalia shares his story about reaching the summit. Through his account, he also describes his feelings of contentment and spirituality once he reaches the peak.
Also Read: Arunima Sinha, the World’s First Female Amputee to Climb Mount Everest
Important Words and Phrases and Their Meanings
To understand this interesting story, it is important to know about word meanings as they help in easy navigation of the text. Let us learn new words and expressions to strengthen our English vocabulary.
- Surged: Sudden and intense increase
- Panorama: A wide view of an area
- Jubliant: Extremely delighted due to some form of success
- Tinge: Shade
- Exhilarating: Super excited
- Communion: To share an intimate thought or feeling with someone
- Defied: To resist or challenge something or someone
- Mystical: Spiritual
- Firm in: To take a stand on something
- Belays: Fixes a rope
- Ascent: Climb
- Make your obeisance: To display obedience
- Ordeals: Unpleasant experience
- Resolutely: Determined
Also Read: 50 Difficult Words with Meanings
Explore NCERT Solutions for all chapters of Honeydew:
| Unit 1 Chapter | Unit 2 Chapter | Unit 3 Chapter | Unit 4 Chapter |
| Unit 5 Chapter | Unit 6 Chapter | Unit 7 Chapter | Unit 8 Chapter |
Download NCERT Solutions Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5: The Last Summit
NCERT Solutions Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5: The Summit Within
In this part, our subject experts have NCERT solutions for Class 8 Honeydew Chapter 5 ‘The Summit Within’. You can use the answers to complete your homework and ace your exams.
Comprehension Check I (Page 76)
Ques 1. Standing on Everest, the writer was
(i) overjoyed.
(ii) very sad.
(iii) jubilant and sad.
Choose the right item.
Ans: (iii) jubilant and sad.
Ques 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.
Ans: (ii) humility and a sense of smallness.
Ques 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.
Ans: (i) great intellectual achievements.
(iii) overcoming personal ambition for common welfare.
(iv) living in the world of thought and imagination.
Working with the Text
Ques 1. Answer the following questions
(i) What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?
Ans: Willpower, persistence, and endurance played an important role in the author’s climb.
(ii) Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?
Ans: Going on an adventure involves risks, yet it brings pleasure. Despite the significant challenges it poses, individuals find satisfaction in overcoming obstacles. Mount Everest stands as the highest and most intimidating peak, which attracts numerous people to attempt to climb its summit. According to the author, reaching the summit brings out a sense of happiness, the joy of accomplishment, and the satisfaction of winning a personal battle. The feeling of triumph goes beyond the physical conquest of the mountain. Also, reaching the Everest peak gives a profound feeling of fulfilment and contentment. Thus, this experience is not only about physical strength but also about emotional and spiritual conquest.
(iii) What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?
Ans: The beauty, power, rugged terrain, power, remoteness and the challenges faced across the journey to reach Everest attracted the author towards this Last Summit.
(iv) One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?
Ans: Ascending a summit requires strong willpower, persistence, and endurance. The display of these physical attributes brings a sense of excitement to the climber. The overall experience goes beyond the physical satisfaction and includes emotional and spiritual dimensions. While the journey poses significant challenges, the joy of overcoming obstacles is what attracts individuals. Also, climbing a mountain is not solely for seeking fame but it is driven by the desire for the feelings of victory and satisfaction.
(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?
Ans: This awareness defines an emotion of humility.
(vi) What were the “symbols of reverence” left by members of the team on Everest?
Ans: The team members left several symbols of reverence like the author left a picture of Guru Nanak, Rawat left a picture of Goddess Durga, and Phu Dorji left a relic of Buddha.
(vii) What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everester teach him?
Ans: The writer shares that climbing Everest inspired him to face life’s difficulties with determination. He realized that overcoming personal struggles and achieving inner goals is as important as climbing a real mountain. The author also suggests that these personal triumphs maybe even more significant than reaching the summit of Everest, highlighting the deep and positive changes that come from facing inner challenges.
Ques 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.
_________________________________________
(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.
_________________________________________
Ans:
(ii) One who can overcome obstacles with endurance, perseverance and willpower gets a sense of physical strength and exhilaration.
(iii) The beauty and majesty of mountains pose a great challenge but they bring peace and calm to a person.
(iv) Climbing Everest was full of difficulties but reaching the summit gave a sense of contentment and fulfilment.
(v) When one climbs the mountains, she/they/he feels a deep urge to rise
above one’s surroundings due to her/their/his eternal love for adventure.
Working with Language
Ques 1. Look at the italicised phrases and their meanings given in brackets.
| Mountains are nature at its best. | (nature’s best form and appearance) |
| Your life is at risk. | (in danger; you run the risk of losing your life.) |
| He was at his best/worst in the last meeting. | (it was his best/worst performance.) |
Fill in the blanks in the following dialogues choosing suitable phrases from those 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?”
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.”
Ans:
(i) at once
(ii) at all
(iii) at first sight
(iv) at a low ebb
(v) at hand
Ques 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 ________________
Ans:
(i) endurance
(ii) persistence
(iii) significance
(iv) confidence
Ques 3 (i) Match words under column A with their meanings under column B.
| Column A | Column B |
| Remote | Difficult to overcome |
| Means | Most prominent |
| Dominant | Be overpowered |
| Formidable | Method (s) |
| Overwhelmed | Far away from |
Ans:
| Column A | Column B |
| Remote | Far away from |
| Means | Method (s) |
| Dominant | Most prominent |
| Formidable | Difficult to overcome |
| Overwhelmed | Be overpowered |
(ii) Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with appropriate words from under column A, which is part of Ques (i).
(a) There were ________________ obstacles on the way, but we reached our destination safely.
(b) We have no ________________ of finding out what happened there.
(c) Why he lives in 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.
Ans:
(i) formidable
(ii) means
(iii) remote
(iv) Overwhelmed
(v) Dominant
You can download NCERT Solutions of all poems in Honeydew here:
| Unit 1 Poem | Unit 2 Poem | Unit 3 Poem | Unit 4 Poem |
| Unit 5 Poem | Unit 6 Poem | Unit 7 Poem | Unit 8 Poem |
FAQs
Ans: This story is written by Major HPS Ahluwalia.
Ans: An Indian expedition reached Mount Everest peak successfully in 1965.
Ans: Mount Everest is in Nepal.
Also, you can access Notes and NCERT Solutions of all chapters in the Class 8 English ‘It So Happened’ textbook
| Chapter 1: How the Camel Got His Hump |
| Chapter 2: Children at Work |
| Chapter 3: The Selfish Giant |
| Chapter 4: The Treasure Within |
| Chapter 5: Princess September |
| Chapter 6: The Fight |
| Chapter 7: Jalebis |
| Chapter 8: Ancient Education System of India |
For NCERT study material, follow CBSE Notes Class 8 English by Leverage Edu now.