8 Unit-5 The Summit Within

 

8th Unit-5 

The Summit Within

The School Boy (poem)

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Glossary

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Sl No	Word & Part of Speech	Meaning	Explanatory Image &  Telugu meaning
1	Summit (n)	the highest point of a hill or mountain.	శిఖరం
2	Surged (v)	Arose suddenly and intensely	ఉప్పొంగింది
3	Humility (n)	Humbleness	వినయం
4	Panorama (n)	View of a wide area	సమగ్ర దృశ్యము
5	Jubilant (adj)	Very happy because of the success	చాలా సంతోషముగా
6	Overwhelmed (v)	have a strong emotional effect on	పొంగిపోయింది
7	Formidable (adj)	Tough/fearful	ఖటినమైన
8	Exhaustion (n)	Tiredness	అలసట
9	Endurance (n)	Tolerance	తట్టుకునే స్వభావం
10	Persistence (n)	The quality of being determined to do or achieve something	పట్టుదల
11	Willpower (n)	The ability to control oneself and the decisions one makes	సంకల్పం
12	Communion (n)	Sharing of intimate thoughts and feelings	ఆలోచనలను మరియు అనుభూతులను మార్చుకోవడం
13	Defied (v)	Frustrated/resisted	ధిక్కరించుట
14	Passage (n)	Way	మార్గం
15	Exhilarating (v)	Very exciting	సంతోషకరమైన
16	Glimpsing (v)	See briefly	చూచుట
17	Mystical (adj)	Spiritual	ఆధ్యాత్మిక
18	Resist (v)	Withstand	తట్టుకొనుట
19	Grim	Unattractive	ఆకర్షణీయం కానిది
20	Ascent	Upward movement	అధిరోహణ
21	Snap out (phr v)	To stop feeling sad or upset	విచారాన్ని అపుకొనుట
22	Reverence (n)	A deep respect for someone or something	గౌరవం
23	Akin (adj)	Similar	సమానమైన
24	Ordeals (n)	Extreme difficulties	కష్టాలు

 

Comprehension Check (pg.no.79)

 

1.   Standing on Everest, the writer was

(2)         overjoyed

(ii) very sad.

(iii) jubilant and sad.

Choose the right item.

Answer: (iii) jubilant and sad

 

2.   The emotion that gripped him was one of

(2)         victory over hurdles

(ii) humility and a sense of smallness.

(iii) greatness and self-importance.

(iv) joy of discovery and Self-importance

Answer: (ii) humility and sense of smallness

 

3.   “The summit of the mind” refers to

(2)         great intellectual achievements.

(ii)  the process of maturing mentally and spiritually.

(iii) overcoming personal ambition for the common welfare.

(iv) living in the world of thought and imagination.

(v)  the triumph of the mind over worldly pleasures for a noble cause.

(vi) a fuller knowledge of oneself

Mark the item(s) not relevant.

Answer: (vi) a fuller knowledge of oneself

 

Working with the text (pg.no.80)

 

1.   Answer the following questions.

i)     What three qualities played a major role in the author’s climb?

‘Endurance’, ‘persistence’ and ‘willpower’ are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb of Mount Everest.

ii)   Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?

The adventure of climbing Everest is a brutal struggle with rock and ice. Once the summit is climbed, the sense of a battle fought and won and the feeling of victory gives immense pleasure.

 

iii) What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?

The author found climbing Mount Everest irresistible because it was the highest, the mightiest and it had resisted many previous attempts.

 

iv)  One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?

Really one does not climb Mount Everest for fame since it is a life-consuming adventure.  There is the satisfaction of a deep urge to rise above one’s surroundings. It is man’s eternal love for adventure that makes him do it.  The experience is not merely physical. It is emotional and spiritual.

 

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?

This awareness defines an emotion of ‘humility’.

 

vi)  What were the “symbols of reverence” left by members of the team on Everest?

The author left a picture of ‘Guru Nanak’ on Everest; Rawat left a picture of ‘Goddess Durga’ and Phu Dorji left a relic of the ‘Buddha’. Edmund Hillary had buried ‘a Cross’ under a heap of rocks. These are not symbols of conquest but of reverence.

 

vii)  What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everester teach him?

The writer’s experience as an Everester has provided him the inspiration to face life’s painful experiences with strong willpower. However, the conquest of the internal summit is higher than Everest.

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. (ref. pg.80 TB)

i)     The experience changes you completely.

Answer: One who has been to the mountains is never the same again.

 

ii)   Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles.

Answer: The obstacles in climbing a mountain are physical. A climb to a summit is a test of endurance and willpower. It is a challenge that is difficult to resist.

iii) Mountains are nature at its best.

Answer: Everest is the highest and the mightiest and has defied many previous attempts.

iv)  The going was difficult but the after-effects were satisfying.

Answer: When the summit is climbed, there is the joy of having done something, one has the feeling of victory and happiness.

 v)    The physical conquest of a mountain is really a spiritual experience.

Answer: Mountains are a means of communion with God.

 

Working with the Language (ref pg.no.81)

 

1. Look at the italicised phrases and their meanings given in the box to the right.

1	Mountains are nature at its best	Nature’s best form and appearance
2	Your life is at risk	In danger; you run the risk of losing your life
3	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.

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 such a low ebb today? (Use such in the phrase)
	Ashok	:	I have to write ten sentences using words that I have never heard before.
v)	Shieba	:	Your big moment is close at hand
	Jyothi	:	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.

	Verbs	Noun forms of the given words
i)	Endure	Endurance
ii)	Persist	persistence
iii)	Signify	Significance
iv)	Confide	Confidence
v)	Maintain	Maintenance
vi)	Abhor	Abhorrence

 

3. (i) Match words under A with their meanings under B

 

		Answers
1.	remote	[e]	a)	Difficult to overcome
2.	Means	[d]	b)	Most prominent
3.	Dominant	[b]	c)	Be overcome/overpowered
4.	Formidable	[a]	d)	Methods
5.	overwhelmed	[c]	e)	Far away from

 

(ii) Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with appropriate words from

under A.

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 in a dominant position above the sleepy town.

 

Speaking and Writing (pg.no.82)

 

Write a composition describing a visit to the hills, or any place which you found beautiful and inspiring. Before writing, work in small groups. Discuss the points given below and decide if you want to use some of these points in your composition.

Consider this sentence

Mountains are a means of communion with God. Think of the act of worship or prayer. You believe yourself to be in the presence of the divine power. In a way, you are in communion with that power.

Answer:

Last winter, my family and I visited the beautiful Araku Hills and Valley in Andhra Pradesh. As our train passed through tunnels and over bridges, we were surrounded by green hills, thick forests, and waterfalls. The fresh air and the sight of nature made me feel happy and excited.

When we reached Araku, the view was wonderful. The hills were covered with coffee plantations that stretched as far as the eye could see. The valleys below looked like a green paradise, dotted with small villages. The clouds hung low, and it felt like we were walking among them.

We visited the famous Borra Caves, which are near Araku. Inside the caves, the rocks had formed beautiful shapes over thousands of years. It was magical to see how nature had created something so unique. The sound of water dripping in the caves made it feel peaceful and mysterious.

Walking in the Araku Valley was like being in a dream. The cool breeze, the chirping of birds, and the sight of colourful flowers made me feel very close to nature. Standing on top of a hill, I looked up at the endless sky and felt grateful for the beauty of the world.

The hills and valleys of Araku filled me with a sense of calmness and joy. It felt like I was in a special place where nature spoke to my heart. This visit taught me to appreciate the wonders of our planet. Araku will always remain one of the most inspiring places I have ever been to.

                                                                                         ---William Blake

Working with the Poem (pg.no.84)

1.   Find three or four words/phrases in stanza 1 that reflect the child's happiness and joy.

Answer:

Phrases/sentences that reflect the child’s happiness:

·       "I love to rise in a summer morn"

·       "The birds sing on every tree"

·       "The skylark sings with me"

·       "O! what sweet company"

 

2.   In stanza 2, the mood changes. Which words/phrases reflect the changed mood?

Answer:

Phrases/sentences that reflect the child’s changed mood:

·       "It drives all joy away"

·       "Under a cruel eye outworn"

·       "Sighing and dismay"

·       "Drooping sit"

·       "Anxious hour"

 

3.   ‘A cruel eye outworn’ (stanza 2) refers to

(i) the classroom which is shabby/noisy.

(ii) the lessons which are difficult/uninteresting.

(iii) the dull/uninspiring life at school with lots of work and no play.

Mark the answer that you consider right.

     Answer:

(iii) the dull/uninspiring life at school with lots of work and no play.

 

4.   ‘Nor sit in learning’s bower worn thro’ with the dreary shower’

Which of the following is a close paraphrase of the lines above?

(i) Nor can I sit in a roofless classroom when it is raining.

(ii) Nor can I learn anything at school though teachers go on lecturing and explaining.

(iii) Nor can I sit in the school garden for fear of getting wet in the rain.

     Answer:

(ii) Nor can I learn anything at school though teachers go on lecturing and explaining.

 The School Boy Poem Singing

**** End of Unit_5 :: ‘The Summit 

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