CBSE Class 8 English Chapter 5 The Summit Within NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 8 PDF

This chapter, 'The Summit Within,' from CBSE Class 8 English, delves into the profound experience of climbing Mount Everest, as recounted by the author. The NCERT Solutions provide detailed answers to comprehension and text-based questions, exploring the physical and emotional challenges faced by climbers. It highlights the qualities of endurance, persistence, and willpower essential for such an undertaking. The solutions also discuss the dual emotions of joy and sadness upon reaching the summit, the sense of humility in the face of nature's grandeur, and the deeper meaning of 'the summit of the mind.' These solutions are designed to help students grasp the nuances of the text, understand the author's perspective, and prepare effectively for their exams by offering clear explanations and insights into the chapter's themes.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 8
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 5- The Summit Within

Chapter summary

Chapter 5, 'The Summit Within,' focuses on the author's personal account of climbing Mount Everest. The NCERT Solutions cover comprehension checks and text-based questions, emphasizing the physical and mental fortitude required for the climb. Key themes include the qualities of endurance, persistence, and willpower, the complex emotions experienced at the summit, and the concept of inner achievement beyond physical conquest. The solutions aim to provide a clear understanding of the narrative and its underlying messages.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the author's experience of climbing Mount Everest.
  • Identify the key qualities required for a challenging climb.
  • Analyze the emotional and spiritual aspects of achieving a difficult goal.
  • Explain the concept of 'the summit of the mind'.
  • Interpret the significance of humility in the face of nature.
  • Answer comprehension questions based on the text.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Mount Everest Expedition
  • Qualities for Climbing
  • Endurance and Persistence
  • Willpower
  • Emotions of Achievement
  • Humility
  • The Summit of the Mind
  • Spiritual Growth
  • Overcoming Challenges
  • Adventure
  • Personal Fulfillment
  • Symbols of Reverence

Important topics

  • Qualities of Endurance, Persistence, and Willpower
  • Emotional and Spiritual Aspects of Achievement
  • The Concept of 'The Summit of the Mind'
  • The Feeling of Humility
  • Author's Experience on Everest

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Questions and Solutions

Comprehension Check - Question 1

Standing on Everest, the writer was
  1. overjoyed.
  2. very sad.
  3. jubilant and sad.
Choose the right item.
Solution: The correct option is (iii) jubilant and sad. The author felt jubilant because he had achieved the incredible feat of reaching the highest point on Earth. However, he also felt a sense of sadness because this peak experience was temporary, and he had to descend back to the ordinary world, leaving the extraordinary behind.

Comprehension Check - Question 2

The emotion that gripped him was one of
  1. victory over hurdles.
  2. humility and a sense of smallness.
  3. greatness and self importance.
  4. joy of discovery.
Choose the right item.
Solution: The most fitting emotion described is (ii) humility and a sense of smallness. While victory over hurdles is part of the experience, the overwhelming feeling upon confronting the vastness of nature and the scale of the universe is one of profound humility and realizing one's own insignificance in comparison.

Comprehension Check - Question 3

"The summit of the mind" refers to
  1. great intellectual achievements.
  2. the process of maturing mentally and spiritually.
  3. overcoming personal ambition for common welfare.
  4. living in the world of thought and imagination.
  5. the triumph of mind over worldly pleasures for a noble cause.
  6. a fuller knowledge of oneself.
Mark the item(s) not relevant.
Solution: The items that are not relevant to the meaning of "the summit of the mind" as presented in the text are (i), (iii), (iv), and (v). The phrase primarily refers to the internal journey of mental and spiritual growth (ii) and gaining a deeper understanding of oneself (vi), rather than specific intellectual feats or altruistic actions.

Working with Text - Question 1

What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author's climb?
Solution: The three essential qualities that played a major role in the author's climb up Mount Everest were endurance, persistence, and willpower. These qualities enabled him to overcome the immense physical and mental challenges of the expedition.

Working with Text - Question 2

Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?
Solution: Adventure is pleasurable despite its risks because humans find deep satisfaction and delight in overcoming significant challenges and hurdles. Although it presents great difficulties, the act of confronting and conquering these obstacles, as exemplified by climbing Mount Everest, leads to a feeling of exhilaration, joy, and a sense of accomplishment, making the struggle worthwhile. It's not just a physical conquest but also an emotional and spiritual fulfillment.

Working with Text - Question 3

What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?
Solution: Mount Everest's irresistible allure for the author stemmed from its status as one of the highest and mightiest mountains, its inherent beauty, its aloofness, ruggedness, and the extreme difficulties it presented. The challenge of climbing it, which demands the utmost energy and involves a brutal struggle with rock and ice, coupled with the profound sense of exhilaration, joy, and victory upon reaching the summit, made it an irresistible challenge.

Working with Text - Question 4

One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?
Solution: While fame might be a byproduct, the true motivation for climbing a high peak goes beyond it. It is driven by the exhilarating demonstration of physical qualities like endurance, persistence, and willpower. More importantly, it satisfies a deep, intrinsic human urge for adventure and the profound emotional and spiritual fulfillment derived from overcoming immense obstacles, experiencing a sense of victory, and rising above one's limitations.

Working with Text - Question 5

"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?
Solution: This awareness of one's own smallness in the vast universe defines the emotion of **humility**. It is a profound realization that puts personal achievements into a larger perspective.

Working with Text - Question 6

What were the "symbols of reverence" left by members of the team on Everest?
Solution: The members of the team left various symbols of reverence on Mount Everest. The author left a picture of Guru Nanak, Rawat left a picture of Goddess Durga, and Phu Dorji left a relic of the Buddha. Additionally, Edmund Hillary had buried a cross on the summit.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the literal summit with the 'summit of the mind'.
  • Underestimating the emotional and spiritual aspects of achievement.
  • Focusing solely on the physical challenges without considering the mental ones.
  • Misinterpreting the author's mixed emotions of joy and sadness.

Revision tips

  • Reread the chapter, paying close attention to the author's descriptions of emotions.
  • Summarize the key qualities mentioned for climbing.
  • Discuss the meaning of 'the summit of the mind' with classmates.
  • Practice answering the comprehension questions without referring to the solutions.
  • Reflect on the theme of humility and its importance.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What were the three main qualities that played a significant role in the author's climb?

Q2. According to the author, why is adventure pleasurable despite being risky?

Q3. What mixed emotions did the author experience upon reaching the summit?

Q4. The phrase 'the summit of the mind' refers to:

Q5. What feeling does the awareness of one's smallness in the universe evoke?

Frequently asked questions

What is Chapter 5 of CBSE Class 8 English NCERT about?

Chapter 5, 'The Summit Within,' is about the author's personal experience and reflections on climbing Mount Everest, focusing on the physical and emotional journey, the qualities required, and the deeper meaning of achievement.

What are the key qualities needed to climb a mountain like Everest, according to the text?

The text highlights endurance, persistence, and willpower as the three crucial qualities that played a major role in the author's climb.

What does the author mean by 'the summit of the mind'?

'The summit of the mind' refers to the process of maturing mentally and spiritually, and achieving a fuller knowledge of oneself, which is a deeper achievement than just climbing a physical peak.

Why does the author feel both jubilant and sad after reaching the summit?

He feels jubilant because he has reached the world's highest peak, but sad because the experience is temporary and he must descend back to the ordinary world.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all questions, helping students understand the chapter's themes, analyze the author's experiences, and prepare effectively for their English exams.

What is the significance of the 'symbols of reverence' left on Everest?

These symbols, like pictures and relics, represent the spiritual and personal significance of the climb for the individuals, showing respect and leaving a mark of their journey.

Important links

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