Working with the text:-

1 . Answer the following questions.

Q (i). What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?

Ans. In the author’s climb, endurance, persistence, and willpower all played significant roles.

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

Ans. Adventure is dangerous but enjoyable. When an adventurous act is completed, it is very enjoyable. A sense of a battle fought and won is conveyed. There is a sense of accomplishment and joy.

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

Ans. The tallest, strongest, and most challenging mountain to climb is Mount Everest. Scaling Everest is comparable to winning a battle. There is a sense of accomplishment and joy. Therefore, the author couldn’t help but be drawn to Mount Everest.

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

Ans. A high peak requires more than just physical strength. It is both spiritual and emotional. It stems from man’s enduring love of exploration.

Q.(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. The feeling of humility is this.

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

Ans. While Rawat left a picture of Goddess Durga, the author left a picture of Guru Nanak. Edmund Hillary had interred a cross beneath a rock and Phu Dorji had left a piece of the Buddha’s legacy.

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

Ans. He was motivated to persevere through life’s challenges by his experience climbing 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.

(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) The obstacles in climbing a mountain are physical. Overcoming them gives lifelong joy.

(iii) Mountains are unique in beauty and majesty.

(iv) The achievement was praised globally.

(v) It satisfies one’s eternal love for adventure.

Working with Language:-

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 phrases)
Ashok: 1 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? S
Shieba: Get up and receive the trophy.

Ans. (i) Teacher: You were away from school without permission. Go to the principal at once and submit your explanation.

(ii) Ila : No, not at all. Why do you ask?

(iii) Mary: Almost every Indian film has an episode of love at first sight.

(iv) Asif: You look depressed. Why are your spirits at a low ebb today? (Use such in the phrases)

(v) Shieba: Your big moment is close at hand.

2. Write the noun forms of the following words adding – once or – once to each.

(i) Endure __

(ii) Persist __

(iii) Signify __

(iv) Confide __

(v) Maintain __

(vi) Abhor __

Ans.

(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 meaning under B.
A B
Remote Difficult to overcome
Means Most prominent
Dominant Be overcome/overpowered
Formidable Method (s)
Overwhelmed Far away from

Ans.

A B
Remote Far away from
Means Method (s)
Dominant Most prominent
Formidable Difficult to overcome
Overwhelmed, Be overcome/overpowered

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

(i) There were ……… obstacles on the way, but we reached our destination safely.

(ii) We have no ………. of finding out what happened there.

(iii) Why he lives in a house ………. From any town or village is more than I can tell.

(iv) ……… by gratitude, we bowed to the speaker for his valuable advice .

(v) The old castle stands in a ………. position above the sleepy town.

Ans. (i) There were formidable obstacles on the way, but we reached our destination safely.

(ii) We have no means of finding out what happened there.

(iii) Why he lives in a house remote from any town or village is more than I can tell.

(iv) Overwhelmed by gratitude, we bowed to the speaker for his valuable advice.

(v) The old castle stands in a dominant position above the sleepy town.