The Summit
Textual Questions – Answer in one or two sentences
Hillary cooked his wet boots over the fierce flame of the Primus and managed to soften them.
They carried oxygen bottles, ice-axe, and crampons during their expedition.
After reaching the peak, Hillary ran out of oxygen, he was becoming clumsy-fingered and slow-moving. So, he quickly replaced his oxygen set.
Hillary found two oxygen bottles left by Evan and Bourdillon, who had their earlier attempt to reach Mt. Everest.
Their first partly-full bottle of oxygen got exhausted. They had only one oxygen bottle to carry. With reduced load of 20 litre bottle, Hillary cut steps down off the South Summit. So, he felt a sense of freedom and well-being.
Hillary meant that they carried an exact number of oxygen bottles needed for their expedition. They didn’t even carry a single bottle more.
Answer in two or three sentences
Belaying refers to a variety of techniques used by mountaineers to exert tension on a climbing rope so that a climber does not fall very far. A climbing partner typically applies tension at the other end of the rope whenever the climber is not climbing and removes the tension from the rope when the climber needs a rope to continue to climb.
Their original zest was fading away as they had to struggle a lot to find the top of Mt. Everest.
In a number of places, the overhanging ice cornices were very large. In order to escape them, Hillary cut a line of steps down to where the snow met the rocks on the west.
Tenzing gifted a bar of chocolate, a packet of biscuits and a handful of lollies whereas Hillary placed a small crucifix given by Colonel Hunt, besides Tenzing’s gifts. They did so by making a little hole in the snow.
The photograph portrayed North Col and the old route which had been made famous by the struggles of those great climbers in 1920’s and 1930’s.
The soft snow was difficult and dangerous as it sometimes held Hillary’s weight but often fell down suddenly.
They were a little perturbed by slippery soft snow. But as they reached firmer snow higher up, they felt better. As one bottle of oxygen got exhausted, their load was now less. As Hillary’s ax bit into the first steep slope of the ridge, his high hopes were realized. The snow was crystalline and firm. They were able to make comfortable belays to haul themselves up slowly.
Answer in a paragraph (100–150 words)
They started up their cookers and drank lots of lemon juice and sugar. Then they took sardines and biscuits. Hillary cleaned the ice off the oxygen sets. He rechecked and tested them. He had removed his boots which had become wet the day before. They were now frozen solid. It would be very challenging to start climbing the ice-cold Himalayas with such wet and chilling boots. So, he cooked them over the fierce flame of Primus and managed to soften them up. They were also conscious of the probability of braving snowstorms during the ascent. They fortified their clothing with windproof and also pulled three pairs of gloves silk, woolen, and windproof on to their hands. At 6.30 am they crawled out of their tent into the snow. They hoisted their 30 lb. of oxygen gear on their backs. Connecting their oxygen masks they turned on the valves to bring life-giving oxygen into their lungs. Taking a few deep breaths, they got ready to go.
They reached a crest of a ridge at about 28000 feet from where the ridge narrowed to a knife-edge. Hillary took over the lead. The route on top of the ridge was filled with soft snow which was both difficult and dangerous. After several hundred feet they reached a tiny hollow where they found two oxygen bottles left by the earlier expeditors. They took it for their use. Hillary took the lead for nearly 400 feet. They made frequent changes of the lead. When Hillary was stamping a trail in deep soft snow, a portion of it gave way and he slipped back. After this, they had a dilemma to proceed further. Still, without losing hope they proceeded further and climbed on to the south peak.
Hillary’s first feelings were of relief on reaching Everest. There were no more ridges to traverse and no more humps to tease them off with the hope of success. He looked at Tenzing. In spite of the balaclava helmet, goggles, and oxygen mask, all encrusted with long icicles, that concealed his face, his delight was visible. He looked around with a grin of delight. They shook hands. Tenzing hugged Hillary and thumped each other till they were breathless. It was 1.30 am. The ridge had taken them two and a half hours but it seemed like a lifetime.
Tenzing and Hillary struggled hard to reach the top of the ridge. They helped each other belaying. After crossing the crack with great struggle, Hillary signaled to Tenzing to come on up who wriggled his way up the crack and collapsed at the top like a giant fish hailing from the sea. Again the ridge curved away to the right and they were unable to find its top. They felt that the ridge seemed never-ending. At this juncture, they lost their original enthusiasm but didn’t give up their try. Hillary felt at one spot that the ridge seemed to be dropped sharply away instead of rising. Later he found a narrow snow ridge running up to a snowy summit. With the help of the ice-axe they paved the way in the firm snow and reached the top. Though it took two and a half hours for them to reach the top of the ridge, they felt that it took their whole lifetime just because of the struggle they had to reach it.
On reaching the peak, Tenzing and Hillary felt a great relief. To the east was their giant neighbour Makalu, unexplored and unclimbed. Far away across the clouds, the great bulk of Kanchenjunga loomed on the horizon. To the west, they could see the unexplored ranges of Nepal stretching off into the distance. The most important photograph was a shot down at the north ridge showed the North Col and the old route. It had been made famous by the famous climbers of 1920’s and 1930’s. It was the breath-taking view of the snow-clad peak all round.
Tenzing and Hillary started with their ascent from 28,000 feet on 29th May. They had undergone many hardships before they reach the summit. The ridge was narrow from 28,000 feet and they had to make their way through soft snow which was both difficult and dangerous. The soft snow gave way suddenly when Hillary had his trail in the deep snow. In spite of his slipping back, he did not give up his effort to move forward. They also found it very difficult to cross the ridge when the snow was firm. Crossing the narrow crack between the rock and the cornice was really thrilling. It was done by them with fierce determination. Though their energy level went down when they found the ridge to be never-ending, they did not lose hope and proceeded further. It was this strong determination and undying spirit that made them reach the summit successfully. Thus the statement, ‘There is no height, no depth that the spirit of man, guided by the higher spirit cannot attain gets proved.
Paragraph – The Summit
Introduction: Edmund Hillary in his “The Summit” tells how the summit of Everest was reached.
Preparation: Hillary and his friend Tenzing got ready for the climb from camp-8 on May 29. They drank large quantities of lemon juice and had some biscuits. He softened his boots which became frozen solid. They also wore three pairs of gloves.
Journey: They reached a crest of a ridge at about 28000 feet which narrowed to a knife-edge. The route on top of the ridge was both difficult and dangerous as it was filled with soft snow without losing hope they proceeded further and crampons on to the south peak.
The struggle: The snow was crystalline and firm. With the help of his ice-axe he made away and they proceeded further belaying each other. The overhanging ice cornices threatened them. They struggled hard to cross a great cornice which had a forty feet narrow crack between the cornice and the rock. Hillary found a narrow snow ridge running up to a snowy summit. Thus they reached the top. It took nearly two and a half hours for them to reach the top of the ridge.
Sense of fulfillment: They thumped each other on their back till they became breathless. As they had undergone a huge risk they felt that they had risked their whole lifetime to reach the top. The most important photograph was that of the North ridge. They made a little hole in the snow and placed some offerings to the Gods. From there they safely started descending to the South Col.
Conclusion: Thus their ascent of Everest depicts the value of teamwork which helps one to overcome any difficulties. The adventure of Hillary and Tenzing enriches the fact that there is no height, no depth, that the spirit of man, guided by a higher spirit cannot attain.
Vocabulary
Idioms – Fill in the blanks
[wait for the dust to settle, get/have all your ducks in a row, fetch and carry, do the math, round the corner]
- The Sherpas are cheerful, gallant men, who fetch and carry tents, oxygen, food etc., for climbers during their ascent of the summit.
- The team does the math carefully so as to reach the summit successfully.
- When they had to climb through deep new snow the party sometimes had to wait for the dust to settle.
- Each member of the team had all their ducks in a row.
- We could not believe that with a few more whacks of the ice axe in the firm snow we were round the corner to the top.
Idiomatic expressions – Choose the right one
- the icing on the cake – something extra and not essential, but is added to make it even better
- break the ice – to make people more relaxed, especially at the beginning of the meeting
- The conference room was silent though packed. The chairman introduced an interactive session to break the ice.
- Our headmistress not only promised us to take us for an excursion but also announced that on return we would get a holiday. It was like the icing on the cake.
Phrasal Verbs
i. Use the given phrasal verbs in sentences of your own
- I want to turn on the television.
- Mr. Prem took over charge as manager.
- The children set off for school.
- The meeting was put off to next week.
ii. Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| see off | to go to the station or airport to say goodbye to someone |
| stopover | to stay at a place for a short period of time when travelling to another place |
| set off | start off / to begin a journey |
| get in | arrive inside the train, bus, etc. |
| get off | leave a bus or train etc. |
| get on | enter a bus, train place |
| getaway | to go away from home for a vacation |
| check-in | arrive and register at the airport or hotel |
| check out | pay the bill when leaving a hotel |
Compound Words – Match with their right field
| Word | Field |
|---|---|
| snow-board | Sports |
| snow-mobile | transportation |
| snow-chains | machinery |
| snow-storm | weather |
| snow-bird | travel |
| snow-belt | geography |
Listening
Complete the following:
- List any three aspects which contributed to the success of the ascent of the summit:
1. Knowledge gained from other climbers
2. Careful planning
3. Excellence of equipment - Without the help of Teamwork / Sherpas nothing would have been possible.
- The main idea of the passage is reasons for the success of the summit.
- The biggest thing of all is togetherness.
- Sherpas were cheerful and gallant men.
Speaking
Group Activity
i. Have you ever been on an adventurous trip? If so, share your success story with your friends.
I with my brother went on a trip from Tirunelveli to Chennai on a bike. When we were just nearing Chennai, the tire of the bike burst, we did not know what to do. Luckily we managed not to hurt ourselves. We were waiting for someone to help us. Finally, a car came that way. We pleaded with them to help us. They promised to send a mechanic to that place. We waited for nearly two hours. Then the mechanic came and repaired our bike. Later we reached our uncle’s home in Chennai safely.
ii. How will you organize or plan for a trip or an event? Do you have the habit of preparing a check-list? Discuss.
I organize a trip with my family to Mysore for four days to visit all the important places. I planned to go by train. So I will book the to and fro tickets to Mysore. I will book a room to stay there in advance, I will prepare a checklist a day before my travel one toothbrush, towel, soap, money, my Id card, medicines, first aid kit. A tourist guide book of Mysore. I will plan everything properly to make my trip safe and pleasant.
Individual Activity – Proverbs Speech
a) Nothing is impossible
The word ‘impossible’ means it is possible. You can do anything. “The word impossible is found only in the dictionary of fools,” says Napoleon Bonaparte. In this world, everything is possible on the basis of will power, determination, and sacrifice. To accomplish the most difficult tasks, you need to put in a lot of hard work, extra perseverance, and concentration on a simple objective. You should have determination, dedication, and devotion to attain success. Never bother about the results keep on going even if the pace is slow. Just ensure it remains steady.
b) Where there is a will there’s a way
“Where there is a will there’s a way” is a message of hope and encouragement. Perseverance leads to success. Most of us are endowed with a fair share of intelligence, and all that is needed for success is diligence and perseverance. Some may not be blessed with good health. Some may not be blessed with a sharp intelligence or a retentive memory. Some may be dull. Yet, it is in the will power of all to attain to a certain standard of success. Thus, we may conclude with another saying “Strong Determination is the key to success”.
c) Together we can achieve more
This means Unity is strength. If people work together, the work is easier and is completed more quickly. This proverb means that you should take advantage of a favourable situation before it changes. It is best to always be honest and tell the truth. By doing so, you will win the trust and respect of others. A country is strong whose citizens are united, a family is strong whose members stay together. Thus unity is very important in each and every sphere of our life.
Giving Instructions
Here are a few instructions given by a Health Inspector to a group of students, in order to prevent malaria and dengue. Complete the series by adding some more important instructions.
Instructions to Prevent Malaria and Dengue
- Do not allow water to stagnate in and around your house.
- Keep all water containers covered tightly.
- Change the water in flower pots and bird baths regularly.
- Use mosquito nets while sleeping.
- Wear clothes that cover arms and legs, especially in the evenings.
- Apply mosquito repellents or creams when outdoors.
- Keep your surroundings clean and dispose of garbage properly.
- Ensure drains and gutters are not blocked.
- Grow plants like tulsi or neem which repel mosquitoes.
- Inform health authorities if there is heavy mosquito breeding in your area.
Write instructions for the following situations:
1. A doctor instructing a patient regarding a healthy diet and proper care after surgery
- Take medicines exactly as prescribed, without skipping doses.
- Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
- Avoid oily, spicy, and junk food until complete recovery.
- Drink plenty of clean water to stay hydrated.
- Keep the surgical wound clean and dry; change dressings regularly.
- Do not lift heavy objects or strain your body.
- Get adequate rest and sleep to help healing.
- Walk slowly or do light movements as advised, but avoid overexertion.
- Attend all follow‑up appointments with the doctor.
- Report immediately if you notice fever, swelling, or unusual pain.
2. A traffic police personnel to the public, as to how to move around in safety, in crowded public places during festival seasons
- Always use designated pedestrian crossings and footpaths.
- Avoid walking on the road; keep to the left side in crowded areas.
- Do not push or rush in crowds; move patiently and in order.
- Keep valuables like wallets and mobiles safe to prevent theft.
- Follow traffic signals and instructions given by police officers.
- Avoid parking vehicles in no‑parking zones to reduce congestion.
- Parents should hold children’s hands and keep them close.
- Do not stop suddenly in the middle of moving crowds.
- Use public transport wherever possible to ease traffic.
- In case of emergency, cooperate with police and move to safe zones calmly.
3. A mother to her children, on safety measures to be taken before leaving home on vacation
- Switch off all electrical appliances like fans, lights, and TV.
- Close all taps properly to avoid water wastage.
- Lock all doors and windows securely.
- Do not leave valuables or money lying around; keep them in a safe place.
- Inform a trusted neighbor about our absence.
- Keep emergency phone numbers written down and handy.
- Carry necessary medicines and first‑aid items in your travel bag.
- Pack clothes and essentials neatly to avoid last‑minute confusion.
- Be careful with food and water during travel to stay healthy.
- Always stay close to elders and avoid wandering alone in crowded places.
Reading – Note Making: The Sherpas
Notes – The Sherpas
Origin & Migration
- Nomadic people from Tibet, ~600 years ago
- Entered Nepal via Nangpa La pass → settled in Solukhumbu
- Migrated westward along salt trade routes
- 14th century: ancestors from Kham region (“ShyarKhamba”)
- Name “Sherpa” derived from “ShyarKhumbu”
Clans & Oral History
- Four groups migrated at different times → Minyagpa, Thimmi, Sertawa, Chawa
- Now over 20 clans
Lifestyle & Culture
- Isolated, spoke own language
- Entertainment: dancing, singing, drinking during expeditions
- Example: Ang Dawa’s memories of Makalu expedition
Transformation
- 1953: Tenzing Norgay + Edmund Hillary’s Everest ascent
- Hillary built schools, clinics → raised living standards
- Called “Sherpa King”
Challenges
- Casualties: crevasse falls, avalanches, altitude sickness
- Heavy loads, highest risks on Everest
Commercialization of Everest
- Sherpas benefited economically from guiding climbers
- 1990s: rise of commercial guiding agencies
- Shift from “brotherhood of the rope” → mountain business
Abbreviations Used: Exp. – Expedition, Mt. – Mountain, Hist. – History
Grammar – Kinds of Sentences
Simple Sentences – Finite Verbs
- You can solve this problem in different ways.
- The professor has been working on the last chapter of the book since March.
- Despite being a celebrity, Ravi mingles easily with everyone.
- You must speak clearly to make yourself understood.
- The chairman being away, the clerk is unable to approve the proposal.
- Getting down from the car, the Chief Guest walked towards the dais amidst applause.
- The old man struggled to walk without support.
- In case of emergency, please contact this number.
- The sun having set, the temperature fell rapidly.
- But for your help, I could not have completed the assignment.
Simple Sentences – Identify from passage
Sunflowers turn according to the position of the sun. In other words, they ‘chase the light’. Have you ever wondered what happens on cloudy, rainy days when the sun is completely covered by clouds? If you think the sunflower withers or turns its head towards the ground, you are completely mistaken. Do you know what happens? Sunflowers turn to each other to share their energy. Learning from Nature, we too should support and empower each other.
Simple sentences identified: Sunflowers turn according to the position of the sun. In other words, they ‘chase the light’. Sunflowers turn to each other to share their energy. Learning from Nature, we too should support and empower each other.
Complex Sentences – Main & Subordinate Clauses
- Nobody knows when the power supply will resume. — M.C: Nobody knows; S.C: when the power supply will resume
- Please tell me what the time is. — M.C: Please tell me; S.C: what the time is
- The man who directed the film was my schoolmate. — M.C: The man was my schoolmate; S.C: who directed the film
- I believe that all men are basically good. — M.C: I believe; S.C: that all men are basically good
- No one knows when he will return. — M.C: No one knows; S.C: when he will return
Complex Sentences – Pick from passage
A man saw a lion in the bush, as he was walking through the forest. He did not know what to do. He was helpless. He was too scared to turn around and run. He just knelt down as if he were getting ready to pray. He closed his eyes, thinking that the lion would pounce on him anytime. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the lion on its knees too. Shocked, he asked the lion what it was doing. The lion replied that he was praying before he started his meal.
Complex sentences: A man saw a lion in the bush, as he was walking through the forest. He did not know what to do. He just knelt down as if he were getting ready to pray. He closed his eyes, thinking that the lion would pounce on him anytime. Shocked, he asked the lion what it was doing. The lion replied that he was praying before he started his meal.
Compound Sentences – Main Clauses & Conjunction
- It started raining suddenly and people ran for shelter. — M.C: It started raining suddenly; M.C: people ran for shelter
- Understand the concept well, otherwise, you cannot solve the problem. — M.C: Understand the concept well; M.C: you cannot solve the problem
- Fifty candidates appeared for the interview, but only five were selected. — M.C: Fifty candidates appeared for the interview; M.C: only five were selected
- Ramesh did not know Spanish, so he wanted a translator. — M.C: Ramesh did not know Spanish; M.C: he wanted a translator
- He is a good actor, still, he is not popular. — M.C: He is a good actor; M.C: he is not popular
Compound Sentences – Pick from passage
The food we eat has to be digested and then thrown out of the body. The air we breathe in, has to be thrown out, to help us survive. But we hold negative emotions like insecurity, anger, and jealousy within ourselves for years. If these negative emotions are not eliminated, the mind grows corrupt and diseased. Let us do away with hatred and lead a healthy life filled with peace and joy.
Compound sentences: The food we eat has to be digested and then thrown out of the body. The air we breathe in, has to be thrown out, to help us survive. Let us do away with hatred and lead a healthy life filled with peace and joy.
Complete the sentences
| Sentence | Ending |
|---|---|
| 1. We were thoroughly disappointed | a. since our team did not get a prize |
| 2. Hardly had he stepped out | b. when it began to rain |
| 3. They wanted | c. to find out his address |
| 4. Since we had run out of petrol | d. we could not go further |
| 5. The cause of his injury | e. was his reckless driving |
Conditional Clause – Fill in the blanks
- If I were (be) a spider, I would weave (weave) webs.
- If Raj were (be) a sculptor, he would make (make) beautiful idols.
- If Mary had an umbrella, she would lend (lend) it to me.
- Rex would have played with me if he had (has) time.
- If I were you, I would accept (accept) this offer.
- We will select (select) storybooks for kids if we allow time for storytelling.
- The Education Minister will visit (visit) our school tomorrow if he goes by this way.
- You will be rewarded by the wise if you stand (stand) for truth.
- If my mother knows (know) of my poor performance in the exam, she will not allow me to watch a movie.
- If I had won the lottery, I would have donated (donate) relief materials for the flood victims.
Rewrite using ‘If’ without changing the meaning
- Sindhu would not have won the world championship unless she had single-minded devotion.
If Sindhu had not had single-minded devotion, she would not have won the world championship. - You will not reach your goal unless you chase your dream.
If you do not chase your dream, you will not reach your goal. - Unless we plant more trees, we cannot save our planet.
If we plant more trees, we can save our planet. - The rescue team would not have saved the victims unless they had received the call in time.
If the rescue team had received the call in time, they would have saved the victims. - The palace cannot be kept clean unless we appoint more people.
If we do not appoint more people, the palace cannot be kept clean. - The portraits would not have been so natural unless the artist had given his best.
If the artist had not given his best, the portraits would not have been so natural. - The manager would not have selected Nithiksha unless she exhibited good accounting skills.
If she had not exhibited good accounting skills, the manager would not have selected Nithiksha. - The policeman would not have arrested the man unless he had violated the rules.
If he had not violated the rules, the policeman would not have arrested the man. - Mr. Kunaal would not sponsor my higher education unless I studied well.
If I studied well, Mr. Kunaal would sponsor my higher education. - Kavin will not stop flying kites unless he understands the risk involved in it.
If Kavin understands the risk involved in it, he will stop flying kites. - Tanya would not know the answer unless she referred to the answer key.
If she referred to the answer key, Tanya would know the answer. - My village cannot achieve a 100 % literacy rate unless the elders of the village cooperate with the education department.
If the elders of the village do not cooperate with the education department, my village cannot achieve 100% literacy.
Writing – Summarizing
Rough Copy:
The Sherpas were nomadic people who migrated from Tibet about 600 years ago. They moved to the west. The ancestors from the Kham region were called Shayar khamba. The inhabitants were called Sherpas. There were fundamental clans, sherpas lived beyond the mountains. An old Sherpa Ang Dawa accompanied Edwin Hillary – He was called the Sherpa king, because he took efforts to build schools and health clinics to raise their living standards, Sherpas working on the Everest got perished due to Crevasse falls, Avalanches, and altitude sickness. They can carry heavy loads. They have benefited from the commercialization. Sherpas have taken up to look after clients for a salary. Sherpas’ life is entangled with the mountains.
Fair Copy:
The Sherpas
The Sherpas were nomadic people who migrated from Tibet about 600 years ago. They moved to the west. The ancestors from the Kham region were called Shayar Khamba. The inhabitants were called Sherpas. There were fundamental clans. Sherpas lived beyond the mountains. An old Sherpa Ang Dawa accompanied Edwin Hillary – He was called the Sherpa king because he took efforts to build schools and health clinics to raise their living standards. Sherpas working on the Everest got perished due to Crevasse falls, Avalanches, and altitude sickness. They can carry heavy loads. They have benefited by the commercialization. Sherpas have taken up jobs as guides to look after clients for a salary. Sherpas’ life is entangled with the mountains.
Interpreting Non-verbal Presentation – Reading a Map
Let us together scale the summit. Here is a drawing of Everest showing the way to the summit, and the position of the camps with their heights. Trace the trekking trail to reach the summit with the given detail and write an interesting paragraph in about 100 words.
Trekking Trail to the Summit
We began our journey from the base camp, carrying sufficient oxygen supplies. At the third camp, we faced severe hardship due to heavy ice fall and had to wait until the weather cleared. Only three of our team managed to reach the eighth camp. From there, the ridge narrowed into a knife‑edge with a steep slope, forcing us to cut steps carefully in the firm snow. With great effort, we advanced and finally reached the ninth camp. One of my companions fell ill, so I continued the challenging climb with another friend. Driven by fierce determination, nothing could stop us. At last, when the ridge ahead dropped sharply, we realized we were standing on the summit. At a height of 28,700 feet, we shared the splendid joy of victory, shouting with triumph at the top of the world.