NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5 The Summit Within

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5:- The Summit Within (Class 8 English Chapter 5) is an inspiring lesson written by Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia that focuses on the internal struggles individuals face within their minds and personalities. The author compares these mental challenges to the physical feat of climbing Mount Everest, suggesting that conquering the summit of one's own mind is an even greater challenge than reaching the peak of the world’s highest mountain. 

Major Ahluwalia shares his personal experiences of overcoming fears, doubts, and limitations while climbing Everest, emphasising the importance of self-belief, determination, and mental strength. The chapter encourages readers to reflect on their own internal struggles and highlights how personal growth and success come not just from physical strength but from overcoming the emotional and mental barriers within. Check out the NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5 from the below article.

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Class 8 English Chapter 5

In Class 8 English Chapter 5, The Summit Within, students explore themes of self-reflection, overcoming fear, and the power of persistence. The lesson is often followed by The Summit Within question answers, which help students understand the deeper meanings of the text. These answers focus on important aspects such as Major Ahluwalia's journey of self-discovery, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned.

However, NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5 are aligned with the CBSE guidelines. Anyone looking for Class 8 English Chapter 5 NCERT Solutions should scroll down. 

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5

Go through the NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5 from below:- 

Question 1. Standing on Everest, the writer was
(i) overjoyed.
(ii) very sad.
(iii) jubilant and sad.
Choose the right item.
Solution: (iii) Standing on Everest, the writer was jubilant and sad.

Read More: NCERT Solution for Class 8 English Chapter 1

Question 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.
Solution: Anybody can get overawed by the sheer scale of nature’s creation and feels so small in front of it.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 2

Question 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.
Solution : (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) are not relevant.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 3

Working with Text

Question 1.
Answer the followings.
(i) What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?
Solution: Endurance, persistence and will power are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb.

(ii) Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?
Solution: Adventure is risky, but pleasurable. Though it presents great difficulties, man takes delight in overcoming such hurdles. Everest is the highest, the mightiest, and many attempts have been made to climb it. According to the author, when the summit is climbed, there is the feeling of “exhilaration, the joy of having done something, the sense of a battle fought and won”. There is a feeling of victory and of happiness. The physical conquest of a mountain is only one part of the achievement. It is followed by a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction. The experience is not merely physical, but it is emotional and spiritual also.

Read More: NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 4

(iii) What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?
Solution: Everest is one of the highest and mightiest mountains drew him towards itself by its beauty, aloofness, ruggedness and the difficulties encountered on the way. Climbing it, would take the last ounce of ones energy as it is a brutal struggle with rock and ice. Once taken up, it cannot be given up half way even when ones life is at stake. The passage back is as difficult as the passage onwards. Once the summit is climbed however there is the feeling of exhilaration, the joy of having done something, the sense of a battle fought and won, a feeling of victory and of happiness. All these were reasons why he found it irresistible.

(iv) One does not do it (climb a high peak) for fame alone. What does one do it for, really?
Solution: Climbing a peak means endurance, persistence and will power. The demonstration of these physical qualities is exhilarating for a climber. The experience, apart from being merely physical, is also emotional and spiritual. It surely presents great difficulties. However, man takes delight in overcoming obstacles. Therefore, it is not for fame alone that one climbs a mountain. It is actually for the joy of having done something, the sense of a battle fought and won, a feeling of victory and of happiness. There is a sense of fulfillment, the satisfaction of a deep urge to rise above ones surroundings, the eternal love for adventure in man.

(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?
Solution: “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe.” This awareness defines the emotion of humility.

(vi)What were the “symbols of reverence” left by members of the team on Everest?
Solution: On Everest, a picture of Guru Nanak was left by the author; a picture of Goddess Durga was left by Rawat; a relic of the Buddha was left by Phu Dorji. Apart from these ‘symbols of reverence’ there was also the cross that had been buried by Edmund Hillary.

(vii) What, according to the writer, did his experience as an Everester teach him?
Solution: According to the writer, his experience as an Everester provided him with the inspiration to face life’s ordeals determinedly. It taught him that the conquest of the internal summit is as worthwhile as climbing the mountain. He also concluded that perhaps the internal summits are higher than Everest.

Question 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. _______________
Solution :
(ii) Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles. The demonstration of endurance, persistence and will power in overcoming great difficulties is delightful.
(iii) Mountains are nature at its best. The beauty and majesty of the mountains pose a great challenge for a climber and they are a means of communion with God.
(iv) The going was difficult but the after-effects were satisfying. Climbing the mountains was difficult, but reaching the summit gives one a feeling of satisfaction and deep fulfillment.
(v) The physical conquest of a mountain is really a spiritual experience. The physical act of climbing to the summit of a mountain is similar to the act of climbing the mountain within yourselves which is a spiritual and deeply satisfying experience and either climb will certainly change you giving you a sense of being in communion with God.

Working with Language

Question 1. 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 __________ 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.

Solution :
(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 never heard before.
(v) Shieba: Your big moment is close at hand.
Jyoti: How should I welcome it?
Shieba: Get up and receive the trophy.

Question 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 ____________
Solution :
(i) endure: endurance
(ii) persist: persistence
(iii) signify: significance
(iv) confide: confidence
(v) maintain: maintenance
(vi) abhor: abhorrence

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

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

Solution :
(i)

(ii)
(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.

Summary of The Summit Within (Class 8 English Chapter 5)

The Summit Within (Class 8 English Chapter 5) is a reflective chapter written by Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia, where he shares his personal experience of climbing Mount Everest. Through his journey, he highlights the physical challenges of scaling the world’s highest peak. However, the main focus of the chapter is on the deeper, internal struggles he faced—both during the climb and in his life. Major Ahluwalia emphasizes that while climbing Mount Everest requires great physical strength, the true battle lies within the mind. Overcoming fear, doubt, and emotional struggles is a much harder and more important task than any external achievement. He explains that people must conquer their inner fears, weaknesses, and self-doubt to achieve greatness. The author compares this internal challenge to climbing the summit of one's own mind. Major Ahluwalia uses his experience to show that real success and personal growth come not from external accomplishments but from overcoming the barriers that exist within us. The chapter teaches valuable lessons about self-belief, persistence, and mental strength, encouraging readers to reflect on their own fears and limitations in order to grow and reach their full potential.

Themes of The Summit Within:

1. Self-Belief and Inner Strength: The chapter highlights how believing in yourself and having mental strength is crucial in facing challenges, both in life and in physical feats like climbing a mountain. Major Ahluwalia's journey teaches that we must trust ourselves and our abilities to overcome difficulties.

2. Overcoming Fear: Fear is one of the major obstacles discussed in the chapter. Major Ahluwalia talks about how fear can limit our progress, and how facing and overcoming it is key to achieving our goals. The climb represents the courage needed to overcome personal fears.

3. Persistence and Determination: The chapter teaches that no matter how tough the journey may seem, staying persistent and determined helps us overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. Just as climbing Mount Everest requires continuous effort, life’s challenges require perseverance to be conquered.

4. Self-Reflection and Personal Growth: Major Ahluwalia encourages readers to reflect on their inner struggles and recognize how overcoming them leads to personal growth. He teaches that growth comes from confronting our weaknesses and learning to be stronger both mentally and emotionally.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5 FAQs

1. Who is the author of The Summit Within?

• The author of The Summit Within is Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia, an Indian Army officer and mountaineer who successfully climbed Mount Everest in 1965.

2. What does the author compare the internal struggles to in The Summit Within?

• The author compares the internal struggles to climbing Mount Everest. He explains that while reaching the physical summit is challenging, overcoming one's inner fears, doubts, and limitations is an even greater challenge.

3. What is the central theme of the chapter?

• The central theme of The Summit Within is overcoming internal obstacles such as fear, self-doubt, and emotional struggles. It emphasizes the importance of mental strength and perseverance in achieving personal growth.

4. Why does Major Ahluwalia say that the summit within is more difficult to climb than Mount Everest?

• Major Ahluwalia believes that climbing the "summit within" is more difficult than climbing Mount Everest because overcoming one's own fears, self-doubt, and emotional barriers is a far more complex challenge than physical exertion on a mountain.

5. What lesson does Major Ahluwalia learn from his Everest climb?

• From his Everest climb, Major Ahluwalia learns that true success and growth come from within. The physical feat of climbing the mountain is secondary to the emotional and mental strength required to overcome internal struggles.