1.2 On To The Summit: We Reach The Top
Tenzing Norgay
Read the following extract and attempt the activities given below it.
When we left Camp Nine on Friday morning, I
was determined to get to the top on this day. That
morning I remember thinking, “I was to get to the top
even if I die.” I was not afraid to die that day. We
set out early and all the way from Camp Nine to the
peak we alternated.
I would take the lead and then Hillary. The man
who follows when climbing has a difficult job both in
climbing up and climbing down. He is the anchor. The
man going in the lead cuts the steps and breaks the
way.
In my pocket I had four flags. When we were still
at Camp Four, Colonel Hunt gave me three flags,
those of Britain, the United Nations and Nepal. He
charged me with the duty of planting them on the top
of the world.
“These three flags are in your care,” he said.
“When you and Hillary reach the top, put them at the
peak. I am sure that you and Hillary are going to do it.
I told Colonel Hunt that I was carrying the Indian
flag with me and I would like to be on the top with
the other flags. I had to ask Colonel Hunt’s permission
in his capacity as leader of the expedition.
Indian Flag
Colonel Hunt said, “By all means, I am glad to
know that you brought an Indian flag”
A1. Complete
Tenzing Norgay brought the flags of .......
Ans a..................b...............c...............d...............
A2. Complex Factual
Point out at least two statements that show Tenzing's confidence.
Ans.
1.............................................................................................................
2.............................................................................................................
A3. Inference
The extract shows the patriotic quality of Tenzing Norgay. Explain with evidence.
Ans.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
A4. Personal Response
Write any four different activities related to climbing.
Ans.
1...................................
2...................................
3...................................
4...................................
A5. Language Study
Spot the error and write the correct sentence.
1. Tenzing and Hillary made an pact at the office of P M of Nepal.
Ans........................................................................................................2. I and Hillary embraced each other.
Ans........................................................................................................A6. Vocabulary
Write down the antonyms of the followings-
1. early.................
2. difficult............
3. sure..................
4. glad..................
Answers:
A1- Ans-
a. India b. Britain c. United Nations d. Nepal
A2. Ans-
1. I was determined to get the top on this day.
2. I was to get the top even if I die.
3. I was not afraid to die that day.
A3. Ans-
I told Colonel Hunt that I was carrying the Indian
flag with me and I would like to be on the top with
the other flags.
A4-Ans-
1. Horse trekking 2. Parachuting
3. Mountaineerin 4. Hill walking
5. Paragliding 6. Caving
A5. Ans-
1.Tenzing and Hillary made a pact at the office of P M of Nepal.
2. Hillary and I embraced each other.
A6. Ans-
1. late
2. easy
3. unsure
4. nervous/sad
More activities for practice:
After one hour of steady going, we cut across
from the south face and started up the west side where
we had to pass up a steep line of rocks. This was
slow and difficult. Once we had cleared these, there
was nothing barring our way to top but a
snow-covered incline, sloping less and less as it neared
the top.
These last sixty or seventy feet up the top were
not very dangerous. But we kept up the same steady
pace. And we reached the small, flattened summit
almost together :
During the last fifty feet from the peak, Hillary
and I were moving about twenty feet apart. We were
tied together with a rope. Most of the time the rope
was loose, but when we went over dangerous ground,
we drew it taut.
This rope was a symbol. It tied us together. One
could not move without the other. We were not two
individuals, but a team.
I have been asked many times, “Who was first?”
When we were within reach of the summit, I did not
think of who was going to be “first.” I am sure that
Hillary was not thinking that. Climbing takes all your
attention. You have many more important worries.
What does it matter whether I reached the top first
or Hillary? Our main thought was that both of us
reach the top. We had to. One couldn’t do it alone.
If there had been a difference of one thousand feet
between us, then one could make the claim that he
was first. But even then, only the man behind him
could confirm the distance between the two of them.
A1 Global Understanding
State whether the following statements are true or false.1.After two hours of steady
going, the mountaineers cut across from the south face. 2. These last sixty or seventy feet
up the top were not very dangerous.
3.Tenzing could go ahead without the help of
Hillary.
4. The attention towards climbing is very
important for mountaineers.
A2 Complex Factual
Rewrite the statement
choosing the correct alternative.1.The two mountaineers cut across from the south
face/north face.
2.The mountaineers kept up the same steady
pace/speed.
3.Tenzing and Hillary did not care/cared about
reaching first to the summit.
4.Only the man behind him could confirm the
distance between/among the two of them.
A3 Inference
Give reasons for the
‘rope’ being called a symbol.
A4. Personal Response
Write any four different
activities related climbing.1.This was slow and difficult.(Use not only……but also)
2.This rope was a symbol.
(Add question tag)
A6 Vocabulary
Fill the letters to get meaningful
words from the extract. Use hints given in the bracket.1.s-e-d- (which is firm/fixed) 2) s-o-i-g (slanting up or down)
3.s-m-i- (Top of the mountain) 4) b-r-i-g
(prohibit)
When we reached Kathmandu we discovered that
a controversy had arisen. We talked it over, Hillary,
Colonel Hunt and I. We agreed that all the talk was
childish.
So we made a pact, and each of us signed it in
the office of the Prime Minister of Nepal. Each one
signed his own statement. I have a copy of Hillary’s
statement which I carry in my pocket.
It reads: “Kathmandu, June 22, 1953.”
“On May 29th, Tenzing Sherpa and I left our high
camp on Mt. Everest for our attempt on the summit.
As we climbed upwards to the South Summit, first
one and then the other would take a turn at leading.
We crossed over the South Summit and moved along
the Summit ridge. We reached the summit almost
together. We embraced each other overjoyed at our
success, then I took photograph of Tenzing holding
aloft the flags of Great Britain, Nepal, the United
Nations and India.” (Signed: E.P. Hillary) There is
another paper like this in English, signed by me. Thus,
we will not take part in any controversy. As the
statement says, Hillary and I embraced when we
reached the top. We did as well as our bulky equipment
would let us. I remember saying to him: “We have
done it.” But we couldn’t hear. We had our oxygen
mask on.
First Thought
My first thought on reaching the top was a sense
of gratitude to God, that after having failed six times,
He had blessed me with fulfillment of this desire I
had held so long.
I placed on the summit the offerings to God that
I had carried with me. This is in accord with my
religion. Both my wife and I are Buddhists. I could
not kneel because of my clothes and equipment. But
I offered a silent prayer in my heart.
The offerings were biscuits, candy and a little blue
pencil. My youngest daughter, Nima, had given me
the pencil before I left home. She asked me to put it
on the top of the mountain as her offering. It was anordinary blue pencil, not even a long one, but it was
one of her prized possessions.
As I put it down, I pointed it out to Hillary. He
gave me a big smile, showing that he understood.
Then I got out the flags which I had on piece of
string about four feet long. I fastened one end to my
ice axe and Hillary took pictures as I held it up.
As I had to bring my ice axe down with me, I
buried one end of the string in the ice on the top,
and the other in snow on the slope down below. When
we left, they were lying flat against the summit
A1 Complete the following statements. 1. When
reached Kathmandu, they discovered that………..
2.The
pact was made in the office of………….
3.Tenzing’s
first thought was………
4.The
offerings were…………..
A2 State whether the following statements are true or false.
1.The
controversy between the mountaineers continued to the end.
2.Tenzing
did not make any statement in the pact.
3.Tenzing
offered a silent prayer in his heart.
4.Nima,
Tenzing’s youngest daughter, had given him a blue pencil.
A3 Tenzing felt emotional. Pick out two statements from the extract to
support this.
1…………………………………………………………………………………………………
2…………………………………………………………………………………………………
A4 Express your views on ‘Success needs hard work and perseverance’.
A5 Language study
Spot the error and write the correct sentence.
1.Tenzing
and Hillary made an pact at the office of the Prime Minister of Nepal.
Ans………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...............................................2. I and
Hillary embraced each other.
Ans-………………………………………………………………………………………………………………........................................
A6 Vocabulary
Match words with their meanings-
A B
1.Controversy a. be
harmonious or consistent with
2.Pact b. heated discussion or disagreement
3.Ridge c. a formal agreement
4.Accord d.
long narrow piece of raised land
I was very thirsty. I took out a water tumbler for
a drink, but found the water in the metal container
had frozen so I couldn’t quench my thirst. I ate some
biscuits and offered some to Hillary.
I was wearing a red scarf which my great friend
Lambert (leader of the 1952 Swiss expedition) had
given me last year. It was just a year ago, on May
28th, when we were standing at 28,215 feet, that he
gave me the scarf.
I wore it all the way up the mountain from
Darjeeling. As I stood at the top, I remembered him,
and felt that he was with me. I felt absolutely fit at
the summit. My mind was absolutely clear. I didn’t
feel tired I felt exhilarated. It was a very clear
sensation.
Below, all the hills and mountains looked like
Gods and Goddesses to me. The plains below looked
like so many broken pieces of the map.
Two or three people could stand there on the roof
of the world if you cut ice. Twenty or 30 feet below
the top, there was enough flat square for two people
to sleep. You could pitch one tent there. The summit
is flat on one side and steep on the other. There is
snow on the northern side, rocks on the South and
East and snowy rock on the West. We stayed on the
top a little more than fifteen minutes. We were lucky
that there was no gale, or it would have swept us
off. My next thought was how to get down safely.
On the descent from the summit, I was walking
behind Hillary. I was following him and holding the
rope tightly, and my determination was to make sure
he descended safely. I must say that the climb down
was more difficult and dangerous than the climb up.
If you slipped down, you would go into Kangshung
glacier and there would be no trace left of you.
More Caution Needed
Of course it took less time climbing down, but you
needed more “husiar” (caution). When I reached Camp
Nine, my first thought was: “Thank God we have been
spared an accident, and if up to now there have been
no accidents I hope there will be none in future.” I
had always prayed to God and he had saved me.
At Camp Nine, Hillary and I were in no mood for
any talking. We just attended to our own things. We
stayed there about half an hour. We boiled some snow
to make lemon water and drank it. When we left, we
took only our sleeping bags and left everything else
behind in the tent. From Camp Nine to Camp Eight,
where we spent the night, was an easier job. Just
above Camp Eight where the others could see us. I
raised my arm with my thumb up. (C.W.F.) Noyce ad
(W.G.) Lowe saw us and their faces flushed with joy.
In this way I was able to tell them of our success.
As we got nearer to Camp Eight, Lowe came to meet
us and came up about 300 feet with tea and coffee.
Another 50 feet down, we met Noyce who brought
us more tea. This tea smelled kerosene. Apparently it
had been made in a hurry and somehow some kerosene
got into the welcome cup. But I thought since the
gentleman had taken so much trouble to bring it, I
was going to enjoy it whatever the smell.
A1 Arrange the following jumbled sentence as per their occurrence in
the exract.1.Tenzing
and Hillary met Noyce who brought tea.
2.Tenzing
took out water tumbler for a drink.
3.Hillary
and Tenzing were in no mood for any talking.
4.Tenzing
felt absolutely fit at summit.
A2 State whether the following statements are true or false.
1. For
Tenzing all the mountains and hills below were looking like God and Goddesses.
2.Both
the mountaineers stayed on the top for one hour.
3.To
climb down was more difficult and dangerous that to climb up.
4.The
mountaineers boiled some snow to make lemon water for drinking.
A3 Analysis
Tenzing wore the red scarf. Give
its reason.
A4 Personal ResponseGive the list of things that a
mountaineer needs during climbing expedition.1.You
could pitch one tent there.
(Use the modal
auxiliary showing less certainty)
2.In
this way I was able to tell them of our success. (Remove the underlined
words with suitable words) A6 VocabularyRearrange the jumbled letters to
make a meaningful word.wndo 2. ohru 3. acpm 4. etmi
*******************
Compiled By-Dr. Salunkhe T. B.
