NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Unit 5 – The Summit Within

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Unit 5 – The Summit Within, available at Infinity Learn for Class 8 students. The solutions are provided as step-by-step solutions, solved by subject experts in line with the latest CBSE syllabus and updated for 2026-26. This unit features the story "The Summit Within", which chronicles Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia's successful 1965 expedition to Mount Everest. It highlights his emotions, challenges, and experiences during this adventurous feat.

For students, the Class 8 English Chapter 5 question answer for "The Summit Within" is now available for easy reference. The chapter-wise solutions are structured according to the latest CBSE syllabus. Students can refer to the English chapter 5 Class 8 solutions, which provide comprehensive the Summit Within solutions to help them understand the story better. Additionally, the class 8 the summit within question and answer section allows students to dive deeper into the key themes and events of the story.

You can download the Free PDF download of Class 8 English Chapter 5 solutions for "The Summit Within" from the link below and enjoy learning from online study material. These NCERT Solutions are designed to enhance the understanding of the story, including answering the question "Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?".

Explore the Summit Within summary and get answers to key questions like "The Summit Within question and answer" to strengthen your grasp of the chapter. Students can also access the content from Meritnation Class 8 for further assistance.

Download the solutions for a fulfilling learning experience and use the Chapter 5 English Class 8 resources to excel in your studies.

NCERT Solutions Class 8 English Chapter 5 – Free PDF Download

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter The Summit Within

The chapter “The Summit Within” by Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia is included in the NCERT Class 8 English Honeydew book. This lesson is not only about climbing Mount Everest but also about conquering the inner summits of fear, weakness, and doubts. Below are the NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter The Summit Within Important Questions and Answers, written in the same format as given in NCERT textbooks, but with keyword-rich explanations to help students prepare for exams effectively.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Chapter 5 The Summit Within – Extra Questions

Question 1. Why does the author compare climbing Mount Everest with climbing the internal summits of the mind?

(i) Because both need courage and will power.

(ii) Because both give worldly fame.

(iii) Because both are easy to achieve.

Choose the right item.

Solution: (i) The author compares climbing Everest with inner summits because both need immense courage, endurance, and determination.

Question 2. What realization struck Major Ahluwalia when he stood on the top of Everest?

(i) That man is superior to nature.

(ii) That human life is small before the vast universe.

(iii) That Everest is easy to climb.

Choose the right item.

Solution: (ii) Standing on the world’s highest peak made the author realize his own smallness and humility before nature’s vastness.

Question 3. Which internal qualities are necessary to overcome life’s obstacles?

(i) Endurance and humility.

(ii) Fame and wealth.

(iii) Anger and pride.

Choose the right item.

Solution: (i) Endurance, persistence, willpower, and humility are necessary to overcome life’s obstacles, just as they are needed to climb a mountain.

Working with the Text – Extra Questions

Question 1. Answer the following:

(i) How did the author describe the struggle of climbing Mount Everest?
Solution: The author described it as a brutal struggle with rock and ice. It drained the last ounce of energy, but once the summit was reached, it gave the joy of victory and fulfillment.

(ii) Why does the author believe that internal summits are more difficult to climb than physical ones?
Solution: Internal summits like fear, doubt, and weakness are hidden within us. Overcoming them requires stronger willpower and discipline than climbing a mountain.

(iii) What message does “The Summit Within” convey to students?
Solution: The lesson conveys that true success lies in self-mastery. It teaches students to develop courage, patience, and spiritual strength while facing challenges in life.

(iv) How does nature inspire the author during his climb?
Solution: The beauty, majesty, and vastness of mountains made the author feel humble and inspired him to rise above worldly desires and focus on spiritual growth.

(v) What kind of fulfillment does a climber feel after reaching the summit?
Solution: A climber feels joy, exhilaration, and deep satisfaction. The victory is not only physical but also emotional and spiritual, giving a sense of communion with God.

Question 2. Write a sentence against each of the following statements.

(i) Climbing mountains is not just a physical achievement.
Solution: It is also an emotional and spiritual experience.

(ii) The inner summits are tougher than the physical ones.
Solution: Conquering fear, laziness, and doubts is harder than climbing Everest.

(iii) Success is a blend of humility and determination.
Solution: Standing at the summit makes one humble while reminding of the power of persistence.

(iv) Mountains bring man closer to God.
Solution: Their beauty and grandeur inspire spiritual realization.

(v) True adventure is about self-discovery.
Solution: Adventure teaches man about his real strength and inner potential.

Important Questions and Answers from The Summit Within Class 8

Q1. What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?

Answer: The three qualities that helped Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia in climbing Mount Everest were endurance, persistence, and willpower. Without these, it is impossible to face the extreme physical and mental challenges of a mountain as high as Everest. These qualities also symbolize the strength required to climb the “inner summits” of life.

Q2. Why is adventure, which is risky, also pleasurable?

Answer: Adventure is risky because it involves danger, uncertainty, and physical hardship. Yet, it is pleasurable because overcoming these difficulties gives a person a sense of achievement, self-confidence, and inner satisfaction. For mountaineers like Ahluwalia, the joy of standing at the summit of Everest is worth every risk taken.

Q3. What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?

Answer: Mount Everest is the highest and mightiest peak in the world. Its sheer height, beauty, and challenge made it irresistible to the author. To him, Everest represented the ultimate test of man’s physical and mental strength, and climbing it was a way to prove his courage and determination.

Q4. One does not do climbing for fame alone. What does the author say?

Answer: The author explains that people climb mountains not only for fame or recognition, but for the deep sense of fulfillment that comes with such an achievement. For him, climbing was about self-discovery, overcoming limitations, and reaching the summit within his own mind.

Q5. “He becomes conscious in a special manner of his own smallness in this large universe.” What does the author mean?

Answer:When standing at the summit of a great mountain like Everest, the author realized the vastness of nature and the universe. He felt humble and small compared to the greatness of creation. The experience gave him spiritual insight, reminding him of the importance of humility in life.

Q6. What were the ‘internal summits’ that the author mentions?
Answer: The ‘internal summits’ are the inner struggles of the human mind and spirit—such as overcoming fear, selfishness, laziness, and doubts. According to the author, conquering these inner summits is harder than climbing physical mountains, but they are essential for leading a meaningful life.

Q7. What lesson does “The Summit Within” teach students?
The chapter teaches that true victory lies not in physical achievements alone, but in self-mastery, discipline, and courage. Students learn that success in academics or life is possible when they conquer their own weaknesses, just like the author conquered Mount Everest and his inner doubts.

Q8. Why does the author compare climbing Everest with climbing one’s own mind?
Climbing Everest required courage, physical strength, and determination, but controlling one’s own mind requires even greater strength. The author compares the two to show that while external challenges are difficult, internal struggles are the real test of human willpower.

Summary of The Summit Within Class 8 English

The chapter “The Summit Within” is written by Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia, a member of the first successful Indian expedition to Mount Everest in 1965. It is included in the NCERT Class 8 English Honeydew textbook. In this lesson, the author shares his experience of climbing the world’s highest peak and the spiritual realization that came with it. The story highlights both the external summit of Mount Everest and the internal summit of the human mind and spirit.

Conquering Mount Everest

Major Ahluwalia describes the challenges of climbing Mount Everest. The climb requires endurance, willpower, physical strength, and persistence. The journey is full of dangers like icy winds, thin air, and steep rocks. Despite all hardships, the feeling of standing on the summit is unmatched—it brings a sense of achievement, joy, and fulfillment. To him, Everest was not just a mountain; it was the ultimate test of courage and determination.

Adventure and Risk

The author explains why people take part in such dangerous adventures. Though climbing mountains is risky, it is also deeply pleasurable and satisfying. Adventure gives people a chance to explore their limits, face challenges, and emerge stronger. It is not done for fame alone, but for the inner satisfaction and self-discovery it brings.

Humility and Spiritual Experience

When Major Ahluwalia stood at the peak of Everest, he felt both exhilaration and humility. The mighty mountain made him realize how small humans are compared to the vast universe. He experienced peace, spiritual joy, and a connection with nature. This feeling taught him that the true purpose of life is not arrogance or pride but humility and balance.

The Inner Summits

The author then shifts the focus from physical mountains to the inner summits within every individual. These internal challenges include overcoming fear, selfishness, laziness, doubt, and weakness. Ahluwalia believes that climbing one’s own mind is even harder than climbing Mount Everest. True success in life comes from conquering these inner summits.

Why is The Summit Within Important for Students?

The lesson is important because it teaches that real strength lies in overcoming inner weaknesses. For Class 8 students, this chapter encourages building confidence, self-control, and a positive attitude. It blends adventure, moral values, and life lessons, making it a powerful part of the NCERT Class 8 English Honeydew curriculum.

Answer the Following Questions

A) What are the three qualities that played a major role in the author’s climb?

Ans. The three qualities are endurance, persistence and will power.

B) Why is adventure which is risky also pleasurable?

Ans. A risky adventure is also pleasurable because overcoming difficulties and challenges give us the joy of achievement.

C) What was it about Mount Everest that the author found irresistible?

Ans. The author found Mount Everest irresistible because it is the highest mountain peak. It offered him a great challenge to satisfy his love for adventure .

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

One does not climb a mountain for fame alone. More than that, it gives an emotional and spiritual satisfaction to the climber. It also satisfies man’s eternal love for adventure.

E) “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 emotion is humility.

F) What are the ‘symbols of reverence’ left by members of the team on Everest?

Ans. The symbols of reverence left by members of the team on Everest were , a picture of Guru Nanak, a picture of Goddess Durga, a relic of the Buddha, and a cross.

G) What according to the writer, did his experience as an Everest teach him?

Ans. The experience of having conquered Mount Everest changed him completely. It made him realize his own smallness. It also taught him to face life’s ordeal resolutely.

2. Write a Sentence Against Each of the Following Statements.

A) The experience changes you completely.

One who has been to the mountain is never the same again.

B) Man takes delight in overcoming obstacles.

It is a pleasure to face challenges successfully.

C) Mountains are nature at its best.

Nature’s beauty can be best seen in the mountains.

D) The going was difficult but the after effects were satisfying.

Climbing the mountain was a worthwhile experience.

E) The physical conquest of a mountain is really a spiritual experience.

Mountains are a means of communion with God.

Other CBSE Class 8 Helpful Resources

• NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Science
• NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Maths
• NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5

Within an Overview of Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5: The Pinnacle Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia, a member of the first successful Indian expedition to the world's tallest mountain, Mount Everest, wrote The Summit Within. While climbing Mount Everest, the author relates his feelings and experiences. He explains why it was not only an exciting excursion but also the riskiest task he has ever undertaken.

Mount Everest piqued the author's interest for two reasons. It was the tallest and the deadliest, to begin with. Climbing presented him with a succession of terrifying physical obstacles that put his life in jeopardy.

But it was an unanticipated flood of varied feelings that the author received the most after completing the task. He felt both happy and sad at the summit of the mountain. He was overwhelmed by feelings of humility and insignificance. The mountain was providing him with a magnificent location where he could have powerful communion with God.

Not only did he reach the physical mountain, but he also conquered a pinnacle within himself. He realized how insignificant he is. To climb a mountain, all that is required is endurance, willpower, and perseverance. He feels that everyone who has climbed to the peak of a mountain is no longer the same person. It completely transforms a person and drives them to seek out and achieve the inner summit. Along with him, everyone else left some symbols.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5 Benefits

What makes a study resource the most beneficial? Their superb linguistic skills, clarity, involvement, correctness, and precision. When you learn NCERT solutions, you won't have to jump from one source to another, which has its own set of benefits. There are numerous benefits to studying NCERT answers Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 5 thoroughly, as noted below:

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4. The solutions are well-crafted in accordance with CBSE's tight requirements and current curriculum.
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