1.2 On to the summit : We reach the top – Activity 2

1.2 Onto the summit : We reach the top – Activity 2

Read the extract & complete the activities given below.[12]

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 men behind him could confirm the distance between the two of them.

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 reach 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.

A1] Global Understanding-[2]

State whether the following statements are true or false-

1. Tenzing was the first to reach the top of Mt. Everest.
2. A pact was signed by Tenzing and Hillary on June 22, 1953.
3. The pact was signed in the office of the Prime Minister of India.
4. The narrator was not at all worried about reaching the top first or second.

A2] Complex factual – [2]

Complete the sentences –

1. The controversy was about ___
2. Tenzing’s main thought while climbing was ___

A3] Analysis –[2]

A4] Personal Response:[2]

Write in short about any controversy in which you got involved somehow.

A5] Language study -[2]

Do as directed:

1. We made a pact and each of us signed it. [Make Complex sentence]
2. Climbing takes all your attention. [Rewrite the sentence beginning with ‘All your ………’]

A6] Vocabulary -[2]

Match the pairs-

                   A                                                    B

 1.The highest point of a mountain    (i) Controversy

2. long, narrow piece of raised land  (ii) pact

3 prolonged public disagreement      (iii) Ridge

4.A formal agreement                          (iv) summit