NCERT Solutions Poorvi Chapter 4 Conquering the Summit — Let us learn
Book page 171 & 172 Updated on2026-09-05
Q1.
Read the underlined phrases in sentences (i)–(v) and match them with their appropriate meanings given in the box below. [1. genuine, sincere efforts 2. strength of mind 3. periods of time filled with tiring and demanding activities 4. an incident or experience that significantly changes a person's life 5. a source of inspiration or encouragement] (i) Nisha was relieved when the final match was over after several exhausting days of practice. (ii) Despite several failures, her heartfelt attempts to learn the guitar showed her determination and passion for music. (iii) Moving to a new city was a life-altering event for Jagan, as it gave him the chance to make new friends and try different activities. (iv) Competing in the marathon requires not just physical strength but also mental fortitude to stay focused and finish the race. (v) The lighthouse served as a beacon of hope for the sailors lost at sea.
Answer
Sentence
Underlined phrase
Meaning
(i)
exhausting days
3. periods of time filled with tiring and demanding activities
(ii)
heartfelt attempts
1. genuine, sincere efforts
(iii)
life-altering event
4. an incident or experience that significantly changes a person's life
(iv)
mental fortitude
2. strength of mind
(v)
beacon of hope
5. a source of inspiration or encouragement
All five phrases come from the text: Arunima reached the summit “after 52 exhausting days”; the accident was a “life-altering event”; her story is about “mental fortitude”; and she is “a beacon of hope and resilience”. Only heartfelt attempts is a fresh phrase, built on the same pattern.
Tip for guessing meanings: Break the phrase into its parts. Life + altering = changing a life. Mental + fortitude (from Latin fortis, strong) = strength of mind. Heart + felt = felt in the heart, so sincere.
Q2.
Complete the following table by filling in the gaps with correct parts of speech mentioned. An example has been done for you. Nouns / Adjectives / Verbs (present) / Adverbs — determination, determined, determine, determinedly; relief, ____, ____, relievedly; ____, inspiring, inspire, ____; resistance, ____, ____, resistantly; success, successful, ____, ____.
Answer
Nouns
Adjectives
Verbs (present)
Adverbs
determination
determined
determine
determinedly
relief
relieved
relieve
relievedly
inspiration
inspiring
inspire
inspiringly
resistance
resistant
resist
resistantly
success
successful
succeed
successfully
One sentence for each new word:
relieved — Nisha was relieved when the final match was over.
relieve — A hot cup of tea will relieve your headache.
inspiration — Swami Vivekananda was Arunima's inspiration.
inspiringly — She spoke inspiringly to the school assembly.
resistant — The new jacket is resistant to water.
resist — I could not resist looking out of the window.
succeed — If you work hard you will succeed.
successfully — She successfully completed the Seven Summits.
Watch the spelling changes: the noun of succeed drops a letter (success), and the noun of inspire changes its ending (inspiration). Word families in English are related, not identical — always check the spelling of each form.
Q3.
Study the highlighted words in the following sentences from the text. The highlighted words are articles. ‘A' and ‘an' are indefinite articles; ‘the' is the definite article. The choice between ‘a' and ‘an' depends on the sound that follows the article, specifically the initial sound of the word that follows. 1. Fill in the blanks with ‘a', ‘an', ‘the'. Put an ‘x' where no article is required. “We planned (i) ___ adventurous trip to (ii) ___ remote island. (iii) ___ island was known for its beautiful landscapes and (iv) ___ diverse wildlife. On (v) ___ first day, we set out to explore (vi) ___ island's dense jungle. (vii) ___ guide led us through (viii) ___ thick foliage and showed us (ix) ___ hidden waterfall. In (x) ___ evening, we gathered around (xi) ___ campfire to share stories and enjoy (xii) ___ meal we cooked. (xiii) ___ experience was truly unforgettable, and we felt (xiv) ___ connection with (xv) ___ nature.”
Answer
The completed passage:
We planned (i) an adventurous trip to (ii) a remote island. (iii) The island was known for its beautiful landscapes and (iv) x diverse wildlife. On (v) the first day, we set out to explore (vi) the island's dense jungle. (vii) The guide led us through (viii) the thick foliage and showed us (ix) a hidden waterfall. In (x) the evening, we gathered around (xi) the campfire to share stories and enjoy (xii) the meal we cooked. (xiii) The experience was truly unforgettable, and we felt (xiv) a connection with (xv) x nature.
Blank
Article
Reason
(i)
an
“adventurous” begins with a vowel sound.
(ii)
a
An island not yet known to the reader; “remote” starts with a consonant sound.
(iii)
The
The island has now been mentioned — second mention takes the.
(iv)
x
“its” already does the job for both nouns: its landscapes and wildlife.
(v)
the
The always goes with ordinals — the first, the second, the last.
(vi)
the
A particular jungle — the one on that island.
(vii)
The
Their own guide, known to the group.
(viii)
the
The foliage of that jungle.
(ix)
a
First mention of the waterfall.
(x)
the
Fixed phrase — in the evening, in the morning.
(xi)
the
Their own campfire, the one they had lit.
(xii)
the
Made definite by the words that follow — “the meal we cooked”.
(xiii)
The
The whole experience just described.
(xiv)
a
One connection among many possible ones.
(xv)
x
Abstract, uncountable ideas — nature, love, courage — take no article.
The three rules that solve most blanks: (1) a/an for the first mention, the for every mention after that; (2) the when the noun is made specific by what follows it (“the meal we cooked”); (3) no article before abstract or uncountable nouns used in a general sense.
Q4.
2. There is an error in each sentence that has been underlined. Correct the error in the following sentences. (i) We waited for a hour before the bus finally arrived. (ii) The guide insisted on an uniform jacket for the group's safety during the trek. (iii) Mount K2 is a second highest peak in the world. (iv) A Ganga is a sacred river in India, known for its cultural importance. (v) Challenges are faced with courage and determination by a brave. (vi) A North Star has guided travellers for centuries.
Answer
No.
Corrected sentence
Rule
(i)
We waited for an hour before the bus finally arrived.
The h in hour is silent, so the word begins with the vowel sound /aʊ/.
(ii)
The guide insisted on a uniform jacket for the group's safety during the trek.
Uniform begins with the consonant sound /j/ — “yoo-niform”.
(iii)
Mount K2 is the second highest peak in the world.
Ordinals and superlatives take the — there is only one second-highest peak.
(iv)
The Ganga is a sacred river in India, known for its cultural importance.
Names of rivers take the — the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Brahmaputra.
(v)
Challenges are faced with courage and determination by the brave.
The + adjective names a whole group of people — the brave, the poor, the young.
(vi)
The North Star has guided travellers for centuries.
Unique objects take the — the sun, the moon, the North Star.
The rule behind (i) and (ii): The choice between a and an depends on the sound, never on the letter. That is why we say an hour, an honest man, an MLA — but a uniform, a university, a one-rupee coin.