12th English Prose Q & A 2026
Ln 4 : The Summit
A) How did the mountaineers belay?
The mountaineers belayed by pushing their ice-axe firmly into the snow.
B) Why was the original zest fading away?
The ridge felt endless and climbing became a hard struggle, so their initial excitement began to fade.
c) What did Edmund Hillary do to escape the large overhanging ice cornices?
Hillary cut a line of steps down to the place where the snow met the rocks on the west side to avoid the cornices.
D) What did Tenzing and Edmund Hillary gift to the God of lofty Summit? How did they do it?
Tenzing offered food items like a chocolate bar, biscuits, and lollies, while Hillary left a small crucifix. They placed these in a small hole they dug in the snow as their offering.
E. What did the photograph portray?
The photograph showed the North Ridge, the North Col, and the old climbing route, which had become famous because of the struggles of the climbers in the 1920s and 1930s.
F. The soft snow was difficult and dangerous. Why?
The soft snow was dangerous because sometimes it supported the climber’s weight, but often it suddenly gave way.
G. How did the firm snow at the higher regions fill them with hope?
The firm snow gave them hope because the ice-axe was able to hold firmly in the steep slope of the ridge.
Paragraph Questions (Slow Learners)
The Summit
TITLE : The Summit
AUTHOR : Edmund Hillary
Theme : Adventures, expeditions and explorations
- Sir Edmund Hillary’s own words, tells how the summit of the Everest was reached.
- They had already climbed 27900 feet.
- The next morning they woke up and warmed their shoes
- They came out of the tent with oxygen support.
- Tenzing and Hillary reached the crest at about 28000 ft.
- The soft snow made a route on top of the ridge both difficult and dangerous.
- They reached the south peak
- At one point their partly filled oxygen bottle got exhausted they had only one left.
- They felt light with a sense of freedom.
- They crossed a 40 feet narrow crack.
- A few more whacks of the ice-axe and they stood on top.
- They felt relieved on reaching the top.
- They shook hands and thumped each other with happiness.
Moral : Determination and will power will take us through heights.
