Conquering the Summit – Class 7 English Poorvi Question Answer (NCERT 2026–27)

Complete NCERT Solutions for Class 7 English Poorvi Unit 4 (Travel and Adventure) – “Conquering the Summit”, the inspiring true story of mountaineer Arunima Sinha: summary, theme, word meanings and every textbook exercise (Let us discuss, Let us think and reflect, Let us learn) answered in full. The questions are reproduced exactly as in the NCERT book, and every fill-in, matching and table task is written out as readable text.

Class: 7 Subject: English Book: Poorvi Unit: 4 – Travel and Adventure Type: Prose (Biographical) Session: 2026–27
On this page

About the chapter

“Conquering the Summit” is an inspiring biographical piece from Unit 4, ‘Travel and Adventure’. It narrates the real-life story of Arunima Sinha, a national-level volleyball player who lost a leg in a train accident in 2011, yet went on to become the first Indian female amputee to climb Mount Everest in 2013. The chapter traces her journey from a devastating accident to scaling the world’s highest peak and finally completing the Seven Summits. It celebrates willpower, courage, determination and dedication, presenting Arunima as “a beacon of hope and resilience” whose message is simply: never give up, work hard and always remember your goal.

About the piece

This chapter is an informative, biographical prose piece included in the NCERT Poorvi textbook; it does not carry an individual author byline. It is written as a factual profile of the mountaineer Dr. Arunima Sinha, drawing on details of her life, accident, training and achievements, and quotes the encouraging words of Bachendri Pal (the first Indian woman to summit Everest) who mentored her. The accompanying photograph is credited to the Hindustan Times. The piece refers readers to Arunima’s own autobiography, Born Again on the Mountain: A Story of Losing Everything and Finding It Back, for the complete account of her remarkable journey.

Summary

The story of Arunima Sinha is a triumph of will, courage, determination and dedication. Arunima hails from Ambedkar Nagar, a small district in Uttar Pradesh; her father was an army engineer and her mother a health supervisor, and sports were always central to her life. After her post-graduation and a law degree, she planned to join the paramilitary forces so that she could continue playing sports while earning a regular income.

On the fateful night of 11 April 2011, when she was twenty-four and a national-level volleyball player, she met with a train accident. The hours that followed were harrowing, and one of her legs had to be amputated. Showing an extraordinary will to live, she survived. While recovering with a prosthetic leg and undergoing physiotherapy, she read an article about Mount Everest and made a profound vow that many thought impossible – not only to walk again, but to climb the highest peak in the world.

To achieve this, Arunima completed a basic mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi and trained rigorously for eighteen months under the guidance of Bachendri Pal. On 21 May 2013, after 52 exhausting days, she reached the summit of Everest, planting the Indian flag and leaving a photograph of her idol, Swami Vivekananda. She became the first Indian female amputee to do so and was later honoured with the Padma Shri, the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award and an honorary doctorate. By January 2019 she had completed the Seven Summits. Her story is one of physical endurance, mental fortitude and a positive mindset, summed up in her words: “Never give up and work hard.”

Theme & message

The central theme is the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Arunima’s journey shows that physical disability cannot stop a determined mind, and that real strength lies in willpower, hard work and a clear goal. The piece highlights resilience, courage, perseverance and self-belief, supported by good mentorship. Its message is direct and motivating: failure is not falling short of a goal but failing to set a goal worthy enough – so we must respect our goals, work hard and never give up, for everyone has an inner ‘Everest’ to conquer.

Word meanings

WordEnglish meaningHindi meaning
beaconsource of inspiration; guiding lightप्रेरणा / मार्गदर्शक
resilienceability to recover quickly from difficultyलचीलापन / संभलने की शक्ति
amputatedcut off a part of the body (here, the leg)काट दिया गया (आंग)
prosthetic legan artificial leg that helps a person moveकृत्रिम / नकली टांग
feata great achievementकारनामा / उपलब्धि
harrowingextremely disturbing and painfulदिल दहला देने वाला
miraculouslyin an almost unbelievable wayचमत्कारिक ठंग से
profoundvery deep and meaningfulगहरा / गू୪ा
resolvedfirmly decidedदृ୪ संकल्प लिया
rigorousvery strict, severe and demandingकठोर / कड़ा
endeavouran attempt to do somethingप्रयास / उद्यम
instilledgradually filled in (a feeling or idea)मन में भरना / जगाना
surgea sudden and great increaseउमड़ / आवेग
overwhelmingvery strong; hard to controlअभिभूत / अति प्रबल
enduranceability to keep doing something difficult for longसहनशक्ति / धीरज
fortitudecourage maintained over a long periodधैर्य / मनोबल
adversitya difficult or unfortunate situationविपत्ति / कठिनाई
testamentproof or evidence of somethingप्रमाण / साक्ष्य
conferredgiven (an official title or honour)प्रदान किया / सम्मानित किया
summitthe highest point of a mountain; peakशिखर / चोटी

Let us discuss

I. Read the statements given below and explain each statement in your words.

1. Arunima Sinha is considered a beacon of hope and resilience.

ANSWERArunima is called a beacon of hope and resilience because she did not let a terrible accident and the loss of a leg defeat her. Instead of giving up, she recovered, set herself an almost impossible goal and achieved it. Her ability to bounce back from such a hardship lights the way for others, showing them that no setback is too big to overcome.

2. Arunima decided to climb Mount Everest despite losing her leg.

ANSWEREven though Arunima had lost a leg and had to use a prosthetic one, she did not limit her dreams. While recovering in hospital, she read about Mount Everest and resolved to climb it. This shows her extraordinary courage and self-belief – she chose to focus on what she could achieve rather than on what she had lost.

3. Bachendri Pal’s guidance was crucial in Arunima’s journey to the summit of Mount Everest.

ANSWERBachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to summit Everest, trained and mentored Arunima for eighteen rigorous months. She instilled confidence in her by saying that Arunima had already “conquered the Everest within” herself. This expert guidance and encouragement gave Arunima the skill, strength and self-belief she needed to reach the actual summit successfully.

4. Arunima’s achievements go beyond just physical endurance.

ANSWERClimbing Everest needs great physical strength, but Arunima’s success was equally a victory of the mind. Her achievement reflects mental fortitude, a positive mindset and the power of an unshakeable goal. She inspires people emotionally and mentally, winning hearts the world over – so her achievements are about willpower and inspiration, not just bodily endurance.

5. Arunima’s autobiography inspires readers around the world.

ANSWERHer autobiography, Born Again on the Mountain: A Story of Losing Everything and Finding It Back, records her journey of rising from a devastating loss to the top of the world. It is a story of triumph over adversity, and it inspires readers everywhere by proving that the human spirit can rise above the most challenging circumstances if one never gives up.

Let us think and reflect

I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Bachendri Pal instilled confidence in Arunima and said, “My child, you decided to climb Mount Everest in these situations with a prosthetic leg—you have conquered the Everest within you; the world will realise it later.” On 21 May 2013, after 52 exhausting days, Arunima Sinha reached the summit of Mount Everest. Standing at the top of the world, she felt a surge of emotions—pride, relief, and an overwhelming sense of achievement.

1. Complete the sentence with a suitable reason. Bachendri Pal said that Arunima had conquered the Everest within her because ___________________.

ANSWER… she had found the courage and determination to set such a difficult goal in spite of losing her leg. By making this brave decision and refusing to give up, Arunima had already overcome her inner fear and self-doubt – the hardest peak of all – even before climbing the real mountain.

2. How might Arunima have felt after what Bachendri Pal told her?

ANSWERArunima must have felt encouraged, motivated and emotionally uplifted. Bachendri Pal’s words would have boosted her confidence and given her a sense of validation, making her more determined to prove herself and to turn her impossible-seeming dream into reality.

3. Choose a phrase from the extract which shows that reaching the summit of Mount Everest was tiring.

ANSWERThe phrase “after 52 exhausting days” shows that reaching the summit was extremely tiring.

4. Select the correct option to complete the sentence. After her success when Arunima felt ‘an overwhelming sense of achievement’, she would have most likely said, “___________________.” (i) I am confident of my abilities   (ii) I will accomplish this soon   (iii) I am excited to begin this climb   (iv) I finally realised my dream

ANSWER(iv) I finally realised my dream. Having just reached the summit, her goal was already achieved, so she would express a sense of fulfilment rather than something about beginning or accomplishing it later.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What did Arunima do in order to fulfill her ambition of conquering Mount Everest?

ANSWERTo fulfil her ambition, Arunima completed a basic mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering in Uttarkashi and then trained rigorously for eighteen months. She approached Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to summit Everest, to guide and mentor her, and she prepared both physically and mentally before finally reaching the summit on 21 May 2013.

2. Arunima is a beacon of hope and resilience. Support this statement with evidence from the text.

ANSWERAfter a train accident in which she lost a leg, Arunima showed an extraordinary will to live and survived a harrowing night. Instead of giving in to despair, she resolved to climb Everest with a prosthetic leg, trained hard and succeeded in 2013. She then went on to complete the Seven Summits. This recovery from devastating loss and her refusal to give up make her a true beacon of hope and resilience.

3. Arunima’s autobiography is titled Born Again on the Mountain: A Story of Losing Everything and Finding It Back. Why do you think this title is appropriate?

ANSWERThe title is appropriate because Arunima truly lost almost everything – her leg, her sporting career and nearly her life – in the accident. Yet on the mountain she rediscovered her purpose, confidence and identity, achieving something greater than before. In a sense she was ‘born again’ through her struggle, so the title perfectly captures her journey of losing everything and then finding it back.

4. Arunima says, “Failure is when we don’t have goals worthy enough.” What would be the most likely impact of this statement on readers?

ANSWERThis statement is likely to motivate and challenge readers. It changes the way they think about failure – instead of fearing falling short, they are encouraged to dream big and set high, meaningful goals. It pushes readers to be ambitious, to value their aims and to work hard for them, leaving them inspired rather than afraid of failure.

Let us learn

I. Match the underlined phrases with their meanings

Read the underlined phrases in sentences (i)–(v) and match them with their appropriate meanings given in the box below. Meanings: 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

ANSWER (i) Nisha was relieved when the final match was over after several exhausting days of practice. → 3. periods of time filled with tiring and demanding activities (ii) Despite several failures, her heartfelt attempts to learn the guitar showed her determination and passion for music. → 1. genuine, sincere efforts (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. → 4. an incident or experience that significantly changes a person’s life (iv) Competing in the marathon requires not just physical strength but also mental fortitude to stay focused and finish the race. → 2. strength of mind (v) The lighthouse served as a beacon of hope for the sailors lost at sea. → 5. a source of inspiration or encouragement

II. Complete the parts-of-speech table

Complete the following table by filling in the gaps with correct parts of speech mentioned. An example has been done for you.

NounsAdjectivesVerbs (present)Adverbs
determinationdetermineddeterminedeterminedly (given)
reliefrelievedrelieverelievedly
inspirationinspiringinspireinspiringly
resistanceresistantresistresistantly
successsuccessfulsucceedsuccessfully

III. Articles (a, an, the)

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 (i) an   (ii) a   (iii) The   (iv) x   (v) the (vi) the   (vii) The   (viii) the   (ix) a   (x) the (xi) a   (xii) the   (xiii) The   (xiv) a   (xv) x

2. There is an error in each sentence that has been underlined. Correct the error in the following sentences.

ANSWER (i) We waited for a hour before the bus finally arrived. → an hour (the ‘h’ is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound). (ii) The guide insisted on an uniform jacket for the group’s safety during the trek. → a uniform (‘uniform’ begins with a /y/ consonant sound). (iii) Mount K2 is a second highest peak in the world. → the second highest peak (with superlatives we use ‘the’). (iv) A Ganga is a sacred river in India, known for its cultural importance. → The Ganga (names of rivers take ‘the’). (v) Challenges are faced with courage and determination by a brave. → the brave (‘the’ + adjective refers to a group of people). (vi) A North Star has guided travellers for centuries. → The North Star (unique objects take ‘the’).

Note: The ‘Let us do these activities before we read’ (icons, discussion and the ‘Qualities of a mountaineer’ word web), Let us listen (matching five speakers’ opinions on adventure sports), Let us speak (the group role-play on Physical Education), Let us write (identifying the parts of a formal letter and writing one to the Principal) and Let us explore (the adventure-sports table and the information booklet on Indian mountaineers) are listening, speaking, project and writing tasks meant to be done in class with your teacher and classmates, so model answers will vary.

Extra questions

Short answer (30–40 words)

1. Where does Arunima Sinha come from, and what was her family background?

ANSWERArunima hails from Ambedkar Nagar, a small district in Uttar Pradesh. Her father was an army engineer and her mother worked as a health supervisor. Her family had a natural inclination towards athletics, so sports were a significant part of her life.

2. What happened to Arunima on the night of 11 April 2011?

ANSWEROn the night of 11 April 2011, when she was twenty-four, Arunima met with a train accident. The hours that followed were harrowing, and one of her legs had to be amputated, but she displayed an extraordinary will to live and survived.

3. What inspired Arunima to climb Mount Everest?

ANSWERWhile she was recovering with a prosthetic leg and undergoing physiotherapy, Arunima read an article about Mount Everest. Inspired by it, she made the profound decision to conquer the highest peak in the world.

4. What did Arunima do at the summit of Mount Everest?

ANSWERStanding at the top of the world after 52 exhausting days, Arunima felt a surge of pride, relief and achievement. She displayed the Indian flag at the summit and left behind a photograph of her idol, Swami Vivekananda.

5. Name two honours Arunima Sinha received for her achievements.

ANSWERArunima was awarded the Padma Shri in 2015, the fourth highest civilian award in India. She also received the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award and the National Award for Best Female Mountaineer, and was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Strathclyde.

Long answer (100–120 words)

6. Trace Arunima Sinha’s journey from the train accident to becoming a record-breaking mountaineer.

ANSWEROn 11 April 2011, Arunima, a national-level volleyball player, met with a train accident in which one leg was amputated. Surviving against the odds, she was fitted with a prosthetic leg and began physiotherapy. Reading an article about Mount Everest, she resolved to climb it. She completed a mountaineering course at the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering and trained rigorously for eighteen months under Bachendri Pal. On 21 May 2013, after 52 exhausting days, she summited Everest, becoming the first Indian female amputee to do so, planting the Indian flag and leaving a photo of Swami Vivekananda. She continued climbing and, by January 2019, completed the Seven Summits, also becoming the world’s first female amputee to climb Mount Vinson.

7. What qualities of Arunima Sinha make her an inspiration, and what is the message of her story?

ANSWERArunima inspires us through her courage, determination, willpower and positive mindset. Despite losing a leg and facing immense pain, she refused to give up and set herself a goal many believed impossible. Her resilience helped her recover from a devastating accident, while her dedication carried her through eighteen months of hard training and a 52-day climb. She showed that real strength is mental as much as physical. The message of her story is simple yet profound: never give up, work hard, and always remember and respect your goal. She teaches us that failure is not falling short, but failing to set goals worthy enough.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Which sport did Arunima Sinha play at the national level?

(a) hockey   (b) volleyball   (c) basketball   (d) cricket

ANSWER(b) volleyball.

2. On which date did Arunima meet with the train accident?

(a) 21 May 2013   (b) 11 April 2011   (c) 15 February 2019   (d) 16 April 2015

ANSWER(b) 11 April 2011.

3. Where did Arunima complete her basic mountaineering course?

(a) Uttarkashi (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering)   (b) Darjeeling   (c) Manali   (d) Shimla

ANSWER(a) Uttarkashi (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering).

4. Who mentored and guided Arunima for her Everest climb?

(a) Junko Tabei   (b) Bachendri Pal   (c) Santosh Yadav   (d) Premlata Agarwal

ANSWER(b) Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to summit Everest.

5. On which date did Arunima reach the summit of Mount Everest?

(a) 11 April 2011   (b) 21 May 2013   (c) 2 September 2024   (d) 15 February 2019

ANSWER(b) 21 May 2013, after 52 exhausting days.

6. Whose photograph did Arunima leave behind at the summit of Everest?

(a) Bachendri Pal   (b) her father   (c) Swami Vivekananda   (d) Mahatma Gandhi

ANSWER(c) Swami Vivekananda, her idol.

7. Which civilian award was conferred on Arunima in 2015?

(a) Bharat Ratna   (b) Padma Vibhushan   (c) Padma Shri   (d) Param Vir Chakra

ANSWER(c) Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India.

8. Which goal did Arunima achieve by January 2019?

(a) running a marathon   (b) completing the Seven Summits   (c) swimming the English Channel   (d) winning an Olympic medal

ANSWER(b) completing the Seven Summits – she climbed Mount Vinson in Antarctica, becoming the world’s first female amputee to do so.

9. What is the title of Arunima’s autobiography?

(a) Touching the Sky   (b) Born Again on the Mountain   (c) The Highest Peak   (d) Conquering Everest

ANSWER(b) Born Again on the Mountain: A Story of Losing Everything and Finding It Back.

10. According to Arunima, what is ‘failure’?

(a) falling short of a goal   (b) not trying at all   (c) when we don’t have goals worthy enough   (d) giving up too early

ANSWER(c) when we don’t have goals worthy enough.
MCQ Answer Key: 1-(b), 2-(b), 3-(a), 4-(b), 5-(b), 6-(c), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(b), 10-(c)

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Arunima Sinha is called the first Indian female amputee to climb Mount Everest.

Reason (R): She reached the summit of Everest on 21 May 2013 after losing one leg in an accident.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): Arunima trained rigorously for eighteen months before attempting Everest.

Reason (R): She wanted to prepare both physically and mentally for the extremely difficult climb.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

3. Assertion (A): Bachendri Pal told Arunima that she had already conquered the Everest within her.

Reason (R): Arunima had refused to climb the mountain because of her prosthetic leg.

ANSWER(c) A is true, but R is false – Arunima did not refuse; she bravely decided to climb Everest despite her prosthetic leg.

4. Assertion (A): Arunima’s story is about mental strength as well as physical endurance.

Reason (R): Her success required fortitude, a positive mindset and an unshakeable goal, not only bodily strength.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

5. Assertion (A): Arunima completed the goal of climbing the Seven Summits.

Reason (R): In January 2019 she climbed Mount Vinson in Antarctica, her seventh peak.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

Exam tips & common mistakes

Exam tips

• Remember the key dates: accident on 11 April 2011, Everest summit on 21 May 2013, Seven Summits completed by January 2019.
• Quote Bachendri Pal’s line about “the Everest within you” and Arunima’s line “Never give up and work hard” to add value to long answers.
• In theme questions, stress both physical endurance and mental fortitude – markers reward this balance.
• For value-based questions, mention resilience, courage, determination and setting worthy goals.

Common mistakes

• Do not write that Arunima was a cricketer – she was a national-level volleyball player.
• Do not confuse the dates: the accident was in 2011, the Everest summit in 2013.
• Her mentor was Bachendri Pal (first Indian woman on Everest), not her coach or family member.
• The piece has no individual author byline – it is an NCERT biographical profile, so do not invent an author’s name in answers.

FAQs

Who is ‘Conquering the Summit’ about?

It is a biographical prose piece about Arunima Sinha, a national-level volleyball player who lost a leg in a train accident in 2011 and became the first Indian female amputee to climb Mount Everest in 2013.

What is the main message of ‘Conquering the Summit’?

The story teaches that willpower, courage and determination can overcome any adversity. Its message is to never give up, work hard, and always remember and respect your goal.

Who guided Arunima Sinha in her Everest journey?

She was guided and mentored by Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to summit Mount Everest, who trained her and instilled confidence in her.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT Poorvi textbook; the summary, chapter note and all answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

Scroll to Top