TINE AND THE FARAWAY MOUNTAIN

Learning outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
● record Tine Mena’s realisation of a dream.
● discuss the difficulties of being a porter and a climber.
● infer that a focussed mind helps achieve goals.
● talk about the character as a path-breaker.
● identify prepositions of direction and movement.
● identify and use conjunctions in sentences.
● use synonyms of words.
● design a poster.

Pre-reading
● What would you like to do when you grow up?
● If you were taken on a trek, would you enjoy it?
● Sometimes it may be difficult to do what we wish to. What are the qualities you need to have, to
become what you want to? (Determination, a positive attitude, strength of body and mind)

Understanding the Text
Play the text in parts, on the Smart book. /
Ask students to read the text in parts. / Read the
text in parts.
Pause to check comprehension.
In Echali…female porters.
Ask students:
How do we know Tine Mena was attracted to the
Mishmi Hills near her home-town, Echali? What
upset her when the family moved to Roing?
(She was upset that the town was not near the hills
that seem to call out to her.) How did she manage to
return to the hills after her studies? What was the
problem with the job and how did she overcome
it? (The job was not meant for girls but Tine dressed
like a boy and became a porter carrying heavy loads
up the mountains.) How was she able to continue
to work after her disguise was uncovered? How did
her persistence help other women-porters?
(The ban against women-porters was lifted, thanks
to Tine.)
Tell students:
● how Tine Mena was steadfast in what she
wanted to achieve.
● why her world had turned upside down. (Here,
encourage students to make sentences of their
own with the phrase world turned upside down.)
Discuss:
How would you feel and what would you miss if
you had to move to another place?
In the army…began her climb.
Discuss:
What does an expedition mean? When and where
do we go on expeditions? What do we learn from
expeditions?

23

Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 23 14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM

 (Note: Expeditions are probably the best
learning environment for people. Being pushed
physically and mentally means, that we are taken
out of our comfort zones. People, who go on
expeditions, learn to take on leadership roles and
responsibilities. They rise to challenges and learn to
contribute to a team.)
Ask students:
How did she rise in the army? How did Dr Meitei
become her mentor? What does ‘whooshoo
became a roar’ mean? (Though Tine wished to
climb the distant mountains, she did not know their
name until she saw the movie, The Race for Everest.
From then onwards, the gentle call of the mountains
seemed to become a demanding roar, compelling
her to climb the Himalayas.) How did she prepare
in the base camp at Nepal? (She trained to get used
to the bitter cold and thin air.) Describe the climb.
What problem did Tine have to face? (The weather
became very bad by the time she and her companion,
Cherring Sherpa reached the second camp.) Why did
Tine decide to go ahead despite the bad weather?
Discuss
Was this a wise decision? Why? Why not?
Ask students:
What further trouble did they face when they
reached the base camp? How do we know Tine
and Sherpa were careful with the food? (They had
only a packet of noodles between them. They decided
to eat only half of it to save the rest for the climb
down in case they survived.) Describe their climb to
the summit. (The last lap of their trek became more
and more difficult because the wind was stronger. It
pushed them back every time they moved forward.
The howling winds were scary, tempting them to give
up but, thanks to Tine’s determination to respond to
the call of the mountains, they trudged on until they
Post-reading
Discussion
● What do you like best about Tine Mena? Why do you like it?
● Do you have an ambition? What would you like to be or do? Why?
24
Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 24
reached the top of Mount Everest.) What was special
about Tine’s successful climb? (Tine reached the top
of Mount Everest at 10.45 a.m. on 9th May, 2011. She
was the first woman from the North-East of India to
have climbed the highest peak of the Himalayas. She
had felt the mountain calling her since she was a child
and now she had responded to the call.) Do you think
she could have done it on her own? (No; Dr Meitei
trained her to be a mountain climber and Cherring
Sherpa accompanied her to the top.)
Appreciating the Text
The story has elements of both biography and
travel-writing.
As biography, it traces Tine Mena’s interest in
mountain-climbing to her attraction to the Mishni
hills in her hometown, Echali. As a child, she is
happy climbing trees and running about in the
jungle. The attraction is so great that she returns to
the hills after her studies and becomes a porter.
Her single-minded determination to climb
Mt Everest gives her the will to train and to endure
heavy odds, like the hazards of stormy weather, to
become the first woman from NE India to reach the
highest peak of the Himalayas.
As a travelogue, it gives an idea of the training and
the plan of action as well as the hazards of climbing
the treacherous terrain in bad weather.
The recurring motif, Whooshoo, holds the narrative
together as a call from the mountains that Tine
keeps hearing from time to time until she is finally
able to respond to it by reaching the highest
peak. Her desire is so strong that it becomes a
compulsion manifesting itself as a roar towards
the end.
The theme is represented through the motif as a
single-minded effort to achieve one’s goal at
any cost.
14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM
 Grammar and Usage prepositions: direction and movement
Recap prepositions with class.
Explain that:

Prepositions of direction and movement

● show us the direction in which something is moving.
● answer the question ‘which direction’.
Example:
The athletes ran towards the finish line.
The boat sailed against the tide.
They climbed up the ladder.

Activity
Tell students you are going to play Classroom Treasure Hunt.
Divide the class into two groups.
Instruct Team 1 to create a treasure hunt map within the class for Team 2.
Tell them to write 5 clues using prepositions of direction.
Allow them to hide the clues in different places in the class.

Example of clues:
Walk towards the blackboard.
Along the wall, you will find a clue.
Walk through the third row and below a chair you will find your fifth clue...and so on.
Instruct them to hand over the clues to Team 2 and cheer them as they solve the clues.
Repeat the activity with Team 2.

Words in Use multiple meanings of a phrase

Brainstorm with the class for the different meanings of the given phrases in the Reader.
Write the different meanings on the board and explain how such phrases carry various meanings.

Writingposter
Explain
● that a poster is a very short piece of writing in a formal style. Individuals and organisations use it to
announce events and celebrations or to give information.
● that a notice should give clear and complete information.

25

Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 25 14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM

 ● that for any type of poster, the following points should be followed:
a. The poster should be given an appropriate heading.
b. The date, time and venue should be mentioned.
c. The names of the persons whom the poster is about.
d. Any other important detail.
Divide the class into groups of 4. Let students create the poster for the film.

26

Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 26 14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM

 WORKSHEET
TINE AND THE FARAWAY MOUNTAIN GRAMMAR

Name of Student: Class:

Fill in the blanks with the correct prepositions of direction and movement.
1. The child ran its mother.
2. Mena climbed the hill.
3. She placed the eggs the basket.
4. The rock rolled the mountain.
5. The man jumped the ring of fire.
6. We drove the river bank.

TINE AND THE FARAWAY MOUNTAIN VOCABULARY

Use the phrase rise above in two sentences. Each sentence should carry a different meaning of the
phrase.

27

Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 27 14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM

 TINE AND THE FARAWAY MOUNTAIN WRITING

Name of Student: Class:

Design a poster for a Cleanliness Drive that your school is organising.

28

Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 28 14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM

 ANSWER KEY TO THE WORKSHEETS

TINE AND THE FARAWAY MOUNTAIN

Answer key to the grammar worksheet
Suggested answers:
1. The child ran towards its mother. 2.  Mena climbed up the hill.
3. She placed the eggs into the basket. 4.  The rock rolled down the mountain.
5. The man jumped through the ring of fire. 6.  We drove along the river bank.

Answer key to the vocabulary worksheet

Free response. Suggested answers:
1. The blue balloon rose above the rest of the balloons.
2. Shalini rises above the rest when it comes to helping the poor in the neighbourhood.

QUESTION BANK WITH ANSWER KEY

TINE AND THE FARAWAY MOUNTAIN

1. Read the line and answer the questions.

So, she trudged to school every day, for ten years, glancing wistfully at the mountains in the horizon.
a. Who trudged to school every day? Why did she ‘trudge’?
b. Where was she from?
c. Where did she have to go for her schooling?
d. Why was she wistful?
Answers:
a. Tine Mena trudged to school every day. She trudged because she was not happy staying away
from the mountains.
b. Tine Mena was from Echali, a place in the Mishmi hills of Arunachal Pradesh.
c. She had to go to Roing , the closest big town for her schooling.
d. She did not want to leave her favourite hill at Echali from where she could hear the mountains
calling out to her.

2. Answer in brief.
What problem did Tine face while working as a porter?
Tine wanted to work as porter but women were not allowed to be porters. So Tine disguised herself as
a boy and started to work as a porter, carrying heavy loads for army expeditions in the mountains.

29

Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 29 14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM

 3. Answer in detail.
What difficulties were faced by Tine and Cherring during their climb up the Everest?
The weather had grown very bad by the time they reached the second camp. With great difficulty
they reached their final camp. When they were just about to take rest, the stormy wind blew their
tents and supplies away. They managed with eating only a half packet of noodles. The higher they
climbed, the stronger the wind grew. Despite facing severe difficulty at every step, they managed to
reach the top.

4. Think and answer.

Why did Tine Mena say that she would not get another chance to climb Mount Everest?
The climb to Mount Everest is not easy. All the people who climb the mountain face a whole lot of
difficulties and hardships. Tine had reached the second camp in the harsh weather and it was not
getting any better. She knew that it would not be easy for her to start all over again. Hence she said
that she may not be able to do it again.

STUDENTS’ BOOK ANSWER KEY

TINE AND THE FARAWAY MOUNTAIN

Understanding the Text
A. 1. Tine spent her childhood days in the Mishmi hills. She used to climb trees, run through the jungle
and spend long days lying under the sun.
2. There was no mountain in Roing. Tine could not hear the wonderful call from the distant
mountains. She missed the sound and wanted to return to the mountains again. So she was sad
in Roing.
3. Tine applied to be a porter for army expeditions in the mountains. This would help her return to
the mountains she missed.
4. Tine met Dr Meitei on one of her expeditions as a coordinator. Dr Meitei recognised Tine’s talent,
and helped her to train as a mountain climber.
5. Tine dreamed of climbing Mount Everest. She went to the Everest base camp to get used to the
harsh weather before she actually began climbing the mountain.
6. a. The storm blew Tine and Cherring’s tent and supplies away when they were just about to take
rest in the final camp. They had to borrow a tent where they spent the night.
b. When Tine and Cherring started climbing the mountain the next day, the wind kept growing
stronger. The wind was so strong that walking ahead became very difficult and climbing the
mountain seemed to have become almost impossible—for every two steps they took, they
reeled back one step.
7. a. Tine became the first woman from Northeast India to climb Mount Everest.
Yes, she deserved it.
b. Tine was a gifted mountain climber. Had she not met Dr Meitei, however, she would possibly
never have received training to become skilled at mountain climbing. Cherring Sherpa, who
accompanied her to the top of Mount Everest, also supported her and helped her to brave the
weather conditions and continue to climb to the top.

30

Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 30 14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM

 B. 1. Tine Mena loved the mountains. She knew the mountain routes well, and loved climbing the
mountains. She became a porter so that she could spend all her time in the mountains. When she
watched the film ‘The Race for Everest’, Tine came to know the names of the distant mountains,
and began to dream of climbing Mount Everest.
2. Tine knew that the journey to the top of Everest was going to be very difficult and dangerous.
This is why she said that Cherring and she would share the other half of the packet of noodles if
they conquered the Everest and stayed alive after that. Tine was very determined to attempt the
final stage of her journey to the top of Mount Everest. This helped her to continue her journey in
spite of the terrible weather, and the numerous hardships.
3. Yes, Tine is a very special person. She was very determined and hardworking. She applied to be
a porter in the army though she knew that women were not allowed to be porters because she
wanted to return to the mountains. She knew the routes in the mountains so well that even
when the officers realised that she was a woman, she was allowed to continue working. Tine soon
became a coordinator. After she met Dr Meitei, Tine also started training to be a mountain climber.
She focussed on her dream of climbing Mount Everest, and did not give up. She faced countless
difficulties and braved all of them to reach the top of the Everest and achieved her dream.

Appreciating the Text

situation how Tine responds

Tine hears it for the first time.
Tine hears the sound when she plays
in Echali.
The sound grows weaker in Roing.
the sound ‘whooshoo’
It grows loud and strong after Tine
watches the film ‘The Race for Everest.’ Mount Everest.
The sound grows loud as Tine and
Cherring reach their second camp.
She is very interested.
She enjoys the sound as it has
become a part of her life.
She misses the sound and wants to
return to the mountains.
Tine starts dreaming of climbing
Tine is hypnotised and wants to
climb higher, braving the fierce
storm.

Suggested answer: Yes, ‘whooshoo’ is a motif. It stands for Tine’s dream of climbing the mountains.

Grammar and Usage

A. 2. into  3. across  4. down  5. towards
B. 2. The team will win if the top batsmen and bowlers do well.
3. The plant is growing quickly because it gets water and plenty of sunshine.
4. Would you like to stay longer or leave soon?
5. She is very caring and kind but she is quick to get angry.
6. We missed the train, so we decided to take the bus.

Words in Use
A. 2. banned  3. recognised  4. journeyed  5. hypnotised  6. rewarded

31

Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 31 14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM

 B. 1. turned the bottle so that the top was at the bottom and the bottom was at the top
2. made the house very untidy by moving everything from its place
3. to change the practice in order to improve it
4. became very chaotic
5. searched the building

Speaking
Free response.

Writing
Free response.

32

Gulmohar_TRP 04_English_Book Format.indb 32 14-Jan-20 4:11:18 PM