Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below. Just as some men like to play football or cricket, similarly some men like to climb mountains. This is often very difficult to do, for mountains are not just big hills. Paths are usually very steep. Some mountain sides are straight up and down, so it may take many hours to climb as little as one hundred feet. There is always the danger that you may fall off and be killed or injured. Men talk about conquering a mountain. It is a wonderful feeling to reach the top of a mountain after climbing for hours and maybe, even days. You look down and see the whole country below you. You feel god-like. Two Italian prisoners of war escaped from a prison camp in Kenya during the war. They did not try to get back to their own country, for they knew that was impossible. Instead, they climbed to the top of Mount Kenya, and then they came down again and gave themselves up. They had wanted to get that feeling of freedom that one has, after climbing a difficult mountain.
Two Italian prisoners escaped from the camp and climbed on the top of Mount Kenya -
To get the feeling of freedom
Understanding the Prisoners' Motivation on Mount Kenya
The provided passage tells the story of two Italian prisoners of war who escaped from a camp in Kenya during wartime. Instead of attempting to return home, they chose to climb Mount Kenya. The passage explicitly states their reason:
- "They had wanted to get that feeling of freedom that one has, after climbing a difficult mountain."
This quote directly explains their motivation behind the climb. They sought the sense of liberation and accomplishment associated with conquering a challenging mountain, even if only temporarily.
Analyzing the Options
Let's examine why the other options are not the correct motivation according to the passage:
- Option 2: To escape to Italy - The passage clearly states they *did not* try to get back to their own country, ruling this out.
- Option 3: To gain face as mountaineers - The text focuses entirely on the internal feeling of freedom and does not mention any desire for recognition or prestige as mountaineers.
- Option 4: None of these - Since Option 1 accurately reflects the prisoners' stated motivation, this option is incorrect.
Why Freedom Was the Goal
The act of climbing Mount Kenya was a deliberate choice made by the prisoners. They knew returning home was impossible, so they pursued an experience that offered a different kind of liberation. The passage emphasizes the "feeling of freedom" gained from climbing a difficult mountain, comparing it to the confinement they experienced as prisoners. Reaching the summit and subsequently returning to give themselves up highlights that the climb itself, and the feelings it evoked, were the primary objective, not a continued escape attempt or seeking status.
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