NOTICE THESE EXPRESSIONS IN THE TEXT
1. Ducking back
Answer: Quickly bending or moving back inside and then coming out again.
2. Swathe
Answer: A broad strip or large stretch of land or material. In the context of the lesson, it refers to a wide stretch covered with snow.
3. Careered down
Answer: Moved or rushed down a slope at high speed.
4. Manoeuvres
Answer: Carefully planned movements or actions, especially movements requiring skill and control.
5. Cairn of rocks
Answer: A pile of stones used to mark a special place, such as the top of a mountain, a route, or a sacred spot.
6. Salt flats
Answer: Wide, flat areas of land covered with salt deposits.
7. Billowed
Answer: Swelled or puffed out because of wind or air.
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
I. Give reasons for the following statements.
1. The article has been titled ‘Silk Road’.
Answer: The article is titled ‘Silk Road’ because the author travels through the Tibetan region that was historically connected with the ancient Silk Route.
The Silk Road was a network of trade routes that linked different parts of Asia and Europe. Goods such as Chinese silk, tea and porcelain, Indian textiles and spices, and precious metals and other products were carried along these routes.
In the lesson, the author travels through the difficult Himalayan region of Tibet towards Mount Kailash. Since his journey takes him through a region historically associated with the Silk Road, the title is appropriate.
2. Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts.
Answer: Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts because they were large, powerful and fearless dogs.
They were used as hunting and guard dogs and were taken from Tibet to China along the Silk Road.
Their strength, speed and aggressive nature made them valuable in royal courts.
3. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
Answer: The author found Hor to be a grim, dusty and unattractive place. There was little vegetation, and the area was full of dust, rocks and rubbish.
This was very different from the earlier accounts he had read.
Earlier travellers such as Ekai Kawaguchi and Sven Hedin had been deeply moved by the sacred beauty of Lake Manasarovar.
The author, however, was occupied with getting two punctured tyres repaired and saw Hor as a bleak settlement. Therefore, his experience was very different from the romantic and spiritual descriptions of earlier travellers.
4. The author was disappointed with Darchen.
Answer: The author was disappointed with Darchen for several reasons.
He was suffering from a bad cold, blocked sinuses and breathing difficulties due to the high altitude. He could not sleep properly at night.
He had also arrived before the main pilgrimage season, so there were hardly any pilgrims around.
The town itself was dusty and partly derelict, with heaps of rubble and refuse. All these factors made Darchen disappointing for him.
5. The author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after all.
Answer: The author had been feeling lonely and disappointed in Darchen because Tsetan had left and there were no other pilgrims around.
Then he met Norbu, a Tibetan academician who also wanted to undertake the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.
Since both of them were scholars and were interested in completing the journey, the author felt that they could make a good team.
This unexpected meeting gave him new hope and enthusiasm. Therefore, he felt that his positive thinking had worked after all.
II. Briefly comment on the following.
1. The purpose of the author’s journey to Mount Kailash.
Answer: The author travelled to Mount Kailash to undertake the kora, the sacred journey around the mountain.
For him, the journey was also an adventure and a learning experience through one of the most difficult regions of Tibet.
2. The author’s physical condition in Darchen.
Answer: The author was physically unwell when he reached Darchen.
He had a severe cold, blocked sinuses and difficulty in breathing and sleeping because of the high altitude.
The next day, Tsetan took him to the Darchen Medical College, where a Tibetan doctor gave him medicine. After taking the medicine, his condition improved.
3. The author’s meeting with Norbu.
Answer: After Tsetan left for Lhasa, the author felt lonely in Darchen because there were no pilgrims around.
Then he met Norbu, a Tibetan academician, in a cafÊ.
Norbu also wanted to complete the pilgrimage around Mount Kailash. The two decided to travel together, which gave the author renewed confidence and enthusiasm.
4. Tsetan’s support to the author during the journey.
Answer: Tsetan supported the author throughout the journey in several ways.
He was a skilled and careful driver who managed difficult mountain roads, sharp bends and snowy passes.
When they encountered snow, he spread soil over the slippery surface and drove carefully across it.
He also gave useful information about the places they passed.
When the author became ill at Darchen, Tsetan took him to the medical college and helped him get treatment.
Thus, Tsetan proved to be a helpful, responsible and caring companion.
5. “As a Buddhist, he told me, he knew that it didn’t really matter if I passed away, but he thought it would be bad for business.” Explain.
Answer: Tsetan’s remark is both humorous and meaningful.
As a Buddhist, he believed that death was a natural part of life and that dying near a sacred place like Mount Kailash was not necessarily something to fear.
However, as a driver and guide, he was responsible for the safety of the travellers.
If a tourist died while travelling with him, it could damage his reputation and affect his business.
Thus, the remark combines Tsetan’s religious belief with practical concern.
TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT
1. The sensitive behaviour of hill-folk.
Answer: The hill-folk are shown as simple, hospitable and caring people.
They live in difficult conditions, yet they behave warmly towards visitors.
Tsetan is a good example. He drives carefully, helps the author during difficult parts of the journey and takes him to a doctor when he falls ill.
Their behaviour reflects kindness, sincerity and concern for others.
2. The reasons why people willingly undergo the travails of difficult journeys.
Answer: People undertake difficult journeys for different reasons.
Some travel for religious purposes, such as pilgrimage to sacred places like Mount Kailash.
Others travel because of the spirit of adventure and the desire to test their courage and endurance.
Such journeys may also provide knowledge and learning, especially for travellers, writers and researchers.
Thus, faith, adventure and curiosity can motivate people to face great physical hardships.
3. The accounts of exotic places in legends and the reality.
Answer: Exotic places are often described in legends and travel accounts as beautiful, mysterious and spiritually powerful.
However, the actual experience of such places may be very different.
For example, Lake Manasarovar had deeply moved earlier travellers, but the author found the nearby town of Hor dusty and miserable.
This shows that legends may create an idealised image, while real experience may reveal ordinary hardships and imperfections.
THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE
1. Notice the kind of English Tsetan uses while talking to the author. How do you think he picked it up?
Answer: Tsetan speaks simple and limited English.
His sentences are short and his vocabulary is basic, but he is able to communicate effectively with the author.
He probably picked up English through regular contact with foreign tourists and travellers because he worked as a driver or guide.
2. What do the following utterances indicate?
(i) “I told her, through Daniel…”
Answer: It indicates that the woman could not understand English, so Daniel translated the author’s words into Tibetan for her.
(ii) “It’s a cold,” he said finally through Tsetan.
Answer: It indicates that the doctor spoke in Tibetan and Tsetan translated his words into English for the author.
3. Guess the meaning of the following words. In which language are these words found?
Kora
Answer: A pilgrimage or religious journey around a sacred place such as Mount Kailash.
Drokba
Answer: A Tibetan nomad or shepherd.
Kyang
Answer: A wild Tibetan donkey.
These words are from the Tibetan language.
WORKING WITH WORDS
1. Locate some picturesque phrases used to describe the landscape.
Answer: Some picturesque expressions used in the lesson are:
- “A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky.”
- “Extended banks of cloud like long French loaves…”
- “The distant mountain tops were splashed with a rose-tinted blush.”
- “The snow-capped mountains stood against the clear sky.”
- “The vast open plains stretched towards the horizon.”
These expressions make the landscape vivid and visually attractive.
2. Explain the use of the adjectives in the following phrases.
(i) Shaggy monsters
Answer: “Shaggy” means covered with long, rough and tangled hair.
The expression describes the large, dark and fierce Tibetan mastiffs whose appearance made them seem like monsters.
(ii) Brackish lakes
Answer: “Brackish” means slightly salty.
The phrase refers to lakes containing salty or mineral-rich water.
(iii) Rickety table
Answer: “Rickety” means weak, unstable or likely to collapse.
The phrase describes a poorly made or damaged table.
(iv) Hairpin bend
Answer: A hairpin bend is a very sharp U-shaped turn in a road, similar in shape to a hairpin.
Such bends are common on steep mountain roads.
(v) Rudimentary general stores
Answer: “Rudimentary” means basic or very simple.
The phrase refers to small shops that provide only the most essential goods.
NOTICING FORM
1. The account has only a few passive voice sentences. How does the use of active voice contribute to the style of the narrative?
Answer: The frequent use of the active voice makes the narrative direct, lively and personal.
Since the author is describing his own journey, the active voice allows readers to follow his actions and experiences closely.
It creates a feeling of immediacy and makes the reader feel as if he or she is travelling with the narrator through the Tibetan landscape.
2. Notice this construction: “Tsetan was eager to have them fixed.” Write five sentences with a similar structure.
Answer:
- She was eager to have the room cleaned.
- He wanted to have the car repaired.
- The teacher asked to have the work completed.
- They were determined to have the road cleared.
- I would like to have the documents checked.
IMPORTANT QUESTION AND ANSWER
1. How did the author feel when he first saw the snow-covered mountain pass?
Answer: The author felt cautious and slightly anxious when he saw the snow-covered mountain pass.
He was worried that the vehicle might slip on the icy surface or become stuck.
However, Tsetan remained confident and carefully managed the situation.
2. What did the author experience at high altitudes while driving towards Mount Kailash?
Answer: At high altitude, the author experienced physical discomfort such as headache, dizziness and difficulty in breathing.
The thin air made movement and rest difficult.
These symptoms later became more serious at Darchen, where he suffered from blocked sinuses and sleeplessness.
3. Why did the author refer to the Tibetan mastiffs as ‘shaggy monsters’?
Answer: The author called the Tibetan mastiffs “shaggy monsters” because they were very large, dark and covered with long rough hair.
They were also fearless and aggressive, chasing the vehicle with great speed.
Their size, appearance and behaviour made them seem frightening and monster-like.
4. What was the significance of the cairn at the top of the mountain pass?
Answer: The cairn at the top of the mountain pass had religious and cultural significance.
It was decorated with prayer flags and white scarves.
Following local tradition, the author and his companions moved around it in a clockwise direction as a mark of respect.
5. How did the author describe the town of Hor?
Answer: The author described Hor as a grim, dusty and desolate place.
It had little vegetation and was filled with rocks, dust and rubbish.
Despite being near the sacred Lake Manasarovar, the town itself appeared unattractive and depressing.
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1. The author was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the __________.
Answer: kora
2. Tibetan mastiffs were taken along the Silk Road as __________ dogs.
Answer: hunting
3. Tsetan’s four-wheel drive struggled to cross the __________ on the mountain pass.
Answer: snow
4. The author reached the top of the pass at an altitude of __________ metres.
Answer: 5,515
5. The town of __________ had a grim and miserable appearance.
Answer: Hor
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. What farewell present did Lhamo give the author?
(a) A necklace
(b) A sheepskin coat
(c) A prayer flag
(d) A prayer wheel
Answer: (b) A sheepskin coat
2. What kind of vehicle did Tsetan drive?
(a) A motorbike
(b) A four-wheel drive
(c) A bus
(d) A truck
Answer: (b) A four-wheel drive
3. What did the Tibetan mastiffs do when they saw the vehicle?
(a) Ran away
(b) Chased the vehicle
(c) Hid behind rocks
(d) Ignored it
Answer: (b) Chased the vehicle
4. How did Tsetan deal with the snowy road?
(a) He turned back.
(b) He waited for the snow to melt.
(c) He spread soil over the snow and drove carefully across it.
(d) He called for another vehicle.
Answer: (c) He spread soil over the snow and drove carefully across it.
5. What did the author experience at high altitude?
(a) Fever only
(b) Headache and dizziness
(c) Hunger only
(d) Toothache
Answer: (b) Headache and dizziness
6. What was the main reason for the author’s sleepless night in Darchen?
(a) Noise
(b) A cold and breathing difficulty
(c) Excitement
(d) Hunger
Answer: (b) A cold and breathing difficulty
7. Whom did the author meet in the cafÊ at Darchen?
(a) Daniel
(b) Tsetan
(c) Norbu
(d) Lhamo
Answer: (c) Norbu
8. What did Norbu suggest for the pilgrimage?
(a) Hiring a helicopter
(b) Hiring yaks to carry the luggage
(c) Returning to Lhasa
(d) Going alone
Answer: (b) Hiring yaks to carry the luggage
9. How did the author describe Hor?
(a) A beautiful resort
(b) A dusty and desolate place
(c) A busy market town
(d) A green valley
Answer: (b) A dusty and desolate place
10. What happened to the vehicle at Hor?
(a) The engine failed.
(b) Two tyres were punctured.
(c) The fuel tank broke.
(d) The windscreen cracked.
Answer: (b) Two tyres were punctured.
11. What physical problem troubled the author while lying down in Darchen?
(a) Breathing difficulty
(b) Toothache
(c) Leg pain
(d) Ear pain
Answer: (a) Breathing difficulty
12. How did the author feel after meeting Norbu?
(a) More disappointed
(b) Relieved and hopeful
(c) Angry
(d) Frightened
Answer: (b) Relieved and hopeful
13. What was special about the Tibetan mastiffs?
(a) They were small and friendly.
(b) They were fast, powerful and fearless.
(c) They were silent and lazy.
(d) They were used only as pets.
Answer: (b) They were fast, powerful and fearless.
14. At what altitude was the top of the mountain pass?
(a) 4,000 metres
(b) 5,210 metres
(c) 5,400 metres
(d) 5,515 metres
Answer: (d) 5,515 metres
15. Which description best fits much of the landscape during the journey?
(a) Thickly forested and green
(b) Rocky, barren and snow-covered in places
(c) Full of cultivated fields
(d) Tropical and humid
Answer: (b) Rocky, barren and snow-covered in places
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