{"id":8206,"date":"2020-08-21T12:22:50","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T06:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mcq-questions.com\/?p=8206"},"modified":"2022-03-02T11:30:06","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T06:00:06","slug":"ncert-solutions-for-class-11-english-hornbill-chapter-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mcq-questions.com\/ncert-solutions-for-class-11-english-hornbill-chapter-8\/","title":{"rendered":"NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 8 Silk Road"},"content":{"rendered":"

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English<\/a><\/p>\n

Silk Road NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 8<\/h2>\n

Silk Road NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers<\/h3>\n

Silk Road About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Nick Middleton (born 1960) is a British physical geographer and supernumerary fellow of St Anne\u2019s College, Oxford. As a geographer, he has travelled to more than 50 countries. He has appeared on BBC 2\u2019s Through the Keyhole.<\/p>\n

Silk Road Main Theme<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Silk Road\u2019 is an account of travel to Manasarovar Lake in Tibet. The narrator was travelling to the lake to complete \u2018Kora\u2019, a pilgrimage. He set off with Tsetan in his car.
\nTsetan knew a route that would take them south-west from Ravu almost directly towards Mount Kailash. They had to cross several high mountain passes. They went across pastures, passing some gazelles and a great herd of wild asses, some \u2018drokbas\u2019 or shepherds, and Tibetan mastiffs.<\/p>\n

They entered a valley where the river was wide but mostly clogged with ice. Negotiating sharp turns, they climbed away from the river. At a sharp bend they encountered snow. Tsetan, the narrator and Daniel stepped on the snow to ascertain how sturdy it was. They put handfuls of dirt on the snow and covered the snow sufficiently. The narrator and Daniel walked while Tsetan carefully drove the car across the snow. Tsetan negotiated the next blockage skilfully.<\/p>\n

\"NCERT<\/p>\n

They crossed 5,400 metres and started feeling the effect of the high altitude. At 5,515 metres, they came across a cairn of rock decorated with white scarves. By 2 p.m. they reached the other side of the pass. The plateau was marked with salt flats where workmen loaded trucks laden with salt.They reached Hor on the old trade route from Lhasa to Kashmir. The narrator found Hor bare and dirty. It was at the shore of Lake Manasarovar, venerated by Hindus and Buddhist. The narrator had read glowing account of the lake, but his own experience was not the same.<\/p>\n

At 10.30 p.m. the party reached a guest house in Darchen. The author suffered from breathlessness and could not sleep the entire night. Next day, Tsetan took him to the medical college where he was given some Tibetan medicine. He felt relieved. At Darchen Tsetan left him. Luckily, the narrator met Norbu who worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He too had come to do the \u2018Kora\u2019. The narrator decided to do the pilgrimage not on foot but on yaks as Norbu suggested.<\/p>\n

Silk Road Understanding the text<\/strong><\/p>\n

I. Give reasons for the following statements:<\/span><\/p>\n

Question 1.
\nThis article has been titled \u2018Silk Road\u2019.
\nAnswer:
\nThe narrator was travelling on the old silk road from Lhasa to Kashmir to reach Mansarover Lake. Therefore, he has named the lesson Silk Road.<\/p>\n

Question 2.
\nTibetan mastiffs were popular in China\u2019s imperial courts.
\nAnswer:
\nBecause they were extremely fierce, swift and dogged.<\/p>\n

\"NCERT<\/p>\n

Question 3.
\nThe author\u2019s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
\nAnswer:
\nEarlier travellers were moved to tears when they encountered the Mansarovar Lake. The narrator was repelled by the starkness and the rubbish lying around in Hor.<\/p>\n

Question 4.
\nThe author was disappointed with Darchen.
\nAnswer:
\nThe author was quite unwell at Darchen. He had severe cold and gasped for breath. He spent a sleepless night. This depressed him. The town of Darchen was dirty, somewhat derelict and had pits of rubblend refused.<\/p>\n

Question 5.
\nThe author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after all.
\nAnswer:
\nUpto Darchen the author he was disappointed with what he saw. High altitudes, the difficulties of the drive, breathing problem at Darchen were not pleasant. The prospects of doing the Kora alone in the traditional way were unattractive. Then he met Norbu who was good company and intended to do the Kora on Yaks. This cheered the narrator.<\/p>\n

II. Briefly comment on:<\/span><\/p>\n

Question 1.
\nThe purpose of the author\u2019s journey to Mount Kailash.
\nAnswer:
\nNick Middleton, an oxford professor as well as an adventurer, followed the most difficult terrain through the Silk Road to reach Mount Kailash. He visited a Buddhist pilgrimage to complete the Kora, going around the place. He also wanted to see Lake Mansarovar.<\/p>\n

Question 2.
\nThe author\u2019s physical condition in Darchen.
\nAnswer:
\nThe author didn\u2019t feel physically fit when he reached Darchen. He suffered from extreme due to the chilly winds. He was unable to breathe with ease, was restless at night, could not have a wink that he would die if he would sleep.<\/p>\n

\"NCERT<\/p>\n

Question 3.
\nThe author\u2019s meeting with Norbu.
\nAnswer:
\nAfter Tsetan had left for Lhasa, the author was feeling lonely. He couldn\u2019t see any pilgrims at Darchen as he had reached the place earlier. It was then that he met Norbu, an academician who was Tibetan but, worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of social sciences. The narrator liked him to the extent that he decided to do the pilgrimage in his company. The author felt a lot of relief and comfort after meeting Norbu.<\/p>\n

Question 4.
\nTsetan\u2019s support to the author during the journey.
\nAnswer:
\nAll through the author\u2019s journey Tsetan had been very supportive. He drove him from Ravu to Hor through high mountain passes where the tract was covered with snow, and through the deep valleys. He even took the narrator to Darchen Medical College when he suffered from cold and breathlessness.<\/p>\n

Question 5.
\n\u201cAs a Buddhist, he told me, he knew that it didn\u2019t really matter if I passed away, but he thought it would be bad for business.\u201d
\nAnswer:
\nBuddhists do not grieve too much over death as they take a philosophical attitude about it. The narrator had just suffered an acute attack of breathlessness and could have died. He had come out of the crisis when Tsetan decided to return to Lhasa. He told the narrator that death was not a matter of grief but if the narrator had died it would have affected his business adversely.<\/p>\n

Silk Road Talking About the Text<\/strong><\/p>\n

Discuss in groups of four<\/p>\n

Question 1.
\nThe sensitive behaviour of hill-folk.
\nAnswer:<\/p>\n