NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English (Hornbill) Chapter 6 Silk Road

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 11th

aglase .co

Class : 11th

Subject : English

Chapter : 8

Chapter Name : Silk Road

QI Give reasons for the following statements.

1. The article has been titled ‘Silk Road.’

2. Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts.

3. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.

4. The author was disappointed with Darchen.

5. The author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after all.

1. The chapter is an autobiographical account by the author where he has penned down his
experiences while his expedition to 'Silk Road' which has a historical prominence for silk trade
with China, and other things such as spices, teas and porcelain; Indian textiles, precious stones,
peppers , the Roman empire's gold, silver, wine etc. within the Afro-Eurasian landmass. Due to
the splendid trade that road network was named as 'Silk Road' and hence the article shares this
name.

2. Tibetan Mastiff is a fierce and powerful breed of dog which were brought along the Silk Road
in ancient times as a tribute from Tibet. They were kept in court as watchdogs for they were
ferocious calibre.

3. The author was swizz by the ambience of Hor which was in absolute contrast to that
mentioned by Japanese Monk, Ekai Kawaguchi in 1990 which led him to burst into tears when
he sought the sacred Lake Mansarovar. Same experience was shared by a swede, Sven Hedin
when he visited Hor. However, dismal vegetation at Hor, it's gloominess dejected the author to
much extent. The only thing he liked there was tea served by a Chinese youth in the only cafe of
the town, which was in a poor condition too.

4. Darchen was situated at a high altitude which worsen his sinus problem due to which he
wasn't able to sleep at night. Darchen, alike Hor lacked vegetation and was a mere place of
dumped waste. It was dusty and had left author with much dejection.

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5. The author felt lonely as Tsetan had left to Lhasa thus, not accompanying him to the Kailash
mountain, there on. After much disappointment from Hor, Darchen and being alone too, he
ultimately meets Narbu, a Tibetan whose destination was the same as his 'to perform Kora at
Kailash mountain'. They teamed up and started afresh their journey to the Kailash with filled
excitement and jolly mood.

Page : 82 , Block Name : Understanding the text

QII Briefly comment on

1. The purpose of the author’s journey to Mount Kailash.

2. The author’s physical condition in Darchen.

3. The author’s meeting with Norbu.

4. Tsetan’s support to the author during the journey.

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.”

1. The author's journey to Mount Kailash witnessed many obstacles, yet his will to reach the
Kailash Mountain was firm as he wanted to perform the Kora going on the place.

2. The author's condition deteriorated in Darchen due to the high altitude, the lack of oxygen
caused him a severe headache. He couldn't even sleep at night due to his increased sinus
problem.

3. He met Norbu, a Tibetan when he was all lonely after Tsetan had left for Lhasa and there
were a few pilgrims who could accompany him, since it was just the inception of the season.
Norbu was the one who was also looking for a partner who could assist him to the Kailash
mountain for performing Kora.

4. Tsetan was a tourist guide, a deft driver indeed who managed to drive even at the sharper
turns of the hilly roads. He efficiently accompanied the author till Darchen, where he also took
the author to a medical college to get rid of his deteriorating health.

5. These lines are attributed to Tsetan by the author, when he didn't accompany him further in
the journey and had left for Lhasa. Tsetan was a Buddhist who believed in life after death, but
he was also a profound businessman who thought it would be bad for his business if something

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hazardous occurs ahead in the journey. So he discontinued moving further with author and had
moved to Lhasa.

Page : 82 , Block Name : Understanding the text

Q Discuss in groups of four.

1.The sensitive behaviour of hill-folk.

2.The reasons why people willingly undergo the travails of difficult journeys.

3.The accounts of exotic places in legends and the reality.units of exotic places in legends and
the reality.

1. Hill-folk are innocent people with loving and caring hearts for the visitors who visit them. They
are the people away from the complexities of the world, residing in the lap of mother nature,
their hearts are also pure and beautiful influenced by the beauty of their surroundings.

2. Difficult journeys are thrilling and adventurous simultaneously. People with fondness for
adventures choose their way to difficult journeys more often.

3. There are many exotic places mentioned in legends but also have a real existence and
articles describing them. Kailash Mountain, The Fort of Dwarka etc.

Page : 82 , Block Name : Talking about the text

Q1 Notice the kind of English Tsetan uses while talking to the author. How do you think he
picked it up?

Answer. English wasn't the mother language of Tsetan, yet he was best at trying to speak it in
order to have more and more customers. Daniel, the translator helped author and Tsetan to
understand each other better. However we must not forget that the language of the heart
matters more than those words sequenced in any language from the mouth. To understand
someone few warm gestures with good understanding is enough.

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Book Name : Hornbill Ncert Solutions | Chapter-8 English

Page : 82 , Block Name : Thinking about language

Q2 What do the following utterances indicate?

(i)“I told her, through Daniel …”

(ii) “It’s a cold,” he said finally through Tsetan.

Answer.( i) This line is attributed to the author, when he faced the language problem while
communicating with Tsetan. The author then, seek Daniel's help who translated english into
Tibetan language.

(ii) Dr in the medical college was unable to speak english, he was a native speaker of Tibetan
language. Ultimately Tsetan tried explaining to the author that he was suffering from cold.

Page : 82 , Block Name : Thinking about language

Q3 Guess the meaning of the following words.

Kora

drokba

kyang

In which language are these words found?

Answer. Kora- All the way round, basically a custom

Drokba - Shepherd

Kyang - A wild Tibetan ass.

Page : 82 , Block Name : Thinking about language

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Book Name : Hornbill Ncert Solutions | Chapter-8 English

Q2 Explain the use of adjectives in the following phrases. shaggy monsters

(i)shaggy monsters

(ii) brackish lakes

(iii) rickety table

(iv) hairpin bend

(v) rudimentary general stores

(i)shaggy monsters - to describe monsters as hairy and clumsy

(ii) brackish lakes- salty lakes

(iii) rickety table- shaky table

(iv) hairpin bend- sharp bend

(v) rudimentary general stores- elementary stores

Page : 83 , Block Name : Working with words

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