UNDERSTANDING
THE TEXT PAGE
82
I. Give Reasons for the Following
1. The article has been titled ‘Silk Road.’
Answer:
The title was inspired by the famous silk route or highways. The network linked
the continents of Africa and Europe. It established trade in Chinese silk,
spices, porcelain, teas, Indian textiles, precious stones, and pepper, and
gold, silver, exquisite glassware, wine, carpets, and jewels from the Roman
Empire. Because of the silk commerce with China, the road was given the name
Silk Road. In this chapter, the author journeys to Mount Kailash in Tibet to
explore the Himalayan belt. The piece is dubbed 'Silk Road' because the author
travelled through this area.
2. Tibetan mastiffs were popular in
China’s imperial courts.
Answer:
Tibetan mastiffs were popular as hunting dogs in China's imperial courts. They
were brought over the Silk Road as a tribute from Tibet in ancient times. They
were large black dogs that were utilised as guard dogs. They are enraged and
brave, and they are on the verge of exploding like bullets.
3. The author’s experience at Hor was in
stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
Answer:
The author's experience at Hor contrasted with that of travellers like
Kawaguchi and Hedin, who were overcome by the lake's beauty and serenity and
cried. The author noticed a run-down Hor with scant greenery, a rocky and dusty
landscape, and dumped rubbish in the vicinity.
4. The author was disappointed with
Darchen.
Answer:
Because the author couldn't sleep owing to a cold when they arrived in Darchen,
he received counselling from a Tibetan doctor. He realised there were no
pilgrims the next day as he looked around, which was a big disadvantage for his
future voyage.
5. The author thought that his positive
thinking strategy worked well after all.
Answer:
When the author realised that Darchen had no pilgrims, he began to rethink his
optimistic outlook. However, he happened to meet Norbu, who had also come to do
kora. In Beijing, he was a professor. The author realised that his positive
thinking had paid off when he recommended that they both form a team.
II. Briefly comment on
1. The purpose of the author’s journey to
Mount Kailash.
Answer:
A trip to Mount Kailash was part of the author's self-improvement programme.
The author decided to go on a kora pilgrimage to increase his positive outlook.
2. The author’s physical condition in
Darchen.
Answer:
One of the author's nostrils became obstructed at Darchen. He awoke when he
tried to sleep because his chest hurt, but it was OK after he sat up. When he
realised he couldn't lie down, he tried to sleep by resting against a wall, but
his breathing condition made him terrified of falling asleep. After taking the
prescription, he felt much better.
3. The author’s meeting with Norbu.
Answer:
Norbu and the author encountered in Darchen's coffeehouse by happenstance.
Norbu started into a conversation with the author after noticing him reading an
English novel, and they quickly realised they were both on their way to Korba.
They came to the conclusion that they should create a group.
4. Tsetan’s support to the author during
the journey.
Answer:
Tsetan drove the author in his four-wheel-drive car from Ravu to Darchen. He
navigated his route through the snowy landscape. He also accompanied the author
to the Darchen medical institution when he felt ill. Tsetan was a steady and
friendly companion throughout.
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.”
Answer:
Tsetan was a devoted Buddhist who did not believe that death was the end of the
world. Kailash is a sacred site, and visiting it would be beneficial to him
because it would transfer him to heaven. If the author died there, it would be
bad for his business since his reputation as a tourist guide would be
tarnished, and he would lose customers in the future.
TALKING ABOUT
THE TEXT PAGE
82
Discuss in groups of four
1. The sensitive behaviour of hill-folk.
Answer:
The
people of the hills are simple and innocent. People like Tsetan are religious
and fear God. They are quite welcoming and look after tourists from the
outside.
2. The reason why people willingly
undergo the travails of difficult journeys.
Answer:
The author was a professor. As a result, he embarked on the adventure in order
to further his studies. It was a learning experience for me. Second, such
travels are undertaken in the spirit of adventure. The author's territory
includes some of the world's most challenging terrains. The third motivation
could be religious. Mount Kailash is visited by pilgrims as part of their
journey.
3. The account of exotic places in legends
and the reality.
Answer:
In both folklore and fact, there are numerous accounts of exotic locations.
Mount Kailash and Mansarovar are mentioned frequently in folklore. Many
articles have been written on these locations.
THINKING ABOUT
LANGUAGE PAGE
82
1. Notice the kind of English Tsetan uses while talking to the
author. How do you think he picked it up?
Answer:
Tsetan's English had to have come from his travels and contacts with the
pilgrims he encountered.
2. What do the following utterances indicate?
(i) “I told her, through Daniel…”
(ii) “Its a cold”, he said finally through
Tsetan
Answer:
The above statements illustrate that there is no shared language. The author
couldn't converse in the local dialect and had to rely on English instead. As a
result, Tsetan was the one who interpreted the doctor's words for the author,
and Daniel was the translator.
3. Guess the meaning of the following words.
kora drokba kyang
In which language are these words found?
Answer:
These are in the Tibetan language.
WORKING WITH
WORDS PAGE
83
1. Explain
the use of adjectives in the following phrases
(i) Shaggy monsters
(ii) Brackish lakes
(iii) Rickety table
(iv) Hairpin bend
(v) Rudimentary general
stores
Answer:
(i) hairy, unkempt
(ii) salty
(iii) Wobbly, shaky
(iv) Very sharp bend
(v) Elementary.
Poem:
Father to Son by Elizabeth Jennings
THINK IT OUT PAGE
86
1. Does the poem talk of an exclusively
personal experience or is it fairly universal?
Answer:
The poem explores a universal experience in the relationship between parents
and their offspring. The poem explores the communication gap between the two
characters and how neither of them understands what the other is thinking.
2. How is the father’s helplessness
brought out in the poem?
Answer:
The picture of the father's emotional struggle emphasises his helplessness. He
recognises the problem and wishes to resolve it, but he is unable to do it. He
laments the fact that his son has lost touch with him. He regrets the lack of a
deep emotional tie and clear communication with his estranged son, and he
wishes to restore their relationship from the ground up.
3. Identify phrases and lines that
indicate the distance between the father and the son.
Answer:
Lines and phrases that show the distance between father and son are:
“land is his and none of mine”
“Him prodigal, returning to his father’s house”
“see him make and move his world”
“put out an
empty hand”
4. Does the poem have a consistent rhyme
scheme?
Answer: No, the poem does have a consistent rhyme scheme. It is inconsistent and differs between stanzas.
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