CBSE Class 11 English Chapter 8 “Silk Road Important Questions and Answers” from Hornbill Book
Silk Road Important Extra Questions and Answers
Q.1. Where was the protagonist heading towards in the beginning of the chapter?
- Mount Kailash
- Himalayas
- Uttarakhand
- Delhi
Ans : (A)
Q.2. What was the sky looking like due to the sun rays spreading on the mountain tops?
- yellow blush
- rose – tinted blush
- beautiful and fresh
- None of the above
Ans : (A)
Q.3. What did Lhamo give to the protagonist as a farewell gift?
- long sleeved sheepskin coat
- Flowers
- leather coat
- shoes
Ans : (A)
Q.4. Who are Drokbas?
- Hill Tribe
- sheep
- local people
- cuisine
Ans : (A)
Q.5. What is the meaning of ‘Kyang’?
- flower petals
- sun rays
- huge pile of dust
- huge pile of grass
Ans : (C)
Q.6. What did the protagonist notice in front of nomads tent?
- Big black Tibetan dogs
- sheep
- grass
- raw material
Ans : (A)
Q.7. Where did Tsetan take the protagonist to seek medical help?
- Darchen Medical College
- Tibetan Ayurvedic Doctor
- to Lhasa
- to Ravu again
Ans : (A)
Q.8. Why was the protagonist facing communication problems in Darchen?
- as he never wanted to talk to locals
- as he was always busy in his meditation
- as no one knew English
- None of the above
Ans : (C)
Q.9. Why did Norbu want to do Kora?
- he wanted to become a monk
- because he wanted peace
- as he was practising meditation from so long
- because he was writing an academic paper on Kailash Kora
Ans : (D)
Q.10. At which place did the protagonist wait for Tsetan while he was gone to fix the punctured tyres?
- at roadside near lake
- at car tyre’s shop
- inside the car
- Hor’s cafe
Ans : (B)
Silk Road Related Links –
| Silk Road Lesson Explanation, Summary, Question Answers | Silk Road MCQs |
| Silk Road Lesson Explanation Video | Silk Road MCQs Video |
Silk Road Important Questions – Subjective Questions
Q.11. Comment on the significance of the title.
Important Points-
– The travelogue gives an account of Nick’s journey from Ravu to Mount Kailash.
– The title is based on the Silk Road that was used for trading silk with China and many Asian and European countries.
Q.12. Why were Tibetan Mastiffs popular in China’s imperial courts?
Important Points-
– Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts as hunting dogs.
– They were brought from Tibet as a tribute.
– They were used as guards too.
– They were furious and quick. Hence, they were popular in China’s imperial courts.
Q.13. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place. Discuss.
Important Points-
– Nick described Hor as a grim and miserable place.
– There was no vegetation and the whole town was covered with dust and rocks.
– He felt a stark contrast between his experience and the accounts he had read about experiences of the earlier travellers.
– Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk who visited in 1900, burst into tears because he was moved by the sanctity of the lake.
– The river had the same effect on Sven Hedin.
– But Nick did not experience any emotional outburst on visiting the lake because he saw the real condition of the place.
Q.14. Why was the author disappointed with Darchen?
Important Points-
– It was dusty and uncared for. He saw heaps of refuse and rubble on the road.
– The town had stores selling Chinese cigarettes, soaps and other basic provisions.
– He fell ill and had a cold in Darchen because of the altitude.
– He had expected the town bustling with visitors because of the peak season, but he was disappointed to see no pilgrims there.
– Another problem was that he could not talk with anyone because of the lack of English-speaking people in Darchen.
– Nick’s physical condition deteriorated in Darchen.
– He suddenly woke up in the middle of the night because his chest felt heavy.
– He sat up, and this act gave him instant relief.
– He wasn’t gasping for breath like before.
– When he tried to sleep again, he felt the same thing.
– He was scared of dozing off because something told him that if he slept, he might never wake up again.
– He visited a doctor at Darchen who gave him medicines to fight his illness.
Q.15. Describe the author’s meeting with Norbu.
Important Points-
– Nick met Norbu at a cafe in Darchen.
– He was reading a book when Norbu approached him.
– Norbu was a Tibetan who worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in the Institute of Ethnic Literature.
Q.16. How was Tsetan a big support to the author during the journey?
Or
Tsetan was not just a skilled driver but a thorough professional who did not mix emotions with work. Discuss.
Important Points-
– Tsetan was a skilful driver who knew all the shortcuts.
– He drove through steep slopes and roads filled with rocks.
– He flung dirt on the top layer of the snow so that they could cross the road without skidding.
– When Nick fell ill, Tsetan took him to the doctor.
– Tsetan was supportive and professional throughout the journey.
– He showed no fear during that tough journey.
– He stayed with him for a while, but when he realised that Nick planned on staying at Durchen, Tsetan left him.
– As a Buddhist, Nick’s death wouldn’t have had any effect on him.
– He cared about his business and whatever he did for the pilgrims was not because of any affection, but only because they were his customers.
Q.17. “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.” What is the significance of this statement?
Important Points-
– According to Buddhist belief, death is not the end.
– So it wouldn’t have mattered if Nick would have died.
– But his death would have affected Tsetan’s business severely because it would have brought him ill repute.
Q.18. The journey to Mount Kailash was arduous and full of dangers. Discuss.
Important Points-
– The journey, undertaken by Nick and his companions, was tough and full of dangers.
– They faced many obstacles during their journey. The first obstacle was during their ascent.
– They took a shortcut and had to stop in between because the road was covered with snow.
– They flung dirt across the frozen layer of the snow so that they could cross it without skidding.
– Nick’s health deteriorated.
– He had a headache, and then he had trouble breathing. He couldn’t sleep at night.
– He visited a Tibetan doctor for the same.
– Nick lost the company of Daniel and Tsetan at different points during the journey, but he decided to carry on.
– Finally, he met Norbu and went on to complete the kora with him.
EXTRA QUESTIONS FROM THE INTERNET ASKED FROM THE CHAPTER “Silk Road”
Q1. What is ‘Silk Road’?
A. The Silk Road was a network of ancient trade routes, formally established during the Han Dynasty of China in 130 BCE, which linked the regions of the ancient world in commerce between 130 BCE-1453 CE. The Silk Road was not a single route from east to west and so historians favor the name ‘Silk Routes‘, though ‘Silk Road’ is commonly used.
Q2. Why is the road called the “Silk Road”?
A. The road is called “Silk Road” as it was used for trading silk with China and many Asian and European countries.
Q3. What does the chapter tell us about the character named Daniel?
Daniel was the translator whom Nick Middleton had hired. He helped the narrator to communicate with the local Tibetans. He accompanied the narrator up to the town of Hor. There he parted from him as he was to go to Lhasa. Fortunately he got a ride in a truck to Lhasa.
Q4. Give details about Drokba.
A. This refers to the people who wander as nomads in the region of Tibet. In the high altitudes of Ladakh, beyond the usual tourist spots like the Pangong Lake, Magnetic hill or the monasteries, there survives a tribe believed to be one of the oldest and purest human tribe called the Drok-Pa (Ladakhi word for Aryans or the white skin). Nearly 5000 members of this tribe inhabit the cluster of seven villages located down the Indus River.
Q5. What do you understand about the term ‘Kora’ as used in the lesson?
A. Kora is a Tibetan word which literally in English means ‘circumambulation’ or revolution. Kora also refers to the act of showing respect to the holy aspects of the world that the Tibetans believe to be holy and sacred. It is not only a form of pilgrimage but also meditation and a way of enlightenment. It is mainly done by the circumnavigation of the sacred aspect in a clockwise direction. Many things like mountains, monasteries and lakes are considered to be holy in Tibet.
Kora is considered to be an important part of any festival, holy ritual and also pilgrimage. Distinct kora routes are also constructed in places where accessibility otherwise would have been impossible. The kora usually takes place between dawn and dusk, though in some holy rituals it might continue for a longer time.
Q6. What happened to the author at Darchen?
A. Due to high altitude, the author’s physical condition in Darchen was quite bad. He was tired and hungry. One of his nostrils was blocked again. His chest felt strangely heavy. He started breathing through his mouth. Sitting up made him feel better. He stayed awake all night. Tsetan took him to the Darchen Medical College to get medicines. These medicines helped him to sleep peacefully at night.
Q7. What was Norbu’s importance for the writer?
A. The narrator met Norbu in a cafe. He was a Tibetan, and worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in the Institute of Ethnic Literature. Norbu had come to do the kora in order to get first hand experience for his research paper. Norbu had been writing academic papers about the Kailash kora and its importance in various works of Buddhist literature for many years but he had never actually done it himself. The narrator was relieved to team up with him. He would not be alone then and the most important thing was that Norbu could communicate in English.
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