Question Bank

Silk Road
Long Answer Type Questions

Answer the following questions developing on the hints given with them:

1. What difficulties did the author encounter while crossing the mountain passes that led
to the Silk Road?

The first difficulty faced while ascending through the valley - the turns sharper and the ride
bumpier - pressure building up in his ears. Suddenly - large strip of white stuff across the track
- handfuls of dust flung them over the snow - another blockage after ten minutes - lurching
from one obstacle to another - Tsetan negotiating the obstacles and reaching reached the top
of the pass - gulps from water bottle taken to ease headache - two punctures in quick
succession – no major difficulty till they reached Hor, a small town on the main east-west
highway.

2. How was the author’s experience at Hor in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the
place?
A small town on the main east-west highway - the old trade route from Lhasa to Kashmir. -
located on the shore of Lake Manasarovar - Tibet’s most venerated stretch of water- the Sutlej
flows from the lake – the rise of Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra on the flanks of Mount
Kailash - source of four great Indian rivers according to Hindu and Buddhist cosmologists - . -
superlatives about their experience on first glimpse of Lake Manasarovar - the writer’s
disappointment - a grim, miserable place with no vegetation - an open-air rubbish dump - vast
difference between legend and reality.

Q3. Give a brief account of the author’s experience at Darchen before he got treatment at
Darchen medical college?
10.30 p.m. - a guest house in Darchen - tired and hungry narrator – caught cold again as Hor
was dusty - the herbal tea no help - one of his nostrils blocked again - breathing through his
mouth - he switching to single-nostril power- he woke up abruptly - chest feeling heavy -
something warning not to sleep - sinuses filled up - supported himself upright against the wall -
troubled night due to his breathing problems - stayed awake all night.

Q4. Give a brief account of the author’s visit to the medical college at Darchen and the
effect of the Tibetan medicines on him.
Or
What do you learn about Tibetan doctors and medicines from reading the travelogue ‘Silk
Road’?
Not impressed by the building of the medical college and the Tibetan doctor -the building like
a monastery – dark and cold consulting room - doctor like any other Tibetan - explained his
sleepless symptoms and sudden aversion to laying down – pulse felt and questions asked -
diagnosed illness as a cold and effects of the altitude - assurance of recovery - a five-day
course of Tibetan medicine prescribed - a brown powder with hot water - small spherical brown
small pills at lunch time and bed time - medicines quite effective - slept soundly at night.

Q5. What impression do you form of the author, Nick Middleton, on the basis of reading
‘Silk Road’?
Keen on performing Kailash Kora - hired Tsetan’s car and took Daniel as companion for
escorting him upto Darchen - a lover of adventure - a keen observer of men and manners - a
sharp eye for details - the hilly people described quite sensitively- a graphic account of
difficulties faced during ascent- his headache and loss of sleep caused by cold and high altitude
- observations about Lake Manasarovar and Hor - dislike for dirt and shabbiness -
communication problem after Tsetan leaves and before he meets Norbu – positive thinking - a
sensitive and likable fellow.
 Question Bank
Silk Road
Short Answer Questions

Answer the questions below developing on the hints:

1. Why did the author take the short-cut in spite of the high mountain passes?
A short cut to Mount Kailash – likely to face breathing problems – a good ride if no snow

2. What sights welcomed the author in the vast open plains after leaving Ravu?
Dry pastures - A few gazelles seen nibbling the grass - plains growing more stony than grass -
a great herd of wild asses.

3. What sights did the party come across in the rocky wilderness?
Shepherds tending their flocks - well-wrapped men and women - the sheep changing direction
when the track came close

4. How does the author describe Tibetan mastiffs?

Huge black dogs- guarding the dark tents of nomads - heads erect as strangers approach - bark
and ran into the car – no fear – retreat only when the strangers are seen off their territory.

5. Why did Tsetan stop the car and jump out of it?
Snow covering fifteen metres of road ahead – dirt trail beyond - snow on either side of the
road – steep bank – icy layer slippery - vehicle may overturn - handfuls of dirt used to make the
train less slippery

6. What was the cause of the author’s headache? How did he get relief?
N used to high altitude climbing – experience of headache when at a height of 5,400 metres –
water drunk – relief – relief when they moved down

7. Give a description of the top of the pass.

the top of the pass at 5,515 metres - marked by a pile of stones - decorated with white silk
scarves and ragged prayer flags - a turn round the cairn in a clockwise direction as done
traditionally by the Buddhists.

8. Why, do you think, was the author perturbed at the loud hiss emitted by the car?
The petrol tank unscrewed partially - a loud hiss released suddently - the lower atmospheric
pressure allowing the fuel to expand - the author perturbed - considered it dangerous.

9. What do you learn about the salt lake on the other side of the pass?
a dry salt lake - on the other side of the pass - the plateau covered with salt flats and brackish
lakes - the remnants of the Tethys Ocean – the rise of Tibet due to continental collision

10. What activities were going on at the dry salt lake?

Workers busy loading trucks with piles of salt - carried pickaxes and shovels - put on long
sheepskin coats and salt-covered boots - wore sunglasses to avoid the glare caused by a steady
stream of trucks.

11. Why did Tsetan insist on getting the punctured tyres repaired immediately? ?
Suffered two punctures in quick succession while driving from the salt lake - no spares -
12. What is the importance at Hor? How did the author feel there?
A small town on the main east-west highway that followed the old trade route from Lhasa to
Kashmir - on the shore of Lake Manasarovar - the author not impressed by it – called it a grim,
miserable place - no vegetation but only dust and rocks - heaps of garbage too

13. Why is lake Manasarovar Tibet’s most venerated stretch of water?

Lake Manasarovar considered to be the source of four great Indian rivers - most respected
stretch of water – sacred for different religions

14. What sort of experience did the author have at Hor?

Had to wait for some time as Tsetan was getting the punctures repaired – hade tea at a café -
three broken windows which let in draught The Chinese youth serving tea - spreading the
grease around on the table with a filthy rag - this half an hour like solitary confinement

15. Why did the night at the guest house in Darchen turn out to be another troubled one?
Hor, an open-air rubbish dump – caught a cold once again - One of his nostrils blocked again
as he laid down to sleep in Darchen. - could not get enough oxygen to breathe - a sleepless
night.

16. How does the author recount his experience at the Darchen medical college?
A Tibetan doctor with no paraphernalia - looked like any other Tibetan in his thick pullover and
woolly hat – felt the wrist . He felt the veins and asked him a few questions – diagnosed the
problem as ‘‘a cold and the effects of altitude - a five day course Tibetan medicines prescribed
- a sound sleep after his first full day’s course.

17. What opinion did the author form about Darchen?

Found Darchen to be horrible - dusty, with heaps of rubble and rubbish lying here and there -
simple general stores - a brook flowing past past his guest house. Darchen more relaxed and
unhurried- no pilgrims

18. The author says, ‘‘I’d timed my arrival for the beginning of the season, but it seemed I
was too early.’’ How does Darchen appear at the height of the pilgrimage season?
The town would be bustling with visitors – visitors bringing their own accommodation – the
whole plain littered with tents - season yet to begin - many brining their own accommodation.

19. What options did the author have after Tsetan left him?
Continue the journey alone or wait for some other pilgrims – pilgrimage trail well-trodden – no
plans to make a journey lone - parts of the route liable to blockage by snow – only feasible one
to wait.
20. ‘‘The author gives a picturesque description of Darchen’s only cafe.’’ How far do you
agree with this statement?
Small, dark and cavernous - a long metal stove running down the middle - the walls and
ceiling covered in striped, multicoloured plastic - a single window and a rickety table –
realistic description

21. What did the author learn about Norbu? How did he feel?
Norbu, a Tibetan - working in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – to do the
‘Kora’ - academic papers about the Kailash Kora and its importance in various works of
Buddhist literature - never actually done Kora himself - The author excited - could do the Kora
together
22. Why did the author’s initial relief at meeting Norbu become diluted later on?
Norbu conversant in English - going to Mount Kailash to do Kora- ill-equipped for the
pilgrimage - very fat and found walking on high attitude tiresome- not really a practising
Buddhist.

23. Did the author stick to his original plan for the trek? Give a reason for your answer.
No – original plan to make the trek in the company of devout believers - would have to wait for
that - Norbu not a practising Buddhist but an enthusiastic- Norbu would prove to be an ideal
companion- similar mindset about the kora.

24. What qualities of Norbu do you think made him an ideal companion to the author?
Educated person, an academic– speaks English - a Tibetan and very enthusiastic- to perform
the kora – practical - suggested hiring yaks to carry their luggage - had a fine sense of humour -
laughs at his own shortcomings
 Question Bank
Silk Road
Very Short Answer Questions

1. What did the writer compare to French loaves?

2. What did Lhamo offer to the author as a farewell present?
3. Why did the author plan to visit Mount Kailash?
4. What did Tsetan call the author in the long-sleeved sheepskin coat?
5. What difficulty was involved while driving south-west to Mount Kailash?
6. What animals did the author find as he drove past the vast open plains after leaving
Ravu?
7. Where did they meet a herd of wild ass?
8. What is a herd of wild ass called in the local language?
9. Who are drokbas?
10. What is unique about the tents of nomads?
11. Why do the nomads engage the Tibetan mastiffs?
12. What is fearsome about the Tibetan mastiffs?
13. How can you say that the Tibetan mastiffs are fearless?
14. What made Tsetan brake and swerve?
15. Why were Tibetan mastiffs popular in China’s imperial courts?
16. What was the first effect of high altitude on the author?
17. What did the author do to relieve himself from the pressure building up in his ears?
18. What made Tsetan stop the car and jump out of his seat?
19. How did Tsetan tackle the encrusted ice on the trail?
20. How did the narrator relieve himself when his head throbbed horribly?
21. What marked the top of the pass?
22. Why did Tsetan partially unscrew the petrol tank?
23. Where did the narrator have lunch on the first day of their journey from Ravu?
24. What geographical changes resulted in the formation of salt and brackish lakes on the
way to Hor?
25. Where is Hor?
26. Where did Daniel leave the author and Tsetan?
27. Why was Tsetan eager to get the tyres fixed?
28. Why was the author disappointed with Hor?
29. Which four rivers were supposedly born in Manasarovar according to Hindu and
Buddhist cosmologists?
30. Which river flows from Lake Manasarovar?
31. What was the only comforting thing about the only cafe in Hor?
32. What was Ekai Kawaguchi’s reaction at the sight of Manasarovar?
33. Why was the author not greatly impressed by Manasarovar?
34. What does the narrator describe as an ‘open-air rubbish dump’?
35. What trouble did the narrator face at the Darchen guest house?
36. What was the reason for the author’s chest problem at Darchen?
37. According to the narrator, what stopped him from going to sleep?
38. What did the medical college at Darchen look like?
39. How did the Tibetan doctor look different?
40. What did the Tibetan doctor diagnose the author’s problem as?
41. What did the Tibetan doctor prescribe for the author to cure him of his trouble?
42. What was the effect of the Tibetan medicine on the author?
43. Why did Tsetan say that the author’s trouble would not worry him?
44. How do we know that life in Darchen was relaxed?
45. What was the author’s worry after he had recovered from the trouble of sleeplessness and
aversion to lying down?
46. What unique sight can be observed in Darchen at the height of the pilgrimage season?
47. How did the author try to face his growing despair at the delay of his journey to Mount
Kailash?
48. Why was the kora seasonal?
49. What is one of China’s most successful exports along the Silk road today?
50. Who was Norbu?
51. Why did Norbu visit Darchen?
52. Why did the narrator’s excitement at meeting Norbu get diluted?
53. How did the author wish to make the trek to Mount Kailash?
54. Why did Norbu have no intension of doing the kora in the traditional manner?
55. What kind of a person was Norbu?