Passage: 

A FLAWLESS half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky in the morning we said our
goodbyes. Extended banks of cloud-like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged
to splash the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush. Now that we were leaving
Ravu, Lhamo said she wanted to give me a farewell present. One evening I’d told her
through Daniel that I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora, and she’d
said that I ought to get some warmer clothes. After ducking back into her tent, she emerged
carrying one of the long-sleeved sheepskin coats that all the men wore. Tsetan sized me up
as we clambered into his car. “Ah, yes,” he declared, “drokba, sir.”
We took a short cut to get off the Changtang. Tsetan knew a route that would take us south-
west, almost directly towards Mount Kailash. It involved crossing several fairly high
mountain passes, he said. “But no problem, sir”, he assured us, “if there is no snow.” What
was the likelihood of that I asked. “Not knowing, sir, until we get there.”
Word Meaning:
Loaves – bread shaped and baked in one piece which is usually sliced before being eaten
Kora – meditation performed by Buddhist believers
Ducking Back – going inside and then coming out
Size me up – to look at someone attentively
Clambered – move or climb in an awkward way
Drokba – Shepherd
Explanation of the above passage:  As the protagonist was heading towards Mount Kailash to
complete the kora in the morning, he witnessed a beautiful half-moon in the blue sky. The clouds
looked like French bread which glowed pink because of the sun which spread a slash of rays on
the mountain tops. It looked like a rose-tinted blush. Ravu and Lhamo wanted to give him a
farewell gift. One evening when the protagonist passed a message to Lhamo through Daniel, she
gave him a long-sleeved sheepskin coat which is meant for men. Tsetan looked at him attentively
while he climbed into his car. He declared yes and said Drokba to him which means kora in the
region of Tibet.
They took a short cut to cut off the Changtang. His driver knew the short route which took them to
the south-west towards Mount Kailash. They had to pass high mountain passes. Tsetan told him
that they can reach the destination only if there is no snow and they can’t know that until they’ll
reach there.
Passage: From the gently rolling hills of Ravu, the short cut took us across vast open plains
with nothing in them except a few gazelles that would look up from nibbling the arid
pastures and frown before bounding away into the void. Further on, where the plains
became more stony than grassy, a great herd of wild ass came into view. Tsetan told us we
were approaching them long before they appeared. “Kyang,” he said, pointing towards a far-
off pall of dust. When we drew near, I could see the herd galloping en masse, wheeling and
turning in tight formation as if they were practising manoeuvres on some predetermined
course. Plumes of dust billowed into the crisp, clean air.
Word Meaning:
Gazelles – an African or Asian mammal with large eyes that moves quickly and hoofs
Nibbling – take a small bite from
Arid – having little or no rain
Pastures – land covered with grass
Frown – to disapprove of something
Bounding – jump; hop; bounce
Wild ass – an animal who have ears shorter than a horse and smaller in size
Herd – a large group of animal
Galloping – progressing in an uncontrollable manner
En masse – in a group
Manoeuvres – military exercises
Plumes – Trails
Billowed – filled with air; swelled out