Complete Summary and Solutions for Silk Road – NCERT Class XI English Hornbill, Chapter 6 – Reading Skill, Explanation, Questions, Answers
Comprehensive summary and explanation of Chapter 6 'Silk Road' from the Hornbill English textbook for Class XI, including vivid descriptions of the journey, cultural insights, author’s experiences, and detailed answers to all NCERT questions on reading skills.
Snow, altitude, mastiffs. Quote: "If we slip off, the car could turn over." Inference: Resilience. Interlink: Physical mirrors emotional (poem). Depth: Nomad life.
Cultural Sanctity
Kailash kora, Manasarovar. Quote: "Tibet’s most venerated stretch of water." Inference: Spiritual renewal. Interlink: Prodigal wish. Depth: Silk Road history.
Isolation & Connection
Solitary tents, Norbu meet. Quote: "We could be a team." Inference: Chance bonds. Interlink: Father-son silence. Depth: Positive thinking.
Empty hands. Quote: "Longing for something to forgive." Inference: Mutual pain. Interlink: Kora's clockwise tradition. Depth: Prodigal motif.
Human Resilience
Altitude sickness, business quip. Quote: "Bad for business." Inference: Humor in hardship. Interlink: Father's helplessness. Depth: Herbal cure.
Advanced: Travel as metaphor. Pitfalls: Miss Tibetan terms. Interlinks: Modern pilgrimages. Real: Kailash treks. Graphs: Theme table. Coherent: Outer/inner paths. Errors: Confuse poem/prose. Tips: Link quotes; Group debates.
Prose: Understanding the Text - NCERT Questions & Answers
Direct from PDF; detailed answers with line support.
I. 1. The article has been titled ‘Silk Road.’
Answer:
Historical trade route from Lhasa to Kashmir; mastiffs as tribute; modern exports (plastic). Quote: "Brought along the Silk Road... as tribute from Tibet."
2. Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts.
Answer:
Ferocious hunters; fearless, fast, shaggy. Quote: "Ferocious Tibetan mastiffs became popular... as hunting dogs."
3. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
Answer:
Grim, dusty refuse vs. sacred tears (Kawaguchi/Hedin). Quote: "Grim, miserable place... no vegetation whatsoever."
4. The author was disappointed with Darchen.
Answer:
Dusty, derelict, no pilgrims; early season. Quote: "Significant drawback. There were no pilgrims."
5. The author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after all.
Answer:
Met Norbu, ideal kora partner. Quote: "Perhaps my positive-thinking strategy was working after all."
II. 1. The purpose of the author’s journey to Mount Kailash.
Answer:
Complete kora pilgrimage. Quote: "Heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora."
2. The author’s physical condition in Darchen.
Answer:
Cold/altitude: Sleepless, heavy chest, blocked nostrils. Quote: "Tired and hungry... afraid to go to sleep."
3. The author’s meeting with Norbu.
Answer:
Cafe chat; Beijing academic, kora enthusiast; team formed. Quote: "Two academics who have escaped from the library."
4. Tsetan’s support to the author during the journey.
Answer:
Shortcut navigation, snow maneuvers, punctures fixed, doctor visit. Quote: "No problem, sir... if there is no snow."
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:
Philosophical acceptance vs. practical concern. Inference: Balances faith/pragmatism.
Tip: Reasons with quotes (2 marks each).
Talking about the Text - Discussion Points
Group discussions from PDF; guided responses.
1. The sensitive behaviour of hill-folk.
Guided Discussion:
Gift-giving (Lhamo coat), stares/waves, doctor care. Link: Nomad hospitality vs. urban anonymity.
2. The reasons why people willingly undergo the travails of difficult journeys.
Guided Discussion:
Spiritual (kora), self-discovery, renewal. Link: Poem's emotional "journey" for connection.
3. The accounts of exotic places in legends and the reality.
Guided Discussion:
Manasarovar: Sacred tears vs. rubbish. Points: Idealization vs. modernity's toll.
Tip: Groups of four; share personal travels.
Thinking about Language - NCERT Questions & Answers
Language use, inferences.
1. Notice the kind of English Tsetan uses while talking to the author. How do you think he picked it up?
Answer:
Simple, repetitive ("sir," short phrases). Picked: Tour guide interactions with foreigners.
2. What do the following utterances indicate? (i) “I told her, through Daniel …” (ii) “It’s a cold,” he said finally through Tsetan.
Answer:
(i) Language barrier; Daniel translates. (ii) Doctor via Tsetan; reliance on interpreters.
3. Guess the meaning: kora, drokba, kyang. In which language?
1. Few passive sentences; locate them. Active voice contribution?
Answer:
Passives: "We were leaving Ravu" (p.57); "The snow didn’t look too deep" (p.59). Active: Dynamic, immediate (e.g., "Tsetan stopped"); vivid travel pace.
2. Sentences like "Tsetan was eager to have them fixed."
Answer:
1. I was keen to start the kora. 2. She was happy to receive the gift. 3. He was ready to face the challenge. 4. They were anxious to meet him. 5. We were excited to explore the pass.
