NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 6, “Silk Road,” offer comprehensive answers to the questions posed in this intriguing chapter. These solutions provide valuable insights into the historical and cultural aspects of the Silk Road, fostering a deeper understanding of the text. Whether unraveling the trade routes, exploring the significance of this ancient network, or analyzing its impact on civilizations, these answers are an indispensable resource for Class 11 students. They enable students to navigate the fascinating world of history and literature with clarity and proficiency.
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter – 6 Silk Road Questions and Answers
Understanding the text
1. Give reasons for the following statements.
1. The article has been titled ‘Silk Road.”
Answer: The Silk Road refers to the historical trade routes that connected China with distant regions across the globe, utilized by traders of antiquity. These merchants likely employed this pathway to access and trade valuable silk originating from Kashmir.
2. Tibetan mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts.
Answer: The Tibetan mastiffs, renowned for their striking black coats that eclipsed even the darkest of nights, were both highly popular and exceptionally fierce dogs. Fearless in nature, their rapid reaction times set them apart. This quality made them ideal candidates for guarding their master’s palaces, which is why they gained significant popularity within the Imperial Court of China.
3. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place.
Answer: The author’s encounter with Hot presented a stark contrast to the prior depictions of the location. Having previously visited Lake Mansarovar and being deeply moved by its spiritual significance, his experience at Hor turned out to be disappointing. The place he had imagined as sacred was, in reality, a desolate and unpleasant site to visit. The absence of any vegetation, coupled with the presence of dust and rocks, further exacerbated the situation. These elements were interspersed with accumulated debris from years past, adding to the sense of disappointment.
4. The author was disappointed with Darchen.
Answer: Darchen was devoid of pilgrims, leading to the author’s disappointment. He had envisioned commencing his Kora at dawn alongside fellow religious devotees. Someone informed him that during the peak pilgrimage season, a multitude of visitors would gather. Consequently, he timed his arrival to coincide with the onset of this season, but the absence of the anticipated activity left him disheartened.
5. The author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after all.
Answer: Initially, the author held certain expectations regarding fellow pilgrims. However, his encounter with Norbu left him feeling disheartened and disenchanted. In order to uplift his spirits, he actively engaged in a self-help regimen centered around positive thinking. Ultimately, this strategy of maintaining a positive mindset proved to be remarkably effective and beneficial.
II. Briefly comment on
1. The purpose of the author’s journey to Mount Kailash.
Answer: The author embarked on a journey to Mount Kailash with the primary objective of completing the Kora, a sacred circumambulation. Fueled by a strong spirit of adventure, he undertook this pilgrimage to the revered Mount Kailash. His intent was rooted in academia, as he aimed to document and recount his profound journey through descriptive accounts of his experiences.
2. The author’s physical condition in Darchen.
Answer: Upon arriving in Darchen, the author’s physical state was in a dire condition, characterized by intense discomfort. Throughout the entire night, he endured a lack of relief. Subsequently, he was transported to the Darchen Medical College. Undergoing a comprehensive five-day Tibetan medicine regimen, he diligently followed the prescribed course. This alternative treatment approach exhibited remarkable effectiveness, leading to a swift and notable recovery.
3. The author’s meeting with Norbu.
Answer: The encounter between the author and Norbu left a profound impact, unsettling the author’s mental state. Pondering his choices, he found solace in Darchen’s sole café, where he contemplated his thoughts while sipping tea. The author’s self-help endeavors had been ineffective until his interaction with Norbu. Additionally, he was tasked with completing the Kora, a significant undertaking in his journey.
4. Tsetan’s support to the author during the journey.
Answer: Tsetan played a crucial supportive role for the author, enabling a car journey that would have otherwise been difficult to arrange. When the author faced physical discomfort, Tsetan facilitated a visit to the Darchen medical college. Thanks to his assistance, the necessary medical treatment was provided, leading to a swift recovery.
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, the driver responsible for transporting the author to Darchen, fulfilled the role of an adept guide throughout the journey. As a devout Buddhist, he held the belief that an individual’s demise holds minimal significance, whereas falsehoods from tourists could detrimentally impact the tourism industry. From this perspective, Tsetan considered the author’s potential demise inconsequential in relation to business interests.
Talking about the text
Discuss in groups of four
1. The sensitive behaviour of hill-folk.
Answer: The lifestyle in urban areas contrasts distinctly with that of individuals inhabiting hilly regions. Existence on hills is marked by intricate complexities. For instance, places like Hor and Darchen exhibit a lack of vegetation at their summits. The sustenance of hillside dwellers revolves around the care of their livestock. In urban settings, domesticated animals aren’t typically raised for labor, as services are often procured from alternative sources. However, hillside communities engage in the domestication of goats and sheep, utilizing them for both economic and communal purposes. These hill-dwelling people tend to display heightened sensitivity compared to their urban counterparts, readily offering mutual assistance. This disparity between urban and hilly populations underscores the notable distinctions in behavior and values. The residents of hilly terrains often exhibit commendable traits that set them apart.
2. The reasons why people willingly undergo the travails of difficult journeys.
Answer: A significant number of individuals willingly embrace the challenges posed by demanding journeys, thereby showcasing their aptitude for adventure. In India, a multitude of people undertake arduous journeys to pay homage to deities perched atop hill regions. Among these pilgrims are spirited young people driven by the desire for distinctive experiences, motivating them to embark on trips to mountainous locales. Through these challenging expeditions, previously concealed information about these regions comes to the fore, leading to the discovery of new routes that connect different countries.
Numerous places of pilgrimage are situated at the pinnacle of mountains, rendering their accessibility seemingly impossible. Nonetheless, intrepid explorers exhibit a keen interest in undertaking these demanding journeys.
3. The accounts of exotic places in legends and reality.
Answer: Legends often depict exotic locations in a manner that diverges from reality.
(a) Perceiving these distinctions requires a level of intellectual acumen and aesthetic discernment that not everyone possesses. However, the depiction of exotic locales in legends knows no bounds.
(b) When portraying a place, authors strive to craft a holistic representation that surpasses the actuality, yielding a more captivating rendition.(c) Legends amplify the truth, possessing an extraordinary and enchanting ability to illustrate matters of spiritual significance. The majority of their depictions transcend reality.
Thinking about language
1. Notice the kind of English Tsetan uses while talking to the author. How do you think he picked it up?
Answer: When conversing with the author, Tsetan employs a distinct form of English:
(a) Upon encountering an obstructed path, he remarks, “Not good, sir.”
(b) He communicates in a phrasal style, incorporating dialect in various descriptions as well.
2. What do the following utterances indicate?
(i) “I told her, through Daniel
Answer: The initial statement indicates that the intended recipient of the message, the woman, was unable to comprehend the language employed by the author.
(ii) “It’s a cold,” he said finally through Tsetan.
Answer: The second statement suggests that the Tibetan doctor wished to discuss the author’s health but encountered a language barrier, as neither of them understood each other’s languages.
(iii) “Until that is. I met Norbu.”
Answer: This statement indicates that after visiting Norbu, the author was able to establish effective communication, as Norbu was the only other person, apart from Tsetan, who possessed proficiency in English.
3. Guess the meaning of the following words.
| kora | kyang | drokba |
In which language are these words found?
Answer: ‘Kora’ signifies the sacred pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. ‘Dorka’ pertains to the mountainous inhabitants who traditionally wore long-sleeved sheepskin coats.
‘Kyang’ denotes the wild Tibetan asses that the author encountered while traveling from Ravu to Hor by car. He observed them on the desolate plains along the route. These terms are associated with Tibet.
Working with words
1. The narrative has many phrases to describe the scenic beauty of the mountainside like:
A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky. Scan the text to locate other such picturesque phrases.
Answer: Certainly, here are the picturesque phrases:
(i) Darchen felt unhurried.
(ii) Distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush.
(iii) Snow-capped mountains gathering on the horizon.
(iv) Tents pitched in splendid isolation.
2. Explain the use of the adjectives in the following phrases.
(i) shaggy monsters
(ii) brackish lakes
(iii) rickety table
(iv) hairpin bend
(v) rudimentary general stores
Answer:
(i) The clouds assumed shapes resembling shaggy monsters.
(ii) I observed people near the brackish lakes.
(iii) The deer appeared as unsteady as a rickety table.
(iv) She purchased a new hairpin bend.
(v) I discovered myself in a basic general store.
Noticing form
1. The account has only a few passive voice sentences. Locate them. In what way does the use of active voice contribute to the style of the narrative.
Answer: Passive voice sentence used in the account are :
(a) My left nostril was blocked.
(b) They simply didn’t allow me to go to sleep.
(c) A Chinese youth in military uniform served me.
2. ‘Notice this construction: Tsetan was eager to have them fixed. Write five sentences with a similar structure.
Answer: (i) I want to cut my hair.
(ii) You want to make me laugh.
(iii) The doctor wants to have his heart checked.
(iv) The boy wants to get the homework done.
(v) The players are ready to have the game started.
Things to do
“The plateau is pockmarked with salt flats and brackish lakes, vestiges of the Tethys Ocean which bordered Tibet before the continental collision that lifted it skyward.” Given below is an extract from an account of the Tethys Ocean downloaded from the Internet. Go online, key in Tethys Ocean in Google search and you will find exhaustive information on this geological event. You can also consult an encyclopedia.
Today, India, Indonesia and the Indian Ocean cover the area once occupied by the Tethys Ocean. Turkey, Iraq, and Tibet sit on the land once known as Cimmeria. Most of the floor of the Tethys Ocean disappeared under Cimmeria and Laurasia. We only know that Tethys existed because geologists like Suess have found fossils of ocean creatures in rocks in the Himalayas. So, we know those rocks were underwater, before the Indian continental shelf began pushing upward as it smashed into. Cimmeria. We can see similar geologic evidence in Europe, where the movement of Africa raised the Alps.
Notes
A travelog presenting a panoramic view of Mt Kailash.
Understanding the text
• Factual comprehension
• Author’s adventurous experiences while scaling the hilly terrain
Talking about the text
• Lifestyle of hill-folk
• Author’s description of exotic places
Thinking about language
• English spoken by guides
• Communicating with strangers
• Guessing the meanings of words from other languages from the context
Working with words
• Noticing picturesque phrases
• Use of uncommon adjectives
Noticing form
Predominant use of active voice as a contributor to the style of narration
Things to do
Getting information about geological formations from the Internet/ encyclopedia