Previous Year Short & Long Questions With Answers - Silk Road

Short Answer Type Questions

Q. 1. Why did the author take the short cut in spite of high mountain passes?
Ans: The short cut led almost directly south-west towards Mount Kailash, making the route shorter. The high mountain passes caused breathing problems at altitude, so avoiding them reduced the risk of altitude-related discomfort. Also, the absence of snow on the short cut made it a fairly easy ride.

Q. 2. What did the author notice in the vast open plains after leaving Ravu?
Ans: The plains were mostly dry pastures with very little vegetation. A few gazelles were nibbling the scant grass. As the plains became stonier, the author saw a large herd of wild asses.

Q. 3. What were drokbas doing in the "rocky wilderness"?
Ans: Drokbas were local people-men and women-tending their flocks in the rocky area. They wore long-sleeved sheepskin coats to protect themselves from the cold of the high mountains.

Q. 4. Why did the author complain of headache? How did he get relief?
Ans: The author was not accustomed to high altitudes and began to suffer a headache after they had climbed beyond about 5,400 metres. He drank several gulps from his water bottle, which helped somewhat. The headache eased further as the car descended the other side of the pass.

Q. 5. How did the author pass the first night at Darchen?
Ans: The first night at Darchen was very uncomfortable for the author. He felt cold, his chest felt heavy, and he had to breathe through his mouth. He tried to sleep but remained awake for most of the night because of discomfort and sleeplessness caused by the altitude and cold.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q. 1. Describe Nick Middleton's journey from Ravu to the height of 5,210 metres.
Ans: Nick Middleton set out from Ravu early in the morning on his pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. A woman named Lhamo gave him a long-sleeved sheepskin coat as a farewell present; such coats are commonly worn there to protect against the cold. He travelled by car driven by Tsetan, with Daniel as a companion. Tsetan chose a short cut that led almost directly towards Kailash. The route crossed vast open plains with a few grazing gazelles, then stonier ground where the author saw herds of wild asses called kyang. Further on, the author noticed solitary drokbas tending flocks and the nomads' dark tents, many guarded by Tibetan mastiffs. Snow-capped mountains then appeared and the road grew very rough. At one point, the car stopped because of a stretch of ice about 15 metres long; they threw dust on it and were able to proceed. They reached an altitude of about 5,210 metres at this point.

Q. 2. Describe the author's journey from the top of the pass to his stay at Hor.
Ans: The pass summit stood at about 5,515 metres, marked by a cairn of rocks. Following local custom, the author and his companions made a clockwise circuit around the cairn. The author had developed a severe headache at that altitude, but as the car descended the far side of the pass, his headache eased. They stopped for lunch at about 2 p.m., then continued and reached the small town of Hor by late afternoon. Here Daniel left the group, returning to Lhasa by truck. Tsetan stayed to repair punctured tyres and sent the author to a café to wait. The author found Hor disappointing; although he sat on the shore of the sacred lake Manasarovar, the shore was dirty and littered. After Tsetan returned, the journey resumed.

Q. 3. Give a brief account of the author's visit to the medical college at Darchen and the effect of the Tibetan medicines on him.
Ans: The author was initially unimpressed by the medical college building or the Tibetan doctor; the building resembled a monastery, and the consulting room was dark and cold. The doctor appeared as an ordinary Tibetan rather than in a Western white coat, wearing a thick pullover and a woolly hat. The author described his sleeplessness and reluctance to lie down, and the doctor, while feeling his pulse, diagnosed a cold combined with effects of altitude. Reassured, the author asked if he could complete the kora; the doctor said he would. The doctor prescribed a five-day course of Tibetan medicine, wrapped in small paper packets. The morning dose was a brown powder taken with hot water; the afternoon and bedtime doses were small brown pills that resembled sheep dung in appearance. The author took the regimen and found it effective: after the first full day on the medicine he slept soundly at night.

Q. 4. What impression do you form of the author, Nick Middleton, on the basis of reading 'Silk Road'?
Ans: Nick Middleton appears as an adventurous, observant and practical traveller. He is determined to perform the Kailash kora and accepts risks such as taking a short cut over high terrain. He notices small details and describes people and places sensitively. He is candid about his physical struggles-headache and sleeplessness caused by altitude-and pragmatic in seeking help, as when he consults the Tibetan doctor. His reactions to places like Manasarovar and Hor show that he can distinguish legend from现实: he appreciates the sacredness but is not blind to dirt and shabbiness. He is adaptable-willing to follow local advice, wait when necessary and accept practical solutions like hiring yaks-so overall he seems a sensible, likeable and determined traveller.