Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 5 – Silk Road (Nick Middleton) Long Question Answers

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English

Hornbill

Chapter 5 – Silk Road (Nick Middleton)

Long Question Answers

Question 1:

Describe the writer's experience in Hor.

 

Answer:

Accompanied by Daniel and Tsetan, the writer reached the highest point at an altitude of 5,515 meters, marked by a cairn of rocks adorned with silk scarves and prayer flags. Following tradition, they circled the cairn clockwise before descending and stopping at Hor.

 

Hor proved to be a rather bleak and desolate place with accumulated garbage over the years. Situated on the shore of Mansarovar lake, a revered location in Tibet, the high altitude and low atmospheric pressure posed challenges for the author. That night, he struggled to lie down due to a severely blocked nostril and chest heaviness. Fearful that sleeping might result in not waking up again, he spent the night awake. Strangely, upon getting up, he felt relieved and went on to seek medical treatment for his cold the next day. After a day of treatment, he finally slept soundly.

 

Question 2:

Why did the author undertake such a difficult journey?

 

Answer:

The author embarked on this challenging journey to undertake the pilgrimage known as "kora," a tradition observed by devout believers. The pilgrimage involves circling a cairn of rocks at an altitude of 5,515 meters in a clockwise direction. While the exact purpose of this pilgrimage is not explicitly stated in the extract, it holds significant cultural and religious importance for the local people.

 

The author sought to experience the significance of this pilgrimage firsthand, taking the risk of traversing the challenging terrain in a vehicle. The journey proved hazardous, with steep slopes and rocks at high altitudes. The adverse effects of high atmospheric pressure took a toll on the author's health, causing sinus issues and chest heaviness.

 

Question 3:

Describe the author's meeting with Norbu.

 

Answer:

Left alone in the Darchen guesthouse with Daniel and Tsetan absent, the author felt disheartened by the bleak atmosphere of the place. The off-season for pilgrimage resulted in a lack of activity and tourists, contributing to an unhurried and relaxed state in the town. Displeased with the guesthouse's uninviting ambiance, the author positioned himself near a broken window to read his novel in the dim light.

 

At that moment, Norbu entered and sought permission to sit opposite the author at the rickety table. During their interaction, Norbu inquired if the author was English. After the author explained his purpose for being in Darchen, Norbu's eyes filled with joy. Norbu, a Tibetan working at a Chinese Institute of Social Science, had been writing academic papers on kora for years. Their meeting evolved into a meaningful companionship, as both were academics undertaking kora more for academic reasons than religious ones.