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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nick Middleton is an award-winning geographer, writer, TV presenter, environmental scientist and university lecturer. He was born in 1959 in London, England.
MEANINGS
1. Clambered – to walk laboriously mostly using both hands and legs.
2. Veering- change direction suddenly.
3. Tibetan Mastiff – Tibetan dog breed belonging to mastiff family its double coat is long subject to climate. They live in very cold climatic conditions.
4. Shaggy monsters – a frightening creature with ugly rough long hair. Here it refers to the Tibetan mastiff dogs.
5. Swerve – change direction abruptly.
6. Glinting – give out or reflect small flowers of light.
7. Menders – a winding curve or head of a river or a road.
8. Daubed – coated with a thick or sticky substance.
9. Lichen – a lichen is a composite organism that emerges from algae or a cyanobacteria that lives among the filaments of a fungal.
10. Hunks – large pieces or large chunks of.
11. Petered – to diminish gradually.
12. Lurching – to move in a way that is not regular or uncontrolled.
13. Throb- to produce a strong regular beat.
14. Festooned – adorned with chains or garlanded.
15. Cairn – pile of stones
16. Pork marked – covered or disfigured with pork marks.
17. Brackish – salt water.
18. Vestiges – a trace of remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.
19. Hive of activity – a place where lot of people are working hard.
20. Pick axes – T shaped hand tool.
21. Glare – strong dazzling light.
22. Venerated – regard with, great respect.
23. Draught – a current of cool air.
24. Paraphernalia – all the objects needed for or connected with a particular activity.
25. Wisp – a small thin line of cloud/smoke/steam.
26. Rudimentary – involving or limited to basic principles.
27. Incongruous – not in harmony or keeping with the surrounding or other aspects of something.
28. Battered – injured by repeated blows or punishment.
29. Babbled – to talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish or incomprehensible way.
30. Derelict – a very poor condition as a result of disease and neglect.
31. Incongruous – not in harmony or keeping with the surrounding or other aspect of relevance.
32. Cavernous – like a cavern in size and shape or atmosphere. A large cave like chamber.
33. Wreathed – surround or encircle.
34. Rickety - unsteady, unsafe.
35. Envisaged – contemplate, or conceive on a possibility or a desirable future event.
Nick Middleton is an award-winning geographer, writer, TV presenter, environmental scientist and university lecturer. He was born in 1959 in London, England.
MEANINGS
1. Clambered – to walk laboriously mostly using both hands and legs.
2. Veering- change direction suddenly.
3. Tibetan Mastiff – Tibetan dog breed belonging to mastiff family its double coat is long subject to climate. They live in very cold climatic conditions.
4. Shaggy monsters – a frightening creature with ugly rough long hair. Here it refers to the Tibetan mastiff dogs.
5. Swerve – change direction abruptly.
6. Glinting – give out or reflect small flowers of light.
7. Menders – a winding curve or head of a river or a road.
8. Daubed – coated with a thick or sticky substance.
9. Lichen – a lichen is a composite organism that emerges from algae or a cyanobacteria that lives among the filaments of a fungal.
10. Hunks – large pieces or large chunks of.
11. Petered – to diminish gradually.
12. Lurching – to move in a way that is not regular or uncontrolled.
13. Throb- to produce a strong regular beat.
14. Festooned – adorned with chains or garlanded.
15. Cairn – pile of stones
16. Pork marked – covered or disfigured with pork marks.
17. Brackish – salt water.
18. Vestiges – a trace of remnant of something that is disappearing or no longer exists.
19. Hive of activity – a place where lot of people are working hard.
20. Pick axes – T shaped hand tool.
21. Glare – strong dazzling light.
22. Venerated – regard with, great respect.
23. Draught – a current of cool air.
24. Paraphernalia – all the objects needed for or connected with a particular activity.
25. Wisp – a small thin line of cloud/smoke/steam.
26. Rudimentary – involving or limited to basic principles.
27. Incongruous – not in harmony or keeping with the surrounding or other aspects of something.
28. Battered – injured by repeated blows or punishment.
29. Babbled – to talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish or incomprehensible way.
30. Derelict – a very poor condition as a result of disease and neglect.
31. Incongruous – not in harmony or keeping with the surrounding or other aspect of relevance.
32. Cavernous – like a cavern in size and shape or atmosphere. A large cave like chamber.
33. Wreathed – surround or encircle.
34. Rickety - unsteady, unsafe.
35. Envisaged – contemplate, or conceive on a possibility or a desirable future event.
1. Justify the title silk road.
The ‘Silk Road’ refers to a network of overland routes linking Europe with Asia. This has been the trade route followed by the Europeans since ancient times, who had a passion for silk, horses and exotic fauna and flora of the east. Just about every transaction imaginable has occurred along its many trails over the centuries. Travelling the Silk Road is the most reverberating journey on Earth. It links East and West this route trodden by innumerable adventurers through the ages. The author Nick Middleton in his travelogue follows the footsteps of Alexander the Great and Marco Polo overland from China to the edge of Europe. Hence, it is titled as ‘Silk Road’. The reader finds it refreshing to traverse such vast tracts of physical geography, expanses of the natural world that remain largely unexplored.
2. Why were the Tibetan mastiffs popular in China’s Imperial Courts?
Tibetan Mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts as hunting dogs. They were brought along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet. They were huge black dogs used as watchdogs. They explode into action like bullets. They are furious and fearless.
3. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place. Give reasons.
Hor was a small town on the east west highway that followed the old trade route that connected Lhasa to Kashmir. Silk was one of the main export item. Hor was located on the shore of Lake Mansarovar.The author found Hor a grim and miserable place with no vegetation but a lot of refuse, dust and rocks. His experience in Hor came as a stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk, arrived there in 1900. He was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that he burst into tears. But, the author felt miserable on seeing the dusty atmosphere and he found it be a grim place.
The ‘Silk Road’ refers to a network of overland routes linking Europe with Asia. This has been the trade route followed by the Europeans since ancient times, who had a passion for silk, horses and exotic fauna and flora of the east. Just about every transaction imaginable has occurred along its many trails over the centuries. Travelling the Silk Road is the most reverberating journey on Earth. It links East and West this route trodden by innumerable adventurers through the ages. The author Nick Middleton in his travelogue follows the footsteps of Alexander the Great and Marco Polo overland from China to the edge of Europe. Hence, it is titled as ‘Silk Road’. The reader finds it refreshing to traverse such vast tracts of physical geography, expanses of the natural world that remain largely unexplored.
2. Why were the Tibetan mastiffs popular in China’s Imperial Courts?
Tibetan Mastiffs were popular in China’s imperial courts as hunting dogs. They were brought along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet. They were huge black dogs used as watchdogs. They explode into action like bullets. They are furious and fearless.
3. The author’s experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place. Give reasons.
Hor was a small town on the east west highway that followed the old trade route that connected Lhasa to Kashmir. Silk was one of the main export item. Hor was located on the shore of Lake Mansarovar.The author found Hor a grim and miserable place with no vegetation but a lot of refuse, dust and rocks. His experience in Hor came as a stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk, arrived there in 1900. He was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that he burst into tears. But, the author felt miserable on seeing the dusty atmosphere and he found it be a grim place.
4. The author was disappointed with Darchen. Why?
The author was disappointed with Darchen because he had some health problems there, he couldn't breathe well and had a disturbed night due to nasal blockage. The place was dirty, partially derelict and punctuated by heaps of rubble and refuse.
5. Describe the author’s physical condition in Darchen.
It was a disturbed night. The author had a bad cold and his nostril got blocked. He had to breathe through mouth. He was tired and hungry as well. He had barely slept and woke up abruptly as he felt heaviness in his chest. Sitting up helped in clearing his nasal passage after which he felt relieved though he was not well. He feared he might die in sleep. So, he kept awake. The next day, Tsetan took him to Darchen Medical College and the doctor there gave him some medicine that gave him some relief.
6. Who are "drokbas"? What were drokbas doing in the "rocky wilderness"?
Drokbas are a hill tribe. They wear long-sleeved sheepskin coat to protect themselves from the cold of the high mountains. They would pause and stare at the travelers and their cars. Occasionally they waved at the passing travelers. Drokbas lived in dark tents guarded by huge black Tibetan mastiffs. As hills started to push up once more from the arid pastures, solitary men or women drokbas were seen tending their flocks in the rocky wilderness.
7. The author thought that his positive startergy worked well after all. What was that?
The author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after all. Nick Middleton is an Oxford Professor as well as an adventurer. Basically the author came to visit Mt. Kailash to explore and have adventurous journey. The author was not willing to do the Kora all by himself. When he met Norbu and the latter told him his purpose to come to Mansarovar, the author was delighted. Norbu told him that both of them could be a team to do the Kora. This made the author think that his positive thinking strategy had worked.
8. Explain the author’s meeting with Norbu.
The narrator met Norbu in a small and dark café in Darchen. Norbu came in and asked if he could sit opposite to him. He asked if the narrator was an English man and then they struck up a conversation. Norbu was a Tibetan who, like the author, was there to do Kora. He worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and knew English.
9. Briefly describe how Tsetan supported the author during the journey.
Tsetan supported the author very much during the journey. He was driving the car. When the turns become sharper and roads bumpier, he drove the car meticulously. When the track was laden with slippery layers of ice he proved to be resourceful as he threw a lot of mud and dust on the Icy surface to make it less slippery and manoeuvred the car over the snowy path carefully. In Darchen when he saw the author suffered some health issues, he took him to the Medical College where the doctor gave him some medicines and he got some relief. Tsetan was of great help to the author because he knew a little bit of English and he helped the author in communicating with the locals.
10. “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.” Why did he say so?
Tsetan was a good Buddhist who believed that death was the final ‘Nirvana’. Moreover Kailash was a holy place. However, he felt that his death would demotivate the tourists from coming and hence be bad for their business. It would be bad for his business as his credibility would be at stake in looking after the tourists.
11. What impression do you form of the life on the hills in India from the account given by Nick Middleton in Silk Road?
The life of the people on the hills in India is very different from urban life. The people are simple, hardworking, cut off from the luxuries of urban life. They are usually farmers or shepherds making a living in the grassy, arid plains. They live in a pollution free environment; some of them are nomads travelling from place to place. At the same time, they are gentle and kind. The poor Lhambo woman gave the author a sheepskin coat to keep him away from cold. Tsetan, the driver took good care of the author. He took him to a Tibetan doctor and ensured that he got well. The people have a simple heart and live on simple food. They are close to Nature and enjoy the lonely life.
The author was disappointed with Darchen because he had some health problems there, he couldn't breathe well and had a disturbed night due to nasal blockage. The place was dirty, partially derelict and punctuated by heaps of rubble and refuse.
5. Describe the author’s physical condition in Darchen.
It was a disturbed night. The author had a bad cold and his nostril got blocked. He had to breathe through mouth. He was tired and hungry as well. He had barely slept and woke up abruptly as he felt heaviness in his chest. Sitting up helped in clearing his nasal passage after which he felt relieved though he was not well. He feared he might die in sleep. So, he kept awake. The next day, Tsetan took him to Darchen Medical College and the doctor there gave him some medicine that gave him some relief.
6. Who are "drokbas"? What were drokbas doing in the "rocky wilderness"?
Drokbas are a hill tribe. They wear long-sleeved sheepskin coat to protect themselves from the cold of the high mountains. They would pause and stare at the travelers and their cars. Occasionally they waved at the passing travelers. Drokbas lived in dark tents guarded by huge black Tibetan mastiffs. As hills started to push up once more from the arid pastures, solitary men or women drokbas were seen tending their flocks in the rocky wilderness.
7. The author thought that his positive startergy worked well after all. What was that?
The author thought that his positive thinking strategy worked well after all. Nick Middleton is an Oxford Professor as well as an adventurer. Basically the author came to visit Mt. Kailash to explore and have adventurous journey. The author was not willing to do the Kora all by himself. When he met Norbu and the latter told him his purpose to come to Mansarovar, the author was delighted. Norbu told him that both of them could be a team to do the Kora. This made the author think that his positive thinking strategy had worked.
8. Explain the author’s meeting with Norbu.
The narrator met Norbu in a small and dark café in Darchen. Norbu came in and asked if he could sit opposite to him. He asked if the narrator was an English man and then they struck up a conversation. Norbu was a Tibetan who, like the author, was there to do Kora. He worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and knew English.
9. Briefly describe how Tsetan supported the author during the journey.
Tsetan supported the author very much during the journey. He was driving the car. When the turns become sharper and roads bumpier, he drove the car meticulously. When the track was laden with slippery layers of ice he proved to be resourceful as he threw a lot of mud and dust on the Icy surface to make it less slippery and manoeuvred the car over the snowy path carefully. In Darchen when he saw the author suffered some health issues, he took him to the Medical College where the doctor gave him some medicines and he got some relief. Tsetan was of great help to the author because he knew a little bit of English and he helped the author in communicating with the locals.
10. “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.” Why did he say so?
Tsetan was a good Buddhist who believed that death was the final ‘Nirvana’. Moreover Kailash was a holy place. However, he felt that his death would demotivate the tourists from coming and hence be bad for their business. It would be bad for his business as his credibility would be at stake in looking after the tourists.
11. What impression do you form of the life on the hills in India from the account given by Nick Middleton in Silk Road?
The life of the people on the hills in India is very different from urban life. The people are simple, hardworking, cut off from the luxuries of urban life. They are usually farmers or shepherds making a living in the grassy, arid plains. They live in a pollution free environment; some of them are nomads travelling from place to place. At the same time, they are gentle and kind. The poor Lhambo woman gave the author a sheepskin coat to keep him away from cold. Tsetan, the driver took good care of the author. He took him to a Tibetan doctor and ensured that he got well. The people have a simple heart and live on simple food. They are close to Nature and enjoy the lonely life.
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