NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Reading Skills Chapter 6 Silk Road
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Reading Skills Chapter 6 Silk Road
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Reading Skills Chapter 6 Silk Road
This worksheet provides NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter Silk Road from the Hornbill book. The chapter explores the author’s journey across the Silk Road, highlighting cultural exchanges, spiritual experiences, and the challenges faced during travel in harsh terrains. It helps students understand descriptive writing, travel narratives, and human resilience. This chapter is important for developing reading comprehension and analytical skills. This worksheet offers complete and accurate NCERT Solutions that help students understand how to answer questions correctly and confidently.
Chapter summary: stories, poems & themes
This chapter focuses on a travel narrative where the author shares personal experiences during a journey along the Silk Road. It highlights themes of cultural interaction, spirituality, and the physical and emotional challenges of travel. The worksheet also includes sections that focus on language, vocabulary, and interpretation. There are discussion-based and activity-based questions that help students think deeply and express their ideas clearly.
What this NCERT chapter covers?
• Understanding travel narratives and descriptive writing
• Learning about cultural exchanges and historical routes
• Developing vocabulary through contextual usage
• Improving reading comprehension and interpretation skills
• Analysing character interactions and experiences
• Understanding language usage and communication barriers
• Practicing descriptive and analytical answers
• Engaging in discussion and activity-based learning
How to use these NCERT solutions?
• First read the chapter carefully to understand the context and ideas
• Attempt all questions independently before referring to answers
• Use these solutions to check accuracy and improve answer writing
• Follow the sequence of questions as given in the worksheet
• Parents and teachers can guide students by discussing answers
• Revise answers regularly to strengthen understanding
• Use these solutions for exam preparation and practice
Student tips & learning tricks
• Focus on understanding the journey and its key events
• Pay attention to descriptive details and vocabulary
• Avoid writing incomplete or vague answers
• Use clear and simple sentences in your responses
• Revise important terms and concepts from the chapter
• Practice answering discussion-based questions thoughtfully
• Understand the meaning of phrases before writing answers
• Manage time effectively while practicing
Why NCERT solutions are important?
NCERT Solutions help students build a strong understanding of concepts and improve their ability to answer questions accurately. They provide a clear structure for writing answers as per NCERT standards, which is essential for scoring well in exams. These solutions also boost confidence and help students prepare effectively for assessments.
Complete answer key – NCERT solutions
Understanding the text
I. Give reasons for the following statements.
1. The title "Silk Road" reflects the journey the author takes, following the historical trade routes of the Silk Road, which connected distant civilizations and played a significant role in the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas.
2. Tibetan mastiffs were valued for their strength and courage, making them suitable for guarding purposes, especially in the imperial courts where they were used as hunting dogs, highly revered and brought to China along the Silk Road as tribute.
3. While previous travelers were moved by the sanctity and beauty of Lake Manasarovar, the author's experience in Hor was disappointing, marked by dust, refuse, and an unpleasant environment, unlike the reverential experiences of others.
4. The author felt let down by Darchen as the town appeared dusty and derelict. Despite being a key stop for pilgrims, it lacked the expected vibrancy of the pilgrimage season, making it a less than ideal place.
5. Initially struggling with feelings of isolation and difficulty, the author found some relief in meeting Norbu, who, despite his own challenges, offered companionship and a potential partner for the journey, reflecting the positive impact of the author’s optimism.
II. Briefly comment on
1. The author’s journey to Mount Kailash was driven by a spiritual quest to complete the kora, a sacred pilgrimage, and to immerse himself in the traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism.
2. In Darchen, the author faced health issues, including difficulty breathing due to altitude sickness. His physical condition was worsened by sleepless nights and the harsh environment, causing him concern for his ability to continue the pilgrimage.
3. The author’s meeting with Norbu, a fellow Tibetan who worked in Beijing, provided a sense of relief. Despite not being a devout Buddhist, Norbu’s enthusiasm for the pilgrimage and shared sense of humor made him a suitable companion for the journey.
4. Tsetan was supportive throughout the journey, offering assistance during difficult situations, such as negotiating rough terrains, ensuring the author's comfort, and even seeking medical help when the author’s health declined.
5. This statement humorously reflects Tsetan’s Buddhist perspective on life and death, where he believed that death was inevitable, but from a practical viewpoint, it would be undesirable for his business to lose a customer, emphasizing his pragmatic outlook.
Talking about the text
1. The hill-folk in the narrative are depicted as being hospitable and respectful, displaying a unique sensitivity in their interactions, such as the way they provide shelter, show concern for the author’s well-being, and even engage with him without any expectation of return.
2. People undergo difficult journeys due to spiritual, cultural, or personal reasons. For many, like the author, these journeys represent a deeper connection to religion, tradition, or self-discovery, and they are willing to endure physical hardships to fulfill these goals.
3. The Silk Road is often romanticized in legends, presenting an image of a mystical and serene journey. However, the reality is much harsher, as seen in the author's experience of dust, cold, and difficult terrain, contrasting sharply with the idealized versions in tales and folklore.
Thinking about language
1. Tsetan's English is simple and functional, likely learned through practical interaction with tourists along his route. His English reflects the necessity of communication rather than formal study, which is why it is more conversational and direct.
2. (i) “I told her, through Daniel …”
This suggests that the author is using a mediator (Daniel) to communicate with Lhamo, indicating a language barrier or cultural distance.
(ii) “It’s a cold,” he said finally through Tsetan.
This reflects the use of an intermediary in communication, where Tsetan acts as the translator between the author and the Tibetan doctor, highlighting a cultural and linguistic gap.
3. kora: A pilgrimage circuit around a sacred site, particularly Mount Kailash.
drokba: A Tibetan term for nomadic herders.
kyang: A wild ass, typically found in Tibet, mentioned when referring to the herd seen during the journey.
These words are found in Tibetan.
Working with words
1. "A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky."
Other picturesque phrases from the text include:
"Extended banks of cloud like long French loaves glowing pink."
"The sun emerged to splash the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush."
2. (i) shaggy monsters: The adjective "shaggy" emphasizes the rough, untamed appearance of the Tibetan mastiffs, highlighting their wild and formidable look.
(ii) brackish lakes: "Brackish" refers to water that is a mix of fresh and saltwater, typically indicating the harsh and desolate nature of the environment.
(iii) rickety table: "Rickety" suggests that the table is unstable or fragile, emphasizing the worn-out conditions of the surroundings.
(iv) hairpin bend: "Hairpin" refers to a sharp, tight turn in the road, underscoring the difficulty of the terrain.
(v) rudimentary general stores: "Rudimentary" implies that the stores are basic, lacking in amenities, and serve only essential needs.
Noticing form
1. The use of active voice throughout the narrative makes the writing direct and engaging. It immerses the reader in the author’s journey, giving a sense of immediacy and action. The few instances of passive voice serve to highlight certain actions or states where the subject is less important than the action itself.
2. Tsetan was eager to help me navigate the rough terrain.
She was eager to complete the pilgrimage with me.
I was eager to witness the sunrise from the mountain top.
They were eager to share their local knowledge with us.
He was eager to show us the sacred sights of Tibet.
Things to do
Explanation:
Research the Tethys Ocean and its impact on geological formations as described in the text, further exploring how the collision of tectonic plates created the Himalayas and affected the region’s landscape.
Think it out
1. The poem expresses a universal experience of parental struggle, particularly the emotional distance and miscommunication between a father and his child. Although the speaker’s personal feelings are highlighted, the themes of generational gaps, misunderstandings, and the longing for reconciliation resonate with many parents and children, making it a common and relatable experience.
2. The father's helplessness is expressed through his inability to connect with or understand his child, despite living together for many years. Phrases like "We speak like strangers" and "Yet have I killed the seed I spent" reflect his frustration and sorrow. He is trying to rebuild a relationship but feels powerless in his efforts, as his attempts at communication fall short, and he can’t share the things his son loves. His helplessness is also evident in the line "I cannot understand myself," which suggests confusion and an inability to bridge the gap.
3. Several phrases in the poem highlight the emotional distance between father and son:
"We speak like strangers, there’s no sign of understanding in the air."
"This child is built to my design / Yet what he loves I cannot share."
"Silence surrounds us."
"I would have him prodigal, returning to / His father’s house, the home he knew."
"He speaks: I cannot understand / Myself, why anger grows from grief."
These lines emphasize emotional alienation, a lack of communication, and the father's feeling of disconnect from his son.
4. Yes, the poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme is primarily ABAB in most stanzas, with alternating rhymes that reflect the poem's formal structure and the father’s attempt at order amidst the emotional turmoil. However, in some sections, particularly where the speaker expresses deeper emotional distress, the rhyme scheme becomes less rigid, adding to the sense of dissonance in their relationship.
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