Silk Road Questions & Answers | Class 11 English | CBSE NCERT

1 marks · mcq

1. Q1. The morning the author said his goodbyes, he was leaving (a) Ravu (b) Darchen (c) Hor (d) Lhasa

A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky on the morning we said our goodbyes. Extended banks of cloud like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged to splash the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush. Now that we were leaving Ravu, Lhamo said she wanted to give me a farewell present. One evening I'd told her through Daniel that I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora, and she'd said that I ought to get some warmer clothes. After ducking back into her tent, she emerged carrying one of the long-sleeved sheepskin coats that all the men wore. Tsetan sized me up as we clambered into his car. "Ah, yes," he declared, "drokba, sir."

1 marks · mcq

2. Q2. Lhamo's farewell present to the author was (a) a woolly hat (b) a thermos of tea (c) a pair of sunglasses (d) a long-sleeved sheepskin coat

A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky on the morning we said our goodbyes. Extended banks of cloud like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged to splash the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush. Now that we were leaving Ravu, Lhamo said she wanted to give me a farewell present. One evening I'd told her through Daniel that I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora, and she'd said that I ought to get some warmer clothes. After ducking back into her tent, she emerged carrying one of the long-sleeved sheepskin coats that all the men wore. Tsetan sized me up as we clambered into his car. "Ah, yes," he declared, "drokba, sir."

1 marks · mcq

3. Q3. Lhamo advised the author to get warmer clothes because he was heading towards (a) Mount Kailash to complete the kora (b) Lhasa on business (c) the salt lake workcamp (d) a meeting with Norbu

A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky on the morning we said our goodbyes. Extended banks of cloud like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged to splash the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush. Now that we were leaving Ravu, Lhamo said she wanted to give me a farewell present. One evening I'd told her through Daniel that I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora, and she'd said that I ought to get some warmer clothes. After ducking back into her tent, she emerged carrying one of the long-sleeved sheepskin coats that all the men wore. Tsetan sized me up as we clambered into his car. "Ah, yes," he declared, "drokba, sir."

1 marks · mcq

4. Q4. The clouds in the morning sky are compared to (a) cotton wool (b) long French loaves (c) white horses (d) floating icebergs

A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky on the morning we said our goodbyes. Extended banks of cloud like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged to splash the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush. Now that we were leaving Ravu, Lhamo said she wanted to give me a farewell present. One evening I'd told her through Daniel that I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora, and she'd said that I ought to get some warmer clothes. After ducking back into her tent, she emerged carrying one of the long-sleeved sheepskin coats that all the men wore. Tsetan sized me up as we clambered into his car. "Ah, yes," he declared, "drokba, sir."

1 marks · mcq

5. Q5. By his remark "drokba, sir", Tsetan joked that the author now looked like (a) a Chinese official (b) a Buddhist monk (c) a Tibetan nomad (d) a professional guide

A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky on the morning we said our goodbyes. Extended banks of cloud like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged to splash the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush. Now that we were leaving Ravu, Lhamo said she wanted to give me a farewell present. One evening I'd told her through Daniel that I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora, and she'd said that I ought to get some warmer clothes. After ducking back into her tent, she emerged carrying one of the long-sleeved sheepskin coats that all the men wore. Tsetan sized me up as we clambered into his car. "Ah, yes," he declared, "drokba, sir."

1 marks · mcq

6. Q6. The mood created by the description of the sky and mountains is (a) ominous and gloomy (b) chaotic and noisy (c) humorous and sarcastic (d) serene and picturesque

A flawless half-moon floated in a perfect blue sky on the morning we said our goodbyes. Extended banks of cloud like long French loaves glowed pink as the sun emerged to splash the distant mountain tops with a rose-tinted blush. Now that we were leaving Ravu, Lhamo said she wanted to give me a farewell present. One evening I'd told her through Daniel that I was heading towards Mount Kailash to complete the kora, and she'd said that I ought to get some warmer clothes. After ducking back into her tent, she emerged carrying one of the long-sleeved sheepskin coats that all the men wore. Tsetan sized me up as we clambered into his car. "Ah, yes," he declared, "drokba, sir."

1 marks · mcq

7. Q1. The shortcut off the Changtang would take the travellers (a) north-east towards Lhasa (b) back to Ravu (c) south-west, almost directly towards Mount Kailash (d) along the main east-west highway

We took a short cut to get off the Changtang. Tsetan knew a route that would take us south-west, almost directly towards Mount Kailash. It involved crossing several fairly high mountain passes, he said. "But no problem, sir", he assured us, "if there is no snow." What was the likelihood of that I asked. "Not knowing, sir, until we get there."

1 marks · mcq

8. Q2. The shortcut involved (a) crossing several fairly high mountain passes (b) two river crossings by ferry (c) a camel ride across a desert (d) a long railway tunnel

We took a short cut to get off the Changtang. Tsetan knew a route that would take us south-west, almost directly towards Mount Kailash. It involved crossing several fairly high mountain passes, he said. "But no problem, sir", he assured us, "if there is no snow." What was the likelihood of that I asked. "Not knowing, sir, until we get there."

1 marks · mcq

9. Q3. Tsetan said there would be "no problem" provided (a) the car was repaired first (b) they left before dawn (c) Daniel stayed behind (d) there was no snow

We took a short cut to get off the Changtang. Tsetan knew a route that would take us south-west, almost directly towards Mount Kailash. It involved crossing several fairly high mountain passes, he said. "But no problem, sir", he assured us, "if there is no snow." What was the likelihood of that I asked. "Not knowing, sir, until we get there."

1 marks · mcq

10. Q4. Tsetan's answer "Not knowing, sir, until we get there" shows that he was (a) honestly unwilling to speculate about what he could not know (b) overconfident about the route (c) frightened of the passes (d) ignorant of the terrain

We took a short cut to get off the Changtang. Tsetan knew a route that would take us south-west, almost directly towards Mount Kailash. It involved crossing several fairly high mountain passes, he said. "But no problem, sir", he assured us, "if there is no snow." What was the likelihood of that I asked. "Not knowing, sir, until we get there."

1 marks · mcq

11. Q5. The main worry about the high passes was (a) toll gates (b) snow blocking them (c) bandits (d) their great length

We took a short cut to get off the Changtang. Tsetan knew a route that would take us south-west, almost directly towards Mount Kailash. It involved crossing several fairly high mountain passes, he said. "But no problem, sir", he assured us, "if there is no snow." What was the likelihood of that I asked. "Not knowing, sir, until we get there."

1 marks · mcq

12. Q1. A 'kyang' is (a) a Tibetan mastiff (b) a gazelle (c) a snow leopard (d) a wild ass

From the gently rolling hills of Ravu, the short cut took us across vast open plains with nothing in them except a few gazelles that would look up from nibbling the arid pastures and frown before bounding away into the void. Further on, where the plains became more stony than grassy, a great herd of wild ass came into view. Tsetan told us we were approaching them long before they appeared. "Kyang," he said, pointing towards a far-off pall of dust. When we drew near, I could see the herd galloping en masse, wheeling and turning in tight formation as if they were practising manoeuvres on some predetermined course. Plumes of dust billowed into the crisp, clean air.

1 marks · mcq

13. Q2. The gazelles on the arid pastures would (a) look up, frown and bound away (b) chase the car (c) ignore it completely (d) graze by the river bank

From the gently rolling hills of Ravu, the short cut took us across vast open plains with nothing in them except a few gazelles that would look up from nibbling the arid pastures and frown before bounding away into the void. Further on, where the plains became more stony than grassy, a great herd of wild ass came into view. Tsetan told us we were approaching them long before they appeared. "Kyang," he said, pointing towards a far-off pall of dust. When we drew near, I could see the herd galloping en masse, wheeling and turning in tight formation as if they were practising manoeuvres on some predetermined course. Plumes of dust billowed into the crisp, clean air.

1 marks · mcq

14. Q3. The herd of kyang is described as galloping (a) in scattered pairs (b) aimlessly in circles (c) en masse, wheeling and turning in tight formation (d) in a single file

From the gently rolling hills of Ravu, the short cut took us across vast open plains with nothing in them except a few gazelles that would look up from nibbling the arid pastures and frown before bounding away into the void. Further on, where the plains became more stony than grassy, a great herd of wild ass came into view. Tsetan told us we were approaching them long before they appeared. "Kyang," he said, pointing towards a far-off pall of dust. When we drew near, I could see the herd galloping en masse, wheeling and turning in tight formation as if they were practising manoeuvres on some predetermined course. Plumes of dust billowed into the crisp, clean air.

1 marks · mcq

15. Q4. The comparison with "practising manoeuvres on some predetermined course" suggests the herd's movement was (a) clumsy and tired (b) coordinated and disciplined (c) frightened (d) slow and aimless

From the gently rolling hills of Ravu, the short cut took us across vast open plains with nothing in them except a few gazelles that would look up from nibbling the arid pastures and frown before bounding away into the void. Further on, where the plains became more stony than grassy, a great herd of wild ass came into view. Tsetan told us we were approaching them long before they appeared. "Kyang," he said, pointing towards a far-off pall of dust. When we drew near, I could see the herd galloping en masse, wheeling and turning in tight formation as if they were practising manoeuvres on some predetermined course. Plumes of dust billowed into the crisp, clean air.

1 marks · mcq

16. Q5. In "bounding away into the void", "the void" refers to (a) a deep pit (b) the river bed (c) a mountain cave (d) the vast open emptiness of the plains

From the gently rolling hills of Ravu, the short cut took us across vast open plains with nothing in them except a few gazelles that would look up from nibbling the arid pastures and frown before bounding away into the void. Further on, where the plains became more stony than grassy, a great herd of wild ass came into view. Tsetan told us we were approaching them long before they appeared. "Kyang," he said, pointing towards a far-off pall of dust. When we drew near, I could see the herd galloping en masse, wheeling and turning in tight formation as if they were practising manoeuvres on some predetermined course. Plumes of dust billowed into the crisp, clean air.

1 marks · mcq

17. Q1. The drokbas the travellers passed were (a) salt traders (b) soldiers on patrol (c) solitary shepherds tending their flocks (d) pilgrims on a kora

As hills started to push up once more from the rocky wilderness, we passed solitary drokbas tending their flocks. Sometimes men, sometimes women, these well-wrapped figures would pause and stare at our car, occasionally waving as we passed. When the track took us close to their animals, the sheep would take evasive action, veering away from the speeding vehicle.

We passed nomads' dark tents pitched in splendid isolation, usually with a huge black dog, a Tibetan mastiff, standing guard. These beasts would cock their great big heads when they became aware of our approach and fix us in their sights. As we continued to draw closer, they would explode into action, speeding directly towards us, like a bullet from a gun and nearly as fast.

1 marks · mcq

18. Q2. The nomads' dark tents were usually guarded by (a) a Tibetan mastiff (b) a trained eagle (c) a Chinese sentry (d) a herd of kyang

As hills started to push up once more from the rocky wilderness, we passed solitary drokbas tending their flocks. Sometimes men, sometimes women, these well-wrapped figures would pause and stare at our car, occasionally waving as we passed. When the track took us close to their animals, the sheep would take evasive action, veering away from the speeding vehicle.

We passed nomads' dark tents pitched in splendid isolation, usually with a huge black dog, a Tibetan mastiff, standing guard. These beasts would cock their great big heads when they became aware of our approach and fix us in their sights. As we continued to draw closer, they would explode into action, speeding directly towards us, like a bullet from a gun and nearly as fast.

1 marks · mcq

19. Q3. On becoming aware of the car's approach, the mastiffs would (a) bark lazily and sleep (b) run away (c) hide behind the tents (d) cock their great big heads, fix the vehicle in their sights and charge

As hills started to push up once more from the rocky wilderness, we passed solitary drokbas tending their flocks. Sometimes men, sometimes women, these well-wrapped figures would pause and stare at our car, occasionally waving as we passed. When the track took us close to their animals, the sheep would take evasive action, veering away from the speeding vehicle.

We passed nomads' dark tents pitched in splendid isolation, usually with a huge black dog, a Tibetan mastiff, standing guard. These beasts would cock their great big heads when they became aware of our approach and fix us in their sights. As we continued to draw closer, they would explode into action, speeding directly towards us, like a bullet from a gun and nearly as fast.

1 marks · mcq

20. Q4. The sheep near the track would (a) take evasive action, veering away from the vehicle (b) block the road (c) chase the car (d) gather round the tents

As hills started to push up once more from the rocky wilderness, we passed solitary drokbas tending their flocks. Sometimes men, sometimes women, these well-wrapped figures would pause and stare at our car, occasionally waving as we passed. When the track took us close to their animals, the sheep would take evasive action, veering away from the speeding vehicle.

We passed nomads' dark tents pitched in splendid isolation, usually with a huge black dog, a Tibetan mastiff, standing guard. These beasts would cock their great big heads when they became aware of our approach and fix us in their sights. As we continued to draw closer, they would explode into action, speeding directly towards us, like a bullet from a gun and nearly as fast.

1 marks · mcq

21. Q5. The simile "like a bullet from a gun" describes the mastiff's (a) colour (b) size (c) speed and directness (d) bark

As hills started to push up once more from the rocky wilderness, we passed solitary drokbas tending their flocks. Sometimes men, sometimes women, these well-wrapped figures would pause and stare at our car, occasionally waving as we passed. When the track took us close to their animals, the sheep would take evasive action, veering away from the speeding vehicle.

We passed nomads' dark tents pitched in splendid isolation, usually with a huge black dog, a Tibetan mastiff, standing guard. These beasts would cock their great big heads when they became aware of our approach and fix us in their sights. As we continued to draw closer, they would explode into action, speeding directly towards us, like a bullet from a gun and nearly as fast.

1 marks · mcq

22. Q1. The shaggy mastiffs usually wore (a) bright red collars (b) leather muzzles (c) brass bells (d) silk scarves

These shaggy monsters, blacker than the darkest night, usually wore bright red collars and barked furiously with massive jaws. They were completely fearless of our vehicle, shooting straight into our path, causing Tsetan to brake and swerve. The dog would make chase for a hundred metres or so before easing off, having seen us off the property. It wasn't difficult to understand why ferocious Tibetan mastiffs became popular in China's imperial courts as hunting dogs, brought along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet.

1 marks · mcq

23. Q2. The mastiffs reached China's imperial courts in ancient times (a) as tribute from Tibet, along the Silk Road (b) as pets bought from European traders (c) as dogs bred locally in China (d) as gifts from Mongolia

These shaggy monsters, blacker than the darkest night, usually wore bright red collars and barked furiously with massive jaws. They were completely fearless of our vehicle, shooting straight into our path, causing Tsetan to brake and swerve. The dog would make chase for a hundred metres or so before easing off, having seen us off the property. It wasn't difficult to understand why ferocious Tibetan mastiffs became popular in China's imperial courts as hunting dogs, brought along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet.

1 marks · mcq

24. Q3. The dog chased the car for only a hundred metres or so because it had (a) got tired out (b) been called back by its master (c) "seen us off the property" (d) lost interest in vehicles

These shaggy monsters, blacker than the darkest night, usually wore bright red collars and barked furiously with massive jaws. They were completely fearless of our vehicle, shooting straight into our path, causing Tsetan to brake and swerve. The dog would make chase for a hundred metres or so before easing off, having seen us off the property. It wasn't difficult to understand why ferocious Tibetan mastiffs became popular in China's imperial courts as hunting dogs, brought along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet.

1 marks · mcq

25. Q4. The reference to the Silk Road in this extract connects the author's journey with (a) the historic trade route of ancient times (b) a modern railway line (c) Tibet's textile industry (d) China's imperial court alone

These shaggy monsters, blacker than the darkest night, usually wore bright red collars and barked furiously with massive jaws. They were completely fearless of our vehicle, shooting straight into our path, causing Tsetan to brake and swerve. The dog would make chase for a hundred metres or so before easing off, having seen us off the property. It wasn't difficult to understand why ferocious Tibetan mastiffs became popular in China's imperial courts as hunting dogs, brought along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet.

1 marks · mcq

26. Q5. The dogs were described as completely (a) fearful of the vehicle (b) indifferent to the vehicle (c) trained to race the vehicle (d) fearless of the vehicle

These shaggy monsters, blacker than the darkest night, usually wore bright red collars and barked furiously with massive jaws. They were completely fearless of our vehicle, shooting straight into our path, causing Tsetan to brake and swerve. The dog would make chase for a hundred metres or so before easing off, having seen us off the property. It wasn't difficult to understand why ferocious Tibetan mastiffs became popular in China's imperial courts as hunting dogs, brought along the Silk Road in ancient times as tribute from Tibet.

1 marks · mcq

27. Q1. The river in the valley was (a) narrow and rushing (b) wide and mostly clogged with ice (c) dry and sandy (d) diverted for irrigation

By now we could see snow-capped mountains gathering on the horizon. We entered a valley where the river was wide and mostly clogged with ice, brilliant white and glinting in the sunshine. The trail hugged its bank, twisting with the meanders as we gradually gained height and the valley sides closed in.

The turns became sharper and the ride bumpier, Tsetan now in third gear as we continued to climb. The track moved away from the icy river, labouring through steeper slopes that sported big rocks daubed with patches of bright orange lichen. Beneath the rocks, hunks of snow clung on in the near-permanent shade. I felt the pressure building up in my ears, held my nose, snorted and cleared them.

1 marks · mcq

28. Q2. The author held his nose, snorted and cleared his ears because (a) the dust irritated him (b) the pressure was building up in his ears as they gained height (c) his cold had returned (d) the lichen had a strong smell

By now we could see snow-capped mountains gathering on the horizon. We entered a valley where the river was wide and mostly clogged with ice, brilliant white and glinting in the sunshine. The trail hugged its bank, twisting with the meanders as we gradually gained height and the valley sides closed in.

The turns became sharper and the ride bumpier, Tsetan now in third gear as we continued to climb. The track moved away from the icy river, labouring through steeper slopes that sported big rocks daubed with patches of bright orange lichen. Beneath the rocks, hunks of snow clung on in the near-permanent shade. I felt the pressure building up in my ears, held my nose, snorted and cleared them.

1 marks · mcq

29. Q3. The trail became harder as (a) the river flooded the track (b) night fell (c) the fuel ran out (d) the turns became sharper and the ride bumpier

By now we could see snow-capped mountains gathering on the horizon. We entered a valley where the river was wide and mostly clogged with ice, brilliant white and glinting in the sunshine. The trail hugged its bank, twisting with the meanders as we gradually gained height and the valley sides closed in.

The turns became sharper and the ride bumpier, Tsetan now in third gear as we continued to climb. The track moved away from the icy river, labouring through steeper slopes that sported big rocks daubed with patches of bright orange lichen. Beneath the rocks, hunks of snow clung on in the near-permanent shade. I felt the pressure building up in my ears, held my nose, snorted and cleared them.

1 marks · mcq

30. Q4. The big rocks on the steeper slopes were daubed with patches of (a) bright orange lichen (b) red paint (c) frozen moss (d) prayer flags

By now we could see snow-capped mountains gathering on the horizon. We entered a valley where the river was wide and mostly clogged with ice, brilliant white and glinting in the sunshine. The trail hugged its bank, twisting with the meanders as we gradually gained height and the valley sides closed in.

The turns became sharper and the ride bumpier, Tsetan now in third gear as we continued to climb. The track moved away from the icy river, labouring through steeper slopes that sported big rocks daubed with patches of bright orange lichen. Beneath the rocks, hunks of snow clung on in the near-permanent shade. I felt the pressure building up in my ears, held my nose, snorted and cleared them.

1 marks · mcq

31. Q5. Tsetan drove in third gear because (a) he was saving fuel (b) the car was new (c) the steep climb demanded more power (d) the road was wide and straight

By now we could see snow-capped mountains gathering on the horizon. We entered a valley where the river was wide and mostly clogged with ice, brilliant white and glinting in the sunshine. The trail hugged its bank, twisting with the meanders as we gradually gained height and the valley sides closed in.

The turns became sharper and the ride bumpier, Tsetan now in third gear as we continued to climb. The track moved away from the icy river, labouring through steeper slopes that sported big rocks daubed with patches of bright orange lichen. Beneath the rocks, hunks of snow clung on in the near-permanent shade. I felt the pressure building up in my ears, held my nose, snorted and cleared them.

1 marks · mcq

32. Q1. The halt was explained by the single word (a) "Ice" (b) "Sand" (c) "Rock" (d) "Snow"

We struggled round another tight bend and Tsetan stopped. He had opened his door and jumped out of his seat before I realised what was going on. "Snow," said Daniel as he too exited the vehicle, letting in a breath of cold air as he did so.

A swathe of the white stuff lay across the track in front of us, stretching for maybe fifteen metres before it petered out and the dirt trail reappeared.

1 marks · mcq

33. Q2. Who uttered that word? (a) Tsetan (b) Daniel (c) The author (d) A passing nomad

We struggled round another tight bend and Tsetan stopped. He had opened his door and jumped out of his seat before I realised what was going on. "Snow," said Daniel as he too exited the vehicle, letting in a breath of cold air as he did so.

A swathe of the white stuff lay across the track in front of us, stretching for maybe fifteen metres before it petered out and the dirt trail reappeared.

1 marks · mcq

34. Q3. The snow lay across the track for about (a) five metres (b) fifty metres (c) fifteen metres (d) a hundred metres

We struggled round another tight bend and Tsetan stopped. He had opened his door and jumped out of his seat before I realised what was going on. "Snow," said Daniel as he too exited the vehicle, letting in a breath of cold air as he did so.

A swathe of the white stuff lay across the track in front of us, stretching for maybe fifteen metres before it petered out and the dirt trail reappeared.

1 marks · mcq

35. Q4. Tsetan's jumping out before the passengers realised what was happening shows that he was (a) panicked by the snow (b) reluctant to drive on (c) looking for a lunch spot (d) alert and experienced with such hazards

We struggled round another tight bend and Tsetan stopped. He had opened his door and jumped out of his seat before I realised what was going on. "Snow," said Daniel as he too exited the vehicle, letting in a breath of cold air as he did so.

A swathe of the white stuff lay across the track in front of us, stretching for maybe fifteen metres before it petered out and the dirt trail reappeared.

1 marks · mcq

36. Q5. The "breath of cold air" that rushed in when the door opened (a) conveyed the freezing temperature outside (b) refreshed the passengers (c) came from the heater (d) carried dust from the plains

We struggled round another tight bend and Tsetan stopped. He had opened his door and jumped out of his seat before I realised what was going on. "Snow," said Daniel as he too exited the vehicle, letting in a breath of cold air as he did so.

A swathe of the white stuff lay across the track in front of us, stretching for maybe fifteen metres before it petered out and the dirt trail reappeared.

1 marks · mcq

37. Q1. There was no way round the snow patch because (a) the bank beside the track was too steep for the vehicle to scale (b) a deep river blocked the way (c) the fuel had run out (d) it was snowing hard

The snow continued on either side of us, smoothing the abrupt bank on the upslope side. The bank was too steep for our vehicle to scale, so there was no way round the snow patch. I joined Daniel as Tsetan stepped on to the encrusted snow and began to slither and slide forward, stamping his foot from time to time to ascertain how sturdy it was. I looked at my wristwatch. We were at 5,210 metres above sea level.

1 marks · mcq

38. Q2. Tsetan tested the snow by (a) driving over it slowly at once (b) throwing rocks onto it (c) stepping onto it, slithering forward and stamping his foot from time to time (d) asking Daniel to walk across

The snow continued on either side of us, smoothing the abrupt bank on the upslope side. The bank was too steep for our vehicle to scale, so there was no way round the snow patch. I joined Daniel as Tsetan stepped on to the encrusted snow and began to slither and slide forward, stamping his foot from time to time to ascertain how sturdy it was. I looked at my wristwatch. We were at 5,210 metres above sea level.

1 marks · mcq

39. Q3. The party's altitude at this point was (a) 4,760 metres (b) 5,515 metres (c) 5,400 metres (d) 5,210 metres

The snow continued on either side of us, smoothing the abrupt bank on the upslope side. The bank was too steep for our vehicle to scale, so there was no way round the snow patch. I joined Daniel as Tsetan stepped on to the encrusted snow and began to slither and slide forward, stamping his foot from time to time to ascertain how sturdy it was. I looked at my wristwatch. We were at 5,210 metres above sea level.

1 marks · mcq

40. Q4. The author mentions checking his wristwatch chiefly to (a) complain about the time (b) show that the watch was broken (c) hint that they were late (d) record the altitude precisely

The snow continued on either side of us, smoothing the abrupt bank on the upslope side. The bank was too steep for our vehicle to scale, so there was no way round the snow patch. I joined Daniel as Tsetan stepped on to the encrusted snow and began to slither and slide forward, stamping his foot from time to time to ascertain how sturdy it was. I looked at my wristwatch. We were at 5,210 metres above sea level.

1 marks · mcq

41. Q5. The word "ascertain" most nearly means (a) find out (b) ignore (c) doubt (d) pretend

The snow continued on either side of us, smoothing the abrupt bank on the upslope side. The bank was too steep for our vehicle to scale, so there was no way round the snow patch. I joined Daniel as Tsetan stepped on to the encrusted snow and began to slither and slide forward, stamping his foot from time to time to ascertain how sturdy it was. I looked at my wristwatch. We were at 5,210 metres above sea level.

1 marks · mcq

42. Q1. According to Daniel, the real danger of the snow was (a) its depth (b) its great length (c) its icy top layer, on which the car could slip and turn over (d) hidden rocks beneath it

The snow didn't look too deep to me, but the danger wasn't its depth, Daniel said, so much as its icy top layer. "If we slip off, the car could turn over," he suggested, as we saw Tsetan grab handfuls of dirt and fling them across the frozen surface. We both pitched in and, when the snow was spread with soil, Daniel and I stayed out of the vehicle to lighten Tsetan's load. He backed up and drove towards the dirty snow, eased the car on to its icy surface and slowly drove its length without apparent difficulty.

1 marks · mcq

43. Q2. Tsetan improved the tyres' grip by (a) fitting snow chains (b) grabbing handfuls of dirt and flinging them across the frozen surface (c) warming the engine (d) letting air out of the tyres

The snow didn't look too deep to me, but the danger wasn't its depth, Daniel said, so much as its icy top layer. "If we slip off, the car could turn over," he suggested, as we saw Tsetan grab handfuls of dirt and fling them across the frozen surface. We both pitched in and, when the snow was spread with soil, Daniel and I stayed out of the vehicle to lighten Tsetan's load. He backed up and drove towards the dirty snow, eased the car on to its icy surface and slowly drove its length without apparent difficulty.

1 marks · mcq

44. Q3. The author and Daniel helped by (a) pushing the car forward (b) walking ahead as guides (c) spreading the soil and then staying out of the vehicle to lighten Tsetan's load (d) holding the doors shut

The snow didn't look too deep to me, but the danger wasn't its depth, Daniel said, so much as its icy top layer. "If we slip off, the car could turn over," he suggested, as we saw Tsetan grab handfuls of dirt and fling them across the frozen surface. We both pitched in and, when the snow was spread with soil, Daniel and I stayed out of the vehicle to lighten Tsetan's load. He backed up and drove towards the dirty snow, eased the car on to its icy surface and slowly drove its length without apparent difficulty.

1 marks · mcq

45. Q4. The crossing itself was (a) abandoned halfway (b) completed without apparent difficulty (c) only partly successful (d) postponed until evening

The snow didn't look too deep to me, but the danger wasn't its depth, Daniel said, so much as its icy top layer. "If we slip off, the car could turn over," he suggested, as we saw Tsetan grab handfuls of dirt and fling them across the frozen surface. We both pitched in and, when the snow was spread with soil, Daniel and I stayed out of the vehicle to lighten Tsetan's load. He backed up and drove towards the dirty snow, eased the car on to its icy surface and slowly drove its length without apparent difficulty.

1 marks · mcq

46. Q5. The phrase "We both pitched in" means they both (a) quarrelled over the task (b) fell asleep in the car (c) took photographs (d) joined in and helped

The snow didn't look too deep to me, but the danger wasn't its depth, Daniel said, so much as its icy top layer. "If we slip off, the car could turn over," he suggested, as we saw Tsetan grab handfuls of dirt and fling them across the frozen surface. We both pitched in and, when the snow was spread with soil, Daniel and I stayed out of the vehicle to lighten Tsetan's load. He backed up and drove towards the dirty snow, eased the car on to its icy surface and slowly drove its length without apparent difficulty.

1 marks · mcq

47. Q1. At the second blockage, Tsetan decided to (a) turn back to Ravu (b) wait for the snow to melt (c) shovel the snow away (d) try and drive round the snow

Ten minutes later, we stopped at another blockage. "Not good, sir," Tsetan announced as he jumped out again to survey the scene. This time he decided to try and drive round the snow. The slope was steep and studded with major rocks, but somehow Tsetan negotiated them, his four-wheel drive vehicle lurching from one obstacle to the next. In so doing he cut off one of the hairpin bends, regaining the trail further up where the snow had not drifted.

1 marks · mcq

48. Q2. His four-wheel drive vehicle lurched (a) along the smooth highway (b) from one obstacle to the next on a steep, rock-studded slope (c) across the frozen river (d) through the nomads' tents

Ten minutes later, we stopped at another blockage. "Not good, sir," Tsetan announced as he jumped out again to survey the scene. This time he decided to try and drive round the snow. The slope was steep and studded with major rocks, but somehow Tsetan negotiated them, his four-wheel drive vehicle lurching from one obstacle to the next. In so doing he cut off one of the hairpin bends, regaining the trail further up where the snow had not drifted.

1 marks · mcq

49. Q3. By cutting off one of the hairpin bends, Tsetan (a) regained the trail further up where the snow had not drifted (b) lost the trail forever (c) arrived back at Ravu (d) avoided paying a toll

Ten minutes later, we stopped at another blockage. "Not good, sir," Tsetan announced as he jumped out again to survey the scene. This time he decided to try and drive round the snow. The slope was steep and studded with major rocks, but somehow Tsetan negotiated them, his four-wheel drive vehicle lurching from one obstacle to the next. In so doing he cut off one of the hairpin bends, regaining the trail further up where the snow had not drifted.

1 marks · mcq

50. Q4. The tone of Tsetan's announcement "Not good, sir" is (a) cheerful (b) sarcastic (c) grimly matter-of-fact (d) apologetic

Ten minutes later, we stopped at another blockage. "Not good, sir," Tsetan announced as he jumped out again to survey the scene. This time he decided to try and drive round the snow. The slope was steep and studded with major rocks, but somehow Tsetan negotiated them, his four-wheel drive vehicle lurching from one obstacle to the next. In so doing he cut off one of the hairpin bends, regaining the trail further up where the snow had not drifted.

1 marks · mcq

51. Q5. "Somehow Tsetan negotiated them" — the word "negotiated" here means (a) discussed payment (b) refused to approach (c) measured carefully (d) successfully manoeuvred past

Ten minutes later, we stopped at another blockage. "Not good, sir," Tsetan announced as he jumped out again to survey the scene. This time he decided to try and drive round the snow. The slope was steep and studded with major rocks, but somehow Tsetan negotiated them, his four-wheel drive vehicle lurching from one obstacle to the next. In so doing he cut off one of the hairpin bends, regaining the trail further up where the snow had not drifted.

1 marks · mcq

52. Q1. The top of the pass lay at an altitude of (a) 5,210 metres (b) 5,400 metres (c) 5,515 metres (d) 4,760 metres

I checked my watch again as we continued to climb in the bright sunshine. We crept past 5,400 metres and my head began to throb horribly. I took gulps from my water bottle, which is supposed to help a rapid ascent.

We finally reached the top of the pass at 5,515 metres. It was marked by a large cairn of rocks festooned with white silk scarves and ragged prayer flags. We all took a turn round the cairn, in a clockwise direction as is the tradition, and Tsetan checked the tyres on his vehicle. He stopped at the petrol tank and partially unscrewed the top, which emitted a loud hiss. The lower atmospheric pressure was allowing the fuel to expand. It sounded dangerous to me. "Maybe, sir," Tsetan laughed "but no smoking."

1 marks · mcq

53. Q2. The top of the pass was marked by (a) a petrol pump (b) a large cairn of rocks festooned with white silk scarves and ragged prayer flags (c) a stone gateway (d) a Buddhist monastery

I checked my watch again as we continued to climb in the bright sunshine. We crept past 5,400 metres and my head began to throb horribly. I took gulps from my water bottle, which is supposed to help a rapid ascent.

We finally reached the top of the pass at 5,515 metres. It was marked by a large cairn of rocks festooned with white silk scarves and ragged prayer flags. We all took a turn round the cairn, in a clockwise direction as is the tradition, and Tsetan checked the tyres on his vehicle. He stopped at the petrol tank and partially unscrewed the top, which emitted a loud hiss. The lower atmospheric pressure was allowing the fuel to expand. It sounded dangerous to me. "Maybe, sir," Tsetan laughed "but no smoking."

1 marks · mcq

54. Q3. The travellers took a turn round the cairn (a) in a clockwise direction, as is the tradition (b) anti-clockwise (c) on horseback (d) in total silence

I checked my watch again as we continued to climb in the bright sunshine. We crept past 5,400 metres and my head began to throb horribly. I took gulps from my water bottle, which is supposed to help a rapid ascent.

We finally reached the top of the pass at 5,515 metres. It was marked by a large cairn of rocks festooned with white silk scarves and ragged prayer flags. We all took a turn round the cairn, in a clockwise direction as is the tradition, and Tsetan checked the tyres on his vehicle. He stopped at the petrol tank and partially unscrewed the top, which emitted a loud hiss. The lower atmospheric pressure was allowing the fuel to expand. It sounded dangerous to me. "Maybe, sir," Tsetan laughed "but no smoking."

1 marks · mcq

55. Q4. The petrol tank emitted a loud hiss because (a) the fuel was boiling (b) the tank was leaking (c) the tank had been overfilled (d) the lower atmospheric pressure was allowing the fuel to expand

I checked my watch again as we continued to climb in the bright sunshine. We crept past 5,400 metres and my head began to throb horribly. I took gulps from my water bottle, which is supposed to help a rapid ascent.

We finally reached the top of the pass at 5,515 metres. It was marked by a large cairn of rocks festooned with white silk scarves and ragged prayer flags. We all took a turn round the cairn, in a clockwise direction as is the tradition, and Tsetan checked the tyres on his vehicle. He stopped at the petrol tank and partially unscrewed the top, which emitted a loud hiss. The lower atmospheric pressure was allowing the fuel to expand. It sounded dangerous to me. "Maybe, sir," Tsetan laughed "but no smoking."

1 marks · mcq

56. Q5. Tsetan made his "but no smoking" remark (a) angrily (b) fearfully (c) laughingly (d) after a minor fire

I checked my watch again as we continued to climb in the bright sunshine. We crept past 5,400 metres and my head began to throb horribly. I took gulps from my water bottle, which is supposed to help a rapid ascent.

We finally reached the top of the pass at 5,515 metres. It was marked by a large cairn of rocks festooned with white silk scarves and ragged prayer flags. We all took a turn round the cairn, in a clockwise direction as is the tradition, and Tsetan checked the tyres on his vehicle. He stopped at the petrol tank and partially unscrewed the top, which emitted a loud hiss. The lower atmospheric pressure was allowing the fuel to expand. It sounded dangerous to me. "Maybe, sir," Tsetan laughed "but no smoking."

1 marks · mcq

57. Q6. The author took gulps from his water bottle because it is supposed to help (a) digestion (b) sleep (c) sunburn (d) a rapid ascent

I checked my watch again as we continued to climb in the bright sunshine. We crept past 5,400 metres and my head began to throb horribly. I took gulps from my water bottle, which is supposed to help a rapid ascent.

We finally reached the top of the pass at 5,515 metres. It was marked by a large cairn of rocks festooned with white silk scarves and ragged prayer flags. We all took a turn round the cairn, in a clockwise direction as is the tradition, and Tsetan checked the tyres on his vehicle. He stopped at the petrol tank and partially unscrewed the top, which emitted a loud hiss. The lower atmospheric pressure was allowing the fuel to expand. It sounded dangerous to me. "Maybe, sir," Tsetan laughed "but no smoking."

1 marks · mcq

58. Q1. The travellers stopped for lunch at (a) a roadside dhaba (b) Hor's only cafe (c) the Darchen guest house (d) a long canvas tent beside a dry salt lake

My headache soon cleared as we careered down the other side of the pass. It was two o'clock by the time we stopped for lunch. We ate hot noodles inside a long canvas tent, part of a workcamp erected beside a dry salt lake. The plateau is pockmarked with salt flats and brackish lakes, vestiges of the Tethys Ocean which bordered Tibet before the great continental collision that lifted it skyward. This one was a hive of activity, men with pickaxes and shovels trudging back and forth in their long sheepskin coats and salt-encrusted boots. All wore sunglasses against the glare as a steady stream of blue trucks emerged from the blindingly white lake laden with piles of salt.

1 marks · mcq

59. Q2. The salt flats and brackish lakes of the plateau are vestiges of (a) the Indian Ocean (b) the Tethys Ocean (c) the river Sutlej (d) an ancient volcano

My headache soon cleared as we careered down the other side of the pass. It was two o'clock by the time we stopped for lunch. We ate hot noodles inside a long canvas tent, part of a workcamp erected beside a dry salt lake. The plateau is pockmarked with salt flats and brackish lakes, vestiges of the Tethys Ocean which bordered Tibet before the great continental collision that lifted it skyward. This one was a hive of activity, men with pickaxes and shovels trudging back and forth in their long sheepskin coats and salt-encrusted boots. All wore sunglasses against the glare as a steady stream of blue trucks emerged from the blindingly white lake laden with piles of salt.

1 marks · mcq

60. Q3. The great continental collision is said to have (a) drained the lakes (b) divided Tibet into provinces (c) lifted Tibet skyward (d) flattened the plateau

My headache soon cleared as we careered down the other side of the pass. It was two o'clock by the time we stopped for lunch. We ate hot noodles inside a long canvas tent, part of a workcamp erected beside a dry salt lake. The plateau is pockmarked with salt flats and brackish lakes, vestiges of the Tethys Ocean which bordered Tibet before the great continental collision that lifted it skyward. This one was a hive of activity, men with pickaxes and shovels trudging back and forth in their long sheepskin coats and salt-encrusted boots. All wore sunglasses against the glare as a steady stream of blue trucks emerged from the blindingly white lake laden with piles of salt.

1 marks · mcq

61. Q4. The men at the workcamp wore sunglasses (a) as a fashion statement (b) against the glare (c) because they were blind (d) to keep the dust off their eyes

My headache soon cleared as we careered down the other side of the pass. It was two o'clock by the time we stopped for lunch. We ate hot noodles inside a long canvas tent, part of a workcamp erected beside a dry salt lake. The plateau is pockmarked with salt flats and brackish lakes, vestiges of the Tethys Ocean which bordered Tibet before the great continental collision that lifted it skyward. This one was a hive of activity, men with pickaxes and shovels trudging back and forth in their long sheepskin coats and salt-encrusted boots. All wore sunglasses against the glare as a steady stream of blue trucks emerged from the blindingly white lake laden with piles of salt.

1 marks · mcq

62. Q5. The word "vestiges" most nearly means (a) traces or remains (b) exact copies (c) boundaries (d) finished products

My headache soon cleared as we careered down the other side of the pass. It was two o'clock by the time we stopped for lunch. We ate hot noodles inside a long canvas tent, part of a workcamp erected beside a dry salt lake. The plateau is pockmarked with salt flats and brackish lakes, vestiges of the Tethys Ocean which bordered Tibet before the great continental collision that lifted it skyward. This one was a hive of activity, men with pickaxes and shovels trudging back and forth in their long sheepskin coats and salt-encrusted boots. All wore sunglasses against the glare as a steady stream of blue trucks emerged from the blindingly white lake laden with piles of salt.

1 marks · mcq

63. Q1. The main east-west highway through Hor followed the old trade route from (a) Beijing to Lhasa (b) Ravu to the Changtang (c) Delhi to Kabul (d) Lhasa to Kashmir

By late afternoon we had reached the small town of Hor, back on the main east-west highway that followed the old trade route from Lhasa to Kashmir. Daniel, who was returning to Lhasa, found a ride in a truck so Tsetan and I bade him farewell outside a tyre-repair shop. We had suffered two punctures in quick succession on the drive down from the salt lake and Tsetan was eager to have them fixed since they left him with no spares. Besides, the second tyre he'd changed had been replaced by one that was as smooth as my bald head.

1 marks · mcq

64. Q2. Daniel left the group at Hor because (a) he had fallen ill (b) he was returning to Lhasa and found a ride in a truck (c) he had business in Kathmandu (d) he had quarrelled with Tsetan

By late afternoon we had reached the small town of Hor, back on the main east-west highway that followed the old trade route from Lhasa to Kashmir. Daniel, who was returning to Lhasa, found a ride in a truck so Tsetan and I bade him farewell outside a tyre-repair shop. We had suffered two punctures in quick succession on the drive down from the salt lake and Tsetan was eager to have them fixed since they left him with no spares. Besides, the second tyre he'd changed had been replaced by one that was as smooth as my bald head.

1 marks · mcq

65. Q3. Tsetan urgently wanted the tyres fixed because the car had suffered (a) a single puncture (b) a broken axle (c) two punctures in quick succession, leaving no spares (d) four punctures on the highway

By late afternoon we had reached the small town of Hor, back on the main east-west highway that followed the old trade route from Lhasa to Kashmir. Daniel, who was returning to Lhasa, found a ride in a truck so Tsetan and I bade him farewell outside a tyre-repair shop. We had suffered two punctures in quick succession on the drive down from the salt lake and Tsetan was eager to have them fixed since they left him with no spares. Besides, the second tyre he'd changed had been replaced by one that was as smooth as my bald head.

1 marks · mcq

66. Q4. The replacement tyre was "as smooth as my bald head", meaning it was (a) brand new (b) too large for the wheel (c) made of fine silk (d) completely worn and treadless

By late afternoon we had reached the small town of Hor, back on the main east-west highway that followed the old trade route from Lhasa to Kashmir. Daniel, who was returning to Lhasa, found a ride in a truck so Tsetan and I bade him farewell outside a tyre-repair shop. We had suffered two punctures in quick succession on the drive down from the salt lake and Tsetan was eager to have them fixed since they left him with no spares. Besides, the second tyre he'd changed had been replaced by one that was as smooth as my bald head.

1 marks · mcq

67. Q5. The comparison of the tyre to the author's bald head is an example of (a) personification (b) a humorous simile (c) a metaphor (d) hyperbole

By late afternoon we had reached the small town of Hor, back on the main east-west highway that followed the old trade route from Lhasa to Kashmir. Daniel, who was returning to Lhasa, found a ride in a truck so Tsetan and I bade him farewell outside a tyre-repair shop. We had suffered two punctures in quick succession on the drive down from the salt lake and Tsetan was eager to have them fixed since they left him with no spares. Besides, the second tyre he'd changed had been replaced by one that was as smooth as my bald head.

1 marks · mcq

68. Q1. Hor is described in the extract as (a) a grim, miserable place (b) a bustling pilgrimage town (c) a green oasis (d) a wealthy trading port

Hor was a grim, miserable place. There was no vegetation whatsoever, just dust and rocks, liberally scattered with years of accumulated refuse, which was unfortunate given that the town sat on the shore of Lake Manasarovar, Tibet's most venerated stretch of water. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist cosmology pinpoints Manasarovar as the source of four great Indian rivers: the Indus, the Ganges, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra. Actually only the Sutlej flows from the lake, but the headwaters of the others all rise nearby on the flanks of Mount Kailash. We were within striking distance of the great mountain and I was eager to forge ahead.

1 marks · mcq

69. Q2. Lake Manasarovar is described as (a) Tibet's largest city (b) Tibet's most venerated stretch of water (c) a salt lake in decline (d) a hot spring resort

Hor was a grim, miserable place. There was no vegetation whatsoever, just dust and rocks, liberally scattered with years of accumulated refuse, which was unfortunate given that the town sat on the shore of Lake Manasarovar, Tibet's most venerated stretch of water. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist cosmology pinpoints Manasarovar as the source of four great Indian rivers: the Indus, the Ganges, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra. Actually only the Sutlej flows from the lake, but the headwaters of the others all rise nearby on the flanks of Mount Kailash. We were within striking distance of the great mountain and I was eager to forge ahead.

1 marks · mcq

70. Q3. According to ancient Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, Manasarovar was the source of (a) two great rivers (b) all Asian rivers (c) the Brahmaputra alone (d) four great Indian rivers

Hor was a grim, miserable place. There was no vegetation whatsoever, just dust and rocks, liberally scattered with years of accumulated refuse, which was unfortunate given that the town sat on the shore of Lake Manasarovar, Tibet's most venerated stretch of water. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist cosmology pinpoints Manasarovar as the source of four great Indian rivers: the Indus, the Ganges, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra. Actually only the Sutlej flows from the lake, but the headwaters of the others all rise nearby on the flanks of Mount Kailash. We were within striking distance of the great mountain and I was eager to forge ahead.

1 marks · mcq

71. Q4. The author points out that in fact only the Sutlej flows from the lake, while the headwaters of the other rivers (a) rise nearby on the flanks of Mount Kailash (b) lie in the Indian plains (c) have all dried up (d) rise in China

Hor was a grim, miserable place. There was no vegetation whatsoever, just dust and rocks, liberally scattered with years of accumulated refuse, which was unfortunate given that the town sat on the shore of Lake Manasarovar, Tibet's most venerated stretch of water. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist cosmology pinpoints Manasarovar as the source of four great Indian rivers: the Indus, the Ganges, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra. Actually only the Sutlej flows from the lake, but the headwaters of the others all rise nearby on the flanks of Mount Kailash. We were within striking distance of the great mountain and I was eager to forge ahead.

1 marks · mcq

72. Q5. The author calls the town's condition "unfortunate" because (a) it was poor despite rich mines (b) it had no cafes at all (c) its dust and refuse sat on the shore of Tibet's most sacred lake (d) it lay too far from the highway

Hor was a grim, miserable place. There was no vegetation whatsoever, just dust and rocks, liberally scattered with years of accumulated refuse, which was unfortunate given that the town sat on the shore of Lake Manasarovar, Tibet's most venerated stretch of water. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist cosmology pinpoints Manasarovar as the source of four great Indian rivers: the Indus, the Ganges, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra. Actually only the Sutlej flows from the lake, but the headwaters of the others all rise nearby on the flanks of Mount Kailash. We were within striking distance of the great mountain and I was eager to forge ahead.

1 marks · mcq

73. Q1. While Tsetan attended to the tyres, the author was told to wait (a) at the tyre-repair shop (b) at the guest house (c) by the lakeshore (d) in Hor's only cafe

But I had to wait. Tsetan told me to go and drink some tea in Hor's only cafe which, like all the other buildings in town, was constructed from badly painted concrete and had three broken windows. The good view of the lake through one of them helped to compensate for the draught.

I was served by a Chinese youth in military uniform who spread the grease around on my table with a filthy rag before bringing me a glass and a thermos of tea. Half an hour later, Tsetan relieved me from my solitary confinement and we drove past a lot more rocks and rubbish westwards out of town towards Mount Kailash.

1 marks · mcq

74. Q2. The author was served in the cafe by (a) a Tibetan monk (b) Lhamo (c) a Chinese youth in military uniform (d) Norbu

But I had to wait. Tsetan told me to go and drink some tea in Hor's only cafe which, like all the other buildings in town, was constructed from badly painted concrete and had three broken windows. The good view of the lake through one of them helped to compensate for the draught.

I was served by a Chinese youth in military uniform who spread the grease around on my table with a filthy rag before bringing me a glass and a thermos of tea. Half an hour later, Tsetan relieved me from my solitary confinement and we drove past a lot more rocks and rubbish westwards out of town towards Mount Kailash.

1 marks · mcq

75. Q3. The cafe's one redeeming feature was (a) its excellent food (b) its central heating (c) its music (d) the good view of the lake through a broken window

But I had to wait. Tsetan told me to go and drink some tea in Hor's only cafe which, like all the other buildings in town, was constructed from badly painted concrete and had three broken windows. The good view of the lake through one of them helped to compensate for the draught.

I was served by a Chinese youth in military uniform who spread the grease around on my table with a filthy rag before bringing me a glass and a thermos of tea. Half an hour later, Tsetan relieved me from my solitary confinement and we drove past a lot more rocks and rubbish westwards out of town towards Mount Kailash.

1 marks · mcq

76. Q4. The humorous phrase "solitary confinement" suggests that the author felt (a) imprisoned in the dismal cafe (b) delighted by the service (c) too tired to move (d) punished for a crime

But I had to wait. Tsetan told me to go and drink some tea in Hor's only cafe which, like all the other buildings in town, was constructed from badly painted concrete and had three broken windows. The good view of the lake through one of them helped to compensate for the draught.

I was served by a Chinese youth in military uniform who spread the grease around on my table with a filthy rag before bringing me a glass and a thermos of tea. Half an hour later, Tsetan relieved me from my solitary confinement and we drove past a lot more rocks and rubbish westwards out of town towards Mount Kailash.

1 marks · mcq

77. Q5. The table in the cafe was wiped with (a) a clean cloth (b) a silk scarf (c) a newspaper (d) a filthy rag that spread the grease around

But I had to wait. Tsetan told me to go and drink some tea in Hor's only cafe which, like all the other buildings in town, was constructed from badly painted concrete and had three broken windows. The good view of the lake through one of them helped to compensate for the draught.

I was served by a Chinese youth in military uniform who spread the grease around on my table with a filthy rag before bringing me a glass and a thermos of tea. Half an hour later, Tsetan relieved me from my solitary confinement and we drove past a lot more rocks and rubbish westwards out of town towards Mount Kailash.

1 marks · mcq

78. Q1. Ekai Kawaguchi, who arrived at the lake in 1900, was (a) a Swedish explorer (b) a Japanese monk (c) a British surveyor (d) a Chinese official

My experience in Hor came as a stark contrast to accounts I'd read of earlier travellers' first encounters with Lake Manasarovar. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk who had arrived there in 1900, was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that he burst into tears. A couple of years later, the hallowed waters had a similar effect on Sven Hedin, a Swede who wasn't prone to sentimental outbursts.

1 marks · mcq

79. Q2. Moved by the sanctity of the lake, Kawaguchi (a) burst into tears (b) laughed aloud (c) composed a poem (d) refused to bathe in it

My experience in Hor came as a stark contrast to accounts I'd read of earlier travellers' first encounters with Lake Manasarovar. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk who had arrived there in 1900, was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that he burst into tears. A couple of years later, the hallowed waters had a similar effect on Sven Hedin, a Swede who wasn't prone to sentimental outbursts.

1 marks · mcq

80. Q3. Sven Hedin is described as a Swede who (a) was prone to sentimental outbursts (b) never visited Tibet (c) wasn't prone to sentimental outbursts (d) was Kawaguchi's disciple

My experience in Hor came as a stark contrast to accounts I'd read of earlier travellers' first encounters with Lake Manasarovar. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk who had arrived there in 1900, was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that he burst into tears. A couple of years later, the hallowed waters had a similar effect on Sven Hedin, a Swede who wasn't prone to sentimental outbursts.

1 marks · mcq

81. Q4. The author recalls these earlier travellers in order to highlight (a) his own good fortune (b) the stark contrast with his own grim experience of Hor (c) the changing colours of the lake (d) the dangers of travel in 1900

My experience in Hor came as a stark contrast to accounts I'd read of earlier travellers' first encounters with Lake Manasarovar. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk who had arrived there in 1900, was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that he burst into tears. A couple of years later, the hallowed waters had a similar effect on Sven Hedin, a Swede who wasn't prone to sentimental outbursts.

1 marks · mcq

82. Q5. The word "hallowed" most nearly means (a) shallow (b) frozen (c) salted (d) sacred and revered

My experience in Hor came as a stark contrast to accounts I'd read of earlier travellers' first encounters with Lake Manasarovar. Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese monk who had arrived there in 1900, was so moved by the sanctity of the lake that he burst into tears. A couple of years later, the hallowed waters had a similar effect on Sven Hedin, a Swede who wasn't prone to sentimental outbursts.

1 marks · mcq

83. Q1. The author's cold had been set off once more by (a) the draught in the cafe (b) the icy river crossing (c) kicking around in Hor's open-air rubbish dump (d) the glare of the salt lake

It was dark by the time we finally left again and after 10.30 p.m. we drew up outside a guest house in Darchen for what turned out to be another troubled night. Kicking around in the open-air rubbish dump that passed for the town of Hor had set off my cold once more, though if truth be told it had never quite disappeared with my herbal tea. One of my nostrils was blocked again and as I lay down to sleep, I wasn't convinced that the other would provide me with sufficient oxygen. My watch told me I was at 4,760 metres. It wasn't much higher than Ravu, and there I'd been gasping for oxygen several times every night. I'd grown accustomed to these nocturnal disturbances by now, but they still scared me.

1 marks · mcq

84. Q2. At Darchen, the author's watch told him he was at (a) 5,515 metres (b) 5,210 metres (c) 3,000 metres (d) 4,760 metres

It was dark by the time we finally left again and after 10.30 p.m. we drew up outside a guest house in Darchen for what turned out to be another troubled night. Kicking around in the open-air rubbish dump that passed for the town of Hor had set off my cold once more, though if truth be told it had never quite disappeared with my herbal tea. One of my nostrils was blocked again and as I lay down to sleep, I wasn't convinced that the other would provide me with sufficient oxygen. My watch told me I was at 4,760 metres. It wasn't much higher than Ravu, and there I'd been gasping for oxygen several times every night. I'd grown accustomed to these nocturnal disturbances by now, but they still scared me.

1 marks · mcq

85. Q3. The author feared he would not get enough oxygen that night because (a) both nostrils were blocked (b) one nostril was blocked and he doubted the other would suffice (c) the guest house was unheated (d) his medicine was lost

It was dark by the time we finally left again and after 10.30 p.m. we drew up outside a guest house in Darchen for what turned out to be another troubled night. Kicking around in the open-air rubbish dump that passed for the town of Hor had set off my cold once more, though if truth be told it had never quite disappeared with my herbal tea. One of my nostrils was blocked again and as I lay down to sleep, I wasn't convinced that the other would provide me with sufficient oxygen. My watch told me I was at 4,760 metres. It wasn't much higher than Ravu, and there I'd been gasping for oxygen several times every night. I'd grown accustomed to these nocturnal disturbances by now, but they still scared me.

1 marks · mcq

86. Q4. The last sentence — accustomed to the disturbances, "but they still scared me" — reveals a state of (a) careless indifference (b) cheerful optimism (c) weary acceptance mixed with fear (d) total panic

It was dark by the time we finally left again and after 10.30 p.m. we drew up outside a guest house in Darchen for what turned out to be another troubled night. Kicking around in the open-air rubbish dump that passed for the town of Hor had set off my cold once more, though if truth be told it had never quite disappeared with my herbal tea. One of my nostrils was blocked again and as I lay down to sleep, I wasn't convinced that the other would provide me with sufficient oxygen. My watch told me I was at 4,760 metres. It wasn't much higher than Ravu, and there I'd been gasping for oxygen several times every night. I'd grown accustomed to these nocturnal disturbances by now, but they still scared me.

1 marks · mcq

87. Q5. The word "nocturnal" relates to (a) the nose (b) high altitude (c) illness (d) the night

It was dark by the time we finally left again and after 10.30 p.m. we drew up outside a guest house in Darchen for what turned out to be another troubled night. Kicking around in the open-air rubbish dump that passed for the town of Hor had set off my cold once more, though if truth be told it had never quite disappeared with my herbal tea. One of my nostrils was blocked again and as I lay down to sleep, I wasn't convinced that the other would provide me with sufficient oxygen. My watch told me I was at 4,760 metres. It wasn't much higher than Ravu, and there I'd been gasping for oxygen several times every night. I'd grown accustomed to these nocturnal disturbances by now, but they still scared me.

1 marks · mcq

88. Q1. The author woke up abruptly as he was drifting off because (a) someone knocked at the door (b) Tsetan called his name (c) a dog barked outside (d) his chest felt strangely heavy

Tired and hungry, I started breathing through my mouth. After a while, I switched to single-nostril power which seemed to be admitting enough oxygen but, just as I was drifting off, I woke up abruptly. Something was wrong. My chest felt strangely heavy and I sat up, a movement that cleared my nasal passages almost instantly and relieved the feeling in my chest. Curious, I thought.

I lay back down and tried again. Same result. I was on the point of disappearing into the land of nod when something told me not to. It must have been those emergency electrical impulses again, but this was not the same as on previous occasions. This time, I wasn't gasping for breath, I was simply not allowed to go to sleep.

1 marks · mcq

89. Q2. Sitting up (a) worsened the blockage (b) made no difference (c) cleared his nasal passages almost instantly and relieved his chest (d) brought on a headache

Tired and hungry, I started breathing through my mouth. After a while, I switched to single-nostril power which seemed to be admitting enough oxygen but, just as I was drifting off, I woke up abruptly. Something was wrong. My chest felt strangely heavy and I sat up, a movement that cleared my nasal passages almost instantly and relieved the feeling in my chest. Curious, I thought.

I lay back down and tried again. Same result. I was on the point of disappearing into the land of nod when something told me not to. It must have been those emergency electrical impulses again, but this was not the same as on previous occasions. This time, I wasn't gasping for breath, I was simply not allowed to go to sleep.

1 marks · mcq

90. Q3. Unlike on previous occasions, this time the author was (a) gasping for breath (b) snoring loudly (c) free of all symptoms (d) not gasping for breath, but simply not allowed to go to sleep

Tired and hungry, I started breathing through my mouth. After a while, I switched to single-nostril power which seemed to be admitting enough oxygen but, just as I was drifting off, I woke up abruptly. Something was wrong. My chest felt strangely heavy and I sat up, a movement that cleared my nasal passages almost instantly and relieved the feeling in my chest. Curious, I thought.

I lay back down and tried again. Same result. I was on the point of disappearing into the land of nod when something told me not to. It must have been those emergency electrical impulses again, but this was not the same as on previous occasions. This time, I wasn't gasping for breath, I was simply not allowed to go to sleep.

1 marks · mcq

91. Q4. "The land of nod" is a humorous expression meaning (a) Darchen town (b) the medical college (c) sleep (d) Tibet

Tired and hungry, I started breathing through my mouth. After a while, I switched to single-nostril power which seemed to be admitting enough oxygen but, just as I was drifting off, I woke up abruptly. Something was wrong. My chest felt strangely heavy and I sat up, a movement that cleared my nasal passages almost instantly and relieved the feeling in my chest. Curious, I thought.

I lay back down and tried again. Same result. I was on the point of disappearing into the land of nod when something told me not to. It must have been those emergency electrical impulses again, but this was not the same as on previous occasions. This time, I wasn't gasping for breath, I was simply not allowed to go to sleep.

1 marks · mcq

92. Q5. The author's repeated experiment of lying down and sitting up shows that he was (a) frightened into paralysis (b) curious and analytical about his own symptoms (c) indifferent to his health (d) following the doctor's orders

Tired and hungry, I started breathing through my mouth. After a while, I switched to single-nostril power which seemed to be admitting enough oxygen but, just as I was drifting off, I woke up abruptly. Something was wrong. My chest felt strangely heavy and I sat up, a movement that cleared my nasal passages almost instantly and relieved the feeling in my chest. Curious, I thought.

I lay back down and tried again. Same result. I was on the point of disappearing into the land of nod when something told me not to. It must have been those emergency electrical impulses again, but this was not the same as on previous occasions. This time, I wasn't gasping for breath, I was simply not allowed to go to sleep.

1 marks · mcq

93. Q1. Even propped upright against the wall, the author could not sleep because (a) he could not manage to relax enough to drop off (b) the wall was too cold (c) Tsetan kept waking him (d) the room was noisy

Sitting up once more immediately made me feel better. I could breathe freely and my chest felt fine. But as soon as I lay down, my sinuses filled and my chest was odd. I tried propping myself upright against the wall, but now I couldn't manage to relax enough to drop off. I couldn't put my finger on the reason, but I was afraid to go to sleep. A little voice inside me was saying that if I did I might never wake up again. So I stayed awake all night.

1 marks · mcq

94. Q2. The author stayed awake all night because (a) he wanted to watch the sunrise (b) he had writing to finish (c) a little voice inside him said he might never wake again if he slept (d) his cold had suddenly cleared

Sitting up once more immediately made me feel better. I could breathe freely and my chest felt fine. But as soon as I lay down, my sinuses filled and my chest was odd. I tried propping myself upright against the wall, but now I couldn't manage to relax enough to drop off. I couldn't put my finger on the reason, but I was afraid to go to sleep. A little voice inside me was saying that if I did I might never wake up again. So I stayed awake all night.

1 marks · mcq

95. Q3. As soon as he lay down, his sinuses (a) cleared (b) ached with cold (c) began to bleed (d) filled and his chest felt odd

Sitting up once more immediately made me feel better. I could breathe freely and my chest felt fine. But as soon as I lay down, my sinuses filled and my chest was odd. I tried propping myself upright against the wall, but now I couldn't manage to relax enough to drop off. I couldn't put my finger on the reason, but I was afraid to go to sleep. A little voice inside me was saying that if I did I might never wake up again. So I stayed awake all night.

1 marks · mcq

96. Q4. "I couldn't put my finger on the reason" means (a) his hands were numb (b) he could not identify the exact cause (c) he was pointing at the wall (d) the reason was obvious

Sitting up once more immediately made me feel better. I could breathe freely and my chest felt fine. But as soon as I lay down, my sinuses filled and my chest was odd. I tried propping myself upright against the wall, but now I couldn't manage to relax enough to drop off. I couldn't put my finger on the reason, but I was afraid to go to sleep. A little voice inside me was saying that if I did I might never wake up again. So I stayed awake all night.

1 marks · mcq

97. Q5. The dominant feeling running through this extract is (a) fear and unease (b) relaxed contentment (c) boredom (d) excitement about the kora

Sitting up once more immediately made me feel better. I could breathe freely and my chest felt fine. But as soon as I lay down, my sinuses filled and my chest was odd. I tried propping myself upright against the wall, but now I couldn't manage to relax enough to drop off. I couldn't put my finger on the reason, but I was afraid to go to sleep. A little voice inside me was saying that if I did I might never wake up again. So I stayed awake all night.

1 marks · mcq

98. Q1. From the outside, the Darchen medical college looked like (a) a modern hospital (b) a guest house (c) a monastery (d) a general store

Tsetan took me to the Darchen medical college the following morning. The medical college at Darchen was new and looked like a monastery from the outside with a very solid door that led into a large courtyard. We found the consulting room which was dark and cold and occupied by a Tibetan doctor who wore none of the paraphernalia that I'd been expecting. No white coat, he looked like any other Tibetan with a thick pullover and a woolly hat. When I explained my sleepless symptoms and my sudden aversion to lying down, he shot me a few questions while feeling the veins in my wrist. "It's a cold," he said finally through Tsetan. "A cold and the effects of altitude. I'll give you something for it." I asked him if he thought I'd recover enough to be able to do the kora. "Oh yes," he said, "you'll be fine."

1 marks · mcq

99. Q2. The Tibetan doctor was dressed in (a) a white coat (b) ceremonial robes (c) a military uniform (d) a thick pullover and a woolly hat

Tsetan took me to the Darchen medical college the following morning. The medical college at Darchen was new and looked like a monastery from the outside with a very solid door that led into a large courtyard. We found the consulting room which was dark and cold and occupied by a Tibetan doctor who wore none of the paraphernalia that I'd been expecting. No white coat, he looked like any other Tibetan with a thick pullover and a woolly hat. When I explained my sleepless symptoms and my sudden aversion to lying down, he shot me a few questions while feeling the veins in my wrist. "It's a cold," he said finally through Tsetan. "A cold and the effects of altitude. I'll give you something for it." I asked him if he thought I'd recover enough to be able to do the kora. "Oh yes," he said, "you'll be fine."

1 marks · mcq

100. Q3. The doctor's diagnosis was (a) a severe chest infection (b) a cold and the effects of altitude (c) food poisoning (d) simple exhaustion

Tsetan took me to the Darchen medical college the following morning. The medical college at Darchen was new and looked like a monastery from the outside with a very solid door that led into a large courtyard. We found the consulting room which was dark and cold and occupied by a Tibetan doctor who wore none of the paraphernalia that I'd been expecting. No white coat, he looked like any other Tibetan with a thick pullover and a woolly hat. When I explained my sleepless symptoms and my sudden aversion to lying down, he shot me a few questions while feeling the veins in my wrist. "It's a cold," he said finally through Tsetan. "A cold and the effects of altitude. I'll give you something for it." I asked him if he thought I'd recover enough to be able to do the kora. "Oh yes," he said, "you'll be fine."

1 marks · mcq

101. Q4. While questioning the author, the doctor (a) felt the veins in his wrist (b) took his blood pressure (c) listened to his chest (d) examined his eyes

Tsetan took me to the Darchen medical college the following morning. The medical college at Darchen was new and looked like a monastery from the outside with a very solid door that led into a large courtyard. We found the consulting room which was dark and cold and occupied by a Tibetan doctor who wore none of the paraphernalia that I'd been expecting. No white coat, he looked like any other Tibetan with a thick pullover and a woolly hat. When I explained my sleepless symptoms and my sudden aversion to lying down, he shot me a few questions while feeling the veins in my wrist. "It's a cold," he said finally through Tsetan. "A cold and the effects of altitude. I'll give you something for it." I asked him if he thought I'd recover enough to be able to do the kora. "Oh yes," he said, "you'll be fine."

1 marks · mcq

102. Q5. The doctor's words were reported "through Tsetan" because (a) he was whispering (b) the room was noisy (c) Tsetan interpreted for the English-speaking author (d) the doctor was absent that day

Tsetan took me to the Darchen medical college the following morning. The medical college at Darchen was new and looked like a monastery from the outside with a very solid door that led into a large courtyard. We found the consulting room which was dark and cold and occupied by a Tibetan doctor who wore none of the paraphernalia that I'd been expecting. No white coat, he looked like any other Tibetan with a thick pullover and a woolly hat. When I explained my sleepless symptoms and my sudden aversion to lying down, he shot me a few questions while feeling the veins in my wrist. "It's a cold," he said finally through Tsetan. "A cold and the effects of altitude. I'll give you something for it." I asked him if he thought I'd recover enough to be able to do the kora. "Oh yes," he said, "you'll be fine."

1 marks · mcq

103. Q6. When asked whether he would recover enough to do the kora, the doctor said (a) "Certainly not" (b) "You must return to Lhasa" (c) "It will take months" (d) "Oh yes, you'll be fine"

Tsetan took me to the Darchen medical college the following morning. The medical college at Darchen was new and looked like a monastery from the outside with a very solid door that led into a large courtyard. We found the consulting room which was dark and cold and occupied by a Tibetan doctor who wore none of the paraphernalia that I'd been expecting. No white coat, he looked like any other Tibetan with a thick pullover and a woolly hat. When I explained my sleepless symptoms and my sudden aversion to lying down, he shot me a few questions while feeling the veins in my wrist. "It's a cold," he said finally through Tsetan. "A cold and the effects of altitude. I'll give you something for it." I asked him if he thought I'd recover enough to be able to do the kora. "Oh yes," he said, "you'll be fine."

1 marks · mcq

104. Q1. The author's Tibetan medicine came as (a) bottles of syrup (b) a box of tablets (c) fifteen screws of paper (d) packets of herbal tea

I walked out of the medical college clutching a brown envelope stuffed with fifteen screws of paper. I had a five-day course of Tibetan medicine which I started right away. I opened an after-breakfast package and found it contained a brown powder that I had to take with hot water. It tasted just like cinnamon. The contents of the lunchtime and bedtime packages were less obviously identifiable. Both contained small, spherical brown pellets. They looked suspiciously like sheep dung, but of course I took them. That night, after my first full day's course, I slept very soundly. Like a log, not a dead man.

Once he saw that I was going to live Tsetan left me, to return to Lhasa. 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.

1 marks · mcq

105. Q2. The after-breakfast package contained (a) a brown powder to be taken with hot water, tasting like cinnamon (b) small spherical pellets (c) a bitter syrup (d) an injection

I walked out of the medical college clutching a brown envelope stuffed with fifteen screws of paper. I had a five-day course of Tibetan medicine which I started right away. I opened an after-breakfast package and found it contained a brown powder that I had to take with hot water. It tasted just like cinnamon. The contents of the lunchtime and bedtime packages were less obviously identifiable. Both contained small, spherical brown pellets. They looked suspiciously like sheep dung, but of course I took them. That night, after my first full day's course, I slept very soundly. Like a log, not a dead man.

Once he saw that I was going to live Tsetan left me, to return to Lhasa. 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.

1 marks · mcq

106. Q3. The lunchtime and bedtime pellets looked suspiciously like (a) raisins (b) peppercorns (c) small coins (d) sheep dung

I walked out of the medical college clutching a brown envelope stuffed with fifteen screws of paper. I had a five-day course of Tibetan medicine which I started right away. I opened an after-breakfast package and found it contained a brown powder that I had to take with hot water. It tasted just like cinnamon. The contents of the lunchtime and bedtime packages were less obviously identifiable. Both contained small, spherical brown pellets. They looked suspiciously like sheep dung, but of course I took them. That night, after my first full day's course, I slept very soundly. Like a log, not a dead man.

Once he saw that I was going to live Tsetan left me, to return to Lhasa. 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.

1 marks · mcq

107. Q4. After his first full day's course, the author slept (a) not at all (b) very soundly — like a log, not a dead man (c) only upright against the wall (d) until noon the next day

I walked out of the medical college clutching a brown envelope stuffed with fifteen screws of paper. I had a five-day course of Tibetan medicine which I started right away. I opened an after-breakfast package and found it contained a brown powder that I had to take with hot water. It tasted just like cinnamon. The contents of the lunchtime and bedtime packages were less obviously identifiable. Both contained small, spherical brown pellets. They looked suspiciously like sheep dung, but of course I took them. That night, after my first full day's course, I slept very soundly. Like a log, not a dead man.

Once he saw that I was going to live Tsetan left me, to return to Lhasa. 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.

1 marks · mcq

108. Q5. Tsetan's remark that the author's death would be "bad for business" reveals his (a) greed for money (b) dislike of the author (c) fear of the police (d) practical good humour alongside his Buddhist faith

I walked out of the medical college clutching a brown envelope stuffed with fifteen screws of paper. I had a five-day course of Tibetan medicine which I started right away. I opened an after-breakfast package and found it contained a brown powder that I had to take with hot water. It tasted just like cinnamon. The contents of the lunchtime and bedtime packages were less obviously identifiable. Both contained small, spherical brown pellets. They looked suspiciously like sheep dung, but of course I took them. That night, after my first full day's course, I slept very soundly. Like a log, not a dead man.

Once he saw that I was going to live Tsetan left me, to return to Lhasa. 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.

1 marks · mcq

109. Q1. After a good night's sleep, the author found Darchen (a) transformed into a beautiful town (b) deserted and silent (c) still dusty and derelict, but looking better in brilliant sunshine (d) in the middle of repairs

Darchen didn't look so horrible after a good night's sleep. It was still dusty, partially derelict and punctuated by heaps of rubble and refuse, but the sun shone brilliantly in a clear blue sky and the outlook across the plain to the south gave me a vision of the Himalayas, commanded by a huge, snow-capped mountain, Gurla Mandhata, with just a wisp of cloud suspended over its summit.

The town had a couple of rudimentary general stores selling Chinese cigarettes, soap and other basic provisions, as well as the usual strings of prayer flags.

1 marks · mcq

110. Q2. The author's vision of the Himalayas to the south was commanded by (a) Mount Kailash (b) Everest (c) the Changtang (d) Gurla Mandhata

Darchen didn't look so horrible after a good night's sleep. It was still dusty, partially derelict and punctuated by heaps of rubble and refuse, but the sun shone brilliantly in a clear blue sky and the outlook across the plain to the south gave me a vision of the Himalayas, commanded by a huge, snow-capped mountain, Gurla Mandhata, with just a wisp of cloud suspended over its summit.

The town had a couple of rudimentary general stores selling Chinese cigarettes, soap and other basic provisions, as well as the usual strings of prayer flags.

1 marks · mcq

111. Q3. The town's general stores sold, among other things (a) European wine (b) climbing equipment (c) sheepskin coats (d) Chinese cigarettes and soap

Darchen didn't look so horrible after a good night's sleep. It was still dusty, partially derelict and punctuated by heaps of rubble and refuse, but the sun shone brilliantly in a clear blue sky and the outlook across the plain to the south gave me a vision of the Himalayas, commanded by a huge, snow-capped mountain, Gurla Mandhata, with just a wisp of cloud suspended over its summit.

The town had a couple of rudimentary general stores selling Chinese cigarettes, soap and other basic provisions, as well as the usual strings of prayer flags.

1 marks · mcq

112. Q4. The change in the author's view of Darchen shows that (a) the town had been rebuilt overnight (b) his recovered health improved his perception (c) pilgrims had at last arrived (d) his travel plans had changed

Darchen didn't look so horrible after a good night's sleep. It was still dusty, partially derelict and punctuated by heaps of rubble and refuse, but the sun shone brilliantly in a clear blue sky and the outlook across the plain to the south gave me a vision of the Himalayas, commanded by a huge, snow-capped mountain, Gurla Mandhata, with just a wisp of cloud suspended over its summit.

The town had a couple of rudimentary general stores selling Chinese cigarettes, soap and other basic provisions, as well as the usual strings of prayer flags.

1 marks · mcq

113. Q5. The image of Gurla Mandhata with "just a wisp of cloud suspended over its summit" creates a sense of (a) impending storm (b) terrible danger (c) serene, majestic beauty (d) industrial smoke

Darchen didn't look so horrible after a good night's sleep. It was still dusty, partially derelict and punctuated by heaps of rubble and refuse, but the sun shone brilliantly in a clear blue sky and the outlook across the plain to the south gave me a vision of the Himalayas, commanded by a huge, snow-capped mountain, Gurla Mandhata, with just a wisp of cloud suspended over its summit.

The town had a couple of rudimentary general stores selling Chinese cigarettes, soap and other basic provisions, as well as the usual strings of prayer flags.

1 marks · mcq

114. Q1. For the author, Darchen's significant drawback was that (a) there were no cafes (b) the guest house was full (c) the brook was polluted (d) there were no pilgrims

In front of one, men gathered in the afternoon for a game of pool, the battered table looking supremely incongruous in the open air, while nearby women washed their long hair in the icy water of a narrow brook that babbled down past my guest house. Darchen felt relaxed and unhurried but, for me, it came with a significant drawback. There were no pilgrims.

1 marks · mcq

115. Q2. The pool table looked "supremely incongruous" because (a) it was brand new (b) it was too small to use (c) a battered modern game seemed out of place in the open air of a remote pilgrimage town (d) it stood inside a temple

In front of one, men gathered in the afternoon for a game of pool, the battered table looking supremely incongruous in the open air, while nearby women washed their long hair in the icy water of a narrow brook that babbled down past my guest house. Darchen felt relaxed and unhurried but, for me, it came with a significant drawback. There were no pilgrims.

1 marks · mcq

116. Q3. The women of Darchen washed their long hair in (a) the salty lake (b) hot springs (c) barrels of melted snow (d) the icy water of a narrow brook

In front of one, men gathered in the afternoon for a game of pool, the battered table looking supremely incongruous in the open air, while nearby women washed their long hair in the icy water of a narrow brook that babbled down past my guest house. Darchen felt relaxed and unhurried but, for me, it came with a significant drawback. There were no pilgrims.

1 marks · mcq

117. Q4. The town of Darchen felt (a) tense and hurried (b) relaxed and unhurried (c) hostile to strangers (d) noisy with traffic

In front of one, men gathered in the afternoon for a game of pool, the battered table looking supremely incongruous in the open air, while nearby women washed their long hair in the icy water of a narrow brook that babbled down past my guest house. Darchen felt relaxed and unhurried but, for me, it came with a significant drawback. There were no pilgrims.

1 marks · mcq

118. Q5. The author needed pilgrims because he hoped (a) to sell them his books (b) to photograph their tents (c) to find companions for the kora (d) to learn Tibetan from them

In front of one, men gathered in the afternoon for a game of pool, the battered table looking supremely incongruous in the open air, while nearby women washed their long hair in the icy water of a narrow brook that babbled down past my guest house. Darchen felt relaxed and unhurried but, for me, it came with a significant drawback. There were no pilgrims.

1 marks · mcq

119. Q1. At the height of the pilgrimage season, Darchen was (a) empty and silent (b) closed to foreigners (c) flooded by monsoon rains (d) bustling with visitors who enlarged the settlement with their tents

I'd been told that at the height of the pilgrimage season, the town was bustling with visitors. Many brought their own accommodation, enlarging the settlement round its edges as they set up their tents which spilled down on to the plain. I'd timed my arrival for the beginning of the season, but it seemed I was too early.

One afternoon I sat pondering my options over a glass of tea in Darchen's only cafe. After a little consideration, I concluded they were severely limited. Clearly I hadn't made much progress with my self-help programme on positive thinking.

1 marks · mcq

120. Q2. The author had timed his arrival for (a) the beginning of the season (b) the height of the season (c) the end of the season (d) the middle of winter

I'd been told that at the height of the pilgrimage season, the town was bustling with visitors. Many brought their own accommodation, enlarging the settlement round its edges as they set up their tents which spilled down on to the plain. I'd timed my arrival for the beginning of the season, but it seemed I was too early.

One afternoon I sat pondering my options over a glass of tea in Darchen's only cafe. After a little consideration, I concluded they were severely limited. Clearly I hadn't made much progress with my self-help programme on positive thinking.

1 marks · mcq

121. Q3. Pondering over a glass of tea, the author concluded his options were (a) plentiful (b) entirely his own choice (c) severely limited (d) decided by Tsetan

I'd been told that at the height of the pilgrimage season, the town was bustling with visitors. Many brought their own accommodation, enlarging the settlement round its edges as they set up their tents which spilled down on to the plain. I'd timed my arrival for the beginning of the season, but it seemed I was too early.

One afternoon I sat pondering my options over a glass of tea in Darchen's only cafe. After a little consideration, I concluded they were severely limited. Clearly I hadn't made much progress with my self-help programme on positive thinking.

1 marks · mcq

122. Q4. The wry comment about his "self-help programme on positive thinking" shows the author's (a) boastfulness (b) self-deprecating humour about his pessimism (c) deep religious faith (d) dislike of books

I'd been told that at the height of the pilgrimage season, the town was bustling with visitors. Many brought their own accommodation, enlarging the settlement round its edges as they set up their tents which spilled down on to the plain. I'd timed my arrival for the beginning of the season, but it seemed I was too early.

One afternoon I sat pondering my options over a glass of tea in Darchen's only cafe. After a little consideration, I concluded they were severely limited. Clearly I hadn't made much progress with my self-help programme on positive thinking.

1 marks · mcq

123. Q5. Being "too early" meant that (a) the pilgrims had not yet arrived (b) the passes were still blocked (c) the cafes were shut (d) his visa had expired

I'd been told that at the height of the pilgrimage season, the town was bustling with visitors. Many brought their own accommodation, enlarging the settlement round its edges as they set up their tents which spilled down on to the plain. I'd timed my arrival for the beginning of the season, but it seemed I was too early.

One afternoon I sat pondering my options over a glass of tea in Darchen's only cafe. After a little consideration, I concluded they were severely limited. Clearly I hadn't made much progress with my self-help programme on positive thinking.

1 marks · mcq

124. Q1. The kora was a seasonal pilgrimage because parts of the route were (a) flooded each spring (b) guarded by soldiers (c) closed for repairs (d) liable to blockage by snow

In my defence, it hadn't been easy with all my sleeping difficulties, but however I looked at it, I could only wait. The pilgrimage trail was well-trodden, but I didn't fancy doing it alone. The kora was seasonal because parts of the route were liable to blockage by snow. I had no idea whether or not the snow had cleared, but I wasn't encouraged by the chunks of dirty ice that still clung to the banks of Darchen's brook. Since Tsetan had left, I hadn't come across anyone in Darchen with enough English to answer even this most basic question.

1 marks · mcq

125. Q2. The author was not encouraged about the snow conditions by (a) reports from other travellers (b) the chunks of dirty ice still clinging to the banks of Darchen's brook (c) the doctor's advice (d) the sight of the distant pass

In my defence, it hadn't been easy with all my sleeping difficulties, but however I looked at it, I could only wait. The pilgrimage trail was well-trodden, but I didn't fancy doing it alone. The kora was seasonal because parts of the route were liable to blockage by snow. I had no idea whether or not the snow had cleared, but I wasn't encouraged by the chunks of dirty ice that still clung to the banks of Darchen's brook. Since Tsetan had left, I hadn't come across anyone in Darchen with enough English to answer even this most basic question.

1 marks · mcq

126. Q3. The author could not find out whether the snow had cleared because (a) nobody in Darchen knew the route (b) the telephone lines were down (c) since Tsetan left, he had met no one with enough English to answer even that basic question (d) he was forbidden to ask

In my defence, it hadn't been easy with all my sleeping difficulties, but however I looked at it, I could only wait. The pilgrimage trail was well-trodden, but I didn't fancy doing it alone. The kora was seasonal because parts of the route were liable to blockage by snow. I had no idea whether or not the snow had cleared, but I wasn't encouraged by the chunks of dirty ice that still clung to the banks of Darchen's brook. Since Tsetan had left, I hadn't come across anyone in Darchen with enough English to answer even this most basic question.

1 marks · mcq

127. Q4. Although the pilgrimage trail was well-trodden, the author did not fancy (a) doing it alone (b) walking in daylight (c) carrying his own luggage (d) photographing the route

In my defence, it hadn't been easy with all my sleeping difficulties, but however I looked at it, I could only wait. The pilgrimage trail was well-trodden, but I didn't fancy doing it alone. The kora was seasonal because parts of the route were liable to blockage by snow. I had no idea whether or not the snow had cleared, but I wasn't encouraged by the chunks of dirty ice that still clung to the banks of Darchen's brook. Since Tsetan had left, I hadn't come across anyone in Darchen with enough English to answer even this most basic question.

1 marks · mcq

128. Q5. The author's dominant feeling in this extract is one of (a) joyful expectation (b) homesickness (c) physical exhaustion (d) frustrated waiting and isolation

In my defence, it hadn't been easy with all my sleeping difficulties, but however I looked at it, I could only wait. The pilgrimage trail was well-trodden, but I didn't fancy doing it alone. The kora was seasonal because parts of the route were liable to blockage by snow. I had no idea whether or not the snow had cleared, but I wasn't encouraged by the chunks of dirty ice that still clung to the banks of Darchen's brook. Since Tsetan had left, I hadn't come across anyone in Darchen with enough English to answer even this most basic question.

1 marks · mcq

129. Q1. The walls and ceiling of the cafe were wreathed in sheets of (a) white silk (b) prayer flags (c) painted canvas (d) multi-coloured striped plastic

Until, that is, I met Norbu. The cafe was small, dark and cavernous, with a long metal stove that ran down the middle. The walls and ceiling were wreathed in sheets of multi-coloured plastic, of the striped variety— broad blue, red and white—that is made into stout, voluminous shopping bags sold all over China, and in many other countries of Asia as well as Europe. As such, plastic must rate as one of China's most successful exports along the Silk Road today.

1 marks · mcq

130. Q2. According to the author, one of China's most successful exports along the Silk Road today is (a) tea (b) plastic (c) salt (d) wool

Until, that is, I met Norbu. The cafe was small, dark and cavernous, with a long metal stove that ran down the middle. The walls and ceiling were wreathed in sheets of multi-coloured plastic, of the striped variety— broad blue, red and white—that is made into stout, voluminous shopping bags sold all over China, and in many other countries of Asia as well as Europe. As such, plastic must rate as one of China's most successful exports along the Silk Road today.

1 marks · mcq

131. Q3. The striped plastic of the kind in the cafe is made into (a) nomads' tents (b) prayer flags (c) stout, voluminous shopping bags sold across China, Asia and Europe (d) sails for boats

Until, that is, I met Norbu. The cafe was small, dark and cavernous, with a long metal stove that ran down the middle. The walls and ceiling were wreathed in sheets of multi-coloured plastic, of the striped variety— broad blue, red and white—that is made into stout, voluminous shopping bags sold all over China, and in many other countries of Asia as well as Europe. As such, plastic must rate as one of China's most successful exports along the Silk Road today.

1 marks · mcq

132. Q4. The mention of the Silk Road in this extract shows that the author sees (a) the ancient trade route as completely dead (b) China as a poor country today (c) plastic as a sacred material (d) his route as one still carrying modern trade goods

Until, that is, I met Norbu. The cafe was small, dark and cavernous, with a long metal stove that ran down the middle. The walls and ceiling were wreathed in sheets of multi-coloured plastic, of the striped variety— broad blue, red and white—that is made into stout, voluminous shopping bags sold all over China, and in many other countries of Asia as well as Europe. As such, plastic must rate as one of China's most successful exports along the Silk Road today.

1 marks · mcq

133. Q5. The word "cavernous" suggests that the cafe was (a) brightly lit (b) extremely small (c) dark and hollow like a cave (d) built underground

Until, that is, I met Norbu. The cafe was small, dark and cavernous, with a long metal stove that ran down the middle. The walls and ceiling were wreathed in sheets of multi-coloured plastic, of the striped variety— broad blue, red and white—that is made into stout, voluminous shopping bags sold all over China, and in many other countries of Asia as well as Europe. As such, plastic must rate as one of China's most successful exports along the Silk Road today.

1 marks · mcq

134. Q1. The author had taken up position beside the cafe's single window (a) to watch the street (b) to escape the stove's heat (c) to wait for Tsetan (d) so that he could see the pages of his notebook

The cafe had a single window beside which I'd taken up position so that I could see the pages of my notebook. I'd also brought a novel with me to help pass the time. Norbu saw my book when he came in and asked with a gesture if he could sit opposite me at my rickety table. "You English?" he enquired, after he'd ordered tea. I told him I was, and we struck up a conversation.

1 marks · mcq

135. Q2. Norbu's first move towards the author was to (a) offer him some tea (b) borrow his novel (c) ask with a gesture if he could sit opposite him at the rickety table (d) greet him in Tibetan

The cafe had a single window beside which I'd taken up position so that I could see the pages of my notebook. I'd also brought a novel with me to help pass the time. Norbu saw my book when he came in and asked with a gesture if he could sit opposite me at my rickety table. "You English?" he enquired, after he'd ordered tea. I told him I was, and we struck up a conversation.

1 marks · mcq

136. Q3. Norbu's opening enquiry, after ordering tea, was (a) "Where are you from?" (b) "You English?" (c) "Are you a pilgrim?" (d) "Do you speak Chinese?"

The cafe had a single window beside which I'd taken up position so that I could see the pages of my notebook. I'd also brought a novel with me to help pass the time. Norbu saw my book when he came in and asked with a gesture if he could sit opposite me at my rickety table. "You English?" he enquired, after he'd ordered tea. I told him I was, and we struck up a conversation.

1 marks · mcq

137. Q4. Besides his notebook, the author had also brought (a) a map (b) a camera (c) a thermos (d) a novel to help pass the time

The cafe had a single window beside which I'd taken up position so that I could see the pages of my notebook. I'd also brought a novel with me to help pass the time. Norbu saw my book when he came in and asked with a gesture if he could sit opposite me at my rickety table. "You English?" he enquired, after he'd ordered tea. I told him I was, and we struck up a conversation.

1 marks · mcq

138. Q5. The meeting began when Norbu noticed (a) the author's notebook (b) the author's bald head (c) the author's book (d) the author's sheepskin coat

The cafe had a single window beside which I'd taken up position so that I could see the pages of my notebook. I'd also brought a novel with me to help pass the time. Norbu saw my book when he came in and asked with a gesture if he could sit opposite me at my rickety table. "You English?" he enquired, after he'd ordered tea. I told him I was, and we struck up a conversation.

1 marks · mcq

139. Q1. Norbu worked in Beijing at (a) the Darchen medical college (b) a monastery in Lhasa (c) a British university (d) the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

I didn't think he was from those parts because he was wearing a windcheater and metal-rimmed spectacles of a Western style. He was Tibetan, he told me, but worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in the Institute of Ethnic Literature. I assumed he was on some sort of fieldwork. "Yes and no," he said. "I have come to do the kora." My heart jumped. Norbu had been writing academic papers about the Kailash kora and its importance in various works of Buddhist literature for many years, he told me, but he had never actually done it himself.

When the time came for me to tell him what brought me to Darchen, his eyes lit up. "We could be a team," he said excitedly. "Two academics who have escaped from the library." Perhaps my positive-thinking strategy was working after all.

1 marks · mcq

140. Q2. The author initially assumed Norbu was there on (a) a holiday (b) some sort of fieldwork (c) a religious retreat (d) official government duty

I didn't think he was from those parts because he was wearing a windcheater and metal-rimmed spectacles of a Western style. He was Tibetan, he told me, but worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in the Institute of Ethnic Literature. I assumed he was on some sort of fieldwork. "Yes and no," he said. "I have come to do the kora." My heart jumped. Norbu had been writing academic papers about the Kailash kora and its importance in various works of Buddhist literature for many years, he told me, but he had never actually done it himself.

When the time came for me to tell him what brought me to Darchen, his eyes lit up. "We could be a team," he said excitedly. "Two academics who have escaped from the library." Perhaps my positive-thinking strategy was working after all.

1 marks · mcq

141. Q3. The author's "heart jumped" when Norbu said (a) he was Tibetan (b) he knew English well (c) he had come to do the kora (d) he worked in Beijing

I didn't think he was from those parts because he was wearing a windcheater and metal-rimmed spectacles of a Western style. He was Tibetan, he told me, but worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in the Institute of Ethnic Literature. I assumed he was on some sort of fieldwork. "Yes and no," he said. "I have come to do the kora." My heart jumped. Norbu had been writing academic papers about the Kailash kora and its importance in various works of Buddhist literature for many years, he told me, but he had never actually done it himself.

When the time came for me to tell him what brought me to Darchen, his eyes lit up. "We could be a team," he said excitedly. "Two academics who have escaped from the library." Perhaps my positive-thinking strategy was working after all.

1 marks · mcq

142. Q4. Though Norbu had written academic papers about the Kailash kora for years, he (a) condemned the practice (b) had never actually done it himself (c) had done it twice before (d) had forgotten its importance

I didn't think he was from those parts because he was wearing a windcheater and metal-rimmed spectacles of a Western style. He was Tibetan, he told me, but worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in the Institute of Ethnic Literature. I assumed he was on some sort of fieldwork. "Yes and no," he said. "I have come to do the kora." My heart jumped. Norbu had been writing academic papers about the Kailash kora and its importance in various works of Buddhist literature for many years, he told me, but he had never actually done it himself.

When the time came for me to tell him what brought me to Darchen, his eyes lit up. "We could be a team," he said excitedly. "Two academics who have escaped from the library." Perhaps my positive-thinking strategy was working after all.

1 marks · mcq

143. Q5. "Two academics who have escaped from the library" refers to (a) the author and Tsetan (b) Norbu and the Tibetan doctor (c) the author and Daniel (d) the author and Norbu

I didn't think he was from those parts because he was wearing a windcheater and metal-rimmed spectacles of a Western style. He was Tibetan, he told me, but worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in the Institute of Ethnic Literature. I assumed he was on some sort of fieldwork. "Yes and no," he said. "I have come to do the kora." My heart jumped. Norbu had been writing academic papers about the Kailash kora and its importance in various works of Buddhist literature for many years, he told me, but he had never actually done it himself.

When the time came for me to tell him what brought me to Darchen, his eyes lit up. "We could be a team," he said excitedly. "Two academics who have escaped from the library." Perhaps my positive-thinking strategy was working after all.

1 marks · mcq

144. Q1. The author's initial relief at meeting Norbu was tempered by the realisation that Norbu (a) could not speak English (b) was leaving for Beijing (c) was almost as ill-equipped as the author for the pilgrimage (d) disliked walking

My initial relief at meeting Norbu, who was also staying in the guest house, was tempered by the realisation that he was almost as ill-equipped as I was for the pilgrimage. He kept telling me how fat he was and how hard it was going to be. "Very high up," he kept reminding me, "so tiresome to walk." He wasn't really a practising Buddhist, it transpired, but he had enthusiasm and he was, of course, Tibetan.

1 marks · mcq

145. Q2. Norbu kept reminding the author that the kora would be hard because it was (a) "very high up" and "so tiresome to walk" (b) crowded with pilgrims (c) frozen all year round (d) forbidden to foreigners

My initial relief at meeting Norbu, who was also staying in the guest house, was tempered by the realisation that he was almost as ill-equipped as I was for the pilgrimage. He kept telling me how fat he was and how hard it was going to be. "Very high up," he kept reminding me, "so tiresome to walk." He wasn't really a practising Buddhist, it transpired, but he had enthusiasm and he was, of course, Tibetan.

1 marks · mcq

146. Q3. Although not really a practising Buddhist, Norbu had (a) money and equipment (b) mountaineering training (c) many companions on the route (d) enthusiasm, and he was Tibetan

My initial relief at meeting Norbu, who was also staying in the guest house, was tempered by the realisation that he was almost as ill-equipped as I was for the pilgrimage. He kept telling me how fat he was and how hard it was going to be. "Very high up," he kept reminding me, "so tiresome to walk." He wasn't really a practising Buddhist, it transpired, but he had enthusiasm and he was, of course, Tibetan.

1 marks · mcq

147. Q4. The word "tempered" in "relief... was tempered" most nearly means (a) increased (b) moderated or reduced (c) delayed (d) celebrated

My initial relief at meeting Norbu, who was also staying in the guest house, was tempered by the realisation that he was almost as ill-equipped as I was for the pilgrimage. He kept telling me how fat he was and how hard it was going to be. "Very high up," he kept reminding me, "so tiresome to walk." He wasn't really a practising Buddhist, it transpired, but he had enthusiasm and he was, of course, Tibetan.

1 marks · mcq

148. Q5. Norbu's repeated complaints about being fat strike a tone of (a) grim despair (b) bitter complaint (c) comic self-mockery (d) polite refusal

My initial relief at meeting Norbu, who was also staying in the guest house, was tempered by the realisation that he was almost as ill-equipped as I was for the pilgrimage. He kept telling me how fat he was and how hard it was going to be. "Very high up," he kept reminding me, "so tiresome to walk." He wasn't really a practising Buddhist, it transpired, but he had enthusiasm and he was, of course, Tibetan.

1 marks · mcq

149. Q1. The author had originally envisaged making the trek in the company of (a) devout believers (b) professional mountaineers (c) Tibetan guides (d) a large caravan

Although I'd originally envisaged making the trek in the company of devout believers, on reflection I decided that perhaps Norbu would turn out to be the ideal companion. He suggested we hire some yaks to carry our luggage, which I interpreted as a good sign, and he had no intention of prostrating himself all round the mountain. "Not possible," he cried, collapsing across the table in hysterical laughter. It wasn't his style, and anyway his tummy was too big.

1 marks · mcq

150. Q2. Norbu's suggestion which the author interpreted as a good sign was (a) waiting for more pilgrims (b) hiring a second interpreter (c) hiring some yaks to carry their luggage (d) leaving at once for the pass

Although I'd originally envisaged making the trek in the company of devout believers, on reflection I decided that perhaps Norbu would turn out to be the ideal companion. He suggested we hire some yaks to carry our luggage, which I interpreted as a good sign, and he had no intention of prostrating himself all round the mountain. "Not possible," he cried, collapsing across the table in hysterical laughter. It wasn't his style, and anyway his tummy was too big.

1 marks · mcq

151. Q3. About prostrating himself all round the mountain, Norbu cried "Not possible" and (a) walked out of the cafe (b) became suddenly serious (c) apologised to the author (d) collapsed across the table in hysterical laughter

Although I'd originally envisaged making the trek in the company of devout believers, on reflection I decided that perhaps Norbu would turn out to be the ideal companion. He suggested we hire some yaks to carry our luggage, which I interpreted as a good sign, and he had no intention of prostrating himself all round the mountain. "Not possible," he cried, collapsing across the table in hysterical laughter. It wasn't his style, and anyway his tummy was too big.

1 marks · mcq

152. Q4. On reflection, the author decided Norbu might be the ideal companion because he combined (a) deep religious devotion (b) ownership of yaks (c) long experience of the kora (d) enthusiasm with a practical approach

Although I'd originally envisaged making the trek in the company of devout believers, on reflection I decided that perhaps Norbu would turn out to be the ideal companion. He suggested we hire some yaks to carry our luggage, which I interpreted as a good sign, and he had no intention of prostrating himself all round the mountain. "Not possible," he cried, collapsing across the table in hysterical laughter. It wasn't his style, and anyway his tummy was too big.

1 marks · mcq

153. Q5. The humour of the extract arises chiefly from (a) the author's illness (b) the bad weather (c) the state of the cafe (d) Norbu's comic admission that his tummy was too big to prostrate

Although I'd originally envisaged making the trek in the company of devout believers, on reflection I decided that perhaps Norbu would turn out to be the ideal companion. He suggested we hire some yaks to carry our luggage, which I interpreted as a good sign, and he had no intention of prostrating himself all round the mountain. "Not possible," he cried, collapsing across the table in hysterical laughter. It wasn't his style, and anyway his tummy was too big.

2 marks · short

154. Q1. What was the purpose of the author's journey to Mount Kailash?

2 marks · short

155. Q2. Who was Lhamo, and why did she give the author a farewell present?

2 marks · short

156. Q3. What route did Tsetan's shortcut follow, and what was its main challenge?

2 marks · short

157. Q4. What is a kora, and why is it seasonal?

2 marks · short

158. Q5. How does the author describe the kyang?

2 marks · short

159. Q6. Who are drokbas?

2 marks · short

160. Q7. How does the author describe the Tibetan mastiffs?

2 marks · short

161. Q8. How did the Tibetan mastiffs reach China's imperial courts?

2 marks · short

162. Q9. What danger did the first snow patch on the track pose, and how did Tsetan overcome it?

2 marks · short

163. Q10. How did Tsetan tackle the second snow blockage?

2 marks · short

164. Q11. What was the author's physical condition as the car climbed past 5,400 metres?

2 marks · short

165. Q12. <arg_value> Why did the petrol tank of Tsetan's car emit a loud hiss at the top of the pass?

2 marks · short

166. Q13. What were the salt flats and brackish lakes of the plateau vestiges of?

2 marks · short

167. Q14. How did the author describe the town of Hor?

2 marks · short

168. Q15. What does ancient Hindu and Buddhist cosmology say about Lake Manasarovar, and what is the reality?

2 marks · short

169. Q16. How did earlier travellers react to Lake Manasarovar?

2 marks · short

170. Q17. <arg_value> What was the author's experience of the night at Darchen?

2 marks · short

171. Q18. How did the Tibetan doctor diagnose and treat the author?

2 marks · short

172. Q19. Why did Tsetan leave the author at Darchen?

2 marks · short

173. Q20. How did the author meet Norbu?

3 marks · short

174. Q1. Give reasons why the article has been titled "Silk Road".

3 marks · short

175. Q2. The author's experience at Hor was in stark contrast to earlier accounts of the place. Comment.

3 marks · short

176. Q3. How did Tsetan support the author during the journey? Elaborate.

3 marks · short

177. Q4. Describe the author's physical condition in Darchen.

3 marks · short

178. Q5. <arg_value> Comment on the author's meeting with Norbu.

3 marks · short

179. Q6. "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." Explain this statement.

3 marks · short

180. Q7. What picture of the lifestyle of the hill-folk does the author paint in "Silk Road"?

3 marks · short

181. Q8. How does the author trace the changes in the landscape from Ravu to the top of the pass?

3 marks · short

182. Q9. "Perhaps my positive-thinking strategy was working after all." Why does the author say this?

3 marks · short

183. Q10. Why was the author disappointed with Darchen?

3 marks · short

184. Q11. How did the author's first view of Darchen change after his recovery?

3 marks · short

185. Q12. What were the obstacles the travellers faced on the way from Ravu to Hor, and how were they overcome?

3 marks · short

186. Q13. Why is Lake Manasarovar sacred, and how does the author react to its vicinity?

3 marks · short

187. Q14. Describe the salt lake workcamp where the travellers had lunch.

3 marks · short

188. Q15. The narrative is full of gentle humour. Illustrate with examples from the text.

5 marks · broad

189. Q1. <arg_value> Why do you think the author undertook the difficult journey to Mount Kailash? What does it tell us about the spirit of such journeys?

5 marks · broad

190. Q2. Draw a character sketch of Tsetan.

5 marks · broad

191. Q3. "The sensitive behaviour of hill-folk" — Discuss this statement with reference to the people the author meets in "Silk Road".

5 marks · broad

192. Q4. "The accounts of exotic places in legends and the reality" — how does the author's experience at Hor and Manasarovar illustrate the gap between them?

5 marks · broad

193. Q5. The author's journey is as much an inner journey as an outer one. Comment.

5 marks · broad

194. Q6. How does Nick Middleton make "Silk Road" an engaging travelogue? Discuss with reference to his style and narrative technique.

5 marks · broad

195. Q7. What qualities does the author display during his journey, and what lessons can readers draw from it?