By road to Lhasa

1) The writer was ............ (confident / doubtful ) of reaching Lhasa before nightfall .

2) " My headache can't touch my high spirit”. This means that:

a) His headache is spoiling his excitement

b) His excitement is making him forget his headache.

3) Which of the following statements are true about Sui

a) He wants to catch fish for his wife

(True / False )

b) He stubbornly refuses to listen to Gyanseng

(True / False )

c) He decided to stop the truck near the small bridge

( True/ False)

d) He refuses a villager’s help.

(True / False )

4) We are told that the villagers watched the three men “in silence “

a) Who were silent – the three men or the villagers?

Ans: The three men were silent.

b) What thoughts do you think were going through the minds of the villagers at that time?

Ans: that the three men would never succeed if they do not ask for help

c) What thoughts do you think were going through the minds of the three men at that time?

Ans : The three men were wondering why the villagers did not help them.

5) Explain why rough stone would have been more useful than smooth pebbles in this situation?

Ans : rough stone would have given a better grip to the wheel than smooth pebbles, so that the truck can move out from the mud.

6) The author is worried because:

a) His Chinese documents are going to expire in two weeks

b) His Indian documents are going to expire in two weeks

c) Lhasa is quite far

d) Sui’s wife likes fish

7) Sui “curses himself” and is in a “kind of self-rage”?

Explain why he is angry with himself.

Ans: Sui was angry with himself because the truck was trapped in the mud .pebbles, even tractors could not get it out of the mud. He was also angry because he did not get any fish for his wife.

8) Explain the meaning of these phrases as they are used in the passage

a) Train of thoughts: group of thoughts come in order

b) Are not taken by the idea: are not keen to wait for Sui do his fishing

c) Full tilt: as fast as possible .