Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
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.
(Silk Road)
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Question (i)
What is the name of the river that the narrator is following?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The name of the river that the narrator is following is the Indus River.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 🌊
- To answer this question, we need to use our knowledge of geography and the context of the extract.
- Geography tells us that the Indus River is one of the longest and most important rivers in Asia. It originates in Tibet and flows through India and Pakistan before emptying into the Arabian Sea. It forms a large and fertile valley that supports many civilizations and cultures. It is also known for its scenic beauty and diverse wildlife.
- The context of the extract tells us that the narrator is on a journey to Mount Kailash, a sacred mountain in Tibet. He is travelling along a valley where the river is wide and mostly clogged with ice. He is gradually gaining height and the valley sides are closing in. He can see snow-capped mountains on the horizon.
- Therefore, we can infer that the name of the river that the narrator is following is the Indus River, which flows through Tibet and forms a valley near Mount Kailash.
Question (ii)
What does the word "clogged" mean in the context of the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The word "clogged" means blocked or obstructed in the context of the extract.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 🚧
- To answer this question, we need to use our knowledge of vocabulary and synonyms.
- Vocabulary tells us that the word "clogged" has more than one meaning depending on how it is used. It can mean blocked or obstructed, covered or coated, broken or damaged, or frozen or solidified.
- Synonyms are words that have similar meanings to other words. For example, big and large are synonyms. We can use synonyms to replace words in a sentence without changing its meaning.
- The context of the extract tells us that the river is mostly clogged with ice. This means that the river has a lot of ice in it that prevents or slows down its flow. The ice may be formed by freezing water or by snow melting from the mountains. Therefore, he used the word "clogged" to mean blocked or obstructed in this sentence.
- We can check if this meaning is correct by replacing "clogged" with a synonym such as "jammed" or "choked". The sentence would still make sense and convey the same idea.
Question (iii)
How does the extract show that the narrator is in a cold and high-altitude place?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The extract shows that the narrator is in a cold and high-altitude place by using details such as snow-capped mountains, ice, sunshine, and height.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer: ❄️
- To answer this question, we need to understand how details can create a sense of setting in a story.
- Details are specific pieces of information that describe something or someone. They can be used to create a sense of setting in a story, which is the time and place where the story happens. They can also be used to create a sense of mood or atmosphere in a story, which is the feeling or emotion that the story evokes.
- The extract shows that the narrator is in a cold and high-altitude place by using details such as snow-capped mountains, ice, sunshine, and height. For example:
- Snow-capped mountains: The extract says that they could see snow-capped mountains gathering on the horizon. This detail implies that they are in a place where there are mountains that have snow on their tops. This suggests that they are in a cold and high-altitude place where snow does not melt easily.
- Ice: The extract says that the river was mostly clogged with ice. This detail implies that they are in a place where there is a lot of ice in the water. This suggests that they are in a cold and high-altitude place where water freezes quickly or does not thaw easily.
- Sunshine: The extract says that the ice was brilliant white and glinting in the sunshine. This detail implies that they are in a place where there is bright sunlight. This suggests that they are in a high-altitude place where there is less atmosphere to filter or scatter light.
- Height: The extract says that they gradually gained height and the valley sides closed in. This detail implies that they are in a place where they are climbing up and getting closer to the mountains. This suggests that they are in a high-altitude place where there is less oxygen and more pressure.
Question (iv)
How does the author create a sense of beauty and contrast in the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The author creates a sense of beauty and contrast in the extract by using words such as "brilliant", "glinting", "twisting", and "closed in".
Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 🌈
- To answer this question, we need to analyse how the author uses language and word choice to create a sense of beauty and contrast in the extract.
- Beauty is a literary device that shows how something is pleasing or attractive to the senses or the mind . It can be used to create a sense of awe or appreciation in the story. Contrast is a literary device that shows how two or more things are different or opposite. It can be used to highlight differences in characters, settings, themes, or moods.
- The author creates a sense of beauty and contrast in the extract by using words such as "brilliant", "glinting", "twisting", and "closed in". For example:
- Brilliant and glinting: The author uses these words to describe the ice that was clogged in the river. These words imply that the ice was shining or sparkling with light. They create a sense of beauty by making readers imagine the ice as a dazzling or stunning sight. They also create a sense of contrast by making readers compare the ice with the river or the sky, which may have different colours or textures.
- Twisting and closed in: The author uses these words to describe the trail and the valley that they were following. These words imply that the trail and the valley were curving or bending with the river and the mountains. They create a sense of beauty by making readers imagine the trail and the valley as a dynamic or graceful sight. They also create a sense of contrast by making readers compare the trail and the valley with the horizon or the mountains, which may have different shapes or sizes.
