“Three Years in Tibet” is –

The correct answer is A) A travel book. Three Years in Tibet was written by the Japanese Buddhist monk Ekai Kawaguchi and published in 1909. It records his journey into Tibet, largely in disguise, and his stay in Lhasa, along with his observations of monastic life, people, customs and geography. It is a first-hand account of a journey, which is what defines a travel book.

Why the others fail:

• B) Adventure book: Adventure is a genre of fiction built around invented or heightened danger. Kawaguchi's book is a factual memoir. Its dangers are real, but they are not its purpose.
• C) Short story: A short story is a compact work of fiction with a single plot. This is not fiction.
• D) Novel: A novel is an extended fictional narrative. This book is non-fiction, so it cannot be a novel.

Core concept: the travelogue as a primary source. Such accounts are valuable for modern Indian and world history, especially for Tibet's closed society before 1950. For Mains, Tibet remains central to India-China relations, so this book is a useful reference.

Trap: Students who pick B because the narrative feels dramatic are misclassifying by mood. Classify a book by its content and purpose, not by how exciting it sounds.