CBSE Class 10 - English - Unseen Passage

ENGLISH UNSEEN PASSAGE

Image Credits: openclipart

(From CBSE Examination Paper)

Q: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 

1. In the history of mankind,dance as an artistic form of expression is extremely old. Evidence of dance as a creative form is available in ancient library texts,paintings and sculpture from prehistoric times to the medieval period.

2. There are now seven classical dance styles - Bharatnatyam originated from Tamil Nadu, Kathakali from Kerala, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh, Odissi from Orissa, Manipuri from Manipur, Kathak from Northern region and Satriya from Assam.

3. Most of these classical dances trace their roots to the grammar and techniques of movement codified in the Natya Shastra compiled by Bharat Muni,sometime between 2nd centuary BC and 2nd centuary AD.

4. Dance according to Bharat is classified into two main aspects: Nritta and Nritya. Nritta in the broadest sense is pure abstract dance which basically does not interpret or communicate any specific theme. It is the movement of limbs and body to the accompaniment of percussion instrument playing a specific rhythemic cycle of tala.

5.Nritya is the aspect of dance which is expressive and which communicates the meaning or theme of a song through gestures of hands(hastas), facial expressions and body movements.

6.Stylized interpretation when conveyed through body movements and facial and hand gestures is known as Angika Abhinaya,through words,as Vachika Abhinaya and through costumes and make up as Aharya Abhinaya.


QUESTIONS:
Q1: How do we come to know that dance is a creative form of art?  


Q2: Explain the following terms:    
1) Angika Abhinaya
2) Aharya Abhinaya

Q3: What does Natya Shastra tell us about dance? 

Q4: What is the difference between Nritya and Nritta? 

Q5 Find the noun forms of words given below from the passage and write them:   
i)express
ii)move  


ANSWERS:

Answer 1: Through ancient library texts,paintings and sculpture, we come to know that dance is a creative form of art.These evidences are available from prehistoric times to the medieval period.

Answer 2: Angika Abinaya: Stylized interpretation when conveyed  through body movements and facial and hand gestures is known as Angika Abhinaya.
     
Aharya Abhinaya: Stylized interpretation when conveyed through costumes and make up is known as Aharya Abhinaya.

Answer 3: Natya Shastra tells us that most of these classical dances trace their roots to the grammar and techniques of movement.

Answer 4: Nritta in the broadest sense is pure abstract dance which basically does not interpret or communicate  any  specific  theme. It is the movement of limbs and body to the accompaniment of percussion instrument playing a specific rhythemic cycle of tala. Whereas nritya is the aspect of dance which is expressive and which communicates the meaning or theme of a song through gestures of hands(hastas),
facial expressions and body movements.

Answer 5:  i) express  - expressive
                 ii) move  - movement