Question

1. South India is known for its music and for its arts and rich literature. Madras or Chennai can be called the

cultural capital and the soul of Mother India. The city is built low in pleasant contrast to the ghoulish tall

structures of Mumbai and Kolkata. It has vast open spaces and ample greenery. The majestic spacious

Mount Road looks like a river, wide and deep. A stroll on the Marina beach in the evening with the sea

glistening in your face is refreshing. The breeze soothes the body, it refreshes the mind, sharpens the

tongue and brightens the intellect.

2. One can never feel dull in Chennai. The intellectual and cultural life of the city is something of a marvel.

Every street corner of Chennai has a literary forum, a debating society and music, dance and dramatic

club. The intelligent arguments, the sparkling wit and dashing irony enliven both the political and the

literary meetings. There is a young men‟s association which attracts brilliant speakers and equally

brilliant listeners to its meetings. It is a treat to watch the speakers use their oratorical weapons. Chennai

speakers are by and large sweet and urbane, though the cantankerous, fire-eating variety is quite often

witnessed in political campaigning. The urbane speakers weave their arguments slowly like the unfolding

of a leisurely Carnatic raga.

3. Music concerts and dance performances draw packed houses. There is hardly any cultural family in

Chennai that does not learn and patronise music and dance in its pristine purity. Rukmani Devi Arundale‟s

„Kalakshetra‟ is a renowned international center. It has turned out hundreds of celebrated maestros and

dancers who have brought name and glory to our country. Carnatic music has a peculiar charm of its own.

It has the moon‟s soft beauty and moon‟s soft pace. Thousands of people flock to the temple „maidans‟ to

get drunk with the mellifluous melodies of their favourite singers. They sit out all night in the gruelling

heat, swaying to the rhythm of „nadaswaram‟ and rollicking with the measured beats of „mridangam‟.

M.S. Subbulakshmi is considered to be the nightingale of the South.

4. The Gods might descend from heaven to see a South Indian damsel dancing. There are several varieties of

South Indian dance – Bharatnatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, etc. Age cannot wither nor

custom stale its beautiful variety. Bharatnatyam is the most graceful and enchanting dance form, whereas

Kathakali is most masculine and virile. South Indian dances combine voluptuousness with purity. Here,every muscle and fibre of the body vibrates into life, and as the tempo increases, a divine flame-like

passion bodies forth as if making an assault on heaven.

5. South Indian dress, particularly of the males, is puritanically simple. There you cannot distinguish a judge

from an attendant by their dress. South Indian ladies too look charming and graceful in their colourful

Kanjeevaram and Mysore silk sarees.

6. South Indian cuisine, especially „dosa‟, „idli‟ and „vada‟ are so delicious that now we can enjoy them

almost everywhere in India as well as in some foreign countries. The Madras „idli‟, which was a favourite

of Gandhiji, is served with „sambhar‟ and „coconut chutney‟.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer ANY TEN questions from the twelve that

follow. (1x10=10)

(i) For what is South India mainly known?

(a) For tasty food

(b) For its traditional, music, art, literature

(c) For scenic beauty

(d) For its delicate and precise ways

(ii) Why is it a treat to watch the speakers?

(a) Because they use oratorical weapons.

(b) Because they are witnessed in campaigning.

(c) Because they weave their arguments fast.

(d) Because they argue and complain a lot.

(iii) What is M.S. Subbulakshmi considered to be?

(a) Graceful and enchanting

(b) Masculine and virile

(c) Nightingale of the South

(d) Moon‟s soft beauty

(iv) Which is the South Indian dance form?

(a) Bharatnatyam

(b) Kuchipudi

(c) Kathakali

(d) All of these

(v) Why are South Indian dances special?

(a) Because Gods come from heaven to see them.

(b) Because there aren‟t many varieties of dance.

(c) Because they are pure as well as sensuous.

(d) Because they make an assault on heaven.

(vi) How does the breeze on Marina Beach affect the author?

(a) The breeze soothes the body,

(b) It refreshes the mind

(c) It brightens the intellect.

(d) All given above​

Answer 1

Answer:

ans:1.B

4.D

Explanation:

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