answer the following questions by reading passages
1. Salsa is a popular dance form considered to be a combination of Latin and
Afro-Caribbean dances. It is a mixture of various roots and cultures and cannot be
associated with a specific region. But a large part of the dance originated on the Cuban
island.
2. The term ‘salsa’ actually means sauce in the Spanish language and is seen as a sensual
dance that combines both sensuality and grace. It is a dance form where both the European
and African cultures come together.
3. Various notions circulate regarding the origins of this particular dance form. According to
one of them, when the French came to Cuba, they brought their own country dance along
with them. Their native dance mixed with the native African dances like Guaguanco and
gave rise to the salsa. As per another notion, the dance form of the native African slaves
was known as rumba. The rumba got mixed with various other western dancing styles when
these slaves were brought to America. The salsa thus originated from a mixture of various
dance styles and cultures.
4. The term salsa was created in New York and there are different styles of salsa namely
Cuban style, New York style, Los Angeles style, Colombian style and the Puerto Rican style,
depending on the geographical locations from which they originated. Each style incorporates
slightly different dance steps. Salsa branches also include the Colombian Salsa and the
Miami-Style Salsa.
5. It is normally a couple dance where the male dancer and the female dancer complement
each other perfectly. There are solo forms as well. The dance form usually consists of six
different steps for music with eight counts.
6. Nowadays salsa is seen as a mode of exercise for people who want to get a toned body.
It is a good way to maintain one’s body and also helps in relieving stress.
(a) Salsa represents the cultures of which nations?
(b) What did the name rumba originate from?
(c) How many types of salsa are there? Name a few types.
(d) Write a few lines on how Salsa originated.
1.2 Choose the correct answer for the following questions.
(a) What is the word used for ‘amalgamation’ as given in the passage?
(i) popular
(ii) combination
(iii) form
(iv) dance
(b) Which of the following words used in the passage mean the same as ‘idea’?
(i) notion
(ii) associated
(iii) root
(iv) form
(c) What does the word ‘native’ used in the passage mean?
(i) associated with a particular person to whom it belongs
(ii) associated with a particular plant
(iii) associated with a particular place to where it belongs
(iv) none of the above
(d) What does the word ‘solo’ used in the passage mean?
(i) a thing done by three people
(ii) a thing particular to a culture
(iii) a task done in a hurry
(iv) a thing done by one person.
Answers
1.1
a. Salsa is a popular dance combination of Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances.
However it cannot be associated with any particular region but it is said that it's major part came from Cuban island.
b. Rumba was the dance form mainly practiced by the native African slaves.
c. There are different styles of salsa including Cuban style, New York style, Los Angeles style, Colombian style, Puerto style, Miami style.
These mainly depends on the geographic locations from which they originated.
d. Salsa was originated when French came to Cuba and brought their dance forms, they got mixed with native African dances giving rise to Salsa.
The native dance of Africa, called rumba, got merged in various other western dance forms giving rise to salsa form of dance.
1.2
a.
(ii) combination.
b.
(i) notion.
c.
(iii) associated with a particular place to where it belongs.
d.
(iv) a thing done by one person.