Comprehension

Mohiniyattam 
Mohiniyattam, literally Dance of the Enchanttress, has its seeds in the deep past of Kerala. Its present form, designed exclusively for the female dancer, is however, a recent creation inspired by the living matrix of Kerala’s social ensemble dances performed on festive occa sions like Kaikottikali and Thiruvathirakali, and Nangyar Kootu, The female component of the highly stylized Kudiyattam, a souviour of Sanskrit theatre. The word, Mohini, occurs in an eighteenth-century Malayalam commentary of the Vyavah¯aram¯ala composed two hundred years earlier by Mazhamangalam Narayanan Nambudiri. Much later, the creator of Ottam Thullal, Kunjan Nambiar in his Goshayatra mentions Mohiniyattam. Reformer Vallathol traced the dance right down to the days of the Silappadikaram because of the definite reference to Ker ala’s Chakyars while scholars like Pisharoti believed the dance had a six hundred-year-old history. Kalyanikuttyamma, Kunjukuttyamma, Kanak Rele are some of the great dancers of Mohiniyattam.

Question: 1

`Mohiniyattam' literally means?

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Questions asking for the literal meaning of a term are often answered in the very first sentence where the term is introduced. Look for keywords like "literally," "means," or "defined as."
Updated On: Sep 18, 2025
  • Dance of Mayura
  • Dance of Enchanttress
  • Dance of Devadasi
  • Dance of Gopikas
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the literal meaning of the term 'Mohiniyattam' based on the provided passage about the dance form.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The first sentence of the second passage on Mohiniyattam provides a direct answer.
It reads: "Mohiniyattam, literally Dance of the Enchanttress, has its seeds in the deep past of Kerala."
This sentence explicitly defines the literal meaning of the word.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The passage states that 'Mohiniyattam' literally means "Dance of the Enchanttress".
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Question: 2

Mohiniyattam is a.....

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Sometimes a comprehension passage won't use the exact keyword in the answer options. In such cases, you must infer the correct category based on the descriptive language and context provided in the text.
Updated On: Sep 18, 2025
  • Folk dance
  • Tribal dance
  • Ritual dance
  • Classical dance
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to classify Mohiniyattam into one of the given categories of dance based on the passage.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The text describes Mohiniyattam as a "highly stylized" dance form. It is discussed in the context of other established, sophisticated art forms like "Kudiyattam, a souviour of Sanskrit theatre."
The mention of its deep history, scholarly debate about its origins (tracing back to Silappadikaram), and association with great dancers points towards a sophisticated, codified art form, which is characteristic of classical dance.
While the text doesn't use the exact phrase "classical dance," the description strongly implies it. Mohiniyattam is indeed recognized as one of India's major classical dance forms.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Based on the description of its stylized nature, historical depth, and scholarly context, Mohiniyattam is classified as a Classical dance.
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Question: 3

Koodiyattam is a ................

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Be aware of alternative spellings of terms (Koodiyattam vs. Kudiyattam). Comprehension tests may use slight variations. The answer is often found in a descriptive clause set off by commas.
Updated On: Sep 18, 2025
  • Tamil Theatre form
  • Malayalam Theater form
  • Sanskrit Theatre form
  • Classical form
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the nature or origin of the art form 'Koodiyattam' (spelled as Kudiyattam in the text).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The passage on Mohiniyattam provides context for Koodiyattam.
It mentions: "...Nangyar Kootu, The female component of the highly stylized Kudiyattam, a souviour of Sanskrit theatre."
The phrase "a souviour of Sanskrit theatre" directly categorizes Kudiyattam as a Sanskrit theatre form.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The text explicitly describes Koodiyattam as a form of Sanskrit theatre.
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Question: 4

The 'Vyavaharamāla' is a .....

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Exam questions can sometimes be about a specific reference within a text, not the original work itself. Read carefully to distinguish between a primary text and a commentary or translation of it.
Updated On: Sep 18, 2025
  • Malayalam commentary
  • Telugu commentary
  • Sanskrit commentary
  • Tamil commentary
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the nature of the specific version of 'Vyavaharamāla' mentioned in the text.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The text states: "The word, Mohini, occurs in an eighteenth-century Malayalam commentary of the Vyavahāramāla..."
This means the reference where the word "Mohini" is found is not the original Vyavahāramāla itself, but a commentary on it written in Malayalam. Therefore, within the context of the passage, the work being discussed is a Malayalam commentary.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The passage specifically refers to a "Malayalam commentary" of the Vyavaharamāla. Therefore, this is the correct answer based on the provided text.
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Question: 5

Who is the creator of Ottam Thullal?

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Look for appositive phrases, which are descriptive phrases set off by commas that rename or identify a noun. In this case, "Kunjan Nambiar" is identified by the appositive "the creator of Ottam Thullal."
Updated On: Sep 18, 2025
  • Kalyanakuttyamma
  • Kunjan Nambiar
  • Kunjukuttyamma
  • Vallathol
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the creator of the art form 'Ottam Thullal' from the given list of names.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The passage about Mohiniyattam contains the answer.
The sentence states: "Much later, the creator of Ottam Thullal, Kunjan Nambiar in his Goshayatra mentions Mohiniyattam."
This clause clearly identifies "Kunjan Nambiar" as "the creator of Ottam Thullal."
Step 3: Final Answer:
According to the passage, Kunjan Nambiar is the creator of Ottam Thullal.
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