UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 68: History and Culture
How do you distinguish between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dances?
- 1.Dancers occasionally speaking dialogues is found in Kuchipudi dance but not in Bharatanatyam.
- 2.Dancing on the brass plate by keeping the feet on its edges is a feature of Bharatanatyam but Kuchipudi dance does not have such a form of movements.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
In Kuchipudi, a dance-drama form from Andhra Pradesh, dancers sometimes speak dialogues as part of the performance, while Bharatanatyam is danced without spoken lines. Dancing on the edges of a brass plate (tarangam) is a feature of Kuchipudi, not Bharatanatyam. So only statement 1 is correct.
- 1. Kuchipudi dancers sometimes speak dialogues; Bharatanatyam has none.
- 2. The brass-plate tarangam belongs to Kuchipudi, not Bharatanatyam.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: Kuchipudi dancers sometimes speak dialogues; Bharatanatyam has none.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (c) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: The brass-plate tarangam belongs to Kuchipudi, not Bharatanatyam.
Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Correct: dialogue is found in Kuchipudi but not in Bharatanatyam.
- (b) Wrong: the brass plate dance is a Kuchipudi feature, not Bharatanatyam.
- (c) Wrong: statement 2 reverses the two dance forms.
- (d) Wrong: statement 1 is correct.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.