Target Exam

CUET

Subject

English

Chapter

Comprehension - (Narrative / Factual)

Question:

Read the given passage and answer the four questions that follow:-

If my younger self could see me now, she would be incredulous. That I work in the field of dance or decipher and translate dance for my own comprehension, call it choreography if you wish, would have been unbelievable. In this respect, I am particularly envious of dancers who claim that they are 'born to dance', implying that it was clearly laid out for them from the beginning. I must say, I find this assertion dubious; it is rarely that easy. To dance' means 'to struggle'.

In all truth, as a child, I never did want to dance; it was forced upon me by a doting mother and a silent father. My father probably kept his peace to avoid argument. From the beginning, my lessons took place under trying conditions, though I believe that the conditions were more trying for my mother than for me. She travelled in local, over-crowded trains to the dance class with an unwilling child, tired from a whole day at school.

Interestingly, when I was seven, we went to see a movie starring Mumtaz Ali, who did a dance number in the film. When we arrived home, I began prancing around the house imitating the film actor and my mother, who was quietly watching, was the one who said, 'Kumudini, you are born to dance.' Ironically, I have no recollection of this story; it was my mother who saw this innate ability in me.

The narrator says, 'to dance means to struggle' as she _____.

Options:

was envious of the other dancers' talent.

had tough time convincing her parents about her passion

doesn't have good memories of her childhood

had to work hard to perfect the art, though unwillingly

Correct Answer:

had to work hard to perfect the art, though unwillingly

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (4) → had to work hard to perfect the art, though unwillingly

The narrator makes this statement immediately after expressing envy for those who claim they were "born to dance" and finds that assertion "dubious" because "it is rarely that easy."

  • The passage reveals the narrator was initially unwilling ("never did want to dance") and took lessons under "trying conditions" (tired from school, crowded trains).

  • The narrator sees the journey as a struggle—a continuous effort to master the art—rather than an innate, effortless talent. This struggle is what the phrase "to dance means to struggle" refers to, in direct contradiction to the idea of being "born to dance."