PASSAGE 19

Much rhapsodical nonsense has been written about the “Mona Lisa” and her enigmatic smile, and there have been endless speculations as to her character and the meaning of her expression. It is all beside the mark. The truth is that the “Mona Lisa” is a study of modeling. Leonardo da Vinci had discovered that the expression of smiling is much more a matter of modeling of the cheek and of the forms below the eye than of the change in the line of the lips. It interested him to produce a smile wholly by these delicate changes of surface; hence the mysterious expression.

1. The word rhapsodical as used in the passage means
A) plain B) unreadable
C) enthusiastic D) uniformed

2. “Mona Lisa” is the name of
A) a beautiful woman who made history in ancient Rome
B) a famous painting
C) the artist’s mistress
D) an art technique

3. The truth about the “Mona Lisa” is that it is a study in
A) feminine psychology B) facial expression
C) feminine form D) modeling

4. The painter was able to produce that strange smile on Mona Lisa’s face by
A) delicate changes on the surface of cheeks below the eyes
B) using bright colours
C) using a painting knife
D) looking constantly at a smiling model while painting

5. The author of the above passage has examined ‘Mona Lisa’ from
A) an idealistic angle
B) an imaginary point of view
C) a purely artistic angle
D) a scientific and realistic standpoint

Answer Key

Solution with explanation

1. Option ‘C’ (enthusiastic). ENTHUSIASTIC = energetic interest in a particular subject or activity and an eagerness to be involved in it; e.g.

After the accident he lost his enthusiasm for the sport.

2. Option ‘B’ (a famous painting). The third sentence of the passage is good enough to get the answer

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