Lesson 7 The Interview Extract Based Questions

Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select
the correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.

A. Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

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Since its invention a little over 130 years ago, the interview has become a
commonplace of journalism. Today, almost everybody who is literate will have read an
interview at some point in their lives, while from the other point of view, several
thousand celebrities have been interviewed over the years, some of them repeatedly.
So it is hard to supervise the opinions of the interview of its functions, methods and
merits very considerably.

1. What is an interview? What’s its place in journalism?

Ans. An interview is a one-on-one conversation between an interviewer and an
interviewee. It is commonplace in journalism.
2. What is the relation of an interview with a celebrity?
Ans. Though, according to the text, most of the celebrities despise interviews but
several thousand times, celebrities have been interviewed over the years, some of
them repeatedly.
3. What is an interview for a literate person?
Ans. For a literate person, an interview is an exciting content through which he comes
to know about their idols.
4. Name the chapter and the writer.
Ans. The chapter is ‘The Interview’ by Christopher Silvester.

B Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
Yet despite the drawbacks of the interview, it is a supremely serviceable medium of
communication. “These days, more than at any other time, our most vivid impressions
of our contemporaries are through interviews, Denis Brian has written. “Almost
everything in a moment reaches us through one man asking questions of another.”
Because of this, the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and
influence.

1. Despite the drawbacks, what is an interview?

Ans. Despite the drawbacks, an interview is a supremely serviceable medium of
communication.
2. Through which medium do we get the most vivid impressions of our
contemporaries?
Ans. Through interviews, we get the most vivid impressions of our contemporaries.
3. How, according to Denis Brian, almost everything in a moment reaches us?
Ans. According to Denis Brian, almost everything in a moment reaches us through
one man asking questions to another.
4. Because of interviews, what position does the interviewer hold?
Ans. Because of interviews the interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power
and influence.

C Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
That’s possible. But let me tell you another story, because I often tell stories like a
Chinese wise man. My American publisher said while she loved my book, she didn’t
expect to sell more than 3,000 copies in a country where nobody has seen a cathedral
or studied Latin. So I was given an advance for 3,000 copies. but in the end it sold two
or three million in the US. A lot of books have been written about the medieval past
before mine. I think the success of the book is a mystery. Nobody can predict it. I think
if I had written ‘The Name of the Rose’ ten years earlier or ten years later, it wouldn’t
have been the same. Why it worked at that time is a mystery.

1. What does the American publisher say to Umberto Eco?

Ans. The American publisher says that in a country where nobody has seen a
cathedral or studies Latin, sales of the book will not exceed 3,000 copies.
2. How many copies of that book were sold?
Ans. Two or three million copies of that book were sold.
3. What does Umberto Eco say about the success of the book?
Ans. Umberto Eco says that the success of the book is a mystery.
4. What is a mystery according to Umberto Eco?
Ans. According to Umberto Eco, why the book worked at that time is a mystery. The
sale and success of the book was a mystery.

D Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
So it is hardly surprising that opinions of the interview — of its functions, methods and
merits — vary considerably. Some might make quite extravagant claims for it as
being, in its highest form, a source of truth, and, in its practice, an art. Others, usually
celebrities who see themselves as its victims, might despise the interview as an
unwarranted intrusion into their lives, or feel that it somehow diminishes them, just as
in some primitive cultures it is believed that if one takes a photographic portrait of
somebody then one is stealing that person’s soul. V. S. Naipaul ‘feels that some
people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of themselves.’
1. Why do celebrities despise interviews?
Ans. Celebrities despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives, or
feel that it somehow diminishes them.
2. What is the belief in some cultures about photography?
Ans. In some primitive cultures it is believed that if one takes a photographic portrait
of somebody then one is stealing that person’s soul.
3. What are V. S. Naipaul’s feelings about interviews?
Ans. V. S. Naipaul feels that some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part
of themselves.
4. What do most people think about interviews?
Ans. Other than celebrities, mostly common persons think that an interview is the only
and best source of truth. It, according to them, is an art.

E Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
The interviewer is Mukund Padmanabhan from The Hindu. Umberto Eco, a professor
at the University of Bologna in Italy had already acquired a formidable reputation as a
scholar for his ideas on semiotics (the study of signs), literary interpretation, and
medieval aesthetics before he turned to writing fiction. Literary fiction, academic texts,
essays, children’s books, newspaper articles— his written output is staggeringly large
and wide-ranging. In 1980, he acquired the equivalent of intellectual superstardom
with the publication of The Name of the Rose, which sold more than 10 million copies.

1. What newspaper is Mukund Padmanabhan from?

Ans. Mukund Padmanabhan is from The Hindu.
2. Why was Umberto Eco reputed?
Ans. Umberto Eco was a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy who had
already acquired a formidable reputation as a scholar for his ideas on semiotics (the
study of signs), literary interpretation, and medieval aesthetics before he turned to
writing fiction.
3. Which book did Umberto Eco write?
Ans. Umberto Eco published the book- The Name of the Rose.
4. How many copies were sold of Umberto Eco’s book?
Ans. The Name of the Rose sold more than 10 million copies.

F Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow: (CBSE SAMPLE
QUESTION PAPER 2022-23)
Some might make quite extravagant claims for it as being, in its highest form, a
source of truth, and, in its practice, an art. Others, usually celebrities who see
themselves as its victims, might despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into
their lives, or feel that it somehow diminishes them, just as in some primitive cultures it
is believed that if one takes a photographic portrait of somebody then one is stealing
that person’s soul.
1. What is the most likely reason some people consider the practice of
interviews to be an art? This could be because it requires
A fluency of words.
B sensitive and careful handling.
C creativity and imagination.
D probing and focusing on details.
Ans. C creativity and imagination.
2. Rewrite the sentence by replacing the underlined phrase with its inference.
Celebrities feel that an interview diminishes them.
Ans. Celebrities feel that interviews make them look like common people.

3. On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the
two statements given below.
(1) Celebrities don’t consent to be interviewed.
(2) Interviews intrude on the privacy of celebrities.
A (1) Can be inferred from the extract but (2) cannot.
B (1) cannot be inferred from the extract but (2) can.
C (1) is true but (2) is false.
D (2) is the reason for (1).
Ans. D (2) is the reason for (1).
4. Rationalise, to support the given opinion: To say that an interview, in its
highest form, is a source of truth, is an extravagant claim.
Ans. It is an extravagant claim as an interview cannot be a source of truth due to the
following- Interview may be scripted OR People may make false statements OR
Certain questions may be left unanswered.
5. Replace the underlined word with its antonym from the extract. Some
celebrities hate the idea of having to give an interview because it makes them
feel like supporters.
Ans. victims
6. The author’s views on the interview, in the extract, can best be described as
statements based on __________.
A facts
B hypothesis
C beliefs
D superstitions
Ans. A facts
Top
Multiple Choice Questions for Lesson 7 The Interview
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are a type of objective assessment in which a
person is asked to choose one or more correct answers from a list of available
options. An MCQ presents a question along with several possible answers.

Q1 What do Rudyard Kipling and his wife express about interviews?

A immoral
B not good
C very bad
D immoral and offensive crime against a person
Ans. D immoral and offensive crime against a person
Q2 Why were the journalists and publishers puzzled by the success of The
Name of the Rose?
A because readers like trash and it was a serious novel
B because it was becoming popular
C because of its high rated success
D none
Ans. A because readers like trash and it was a serious novel
Q3 What was Lewis Caroll’s opinion of interviews and autographs?
A wonderful
B terrorizing
C horrific
D none
Ans. C horrific
Q4 Which period of history do Umberto’s novels deal with?
A Renaissance
B dark age
C modern era
D Medieval period
Ans. D Medieval period
Q5 Why did Umberto start writing novels?
A to avail an opportunity
B to be in limelight
C to share his views
D to make best use of empty spaces of time
Ans. D to make best use of empty spaces of time
Q6 What facts are being showcased in the interview held between Eco and
Padamanabhan?
A he takes pride in being an academician, a university Professor first
B Being a novelist is a secondary thing for him
C uses his free time for writing novels
D All these
Ans. D All these
Q7 How many novels has Umberto written?
A 10
B8
C 15
D5
Ans D 5
Q8 What do his works for children speak about?
A his passion for children
B children are nuisance
C children love to be happy
D non-violence and peace
Ans. D non-violence and peace
Q9 Explain ‘Denis Brain’s statement “Almost everything of moment reaches us
through one man asking questions of others:
A The interviewer has the power
B The interviewer has status.
C The interviewer can elicit the truth and has the power to influence
D All these
Ans. D All of these
Q10 Enumerate ‘An Interview is a supremely serviceable medium of
communication’?
A a medium to gossip
B a medium to be the talk of the town
C a medium to prosper
D a noble medium of interaction and introspection
Ans. D a noble medium of interaction and introspection
Q11 What satisfied Umberto’s taste for narration?
A stories
B children’s works
C interviews
D Novels
Ans. D Novels

Q12 What do you understand by the expression ‘Thumbprints on his windpipe’?

A creating excessive pressure on throat
B creating excessive pressure on vocal chords
C creating excessive pressure and tension for someone
D none of the above
Ans. C creating excessive pressure and tension for someone
Q13 Why do celebrities feel embarrassed most often?
A because of question attacks during interviews
B because of interviewer’s gestures
C because of interviewer’s appearance
D none
Ans. A because of question attacks during interviews
Q14 At what age did Umberto start writing novels?
A at the age of 52
B at the age of 55
C at the age of 57
D at the age of 50
Ans. D at the age of 50
Q15 Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
A they don’t like journalists
B unwarranted intrusion in their life
C their privacy is hurt
D none
Ans. B unwarranted intrusion in their life
Q16 What is the reason for the huge success of the novel ‘The Name of The
Rose’?
A mystic
B metaphysics and medieval history period used
C detective style and theology
D All these
Ans. D All of these