NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Prose Chapter 7
NCERT solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 7 The Interview – complete answers & explanations
The chapter The Interview from Class 12 English Flamingo explores the role of interviews in journalism and communication. It discusses how interviews allow people to learn about the ideas, personalities, and experiences of famous individuals. The chapter also includes an interview with the renowned Italian writer and scholar Umberto Eco, where he shares insights about his writing habits, academic interests, and creative process. This chapter is important because it helps students understand the value of interviews as a source of information while also discussing the concerns some writers have about privacy. In this blog, you will find complete NCERT solutions for Class 12 English Chapter The Interview strictly based on the worksheet provided, helping students review their answers accurately and understand the concepts clearly.
What this NCERT chapter covers?
1. The concept and importance of
interviews as a form of communication.
2. Different opinions about interviews expressed by writers and thinkers.
3. The interview with Umberto Eco and his views on writing and academic work.
4. The idea of using small gaps of time productively for creative work.
5. Language skills such as discourse linkers and conversation structure.
6. Activities that help students practise interviewing and report writing.
How to use these NCERT solutions?
1. Read the chapter The Interview carefully from the Class 12 English Flamingo textbook.
2. Attempt the worksheet questions on your own before checking the answers.
3. Use the solutions below to compare and verify your responses.
4. Observe how the answers are written according to the worksheet instructions.
5. Teachers and parents can guide students by discussing these answers and clarifying concepts.
6. The solutions follow the same order and structure as the worksheet questions.
Important tips & tricks for students
1. Understand the main purpose of interviews and how they reveal information about people.
2. Remember the different viewpoints about interviews presented in the chapter.
3. Focus on Umberto Eco’s ideas about writing, research, and time management.
4. Pay attention to language elements like linkers and conversation structure.
5. Read comprehension questions carefully and answer them clearly.
6. For writing tasks and discussions, express your ideas in simple and organised sentences.
NCERT solutions – complete answer key
Think as you read ( Page 67)
1. Some people believe that interviews are an important source of truth and knowledge. In their highest form, interviews are considered an art because they allow readers to learn directly about the thoughts and personalities of famous people.
2. Many celebrity writers dislike interviews because they feel that interviews invade their privacy. They believe that interviewers often ask personal questions and may misrepresent their views, which makes them uncomfortable.
3. In some primitive cultures, people believe that taking a photograph of someone steals a part of that person’s soul. Similarly, some writers feel that interviews also take away a part of their personality.
4. The expression means that interviews feel like a form of pressure or suffocation. Saul Bellow used this phrase to suggest that interviews can make a person feel uncomfortable and restricted.
5. In the modern world, interviews are the main source of information about famous personalities. Through interviews, people learn about the opinions, experiences, and lives of well-known individuals.
Understanding the text
1. Umberto Eco seems comfortable answering questions, but he does not give much importance to interviews. He prefers to see himself mainly as a scholar rather than a celebrity writer. However, he answers the interviewer politely and with humour.
2. Eco explains that he uses the small gaps of free time in his daily routine, which he calls interstices. These are short empty spaces between activities that he uses productively to write articles and develop ideas.
3. Eco’s academic writing style was different because he described the entire process of his research. Instead of presenting only conclusions, he included his thoughts, experiments, and mistakes, which made his writing more engaging.
4. Eco considered himself mainly an academic scholar and university professor. He described himself humorously as “a professor who writes novels on Sundays.”
5. Eco believes the success of the novel cannot be predicted. Although it deals with complex themes like theology and medieval history, its popularity remains a mystery.
Talking about the text
1. I once watched an interview of a famous sportsperson on television. Through the interview, I learned about the athlete’s struggles, training routine, and achievements. The interviewer asked thoughtful questions that helped reveal the personality and dedication of the player. It also helped me understand the field of sports better.
Answers may vary.
2. Television interviews are the most interesting because viewers can observe the expressions, gestures, and emotions of the interviewee. This makes the conversation more engaging and realistic. However, print interviews can provide deeper information because readers can read them carefully.
Answers may vary.
3. Famous people also deserve privacy because they are human beings with personal lives. Interviewers should respect their boundaries and ask questions related mainly to their work and achievements. Responsible journalism requires balancing public interest with personal respect.
Answers may vary.
Noticing discourse linkers and signallers
Explanation:
Read the conversation carefully and observe how linkers connect different ideas in a conversation. Fill the gaps with suitable connecting expressions based on the flow of dialogue.
Examples of linkers from the conversation:
I am convinced I am always doing the same thing.
Which is? – used to ask for clarification.
Aah, now that is more difficult to explain. – used to elaborate on an idea.
While waiting for your elevator to come up from the first to the third floor, I have already written an article!
Not everyone can do that of course. – used to respond to a previous statement.
Novels probably satisfied my taste for narration.
Talking about novels… – used to introduce a related topic.
…at least more than 20 of them.
Over 40. – used to emphasise information.
Writing
Explanation:
Imagine that the interviewer Mukund Padmanabhan had to write a short newspaper report instead of publishing the entire interview. Write a brief report highlighting the main points discussed in the interview.
Sample interview report (Report may vary):
Interview with Umberto Eco
In an interview with The Hindu, the famous Italian writer and scholar Umberto Eco discussed his work, writing habits, and academic interests. Eco explained that although he is widely known as a novelist, he considers himself primarily a university professor who writes novels occasionally.
He also revealed that he finds time to write by using small empty gaps in his daily routine, which he calls “interstices.” Eco’s academic writing style is unique because he narrates the entire process of research rather than presenting only the final conclusions.
Things to do
Explanation:
Choose a person you admire, such as a teacher, neighbour, or community member. Prepare 5–6 questions and conduct a short interview. Write the conversation clearly in interview format.
Sample answers (Answer may vary):
Interviewer: What inspired you to become a teacher?
Teacher: I have always enjoyed helping others learn and grow. Teaching allows me to share knowledge and guide students.
Interviewer: What is the most rewarding part of teaching?
Teacher: Seeing students understand a concept and succeed in life is the most satisfying experience.
Interviewer: What advice would you give to students?
Teacher: Always stay curious, work hard, and never stop learning.
Why NCERT solutions help students?
NCERT solutions help students strengthen their understanding of the chapter and prepare effectively for exams. They provide clear answers aligned with the NCERT pattern, helping students learn how to organise their responses properly. Practising with these solutions improves comprehension, builds confidence, and supports better performance in Class 12 English examinations.
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