NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 7 The Interview
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 7 The Interview
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 7 The Interview
This worksheet provides NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter The Interview from the Flamingo textbook. This chapter explores the concept of interviews as a powerful form of communication that allows people to learn about famous personalities, their thoughts, and their experiences. It also presents a real interview with the well-known Italian writer and scholar Umberto Eco.
This worksheet explains how interviews can be both informative and controversial. While some people believe interviews are an important source of truth and knowledge, others feel that interviews invade personal privacy. The chapter discusses different opinions about interviews and shows how they reveal the ideas and personality of the interviewee.
This chapter is important for students because it helps them understand the role of interviews in journalism and literature. It also introduces them to Umberto Eco’s writing habits, academic interests, and views about novels and scholarship. This worksheet provides complete and accurate NCERT Solutions to help students understand the chapter clearly and prepare for exams.
Chapter summary: stories, poems & themes
The NCERT Chapter The Interview discusses the importance of interviews in modern media and communication. The chapter explains that interviews allow people to learn about the personalities, ideas, and experiences of famous individuals.
Students learn that some writers appreciate interviews because they allow readers to understand their thoughts, while others dislike them because they feel interviews invade privacy and misrepresent their opinions. The chapter also includes an interview with Umberto Eco conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan, where Eco talks about his writing style, academic career, and creative process.
The main themes of the chapter include communication, journalism, creativity, and the relationship between writers and the media. It also highlights how interviews help readers understand the personality and ideas of important public figures.
What this NCERT chapter covers?
• Understanding interviews as a form of communication
• Learning different opinions about interviews
• Reading and analysing an interview with Umberto Eco
• Understanding the writing habits of a famous author
• Learning how discourse linkers connect ideas in conversations
• Developing writing skills by transforming interviews into reports
• Practising communication through interview activities
How to use these NCERT solutions?
Students should first read the chapter The Interview carefully and try to answer the questions on their own before checking the solutions. This practice helps improve reading comprehension and independent thinking.
Parents and teachers can use these NCERT Solutions to guide students while revising the chapter and understanding the structure of interviews and conversations.
The answers in this worksheet follow the same sequence and structure as the NCERT textbook questions. This helps students revise easily and prepare effectively for school tests and board examinations.
Student tips & learning tricks
• Understand the different opinions about interviews presented in the chapter.
• Remember the key ideas discussed by Umberto Eco in the interview.
• Pay attention to the concept of “interstices” mentioned by Eco.
• Observe how discourse linkers connect ideas in conversations.
• Practise summarising interviews into short reports.
• Focus on the difference between academic writing and creative writing.
Why NCERT solutions are important?
NCERT Solutions help students understand textbook concepts in a clear and structured way. Since school exams and board assessments are based mainly on NCERT textbooks, studying accurate NCERT-aligned answers is essential for exam preparation.
These solutions also improve comprehension skills and help students analyse interviews, conversations, and narrative structures. They build confidence and help students answer questions correctly in exams and assignments.
Complete answer key – NCERT solutions
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.
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.
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.
Noticing discourse linkers and signallers
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
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.
(This is a student-generated activity and answers may vary)
Things to do
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 interview:
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.
This is a student-generated activity and answers may vary.
Improve your understanding of journalism and communication with NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter The Interview and strengthen your exam preparation.