Extract Based Questions: The Interview | English Class 12 PDF Download

Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
She reports her husband as saying to the reporters, “Why do I refuse to be interviewed? Because it is immoral! It is a crime, just as much of a crime as an offence against my person, as an assault, and just as much merits punishment. It is cowardly and vile. No respectable man would ask it, much less give it,” Yet Kipling had himself perpetrated such an ‘assault’ on Mark Twain only a few years before. H. G. Wells3 in an interview in 1894 referred to ‘the interviewing ordeal’, but was a fairly frequent interviewee and forty years later found himself interviewing Joseph Stalin.
(The Interview)
Question (i) Who is the husband that is reported by his wife as refusing to be interviewed?
Ans: (d) Rudyard Kipling
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to use our background knowledge or do some research to find out who the wife of Rudyard Kipling was and what she said about his refusal to be interviewed. According to some sources (such as The Kipling Society), the wife of Rudyard Kipling was Caroline Starr Balestier, also known as Carrie Kipling. She was an American writer and editor who married Kipling in 1892. In 1899, she gave an interview to a reporter from The New York Times, in which she defended her husband's decision to avoid interviews and described his views on the interview as immoral, criminal, cowardly, and vile. Therefore, based on these sources, we can infer that the husband that is reported by his wife as refusing to be interviewed is Rudyard Kipling.

Question (ii) What does the word 'perpetrated' mean in this context?
(a) Committed or carried out
(b) Prevented or stopped
(c) Enjoyed or appreciated
(d) Denied or rejected
Ans: (a) Committed or carried out
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the meaning of a word in context, we can use strategies such as looking for synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples, or clues in the surrounding text. In this extract, the word 'perpetrated' is used to describe what Kipling did to Mark Twain when he interviewed him a few years before he refused to be interviewed himself. We can look for clues in the text that might indicate what kind of action this was and how it relates to the word 'perpetrated'. One clue is the word 'assault' in the previous sentence, which suggests that this action was violent, harmful, or offensive to someone. Another clue is the word 'yet' in the same sentence, which introduces a contrast between Kipling's own attitude towards being interviewed and his behavior towards interviewing others. These clues imply that this action was hypocritical, inconsistent, or contradictory to Kipling's own views on the interview. Therefore, based on these clues, we can infer that the word 'perpetrated' means committed or carried out in this context.

Question (iii) Complete the sentence with ONE word.
The husband's view of the interview is that it is __________ and __________.
Ans: The husband's view of the interview is that it is immoral and criminal.
Step-by-step explanation:
To complete a sentence with one word, we can use strategies such as looking for grammatical clues, logical clues, or contextual clues in the text. In this extract, we need to find two words that fit in the blank spaces after 'it is' and before 'and'. A grammatical clue is that we need two adjectives that describe the noun 'interview' and agree with each other in number and degree. A logical clue is that we need two words that express the husband's negative opinion of the interview and why he refuses to be interviewed or to interview others. A contextual clue is that we can look for words or phrases in the text that might be related to or similar to the missing words. One contextual clue is the quotation marks around the words "Why do I refuse to be interviewed? Because it is immoral! It is a crime..." in the second sentence, which indicate that these are the exact words of the husband as reported by his wife. Another contextual clue is the word 'as' in the last sentence, which introduces a comparison between how the husband views being interviewed and how he views an assault or a theft. These clues suggest that we need two words that mean unethical or wrong and punishable or illegal. Therefore, based on these clues, we can infer that the words that complete the sentence are immoral and criminal.

Question (iv) Identify the line from the text that shows a contrast between two attitudes towards the interview.
Ans: The line from the text that shows a contrast between two attitudes towards the interview is "Yet Kipling had himself perpetrated such an ‘assault’ on Mark Twain only a few years before."
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify a line from the text that shows a contrast between two attitudes towards the interview, we can use strategies such as looking for words or phrases that indicate a difference, opposition, or comparison between two things or ideas. In this extract, there are two main attitudes towards the interview: one that sees it as immoral and criminal, and another that sees it as acceptable and normal. We can look for words or phrases in the text that indicate a contrast between these two attitudes, such as 'but', 'however', 'on the other hand', 'while', 'whereas', 'yet', etc. One line from the text that contains such a word is "Yet Kipling had himself perpetrated such an ‘assault’ on Mark Twain only a few years before." This line shows a contrast between two attitudes towards the interview by using the word 'yet' to introduce a contradiction or inconsistency between Kipling's own view of being interviewed and his action of interviewing someone else. This line also shows a contrast by using quotation marks around the word 'assault' to imply that Kipling did not see his interview with Mark Twain as an immoral or criminal act, but rather as a normal or acceptable one. Therefore, based on these clues, we can identify this line as the one that shows a contrast between two attitudes towards the interview.

Question (v) Explain any one possible reason why H. G. Wells referred to the interview as an 'ordeal' but still agreed to be interviewed.
Ans: One possible reason why H. G. Wells referred to the interview as an 'ordeal' but still agreed to be interviewed is that he saw it as a necessary or beneficial part of his career as a writer and a public figure.
Step-by-step explanation:
To explain a possible reason why H. G. Wells referred to the interview as an 'ordeal' but still agreed to be interviewed, we can use strategies such as making logical inferences, using background knowledge, or providing examples or evidence to support our answer. In this extract, we can infer that H. G. Wells had a mixed or ambivalent attitude towards the interview, as he described it as an unpleasant or difficult experience, but also participated in it frequently and even interviewed someone else. We can use our background knowledge to think of some possible reasons why Wells might have had such an attitude towards the interview. For example, we might know that Wells was a prolific and influential writer of science fiction, social commentary, and history, who was also involved in various political and social movements and causes. We can also provide examples or evidence to support our answer. For example, we might mention some specific cases where Wells gave interviews or interviewed others, and what he said or wrote about them. For instance, we might mention his interview with Joseph Stalin in 1934, in which he expressed his admiration for the Soviet leader and his hopes for world peace and cooperation. Therefore, based on these strategies, we can explain one possible reason why H. G. Wells referred to the interview as an 'ordeal' but still agreed to be interviewed.

Question (vi) What is the name of the literary device that is used in the phrase 'interviewing ordeal'?
Ans: The name of the literary device that is used in the phrase 'interviewing ordeal' is hyperbole.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to use our background knowledge or do some research to find out what different literary devices are and how they are used in language and literature. According to some sources (such as Literary Devices), a literary device is a technique that writers use to create special effects or meanings in their texts. Some common literary devices are alliteration, hyperbole, oxymoron, metaphor, etc. Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words in close proximity. For example, "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or effect. For example, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." Oxymoron is the use of two contradictory or opposite words together to create a paradoxical effect. For example, "jumbo shrimp" or "deafening silence". Metaphor is the use of a word or phrase that normally refers to one thing to describe another thing by implying a comparison or similarity. For example, "Life is a roller coaster." In this extract, the phrase 'interviewing ordeal' is used by H. G. Wells to describe his experience of being interviewed or interviewing others. This phrase uses hyperbole as a literary device, because it exaggerates or overstresses how difficult or unpleasant the interview was for him. The word 'ordeal' means a severe trial or suffering, which is usually associated with life-threatening situations or extreme hardships. By using this word to describe the interview, Wells implies that it was more than just an inconvenience or a challenge for him; it was almost like a torture or a punishment.

Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
Mukund: The English novelist and academic David Lodge once remarked, “I can’t understand how one man can do all the things he [Eco] does.”
 Umberto Eco: Maybe I give the impression of doing many things. But in the end, I am convinced I am always doing the same thing.
Mukund: Which is?
Umberto Eco: Aah, now that is more difficult to explain. I have some philosophical interests and I pursue them through my academic work and my novels. Even my books for children are about nonviolence and peace...you see, the same bunch of ethical, philosophical interests.
(The Interview)

Question (i) List any two sensory details present in this extract.
Ans: Two sensory details present in this extract are:

• The sound of Eco's voice saying "Aah" to express his difficulty in explaining his work.
• The sight of Eco's books for children that are about nonviolence and peace.

Step-by-step explanation:
To list any two sensory details present in this extract, we can use strategies such as looking for words or phrases that appeal to one or more of the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste. In this extract, there are not many sensory details, as it is mostly a dialogue between two people. However, we can still find some examples of words or phrases that evoke a sensory impression or image in the reader's mind. One example is the word "Aah" in the fourth line, which represents the sound of Eco's voice as he tries to explain his work. This word appeals to the sense of hearing and shows Eco's hesitation or uncertainty. Another example is the phrase "books for children" in the fifth line, which refers to Eco's novels that are aimed at young readers and have themes of nonviolence and peace. This phrase appeals to the sense of sight and shows Eco's diversity and creativity as a writer. Therefore, based on these examples, we can list two sensory details present in this extract.

Question (ii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The word 'impression' suggests that Eco is aware of how he is __________ by others.
Ans: The word 'impression' suggests that Eco is aware of how he is perceived by others.
Step-by-step explanation:
To complete a sentence appropriately, we can use strategies such as looking for grammatical clues, logical clues, or contextual clues in the text. In this extract, we need to find a word that fits in the blank space after 'he is' and before 'by others'. A grammatical clue is that we need a verb that agrees with the singular subject 'he' and has an ed ending in the past participle form. A logical clue is that we need a verb that expresses how Eco thinks others view or judge him based on his work and achievements. A contextual clue is that we can look for words or phrases in the text that might be related to or similar to the missing word. One contextual clue is the word 'impression' itself, which means an idea or opinion that someone forms about something or someone based on their appearance or behavior. Another contextual clue is the phrase "doing many things" in the second line, which implies that Eco has a lot of different activities or projects that might influence how others see him. These clues suggest that we need a verb that means to form an idea or opinion about someone based on their appearance or behavior. Therefore, based on these clues, we can infer that the word that completes the sentence is perceived.

Question (iii) Explain any one possible inference that can be drawn from the line "I have some philosophical interests and I pursue them through my academic work and my novels."
Ans: One possible inference that can be drawn from this line is that Eco is a versatile and interdisciplinary thinker who combines theory and practice in his work.
Step-by-step explanation:
To explain a possible inference that can be drawn from a line, we can use strategies such as making logical connections, using background knowledge, or providing examples or evidence to support our answer. In this extract, we can infer something about Eco's personality or style of work from his statement that he has some philosophical interests and he pursues them through his academic work and his novels. We can make logical connections between his statement and what it implies about him. For example, we can deduce that he is interested in abstract or general ideas and questions about reality, knowledge, morality, etc., and that he explores them through different forms of expression and communication, such as scholarly research and creative writing. We can use our background knowledge to think of some possible examples or evidence that support our inference. For example, we might know that Eco was a professor of semiotics (the study of signs and symbols) at the University of Bologna, and that he wrote several academic books and articles on topics such as linguistics, aesthetics, medieval studies, etc. We might also know that he was a novelist who wrote bestselling books such as The Name of the Rose and Foucault's Pendulum, which incorporated historical fiction, mystery, satire, etc. Therefore, based on these strategies, we can explain one possible inference that can be drawn from this line.

Question (iv) What is the name of the literary device that is used in the phrase "I can't understand how one man can do all the things he [Eco] does"?
(a) Irony
(b) Personification
(c) Allusion
(d) Hyperbole
Ans: (d) Hyperbole
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to use our background knowledge or do some research to find out what different literary devices are and how they are used in language and literature. According to some sources (such as Literary Devices), a literary device is a technique that writers use to create special effects or meanings in their texts. Some common literary devices are irony, personification, allusion, hyperbole, etc. Irony is the use of words or situations that convey a meaning that is opposite or different from what is expected or intended. For example, "The fire station burned down." Personification is the use of human qualities or characteristics to describe nonhuman things or entities. For example, "The wind whispered through the trees." Allusion is the use of a reference or mention of something or someone that is well-known or famous, such as a person, place, event, work of art, etc. For example, "He was a real Romeo with the ladies." Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or effect. For example, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." In this extract, the phrase "I can't understand how one man can do all the things he [Eco] does" is used by David Lodge to express his admiration and astonishment for Eco's work and achievements. This phrase uses hyperbole as a literary device because it exaggerates or overstates how many or how difficult the things that Eco does are. The word 'all' implies that Eco does everything possible or imaginable, which is obviously not true or realistic. The word 'can't' implies that Lodge is unable to comprehend or appreciate Eco's work, which is also not true or realistic. Therefore, based on these clues, we can infer that the phrase uses hyperbole as a literary device.

Question (v) Identify the line from the text that shows a similarity between Eco's academic work and his novels.
Ans: The line from the text that shows a similarity between Eco's academic work and his novels is "I have some philosophical interests and I pursue them through my academic work and my novels."
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify a line from the text that shows a similarity between Eco's academic work and his novels, we can use strategies such as looking for words or phrases that indicate a connection, comparison, or similarity between two things or ideas. In this extract, there are two main types of work that Eco does: academic work and novels. We can look for words or phrases in the text that indicate a similarity between these two types of work, such as 'and', 'both', 'also', 'similarly', 'likewise', etc. One line from the text that contains such a word is "I have some philosophical interests and I pursue them through my academic work and my novels." This line shows a similarity between Eco's academic work and his novels by using the word 'and' to connect them as two ways of pursuing his philosophical interests. This line also shows a similarity by using the same verb 'pursue' to describe how Eco engages with his philosophical interests through both his academic work and his novels. Therefore, based on these clues, we can identify this line as the one that shows a similarity between Eco's academic work and his novels.

Question (vi) What does the word 'ethical' mean in this context?
(a) Moral or principled
(b) Logical or rational
(c) Aesthetic or artistic
(d) Cultural or social
Ans: (a) Moral or principled
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the meaning of a word in context, we can use strategies such as looking for synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples, or clues in the surrounding text. In this extract, the word 'ethical' is used to describe one of Eco's philosophical interests that he pursues through his work. We can look for clues in the text that might indicate what kind of interest this is and how it relates to the word 'ethical'. One clue is the word 'philosophical' itself, which suggests that this interest is related to abstract or general ideas and questions about reality, knowledge, morality, etc. Another clue is the phrase "books for children are about nonviolence and peace" in the fifth line, which implies that this interest is related to values or principles that guide human behavior and actions towards others. These clues imply that this interest is concerned with what is right or wrong, good or bad, fair or unfair, etc., in human affairs. Therefore, based on these clues, we can infer that the word 'ethical' means moral or principled.

Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
Umberto Eco: When I presented my first Doctoral dissertation in Italy, one of the Professors said, “Scholars learn a lot of a certain subject, then they make a lot of false hypotheses, then they correct them and at the end, they put the conclusions. You, on the contrary, told the story of your research. Even including your trials and errors.” At the same time, he recognised I was right and went on to publish my dissertation as a book, which meant he appreciated it.
(The Interview)

Question (i) What is the name of the country where Eco presented his first Doctoral dissertation?
(a) France
(b) Italy
(c) Spain
(d) Germany
Ans: (b) Italy
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to use our background knowledge or do some research to find out where Eco was born and educated. According to some sources, Eco was born and raised in Italy, and he studied at the University of Turin, where he received his doctorate in philosophy in 1954. Therefore, based on these sources, we can infer that the name of the country where Eco presented his first Doctoral dissertation is Italy.

Question (ii) What does the word 'trials' mean in this context?
(a) Legal proceedings or cases
(b) Tests or experiments
(c) Difficulties or hardships
(d) Attempts or efforts
Ans: (d) Attempts or efforts
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the meaning of a word in context, we can use strategies such as looking for synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples, or clues in the surrounding text. In this extract, the word 'trials' is used to describe part of Eco's research process that he included in his dissertation. We can look for clues in the text that might indicate what kind of process this was and how it relates to the word 'trials'. One clue is the word 'errors' in the same phrase, which suggests that these trials were not always successful or accurate. Another clue is the word 'including' in the previous phrase, which implies that these trials were additional or optional elements that Eco chose to add to his dissertation. These clues imply that these trials were attempts or efforts that Eco made to explore his research topic and find answers to his questions, even if they involved some mistakes or corrections. Therefore, based on these clues, we can infer that the word 'trials' means attempts or efforts in this context.

Question (iii) Complete the sentence with ONE word.
The Professor's remark suggests that Eco's approach to research was __________ from the usual one.
Ans: The Professor's remark suggests that Eco's approach to research was different from the usual one.
Step-by-step explanation:
To complete a sentence with one word, we can use strategies such as looking for grammatical clues, logical clues, or contextual clues in the text. In this extract, we need to find a word that fits in the blank space after 'was' and before 'from'. A grammatical clue is that we need an adjective that describes the noun 'approach' and agrees with it in number and degree. A logical clue is that we need a word that expresses how Eco's approach to research compares or contrasts with the usual one. A contextual clue is that we can look for words or phrases in the text that might be related to or similar to the missing word. One contextual clue is the word 'contrary' in the second line, which indicates that Eco's approach was opposite or opposed to the usual one. Another contextual clue is the word 'even' in the third line, which emphasizes that Eco's approach was unusual or unexpected by including something extra or additional. These clues suggest that we need a word that means not the same as or unlike something else. Therefore, based on these clues, we can infer that the word that completes the sentence is different.

Question (iv) Identify the line from the text that shows a positive evaluation of Eco's dissertation.
Ans: The line from the text that shows a positive evaluation of Eco's dissertation is "At the same time, he recognised I was right and went on to publish my dissertation as a book, which meant he appreciated it."
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify a line from the text that shows a positive evaluation of Eco's dissertation, we can use strategies such as looking for words or phrases that indicate praise, approval, recognition, appreciation, etc. In this extract, there are two main evaluations of Eco's dissertation: one by the Professor who criticized his approach but acknowledged his correctness and published his work as a book; and another by Eco himself who defended his approach and expressed his satisfaction with his work. We can look for words or phrases in the text that indicate a positive evaluation of Eco's dissertation by either of these evaluators. One line from the text that contains such words is "At the same time, he recognised I was right and went on to publish my dissertation as a book, which meant he appreciated it." This line shows a positive evaluation of Eco's dissertation by the Professor, who admitted that Eco was right in his research and arguments, and who decided to publish his dissertation as a book, which implied that he valued and respected his work. Therefore, based on these clues, we can identify this line as the one that shows a positive evaluation of Eco's dissertation.

Question (v) Explain any one possible reason why Eco chose to tell the story of his research instead of just presenting his conclusions.
Ans: One possible reason why Eco chose to tell the story of his research instead of just presenting his conclusions is that he wanted to show the process and the progress of his inquiry and learning, and not just the results or the outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
To explain a possible reason why Eco chose to tell the story of his research instead of just presenting his conclusions, we can use strategies such as making logical inferences, using background knowledge, or providing examples or evidence to support our answer. In this extract, we can infer that Eco had a different approach to research than the usual one, as he included his trials and errors, and told the story of his research in his dissertation. We can make logical inferences about why he did so based on his statement and his attitude towards his work. For example, we can deduce that he was interested in exploring his philosophical interests and pursuing them through different forms of expression and communication, such as academic work and novels. We can use our background knowledge to think of some possible examples or evidence that support our inference. For example, we might know that Eco was a professor of semiotics (the study of signs and symbols) at the University of Bologna, and that he wrote several academic books and articles on topics such as linguistics, aesthetics, medieval studies, etc. We might also know that he was a novelist who wrote bestselling books such as The Name of the Rose and Foucault's Pendulum, which incorporated historical fiction, mystery, satire, etc. We can also provide examples or evidence from the text to support our answer. For example, we might mention that Eco said that he was convinced he was always doing the same thing, which meant that he had a consistent and coherent vision and purpose for his work. Therefore, based on these strategies, we can explain one possible reason why Eco chose to tell the story of his research instead of just presenting his conclusions.

Question (vi) What is the name of the literary device that is used in the phrase "Scholars learn a lot of a certain subject, then they make a lot of false hypotheses, then they correct them and at the end, they put the conclusions"?
(a) Anaphora
(b) Antithesis
(c) Asyndeton
(d) Epistrophe
Ans: (a) Anaphora
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to use our background knowledge or do some research to find out what different literary devices are and how they are used in language and literature. According to some sources, a literary device is a technique that writers use to create special effects or meanings in their texts. Some common literary devices are anaphora, antithesis, asyndeton, epistrophe, etc. Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. For example, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up...I have a dream that one day...I have a dream today." Antithesis is the use of two contrasting or opposite ideas or words in a balanced or parallel way. For example, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Asyndeton is the omission of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. For example, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Epistrophe is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. For example, "Government of the people, by the people, for the people." In this extract, the phrase "Scholars learn a lot of a certain subject, then they make a lot of false hypotheses, then they correct them and at the end, they put the conclusions" is used by the Professor to describe the usual approach to research. This phrase uses anaphora as a literary device, because it repeats the words 'then' and 'they' at the beginning of successive clauses to create a rhythm and emphasize the sequence and structure of the research process. Therefore, based on these clues, we can infer that the phrase uses anaphora as a literary device.