GSEB Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 7 The Interview Solutions

Think as you Read (Textbook Page No. 69)

Question 1. What are some of the positive views on interviews?
Answer: For 130 years, interviews have been an important part of journalism. It is a helpful way to communicate and is sometimes seen as an art form that reveals the truth. Denis Brian stated that in today's society, we learn about our "contemporaries" through their interviews.
In simple words: Interviews are an important part of journalism. They help us communicate, find the truth, and learn about people in our time.

Exam Tip: When discussing positive aspects, focus on communication, information, and artistic value, linking them to journalism's role.

Question 2. Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
Answer: Many famous writers feel that interviews get too much into their private lives. They often see themselves as being harmed by interviews. They suggest that an interview somehow "reduces" them, similar to how ancient cultures believed a person's portrait could take away their soul. Some well-known figures, like V. S. Naipaul, have mentioned that interviews leave them feeling hurt, and others, like Rudyard Kipling, have called it a crime and an unethical act.
In simple words: Famous writers often dislike interviews because they feel their privacy is invaded. They believe interviews can make them feel smaller, like having their soul taken away, or even like a bad action.

Exam Tip: Remember to include specific examples of celebrity writers and their reasons to support your answer effectively.

Question 3. What is the belief in some primitive cultures about being photographed?
Answer: Some early cultures thought that taking someone's picture was like taking their soul from their body, making them incomplete and disrespected.
In simple words: In older cultures, people sometimes believed that a photograph could steal a person's soul, leaving them incomplete.

Exam Tip: Focus on the core belief: the connection between a photograph and the soul, and its perceived negative impact.

Question 4. What do you understand by the expression 'thumbprints on his windpipe'?
Answer: This phrase means being choked or suffocated. It suggests that an interview is an attack on a person because it makes them so tense that they feel as if they are being choked.
In simple words: The expression means feeling strangled or choked. It shows how stressful interviews can make someone feel.

Exam Tip: Explain both the literal meaning of the idiom and its figurative sense in the context of interviews (i.e., feeling pressured or trapped).

Question 5. Who, in today's world, is our chief source of information about personalities?
Answer: Nowadays, the main provider of information about people's lives is the interviewer. Through their influence and power, interviewers gather facts and give us the best possible information about those being interviewed. They pull out all important details through their questions for us.
In simple words: Today, interviewers are our main source of information about famous people. They use their skills to gather and share important details from interviews.

Exam Tip: Highlight the role of the interviewer as a primary conduit of information, emphasizing their skill in extracting significant details.

Understanding the Text

Question 1. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
Answer: Yes, it seems quite likely that Umberto Eco enjoyed being interviewed. He appeared very comfortable with the interviewer and patiently answered all questions thoroughly without showing any annoyance or rush. He talked about his achievements in a very humble way and clearly explained his philosophical ideas and interests. He even let the interviewer learn about his craft with a hearty laugh. Additionally, he clarified his unique approach and was polite, friendly, and very responsive.
In simple words: Yes, Umberto Eco probably liked interviews. He was calm, answered fully without rushing, and spoke humbly about his achievements and ideas, even sharing secrets about his work with a laugh.

Exam Tip: Support your opinion with concrete examples from the text, such as Eco's demeanor, how he answered questions, and his overall attitude.

Question 2. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
Answer: Two things help explain how Eco managed to write so much. First, he stated that everyone's life has empty periods without major tasks, and he did most of his writing during these free moments. Second, people were surprised he wrote so much on various topics, but he explained he focused on similar themes and interests, like peace and non-violence. All his writings were connected by these shared interests, which saved him time and allowed him to write a lot quickly. This was the key to his productive writing.
In simple words: Eco wrote so much by using his free time wisely and by focusing on the same themes in all his works. This saved him time and let him produce many writings.

Exam Tip: When explaining Eco's productivity, mention both his use of "empty spaces" and the interconnectedness of his diverse subjects.

Question 3. What was distinctive about Eco's academic writing style?
Answer: Umberto Eco's academic writing approach is quite special. It has a certain playful and personal touch. It is a clear change from typical academic writing, which is usually impersonal, dull, and uninteresting.
In simple words: Eco's academic writing was unique because it was playful and personal, unlike the usual dry and impersonal style.

Exam Tip: Highlight the contrast between Eco's unique style (playful, personal) and the traditional academic style (depersonalized, dry, boring).

Question 4. Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
Answer: Umberto Eco regarded himself primarily as an academic scholar and then as a novelist. He made his preference very clear by saying, "I see myself as a university professor who writes novels on Sundays." During the week, he attends academic conferences and works on other scholarly, non-fictional projects.
In simple words: Umberto Eco saw himself as a university professor first and a novelist second. He said he writes novels on Sundays, while his main work during the week is scholarly.

Exam Tip: Quote Eco directly if possible ("I consider myself a university professor who writes novels on Sundays") to strengthen your answer about his self-perception.

Question 5. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel, ‘The Name of the Rose' ?
Answer: 'The Name of the Rose' is a distinct kind of novel. It is a very serious book, working as a detective story on one level, but it also delves into deep subjects like metaphysics, theology, and medieval history. The actual reasons for the book's great success, however, remain a puzzle.
In simple words: 'The Name of the Rose' was a very successful book. It was a serious detective story that also explored complex ideas like religion and history, but why it was so popular remains unknown.

Exam Tip: Note the dual nature of the novel (detective and philosophical) but also emphasize that the ultimate reason for its success is presented as a mystery.

Talking about the Text

Question 1. Talk about any interview that you have watched on television or read in a newspaper. How did it add to your understanding of the celebrity, the interviewer and the field of the celebrity? (Note: Students will write the answer to this question from their own experience.)
Answer: I recently watched an interview with a renowned astrophysicist on a news channel. The interview greatly enhanced my understanding of her work and personality. Her calm and thoughtful responses to complex questions showed her deep expertise and passion for space science. The interviewer was skilled, asking relevant questions that encouraged detailed explanations without being overly technical. This helped in clarifying difficult concepts for a general audience. I gained insight into the dedication required in her field, the challenges faced by scientists, and how their discoveries influence our view of the universe. The interview also revealed her humble nature, making her more relatable as a public figure despite her extraordinary achievements.
In simple words: I saw an astrophysicist's interview. It helped me understand her smart and passionate nature, her field's challenges, and how her work impacts us. The interviewer was good at explaining complex ideas.

Exam Tip: When answering experiential questions, structure your response by first stating the experience, then detailing insights gained about each element: the celebrity, the interviewer, and their field, using specific observations.

Question 2. The medium you like best for an interview – print, radio or television.
Answer: The medium I prefer most for an interview is television. It offers both audio and visual components. It shows the interviewer and interviewee to the audience exactly as they are. Usually, famous people accuse reporters of misquoting or misrepresenting them in print or radio. This problem doesn't happen when they are face-to-face on television. Their lip movements and body language when responding to probing questions are all clearly visible.
The recording of different expressions on the interviewee's face and their gestures and words are extra benefits that television provides over print media or radio. Print media only has plain, dull words with a picture, while radio tries to create the right mood through clever sound variations. Both, however, expect a lot of attention from the viewer or listener.
In simple words: I like TV interviews best because you can see and hear everything. This prevents misquotes often seen in print or radio. Facial expressions and body language give more information than just words.

Exam Tip: To effectively compare media, ensure you discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of each, supporting your preference with specific details like visual cues and potential for misrepresentation.

Question. Every famous person has a right to his or her privacy. Interviewers sometimes embarrass celebrities with very personal questions.
Answer: Interviewers wish to present unique and private details about the famous person they are questioning. Some interviewers concentrate only on the individual's public life and achievements. They aim to be fair in their method and evaluation. However, others want to make their interviews more exciting and often cross the fine line of an individual's privacy.
In their desire to create interesting content, they make the famous person uncomfortable with personal questions. Sometimes, the effect of such questions on the celebrity reveals their dislike and annoyance with the interviewer's silliness. If they speak loudly, they are called rude and proud, and if they stay quiet, they are seen as arrogant. In my view, an individual's privacy must always be respected.
In simple words: Interviewers often seek private details about famous people to make stories more exciting. Some respect boundaries, but others cross the line, asking personal questions that can embarrass celebrities. Everyone's privacy should be respected.

Exam Tip: Emphasize the ethical dilemma between public interest and an individual's right to privacy, noting how different interviewers handle this balance and its impact on the interviewee.

GSEB Class 12 English The Interview Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions in three to four sentences each:

Question 1. Why do the opinions of the interview vary considerably?
Answer: Over many years, thousands of famous individuals have been interviewed, with some even being questioned multiple times. Because of this extensive experience and varied situations, people's views on interviews differ greatly. Each person's experience shapes their opinion, leading to a wide range of perspectives on the practice.
In simple words: Opinions on interviews differ a lot because many famous people have been interviewed over the years, some more than once, leading to varied experiences.

Exam Tip: Link the variability of opinions to the diverse experiences of many celebrities who have undergone interviews multiple times.

Question 2. Which is, according to Mukund, a marked departure from academic style?
Answer: According to Mukund, Umberto Eco's unique style is a clear shift from the traditional academic approach. His scholarly work possesses a certain playful and personal nature. This quality makes it stand out significantly from the usual, more formal academic writing style.
In simple words: Mukund believes Eco's academic style is different because it's playful and personal, moving away from the usual formal academic writing.

Exam Tip: Clearly state the characteristic (playful and personal quality) that distinguishes Eco's style from conventional academic writing.

Question 3. Why is Umberto Eco not satisfied to be only a novelist? '
Answer: Umberto Eco is not content with just being a novelist because his primary identity is that of a university professor. He takes part in many academic conferences and firmly sees himself as part of the academic world. His commitment to scholarly pursuits means that being solely a novelist does not fully represent his intellectual interests and contributions.
In simple words: Umberto Eco is not happy just being a novelist because he is mainly a university professor. He attends academic conferences and feels he belongs to the academic community.

Exam Tip: Highlight Eco's self-identification as a professor and his active involvement in the academic community as the main reasons for his broader satisfaction beyond novel writing.

Reading Comprehension (Textual)

Read the following passages and select the most appropriate options as answers to the questions given below them:

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 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,' Lewis Carroll, the creator of Alice in Wonderland, was said to have had 'a just horror of the interviewer' and he never consented to be interviewed – It was his horror of being lionized which made him thus repel would-be acquaintances, interviewers and the persistent petitioners for his autograph and he would afterwards relate the stories of his success in silencing all such people with much satisfaction and amusement.

Question 1. Another expression for 'commonplace' is
A. 'Public Park'.
B. 'Shopping Centre'
C. 'Ordinary'
D. 'Frequently'.
Answer: (C) 'Ordinary'
In simple words: 'Commonplace' means something that is normal or usual, and 'Ordinary' is the best synonym among the given options.

Exam Tip: When identifying synonyms, consider the context of the original word and choose the option that best fits that context.

Question 2. Celebrities hate interviews because they feel that they ...............
A. are not advantageous to them.
B. are an unwarranted intrusion into their lives.
C. bring them dishonour.
D. spread wrong messages against them.
Answer: (B) are an unwarranted intrusion into their lives.
In simple words: Celebrities often dislike interviews because they feel these questions unnecessarily invade their private space.

Exam Tip: Refer back to the passage to locate the specific reason mentioned for celebrities' dislike of interviews, which is usually related to privacy.

Question 3. In primitive culture it was believed that if one takes somebody's photo, he ...............
A. blackmails him.
B. takes away his soul too.
C. helps him bring glory.
D. humiliates him.
Answer: (B) takes away his soul too.
In simple words: Early cultures believed that taking a picture of someone could steal a part of their soul.

Exam Tip: Ensure your answer directly reflects the specific cultural belief mentioned in the passage regarding photographs and the soul.

Question 4. One of the following had a fear of being interviewed :
A. Lewis Carroll
B. V. S. Naipaul
C. Celebrities
D. Petitioners
Answer: (A) Lewis Carroll
In simple words: Lewis Carroll, the creator of Alice in Wonderland, was known for his fear of being interviewed.

Exam Tip: Always double-check names and specific details in the passage when answering questions about individual examples or fears.

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.

At that point, at the age of 22, I understood scholarly books should be written the way I had done-by telling the story of the research. This is why my essays always have a narrative aspect. And this is why probably I started writing narratives [novels] so late at the age of 50, more or less.

I remember that my dear friend Roland Barthes was always frustrated that he was an essayist and not a novelist. He wanted to do creative writing one day or another but he died before he could do so. I never felt this kind of frustration. I started writing novels by accident. I had nothing to do one day and so I started. Novels probably satisfied my taste for narration.

Mukund: Talking about novels, from being a famous academic you went on to becoming spectacularly famous after the publication of 'The Name of the Rose'. You've written five novels against many more scholarly works of non-fiction, at least more than 20 of them Umberto Eco: Over 40.

Question 1. How was Umberto Eco different from other scholars in preparing his research paper?
A. He made a lot of false hypotheses.
B. He put the conclusions after certain corrections.
C. He told the story of research including his trials and errors.
D. He added others' opinions.
Answer: (C) He told the story of research including his trials and errors.
In simple words: Umberto Eco wrote his research paper by sharing the entire journey of his study, including any mistakes or attempts he made.

Exam Tip: Focus on the unique 'narrative' approach Eco took, which included the process and challenges, rather than just presenting conclusions.

Question 2. What kind of essays and novels did Umberto Eco write?
A. Didactic
B. Narrative
C. Reflective
D. Argumentative
Answer: (B) Narrative
In simple words: Umberto Eco wrote essays and novels that told stories, meaning they had a narrative style.

Exam Tip: Recall Eco's explanation about his essays having a "narrative aspect" and his novels satisfying his "taste for narration."

Question 3. Roland Barthes had a strong feeling that he could ...............
A. not write essays.
B. write essays.
C. not write novels.
D. Both 'B' and 'C'
Answer: (D) Both 'B' and 'C'
In simple words: Roland Barthes felt that he could write essays but struggled with writing novels, showing he wanted to write creatively.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the specific frustrations mentioned about Roland Barthes: being an essayist but wanting to be a novelist.

Question 4. Umberto Eco became famous for his ...............
A. Non-fictional works.
B. Narrative novels.
C. Essays.
D. All of these three.
Answer: (D) All of these three.
In simple words: Umberto Eco became well-known for his non-fictional writings, his narrative novels, and his essays.

Exam Tip: The passage indicates his fame grew significantly after publishing his novel 'The Name of the Rose' but also mentions his many scholarly works and essays, implying a broad range of contributions.

Grammar

Vocabulary

Fill in the blanks choosing the correct words given in the brackets and write the answers only:

Question 1. (literate, while] celebrities, commonplace, several, invention, point, interview) Since its ...1.... a little over 130 years ago, the ...2..... has become a .............. of journalism. Today, almost everybody who is ...4... will have read an interview at some ...5.... in their lives, ........6....... from the other point of view, ......7... thousand ......8........ have been interviewed over the years, some of them repeatedly.
Answer:
1. invention
2. interview
3. commonplace
4. literate
5. point
6. while
7. several
8. celebrities
In simple words: This exercise asks you to choose the right words from the list to complete the sentences, making them grammatically correct and meaningful.

Exam Tip: Read the sentence carefully, paying attention to context and grammar, to select the most appropriate word for each blank. Consider both meaning and part of speech.

Question 2. (ethical, academic, philosophical, non-violence, explain, novels, pursue, through) Umberto Eco: Aah, now that is more difficult to ...1... I have some ........2..... interests and I ........3...... them ....………………..4......... my ...5... work and my ......6......... Even my books for children are about 7..... and peace... you see, the same bunch of .....8..... philosophical interests.
Answer:
1. explain
2. philosophical
3. pursue
4. through
5. academic
6. novels
7. nonviolence
8. ethical
In simple words: This task requires you to fill in the blanks using the provided words to complete Umberto Eco's statement about his diverse interests and types of work.

Exam Tip: For fill-in-the-blanks, always try each word in the blank mentally to ensure it fits the sentence's meaning and makes sense in the overall passage.

Choose the correct meanings of the phrases/ idioms and rewrite the sentences:

Question. (1) He more or less admitted he'd done it. (very nearly, hesitantly, inevitably)
(2) It's not always a good idea to delve too deeply into someone's past, (criticise, discover more information about, speak admirably about)
(3) The new film deals with the relationship between a woman and her sick daughter. (is on the subject of, has some connection with, differs from)
(4) It was a small but nevertheless an important change. (not at all, in spite of that, in no way)
(5)I was given a cold shoulder by the host. (a bad treatment, no nice food, an unfriendly welcome).
Answer:
(1) He very nearly admitted he'd done it.
(2) It's not always a good idea to discover more information about someone's past.
(3) The new film is on the subject of the relationship between a woman and her sick daughter.
(4) It was a small but in spite of that an important change.
(5) I was given an unfriendly welcome by the host.
In simple words: This question asks you to pick the best meaning for certain phrases and idioms and then rewrite the sentences using that chosen meaning correctly.

Exam Tip: Understand the nuance of each idiom or phrase. Look for context clues in the original sentence to help you select the most fitting meaning from the options provided.

Rectification of Errors

Rectify the errors in the following text:

Question 1. And then I have a secret. Did you know that will happen unless you eliminate the empty of the universe, eliminate the empty spaces in all the atoms? The universe becomes as big as my fist.
Answer:

Exam Tip: Always proofread carefully for grammatical inconsistencies, incorrect prepositions, and verb tense errors. The context of the sentence often guides the correct word choice.

Question 2. As I presented my first Doctoral dissertation in Italy, one of the professors said, "Scholars learn a lot of a same subject, then they make a lot of false hypotheses, when they correct them and at the end, they put the conclusions.”
Answer:

Exam Tip: Pay close attention to singular/plural agreement, conjunctions, and adverbial clauses. "As" implies simultaneity, while "When" specifies a timing sequence, which is more appropriate here.

Punctuation

Punctuate the following passage:

Question. Umberto Eeo over 40 Mukund over 40 among them a seminal piece of work on semiotics but ask most people about Umberto eco and they will say oh has the novelist does that bother you
Answer: Umberto Eco: Over 40.
Mukund: Over 40! Among them, a seminal piece of work on semiotics. But ask most people about Umberto Eco, and they will say, "Oh, he's the novelist." Does that bother you?
In simple words: This answer correctly adds commas, periods, question marks, and quotation marks to the original text, clarifying who is speaking and what they are saying.

Exam Tip: Remember to use a colon for introducing dialogue, an exclamation mark for strong emotion, quotation marks for direct speech, and a question mark at the end of an interrogative sentence.

Indirect Speech

Convert the following dialogue into Indirect Speech:

Question. 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.
Answer: David Lodge once remarked that he could not understand how one man could do all the things Eco did. Umberto Eco replied that he might give the impression of doing many things, but he was convinced that he was always doing the same thing in the end.
In simple words: This converts a conversation between Mukund and Umberto Eco from direct quotes into reported speech, explaining what each person said.

Exam Tip: When converting to indirect speech, remember to change pronouns, verb tenses (usually shifting to past tense), and time/place expressions. Also, ensure the reporting verbs (e.g., remarked, replied) are used correctly.

Transformation of Sentences

Rewrite as directed:

Question. 1. Today, almost everybody who is literate will have read an interview at some point in their lives. (Turn into Simple.)
2. It is hardly surprising that opinions of the interview vary considerably. (Turn into Negative.)
3. Why do I refuse to be interviewed? (Change the Voice.)
4. Despite the drawbacks of the interview, it is a supremely serviceable medium of communication. (Use 'Though'.)
5. The universe will become as big as my fist. (Change the Degree.)
6. Not everyone can do that, of course. (Turn into Affirmative.)
7. Nobody can predict it. (Turn into Complex.)
Answer:
1. Today, almost every literate person will have read an interview at some point in their life.
2. It is not at all surprising that opinions of the interview vary considerably.
3. Why am I refused if somebody interviews me?
4. Though there are certain drawbacks of the interview, it is a supremely useful medium of communication.
5. My fist will/can never be bigger than the universe.
6. Very few can do that, of course.
7. There is nobody who can predict it.
In simple words: This question asks you to change how sentences are written without changing their meaning, following specific instructions like making them simple, negative, or using 'though'.

Exam Tip: Understand the rules for each type of sentence transformation (e.g., simple, negative, passive voice, degrees of comparison) and practice applying them to maintain the original meaning while changing the structure.

Report Writing:

Question 1. Write a report of the interview conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan from The Hindu of Umberto Eco, a professor at University of Bologna in Italy.
Answer:The Interview by Parinity Shukla
Ahmedabad
Jan. 2020
An interview with Umberto Eco, a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy, was conducted by Mukund Padmanabhan from The Hindu. The professor was a scholar known for his ideas on semiotics, literary interpretation, and medieval aesthetics. He later wrote literary fiction, academic texts, essays, children's books, and newspaper articles. By 1980, he achieved intellectual superstardom.
David Lodge, an English novelist, expressed surprise that one person could do so many things. Umberto Eco responded that he had various philosophical interests. His novels avoided violence and promoted peace, filling empty spaces in people's lives. Mukund observed that not everyone could match Eco's non-fictional work, which had a playful and personal quality distinct from regular academic style. Mukund questioned if this approach came naturally to him.
Umberto Eco explained that a professor commented on his dissertation, noting that people read his writings and found false hypotheses, then added their comments. However, publishers valued and printed his works. At 22, he realized scholarly books should be written. His essays always followed a narrative style. At 50, he started writing novels, and his friend felt Umberto Eco was an essayist. Mukund asked Eco about his novel 'The Name of the Rose'. Umberto wanted his novel to reach a wide audience. Journalists were puzzled by its success, selling 10-15 million copies, which proved people did not always prefer easy reading. Mukund wondered if the large audience was due to medieval history, but Umberto felt it was because of the novel's mysterious nature.
In simple words: Mukund Padmanabhan from The Hindu interviewed Umberto Eco, a renowned professor and novelist. Eco discussed his diverse interests, unique writing style that combines academic and narrative elements, and the unexpected success of his novel 'The Name of the Rose'.

Exam Tip: When writing a report, include a clear heading, date, and location. Structure the body chronologically or thematically, covering key points of the interview (who, what, where, when, why) and summarizing the main discussions.

The Interview Summary in English

The Interview Introduction:

Christopher Silvester (born in 1959) was a history student at Peter House, Cambridge. He worked as a reporter for Private Eye for ten years and has written articles for Vanity Fair. The following text is a passage taken from his introduction to the Penguin Book of Interviews, An Anthology from 1859 to the Present Day.

The Interview Summary:

Part I:

In this piece, the writer discusses the good and bad points of interviews, noting that in today's world, any literate person has probably read or heard an interview at some point. People hold different views on interviews; some see them as the only reliable source of truth, while others, especially famous people, consider them an unnecessary invasion. They feel that an interview somehow lowers their status, and the public sharing of information about their lives makes them feel they have lost a part of themselves.

Lewis Carroll, who created Alice in Wonderland, was proud that he spent time and effort successfully avoiding interviewers. Rudyard Kipling's wife even said that in her opinion, interviewing was immoral. H. G. Wells kept interviewers away but eventually became an active interviewer himself on many occasions.

Among those he interviewed were Joseph Stalin (a Russian revolutionary) and Saul Bellow (novelist and playwright). However, the writer believes that despite all the downsides, interviewing is a very valuable tool. He quotes Denis Brian, who stated that most of our information comes from one person asking another questions, making the interviewer indeed powerful and influential.

Part II

Part two is an excerpt from an interview with Umberto Eco. Umberto Eco was a professor at the University of Bologna in Italy. He had a reputation as a scholar for his knowledge and ideas on semiotics (the study of signs), literary interpretation, medieval aesthetics, newspaper articles, and his literary works. His novel, 'The Name of the Rose', sold more than 10 million copies.

The interviewer, Mukund Padmanabhan from 'The Hindu', notes that he finds it hard to understand how Umberto manages to do so many things. Umberto replies that he has mastered the skill of working in what he calls "interstices"—the empty spaces. He means that he can productively use every minute of his day.