Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
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.
(The Interview)
Question (i)
What is the main idea of this extract?
- The interview is a source of truth and an art
- The interview is an unwarranted intrusion and a theft
- The interview is a controversial and varied phenomenon
- The interview is a primitive and extravagant practice
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
(c) The interview is a controversial and varied phenomenon
Step-by-step explanation:
- The main idea of an extract is the most important point that the author wants to convey to the reader.
- To find the main idea, we can look for clues such as the topic sentence, the supporting details, and the concluding sentence.
- In this extract, the topic sentence is "So it is hardly surprising that opinions of the interview — of its functions, methods and merits — vary considerably."
- This sentence introduces the main idea that the interview is a phenomenon that has different opinions and perspectives from different people.
- The supporting details are the examples of how some people might view the interview as a source of truth and an art, while others might view it as an unwarranted intrusion and a theft.
- These details illustrate the contrast and variation in opinions about the interview.
- The concluding sentence is " 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."
- This sentence reinforces the main idea by showing another example of how some people might have a negative view of the interview and compare it to a primitive belief.
- Therefore, based on these clues, we can infer that the main idea of this extract is that the interview is a controversial and varied phenomenon.😊
Question (ii)
What does the word 'extravagant' mean in this context?
- Excessive or wasteful
- Imaginative or creative
- Luxurious or rich
- Impressive or admirable
Answer:
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