SENIOR INTERMEDIATE

English Non-detail
Short Answers

An Interview
(Non-detail 15)
By Richard Gordon

1 The narrator thought that his interview could have been

more varied. Why?
Ans: Richard Gordon was an acclaimed surgeon and
anaesthetist and a thought-provoking and humourous
story writer. He was best known for a long series of comic
novels on a medical theme. Some of his well-known works
are ‘Doctor in the House,’ ‘The Medical Witness,’ Doctor at
large,’ and ‘The Face Maker.’ The present story, ‘An Interview,’
is a take-off on how interviews were conducted to select
clinical saviours.
How the interview was conducted by the Dean of a medical
school, Dr Lionel Loftus, for securing a medical seat at St
Swithin’s did not, in the least, at any point, suggest that he was
earnest. Gordon went all prepared and was also a bit nervous.
He was taken aback by the queries asked, which hardly had
anything to do with the subject. The Dean depended on the
approval of his secretary, who rejected those whose looks he
didn’t like. Hence the interview was just for the namesake, and
Gordon got through a cakewalk.
2 “The Dean began to look interested.” What was he
interested in? Why?
Ans: Richard Gordon was an acclaimed surgeon and
anaesthetist and a thought-provoking and humourous
story writer. He was best known for a long series of comic
novels on a medical theme. Some of his well-known works
are ‘Doctor in the House,’ ‘The Medical Witness,’ Doctor at
large,’ and ‘The Face Maker.’ The present story, ‘An Interview,’
is a take-off on how interviews were conducted to select
clinical saviours.
Dr Loftus, the Dean of St Swithin’s, seemed to show more
awareness of Rugby rather than Medicine while interviewing
Gordon for a medical seat. The writer depicts how medics were
recruited and what used to be the yardstick. The fact that a
Dean of the reputed Medical College, a prestigious post, relied
on his secretary to recruit medical doctors who, in turn, were
devoid of clinical knowledge but went by the looks of a person.
The situation was so grim that a prospective doctor was asked
questions which had nothing to do with Medicine.

3 Why do you think the older man visited the waiting room?
Ans: Richard Gordon was an acclaimed surgeon and
anaesthetist and a thought-provoking and humourous
story writer. He was best known for a long series of comic
novels on a medical theme. Some of his well-known works
are ‘Doctor in the House,’ ‘The Medical Witness,’ Doctor at
large,’ and ‘The Face Maker.’ The present story, ‘An Interview,’
is a take-off on how interviews were conducted to select
clinical saviours.
It was customary with Dr Loftus, the Dean of St Swithin’s
Medical College, for his secretary to give his nod before he
could approve of the candidate. Hence every prospective
medical aspirant had to go through the regular protocol of the
Dean’s secretary. Gordon, too, was scrutinized and met the
requirements of the secretary who visited the waiting room.
However, his visit had sweet nothing to do with queries on
Medicine. Hence his entry into the medical arena was a mere
fairy tale.
4 “His face suddenly lightened……….” Do you think the Dean
was delighted with the narrator?
Ans: Richard Gordon was an acclaimed surgeon and
anaesthetist and a thought-provoking and humourous
story writer. He was best known for a long series of comic
novels on a medical theme. Some of his well-known works
are ‘Doctor in the House,’ ‘The Medical Witness,’ Doctor at
large,’ and ‘The Face Maker.’ The present story, ‘An Interview,’
is a take-off on how interviews were conducted to select
clinical saviours.
Richard Gordon was being judged by his knowledge of Rugby
and the position he played rather than for a medical seat. Since
the interview was mere eyewash, the Dean acted as if he was
mighty impressed by Gordon’s performance. The fact of the
matter was that even the Dean was ignorant of the game and
acted upon the advice of his secretary, who scrutinized people
by their looks and attire. Hence Gordon found himself in a crazy
medical world where selection had a different benchmark.