SociologySocial Change and Development in India: Mass Media and Communication

Which of the following is true of a soap opera?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → The soap has no ending until it is taken off the air

Option (1) The soap ends when its main story comes to an end — Incorrect. Individual stories in a soap may come to an end, but the soap goes on. So the end of one story does not end the soap.

Option (2) The same characters stay in the soap throughout — Incorrect. Characters in a soap appear and disappear over time. The cast does not stay the same throughout.

Option (3) The soap has no ending until it is taken off the air — Correct. A soap opera is a serialised, continuous story. It has no ending until it is taken off the air completely.

Option (4) An episode stands alone without any earlier history — Incorrect. A soap presumes a history that the regular viewer knows. Each episode builds on what came before.

NCERT (2026-27): “Radio …
Soap operas are stories that are serialised. They are continuous. Individual stories may come to an end, and different characters appear and disappear, but the soap itself has no ending until it is taken off the air completely. Soap operas presume a history, which the regular viewer knows – he or she becomes familiar with the characters, with their personalities and their life experiences.”