ICSE-X-English
10: Nine Gold Medals by David Roth
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- #Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
- #Section : IThe athletes had come from all over the country
To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months of training
All coming down to these games.
- Qstn #1Where did the athletes 'come from all over the country'? Why?Ans : The athletes came from all over the country to the venue of the Special Olympics. The name of the venue for the concluding event alluded to in the poem, is 'old field'. The athletes reached there to win medals for their brilliant performance.
- Qstn #2What do the words 'gold', 'silver' and 'bronze' stand for in the extract? Do you think the contestants were prepared well for the event? Give a reason for your answer.Ans : The words 'gold', 'silver' and 'bronze' stand for gold medal, silver medal and bronze medal, respectively. These are the top three honours of any high-level sports competition. The contestants were certainly prepared well for the event. As the poet says, they had undergone months of rigorous training before the game started.
- Qstn #3What event is referred to here by the poet? What kind of athletes was they? What was their aim?Ans : The event referred to here by the poet is 100 metre-race in a Special Olympics. This is the most important of all events. Due to this, a large number of people watch this event. The athletes described in the poem were participants who had been selected for the 100 metre-race. This event is regarded as the most important sports event. Their aim was to win the gold, silver and bronze medals in the Special Olympics. These medals are tokens of top honours that are conferred on best performing athletes.
- Qstn #4How had they prepared themselves for the special event?Ans : All the athletes had prepared rigorously for the special event. They had been trained by their coaches for several months. This training had boosted the level of their self-confidence so much that each of them wanted to achieve the best and reach the zenith of glory by winning the top honour of the game.
- Qstn #5What does this stanza tell you about the nature and level of the sports event referred to here?Ans : The first line states that athletes have come from all over the country'. In the second line, we are informed that they have come to participate in a sports event where the best performers will receive awards that are usually given away at world's premier sports competitions such as Olympic Games and Paralympics. Then, the next line tells us that the participating athletes have undergone long and consistent training before reaching the game's site. This again suggests that the sports event referred to is a high-level multi-sport event.
- #Section : IIThe spectators gathered around the old field
To cheer on all the young women and men
The final event of the day was approaching
Excitement grew high to begin.
- Qstn #1What sports event is referred to earlier in the context?Ans : The sports event referred to earlier in the context is 100 metre-race. This is the most popular of all events and is organised as the last or concluding one in any sports competition.
- Qstn #2What does the poet's reference to the spectators, who have gathered to watch the event, imply?Ans : The spectators were in a very cheerful and encouraging mood. They were passionate and curious to see their favourite contestants touching the finish line. They have been simply referred to as 'young women and men'. This suggests that at least the visible majority of them are young. This also suggests that the 100-metre race is very popular among youngsters in general.
- Qstn #3Which event was about to begin?Ans : The event that was about to begin was the 100 metre-race. There was a huge and enthusiastic crowd of spectators waiting eagerly for the contestants to start running. The air was filled with excitement as everyone was keenly looking forward to welcoming the most outstanding sprinters claiming the top three medals
- Qstn #4Which phrase has been used by the poet to describe the venue or the place where the event is going to take place? What does this imply?Ans : The phrase used by the poet to describe the venue is the old field'. It implies that this field is the preferred venue for the most important of all athletic events. It's also possible that any other field, which could have been referred to as 'the new field', might not be fully prepared to organize this event.
- Qstn #5What does this stanza tell you about the temperament of the spectators?Ans : According to the poet, the spectators who have assembled are passionate and ardent lovers of the game. They are very excited and are eagerly looking forward to watching the proceedings of the event and the performance of athletes participating in it.
- #Section : IIIThe signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners all charging ahead
But the smallest among them, he stumbled and staggered
And fell to the asphalt instead.
- Qstn #1During the race, who had the bad luck? What happened to him? What were his feelings then?Ans : During the race, one of the runners had the back luck. While running for the medal in the 100 metre-race, he suddenly fell down. He was extremely sad and dejected after this.