Treasure Trove Poems Workbook Answers Nine Gold Medals
Nine Gold Medals Questions and Answers Extract Based
Question 1.
The athletes had come from so many countries To run for the gold, for the silver and bronze Many weeks and months in training All building up to the games.
(a) What is the setting of the poem ? What does the poet show ? Why did the athletes come from all over the country ?
(b) What did the athletes dream, why ? What feelings did they have while participating in the race ?
(c) What had the athletes been doing before participating in the event of race and why ? Which race has been referred here ?
(d) For what do the words ‘gold’, ‘silver’ and ‘bronze’ stand in the extract ? Do you think the contestants were prepared well for the event ?
(e) What was the day ? What kind of atmosphere was there in the ground ?
(f) Which athletes are being talked about in lines given above ? What is so special about them ?
Answer.
(a) The setting of the poem is that of ‘Special Olympics’ meant for differntly abled persons. The poet presents an imaginary scene of the last event- the hundred-metre race which was about to begin. The athletes came from all over the country because they wanted to participate in the competition of race.
(b) The athletes dreamt to win gold, silver and bronze medals in the competition because to win the medal in the international sports event was the subject of great honour, name and fame. While participating in the race, they had the feelings of determination and strong will power.
(c) The athletes has been training themselves for a long time before participating in the event of race because no one wanted to spare any pains for winning a medal. One hundred-metre race in the ‘Special Olympics’ has been referred here.
(d) The words ‘gold’, ‘silver’ and “bronze’ stand here for the medals and are awarded to those who deserve first, second and third in the competition. Yes, the contestants were prepared for the event as they had been practising hard and preparing for the competition for a long time.
(e) It was the day when the final event of race was going to begin. This day brought in a lot of excitement. The spectators had gathered around the field to cheer up the athletes. They were eagerly waiting for the approaching event. Similarly the athletes were also excited and full of enthusiasm.
(f) The athletes who had to participate in the final event of the competition— hundred metre race-are being talked about. In one way their being physically disable makes them special and in other way their feelings of determination and strong will power make them special. Ultimately their sportsmanship makes them special.
Question 2.
All round the field spectators were gathered
Cheering on all the young women and men
Then the final event of the day was approaching
The last race about to begin.
(a) Why had many athletes gathered together from all over the country ? What efforts had they made for the competition ?
(b) Who are the young women and men ? Why are they cheered on ?
(c) What event does the poem talk about ? What does the first stanza of the poem convey ?
(d) What idea does the poem ‘Nine Gold medals’ bring to us ?
(e) Do you think that the title of the poem is apt or suggestive ?
(f) How were the participants called in the ground. How were they signalled to start the race.
Answer.
(a) Many athletes had gathered together from all over the countries because they wanted to run for gold, silver and bronze medals and thus wanted to earn name and fame through this prestigious competition. For the competition they had been practising hard, training and preparing for weeks and months.
(b) The young women and men are the participants participating in the competition. They are cheered on for encouragement so that they might be able to show their talents in their best way. By cheering the participants, the spectators help them in mustering up their confidence.
(c) The poem talks about the hundred metre race in Special Olympics. The first stanza conveys that the athletes from all over the countries had come to take part in games. They had made a lot of preparations and practice for month. Eveiy one hoped to win a medal.
(d) The poem ‘Nine Gold Medals’ is not only about nine physically challenged athletes participating in an event in Special Olympics, but it presents to the world an instance of solidarity, amity and friendship which makes this Olympics truly special. The poem more than a recounting of the special act of the nine athletes in the poet’s appreciation to those athletes who broke all parameters of the competition to prove that a race is about showing true sportsmanship.
(e) The title of the poem is apt and suggestive. It is linked to the main theme of the poem. Only one gold medal is generally given to the first winner in a sports event. But in the race described in the poem all the nine participants are awarded nine gold medals for being so helpful and empathetic;,
(f) By calling the names of the participants through the loudspeaker, they were asked to come in the ground and to take their position. By making a pistol fire, they were signalled to start their race.
Question 3.
The loudspeakers called out the names of the runners
The one hundred metres the race to he run
And nine young athletes stood there determined .
And poised for the sound of the gun.
(a) What announcement was made ? What did the athletes do after hearing the announcement ?
(b) What did the athletes show through their actions and activities ? To which thing did they seem to be concentrated ?
(c) What happened as the pistol fired ? What tragedy took place with the youngest one ?
(d) What was the reason of falling of the youngest athlete ? What was his mental state ?
(e) Explain the following line: And nine young athletes stood there determined’.
(f) How many scenes are there in the poem which create climax ?
Answer.
(a) An announcement was made to call the names of participants participating in the final event and to ask them to take their position as the race was about to begin. After hearing the announcement, all the nine athletes came and stood at the starting point.
(b) Through their actions and activities, the athletes showed their determination and will power to win the gold medal in this prestigious competition. They seemed to be concentrated at the sound of the pistol fire which was an indication to start the race.
(c) As the pistol was fired, the participants moved to their aim as fast as they could. The youngest one could not move long. As he started the race, he stumbled, staggered and fell on the track.
(d) The youngest athlete fell on the ground as his weak legs could not cany him long. He seemed to be weaker than other contestants. He was utterly broken in heart and mind. He was distressed beyond imagiiiation. He was more in mental anguish than in physical pain.
(e) As the announcement for calling the nine runners was made, they, showing their extraordinary zeal and enthusiasm, stood at the point of the running track from where the race was about to start. Their physical gestures clearly narrated how they were determined to win the gold medal.
(f) There are two scenes which create the climax in the poem. Firstly, all the athletes’ turning back to help the runner who had fallen down is unexpected. Secondly the ending of the race with each runner’s winning a gold medal is also not anticipated.
Question 4.
The signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners on hearing the sound
But the youngest among them stumbled and staggered
And he fell on his knees to the ground.
(a) What do you understand by ‘The Special Olympics’ ?
(b) What kind of athletes came to take part in the competition? Which race was the last event of the day ?
(c) Who stood on the starting line ? In what state of mind were they ?
(d) Which sports event was to start ? How was it started ? What happened to one of the athletes ?
(e) How did the other contestants react in the race ?
(f) Why did the other contestants come to the help of the fallen athlete ?
Answer.
(a) The ‘Special Olympics’ means for differently abled persons. Such persons with some disability come to participate in various sports events. As the international sports event is very prestigious, every participant has to put in a lot of preparation and practice.
(b) The athletes who came to take part in the competition were the runners. They had to participate in hundred-metre race. Hundred-metre race was the last event of the day.
(c) Nine runners who came from different nations to participate in the event of race, were stood on the starting line. They seemed to be confident and determined to win the gold medal. They had preserved their strong will power.
(d) Hundred-metre race was going to start. It was started with the pistol fire. One of the athletes who was the youngest and weak, stumbled and staggered and fell on the track of the race.
(e) When the youngest athlete fell on the track of the race, he cried in great pain at not fulfilling his dream of winning gold medal. The other contestants who ran ahead of him, heard his cry and at once stopped their race in a mid way.
(f) Because of having the feeling of empathy and true sportsmanship, the other contestants could not see their youngest fellow in trouble crying in pain and stopping their race in a mid way turned back to help him in his great distress.
Question 5.
He gave out a cry of frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts dashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling the story
Now it’s a strange one, but here’s what occurred
(a) What happened as the race started ? Why did the fallen contestant make a loud cry ?
(b) How did the youngest contestant feel as he fell on the track by stumbling ?
(c) What strange thing happened ?
(d) Why did the eight contestants give up their competitive spirit ?
(e) What is the true meaning of the sports or what is the true spirit of the sports ? How does the poem moralise it ?
(f) Why were all participants in the race awarded with gold medals ?
Answer.
(a) One of the contestants of the hundred-metre race stumbled and fell down on the racing track immediately after the gun sounded for the start. Having fallen on the track, the contestant made a loud cry as his dream, ambitioin and aspiration of winning gold medal was shattered.
(b) The youngest contestant felt great pain as he had been deprived of winning gold medal. He seemed to be in utter frustration. He was wholly disappointed as his rigorous practice and serious efforts to win the competition proved futile.
(c) The other eight contestants stopped listening to the cry of the youngest athlete as he fell on the ground. The athletes who had been trained to be competing with others instead of rushing towards the finishing line to win the race stopped and turned around to reach the starting line to help the youngest athlete.
(d) It was their great sense of empathy, cooperation, collaboration and true sportsmanship which forced them to give up their competitive spirit and to move back to help the fallen athlete who was crying in great pain.
(e) The true meaning or the true spirit of the sports is not only about winning medals but also about learning the values of empathy and cooperation.
The poem brings out a situation where the contestants or athletes set aside their desire to win for helping another contestant who had fallen down. They empathised with him.
(f) All the participants came together as a group. They stood by each other showing true sportsmanship and walked together to the finishing line. Hence all of them were awarded with gold medals. The authorities honoured their display of empathy and human values.
Question 6.
The eight other athletes stopped in their tracks
The ones who had trained for so long to compete ’
One by one they turned round and came back to help him
And lifted the lad to his feet.
(a) Describe the scene at the hundred-metre race after the gun was fired ?
(b) Why could the youngest athlete not take good start in the race ?
(c) What happened when one of the athletes fell down ? Why was it unusual ?
(d) Why did the eight athletes stop for the youngest athlete ?
(e) What forced the eight athletes to return to the starting line ? What message did they give ?
(f) What made the authority realise to award all the athlete with gold medals ?
Answer.
(a) Nine athletes had taken position at the starting blocks: They were all set to run. The time struck and the gun sounded. The contestants started running. But one of the athletes, fell on the track. He cried out with disappointment. He had trained hard but did not yet the opportunity to show his ability.
(b) The youngest athlete could not take a good start in the race because he
seemed to be weaker than the other contestants. As he started running, his legs gave in and he stumbled and fell on the track. After that he could’not muster up the courage to start his race again.
(c) When one of the athletes fell to the ground, the other eight runners stopped and came back to help him stand on his feet. It was unusual happening because it was supposed to be a competition where one should try to beat others. But it ended with cooperation and collaboration, giving a great message to the humanity that we need those more than competition.
(d) When the youngest athlete stumbled and fell on tjie ground, the other eight who were ahead of him stopped and came back to help him stand up. Then they walked to the finishing line together by holding each other’s hands. All they were differently abled persons. So they rail knew how difficult it was to live in such condition and how heart breaking it was to fall on the ground and lose all hopes of wmning after so hard training.
(e) The eight athletes returned to the starting point out of their sense of empathy, cooperation and collaboration giving a great message to the world
that we need cooperation more than competition. It was a display of great human compassion and the spirit of the sports.
(f) The athletes’ kind, sympathetic and compassionate attitude made the authority realise that all the nine athlete deserved to be winners of this race competition, so all of them were awarded with gold medals.
Question 7.
Then all nine runners joined hands and continued
The one hundred metres reduced to a walk
And the banner above that said “Special Olympics”
Could not have been nearer the mark.
That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And the banner above and nine smiling faces
Said more than these words ever will .
Said more than these words ever will
(a) Which race has been referred to here ? How did the athletes reach the finishing line ? Why did they not compete against one another ?
(b) Explain in your words the meaning of the line ‘the one hundred metres reduced to a walk’.
(c) How would the nine contestants have felt when they all reached the finish line together ? Which words indicate this ?
(d) Do you think all the contestants were happy because they had won the gold medal ? Why ?
(e) How did the spectators react to this gesture of the eight contestants ? Why did the contestants of the race received a standing ovation ?
(f) What was the banner about ? In what sense did the words on the banner turn significant ?
(g) What message does the poem bring to us ?
Answer.
(a) One hundred-metre race in a ‘Special Olympics’ have been referred to here. One of the athletes fell on the track of the race by stumbling. When the other eight athletes heard his painful cry they turned back to help him and after lifting him to his feet, they all together walked to the finishing line. Out of empathy, they did not compete against one another.’
(b) The line given above describes the moment when the other eight athletes helped their fellow athlete, who had fallen, to stand up on his feet. Since the boy was unable to run, the others decided not to run either. All the nine contestants walked hand-in-hand to the finish line. In other words, the contestants walked the distance of the hundred yards (which was to run) at the speed of the contestant who had fallen down.
(c) The contestants must have felt happy and united when they reached the finish line still ‘holding hands’. The words ‘nine beaming faces’ tell us how happy they were. The contestants got a standing ovation which would have made them feel proud of what they had done.
(d) The contestaiits were happy not simply because they had won the gold medal. They were proud of being a united group who stood by each other, understood each other’s problems and helped each other even at the cost of winning a gold medal. For this group of contestants it was more important to empathise With and help each other than to win an individual prize.
(e) The spectators gave a ‘standing ovation’ to the contestants, which means they Stood up and clapped and cheered for them. Each of the contestants Was rewarded with a gold medal. The contestants of the race received a standing ovation because they (the spectators) thought it more important to help than to get a medal.
(f) The banner Was about ‘The Special Olympics’ meant for the differently abled persons. The words on the banner turned to be significant. The Special Olympics’ became really special when each participant was declared to be the wihnfer and awarded a gold medal.
(g) ‘Hie poem brings to us a message that we should be helpful and cooperative in life. We should be able to understand the feelings of another person from his point of view and be ready to mitigate his pain and sorrow.
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