| Name | Nine Gold Medals |
| Type | Poem |
| Class | 10th |
| Subject | English |
| Board | ICSE |
| Author | David Roth |
In this post today Edukar.in is going to provide you the Questions and Answers of Nine Gold Medals poem for ICSE class 9 students. These questions are very important and also have been appeared in many previous year examinations. These important questions with answers might definitely help you out.
Nine Gold Medals Questions and Answers
Q1: Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
The spectators gathered around the old field
For cheering on all the young women and men
The final event of the day was approaching
Excitement grew high to begin.
(i) Where did the athletes “come from all over the country”? Why?
Ans: The athletes “come from all over the country” to participate in the race in the special olympics so as to win gold, silver and bronze medal.
(ii) What 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: Thw words ‘gold’, ‘silver’ and ‘bronze’ stands for medals to be awarded to the participants on winning the race. Yes, the contestants were prepared well for the event as they had practisec hard, training for weeks and months for the competition.
(iii) Give the meaning of:
a) And all coming down to these games.
Ans: The participants from all over the country are coming down to take part in the olympics.
b) Excitement grew high to begin.
Ans: The olympics game was going to be started and everyone was excited about the competition.
(iv) Why did the spectators gather around the field? Who is referred to as “young women and men”?
Ans: The spectators gathered around the field to cheer up the young participants. The participants are referred to as “young women and men”.
(v) Which final event was being talked about in the extract? What was the mood of the spectators here?
Ans: The hundred yard race is an event organized in the special olympics was being talked about in the extract. The spectators were very excited for the competition as they gathered in the field to cheer up the participants.
Q2: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions:
The blocks were all lined up for those who would use them
The hundred-yard dash and the race to be run
There were nine resolved athletes in back of the starting line
Poised for the sound of the gun.The 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.
(i) Why were the blocks lined up? Who all are referred to as ‘those’ in the above extract?
Ans: The blocks were lined up for the participants of special olympics game. All the runners who have participated in the special olympics are referred to as ‘those’ in the above extract.
(ii) Show how the suspence was bulit up before the competition began.
Ans: Bet gradually builds up the suspence. First, he tells the excitement among the spectators, then he tells the start of the event, and finally the stumbling of the youngest athlete. It is the climax of the suspence and the leader wonders what is going to happen next.
(iii) What did the exploding of the pistol signify? Give two examples of rhyming pattern in the extract.
Ans: The exploding of the pistol signifies the signal to be given to the runners to start the race. The rhyming pattern in the first four line is a,b,c,d. In the next four lines the rhyming pattern of poem is a,b,a,b.
(iv) During the race who had bad luck? What happened to him? What were his feelings then?
Ans: During the race, the smallest athlete among the nine athletes had bad luck. He stumbled and lost his balance and he fell on the track. He felt as if all his dreams and efforts of winning the gold medal were broken and destroyed.
(v) How does the poem show the value of true sportmanship?
Ans: The poem shows the value of true sportsmanship as all the eight runners helped the young boy, to stand on his feet and they together joined their hand and walked together to one finishing line and all of them won the gold medal.
Q3: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions:
He gave out a cry in frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts all dashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling this story
The same goes for what next occurred.The eight other runners pulled up on their heels
The ones who had trained for so long to compete
One by one they all turned around and went back to help him
And brought the young boy to his feet.
(i) Who gave out a cry? Why did he cry?
Ans: The smallest athlete among the participants gave out a cry because when he began to run he stumbled and lost balance and fell on the track which made him disappointed
(ii) What were his dreams? What were his frustations?
Ans: He had a dream of winning a gold medal in the special olympics. His frustations were that, when he fell on the track he felt if all dreams and efforts of winning the medal were broken and destroyed.
(iii) State in your own words what the eight other runners did. What did their action reflect on their attitude?
Ans: The remaining eight runners on seeing him fall, instead of continuing the race, stopped and turned back to help him. All the nine athletes joined hands together and walked to the finishing line. Thier action reflects about the spirit of sportsmanship.
(iv) How do these lines bring out the main theme of this poem?
“One by one they all turned around and went back to help him
And brought the young boy to his feet.“
Ans: These lines brings out the main theme of the poem as all the athletes had trained for so long to compete and win the race, but each of them stopped to help bring the young boy to his feet that displayed the real spirit of sportsmanship.
(v) Narrate what happened after the young boy was brought to his feet.
Ans: When the young boy was brought to his feet then all the nine runners joined together and walked towards the finish line. The race meant for runnung was then reduced to a walk.
Q4: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions:
Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued
The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk
And the banner above that said (Special Olympics)
Could not have been more on the mark.That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And a standing ovation and nine beaming faces
Said more than these words ever will.
(i) Why did the nine athletes join hands? What did their action of joining hands show? Why was the race reduced to walk?
Ans: The nine athletes join hands in order to help the young boy who fell on the track to his feet. The action of joining hands displayed the true spirit of sportsmanship. The race reduced to the walk because all the athletes joined hand and changed their hundred yards race into a walk.
(ii) Give the meaning and significance of:
“And the banner above that said (Special Olympics)
Could not have been more on the mark.”
Ans: The banner above as ” Special olympics” was appropriate as the contestants behaviour added to the uniqueness of the event.
(iii) How dod the race end? In what way was the ending appropriate?
Ans: The race ended with not one, but all the nine winners. Each of them was given a gold medal, for they walked hand in hand to the finish line. The audience was so touched by exemplary behaviour of the athletes that they stood up and clapped.
(iv) How did the contestants feel when they crossed the finish line together? Which words in the extract indicate their mood? How did the spectators react?
Ans: The contestants crossed the finish line together and won the gold meal each for their compassion for a fellow competitor and they were very happy. The words”nine beaming faces” indicate their mood. The spectators were touched by the exeplary behaviour of the athletes that stood up and clapped.
(v) How did the race in the special Olympics become very special?
Ans: Special Olympics was named so because it was not meant for normal athletes but for those who were physically challanged. But it became more special when the athletes showed on an outstanding sportsmanship. It was for the first time that all the nine contestants won a gold medal in this race.