Nine Gold Medals
Passage - 1
(i) The athletes came from all
over the country to the stadium where Special Olympics was held. They came
there to take part in the games, and to win medals.
(ii) The words 'gold' and 'bronze'
and 'silver' stand for medals that were awarded to the winning
contestants. Gold medal was awarded to the best contestant. The contestant
were well-prepared for they had trained for months and each of them
aspired to win a gold medal.
(iii)
(a) All the contestants came down
to the stadium aspiring to win the gold medal.
(b) As the contest for the
one-hundred yard race was about to begin, excitement among the spectators
began to grow high.
(iv) Spectators gathered around
the field because they wanted to watch the games, and cheer the
contestants. Athletes that had come to the contest are referred to as
'Young women and men'.
(v) The prestigious one-hundred
yard race is being talked about as the final event. The spectators were
greatly excited. They cheered and encouraged the athletes.
Passage - 2
(i) The blocks were lined up for the contestants to push
them the race started, 'Those' is referred to the contestants of the
hundred-yard dash.
(ii) Poet gradually builds up the suspense, First, he
tells the excitement among the spectators, then he tells the start of the
event, and finally the stumbling of the youngest athletes .It is
climax of the suspense, and the reader wonders what is going to happen
next.
(iii) The exploding of the pistol signified the start of the
game.The pattern in the first four lines is a b c d. In
the next four lines the rhyming pattern is a b a b.
(iv) Youngest athlete had bad luck. Just as he started
to run, he tripped , staggered and hit the asphalt. He had trained
hard and hoped to win the gold medal, but now he
disappointed.He despaired . He thought all his hope to win was
lost forever.
(v) True sportsman spirit does not consist in winning
medals. It involves playing fair, and helping one another, even
at the cost of losing. The eight athletes gave up trying to win.
They stopped running and rushed to help the fallen athlete.
Passage - 3
(i) The youngest athlete, who fell down, gave out a cry.
He cried not so much because he was physically hurt, but because he
was anguished at heart. He was desperate that his hope to win the gold
medal was lost for ever.
(ii) The youngest athlete had trained for months and
dreamed of winning the gold medal. But, as ill-luck would have it, he
stumbled and fell. His dream of winning was shattered for ever.
(iii) The other eight runners were running with the best
of their strength. One of them was sure to win the gold medal. But
all of them stopped and came back to help the fallen contestant to his
feet. Their attitude shows they valued fellow feelings above winning a
medal.
(iv) These lines bring out what true sportsmanship
means. Winning medal is important, but it is not the most important
thing. Sports should teach us human values. This is the main theme the
poem brings out.
(v) The other eight athletes came back and helped
the youngest athlete to his feet. Then they all held their hands, and
walked to the finish line together. Now all the nine of them were the
winners. Each got a gold medal. The spectators as well as the authorities
gave them a standing ovation.
Passage - 4
(i) Now, the race began anew. The eight athletes did want to
the gold medal individually. They joined hands because they wanted to win it as
a team. Now they did not run but walked with the ninth athlete to the finish
line.
(ii) "Special Olympics'' is meant for persons who have
some problems in their body. They are not normal athletes that is why
it is called Special Olympics. But the 'Special Olympics' became truly
special because it was the first ever event in which nine gold medals were
awarded in a single event.
(iii) The race ended with the victory of sportsmanship.The
eight athletes did not care for winning medals. They helped their
fallen fellow sportsman. But they all won a gold medal each and applause of the
spectators.
iv) All the contestants were happy when they crossed
the finish line together. Their faces beamed with delight.
The spectators were Impressed by their act of sportsmanship and gave
them a standing ovation.
v) Special Olympics was named so because it was not meant for
normal athletes but for those that were physically challenged. But it
became all the more special the athletes showed an unprecedented
sportsmanship and it was for the first time that all the nine
contestants won a gold medal each.
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