Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers
Nine Gold Medals Summary by David Roth
Nine Gold Medals Summary About the Poet
David Roth (10 October, 1954 – Present) is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author and former radio personality. He is an artist who conveys a wealth of stories, anecdotes and scenes with a physically felt intensity. He is best known as the lead singer of the Southern California based hard rock band, ‘Van Halen’.
Nine Gold Medals Summary
The poem deals with an incident which happened at a special Olympic race. ‘Nine Gold Medals’ is a beautiful poem that illustrates that sports is not only about competing, and about winning awards and medals, but also a complete institution that teaches you values like, sportsmanship, compassion and empathy. In this poem we see that how racers help a young injured competitor, to finish the race without caring about the competition. They all were rewarded with a gold medal for their outstanding display of co-operation and human kindness.
Nine Gold Explanation of the Poem
Stanza 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.”
Explanation: Olympics are held after every four years. Participating in Olympics and wining an award is a deeply cherished dream of every athlete. This poem describes the scene at Special Olympics where special sportsmen, i.e., who have some problem in a particular part of their body, had gathered to participate in one hundred metres race.
They had come from different countries with the dream to win gold, silver or bronze medal. They had spent hours of vigorous training. Their hopes were quite high.
Word Meanings :
1. Athletes – Sportsmen
2. Building up – Developing strength and stamina
Stanza 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 being.”
Explanation: The spectators had gathered around and were cheering the contestants of all the events. They had been encouraging them all throughout. It was now time for the last event to begin. All were anxious about it.
Word Meanings:
1. Spectators – Onlookers, audience
2. Cheering – Shouting encouragement
Stanza 3. “The loudspeakers called out the names of the runners
The one hundred metres the race to be run
And nine young athletes stood there determined
And poised for the sound of the gun.”
Explanation: The next and the final event is the hundred metres race. The names of the participants are announced. The nine young athletes come and take their positions behind the starting point. They are fully determined and ready, and wait for the pistol to be fired in order to begin the race.
Word Meanings :
1. Exploded – Fired
2. Poised – Ready or prepared for something
Stanza 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.”
Explanation: The signal came indicated by the pistol shot, the runners began the race immediately but, unfortunately, the youngest of the athlete stumbled and lost his balance and fell with his knees on the ground.
Word Meanings :
1. Sumbled – Tripped
2. Staggered – To move unsteadily
Stanza 5. “He gave out a cry of frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts clashed 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.”
Explanation: After hours of training and hard efforts, all the dreams and hopes of the differently abled man seemed to turn to dust. He cries with pain and helplessness. He had trained hard but missed the opportunity to show his talent. But the speaker says that, something unusual yet true, happened following his fall.
Word Meanings:
1. Anguish – Extreme suffering, grief or pain
2. Dashed – Broke or destroyed
Stanza 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.”
Explanation: The other eight athletes who had already begun their race, stopped in their tracks. To everyone’s surprise, one by one, turning around, they returned to help the fallen boy and lifted him up. This sudden change of mind was quite unexpected. After all they had been preparing for this day from a long time.
Word Meanings :
1. Tracks – Paths, trails
2. Lad – Young boy
Stanza 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.”
Explanation: All the eight runners then held each other’s hand and resumed the competition, but this turned out to be a special one because all the participants were now walking together and the hundred metre race changed into a walk. Thus, the title on the banner matched with their act and could not have been a better one.
Word Meaning :
1. Joined hands – Held each other’s hands.
Stanza 8. “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.”
Explanation: The nine athletes reached the finishing line together hand in hand. They stood beneath the banner with smiling faces. No words would suffice to praise this act. Their act of co-operation towards their competitor actually won them nine gold medals. The poet repeats the last line to emphasize on their greatness.
Word Meaning :
1. Banner – A large strip of cloth with a design, picture or writing on it
Nine Gold Medals Summary Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
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.
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 being.
The loudspeakers called out the names of the runners
The one hundred metres the race to be run
And nine young athletes stood there determined
And poised for the sound of the gun.
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.
(i) From where had the athletes come and for what purpose?
(ii) Were the contestants well prepared for the event? Pick the line that illustrates this.
(iii) Describe the scene at the Olympics.
(iv) For whom was the call made? Who turned up and what signal did they need to wait for?
(v) What does the phrase ‘so did the runners’ mean? During the race who had bad luck? What happened to him?
Answer:
(i) The athletes had come from different countries of the world to participate in various events to be held at the Olympics and win prizes. It was the ‘Special Olympic Games’, in which the differently abled athletes competed with each other.
(ii) Yes, the contestants were trained and prepared, which is proved by the lines – “Many weeks and months in training all building up to the games.”
(iii) The ground was filled with a large audience, cheering the participants of the event. The athletes who had come to participate after a strenuous training for months, were well prepared, and the people were eagerly waiting for the final event of the day i.e., the race, to begin.
(iv) The names of the participants for one hundred metres race were called out over the loudspeaker.
Nine young athletes assembled, taking their position at the starting point. They waited for the sound of gun to begin the race.
(v) As soon as the pistol sounded, signalling the start of the race, the runners too charged ahead along their respective track, with firm determination. Thus, the runners charged like the gun shot towards their target. The youngest athlete among the runners had bad luck. Unfortunately, he tripped and unsteadily fell on his knees to the ground.
Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
He gave out a cry of frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts clashed 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
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.
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
(i) Who is ‘he’ referred to here? How did his efforts dash in the dirt? What was his reaction?
(ii) In David Roth’s poem ‘Nine Gold Medals’, something strange was witnessed. Illustrate.
(iii) Did the race actually take place? How? What words were printed on the banner above ?
(iv) Could the ‘Special Olympics’ have a better name? Give reason.
(v) How did the race end? Name the poet.
Answer:
(i) ‘He’ refers to the differently abled young athlete of the one hundred metre race, who unexpectedly fell down as soon as the race began.
The long awaited dream and aspiration of the runner, to participate in and win the prestigious Olympic race, came crashing down – all the more, the serious efforts he may have put in the preparation went unfruitful / useless. He felt everything coming dashing in the dirt. The athlete cried out in dismay and disappointment because he does not, get the opportunity to show his talent.
(ii) When the young athlete fell and cried out in frustration, the other runners who had started running, suddenly stopped, turned around and very surprisingly, came back one by one and helped the fallen racer to stand on his feet.
(iii) The race did take place but this was a special one. All the nine runners walked hand-in-hand to the finish line. The banner above read, ‘Special Olympics’.
(iv) No, the ‘Special Olympics’ is the most appropriate title for this event as it witnessed something really special. All the athletes had dreamt about winning the medal. However, on seeing their fellow runner in problem, they forgot their dreams and came forward to help him and completed the race together hand-in-hand. This is an exemplary example of empathy. Thus, this event could not have had a better title.
(v) The nine athletes reached the finish line together. There were now nine winners, instead of one, and each was awarded a gold medal as a reward for the display of empathy, helpful nature and humanity.
The poet is ‘David Roth’.