ICSE Class 10 Television Workbook Solutions and Answers

Comprehension Passages

Stanza 1 And 2

The 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.
The 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.

Read the lines given above and answer the following questions:

Question 1. Explain with reference to context.
Answer: These lines are from the poem ‘Nine Gold Medals by David Roth. The poem sends the message that sports are not only about medals but also about learning the values of cooperation, sharing, competing and complementing. In this poem ‘Nine Gold Medals', the poet, David Roth has presented the idea of empathy and how human values are as important as the spirit of competition. The poem presents the situation of a race, where the contestants leave aside their desire to win the medal to help a smaller and weaker contestant. They all go hand-in-hand to the finishing line. Athletes from all over the world train hard to participate in this event. Winning a medal in the Olympics is the ultimate goal of every athlete of the world. However, the setting or the scene of this poem is that of ‘Special Olympics'. In these Olympics, differently-abled persons, who have some problem/s in a particular part of the body, participate in various sports events. The contestants put in a lot of preparation and practice. Everyone hopes to win a medal. The spectators are as excited as the contestants. They cheer and encourage the contestants. These two stanzas help to create the setting of the poem.
In simple words: These lines introduce the poem "Nine Gold Medals," highlighting themes of cooperation, empathy, and the competitive spirit in the Special Olympics, where athletes train hard and spectators are excited.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining with reference to context, identify the poem and poet, and then elaborate on the central theme, setting, and key messages conveyed by the stanzas.

Question 2. What do the words 'gold', 'silver' and ‘bronze' stand for in the poem?
Answer: The 'gold', 'silver' and ‘bronze' stand for the medals which are given to the first position holder, second position holder and the third position.
In simple words: 'Gold', 'silver', and 'bronze' represent the medals awarded for first, second, and third place in a competition.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to symbolic language; often, words or phrases have deeper meanings in poetry beyond their literal interpretations.

Question 3. Were the contestants well prepared for the event? Pick the line that illustrates this.
Answer: Yes, they were well prepared. The line that illustrates this is: ‘Many weeks and months of training All coming down to these games.'
In simple words: Yes, the contestants were very well prepared, as indicated by the line about "Many weeks and months of training All coming down to these games."

🎯 Exam Tip: Always support your answer with direct evidence from the text, quoting relevant lines or phrases to justify your point.

Question 4. What event is being referred to?
Answer: The event referred to is the Special Olympics, in which the contestants are differently-abled persons, who have some problem/s in a particular part of the body.
In simple words: The event is the Special Olympics, specifically for differently-abled athletes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify key details in the context clues to accurately determine the specific event or situation being described in the passage.

Stanza 3, 4 And 5

The blocks were all lined up for those who would use them
The hundred-yard dash and the race to be run
These 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.
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.

Read the lines given above and answer the following questions:

Question 1. Explain with reference to context.
Answer: These lines are from the poem ‘Nine Gold Medals by David Roth. The poem sends the message that sports are not only about medals but also about learning the values of cooperation, sharing, competing and complementing. In this poem ‘Nine Gold Medals', the poet, David Roth has presented the idea of empathy and how human values are as important as the spirit of competition. The poem presents the situation of a race, where the contestants leave aside their desire to win the medal to help a smaller and weaker contestant. They all go hand-in-hand to the finishing line. Of all the events in Olympics, the hundred-meter race is the most prestigious. The athlete, who wins it, is remembered as the fastest man in the world. So, for the Special Olympics mentioned in the poem this is the final event, hence the most prestigious. The hundred-yard race is about to begin. The athletes take position at the starting blocks. They begin to run immediately after the starting pistol is fired. However, one of them is unable to run and falls on the track. The action has begun and already one episode has taken place. The eight contestants are strong and run forward, while the ninth, who is the smallest, falls down. He cries out with the pain of disappointment. He has trained hard but does not get the opportunity to show his talent. All his dreams of winning the medal are broken and destroyed.
In simple words: These stanzas depict the start of the hundred-yard dash in the Special Olympics, where a signal gun fires, and runners begin, but one small athlete tragically falls, leading to cries of frustration as his dreams are shattered.

🎯 Exam Tip: When providing contextual explanations for poem stanzas, describe the sequence of events and the immediate impact on the characters, connecting it to the broader themes.

Question 2. The word 'exploded' is used for the firing of the pistol. What does the phrase 'so did the runners' in line 2 of stanza 4 mean?
Answer: As soon as the contestants heard the sound of the pistol being fired they all sprung into action and ran forward to race.
In simple words: The phrase "so did the runners" means that just as the pistol fired, the runners also quickly started running forward.

🎯 Exam Tip: Analyze figurative language and idiomatic expressions to understand their specific meaning within the poem's context, especially when asked about a phrase's interpretation.

Question 3. Who do you think are the competitors? How do you know which is the event mentioned?
Answer: The differently-abled people are the competitors. The banner said that it was Special Olympics. The event mentioned is the 100 yard dash.
In simple words: The competitors are differently-abled people participating in the Special Olympics, specifically in the 100-yard dash.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for explicit mentions or strong contextual clues, like "Special Olympics" or "hundred-yard dash," to identify key details about characters and events.

Question 4. How were the dreams of one of the contestants 'dashed in the dirt'?
Answer: The ninth, who is the smallest, falls down. He cries out with the pain of disappointment. He has trained hard but does not get the opportunity to show his talent. All his dreams of winning the medal are broken and destroyed.
In simple words: The smallest contestant fell, causing him immense pain and disappointment, effectively crushing his dreams of winning the medal after extensive training.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about a figurative phrase, explain its literal implication and the emotional impact it conveys on the character.

Question 5. How many competitors were there for the events?
Answer: There are nine competitors for the event.
In simple words: There were nine competitors participating in the event.

🎯 Exam Tip: Extract specific numerical details carefully from the text to ensure accuracy in your answer.

Question 6. What happened when the gun was fired?
Answer: When gun was fired all the nine athletes took off and charged ahead.
In simple words: All nine athletes immediately started running forward as soon as the gun fired.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe sequential events clearly, focusing on the immediate action that follows a key trigger in the narrative.

Question 7. Did all hope to win? How do you know? Why did the eight runners pull up on their heels?
Answer: They all took off and charged ahead when gun was fired. So I think that they all hoped to win. The eight runners pulled upon their heels, because the smallest of the competitors slipped, swayed and fell down on the asphalt track.
In simple words: Yes, they all hoped to win, as they charged ahead at the start; however, the other eight runners stopped because one small competitor fell on the track.

🎯 Exam Tip: When a question has multiple parts, address each part distinctly and provide reasoning for your conclusions based on the text.

Stanza 6, 7 And 8

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.
Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued
The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk
And a 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.

Read the lines given above and answer the following questions:

Question 1. Explain with reference to context.
Answer: These lines are from the poem ‘Nine Gold Medals by David Roth. The poem sends the message that sports are not only about medals but also about learning the values of cooperation, sharing, competing and complementing. In this poem ‘Nine Gold Medals', the poet, David Roth has presented the idea of empathy and how human values are as important as the spirit of competition. The poem presents the situation of a race, where the contestants leave aside their desire to win the medal to help a smaller and weaker contestant. They all go hand-in-hand to the finishing line. When the remaining eight contestants saw him fall, they, instead of continuing the race, came to the help their fellow contestant. All the athletes had dreamt of winning the medal. However, they readily forgot their dream and came forward to help the boy to his feet. Then all the nine contestants walked hand-in-hand to the finish line. ‘Hie audience was so moved by the exemplary behavior of the contestants that it stood up and clapped. There were now nine winners, instead of one, and each was given a gold medal. All the contestants displayed empathy turning the Special Olympics into a really 'special' one. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person's experience from his point of view. Simply stated, empathy is the ability to 'put oneself in another's shoes'. That is exactly what the eight contestants had done. One look at the fallen contestant had forced them to think 'what would I have felt if I had fallen?' and they knew exactly what they had to do. By awarding gold medals to all nine contestants, the authorities honoured their display of empathy, helpful nature and human values.
In simple words: These stanzas show the turning point of the poem, where the other eight athletes stop their race, turn back to help the fallen boy, and then all nine finish the race together, hand-in-hand. This act of empathy transformed the Special Olympics into a truly 'special' event, earning all nine contestants gold medals and a standing ovation for their display of human values over competition.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining later stanzas, focus on how the narrative develops, highlighting crucial actions or changes in behavior that drive the poem's central message and its resolution.

Question 2. Who gave standing ovation? Why?
Answer: The spectators gave the standing ovation, as they were moved by the feeling of brotherhood and oneness displayed by the handicapped athletes.
In simple words: The spectators gave a standing ovation because they were deeply moved by the handicapped athletes' demonstration of brotherhood and unity.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always identify both the 'who' and the 'why' when asked about an action and its motivation, ensuring your answer is complete and well-justified by the text.

Question 3. Explain the following phrases in a sentence or two.
(a) Pulled up on their heels
(b) Brought the young boy to his feet.
Answer:
(a)
The phrase 'pulled up on their heels' means that the other eight contestants stopped running.
(b)
The phrase 'brought the young boy to his feet' means that the other eight contestants helped the boy who had fallen down, to stand up on his feet.
In simple words: "(a) Pulled up on their heels" means the other eight contestants stopped running, while "(b) brought the young boy to his feet" means they helped the fallen boy stand up.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly define phrases by rephrasing them in simpler, direct language, focusing on the action or state they describe in the given context.

Question 4. Explain in your own words the meaning of the line ‘the hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk'.
Answer: The phrase 'the hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk' describes the moment when the other eight contestants help their friend, who had fallen down, to stand up on his feet. Since the boy was unable to run, the others decide not to run either. All nine contestants walk hand-in-hand to the finish line. In other words, the contestants walk the distance of the hundred yards (which was to be run) at the speed of the contestant who had fallen down.
In simple words: This line signifies that after helping their fallen friend, all nine contestants walked the rest of the race together, prioritizing unity and support over individual competition.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining a line in your own words, paraphrase its meaning clearly and succinctly, linking it back to the overarching theme or event in the poem.

Question 5. How would the nine contestants have felt when they all reached the finish line together? Which words indicate this? Do you think they were happy because they had won the gold medal? Why?
Answer: 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 get a 'standing ovation' which would have made them feel proud of what they had done. The contestants 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.
In simple words: The contestants felt happy and united, indicated by "holding hands" and "nine beaming faces." Their happiness stemmed not just from winning gold but from the pride of showing empathy, unity, and helping a fellow competitor, prioritizing human values over individual victory.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing character emotions, use textual evidence to support your interpretation and explain the deeper reasons behind their feelings, beyond superficial outcomes.

Question 6. How did the spectators react to this gesture of the eight contestants?
Answer: 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.
In simple words: The spectators reacted with a 'standing ovation,' showing their approval and appreciation by standing, clapping, and cheering for the athletes' compassionate gesture.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe audience reactions vividly, explaining what their actions imply about their feelings towards the events or characters in the narrative.

Project

Question 1. What message is conveyed in the poem?
Answer: In order to enhance the quality of our life we need to/develop empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and accept others who are different from us. It helps us to appreciate what the other person is going through and to offer emotional support at the time of need. Empathy works wonders when applied to relationships - our family, our friends or colleagues. It encourages positive behaviour towards people who are in need. Not only does empathy help us to resolve conflicts but it also enables us to find solutions to problems. In the process we end up making decisions to benefit us without hurting others. The poem also shows that empathetic behaviour is applauded by all.
In simple words: The poem primarily conveys the message that empathy - understanding and supporting others, especially those different from us - is crucial for enhancing life quality, resolving conflicts, and fostering positive relationships, ultimately leading to decisions that benefit everyone and are universally applauded.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the main moral or lesson the poem intends to teach, articulating how empathy and human values are prioritized over mere competition.

Question 2. In how many ways was this Olympic special? Explain?
Answer: This Olympic was special for people. In 100 yard dash event the nine participants did not care to win the race. They stopped running to raise the smallest of them who had stumbled. These athletes walked together and completed the race. All the nine were winners of the gold. The spectators also applauded them all. They did not have their favourite.
In simple words: This Olympic was special because all nine participants prioritized helping a fallen competitor over winning, collectively walking to the finish line, earning gold medals for their unity, and receiving applause from spectators who had no favorites.

🎯 Exam Tip: Enumerate distinct reasons that make the event unique, providing specific examples from the poem to illustrate each point of its special nature.

Question 3. Who won the race and how? Explain in about 50 words.
Answer: All the nine contestants won the race as they all reached the finish line together. One of them had fallen down at the start of the race. Instead of running to get their positions, they turned back and went to his help. Then they completed the race together. They were given the gold medal because they showed the true spirit of sportsmanship by helping the smallest among them at the risk of losing the race.
In simple words: All nine contestants won the race together by reaching the finish line hand-in-hand after stopping to help their fallen teammate. They were awarded gold medals for exemplifying true sportsmanship and prioritizing compassion over individual victory.

🎯 Exam Tip: Summarize the resolution of the race, focusing on the collective victory and the underlying reason (sportsmanship and help) for the unique outcome.

Question 4. Do you think the title of the poem is justified? How?
Answer: Yes, 'Nine Gold Medals' is an appropriate title as all the nine contestants deserved the medal. The smallest one, for not giving up, and the others for being helpful and caring.
In simple words: Yes, the title "Nine Gold Medals" is justified because all nine contestants, including the fallen boy for his perseverance and the others for their empathy, deserved the medals for their collective spirit of sportsmanship.

🎯 Exam Tip: Evaluate the title's effectiveness by linking it directly to the poem's central events, character actions, and overall message to explain its appropriateness.

Question 5. What is the central idea of the poem?
Answer: The poet wants to convey that sharing and caring are as important as winning and achieving.
In simple words: The central idea of the poem is that human values like sharing and caring are equally, if not more, important than the competitive drive to win and achieve personal success.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the core message or moral lesson that the author aims to impart through the narrative, distilling it into a concise statement.

Question 6. Which is the turning point in the poem?
Answer: When the pistol was fired, one contestant fell down while the rest ran forward. Normally the race would finish with any three out of them winning the first three positions. But this did not happen in this race, something else happened. All of them stopped and turned back to help their fellow-contestant. And this was the turning point of the poem.
In simple words: The turning point occurs when, after a contestant falls, the other eight runners stop and turn back to help him, deviating from the normal competitive course of the race.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recognize the pivotal moment in the narrative where the direction or outcome significantly changes, shifting from expected events to an unexpected, meaningful resolution.

Question 7. What lesson is learnt from the poem?
Answer: The poem teaches us the lesson of selflessness. There are moments in our life when we keep our own interests aside and help our friends who may be in a difficult situation. The value of cooperation is greater than the spirit of competition.It teaches us the joy of helping another without thinking of one's own interest.
In simple words: The poem teaches the lesson of selflessness, emphasizing that cooperation and helping others in need, even over personal interests or competition, brings a greater joy and value to life.

🎯 Exam Tip: Formulate the moral lesson clearly, explaining how the poem's events illustrate the importance of selflessness, cooperation, and empathy.

Extra Questions

Question 1. What event is referred to in the poem?
Answer: The 100 yards race which in the Special Olympics is being referred to in the poem.
In simple words: The poem refers to the 100-yard dash event during the Special Olympics.

🎯 Exam Tip: Precisely identify the specific event mentioned in the poem, including any qualifiers like "Special Olympics" for full clarity.

Question 2. What kind of atheletes were they?
Answer: They were differently-abled athletes, who have some problem/s in a particular part of the body.
In simple words: The athletes were differently-abled individuals with physical challenges.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state the characteristics of the athletes as described in the poem, using appropriate terminology.

Question 3. Who won the race as described in the end.
Answer: All the nine contestants walked hand-in-hand to the finish line. There were nine winners, instead of one, and each was given a gold medal. All the contestants displayed empathy turning the Special Olympics into a really 'special' one. The eight contestants had all helped the fallen ninth contestant and not cared about their medals They had stood by their team mate and shown consideration.The authorities honoured their display of empathy, helpful nature and human values by considering them all winners and awarding medals to all of them.
In simple words: All nine contestants won the race together, walking hand-in-hand to the finish line. Each was awarded a gold medal because their collective act of empathy, helpfulness, and human values made the Special Olympics truly 'special.'

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the collective outcome and the reasons behind it, highlighting how the display of human values led to a shared victory rather than an individual one.

Question 4. How did the last event turn out to be special?
Answer: When the eight contestants saw their team mate fall, they, instead of continuing the race, came to the help of their fellow contestant. All the athletes had dreamt of winning the medal. However, they readily forgot their dream and came forward to help the boy to his feet. Then all the nine contestants walked hand-in-hand to the finish line. The audience was so moved by the exemplary behaviour of the contestants that it stood up and clapped. There were now nine winners, instead of one, and each was given a gold medal. All the contestants displayed empathy turning the Special Olympics into a really ‘special' one.
In simple words: The event became special when eight athletes sacrificed their race to help a fallen competitor, resulting in all nine walking together hand-in-hand to the finish line, receiving gold medals for their extraordinary empathy and sportsmanship, and moving the audience to a standing ovation.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain how the unexpected act of compassion and unity transformed a competitive event into a profound demonstration of human values, making it uniquely "special."

Question 5. What human value is displayed by the action of the eight contestants?
Answer: The eight contestant displayed empathy for their fallen fellow contestant. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person's experience from his point of view. Simply stated, empathy is the ability to 'put oneself in another's shoes'. That is exactly what the eight contestants had done. They had all dreamt of winning the medal. But one look at the fallen contestant had forced them to think 'what would I have felt if I had fallen?' and they knew exactly what they had to do. They readily forgot their dream and came forward to help the boy to his feet. Then all the nine contestants walked hand-in-hand to the finish line
In simple words: The eight contestants displayed empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. They put themselves in their fallen teammate's shoes, sacrificing their own dreams of winning to help him, showing true compassion.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly name the human value and then elaborate on how the characters' actions explicitly demonstrate this value, using examples from the text.

Question 6. What is the theme of the poem? How is it conveyed?
Answer: The theme of the poem is that sports is not only about winning medals. It is also about learning the values of cooperation, sharing, competing and complementing. In this poem ‘Nine Gold Medals', the poet, David Roth has presented the idea of empathy and how human values are as important as the spirit of competition. The poem presents the situation of a race, where the contestants leave aside their desire to win the medal to help a smaller and weaker contestant. They all go hand-in-hand to the finishing line.
In simple words: The poem's theme is that sports transcend winning; it's about values like cooperation, sharing, and empathy. This is conveyed through the story of athletes in the "Nine Gold Medals" poem who, during a race, prioritize helping a fallen competitor over their personal desire to win, finishing the race together.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing the theme, state it explicitly and then explain how the plot, character actions, and overall resolution of the poem work together to communicate this central message.