Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. "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 round and went back to help him / And brought the young boy to his feet."
Select the correct option to complete the sentence. The phrase 'pulled up on their heels' means that the runners ____. A. moved aside B. stopped running C. tried to run faster D. jumped ahead
B. stopped running. The phrase indicates that the runners halted their competitive race to go back and help the fallen athlete, prioritizing empathy over winning.
Mention one character trait common to all the eight other runners.
Compassionate (or Selfless / Helpful). All eight runners forgot their competitive spirit and the training they had undergone, choosing instead to help the fallen boy to his feet.
What is the tone of the poet in these lines?
Admiring (or Appreciative). The poet highlights and appreciates the runners' selfless decision to stop and help, celebrating their humanity and empathy over the spirit of competition.
How might the young athlete have felt on being helped by the others?
The young athlete would have felt grateful and relieved. After initially crying out in frustration and anguish because his dreams were dashed in the dirt, the unexpected support and kindness from his competitors would have deeply comforted him.
Would you consider this incident as a turning point in the poem? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Yes, this incident is a turning point in the poem. Before the fall, the athletes were fiercely competing to win the race. After this incident, the race transforms from a competitive dash into a walk of solidarity, with all nine runners joining hands. This changes the outcome from a single winner to nine gold medalists, shifting the theme from competition to cooperation and empathy.
Explanation
The extract is from the poem 'Nine Gold Medals' by David Roth. Part (i) tests vocabulary in context; 'pulled up on their heels' means to come to a halt or stop running. Part (ii) requires inferring character traits from the runners' actions of turning back to help. Part (iii) asks for the poet's tone, which is admiring of the athletes' empathy. Part (iv) requires empathy mapping based on the boy's shift from frustration to receiving help. Part (v) assesses structural understanding; the fall shifts the narrative entirely from a competitive race to a collaborative walk, redefining victory.