NCERT Solutions 09th English Chapter 4 Keeping It From Harold

Question 1.Before you read “Keeping It From, Harold”, the teacher will encourage you to answer or discuss the following:
1.What are the different weight categories in Boxing ?
2.Have you ever heard the song whose lyrics go like …. “He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee” ? Who does ‘he’ refer to ? He is also known as ‘The Greatest’ boxer of all time. What was his original name ? How many times did he win the World Heavyweight Belt ?
3.Find out from your friend if he!she watches WWE and who is his/her favourite wrestler. Also find out why he/she likes this wrestler.
4.Discuss with your friend as to why these wrestlers have such a large fan following. Has the perception of people changed over the century with respect to those who fight in the ring ?
Answer
1. The different weight categories in Boxing are the following :
1. Light Fly 46 to 48 kgs
2. Fly 48 to 51 kgs
3. Bantam 51 to 54 kgs
4. Feather 54 to 57 kgs
5. Light 57 to 60 kgs
6. Light Welter 60 to 63.5 kgs
7. Welter 64 to 71 kgs
8. Middle 71 to 75 kgs
9. Light Heavy 75 to 81 kgs
10. Heavy 81 to 91 kgs
11. Super Heavy above 91 kgs

1. Yes, I have heard this song. It is all about the world Heavy Weight Champion in Boxing Cassius Clay alias Muhammad Ali.
His original name is Cassius Clay.
He won the World Heavyweight Belt three times.
2. I have talked about WWE with my friend. His favourite wrestler is ‘The Great Khali’. He is the first Indian who has made it to the Heavyweight Wrestling Entertainment after rising from humble roots. (His original name is Dalip Singh Rana. He hails from Himachal Pradesh in India).
4. For discussion with a friend. Some points relating to WWF and fan following are given below :
These wrestlers have a large fan following because of

• natural instincts to see traditional games like boxing, wrestling, kabaddi, etc.
• adventure, suspense and romance involved
• excitement as to who will win
• natural interest in sports
• seeing body building display
• wonder as to how such boxers and wrestlers maintain themselves fit and agile
• sheer entertainment involved

Question 2.Based on your reading of the story, answer the following questions by choosing the correct option.
(a) Mrs Bramble was a proud woman because ____
1.she was the wife of a famous boxer.
2.she had motivated her husband.
3.she was a good housewife.
4.she was the mother of a child prodigy.
(b) “The very naming of Harold had caused a sacrifice on his part.” The writer’s tone here is ____
1.admiring
2.assertive
3.satirical
4.gentle.
(c) Harold had defied the laws of heredity by _____
1.becoming a sportsperson.
2.being good at academics.
3.being well-built and muscular.
4.respecting his parents.
(d) Harold felt that he was deprived of the respect that his classmates would give him as _____
1.they did not know his father was the famous boxer, ‘Young Porky’.
2.his hero, Jimmy Murphy had not won the wrestling match.
3.he had not got Phil Scott’s autograph.
4.Sid Simpson had lost the Lonsdale belt.
Answer
(a) 4
(b) 3
(c) 2
(d) 1
Question 3.Answer the following questions : 1.What was strange about the manner in which Mrs. Bramble addressed her son ? What did he feel about it ?
2.Why was it necessary to keep Harold’s father’s profession a secret from him ? [V. Imp.]
3.When Mr. Bramble came to know that he was to become a father what were some of the names he decided upon ? Why ?
4.Describe Mr. Bramble as he has been described in the story.
5.Why was Mrs. Bramble upset when she came to hear that Bill had decided not to fight ?
6.Who was Jerry Fisher ? What did he say to try and convince Bill to change his mind ?
7.How did Harold come to know that his father was a boxer ? (CBSE March 2012) [V. Imp.]
8.Why was Harold upset that his father had not told him about his true identity ? Give two reasons. [V. Imp.]
9.Do you agree with Harold’s parents’ decision of hiding from him the fact that his father was a boxer ? Why / Why not ?
Answer.
1. Mrs. Bramble felt amazed that she should have brought such a prodigy as Harold into the world. He was so different from other children. He was a model of behaviour and hence admirable. She had never expected that being the wife of a professional boxer she would mother such a gifted child. So she took a special care for Harold. She treated him as ‘a baby’ still. However, she felt jarred at being addressed like that.
2. It was necessary because Bramble and his wife felt more than obliged to be the parents of a gifted child. Bramble was a professional boxer and he should have children with such traits. But Harold’s being a prodigy was something that caused some sort of complex in them. They were doting parents. So they took a great care that Harold shouldn’t know his father’s profession.
3. Bramble thought that if he had a boy, he would name him as John, after John L. Sullivan. If they had a girl, she should be named Marie, after Miss Marie Lloyd. These personalities were celebrated ones. So Bramble wanted to name his child after them.
4. Mr. Bramble has been described as the mildest and most obliging of men. He was persuasive, a thorough gentleman and a doting father. He has a sacrificing nature. He yielded to all due to his soft and genial nature. This is seen in his changing his decision of fighting the boxing bout. He had decided to give up earlier.
5. Mrs. Bramble got upset because that would mean no money. So she was more upset because of money. She told him that Bramble had borrowed enough money from her. She hoped that she would get that back after Bramble fought the boxing bout and won. This money would ensure a good start of Harold’s life.
6. Jerry Fisher was the trainer at the White Hart. He was training Bramble to fight his boxing bout next Monday. He did everything possible to convince Bill to change his mind. He was not afraid of anybody. He even told Harold about his being a professional boxer. He compelled Bramble not to give up. When Bramble asserted his decision of giving up, Jerry Fisher’s eyes had tears in them.
7. Harold came to know that his father was a boxer from Fisher. Fisher told him that his father was a fighting man, known to all the heads as a “Young Porky’. Harold’s mother and his maternal uncle Percy Stokes didn’t want it.
8. Harold was upset that his father had not told him about his true identity. First, Bramble was a man of muscle power whereas Harold was a man of intellect. Harold was a prodigy. Bramble had developed a kind of inferiority complex. Secondly, he had lately been a practiser of shady deeds. These two reasons kept him from telling Harold of being a professional boxer.
9. I agree with Harold’s parents’ decision of hiding from him this fact. Actually, Bramble was the mildest and most obliging of men. He had a sacrificing nature. Being such a man it was natural for him to prove his being a doting father. So whatever he did he did for the good of his son.
Question 4. The sequence of events has been jumbled up. Rearrange them and complete the given flowchart.
1.Major Percy and Bill come to the house.
2.Harold comes to know that his father is a boxer.
3.Bill tells his wife that he is doing it for Harold.
4.Jerry Fisher tries to convince Bill to reconsider.
5.Mrs. Bramble is amazed to think that she has brought such a prodigy as Harold into the world.
6.Harold wants to know what will happen to the money he had bet on Murphy losing.
7.Mrs. Bramble is informed that Bill had decided not to fight.
8.Mrs. Bramble resumes work of darning the sock.
9.Harold is alone with his mother in their home.
Answer
The proper sequence of events would be as follows :
9→5→8→1→7→4→3→2→6
9. Harold is alone with his mother in their home.
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5. Mrs. Bramble is amazed to think that she has brought such a prodigy as Harold into the world.
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8. Mrs. Bramble resumes work of darning the sock.
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1. Major Percy and Bill come to the house.
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7. Mrs. Bramble is informed that Bill has decided not to fight.
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4. Jerry Fisher tries to convince Bill to reconsider.
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3. Bill tells his wife that he is doing it for Harold.’
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2. Harold comes to know that his father is a boxer.
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6. Harold wants to know what will happen to the money he had bet on Murphy losing.
Qestion 5. The teacher will ask the students to answer these questions based on an interview given by the legendary WWE wrestler, Kane to Chris Carle of IGN. The students are to listen to the interview.
1.What were the video games that Kane liked playing earlier and which games later ?
2.Who was Kane’s favourite wrestler when he was first getting into wrestling and who were some of the other wrestlers who influenced him into taking up wrestling ?
3.How according to Kane had the WWE changed in the past ten years ?
4.Does Kane prefer performing with the mask or without the mask ?
5.Why does Kane wrestle these days even though he has accomplished almost everything ?
6.What is your impression of Kane as a person after you have heard this interview ?
Answer
1.Kane liked playing Halo 2 and Ghost Recon earlier. Later he liked to play THQ’s Raw vs. Smachdown 2006.
2.Hulk Hogan. There were others also who influenced hiin into taking up wrestling. They were : Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Rio Flair, Four Horsemen. Undertaker was his favourite.
3.According to Kane the WWE had become a product of television. It had become stronger. The format of the show had also changed due to the competition from the formerly WCW. Also business had grown manifold.
4.Kane prefers performing without the mask because he is unlimited in what he can do. However, with the mask he relies on body language.
5.Kane wrestles these days for two things : one, for fun and two, for entertaining his fans.
6.My impression about Kane is good. He is a wrestler in the true sense and a man of principles. Secondly, he has a warm respect for his fans. He is always ready for their entertainment.