NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 4 Keeping it From Harold

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QA. Before you read “Keeping It From Harold”, the teacher will encourage you to answer or discuss the following.

What are the different weight categories in boxing?
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 times. What was his original name? How many times did he win the World Heavyweight Belt?
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.
Discuss with your friend as to why these wrestlers have such a large fan following. Has the perception of the people changed over the century with respect to those who fight in the ring?

Ans: Do it yourself.

QB. Discuss:

Do sports like chess, boxing and fencing require as much hard work and dedication as other sports like cricket, hockey and swimming? Why do you say so?
Are all sports equally respected in the area where you live? Elaborate.

Ans: Do it yourself.

Q. Note: Read the fiction, Keeping It From Harold, given in the book.

Ans: Mme Loisel is now worried because although, she has a dress to wear to the party, she doesn’t have any appropriate jewel to wear with it.

Q. 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.

Mrs. Bramble is amazed to think that she has brought such a prodigy as Harold into the world.

Ans: (9) Harold is alone with his mother in their home.

(5) Mrs. Bramble is amazed to think that she has brought such a prodigy as Harold into the world.

(8) Mrs. Bramble resumes work of darning the sock.

(1) Major Percy and Bill come to the house.

(7) Mrs. Bramble is informed that Bill had decided not to fight.

(3) Bill tells his wife that he is doing it for Harold.

(4) Jerry Fisher tries to convince Bill to reconsider.

(2) Harold comes to know that his father is a boxer.

(6) Harold wants to know what will happen to the money he had bet on Murphy losing.

QA. Based on your reading of the story, answer the following questions by choosing the correct option.

(i) Mrs. Bramble was a proud woman because:

(a) being intimidated by his boss.
(b) harassing his subordinates.
(c) doing very well at his job.
(d) meeting all the sales targets.

Ans: (c) doing very well at his job.

(ii) The narrator says that life has no geographical bounds implying that ________.

(a) human beings are essentially the same everywhere.
(b) one can travel freely to other countries.
(c) boundaries exist only on maps.
(d) one should work towards the good of mankind.

Ans: (b) one can travel freely to other countries.

(iii) Classify (1) to (4) as fact (F) or opinion (O), based on your reading of the story.

(1) Pescud had hurled the bestseller to the floor.

(2) People in real life marry somebody in their own station.

(3) Pescud got an opportunity to meet Jessie all alone two evenings after he met her father.

(4) Pescud believed that plate-glass was the most important commodity.

(a) F-1, 3, 4; O-2
(b) F-1, 3; O-2, 4
(c) F-1, 2, 4; O-3
(d) F-2; O-1, 3, 4

Ans: (a) F-1, 3, 4; O-2

(iv) Select the suitable option for the given statements, based on your understanding of the story.

(1) The author’s description of Coketown brings out the ugly face of industries that operated there.

(2) Pescud got off at Coketown as it had good business prospects for a plate glass salesman.

(a) (1) is false but (2) is true.
(b) (1) is true but (2) is false.
(c) (1) is the cause for (2).
(d) (2) is a fact but unrelated to (1).

Ans: (b) (1) is true but (2) is false.

B. Read the extracts and answer the questions by selecting the correct options.

1. I contrived to keep out of her sight as much as I could, but I never lost track of her. The last station she got off at was away down in Virginia, about six in the evening. There were about fifty houses. The rest was mud, mules, and speckled hounds. A tall old man, with a smooth face and white hair, looking as proud as Julius Caesar was there to meet her. His clothes were frazzled but I didn’t notice that till later. He took her little satchel, and they started over the plank walks and went up a road along the hill. I kept along a piece behind ‘em, trying to look like I was hunting a garnet ring in the sand that my sister had lost at a picnic the previous Saturday.

(i) The extract tells us that Virginia was a _________ populated town.

(a) densely
(b) highly
(c) sparsely
(d) hardly

Ans: (c) sparsely

(ii) Choose the option that uses the word ‘frazzled’ in the same way as the extract.

(a) I feel pretty frazzled most weeks these days.
(b) The cuffs of his brown shirt looked frazzled.
(c) Father finally arrived home, tired and frazzled.
(d) Mother was frazzled looking after all the guests had left.

Ans: (b) The cuffs of his brown shirt looked frazzled

(iii) Read the statements (1) and (2) given below, and choose the option that correctly evaluates the statements.

[1] The speaker pretended that he was searching for a lost ring.

[2] The speaker wanted to hide the fact that he had been following her.

(a) [1] is true but [2] is false.
(b) [2] is contradictory to [1].
(c) [1] is the reason for [2].
(d) [2] is the result of [1].

Ans: (d) [2] is the result of [1].

(iv) Select the option that displays the characteristics of the speaker.

(1) discreet
(2) vain
(3) ambitious
(4) observant
(5) finicky
(6) cautious

(a) 1, 4 and 6
(b) 2, 3 and 5
(c) 1, 3 and 6
(d) 2, 4 and 5

Ans: (a) 1, 4 and 6

(iii) The facts concerning Mr. Bramble’s profession ‘must be kept’ from Harold because it would make him feel:

(a) afraid
(b) ashamed
(c) weird
(d) angry

Ans: (b) ashamed

Q. On the faces of three of them consternation was written. In the eyes of the fourth, Mr. Fisher, there glittered that nasty, steely expression of the man, who sees his way to getting a bit of his own back, Mr. Fisher’s was not an unmixedly chivalrous nature. He considered that he had been treated badly…

(i) Three of them felt anxious because:

(a) Mr. Fisher was about to hit Major Percy.
(b) they suspected Mr. Fisher would take revenge.
(c) Harold had heard a part of their conversation.
(d) Harold did not like arguments at home.

Ans: (c) Harold had heard a part of their conversation.

(ii) Get a bit of his own back implies _____________.

(a) feeling offended.
(b) getting his way.
(c) being forceful.
(d) taking revenge.

Ans: (d) taking revenge.

(iii) How was Mr. Fisher planning to get his own back?

(a) By telling Harold the truth about his father.
(b) By persuading Mr. Bramble to change his mind.
(c) By hitting Major Percy and Mr. Bramble.
(d) By kidnapping Harold and blackmailing Brambles.

Ans: (a) By telling Harold the truth about his father.

(iv) Mr. Fisher felt he had been treated badly because Mr. Bramble had:

(a) cheated him and lied.
(b) called off his fight with Murphy.
(c) been spending time with Percy.
(d) been insensitive and aggressive.

Ans: (a) cheated him and lied.

A. Answer the following questions briefly :

(a) Why was it necessary to keep Harold’s father’s profession a secret from him?

Ans: Harold’s father was a professional boxer. His profession was not one of the intellectual and sophisticated ones. Harold was an intellectual and sophisticated child, who may not have liked the idea of his father being a professional boxer. So it was necessary for Harold’s father to keep his profession a secret.

(b) Describe Mr. Bramble as he has been described in the story.

Ans: Mr. Bramble has been described as a square-jawed man with an irregularly shaped nose who came and went mysteriously in the semi-detached
red-brick home where Mrs. Bramble and Harold stayed.

(c) Who was Jerry Fisher? What did he say to try and convince Bill to change his mind?

Ans: Jerry Fisher was Mr. Bramble’s boxing trainer. To convince Bill to change his mind, Jerry Fisher reminded him of the money he would receive if he would win the match, he even threatened him that he would disclose the secret of Bill’s profession to Harold.

(d) Why was Harold upset that his father had not told him about his true identity? Give two reasons.

Ans: Harold was upset due to two reasons. Firstly, that he had bet on his father to win the fight and he backing away from the fight would mean loss
of money. Secondly, if he knew his father was a boxer, he could have avoided being bullied by schoolmates for having a professional boxer as a father.

(e) Do you agree with the decision of Harold’s parents of hiding the fact that his father was a boxer? Why/ Why not?

Ans: I do not agree with Harold’s parents’ decision to hide the fact from him as truth is always better than lying multiple times to hide it. Parents should
be teaching the integrity of truth to their children.

(f) Why did Mr. Bramble decide at the last minute not to fight with American Murphy at the National Sporting Club?

Ans: Mr. Bramble was thinking about Harold while he stepped into White Hart. He suddenly became aware of the fact that this name is going to be in papers “instead of only in the sporting ones” along with his picture in it and as Harold checks the mail on a daily basis he may immediately come to know the truth. Therefore, Mr. Bramble thought of opting out from the match so that Harold does not come to know the real truth about his father’s profession from the papers.

(g) 'There are times when truth must be sacrificed.' Do you agree? Why / why not?

Ans: I do not feel that sacrificing truth can be a solution to a long-term problem as truth is something that does not remain hidden and it eventually comes out in front of people just like in the case of Mr. Bramble who tried to hide the truth from their son by making false assumptions that he will feel disgraced when Harold would come to know about his father’s profession. However, it is seen that when their little son came to know the truth he was upset that they had hidden the truth from him else he would have got a chance to swank infront of him.

(h) "Don't judge a book by its cover." Discuss with reference to Mr. Bramble's personality.

Ans: According to the author, Mr. Bramble was a square jawed man with an irregularly shaped nose which gave the readers a notion that he might be a man who is quite rough and tough or merciless but in contradiction, it is seen that his personality is not like it seems. Mr. Bramble was a very caring father who was very concerned about his son and his education. Mr. Bramble was so worried that he was even ready to quit his profession for saving his son from disgrace which reflects the fact that he was a very soft-hearted man. Therefore, it can be rightly said that “Don’t judge a book by its cover’.

QB. Answer in detail.

(a) Did Harold react the way his parents expected him to on finding out about his father’s true profession? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans: No, Harold did not react the way his parents expected him to react when he found out about his father’s true profession about being a professional boxer known by the name of ‘young porky’. In fact, Harold was found to be angry on his parents for keeping the truth from him. Harold revealed the fact that he has bet on his pocket money on the defeat of Jimmy Murphy and his friends would have been awfully proud of him, had they known that his father was ‘Young Porky’. This shows the fact that his parents were making false assumptions about Harold, whereas the truth was he was happy that his father was a famous personality which would give him a chance to swank in front of his friends.

(b) Assuming you are Harold, write a letter to your father expressing how you have always admired Young Pokey, little realizing it was his Pa.

Ans: Dear papa,
I hope you are doing well! It’s been very long talking to you, so I am writing this letter to you. Papa, I want to share something really interesting with you about my admiration towards a professional boxer named ‘Young Porky’. Young Porky is a professional boxer and he is very famous amongst the people of the UK. I am really awed by the way he faces his opponents and pins them down with his strength. I am his very big fan, Papa and I think if you follow his boxing matches you too will become a big fan of his aura. Then, when you come here I, you and Ma can go to see his boxing matches together. He is such a great player that I have even bet my pocket money on him against the match Young Porky is going to play against Jimmy Murphy. I think even you should follow this match. If he wins, then I will be able to swank in front of my friends. I am really looking forward to watching Young Porky’s match with you and Ma when you get here. On this note, I am ending my letter here. I am looking forward to meeting you soon, Papa.
Yours lovingly,
Harold

(c) We often go with preconceived notions which are usually baseless. Do you think this was the case with Mrs. and Mr. Bramble? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans: It is a true claim that we often go with preconceived notions which is usually baseless. In regard to Mr. Bramble and Mrs. Bramble it can be seen that they have been a victim of such misconception. Mr. Bramble and Mrs. Bramble held the notion that Harold would feel disgraced if he came to know
that his father was a man of wrath. Harold was an extraordinary child who was very intelligent to which Mr. and Mrs. Bramble took lot of pride and they also held the preconceived notion that he would feel ashamed if he came to know about his father’s real profession.

(d) Imagine you are Bill Bramble, write a diary entry expressing how life changed after your son’s birth and how you feel currently after the truth about your profession has been revealed to your son.

Ans: Friday, 16th May, 2022
11 a.m
Dear diary,
My son, Harold is ten years old and he is a gifted child. At this age he has won himself a prize at a spelling dictation contest while other children of
his age wear mortar boards and generally comport themselves like young dons. I will feel quite ashamed of myself to reveal my profession to him. Harold is too much class for us. Before Harold’s birth, I felt proud being a professional boxer. My ability to paste my fellow man in the eye while apparently meditating an attack on my stomach, and vice versa, had filled me with that genial glow of self-satisfaction which comes to philanthropists and other benefactors of the species. I was delighted to be the possessor of a left hook which had won the approval of the newspapers. And then Harold came into my life, and changed me into a furtive practitioner of shady deeds. Before, I went about the world with a match box full of press-notices, which I extracted with a pin and read to casual acquaintances. Now, I quail at the sight of my name in print, so thoroughly that I become imbued with the necessity of keeping it from Harold.
Bill

Q. Choose extracts from the story that illustrate the characters of these people in it.

Person character	Extracts from the story	What does it tell us about their character
Mrs. Bramble	(Para 12) "Bill we must keep it from Harold."	She was not honest and open with her son; concerned mother.
Mr. Bramble	(Para 33)
Percy	(Para 109)
Jerry Fisher	(Para 110)

Ans:

Person character	Extracts from the story	What does it tell us about their character
Mrs. Bramble	(Para 12) "Bill we must keep it from Harold."	She was not honest and open with her son; concerned mother.
Mr. Bramble	(Para 33) "The scales have fallen from his eyes."	He had seen the logic behind not going ahead with the fight. Concerned father.
Percy	(Para 109) "My dear sir." There was a crooning winningness in Percy's voice.	He was manipulative and was trying to influence Bill and show down Jerry Fisher.
Jerry Fisher	(Para 110) "Tommy," said Mr. Fisher, ignoring them all, "you think your pa's a commercial. He ain't.	He was desperate to see Bill back into the fight and was telling what the truth was to Harold.

Listening Task:

Q. The teacher will ask the students to answer these questions based on an interview given on page no. 146, by the legendary WWE wrestler, Kane to Chris Carle of IGN. The students should be made to listen to the interview. Teacher / student will read it out for the class.

(i) What were the video games that Kane liked playing earlier and which games did he enjoy later?

Ans: Kane earlier played Halo 2 and Ghost Recon. Later he played THQ’s Raw vs Smackdown 2006.

(ii) 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?

Ans: The Undertaker was his favourite wrestler when he was first getting into wrestling. The others who influenced him were Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage,
Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair, the Four Horsmen.

(iii) How according to Kane had the WWE changed in the past ten years?

Ans: According to him, WWE has become more television-driven.

(iv) Does Kane prefer performing with the mask or without the mask?

Ans: Kane prefers to perform without the mask but also finds that the mask has its aura.

(v) Why does Kane wrestle these days even though he has accomplished almost everything?

Ans: As he is still enjoying himself and is entertaining people, Kane is still wrestling.

(vi) What is your impression of Kane as a person after you have heard this interview?

Ans: I feel that Kane is an honest dedicated person who enjoys what he does and that shows in his accomplishments.

Writing Task:

Q. Many people are of the opinion that violent, physical sports such as boxing, kick boxing and wrestling, to name a few should be banned while
others think otherwise. Express your opinion on the topic by either writing in favour of banning these sports or against banning them. While writing, you should also include the rebuttal to your questions. Try not to go beyond 200 words.

Ans: Violent Physical Sports should be Banned

For the motion:
Sports are meant to inculcate the habit of healthy competition, discipline and enjoyment. When a sport becomes physically violent then it loses its core ethos. The competitors in sports such as wrestling, kick boxing and boxing have to hurt each other to earn points and to eventually win. This is against the basic grain of human existence. These sports are physically damaging with enough instances known when a participant has been fatally injured. Boxing has seen many competitors go out of the allowed limits and hit the opponent in such a way so as to permanently impair him/her or even kill. These sports bring out the basic instincts in humans—the will to hit and hurt another. The audience too is encouraged to harbour such feelings towards another human being. These physically violent sports not only damage people physically but also play havoc with the minds of the people involved. So they should be banned from all sporting events.

Against the motion:
Sports are the means of inculcating healthy competition, camaraderie, discipline and enjoyment. Violent sports do the same too. They are supposed to be played with the right spirit and with the right precautions. Boxing, kick boxing and wrestling are games enjoyed by the players and the audience. They bring out the strength and the competitive spirit amongst the participants. These sports are done under the strictest of supervisions and anyone digressing from the laid down norms is severely punished. The dangerous aspect of these games adds to their thrill. Mary Kom winning the gold for wrestling in the Asian Games is the high point of how a sport, violent or not, gives a sense of achievement, pride and power to the players.
Such games should not be banned rather the players should be encouraged to participate in the right spirit and within the laid down norms and rules, so that the sport is enjoyed in its truest form by the players as well as the audience.

Q. A large part of the story is composed of conversation between the characters. Can you convert it into a play and in groups, present your version of the play before the class? Before that, decide on the members of the cast, minimum props required and also the costumes.

Ans: Do it yourself.