A Girl Called Golden

Why did you run
When your schoolmates were walking?

Why did you sprint

If they started to run?

Why did you train

while others were playing?

What was the secret

That made it seem fun?

Was it the feel

of the fresh air and sunshine?

Was it the stir

of the breeze in your hair?

What made the coach

recognize you were special?

Was it because

you had courage to spare?

Showing your will

when the muscles were aching,

Long spells of effort

and much to be learned,

Heeding the words

that some others rejected,

Knowing that winning

could only be earned.
Time slipped away

then came the Olympics;

Still in your teens

but spurred on by the cheers;

Glory at last –

as you gained your gold medals,

A time to remember

the rest of your years.

A Girl Called Golden Summary

Summary: The Poem ‘A Girl Called Golden’ is written in praise of Betty Cuthbert. She was a great sprinter and had won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics Games in Melbourne and one more at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Betty Cuthbert who had a passion for running. She then pursues her career and becomes an Olympic winner. Betty trained herself when her friends were busy playing. She practiced and showed courage even in time of physical diversity. Though she had a strong will, her muscles were aching. She knew that she had to be hardworking and determined. Coach recognized Betty as a special one compared to others. Time had passed and when Olympics came, she was still in her teens and was cheer by others. It was a glorious moment in her life when she won three gold medals. It was the time to remember the rest of the years for which she struggled to attain at the age. The title of the poem suits because of the girl’s hard work and determination.

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Answer the following questions:

1. What was the secret that made Betty Cuthbert seem fun?

Ans.: The secret that made her seem fun is the feel of the fresh air and sunshine and the stir of the breeze of hair.

2. What made the coach recognize her was special?

Ans.: The coach used to recognize her was special because she had the courage to spare.

3. What does Betty was showing?

Ans.: Betty was showing her will when the muscles were aching.

4. What should be remembered according to the poet?

Ans.: The time to be remembered for the rest of her years.

5. What was the glory at last?

Ans.: The glory at last was she gained her gold medals.

6. Who is the poet speaking about?

Ans.: The poet is speaking about an Australian athlete by name Betty Cuthbert or Elizabeth
Cuthbert.

7. Who is the poet of the poem ‘A Girl called Golden’?

Ans.: David Bateson is the poet of the poem ‘A Girl called Golden’.

8. What did Betty do when her schoolmates were playing?

Ans.: Betty Cuthbert use to train to run or sprint when her schoolmates were playing.

I9. What according to poet makes Betty run faster?

Ans.: The poet says that fresh air and sunshine feels Betty run faster.

10. When did Betty win her Gold Medals?

Ans.: Betty won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics games in Melbourne. She added the fourth gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

III Read each of the following extracts and answer the questions given below:

1. “Why did you run?”

a. Who does ‘you’ refer to?

Ans.: ‘You’ refers to Betty Cuthbert.
b. Who said this and what made him say so?

Ans.: The poet David Bateson said this. He asked her why did she run when her classmates were walking.
2. “Why did you sprint?”

a. Who said this?

Ans.: The poet David Bateson said this.
b. Why did she sprint?

Ans.: Betty used to sprint when her schoolmates started to run.

3. “Why did you train?”

a. Who said this?

Ans.: The poet David Bateson said this.
b. When did she train and what?

Ans.: Betty trained to sprint or to run when her mates were playing.

4. “What was the secret?”

a. Who said this?

Ans.: The poet David Bateson said this.
b. What was the secret that made her fun?

Ans.: The secret that made her fun is the feel of the fresh air and sunshine, the stir of the breeze
in her hair.

5. “What made the coach recognize you?”

a. Who did the coach recognize?

Ans.: The coach recognized Betty Cuthbert.

b. What did he recognize in her?

Ans.: The coach recognized Betty Cuthbert that she is special in running to sprint than the others, and the courage to spare in her.