Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers My Greatest Olympic Prize
Treasure Trove Short Stories Workbook Answers
My Greatest Olympic Prize Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Who is the narrator of the story “My Greatest Olympic Prize” ?
Answer:
Jesse Owens is the narrator of the story “My Greatest Olympic Prize.” He is an American negro athlete who set the Olympic record of 26 feet 5 5/16 inches in Berlin in the summer of 1936. He talks of his great friendhsip with a German athlete named Luz Long during these games. It was Luz Long who provided Jesse owens with right kind of approach to his game. Jesse Owens made mistakes in his qualifying jumps and was feeling very desperate. Luz Long gave him a few tips which enabled Jesse Owens to correct himself and win the gold medal. He describes his friendship with Luz Long as a “24 carat friendship.”
Question 2.
What was Hitler’s “master race” theory and how did it affect Jesse Owens’ participation in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin ?
Answer:
Hitler was the Nazi ruler of Germany who held extremist opinions on many issues of his times. He childishly believed in the concept of Aryan superiority. He thought that the people of Germany could outdo all others in sports as well as other fields. Therefore nationalistic feelings were at an all-time high during the Berlin Olympic games which were held just before the beginning of World War II. Jesse owens who was an American negro felt angry when he came to know about Hitler’s fanatical views. He wanted to prove to Hitler and his “master race” who was superior and who wasn’t. Jesse Owens’ anger affected his performance so much that he found it difficult to qualify fpr the competition.
Question 3.
What were Jesse Owens’ ambitions as a sportsman ?
Answer:
Jessa Owens had great expectations from the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. He had trained, sweated and disciplined himself for six years in order to win some medals for the United States. He particularly wanted to win a gold medal in the running broad jump event. While studying at the Ohio State University, he had set
the world record of 25 feet 8 1/4 inches in this event. Therefore, everyone in his country expected him to win this event at the Olympics quite efffortlessly.
However, Jesse Owens was in for a surprise. When the time came for the broad jump trials, he was amazed to see a tall German boy hitting the pit at almost 26 feet during the pratice session. This German boy was Luz Long. Jesse Owens came to know that Hitler had purposely kept Luz Long in a low profile so that he could spring a surprise on other participants in the games. This is what made Jesse Owens nervous about his own hopes. Secondly, Hitler’s theory of Aryan superiority also annoyed and angered Owens. It is often said that an angry athlete is an athlete who will make mistakes. All this dampened the spirit of Jesse Owens.
Question 4.
What was the bitter reaction of Jesse Owens after failing to qualify in the first and second of his jumps during the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936 ?
Answer:
Jesse Owens, an American negro athlete participating in the Olympic Games in 1936, had a depressing experience. He had been training, sweating and disciplining himself for six years with the Olympic medals in mind. He had already set a world record of 26 feet 8 1/4 inches while still at the University. And yet he made a “foul” in the first of his three qualifying jumps in the Berlin Games trials. He had leapt from several inches beyond the take-off board, which was a foul. On the second jump, he forded even worse. The bitter thought in his mind was “Did I come 3000 miles for this ?” He thought that he was making a fool of himself.
Question 5.
How did Luz Long, the German athlete, relieve Jesse Owens’ tension and helped him qualifying for the Olympic Games ?
Answer:
After making two ‘four’ attempts in the qualifying jumps, Jesse Owens, the American athelete, had gone desperate. If he made a ‘foul’ even in the third attempt, he would be out of the Olympic Games and would have to return home, drawing a blank. So he was kicking disgustedly at the dirt. He didn’t know how to cool himself down. It was in this frustrated condition that Luz Long, the German athlete, came to him and offered a helping hand.Addressing Jesse Owens, he said, “Something must be eating you.” Actually Jesse Owens was upset over Hitler’s statement regarding the German athletes who were members of a “master race,” according to him. Jesse Owens’ anger over such statements spoilt his performance during the qualifying events. Though a German, Luz Long reassured Jesse Owens by telling him that even he didn’t believe in such statements. He also gave him a few tips to better his performance.
Question 6.
What was the tip given by Luz Long to Jesse Owens with which the latter could qualify for the Olympic Games in Berlin in the year 1936 ?
Answer:
Though Jesse Owens, the U.S. athlete, had trained, sweated and disciplined himself with the Olympic Games in mind, he fumbled a lot in the initial trials. Actually he was angered over some racial comments of Hitler regarding the superiority of the German athletes who, according to him, belonged to the Aryan race. An angry athlete is liable to commit mistakes. That is why he leaped from several inches beyond the take¬off board for a foul. On the second jump, he fouled even worse. Now, it was his last chance. It was a ‘do or die’ situation for him. It was here that Luz Long, a German rival, came to him and tried to cool him down. He knew that something was “eating” Jesse Owens. So he told him not to think about what Hitler was saying. He should only concentrate on the game. He advised him to draw a line a few inches in the back of the board and take off from there. This was sure to minimise the chance of a “foul”. This good tip enabled Jesse Owens to qualify for the Olympic Games with a good margin.
Question 7.
How did Luz Long ease the tension on Jesse Owens’ mind and what did Jesse Owens do to thank this friend ?
Answer:
It was owing to the friendly and sportsman-like attitude of Luz Long that Jesse Owens was able to make his mark in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Though Jesse Owens was an athlete of the first order, he was somewhat unnerved by the Aryan-superiority theory of the German ruler, Hitler. Luz Long could recognize what was passing through the mind of the U.S. Athlete and he spontaneously talked to him about his problem. He told Jesse that though he had been schooled in the Nazi youth movement, yet he did not believe in the “Aryan-supremacy business”. All the tension seemed to ebb out of Jesse Owens’ body and mind. After clearing the hurdle, he went to Luz Long’s room in the Olympic village to thank him. They chatted about track and field and a dozen other topics for two hours.
Question 8.
How did Luz Long set a fine example of true sportsmanship in the Olympic games at Berlin ?
Answer:
Luz Long, a tall handsome German athlete with blue eyes, set a great example of true sportsmanship in the Olympic games at Berlin. Though he was a German he did not believe in Hitlers’ theory. He was Jesse Owens’ opponent player and could have easily won a gold medal in the running broad jump event. But being a true sportman he became friendly with Jesse Owens in his precarious condition and showed him the way to qualify for the event. He told him to draw a line behind the take-off board and jump from there. This tip worked and the next day he won the gold medal by jumping 26 feet 5 5/16 inches. Though Luz also broke his own 16 past record, yet he had to concede the gold medal to his new friend, Jesse Owens.
Question 9.
Who congratulated- Jesse Owens on his great win in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and what were his sentiments at that time ?
Answer:
It was Luz Long who was the first to congratulate Jesse Owens on his great performance. Though Adolf Hitler was glaring at them from the stands nearby, Luz Long shook hands with Jesse Owens with a great smile. It was not a fake “smile with a broken heart” as it would have been in some other case of victory and defeat. It was a genuine smile of true freidnship which had been struck between these two athletes from different continents. To quote Jesse Owens :
“You can melt down all the gold medals and cups I have, and they couldn’t be a plating on the 24-carat friendship. I felt for Luz Long at that moment.”
Owens realized that Luz was the epitome of the Olympic spirit which says :
“The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part. The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.”
These words are from Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modem Olympic Games, and Luz Long’s behaviour is a true testimony of this athletic ideal.
My Greatest Olympic Prize Comprehension Passages
1. Read the extract given below and . answer the questions that follow :
I wasn’t too worried about all this. I’d trained, sweated and disciplined myself for six years, with the Games in mind. While I was going over on the boat, all I could think about was taking home one or two of those gold medals. I had my eye especially on the running broad jump.
A year before, as a sophomore at Ohio State University, I’d set the world’s record of 26 feet 8 1/4 inches. Everyone kind of 4
expected me to win that Olympic event hands down.
(i) When and where were the Olympic Games held ?
Answer: The Olympic Games were held in the summer of 1936 in Berlin, Germany.
(ii) Why were nationalistic feelings at an all-time high ?
Answer: The nationalistic feelings during the Olympic Games were at an all-time high because Adolf Hitler childishly insisted that his performers were members of a ‘master race’ and they would perform better than the other participants in the 1936 Olympics.
(iii) How had Jesse Owens prepared for the Games ?
Answer: Jesse Owens had trained, sweated and disciplined himself for six years in order to participate in the Games.
(iv) What did Jesse Owens think while he was going over on the boat ? What event had he set his eye on ?
Answer: While Jesse Owens was going over on the boat, he thought of taking home one or two medals. He had set his eyes on the running broad jump.
(v) What achievement had he made while he was a student at the Ohio State University ? What were people’s expectations from him ?
Answer: He had set the world’s record of 26 feet 8 1/4 inches. People expected him to win that Olympic event hands down.
2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
I was in for a surprise. When the time came for the broadjump trials, I was startled to see a tali boy hitting the pit at almost 26 feet on his practice leaps! He turned out to be a German named Luz Long. I was told that Hitler had kept him under wraps, evidently hoping to win the jump with him.
(i) What surprised Jesse Owens at the broad- jump trials ?
Answer: He was surprised to see a tall boy named Luz Long, a German athlete, hitting the pit at almost 26 feet on his practice leaps.
(ii) Who was that person who startled Jesse Owens at the trials ? What was he told about that person ?
Answer: He was Luz Long, a German athlete. He was told that Hitler had kept him under wraps, evidently hoping to win the jump with him.
(iii) How would Long’s victory affect the Nazis ?
Answer: Jesse thought that if Long won, it would add some new support to the Nazis’ Aryan-superiority theory.
(iv) What was Hitler’s superiority theory ?
Answer: Hitler believed in Aryan-superority theory. He believed that the Germans belonged to the master’s race. He thought that the German athletes would perform better than the other participants in the 1936 Olympic Games.
(n) What was Jesse determined to do ?
Answer: Jesse, the American Negro athlete, was determined to participate in the Olympic Games and show the master race who was superior and who wasn’t.
3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
An angry athlete is an athlete who will make mistakes, as any coach will tell you. I was no exception. On the first of my three qualifying jumps, I leaped from several inches beyond the take-off board for a foul. On the second jump, I fouled even worse. “Did I come 3000 miles for this?” I thought bitterly. “To foul out of the trials and make a fool of myself ?”
(i) What does every coach tell the athletes ?
Answer: Every coach tells the athletes that an angry athlete will always commit mistakes.
(ii) Why did Jesse Owens fail to qualify for the finals in the first two jumps ?
Answer: He failed to qualify for the finals in the first two jumps because he committed mistakes. On the first of his three qualifying jumps, he leaped from several inches beyond the take-off board for a foul. On the second jump, he fouled even worse. Due to these mistakes he failed to qualify for the finals in the first two jumps.
(iii) How did he curse himself for not qualifying for the finals in the first two jumps ?
Answer: He cursed himself by blaming himself. He said to himself, “Did I come 3000 miles for this ?” He thought bitterly that he had made a fool of himself by committing mistakes.
(iv) What did Jesse do in disgust ? Who was the athlete that had easily qualified for the finals in his first attempt ?
Answer: Jesse kicked at dirt in disgust. Luz Long, the German athlete, was the person who had qualified for the finals in his first attempt.
(v) What was Luz Long’s opinion about Hitler’s superiority theory ?
Answer: Long had been schooled in the Nazi youth movement, but still he did not believe in Hitler’s superiority theory.
4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
For the next few minutes we talked together. I didn’t tell Long what was “eating” me, but he seemed to understand my anger, and he took pains to reassure me. Although he’d been schooled in the Nazi youth movement,, he didn’t believe in the Aryan-supremacy business any more than I did. We laughed over the fact that he really looked the part, though. An inch taller than I, he had a lean, muscular frame, clear blue eyes, blond hair and a strikingly handsome, chiseled face. Finally, seeing that I had calmed down somewhat, he pointed to the take-off board.
(i) What did Long tell Jesse that made him feel good ?
Answer: When Long assured him that he would be able to qualify for the finals with his eyes closed, this made him feel good.
(ii) What was Long’s view about Hitler’s supremacy theory ?
Answer: Although Long had been schooled in the Nazi youth movement, he did not belive in the Hitler’s Aryan-supremacy theory.
(iii) Describe Luz Long’s physical appearance.
Answer: Luz Long was an inch taller than Jesse Owens. He had a lean, mascular frame and clear eyes. He had blond hair and a strikingly handsome chiseled face.
(iv) What tip did Long give Jesse that would help him to qualify for the finals ?
Answer: Long told him that he should draw a line a few inches in back of the board and aim at making his take-off from there. That way he would be sure not to foul and he would jump far enough to qualify.
(v) What removed Jesse’s tension ? What did Jesse do to qualify for the finals ?
Answer: Long told Jesse that he should draw a line a few inches in back of the board and aim at making his take-off from there. This suggestion removed Jesse’s tension.
5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Suddenly all the tension seemed to ebb out of my body as the truth of what he said hit me. Confidently, I drew a line a full foot in back of the board and proceeded to jump from there. I qualified with almost a foot to spare.
That night I walked over to Luz Long’s room in the Olympic village to thank him. I knew that if it hadn’t been for him I probably wouldn’t be jumping in the finals the following day. We sat in his quarters and talked for 2 hours – about track and field, ourselves, the world situation, a dozen other things.
(i) Why did Jesse go to Luz Long’s room ? What did they talk about ?
Answer: Long had told Jesse that he should draw a line a few inches in back of the board and aim at making his take-off from there. This suggestion removed all his tension. He went to Luz Long’s room to thank him for this suggestion.
(ii) What feeling did Jesse carry with him after talking to Long for two hours ? What did Long want him to do ?
Answer: Jesse carried a feeling of friendship with him after talking to Long for two hours. Long wanted him to do his best—even if that meant his winning.
(iii) How did Long fare in the event ? What did Long congratulate Jesse for ?
Answer: Long broke his own past record. He congratulated Jesse for winning the gold medal by jumping 26 feet 5 5/16 inches.
(iv) How did Hitler react when Long congra-tulated Jesse by shaking hand with him ?
Answer: Hitler reacted angrily and glared at them from the stands not a hundred yards away when Long congratulated him by shaking hand with him.
(v) What do you understand about Luz Long after his hand shake with Jesse Owens ?
Answer: We understand that Luz Long was a true sportsman. He did not feel jealous of him at his winning the gold medal. He gave a genuine smile at Jesse’s victory.
My Greatest Olympic Prize Assignment
1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
You can melt down all the gold medals and cups I have, and they couldn’t be a plating on the 24-carat friendship I felt for Luz Long at that moment. I realized then, too, that Luz was the epitome of what Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, must have had in mind when he said, “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part. The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.”
(i) Did Owens tell Long what was troubling him ? If not, why ?
(ii) How did Owens manage to qualify for the finals with a foot to spare ?
(iii) How did Luz Long respond to Jesse’s winning the gold ?
(iv) Why did Hitler glare at Luz Long and Jesse Owens ?
(v) What according to Coubertin, is the true spirit of the Olympics ?
2. (a) Comment on the title of the lesson “My Greatest Olympic Win” written by Jesse Owens.
(b) What is the lesson we learn from the example of Luz Long, the great German athlete ?
(c) What according to Coubertin, is the true spirit of the Olympics ?