NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English - Keeping It From Harold

Q1. Based on your reading of the story, answer the following questions by choosing the correct option.

(a) Mrs. Bramble was a proud woman because _______.

(i) she was the wife of a famous boxer.
(ii) she had motivated her husband.
(iii) she was a good housewife.
(iv) she was the mother of a child prodigy.

Ans : (iv) she was the mother of a child prodigy.

Mrs. Bramble felt a deep sense of pride because her son, Harold, was a child prodigy. His exceptional intelligence and achievements were a significant source of her pride.

(b) “The very naming of Harold had caused a sacrifice on his part.” The writer’s tone here is ___.

(i) admiring
(ii) assertive
(iii) satirical
(iv) gentle

Ans : (iii) satirical

The writer's tone in the phrase "The very naming of Harold had caused a sacrifice on his part" is satirical. The use of the word sacrifice in relation to Harold's name suggests an ironic or mocking tone, indicating that the sacrifice was either trivial or unnecessary. This is characteristic of a satirical tone.

(c) Harold had defied the laws of heredity by ___.

(i) becoming a sportsperson
(ii) being good at academics
(iii) being well-built and muscular
(iv) respecting his parents

Ans : (ii) being good at academics

Harold defied the laws of heredity by excelling academically, even though his parents were not known for their academic achievements. This unexpected success contrasted sharply with the typical traits associated with his family background.

(d) Harold felt that he was deprived of the respect his classmates would give him as ________ .

(i) they did not know his father was the famous boxer, ‘Young Porky’.
(ii) his hero, Jimmy Murphy had not won the wrestling match.
(iii) he had not got Phil Scott’s autograph.
(iv) Sid Simpson had lost the Lonsdale belt.

Ans : (i) they did not know his father was the famous boxer ‘Young Porky’.

Harold felt deprived of the respect from his classmates because they were unaware that his father was the famous boxer 'Young Porky'. This lack of recognition regarding his father's fame made Harold feel undervalued among his peers.

e) ‘It’s hard,’ he said at length in a choked voice. What was hard, according to Mr. Fisher?

(i)  To accept the truth.
(ii)  To fight with American Murphy.
(iii)  To control his anger.
(iv) To give up boxing.

Ans. (iv) To give up boxing.

 Mr. Fisher was emotionally struggling with the idea of giving up boxing.

(f) What do you gauge about Major Percy Stokes’ character from the story? Select the most appropriate option from the following.

(1) man of wrath
(2) persuasive
(3) argumentative
(4) interfering
(5)  self-important

(i)  (1), (3) and (5)

(ii)  (1), (2) and (4)

(iii)  (2), (4) and (5)

(iv) (3), (4) and (5)

Ans. (i)  (1), (3) and (5)

Major Percy Stokes is portrayed as a man with a wrathful nature, often engaging in arguments and displaying a self-important attitude. These characteristics suggest that he tends to be confrontational and believes highly of himself, aligning with the analysis of his character.

Q3. Read the given extracts and answer the questions by selecting the correct options.

(I)

The only drawback was that his very ‘perfection had made necessary a series of evasions and even deliberate falsehoods on the part of herself and her husband, highly distasteful to both. They were lovers of truth, but they had realised that there are times when truth must be sacrificed. At any cost, the facts concerning Mr. Bramble’s profession must be kept from Harold.

(i) His very ‘perfection’ refers to Harold’s

(1) gentlemanly manners.
(2) aspiration to be the best.
(3) exceptional intelligence.
(4) obsession with cleanliness.

A.(1) and (3)
B. (2) and (3)
C. (1) and (4)
D. (2) and (4)

Ans. A. (1) and (3)

Harold's perfection is attributed to his behavior, manners, and qualities that are refined and idealized, suggesting that he is an impeccable gentleman.

 (ii) What was highly distasteful to both Mrs. and Mr. Bramble?

A. Consciously choosing to lie.
B. Harold’s perfection.
C. Mr. Bramble’s profession.
D. Their relationship with each other.

Ans. A. Consciously choosing to lie.

Mrs. and Mr. Bramble found it highly distasteful to consciously choose to lie to protect Harold from the truth about Mr. Bramble's profession. They valued honesty and felt uncomfortable having to deceive their son. Despite their love for truth, they recognised that sometimes it was necessary to keep certain facts hidden, particularly regarding Mr. Bramble's career as a professional boxer.

 (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.

The reason for keeping the truth about Mr. Bramble's profession from Harold was to prevent him from feeling ashamed of his father's past. This secrecy aimed to protect Harold's self-esteem, as the revelation could lead to feelings of embarrassment regarding his father's career as a professional boxer.

(II)

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 un-mixedly 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.

The anxiety stemmed from the fear that Harold had overheard something he was not supposed to know, which could lead to complications.

(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.

"Get a bit of his own back" means to seek revenge or retribution for a perceived wrong.

 (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.

Mr. Fisher was planning to take revenge by revealing the truth about Harold's father, Mr. Bramble, and the situation that had upset him.

 (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. B. called off his fight with Murphy.

Mr. Fisher was upset because Mr. Bramble had cancelled the fight with Murphy, which was a significant event for him. He felt personally wronged by this decision, as it affected his expectations and plans.

Q2. Answer the following questions :

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

Ans. It was necessary to keep Harold's father's profession a secret because Harold was seen as a model of ideal behaviour, which made his parents feel inadequate or insecure. Mr. and Mrs. Bramble feared that if Harold learned his father was a professional boxer, it would diminish his respect for him. They worried that Harold might view boxing as uncultured or shady, leading them to conceal this aspect of his father's identity.

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

Ans. Mr. Bramble is described as a thirty-one-year-old man with an athletic build, weighing eight stone four. He is celebrated for his exceptional boxing skills, capable of defeating anyone in a twenty-round contest. Despite his fame in the ring, Mr. Bramble is naturally timid and often gives in to his wife's wishes. He is depicted as a devoted and overprotective father, and he demonstrates deep love and care for his family.

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

Ans. Jerry Fisher was Bill's trainer, dedicated to preparing him for an upcoming boxing match. He first tried to convince Bill by mentioning the potential prize money. When that didn't work, Jerry applied emotional pressure, arguing that if Bill withdrew, it would harm Jerry's career and reputation as a trainer. He stressed that all their hard work together would be wasted, making it clear how much was at stake for both of them.

(d) Why was Harold upset that his father had not told him about his true identity? Give two reasons.
Ans. Harold was deeply upset to learn that his parents had kept a significant secret from him. He felt betrayed because he believed he had missed out on a chance to earn the respect of his classmates. If they had known that his father was the famous boxer, 'Young Porky', they would have admired him. This revelation made Harold feel that he had been deprived of an important part of his identity.

(e) Do you agree with Harold’s parents' decision to hide from him the fact that his father was a boxer? Why/Why not?
Ans: Harold's parents' decision to hide the fact that his father was a boxer was misguided. They thought Harold would feel shame upon discovering that his father was known as 'Young Porky' and had a fierce reputation. However, Harold's feelings were quite the opposite; he would have felt proud to learn about his father's achievements in the boxing world. By keeping this information from him, his parents deprived him of the chance to understand and appreciate his father's identity and the hard work that came with it.

(f) Why did Mr. Bramble decide at the last minute not to fight with American Murphy at the National Sporting Club?
Ans. Mr. Bramble decided not to fight American Murphy at the National Sporting Club because of the impact of letters and religious tracts he received from Percy. These messages made him rethink his choice regarding the match. In particular, Percy's comments about Harold influenced Mr. Bramble to abandon boxing entirely and pursue a career as an instructor instead.

(g) ‘There are times when truth must be sacrificed.’ Do you agree? Why / why not?
Ans. No, I do not agree with this statement. Many people think it is acceptable to lie to others, especially children, believing that revealing the truth may cause them to feel anxiety or shame. However, lying often leads to more complications, as one must continually hide the truth. What people fail to realise is that the truth will eventually come out, making it better to tell the truth now rather than later.

(h) “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Discuss with reference to Mr. Bramble’s personality.
Ans. Mr. Bramble presents a striking contrast between his appearance and his personality. Despite his sturdy build, he possesses a genial smile and is known as one of the mildest and most obliging individuals. While he has moments of wrath, he is easily persuaded and does not exhibit violence in his private life. This challenges the common perception that boxers are inherently aggressive. In the case of Mr. Bramble, the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” holds true, since his gentle nature contrasts sharply with the aggressive image of a boxer.

Q3. Answer in detail. 

Q4. Choose extracts from the story that illustrate the characters of these people in it.

 Ans.