Prose
3. The First Four Minutes (Roger Bannister)
Meaning For References
| 1. persuade | convince: make somebody believe that something is true |
| 2. fluttered | moved lightly and quickly |
| 3. Shaw | George Bernard Shaw, the well-known English |
| 4. Saint Joan | a play written by Bernard Shaw |
| 5. desperate | beyond hope, extreme |
| 6. lull | a period of less movement |
| 7. Brasher | Christopher Brasher, a famous English athlete |
| 8. tremendously | greatly, extremely |
| 7. resistance | refusal to obey, opposition |
| 8. propelled | moved, pushed forward |
| 9. kept his head | remained cool and balanced |
| 10. pace | speed |
| 11. penetrated | entered or passed through |
| 12 stampfl | Fraz Stampfl, Bannister’s Austraian coach |
| 13. Chataway | a famous runner who later ran mile under four minutes |
| 14. barely | to a very limited extent |
| 15. perceptible | observable |
| 16. pounced | jumped suddenly on |
| 17. anguish | suffering, agony |
| 18. compellingly | forcefully |
| 19. extinction | disappearance, loss, death |
| 20. impelled | forced to do something |
| 21. exhausted | tired |
| 22. haven | safe place |
| 23. chasm | gap, wide difference |
| 24. engulf | surround, cover |
| 25. exploded | burst out |
| 26. surged | increased suddenly, moved like waves |
| 27. vice | a device with two jaws used to hold an object firmly; while work is being done on it |
| 28. scampered | ran or skipped about briskly |
| 29. spontaneous | natural, on the spot, reflexively |
| 30. ventured | entered |
| 31. eclipsing | declined, shadowed |
| 32. bewildered | confused |
| 33. caught up with | managed to avoid problems later |
Annotation For References
a. No one tried to persuade me. The decision was mine alone.
b. A voice shouting ‘Relax’ penetrated into me above the Noise of the crowd.
c. The physical overdraft came only from greater willpower.
d. No words could be invented for such supreme happiness, eclipsing all other feelings
1. Answer the following in about 100 words each [ 2x 4 = 8 Marks ]
1] How did Roger Bannister feel in the first lap of the race?
2] Why did DR Bannister feel that the moment of the lifetime had come?
3] What gave DR Bannister strength in the final spurt?
4] Describe the feelings of DR Bannister after the race was over?
The lesson “The First Four Minutes” written by “Roger Bannister”.
Dr. Roger Bannister was an English athlete as well as a medical professional he was the first man to run the race of one mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. He did this at Oxford in English on May 6th, 1954
“The First Four Minutes”, the speech is a revelation of the stress and strain Dr. Baninister underwent in achieving this record. Roger Bannister, the first man to run the mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds, narrates his eventual victory of the race in the essay. He says that failure is as exciting to watch as success. This is possible only when the player exhibits his sport genuinely and completely. He is of the opinion that the spectators do not understand the mental pain that a sportsperson or an athlete passes through before he enters the field. He says that there was no force from anyone to make him participate in this four-minute running.
The decision was entirely his own. During the first lap of the race, he felt complete silence on the ground. It seemed like a false start. He felt angry. When the gun fired for a second time, Brasher, the pacer went into the lead and he slipped in behind him. He realized that he was going very slowly. He was very much excited. His worry increased when he heard the first lap time, 57.5 seconds. At this juncture, he overheard his coach saying “ relax” He
obeyed. He felt relaxed.
Bannister was running at a faster pace. He ran the half mile in 1 minute 58 seconds. Now, Chataway went in to the lead. The crowd were roaring. He had to run the lap in 59 seconds. Bannister was on full swing. He punched post Chataway, his pacer. The air he breathed in filled his heart with high spirits. The noise he heard of the Oxford crowd was faithful. Their hope and encouragement gave him good strength. Bannister was running at a faster pace. He was almost reaching the tape. He leaped and collapsed almost unconscious. The announcement came in the roar of excitement.
Bannister grabbed Brasher and Chataway, and together they scampered round the track. He felt free of the burden of athletic ambition. His dream came true. Words couldn’t describe such supreme happiness.
It is true that an athlete undergoes lots of mental agony before he can give his maximum effort. His story is interesting and inspiring to anyone who puts a pair of running shoes in competition.
(OR)
The First Four Minutes written by Roger Bannister.
Dr. Roger Bannister was an English athlete as well as a Medical Professional. He was the first man to run the race of one mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. He did this at Oxford in England on May 6th,
1945.
Bannister was the first man to run the race of 1 mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. during the first lap of the race Banister looked at the flag as lined up for the start. He felt complete silence on the ground. When the gun fired for the second time Brasher went into the lead and he slipped in behind. He understood that he was going very slow. He himself shouted ‘faster’ but with all his friends he could succeed.
Thus he says that there was no force from anyone to make him participate in this 4-minute running. The decision was entirely his own.
