Question

Read the following statements and choose the right option.
Statement I: The rich who afford to play cricket for pleasure were called amateurs because they played for leisure and aristocratic value.
Statement II: The poor played cricket in England to impress the aristocratic people and they were known as gentlemen.

• A. Statement I is true and Statement II is false
• B. Both the statements are false
• C. Statement I is false and Statement II is true
• D. Both the statements are true

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Statement I is true and Statement II is false

The rich were amateurs for two reasons. One, they considered sport a kind of leisure. To play for the pleasure of playing and not for money was an aristocratic value. Two, there was not enough money in the game for the rich to be interested. The poor who played it for a living were called professionals.

Amateurs were called Gentlemen while professionals had to be content with being described as Players.