They were lovers of truth, but they had realised that there are times when truth must be sacrificed

They were lovers of truth, but they had realised that there are times when truth must be sacrificed.
(a) Who does 'they1 refer to?
(b) What was the truth that they had hidden?
© Find the word in the extract which means ‘gave up’.

(a) ‘They’ refers to Mr and Mrs Bramble.
(b) The truth that they had hidden from Harold was that Harold’s father was a professional boxer.
© The word is ‘sacrificed’.