The Little Girl (Q&A)
Thinking About the Text
Q1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
Answer:
Kezia was afraid of her father because he was strict, had a harsh voice, and often scolded her. He never showed affection, which made her feel nervous and scared.
Q2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?
Answer:
Kezia’s family consisted of her father, her mother, her grandmother, and herself.
Q3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine:
(a) before going to office,
(b) after coming back,
(c) on Sundays?
Answer:
(a) Before going to the office, he gave Kezia a casual kiss and left.
(b) After work, he asked for tea, the newspaper, and his slippers.
(c) On Sundays, he rested on the sofa in the drawing room with a handkerchief over his face.
Q4. How did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to know her father better?
Answer:
Kezia’s grandmother encouraged her to talk with her parents on Sundays and also suggested making a pin-cushion as a birthday gift for her father.
Q5. How did Kezia’s efforts to please her father end up displeasing him?
Answer:
Kezia made a pin-cushion for her father but unknowingly stuffed it with important speech papers. Her father was furious and punished her.
Q6. How did Kezia feel when her father punished her?
Answer:
She felt scared, helpless, and cried bitterly. She could not understand why her father was so cruel.
Q7. What incident changed Kezia’s opinion about her father?
Answer:
When Kezia had a nightmare, her father comforted her, took her to his bed, and made her feel safe. She realized he loved her but was too tired and busy to show it.
Q8. Why did Kezia compare her father to a giant?
Answer:
She compared him to a giant because of his large size, loud voice, and frightening personality.
Thinking About Language
Replace “glad” in the sentence:
"There was a glad sense of relief when she heard the noise of the carriage growing fainter…"
Answer:
"There was a joyful sense of relief when she heard the noise of the carriage growing fainter…"
Message of the Story
The story highlights that parents, though strict, love their children deeply. Sometimes children misunderstand them, but love and care are always present beneath their stern behavior.