Chapter - 3 "The Little Girl"

Chapter - 3 "The Little Girl"

Q.I: Given below are some emotions that Kezia felt. Match the emotions in Column A with the items in Column B.
Ans :
Q.II: Answer the following questions in one or two sentences. 

1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father? 
2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family? 
3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine 

(i) before going to his office? 
(ii) after coming back from his office? 
(iii) on Sundays? 

4. In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better?
Ans : 1. Kezia was afraid of her father because she always looked at him as someone who scolded her and told her to do things properly and in a certain manner. 2. Kezia's family consisted of her mother, father, and grandmother. 3. (i) Before going to his office, Kezia's father usually went into her room to give her a casual kiss. (ii) After coming back from his office, he asked his mother in a loud voice to bring him tea, newspaper, and his slippers. (iii) On Sunday afternoons, Kezia found her father sleeping soundly while being stretched out on the sofa, with a handkerchief covering his face. 4. On Sundays, Kezia's grandmother sent her to the drawing room to have a talk with her parents. The grandmother also encourages Kezia to make a gift for her father's birthday.
Q.III: Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each. 

1. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this happen? 
2. Kezia decides that there are “different kinds of fathers”. What kind of father was Mr Macdonald, and how was he different from Kezia’s father? 
3. How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy?
Ans : 1. Kezia often tried too hard to please her father. While talking to him, she tried so hard to say the words properly that she stuttered a lot. She was so afraid of him that she never answered him properly and he ended up scolding her. Once, Kezia's grandmother told her that her father's birthday was nearing. She also suggested that Kezia should make a pin-cushion as a gift for her father's birthday. She started making the cushion and had stitched three sides when she wondered what she should fill it with. She wandered into her mother's bedroom to look for scraps and found many sheets of fine paper on the bed table. She gathered the sheets, tore them into tiny pieces, and stuffed the cushion. Unfortunately, the sheets she had torn were her father's speech for the Port Authority. Her father was extremely angry with her when he gets to know about it. Hence, Kezia's efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. 2. She decided that there were different sorts of fathers when she saw the Macdonalds, who lived next door. When she looked through a gap in the fence in the evening, she saw the Macdonalds playing 'tag' together. The father had the little baby on his shoulders, while his two little girls were hanging on to his coat pockets. They ran round and round the flowerbeds and were shaking with laughter. This was when she decided that there were different sorts of fathers. Unlike Mr. Macdonald, her father never played or laughed with her. He only scolded her and told her to do things in a proper manner. She was often too afraid to go near him. In this way, Mr. Macdonald was quite a contrast to Kezia's father. 3. When her grandmother and mother were in the hospital, she was left alone at home with the cook, Alice. At night when she was in her bed, she wondered what she would do in case she had a nightmare. Her grandmother tucked her in her own bed whenever Kezia had a nightmare. However, she had the same nightmare that night and cried out her grandmother's name. When she woke up, she saw her father beside her bed. He took her to his room, tidied up the bed and carefully tucked her up next to him. Half asleep, she crept close to him, snuggled her head under his arm, and held tightly to his shirt. Her father asked her to rub her feet against his legs so that she could make them warm. He was so tired that he slept before she did. It was then that she saw her father in a new light. She realized that there was no one to look after him. She understood that he had to work every day and was too tired to be like Mr. Macdonald. She felt bad that she had torn up his speech. She expressed her new feelings for her father by saying that he had a big heart.
Q.I: Look at the following sentence. 
There was a glade sense of relief when she heard the noise of the carriage growing fainter...
Here, glad means happy about something. 
Glad, happy, pleased, delighted, thrilled and overjoyed are synonyms (words or expressions that have the same or nearly the same meaning.) However, they express happiness in certain ways.
Read the sentences below. 
  • She was glad when the meeting was over.
  • The chief guest was pleased to announce the name of the winner.
1. Use an appropriate word from the synonyms given above in the following sentences. Clues are given in brackets. (i) She was ____________ by the news of her brother’s wedding. (very pleased) (ii) I was ____________ to be invited to the party. (extremely pleased and excited about) (iii) She was ____________ at the birth of her granddaughter. (extremely happy) (iv) The coach was ____________ with his performance. (satisfied about) (v) She was very ____________ with her results. (happy about something that has happened) 2. Study the use of the word big in the following sentence. He was so big — his hands and his neck, especially his mouth… Here, big means large in size. Now, consult a dictionary and find out the meaning of big in the following sentences. The first one has been done for you. (i) You are a big girl now. older (ii) Today you are going to take the biggest decision of your career. ____________ (iii) Their project is full of big ideas. ____________ (iv) Cricket is a big game in our country. ____________ (v) I am a big fan of Lata Mangeskar. ____________ (vi) You have to cook a bit more as my friend is a big eater. ____________ (vii) What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear. ____________
Ans : 1. (i) She was delighted by the news of her brother's wedding. (ii) I was thrilled to be invited to the party. (iii) She was overjoyed at the birth of her granddaughter. (iv) The coach was pleased with his performance. (v) She was very happy with her results. 2. (i) Older (ii) Most important (iii) Excellent ideas (iv) Huge in popularity (v) Greatest (vi) Eats a lot (in quantity) (vii) A good and kind heart
Q.II: Verbs of Reporting Study the following sentences. 
  • “What!” screamed Mother.
  • “N-n-no”, she whispered.
  • “Sit up,” he ordered. The italicised words are verbs of reporting. We quote or report what someone has said or thought by using a reporting verb. Every reporting clause contains a reporting verb. For example:
  • He promised to help in my project.
  • “How are you doing?” Seema asked/li>
We use verbs of reporting to advise, order, report statements, thoughts, intentions, questions, requests, apologies, manner of speaking and so on. 1. Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences. (i) He says he will enjoy the ride. (ii) Father mentioned that he was going on a holiday. (iii) No one told us that the shop was closed. (iv) He answered that the price would go up. (v) I wondered why he was screaming. (vi) Ben told her to wake him up. (vii) Ratan apologised for coming late to the party. 2. Some verbs of reporting are given in the box. Choose the appropriate verbs and fill in the blanks in the following sentences. (i) “I am not afraid,” the woman. (ii) “Leave me alone,” my mother . (iii) The children that the roads were crowded and noisy. (iv) “Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all,” the master. (v) “Let’s go and look at the school ground,” the sports teacher. (vi) The traffic police all the passers-by to keep off the road.
Ans : 1. (i) He says he will enjoy the ride. (ii) Father mentioned that he was going on a holiday. (iii) No one told us that the shop was closed. (iv) He answered that the price would go up. (v) I wondered why he was screaming. (vi) Ben told her to wake him up. (vii) Ratan apologized for coming late to the party. 2. (i) "I am not afraid," replied the woman. (ii) "Leave me alone," my mother shouted. (iii) The children were complaining that the roads were crowded and noisy. (iv) 'Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all," remarked the man. (v) "Let's go and look at the school ground," suggested the sports teacher. (vi) The traffic police ordered all the passers-by to keep off the road.
Q.1: Form pairs or groups and discuss the following questions. 
1. This story is not an Indian story. But do you think there are fathers, mothers and grandmothers like the ones portrayed in the story in our own country? 
2. Was Kezia’s father right to punish her? What kind of a person was he? You might find some of these words useful in describing him:
Ans : 1. As we know that the story is not an Indian one, then also we can closely associated with the story because the characters in the story are not different in our Indian culture. Ours society is also ruled by man and trustworthy fathers like Kezia's . Similarly, in our Indian society also women's are suppressed and caring and adoring grandmothers are commonly found in every Indian house. 2. It was absolute necessary to make Kezia realised her mistake and to teach Kezia a lesson, her father should also have tried to understand the Kezia’s problem as well. In the beginning of the story Kezia's father appears as a strict disciplinarian who ordered every things around in the house. As a short-tempered person, he always punishes Kezia for her mistake. He never talks to her daughter. He never plays with her. He beats her badly for tearing his speech paper. Her father is very good at heart it would be unfair to call him unkind because towards the end of the story we find him to be an affectionate, loving and caring father. He is not indifferent he is a responsible father who works very hard all day long, he becomes too tired so he does not get time to play with her and show his love and care.
Q.1: Has your life been different from or similar to that of Kezia when you were a child? Has your perception about your parents changed now? Do you find any change in your parents’ behaviour vis-à-vis yours? Who has become more understanding? What steps would you like to take to build a relationship based on understanding? Write three or four paragraphs (150–200 words) discussing these issues from your own experience.
Ans : As a female, I can definitely relate to the story and life of Kezia and her relationship with parents over the years. I do think that over the years, my perception of my parents has changed considerably. When I was younger, I did not feel much love and like most young kids was selfish in what I wanted. If I did not get what I wanted I would cry and eventually get it. When I grew up and became a teenager, I, for some reason started to hate my parents. Everything they did or said, I felt like it was against me, I felt like living in a jail when I was home. However, as I grew up and became more mature I understood how much they loved me and I started to bond with them as well. I noticed how, as I showed more affection and love, they showed double that amount, loving me and forgiving me for all the bad I had done to them over the years. They were really parents and I was just a young brat, who did not know better. I think the first step to build an understanding is to give up the 'victim mentality' most of us have in our heads. We believe we are right, everyone is wrong and out to get us. We need to first work on ourselves and understand that life is what we make of it and not everyone hates us. We need to understand that we are not victims and that we are the choices we make. Next step is to talk openly and as much as possible but also try to be diplomatic to make sure no one gets hurt in the process
Q.I: 1. What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class. 
(i) humid shadows 
(ii) starry spheres 
(iii) what a bliss 
(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start 
(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof 

2. What does the poet like to do when it rains? 
3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to? 
4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?
Ans : 1. (i) "Humid shadows" refer to the dark clouds that produce rain. (ii) "Starry spheres" refer to the night sky abounding in stars. (iii)"What a bliss" refers to the happiness of the poet. When it rains poet gets into his cottage and enjoy the patter of rain upon the roof. (iv)This refers to the various imaginary thoughts and fantasies that are aroused in the poet's mind. (v) This phrase means that numerous memories intermingle to form a beautiful picture that the poet recollects. 2. When it rains, the poet feels delighted to lie with his head pressed against the pillow of his cottage chamber bed and listen to the patter of the soft rain. 3. The single major memory that comes to the poet is that of his mother and her fond look. The "darling dreamers" are the poet and his siblings in their childhood when they were lovingly put to sleep by their mother. 4. No, the poet is not a child now.He is a grown up man. He remembers her when he is inside his cosy cottage and enjoy the pattern of rain on the roof.
Q.II: 1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?
2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem? 
3. Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains? Look around you and describe how different kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter etc. during rain.
Ans : 1. Yes, my mother used to tuck me in when I was a young child, just like the poet's mother did. (Self-experience question) 2. Yes, I like the rain. When it rains steadily I get into my house and enjoy the weather with family. We enjoy tea. It is wonderful experience (self-experience question) 3. No, everybody is not fortunate enough to have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains. Not everybody gets to enjoy the comfort of cosy homes during rain. I have seen animals seeking shelter under trees and under the tin roofs of the small roadside tea stalls. The people passing by shoo away these animals and try to shrink themselves under the limited space of these shops. The poor animals are left shivering and drenching on the roads. The shopkeepers of such stalls are delighted as the people waiting for the rain to subside often end up buying tea and snacks.

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