Important Question Answers - The Little Girl

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What orders were passed to Kezia in the evening when Father returned home from the office?

Ans: When Kezia's father returned home from the office, she was given specific tasks. She was to come downstairs, remove her father's shoes, and place them outside. Additionally, she was instructed to set her father's teacup on a small tea table.

Q2. Why did Kezia avoid her father?

Ans: Kezia avoided her father because she viewed him as an emotionless person. He rarely spoke to her in a loving or calm manner, often scolding her for her mistakes. This made her feel anxious and she would stammer when speaking to him, as he appeared to her as a large, intimidating figure, lacking the warmth typically associated with a father.

Q3. Why did Kezia stammer in front of her father? 
Or 
Why did Kezia stutter only with her father?

Ans: Kezia stammered in front of her father because she felt afraid of him. He often scolded her and never spoke in a loving way, making it hard for her to express herself. This fear caused her to struggle with her words whenever he was around.

Q4. What made Kezia's father punish her?

Ans: Kezia was punished because she tore important papers belonging to her father. She had intended to use these papers to stuff a pincushion as a surprise gift for him. Unfortunately, the papers contained her father's speech for the Port Authority, which is why he was angry and punished her.

Q5. "Father's great speech for the Port Authority had been lost." What had happened to Father's speech?

Ans: Father's speech was destroyed by Kezia, his young daughter. She wanted to make a pin cushion as a birthday gift for him. Unable to find anything suitable to fill it, she tore up the speech and used the pieces to stuff her creation.

Q6. Why did Kezia's grandmother send her to the drawing room every Sunday afternoon?

Ans: Kezia's grandmother sent her to the drawing room every Sunday afternoon because she knew Kezia was afraid of her father. The grandmother believed that by encouraging Kezia to speak with him more often, she could help her overcome that fear. Thus, every Sunday, Kezia would go to have a nice talk with her father.

Q7. What did Kezia find whenever, on Sunday afternoons, her grandmother sent her down to have a talk with her parents?

Ans: Whenever Kezia was sent by her grandmother to talk to her parents on Sunday afternoons, she always found her mother reading and her father stretched out on the sofa, sleeping soundly and snoring.

Q8. How did the father comfort the little girl, Kezia, when she got scared in her sleep?

Ans: The father comforted Kezia by entering her room with a candle. He lifted her into his strong arms and lay down beside her, allowing her to snuggle close. As she held onto his shirt tightly, she felt safe and reassured, which helped ease her fear during the night.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q9. How did Kezia's negative attitude towards her father change? 
Or 
What were the circumstances that forced Kezia to change her opinion about her father?

Ans: When her mother was hospitalised, Kezia's grandmother stayed with her. Alone at night, Kezia felt scared and began to shout in fear. She experienced nightmares and trembled with anxiety. One night, her father came to her room, took her in his arms, and comforted her. In his presence, she felt secure. This moment made her realise that her father, although busy with work, loved her deeply but struggled to express it. Consequently, her attitude towards him shifted positively.

Q10. How did Kezia's efforts to please her father result in displeasing him very much? Elaborate?

Ans: Kezia was very afraid of her father and often stuttered when speaking to him, which annoyed him greatly. She tried to engage him in conversation, but he found her staring uncomfortable. In an attempt to surprise him for his birthday, she accidentally destroyed some important papers while stuffing a cushion. This incident made him extremely angry, leading to a severe punishment. Thus, Kezia's efforts to please her father ultimately resulted in displeasing him.

Q11. Kezia decides that there are "different kinds of fathers". What kind of father was Mr. McDonald, and how was he different from Kezia's father? 
Or 
How is Kezia's father different from Mr. McDonald?

Ans: Mr McDonald was Kezia's next-door neighbour. She once saw him playing tag with his children in the evening. Mr McDonald had the baby Mao on his shoulders, while his two little girls clung to his coat pockets, all of them laughing joyfully as they ran around. In contrast, Kezia's own father was very strict and disciplined. He rarely interacted with her, never played, and even punished her for minor mistakes.

Q12. Why was Kezia scared of her father, and how did she get over her fear?

Ans: Kezia was scared of her father because he was very big and strict. He punished her when she accidentally tore his important speech. One day, while her mother and grandmother were in the hospital, Kezia was left alone with her father. She had a nightmare and screamed in fear. To comfort her, her father carried her on his lap. This closeness helped Kezia overcome her fear, allowing her to see him in a different light.

Q13. How did Kezia feel in the presence of her father?

Ans: Kezia felt scared of her father, who seemed like a giant to her. Each morning, he would give her a goodbye kiss, but she felt uncomfortable whenever he was home. She often stammered when speaking to him. One day, he scolded her and even hit her for tearing some important papers. However, when she cried at night, he would carry her to his room. This experience made her realise that her father was actually tender and affectionate, which changed how she viewed him.

Value-Based Questions

Q14. Kezia in the story "The Little Girl" was afraid of her father because he never communicated with her. Imagine you are a parenting counsellor; based on your reading of the story, write a paragraph advising the parents to make communicating with their children a priority.

Ans: In the story, Kezia is often frightened of her father due to his strict nature and lack of gentle communication. He rarely speaks to her in a loving way, often scolding her for minor mistakes. It is essential for parents to prioritise communication with their children. They should not allow stress or work commitments to disrupt family life. Spending quality time together fosters a strong bond, enabling children to share their feelings and concerns openly. By bridging the communication gap, parents can create a supportive environment where children feel safe and understood.

Q15. The relationship between a parent and child should be distant and formal, or should it be close and warm?

Ans: In today's modern context, parents and children should be more like friends. The relationship between them ought to be warm and close, which is essential for the child's overall personality development. A close bond helps to boost the child's confidence and strengthens their relationships. Therefore, it is crucial for children to have a close relationship with their parents, characterised by respect and love, rather than fear.