Class 9 English – The Little Girl
Student Notes – Exercises & Answers
These notes are based on the “Thinking about the Text”, “Thinking about Language”, “Speaking” and “Writing” exercises given after the lesson in the uploaded NCERT Beehive chapter. The exercises appear on pages 38–40 of the chapter.
I. THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT
1. Match the emotions with the situations
| Column A – Emotion | Answer | Column B – Situation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fear or terror | (iii), (iv), (v), (vii) | Father comes home; speaking to father; going to bed alone; father sleeping/snoring |
| 2. Glad sense of relief | (ii) | Noise of the carriage grows fainter |
| 3. A “funny” feeling, perhaps of understanding | (vi) | Father comforts her and falls asleep |
Easy memory tip
- Father leaves → Relief
- Father appears → Fear
- Father comforts → Understanding
The exercise specifically asks students to connect Kezia’s changing emotions with events in the story.
2. Answer in One or Two Sentences
Q1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
Answer:
Kezia was afraid of her father because he was strict, serious and frightening to her. His loud voice, large appearance and stern manner made her feel nervous whenever she spoke to him.
Q2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?
Answer:
Kezia’s family consisted of her father, mother, grandmother and herself.
Q3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine?
(i) Before going to his office
He came into Kezia’s room every morning and gave her a casual goodbye kiss before leaving for work.
(ii) After coming back from his office
He came home and asked for his tea, newspaper and slippers. His loud voice made Kezia frightened.
(iii) On Sundays
He usually spent Sunday afternoons sleeping on the sofa, while Kezia was expected to spend time with him and her mother.
Q4. How did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to know her father better?
Answer:
Grandmother encouraged Kezia to spend time with her father. She sent Kezia downstairs on Sunday afternoons to have a “nice talk” with her parents. She also suggested that Kezia make a pin-cushion as a birthday gift for her father.
3. Long Answer Questions
Q1. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this happen?
Answer:
Kezia wanted to give her father a birthday present. With the help of her grandmother, she decided to make a pin-cushion. She stitched three sides of the cushion and needed something to fill it.
She found some sheets of paper on a table in her mother’s bedroom. Without knowing their importance, she tore the papers into small pieces and used them to fill the pin-cushion. Unfortunately, the papers contained an important speech that her father had prepared for the Port Authority.
Her father became extremely angry when he discovered what she had done. Instead of appreciating her innocent attempt to please him, he punished her. Thus, Kezia’s innocent effort to make her father happy ended by making him very angry.
Exam keywords
birthday gift → pin-cushion → papers → father’s speech → misunderstanding → anger → punishment
Q2. Kezia decides that there are “different kinds of fathers”. What kind of father was Mr Macdonald?
Answer:
Mr Macdonald was a loving, affectionate, playful and caring father. Kezia saw him playing happily with his five children. He carried his baby on his shoulders, allowed his daughters to hold his coat pockets and laughed while playing with them.
He was different from Kezia’s father, who appeared strict, serious and frightening. Kezia’s father loved his daughter but did not express his affection openly. The contrast helped Kezia understand that fathers can show their love in different ways.
Comparison
| Kezia’s Father | Mr Macdonald |
|---|---|
| Strict | Playful |
| Serious | Cheerful |
| Frightening to Kezia | Friendly with children |
| Less expressive | Openly affectionate |
| Hard-working | Loving and playful |
Q3. How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy?
Answer:
Kezia’s feelings change when her mother and grandmother go to hospital and she is left alone at home. At night, she has a terrible nightmare and cries for her grandmother.
Her father comes to her room, comforts her and carries her to his bedroom. He makes her comfortable, covers her properly and allows her to sleep beside him. When she notices that he is tired from his work, she realizes that he is not a frightening giant but an ordinary human being who also needs care and understanding.
She begins to understand that her father loves her, although he expresses his love differently. Finally, she affectionately tells him, “What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear.”
II. THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE
A. Synonyms of “Glad”
The lesson gives the following synonyms:
glad – happy – pleased – delighted – thrilled – overjoyed
The exercise asks students to select the word that best suits the particular degree or type of happiness.
Answers
- She was delighted by the news of her brother’s wedding.
- I was thrilled to be invited to the party.
- She was overjoyed at the birth of her granddaughter.
- The coach was pleased with his performance.
- She was very happy with her results.
Vocabulary ladder
happy → pleased → delighted → thrilled → overjoyed
Exam Tip: Synonyms have similar meanings, but they are not always interchangeable. The context determines the most suitable word.
B. Different Meanings of “BIG”
The word big can have different meanings depending on the context. The textbook asks students to identify these meanings.
| Sentence | Meaning of “big” |
|---|---|
| 1. You are a big girl now. | older / grown-up |
| 2. The biggest decision of your career. | most important |
| 3. Full of big ideas. | important / ambitious / impressive |
| 4. Cricket is a big game in our country. | popular |
| 5. I am a big fan of Lata Mangeskar. | great / enthusiastic |
| 6. My friend is a big eater. | one who eats a lot |
| 7. What a big heart you’ve got! | very kind / generous / loving |
Remember
BIG does not always mean “large in size”.
Context changes the meaning.
III. VERBS OF REPORTING
What are reporting verbs?
A reporting verb is a verb used to introduce or report what somebody says, asks, thinks, orders, suggests, promises or feels.
Examples from the lesson:
- Mother screamed.
- She whispered.
- He ordered.
- He promised to help.
- Seema asked.
The textbook explains that reporting verbs can express statements, thoughts, intentions, questions, requests, apologies, orders and manner of speaking.
Important reporting verbs
| Reporting verb | Meaning / use |
|---|---|
| said | statement |
| asked | question |
| told | information/instruction |
| ordered | command |
| shouted | loud speech |
| screamed | very loud/angry/frightened speech |
| whispered | very soft speech |
| replied | answer |
| remarked | made a comment |
| suggested | gave an idea |
| apologised | expressed regret |
| wondered | expressed uncertainty/thought |
A. Identify the Reporting Verbs
The textbook asks students to underline the reporting verbs in seven sentences.
Answers
- He says he will enjoy the ride.
- Father mentioned that he was going on a holiday.
- No one told us that the shop was closed.
- He answered that the price would go up.
- I wondered why he was screaming.
- Ben told her to wake him up.
- Ratan apologised for coming late to the party.
Quick Revision
says – mentioned – told – answered – wondered – told – apologised
B. Fill in the Blanks with Reporting Verbs
Words given:
were complaining | shouted | replied | remarked | ordered | suggested
Answers
- “I am not afraid,” replied the woman.
- “Leave me alone,” my mother shouted.
- The children were complaining that the roads were crowded and noisy.
- “Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all,” remarked the master.
- “Let’s go and look at the school ground,” suggested the sports teacher.
- The traffic police ordered all the passers-by to keep off the road.
IV. SPEAKING – Important Points
The textbook asks students to discuss whether families like Kezia’s exist in India and whether Kezia’s father was right to punish her. It also provides useful words for describing him.
Q1. Are there fathers, mothers and grandmothers like these in India?
Suggested Answer:
Yes, similar family relationships can be found in India. Some parents may be strict and disciplined, while others may be more affectionate and friendly. Grandparents often play an important role in helping children understand their parents. Although families differ, love and concern for children are common.
Q2. Was Kezia’s father right to punish her?
Suggested Answer:
Kezia’s father was justified in being upset because she had destroyed an important speech. However, beating her was not the right way to discipline her, because she had done it innocently and had intended to make a birthday gift for him.
He was strict, hard-working, responsible and disciplined, but he was also loving and caring, although he did not express his affection openly.
Character words for Kezia’s father
Positive:
- loving
- hard-working
- responsible
- caring
- affectionate
Negative / critical:
- strict
- unkind
- short-tempered
- disciplinarian
- undemonstrative
V. WRITING
The textbook asks students to write 150–200 words in three or four paragraphs about their childhood relationship with their parents and how their perception of their parents has changed.
Model Answer
My Relationship with My Parents
When I was a child, I sometimes felt that my parents were too strict. They often asked me to complete my homework, maintain discipline and behave properly. At that age, I could not understand why they imposed so many rules on me. Like Kezia, I sometimes thought that strictness meant a lack of love.
As I grew older, my perception of my parents changed. I gradually understood that their rules were meant for my welfare. They worked hard and made many sacrifices to provide me with education and a comfortable life. Their strictness was often an expression of concern and responsibility.
Today, I understand my parents much better. I have also realized that love is not always expressed through words. Sometimes it is expressed through care, discipline and sacrifice. I would like to build a relationship with my parents based on trust, communication, respect and understanding. I should listen to them and also share my feelings with them openly.
⭐ EXAM-ORIENTED REVISION
Kezia – Character Development
Beginning:
Fear → nervousness → avoidance → misunderstanding
⬇️
Middle:
Birthday gift → pin-cushion → accidental mistake → punishment
⬇️
Later:
Macdonald family → comparison → realization
⬇️
Ending:
Nightmare → Father’s comfort → understanding → love
Final transformation
Fear → Understanding → Sympathy → Love
⭐ Most Important Questions for Examination
1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
Because he was strict, serious and frightening in his appearance and manner.
2. What did Kezia make for her father’s birthday?
She made a pin-cushion.
3. Why did her father become angry?
She had unknowingly torn up his important Port Authority speech to fill the pin-cushion.
4. How did Kezia’s father punish her?
He beat her hands with a ruler.
5. Who lived next door?
The Macdonald family, consisting of Mr Macdonald and his five children.
6. What did Kezia learn from the Macdonald family?
She realized that there were different kinds of fathers.
7. What happened when Kezia had a nightmare?
Her father came to her room, carried her to his bedroom and comforted her.
8. What did Kezia finally understand about her father?
She understood that he was loving and caring, though he was strict and did not openly express his affection.
9. What is the central idea of the story?
Central idea:
The story shows how a child’s perception of a parent can change with maturity and experience. Kezia initially sees her father as frightening, but later understands his love, tiredness and human needs.
🌟 One-Line Theme
“Sometimes love is hidden behind strictness; understanding helps us discover it.”
Lesson in one sentence
Kezia’s journey from fear to understanding teaches us not to judge our parents only by their outward behaviour, but to recognize the love and sacrifices behind their actions.