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CBSE Class 9 English Question 32 of 33

The Little Girl — Question 35

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35
Question
Kezia in the story “The Little Girl” was afraid of her father because he never communicated with her. Imagine you are parenting councellor, based on your reading of the story write a paragraph advising the parents to make communication with their children priority. (SA-1,2014-15)
Answer

In the story, Kezia is always scared of her father. Her father was a strict disciplinarian who was always strict towards her. He never spoke to her softly and in a loving manner. He always scolded her and even beat her up for small mistakes. Parents should not let their stress and workload interfere in their family life. Parents should always spend quality time with their children. Bonding and understanding should always be there so that the children can open up their feelings and problems with their parents. Their should be no communication gap between the parents and theif children.

Overview: The Little Girl

Kezia, a small girl, is terrified of her stern, authoritarian father. She stutters in his presence and sees him only as a figure of punishment. Her grandmother encourages her to make a birthday gift (a pin-cushion) for him, but Kezia accidentally tears up his important papers to stuff it. He punishes her. She compares him unfavourably with the gentle Mr. Macdonald next door. However, when her mother is away and Kezia has a nightmare, her father holds her close and comforts her. She realises he is simply a tired man who works hard and loves her in his own way.

Key Points

  • Kezia is afraid of her father — stutters in his presence
  • Grandmother encourages her to make a pin-cushion for father's birthday
  • She tears up his important speech papers to stuff the cushion
  • Father punishes her with a ruler
  • She compares her father with the gentle Mr. Macdonald
  • During a nightmare, father comforts her — holds her close
  • She feels his heartbeat and realises he has "a big heart"
  • Theme: Different people express love differently
  • Theme: Children often misunderstand parents' behaviour
  • The story shows growth in understanding — Kezia's perception changes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
Kezia's father appeared stern, cold, and authoritarian. He gave orders, spoke in a commanding voice, and punished her strictly. She saw him as a figure of fear and discipline, not warmth.
How did Kezia's view change?
When Kezia had a nightmare and her father held her close, she felt his warmth and heartbeat. She realised he worked hard all day and was too tired for playfulness. She understood that he loved her in his own way — different from Mr. Macdonald but equally genuine.

Common Mistakes

  • Not reading the text carefully before attempting questions.
  • Giving vague answers without specific textual references.
  • Confusing characters, events, or themes from different chapters.
  • Writing too much for short-answer questions (should be 30-40 words).

Scoring Tips

  • For extract-based MCQs: read the passage carefully; eliminate wrong options systematically.
  • For short answers: be concise (30-40 words), use key vocabulary from the text.
  • For long answers: structure with introduction, body, conclusion. Quote from the text.
  • Always identify the chapter/poem name and author when answering.