📘 Complete Summary of “The Little Girl”

In English (Simple)

Kezia was a little girl who lived with her father, mother, and grandmother. She was afraid of her father because he was a very strict man. He always looked at her with a serious face and gave short commands like, “Bring my slippers” or “Where’s my tea?”

Kezia wanted to talk to him but she could never express herself freely. She thought her father was very harsh and cruel.

One day her grandmother suggested that she should make a birthday gift for her father. Kezia decided to make a pin-cushion. She stitched it with yellow silk and stuffed it with paper. But she did not know that the paper she used was very important – it was her father’s speech for the Port Authority.

When her father came to know that the papers were torn, he became very angry. He punished Kezia with a ruler on her little hands. Kezia was deeply hurt and started thinking her father was like a giant.

Later, one day her mother fell ill and was taken to the hospital. Kezia was left alone at night with the cook. She felt very scared. When her father came home, he took her into his bed and made her sleep beside him. She could feel his warmth and love. Then she realized that her father was not a hard man, but he loved her in his own way.

At last Kezia understood that her father worked very hard for the family and that he cared for her, even if he did not show it openly.

In Hindi (हिन्दी अनुवाद)

केज़िया एक छोटी लड़की थी जो अपने पिता, माँ और दादी के साथ रहती थी। वह अपने पिता से डरती थी क्योंकि वे बहुत सख़्त थे। वे हमेशा गंभीर चेहरे से उसे देखते और छोटे-छोटे आदेश देते जैसे – “मेरी चप्पल लाओ” या “चाय कहाँ है?”

केज़िया उनसे बातें करना चाहती थी, लेकिन वह कभी खुलकर कुछ कह नहीं पाती थी। उसे लगता था कि उसके पिता बहुत कठोर और क्रूर हैं।

एक दिन उसकी दादी ने सुझाव दिया कि उसे अपने पिता को जन्मदिन पर एक तोहफ़ा देना चाहिए। केज़िया ने एक पिन- कुशन बनाने का निश्चय किया। उसने उसे पीले रेशमी कपड़े से सी लिया और उसमें कागज़ भर दिए। लेकिन उसे नहीं पता था कि जिन कागज़ों का उसने इस्तेमाल किया, वे बहुत ज़रूरी थे – वे उसके पिता का पोर्ट अथॉरिटी के लिए भाषण था।

जब उसके पिता को पता चला कि कागज़ फाड़ दिए गए हैं, तो वे बहुत नाराज़ हुए। उन्होंने केज़िया को पैमाने (रूलर) से उसकी छोटी हथेलियों पर मारा। केज़िया बहुत दुखी हुई और उसे लगा कि उसका पिता तो किसी दानव जैसा है।

कुछ समय बाद उसकी माँ बीमार पड़ गई और अस्पताल ले जानी पड़ी। रात में केज़िया अकेली रह गई। उसे बहुत डर लग रहा था। जब उसके पिता घर आए तो उन्होंने उसे अपने पास बिस्तर पर सुला लिया। उसने अपने पिता की गर्माहट और प्यार को महसूस किया। तब उसे समझ आया कि उसके पिता कठोर नहीं हैं, बल्कि वे उसे अपने ढंग से प्यार करते हैं।

अंत में, केज़िया को यह अहसास हुआ कि उसके पिता परिवार के लिए बहुत मेहनत करते हैं और वह उसकी परवाह करते हैं, चाहे खुलकर न दिखाएँ।

📖 Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)

“The Little Girl” – Complete Question-Answer Guide

Thinking about the Text (Page 38)

I. Match the emotions

Answer:

II. Answer in one or two sentences

1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
   Answer: Kezia was afraid of her father because he was very big and strict, spoke loudly, and his mannerisms, like looking at her over his spectacles, terrified her. She found it difficult to speak without stuttering in his presence.
2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?
   Answer: Kezia’s family consisted of her father, mother, and grandmother.
3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine?
   • (i) Before going to office: He came into Kezia’s room and gave her a casual goodbye kiss.
   • (ii) After returning from office: He demanded his tea, newspaper, and slippers in a loud voice.
   • (iii) On Sundays: He stretched out on the sofa, placed a handkerchief on his face, put his feet on a cushion, and slept soundly, snoring.
4. In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to know her father better?
   Answer: Kezia’s grandmother sent her to the drawing-room for a “nice talk with Father and Mother” and suggested making a pin-cushion as a birthday gift for her father.

III. Discuss and write (2–3 paragraphs)

1. Kezia’s effort to please her father resulted in displeasing him. How?
   Answer: Kezia tried to make a pin-cushion for her father’s birthday. She used scraps of paper from her mother’s bed-table to stuff it, unknowingly tearing his important speech for the Port Authority. This made her father angry, and she was punished. Her well-meaning gesture unintentionally caused trouble.
2. Different kinds of fathers – Mr. Macdonald vs. Kezia’s father
   Answer: Mr. Macdonald was cheerful, playful, and affectionate with his children. Kezia’s father was strict, distant, and seldom kind. Seeing Mr. Macdonald, Kezia realized that fathers can also be loving and fun.
3. How does Kezia see her father as a human needing sympathy?
   Answer: After a nightmare, her father comforts her and lets her sleep beside him. She sees him tired from work and realizes he is not a giant but a hardworking man needing love. This changes her fear into sympathy and understanding.

Thinking about the Language (Page 38–39)

I. Synonyms (Use in sentences)

1. She was delighted by the news of her brother’s wedding.
2. I was thrilled to be invited to the party.
3. She was overjoyed at the birth of her granddaughter.
4. The coach was pleased with his performance.
5. She was very happy with her results.

II. Meanings of ‘big’

Verbs of Reporting

1. Underline the verbs in these sentences:
   • 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.
2. Fill in the blanks with appropriate verbs:
   • “I am not afraid,” replied the woman.
   • “Leave me alone,” my mother ordered.
   • The children were complaining that the roads were crowded and noisy.
   • “Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of chap after all,” remarked the master.
   • “Let’s go and look at the school ground,” suggested the sports teacher.
   • The traffic police shouted all the passers-by to keep off the road.

Extra CBSE-Style Questions & Answers

Short Answer Type Questions (30–40 words)

1. Why did Kezia feel relieved after her father left for work?
   Answer: Kezia felt relieved because her father’s large, loud, and intimidating presence made her fearful. His absence brought quiet and safety to the house.
2. What was the consequence of making the pin-cushion?
   Answer: Kezia unknowingly tore up her father’s important speech to stuff the pin-cushion and was severely punished.
3. How did the nightmare episode change Kezia’s perception of her father?
   Answer: Her father’s kindness and care after the nightmare showed her his human, soft side, replacing fear with sympathy.

Long Answer Type Questions (100–120 words)

1. Describe Kezia’s father. Did he love her? Justify.
   Answer: Kezia’s father was strict, disciplined, and hardworking. He often seemed cold, with a loud voice that scared Kezia. Yet, he loved her deeply, showing care during the nightmare episode by tucking her in and comforting her. His anger over the torn speech was due to the importance of his work, not lack of love. His practical, responsible way of expressing affection reflected his personality and time. Deep down, he was a loving father who balanced discipline with care.
2. Compare Kezia’s grandmother and mother.
   Answer: Kezia’s grandmother was kind, understanding, and supportive, acting as a bridge between Kezia and her father. She comforted Kezia and encouraged communication. Kezia’s mother was passive, followed her husband’s instructions, and did little to protect Kezia from fear. While not unkind, she lacked the proactive nurturing that the grandmother provided, making the grandmother the key source of support for Kezia.

Value-Based Question

1. What values does the story teach about parent-child relationships?
   Answer: The story emphasizes communication, empathy, and understanding. Fear can distance children from parents. Love may be expressed through discipline and provision, but children should try to understand their parents’ responsibilities. Mutual care and expression of affection strengthen parent-child bonds.

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