Chapter- 3       The Little Girl


1. Question: Why did Kezia stutter while speaking to her father?

Answer: Kezia stuttered while speaking to her father because she was very afraid of him. She tried very hard to pronounce the words correctly, and this nervousness caused her to stutter.

2. Question: Did Kezia stutter when she spoke to other people?

Answer: No, Kezia did not stutter when she spoke to other people. She only stuttered when she talked to her father because she was frightened of him.

3. Question: What did Kezia’s father say when she stuttered?

Answer: When Kezia stuttered, her father warned her that if she continued to stutter like that, her mother would have to take her to the doctor.

4. Question: Why did Kezia try so hard to say the words properly in front of her father?

Answer: Kezia tried very hard to speak properly because she wanted to avoid making mistakes in front of her strict father.

5. Question: How did Kezia’s father react to her unhappy expression?

Answer: Her father asked her why she looked so wretched and unhappy and told her mother that the child should not appear so miserable.

6. Question: What did Kezia’s father ask her to do with his teacup?

Answer: Kezia’s father asked her to carry his teacup carefully back to the table.

7. Question: What does the word “wretched” mean in the passage?

Answer: In the passage, the word “wretched” means very unhappy or miserable.

8. Question: What does the phrase “on the brink of suicide” mean?

Answer: The phrase means appearing extremely sad or as if someone is about to harm themselves.

9. Question: How did Kezia feel when she looked at her father?

Answer: Kezia felt frightened and nervous when she looked at her father because he seemed very big and strict to her.

10. Question: Why did Kezia think of her father as a giant?

Answer: Kezia thought of her father as a giant because he was very big and had large hands, a big neck, and a large mouth when he yawned.

11. Question: Which parts of her father’s body frightened Kezia the most?

Answer: His large hands, neck, and mouth especially when he yawned frightened Kezia the most.

12. Question: What did Kezia imagine when she thought about her father?

Answer: When she thought about her father, she imagined him as a huge and frightening giant.

13. Question: Who sent Kezia to the drawing room on Sunday afternoons?

Answer: Kezia’s grandmother sent her to the drawing room.

14. Question: Why did the grandmother send Kezia to the drawing room?

Answer: The grandmother wanted Kezia to spend time with her parents and have a nice conversation with them.

15. Question: What did Kezia usually find her mother doing in the drawing room?

Answer: She usually found her mother sitting quietly and reading a book.

16. Question: What was Kezia’s father usually doing in the drawing room?

Answer: He was usually lying stretched out on the sofa and sleeping.

17. Question: How did Kezia’s father sleep on the sofa?

Answer: He slept stretched out with his handkerchief covering his face.

18. Question: Where were her father’s feet while he slept?

Answer: His feet were placed on one of the best cushions on the sofa.

19. Question: What sound did Kezia’s father make while sleeping?

Answer: He snored loudly while sleeping.

20. Question: Did Kezia enjoy going to the drawing room on Sundays?

Answer: No, she did not enjoy going there because her parents were usually busy or sleeping.

21. Question: Why was Kezia unable to have a conversation with her parents?

Answer: She could not have a conversation because her mother was busy reading and her father was asleep.

22. Question: How did this situation affect Kezia?

Answer: It made Kezia feel lonely and uncomfortable around her parents.

23. Question: What does the passage reveal about Kezia’s relationship with her father?

Answer: The passage shows that Kezia had a fearful and distant relationship with her father.

24. Question: What kind of personality did Kezia have as a child?

Answer: Kezia was a shy, sensitive, and timid child who was easily frightened.

25. Question: What kind of person was Kezia’s father in this part of the story?

Answer: In this part of the story, he appears strict, serious, and somewhat frightening to Kezia.

26. Question: What role did the grandmother play in Kezia’s life?

Answer: The grandmother tried to bring Kezia closer to her parents and encouraged her to talk with them.

27. Question: Why is the drawing room scene important in the story?

Answer: It shows the lack of communication between Kezia and her parents.

28. Question: What feeling does the passage mainly describe?

Answer: The passage mainly describes the fear and loneliness felt by a small child.

29. Question: What does this part of the story teach about children’s emotions?

Answer: It shows that children need love, attention, and understanding from their parents.

30. Question: What is the main idea of this passage?

Answer: The main idea is that Kezia feels frightened and distant from her father and wishes for a warmer relationship with her parents.

Answer by Dimpee Bora