NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English (Beehive) Chapter 3 The Little Girl

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 9TH

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Book - Beehive Ncert Solutions | Chapter-3 English-1

Class : 9th
Subject : English-1
Chapter : 3
Chapter Name : The Little Girl

Q1 Given below are some emotions that Kezia felt. Match the emotions in Column A with the
items in Column B.

Answer.

Page : 38 , Block Name : Thinking about the Text

Q2 Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?
3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine

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(i) before going to his of ce?
(ii) after coming back from his of ce?
(iii) on Sundays?
4. In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better?

Answer. 1. Kezia was afraid of her father because she always looked at him as someone who
scolded her and told her to do things properly and in a certain manner.
2. Kezia's family consisted of her mother, father, and grandmother.
3. (i) Before going to his of ce, Kezia's father usually went into her room to give her a casual kiss

(ii) After coming back from his of ce, he asked his mother in a loud voice to bring him tea,
newspaper, and his slippers.
(iii) On Sunday afternoons, Kezia found her father sleeping soundly while being stretched out on
the sofa, with a handkerchief covering his face.
4. On Sundays, Kezia's grandmother sent her to the drawing room to have a talk with her
parents. The grandmother also encourages Kezia to make a gift for her father's birthday.

Page : 38 , Block Name : Thinking about the Text

Q3 Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two
or three paragraphs each.
1. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How did this
happen?
2. Kezia decides that there are “different kinds of fathers”. What kind of father was Mr
Macdonald, and how was he different from Kezia’s father?
3. How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy?

Answer. 1. Kezia often tried too hard to please her father. While talking to him, she tried so hard
to say the words properly that she stuttered a lot. She was so afraid of him that she never
answered him properly and he ended up scolding her. Once, Kezia's grandmother told her that
her father's birthday was nearing. She also suggested that Kezia should make a pin-cushion as a
gift for her father's birthday. She started making the cushion and had stitched three sides when
she wondered what she should ll it with. She wandered into her mother's bedroom to look for
scraps and found many sheets of ne paper on the bed table. She gathered the sheets, tore them
into tiny pieces, and stuffed the cushion. Unfortunately, the sheets she had torn were her
father's speech for the Port Authority. Her father was extremely angry with her when he gets to
know about it. Hence, Kezia's efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much.

2. She decided that there were different sorts of fathers when she saw the Macdonalds, who lived
next door. When she looked through a gap in the fence in the evening, she saw the Macdonalds
playing 'tag' together. The father had the little baby on his shoulders, while his two little girls
were hanging on to his coat pockets. They ran round and round the owerbeds and were shaking
with laughter. This was when she decided that there were different sorts of fathers. Unlike Mr.
Macdonald, her father never played or laughed with her. He only scolded her and told her to do
things in a proper manner. She was often too afraid to go near him. In this way, Mr. Macdonald

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was quite a contrast to Kezia's father.

3. When her grandmother and mother were in the hospital, she was left alone at home with the
cook, Alice. At night when she was in her bed, she wondered what she would do in case she had a
nightmare. Her grandmother tucked her in her own bed whenever Kezia had a nightmare.
However, she had the same nightmare that night and cried out her grandmother's name. When
she woke up, she saw her father beside her bed. He took her to his room, tidied up the bed and
carefully tucked her up next to him. Half asleep, she crept close to him, snuggled her head under
his arm, and held tightly to his shirt. Her father asked her to rub her feet against his legs so that
she could make them warm. He was so tired that he slept before she did. It was then that she saw
her father in a new light. She realized that there was no one to look after him. She understood
that he had to work every day and was too tired to be like Mr. Macdonald. She felt bad that she
had torn up his speech. She expressed her new feelings for her father by saying that he had a big
heart.

Page : 38 , Block Name : Thinking about the Text

Q1 Look at the following sentence.

There was a glad sense of relief when she heard the noise of the carriage growing fainter...
Here, glad means happy about something.
Glad, happy, pleased, delighted, thrilled and overjoyed are synonyms (words or expressions that
have the same or nearly the same meaning.) However, they express happiness in certain ways.
Read the sentences below.

She was glad when the meeting was over.

The chief guest was pleased to announce the name of the winner.

1. Use an appropriate word from the synonyms given above in the following sentences. Clues are
given in brackets.
(i) She was ____________ by the news of her brother’s wedding. (very pleased)
(ii) I was ____________ to be invited to the party. (extremely pleased and excited about)
(iii) She was ____________ at the birth of her granddaughter. (extremely happy)
(iv) The coach was ____________ with his performance. (satis ed about)
(v) She was very ____________ with her results. (happy about something that has happened)

2. Study the use of the word big in the following sentence.
He was so big — his hands and his neck, especially his mouth…
Here, big means large in size.
Now, consult a dictionary and nd out the meaning of big in the following sentences. The rst
one has been done for you.

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(i) You are a big girl now. older
(ii) Today you are going to take the biggest decision of your career. ____________
(iii) Their project is full of big ideas. ____________
(iv) Cricket is a big game in our country. ____________
(v) I am a big fan of Lata Mangeskar. ____________
(vi) You have to cook a bit more as my friend is a big eater. ____________
(vii) What a big heart you’ve got, Father dear. ____________

Answer. 1. (i) She was delighted by the news of her brother's wedding.
(ii) I was thrilled to be invited to the party.
(iii) She was overjoyed at the birth of her granddaughter.
(iv) The coach was pleased with his performance.
(v) She was very happy with her results.

2. (i) Older
(ii) Most important
(iii) Excellent ideas
(iv) Huge in popularity
(v) Greatest
(vi) Eats a lot (in quantity)
(vii) A good and kind heart

Page : 38 , Block Name : Thinking about Language

Q2 Verbs of Reporting Study the following sentences.

“What!” screamed Mother.

“N-n-no”, she whispered.

“Sit up,” he ordered. The italicised words are verbs of reporting. We quote or report what
someone has said or thought by using a reporting verb. Every reporting clause contains a
reporting verb. For example:

He promised to help in my project.

“How are you doing?” Seema asked

We use verbs of reporting to advise, order, report statements, thoughts, intentions, questions,
requests, apologies, manner of speaking and so on.

1. Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences.

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(i) He says he will enjoy the ride.
(ii) Father mentioned that he was going on a holiday.
(iii) No one told us that the shop was closed.
(iv) He answered that the price would go up.
(v) I wondered why he was screaming.
(vi) Ben told her to wake him up.
(vii) Ratan apologised for coming late to the party.
2. Some verbs of reporting are given in the box. Choose the appropriate verbs and ll in the
blanks in the following sentences.

(i) “I am not afraid,” the woman.
(ii) “Leave me alone,” my mother .
(iii) The children that the roads were crowded and noisy.
(iv) “Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all,” the master.
(v) “Let’s go and look at the school ground,” the sports teacher.
(vi) The traf c police all the passers-by to keep off the road.

Answer. 1. (i) He says he will enjoy the ride.
(ii) Father mentioned that he was going on a holiday.
(iii) No one told us that the shop was closed.
(iv) He answered that the price would go up.
(v) I wondered why he was screaming.
(vi) Ben told her to wake him up.
(vii) Ratan apologized for coming late to the party.

2. (i) "I am not afraid," replied the woman.
(ii) "Leave me alone," my mother shouted.
(iii) The children were complaining that the roads were crowded and noisy.
(iv) 'Perhaps he isn’t a bad sort of a chap after all," remarked the man.
(v) "Let's go and look at the school ground," suggested the sports teacher.
(vi) The traf c police ordered all the passers-by to keep off the road.

Page : 39 , Block Name : Thinking about the Text

Q1 Form pairs or groups and discuss the following questions.

1. This story is not an Indian story. But do you think there are fathers, mothers and
grandmothers like the ones portrayed in the story in our own country?
2. Was Kezia’s father right to punish her? What kind of a person was he? You might nd some of
these words useful in describing him:

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Answer. 1. As we know that the story is not an Indian one, then also we can closely associated
with the story because the characters in the story are not different in our Indian culture. Ours
society is also ruled by man and trustworthy fathers like Kezia's . Similarly, in our Indian society
also women's are suppressed and caring and adoring grandmothers are commonly found in every
Indian house.

2. It was absolute necessary to make Kezia realised her mistake and to teach Kezia a lesson, her
father should also have tried to understand the Kezia’s problem as well.
In the beginning of the story Kezia's father appears as a strict disciplinarian who ordered every
things around in the house. As a short-tempered person, he always punishes Kezia for her
mistake. He never talks to her daughter. He never plays with her. He beats her badly for tearing
his speech paper. Her father is very good at heart it would be unfair to call him unkind because
towards the end of the story we nd him to be an affectionate, loving and caring father. He is not
indifferent he is a responsible father who works very hard all day long, he becomes too tired so
he does not get time to play with her and show his love and care.

Page : 40 , Block Name : Speaking

Q1 Has your life been different from or similar to that of Kezia when you were a child? Has your
perception about your parents changed now? Do you nd any change in your parents’ behaviour
vis-à-vis yours? Who has become more understanding? What steps would you like to take to
build a relationship based on understanding? Write three or four paragraphs (150–200 words)
discussing these issues from your own experience.

Answer. As a female, I can de nitely relate to the story and life of Kezia and her relationship
with parents over the years. I do think that over the years, my perception of my parents has
changed considerably.
When I was younger, I did not feel much love and like most young kids was sel sh in what I
wanted. If I did not get what I wanted I would cry and eventually get it. When I grew up and
became a teenager, I, for some reason started to hate my parents. Everything they did or said, I
felt like it was against me, I felt like living in a jail when I was home.
However, as I grew up and became more mature I understood how much they loved me and I
started to bond with them as well.
I noticed how, as I showed more affection and love, they showed double that amount, loving me
and forgiving me for all the bad I had done to them over the years. They were really parents and I
was just a young brat, who did not know better.
I think the rst step to build an understanding is to give up the 'victim mentality' most of us
have in our heads. We believe we are right, everyone is wrong and out to get us. We need to rst
work on ourselves and understand that life is what we make of it and not everyone hates us.
We need to understand that we are not victims and that we are the choices we make.
Next step is to talk openly and as much as possible but also try to be diplomatic to make sure no
one gets hurt in the process

Page : 40 , Block Name : Writing

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Q1 1. What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class.
(i) humid shadows
(ii) starry spheres
(iii) what a bliss
(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start
(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof
2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?
3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he
refers to?
4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?

Answer. 1. (i) "Humid shadows" refer to the dark clouds that produce rain.
(ii) "Starry spheres" refer to the night sky abounding in stars.
(iii)"What a bliss" refers to the happiness of the poet. When it rains poet gets into his cottage
and enjoy the patter of rain upon the roof.
(iv)This refers to the various imaginary thoughts and fantasies that are aroused in the poet's
mind.
(v) This phrase means that numerous memories intermingle to form a beautiful picture that the
poet recollects.

2. When it rains, the poet feels delighted to lie with his head pressed against the pillow of his
cottage chamber bed and listen to the patter of the soft rain.

3. The single major memory that comes to the poet is that of his mother and her fond look. The
"darling dreamers" are the poet and his siblings in their childhood when they were lovingly put
to sleep by their mother.

4. No, the poet is not a child now.He is a grown up man. He remembers her when he is inside his
cosy cottage and enjoy the pattern of rain on the roof.

Page : 40 , Block Name : Thinking About The Poem

Q2 1. When you were a young child, did your mother tuck you in, as the poet’s did?
2. Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem?
3. Does everybody have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains? Look around you and describe how
different kinds of people or animals spend time, seek shelter etc. during rain.

Answer. 1. Yes, my mother used to tuck me in when I was a young child, just like the poet's
mother did. (Self-experience question)

2. Yes, I like the rain. When it rains steadily I get into my house and enjoy the weather with
family. We enjoy tea. It is wonderful experience (self-experience question)

3. No, everybody is not fortunate enough to have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains. Not

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everybody gets to enjoy the comfort of cosy homes during rain. I have seen animals seeking
shelter under trees and under the tin roofs of the small roadside tea stalls. The people passing by
shoo away these animals and try to shrink themselves under the limited space of these shops.
The poor animals are left shivering and drenching on the roads. The shopkeepers of such stalls
are delighted as the people waiting for the rain to subside often end up buying tea and snacks.

Page : 40 , Block Name : Thinking About The Poem

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