9 unit 3 The Little Girl

The Little Girl (Prose)

The Rain on the Roof (Poem)

Glossary

Sl. No.	Word/phrase	Meaning in English	Meaning in Telugu
Unit-3 The Little Girl
1	Responded (v)	replied	జవాబు ఇచ్చెను
2	Fainter(adj)	unclear (Here it is about the sound of a vehicle)	కనుమరుగు అగుట
3	Terrifying (v)	causing fear	భయపెట్టే
4	Stuttered (v)	talked with continued repetitions of the same sounds / stammered	నత్తిగా మాట్లాడెను
5	Wretched (adj)	very unhappy	బాధగా
6	Brink of suicide	someone is about to commit suicide	చనిపోవడానికి సిద్ధముగానున్న
7	Yawned (v)	to open your mouth wide and make a big breath, unusually because you are tired or bored	అవళించేను
8	Gravely (adv)	seriously	కోపంగా
9	Laboriously (adv)	in a way that takes considerable time and effort	శ్రమపడి
10	Wandered into	to move from place to place especially on foot	అటు ఇటు తిరుగుట
11	Hue and cry	protest / public outcry	వ్యతిరేకత
12	Sewed up (phr.v.)	to mend completely by sewing	సూది దారంతో కుట్టేను
13	Screamed (v)	cried loudly	బిగ్గరగా అరిచేను
14	Fetch(v)	To get	తీసుకొని వచ్చుట
15	Damned (adj)	An informal expression used to emphasize or express anger or frustration with someone or something.	విసుగు మరియు కోపాన్ని వ్యక్తపరిచే పదం
16	Lay (v)	be in a resting position (lie-lay-lain)	విశ్రమించెను
17	Wrapped (v)	cover or enclose in paper or soft material	చుట్టేను
18	Red colour Flew into her cheeks	she became fearful	భయపడెను
19	Tag (n)	a children’s game of catching one another	ముట్టుకునే ఆట
20	Nightmare (n)	a frightening or unpleasant dream	పీడకల
21	Snuggled (n)	moved into a warm, comfortable position, close to another person	హత్తుకొనెను
22	Pacing to and fro (phr)	To move up and down seriously	విసుగ్గా అటు ఇటు తిరుగుట
23	Rocking chair (n)	The chair that rocks back and forth	ఊగే కుర్చీ
24	Blowing one’s nose	To clean the nose by blowing out the air through nose	చీదుట
25	Butcher (n)	A person who cuts animals and sells meat	కసాయి వాడు / మాంసం అమ్మువాడు
26	Hose (n)	a flexible tube conveying water, used chiefly for watering plants	మొక్కలకు నీళ్ళు వేసే పైపు
27	Cling (v) Cling-clung-clung	Hold on tightly	గట్టిగా పట్టుకొనుట
28	Yawn (v)	open one's mouth wide and inhale deeply,	అవళించుట
29	Sleeping soundly (phr)	to sleep deeply	ఘాడంగా నిద్రపోవుట
30	Snoring (v)	the action or fact of making a snorting or grunting sound while asleep.	గురక పెట్టుట
31	Pin-cushion	A small pad for holding pins

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Thinking about the Text: (ref pg.38 TB)

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

Answers:

1.   (iii), (iv), (v), (vii)      (ref. para-1,3,10, 4 respectively)

2.   (i), (ii)  (ref. para-1)

3.   (vi)       (ref. para-12)

 

II) Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

1.   Why was Kezia afraid of her father? (ref para-1 & 3)

Kezia was afraid of her father because he was so big like a giant and he was also strict and serious.

 

2.   Who were the people in the Kezia’s family?

There were only three members in Kezia’s family- her grandmother, mother and father.

 

3.   What was Kezia’s father’s routine

i)     Before going to his office? (ref para-1)
Kezia’s father used to give her a casual kiss before going to his office.

 

ii)   After coming back from his office? (ref para-1)

After coming back from his office, he would ask for a newspaper and tea.

 

iii) On Sundays?
On Sundays, Kezia’s father would like to take a rest on the sofa.

 

4.   In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better? (ref para-4)

On Sunday afternoons, grandmother sent Kezia to the drawing room to have a nice talk with her father. She also suggested Kezia make a pin cushion to gift her father.

 

III) 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? (ref para-4 & 5))

          One day Kezia’s grandmother suggested Kezia make a pin-cushion and gift it to her father on his birthday, Laboriously, with a double cotton, the little girl stitched three sides and she went in search of some scraps to fill it. In her father’s bedroom, she found many sheets of fine paper. She tore them up, stuffed the cloth, and sewed up the fourth side.

 

          Unfortunately, this turned out to be a sad thing for Kezia because she had torn up the papers of her father containing a speech. On knowing this, her father became grave and punished her with a ruler. Thus, Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much.

 

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? (ref para-9 & 12)

         Kezia’s father would never find time to spend with her. He was a kind of serious person besides being strict. So, Kezia never liked to spend time with him even though her father took care of her.

          On the other hand, Mr. Macdonald, a neighbour, was a family man. He always enjoyed the company of his five children by playing with them. 

 

3.   How does Kezia begin to see her father as a human being who needs her sympathy? (ref para-11 & 12)

          Kezia's father expresses a protective instinct by responding to her nightmare and immediately coming to her room. He offers comfort, carries her to his own bedroom, and tucks her in, ensuring her safety. This shows Kezia that her father is willing to go out of his way to protect and care for her.

 

Thinking about the Language: (ref pg.38 TB)

Vocabulary

Exercise 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. (satisfied about)

v)     She was very __________ with her results. (happy about something that has happened)

Answers:

i)     thrilled	ii)    delighted	iii)   overjoyed
iv)   pleased	v)     happy

 

Exercise 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 find out the meaning of big in the following sentences. The first one has been done for you.

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 Mangeshkar. __________

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. __________

Answers:

ii) most important

iii) great

iv) popular / famous

v) great

vi) gluttonous

vii) generous

 

Grammar

II) Verbs of Reporting / Reporting Verbs (ref pg.no.39)

        Reporting verbs are words or phrases that we use when we want to tell or share what someone else said, thought, or believed. They help us attribute information to a specific source.

          For example, when we want to report someone's speech, we use reporting verbs like "say," "tell," or "ask."

If we want to report someone's thoughts or opinions, we can use verbs like "think," "believe," or "consider."

When we want to report knowledge or information, we can use verbs like "state," "report," or "describe."

 If we want to report someone's feelings or reactions, we can use verbs like "feel," "react," or "express."

1. Reporting a Speech:
• ‘say’             :         She said, "I'm going to a party."
• ‘tell’             :         He told me, "Don't forget to bring the book."
• ‘ask’             :         She asked, "Can you help me?"
2. Reporting Thoughts and Opinions:
• ‘think’          :         I think he should consider another option.
• ‘believe’        :         They believe that education is the key to success.
• ‘consider’     :         She considered joining the club.
3. Reporting Knowledge and Information:
• ‘state’          :         The report states that the project is on schedule.
• ‘report’        :         They reported that the event was a success.
• ‘confirm’      :         The study confirmed the hypothesis.
4. Reporting Feelings and Reactions:
• ‘feel’             :         He feels excited about the upcoming vacation.
• ‘react’          :         She reacted strongly to the news.
• ‘express’     :         They expressed disappointment with the results.
5. Introducing Quotations:
• ‘say’            :         He said, "I'll be there on time."
• ‘remark’       :         She remarked, "What a beautiful sunset!"
• ‘suggest’      :         They suggested, "Let's have dinner on the terrace."

 

 

Exercise 1: (pg.no.40)

Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences.

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.

 

Exercise 2: (pg.no.40)

Some verbs of reporting are given in the box. Choose the appropriate verbs and fill 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 traffic police __________ all the passers-by to keep off the road.

Answers:

i) replied

ii) shouted

iii) were complaining

iv) remarked

v) suggested

vi) ordered

 

Speaking: (pg.no.40)

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? 

 

Answer:

 

Hi! Everyone, this is Sahiti of the 9^th standard. Now, I would like to share my opinion about the treatment of children by parents and grandparents in our country.

No, I rarely find fathers and mothers in India like the ones portrayed in the story ‘The Little Girl’. And the grandmothers are quite similar to the grandmother of Kezia.

In India, there are fathers who are serious but caring towards their children like in the story. They take their role as breadwinners seriously, but their love for their children is immense. Indian mothers nurture and shower their children with affection, always supporting their dreams.

Grandparents in India hold a special place, offering wisdom and promoting traditional values. They create a warm and loving environment for children in India, shaping their lives with discipline and unconditional love.

 

2. Was Kezia’s father right to punish her? What kind of a person was he? You might find some of these words useful in describing him: 

Answer:

          Kezia’s father was not right to punish her. He was a hard-working and responsible person. He was strict and seemed undemonstrative, often displaying strict discipline.  At times, he could be short-tempered and aimed to instil discipline in Kezia's life.

          Despite his strictness, he showed love and affection towards Kezia. He cared for her well-being. While some of his actions may have seemed unkind or indifferent (/not sympathetic), it's essential to understand that people express their care in different ways.

          Overall, he was a complex individual, balancing his role as a parent with his own individuality and values.

Writing: (pg.no.40)

Question : Has your life been different from or similar to that of Kezia when you were a child? Has your perception of your parents changed now? Do you find 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:

          When I was child, my life was entirely different from the life of Kezia.  My parents were always loveable, caring and sometimes friendly too. There has been no scalable change in the behaviour of my parents to me.

 

          My love towards them never changes because they understand me more than I do. Understanding my parents gradually grew with my age. So as to build up a strong bondage and relationship with my parents, I always take their blessings at the very beginning of new tasks. I especially greet them on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day by arranging small surprises.

 

          I always feel like my parents are my direct Gods and I hope you also feel the same.

Rain on the Roof(poem)

 

Thinking about the Poem:

I)  Answer the following questions (ref pg.no.42 TB)

1.   What do the following phrases mean to you? Discuss in class.

i)     humid shadows

Humid shadows mean the dark clouds that shower the rain.

ii)    starry spheres

Starry spheres mean galaxies of stars appear in the sky.

iii)  what a bliss

What a bliss means that the poet is feeling the happiness inside.

iv)   a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start

The above phrase means that the poets mind is filled with many fanciful thoughts.

v)    a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof

The above phrase means that the poet is recollecting thousands of memories and make a complete (woof) picture of them.

 

2.   What does the poet like to do when it rains?

When it rains, the poet likes to lie and listen to the sound of the rain on the roof of his cottage chamber.

 

3.   What is the single major memory that comes to the poet’s mind? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to?

The single major memory that comes to the poet’s mind is that of his mother. The ‘darling dreamers’ are those ‘kids’ who remember their mothers like the poet.

 

4.   Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?

No, the poet now is a man. No, his mother is not alive. He just recollects his mother being in his cottage during the rain.

 

I.    Answer these Questions (ref. pg.no.42)

 

1.   When You Were a Young Child, Did Your Mother Tuck You In, As the Poets Did?

When I was a young child, my mother used to tuck me in as the poet’s mother did.

 

2.   Do you like rain? What do you do when it rains steadily or heavily as described in the poem?

I like rain. I love to get wet and enjoy the drizzle but stay calm looking at the rain if it is heavy.

 

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.

Of course not, everyone may not have a cosy bed to lie in when it rains.

During rain, people, birds and animals generally look for shelter. Surprisingly, children like to enjoy being in the rain.

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