NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive: The Little Girl

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 9 PDF

This section provides NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive, Chapter 3, 'The Little Girl'. It focuses on understanding the complex relationship between a young girl, Kezia, and her father, who appears strict and distant but harbors underlying affection. The solutions cover extract-based and short answer questions, helping students analyze Kezia's fear, her father's behavior, and the emotional distance between them. Key themes explored include fear, love, communication, and the perception of parental figures. These solutions are designed to aid students in comprehending the nuances of the story, preparing them effectively for their exams by clarifying character motivations and plot points.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 9
Subject	English
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	3. The Little Girl

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 3, 'The Little Girl', offers detailed answers to questions based on the text. The solutions help students explore the emotional distance between Kezia and her father, her fear of him, and the eventual understanding that develops. They cover extract-based questions requiring close reading and short answer questions that probe character analysis and plot comprehension, aiding in a thorough understanding of the chapter's themes.

Learning outcomes

Understand the complex relationship between Kezia and her father.
Analyze Kezia's fear and her father's strict demeanor.
Identify instances of miscommunication and emotional distance in the story.
Interpret the underlying affection despite the father's outward sternness.
Answer comprehension questions based on provided text extracts.
Explain character motivations and their impact on the narrative.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Kezia's relationship with her father
Fear and anxiety in children
Parental communication
Character analysis of Kezia and her father
Understanding emotional distance
Interpreting nightmares
The role of grandparents
Perception vs. reality in relationships
Gift-giving and its consequences
Father's strictness and underlying love

Important topics

Kezia's fear of her father
The father's strict demeanor and its impact
Kezia's eventual understanding of her father
Themes of love, fear, and communication
Analysis of key incidents (pin cushion, nightmare)

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Questions and Solutions

Extract Based Questions (3 marks, each)

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

Q.1. To the little girl he was a figure to be feared and avoided. Every morning before going to work he came into her room and gave her a casual kiss, to which she responded with 'Good Bye Father'. And oh, there Was a glad sense of relief when she heard the noise of the carriage growing fainter and fainter down the long road!,

Q.1. (i)

What was the daily routine of the father?

Solution: The father's daily routine involved waking up, entering his daughter Kezia's room before leaving for work, and giving her a casual kiss as a farewell gesture.

Q.1. (ii)

When did the daughter feel relief?

Solution: The daughter, Kezia, felt a sense of relief when she heard the sound of her father's carriage gradually fading away as he drove off down the road, signifying his departure.

Q.1. (iii)

Trace a word from the passage which means "answered". (Board Term 1, 2012, ELI-015)

Solution: The word from the passage that means "answered" is responded.

Q.2. But the same old nightmare came the butcher with a knife and a rope who came nearer and nearer, with that dreadful smile, while she could not move, only stand still, crying out "Grandma!". She woke shivering to see father beside her bed, a candle in his hand. "What is the matter?" he said.

Q.2. (i)

Why did she get the nightmare?

Solution: Kezia likely had the nightmare because she felt scared and alone, especially with her mother and grandmother away in the hospital, and perhaps due to her father's intimidating presence even when he tried to comfort her.

Q.2. (ii)

Where was the butcher?

Solution: The butcher was a figure within Kezia's nightmare; it was not a real person present in her room.

Q.2. (iii)

Find a word from the passage that means "shake in fear and cold". (Board Term 1, 2012, ELI-018)

Solution: The word from the passage that means "shake in fear and cold" is shivering.

Q.3. "But it was for your b-b- birth day." Down came the ruler on her little, pink palms. Hours later, when grandmother had wrapped her in a shawl and rocked her in the rocking-chair, the child clung to her soft body. "What did God make fathers for?" she sobbed.

Q.3. (i)

Who is responding in the first line and before whom?

Solution: Kezia is responding in the first line, explaining herself to her father after he questions her about tearing his papers.

Q.3. (ii)

How did the father react?

Solution: The father reacted with anger and punished Kezia by hitting her palms with a ruler, seemingly because she had destroyed important papers.

Q.3. (iii)

Find a word from the passage that means "wept". (Board Term 1, 2012, ELI-019)

Solution: The word from the passage that means "wept" is sobbed.

Q.4. On Sunday afternoon, Grandmother sent her down to file drawing room to have a "Nice talk with Father and Mother". But the little girl always found mother reading and father stretched out on the sofa, his handkerchief on his flee, his feet on one of file best cushion, sleeping soundly and snoring.

Q.4. (i)

Who was 'she' and why did the grandmother send her down?

Solution: 'She' refers to Kezia. Her grandmother sent her down to the drawing-room with the intention of facilitating a pleasant conversation between Kezia and her parents.

Q.4. (ii)

What did she notice about her parents?

Solution: Kezia noticed that her mother was occupied with reading, and her father was deeply asleep on the sofa, snoring loudly, with his handkerchief on his chest and his feet resting on a cushion.

Q.4. (iii)

Trace a word that means "undisturbed". (Board Term 1, 2012, ELI-020)

Solution: The word from the passage that means "undisturbed" is soundly, referring to how the father was sleeping.

Q.5. She sat on a stool, gravely watched him until he woke and stretched, and asked the time - then looked at her. "Don't stare so, Kezia. You look like a little brown owl".

Q.5. (i)

Who is Kezia watching gravely?

Solution: Kezia was watching her father gravely as she sat on a stool, observing him while he slept.

Q.5. (ii)

Why was she sitting there waiting for him to wake up?

Solution: Kezia was sitting there because her grandmother had sent her to have a talk with her parents. She waited for her father to wake up, possibly hoping for that interaction, even though he usually slept during her visits.

Q.5. (iii)

Trace the word in the extract which means "seriously". (Board Term 1, 2012, ELI-026)

Solution: The word in the extract that means "seriously" is gravely.

Short Answer Type Questions (2 marks each) (About 30-40 words each)

Q.1.

What orders were passed to Kezia in the evening when father returned home from office? (SA-1, DDE-2014) (Board Term 1, Sept, 2012, E21-017)

Solution: In the evening, when Kezia's father returned from his office, she was expected to perform specific duties. These included taking off his shoes and placing them outside, and serving his teacup to him by placing it on the tea table.

Q.2.

Why did Kezia avoid her father? (Board Term, Sept, 1, 2013, K2G41GH)

Solution: Kezia avoided her father because she found him to be an intimidating and emotionless figure. He rarely spoke to her kindly, often scolded her, and his stern, giant-like presence made her feel fearful and unable to communicate comfortably.

Q.3.

Why did Kezia stammer in front of her father? (Board Term 1, 2012, ELI-013) OR Why did Kezia stutter only with her father? (Board Term 1, 2012, ELI-043)

Solution: Kezia stammered in front of her father primarily due to fear. His aggressive demeanor, tendency to scold, and lack of warm interaction made her anxious, causing her to stutter whenever she had to speak with him.

Q.4.

Why was Kezia afraid of her father? (Board Term 1, 2012, ELI-022)

Solution: Kezia was afraid of her father because he was an aggressive person who spoke loudly, scolded her frequently, and sometimes resorted to physical punishment. He never engaged in playful activities with her, contributing to her fear and sensitivity towards him.

Q.5.

What made Kezia's father punish her? (Board Term 1, 2012, ELI-025)

Solution: Kezia's father punished her because she tore up important papers, which contained his speech, to stuff into a pin cushion she was making as a surprise gift for him. His anger stemmed from the destruction of his work.

Common mistakes

Misinterpreting the father's actions as purely harsh without considering his underlying care.
Focusing only on Kezia's fear without acknowledging her gradual understanding.
Confusing the father's strictness with a lack of love.
Failing to connect the father's behavior to societal expectations or his own upbringing.

Revision tips

Reread the chapter focusing on Kezia's feelings towards her father.
Analyze specific incidents mentioned in the solutions to understand character development.
Discuss the father's character with peers, considering different interpretations.
Pay attention to the language used to describe the father and Kezia's reactions.
Use the provided solutions to check your understanding of key events and themes.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was the primary reason Kezia feared her father?

Q2. Which word from the first extract means 'answered'?

Q3. What did Kezia do that led to her being punished with a ruler?

Q4. Why did Kezia feel a 'glad sense of relief'?

Q5. What does the phrase 'stretched out on the sofa' imply about Kezia's father?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of 'The Little Girl' chapter in Class 9 English?

The main theme of 'The Little Girl' is the complex and often fearful relationship between a young child, Kezia, and her strict father, exploring themes of fear, love, communication, and the eventual understanding that develops between them.

Why did Kezia avoid her father?

Kezia avoided her father because she perceived him as a strict, emotionless, and intimidating figure who scolded her and rarely spoke lovingly. His imposing presence made her stammer and feel afraid.

How do these NCERT Solutions help Class 9 students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all questions, helping students understand the story's nuances, character motivations, and themes. They aid in exam preparation by offering detailed explanations and correct interpretations of the text.

What does the nightmare Kezia experiences reveal?

Kezia's nightmare, featuring a butcher, reveals her deep-seated fear and anxiety, likely stemming from her perceived harshness of her father and her feeling of insecurity when alone.

What is the significance of the pin cushion incident?

The pin cushion incident highlights Kezia's attempt to show love and appreciation for her father, but it leads to punishment due to her misunderstanding of the importance of the papers she used, underscoring the communication gap.

How does the father show affection in the story?

Although often perceived as strict, the father shows affection subtly, such as by visiting Kezia's room before work, comforting her during her nightmare, and eventually showing concern for her well-being, revealing a softer side beneath his stern exterior.

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