Q1. [5]
I started right away at the Montessori Nursery School. I stayed there until I was six, at which time I started in the first form. In the sixth form, my teacher was Mrs. Kuperus, the headmistress. At the end of the year we were both in tears as we said a heartbreaking farewell. In the summer of 1941, Grandma fell ill and had to have an operation, so my birthday passed with little celebration.
Read the following extract and answer the questions.
- (i) "In the summer of 1941, Grandma fell ill and had to have an operation, so my birthday passed with little celebration." State any one inference about Anne from the above context. [1]
- (ii) The first education of Anne started at ____ . [1]
- (A) some Kindergarten School
- (B) a Nursery School
- (C) Montessori Nursery School
- (D) Elementary School
- (iii) Who was Mrs. Kuperus? What kind of relationship did Anne share with her? [2]
- (iv) Substitute the word 'heartbreaking' with a word similar in meaning in the following sentence: "At the end of the year we were both in tears as we said a heartbreaking farewell." [1]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2024 2/1/1 Q6(B)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:18 · grounding stimulus+chapter
Model Answer
(i) Anne is a family-oriented person. Since her grandmother's illness overshadowed her birthday, it shows she cared deeply about her grandmother and could not celebrate happily while a loved one was suffering.
(ii) (C) Montessori Nursery School
(iii) Mrs. Kuperus was Anne's teacher in the sixth form and also the headmistress of the school. Anne shared a very warm and affectionate relationship with her. Their bond was so strong that at the end of the year, both Anne and Mrs. Kuperus were in tears while saying farewell to each other, which shows how much they meant to one another.
(iv) The word 'heartbreaking' can be replaced with painful (or gut-wrenching / sorrowful).
"At the end of the year we were both in tears as we said a painful farewell."
Source: From the Diary of Anne Frank, Extract passage
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Explanation
- (i) The inference must relate to Anne's character/feelings — her love for family is the safest, most textually supported inference.
- (ii) The passage clearly states "I started right away at the Montessori Nursery School" — (C) is the only correct option.
- (iii) 2-mark answers need two parts: who Mrs. Kuperus was + nature of relationship. Examiners look for both.
- (iv) Any clear synonym for 'heartbreaking' is acceptable (painful, sorrowful, agonising). Write the revised sentence for full marks.
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