Summary
Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who documented her life in hiding during the Nazi occupation. Her diary, written as letters to an imaginary friend named Kitty, describes her emotional world and daily life. Her insightful writing shows maturity, humor, and a deep yearning for friendship and freedom.
Reading Comprehension Questions and Answers
Oral Comprehension Check – Part 1
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What makes writing in a diary a strange experience for Anne?
➤ She had never written anything before, and she thought no one would be interested in the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old girl.
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Why does Anne want to keep a diary?
➤ She feels lonely and doesn't have a real friend she can confide in, so she writes to her diary as a friend.
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Why did Anne think she could confide more in her diary than in people?
➤ She believed that "paper has more patience than people" and found it easier to express her feelings to a diary.
Oral Comprehension Check – Part 2
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Why does Anne provide a brief sketch of her life?
➤ To help readers understand her background before reading her diary entries.
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What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother?
➤ She mentioned that she thinks of her often and lit a candle in her memory on her birthday.
Oral Comprehension Check – Part 3
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Why was Mr. Keesing annoyed with Anne?
➤ Because she talked too much in class.
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How did Anne justify her being a chatterbox in her essay?
➤ She argued that talking is a student’s trait and an inherited one from her mother.
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Do you think Mr. Keesing was a strict teacher?
➤ He seemed strict at first but had a sense of humor and eventually appreciated Anne’s wit.
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What made Mr. Keesing allow Anne to talk in class?
➤ He was amused by the poem she wrote and took the joke in good spirit.
Vocabulary Activity – Compound Words
Compound Word Meaning Sentence Heartbreaking Producing great sadness The ending of the movie was heartbreaking. Homesick Missing home deeply She felt homesick on her first night at the hostel. Blockhead A very stupid person (informal) Don’t be such a blockhead! Law-abiding Obeying the law He is a law-abiding citizen. Daydream Think pleasantly, forgetting present She often daydreams during class. Overdo Do something to an excessive degree Don’t overdo the exercise. Breakdown A mechanical or emotional failure The bus had a breakdown. Output Result or product The factory increased its output.
Grammar – Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal Verb Meaning Sentence from the Text plunge in go straight to the topic “...if I were to plunge right in…” kept back not promoted “...teachers decide who’ll move up and who’ll be kept back.” move up go to the next grade Same as above ramble on talk aimlessly “Anyone could ramble on and leave big spaces…” get along with have good relationship “I get along pretty well with all my teachers.” calm down become quiet “...can’t calm them down.” stay in remain indoors “...wondering whether to stay in or go out.” make up for compensate “...celebration was to make up for the other.” hand in submit work “I handed it in...”
Idioms and Meanings
Idiom Meaning quaking in its boots very scared or nervous lose heart lose hope had enough reached the limit of patience the joke was on him someone else became the target of a joke laugh ourselves silly laugh a lot caught my eye attracted my attention Examples:
The cat on the window sill caught my eye.
We laughed ourselves silly during the comedy show.
Reflection & Higher-Order Thinking Questions (with Sample Answers)
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Was Anne right to think the world wouldn’t be interested in her diary?
➤ No, her diary became one of the most famous accounts of WWII. It touched millions and became a historical document.
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What makes Anne’s diary different from a regular log or journal?
➤ It's personal, emotional, reflective, and written in a unique narrative style. She named her diary “Kitty” and treated it as a friend.
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Why does she describe her teachers and classmates so vividly?
➤ It reflects her observational skills, humor, and the importance of school life in a teenager’s world.
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What do her essays for Mr. Keesing reveal about Anne?
➤ She’s witty, creative, persuasive, and able to use humor even in strict situations.
