empathy

Option A is correct. Empathy means understanding another person’s feelings, especially fear or distress, and offering support. Recognising Kezia’s fear and helping her feel safe shows genuine care. Laughing at her or scolding her would dismiss and hurt her feelings, so those actions are not empathetic. Exam tip: In empathy questions, choose the action that combines understanding with support.

The story teaches understanding feelings and recognizing hidden love. In exams connect empathy with understanding and love.

Her father comforted her at night so she understood his tiredness and love. In exams focus on the reason for change.

Kezia realizes that her father is tired though he seems strict. In exams link empathy with understanding.

Kezia understands the tiredness behind her father's strictness. Remember the core meaning of empathy in exams.

By seeing the Macdonald family Kezia compares different fathers. In exams notice feelings created through comparison.

The emotional growth moves from fear to understanding. In exams focus on how a character's feelings change.

When Kezia is frightened by a nightmare, her father lets her sleep beside him and comforts her. She then realizes that behind his strict manner, he has a big and loving heart. Option A reflects her earlier fear of him, not her understanding after this incident. Exam tip: Pay close attention to incidents that change a character’s opinion of another character.

His manner seemed distant and strict so Kezia feared him. In exams separate first impression from later understanding.

She tried to make a gift for her father's birthday. In exams distinguish her intention from her mistake.

Kezia's mistake was unintentional and her feeling was loving. In exams look at both action and intention.

The reader feels the child's fear and loneliness. In exams understand the reader's emotional response.

Understanding his tiredness brings pity and closeness in her heart. In exams connect cause and effect.

At night her father held her and removed her fear. In exams identify the gentle side of the father.

The father looks strict outwardly but is loving inside. In exams understand the difference between outer and inner personality.

Her fear grows in loneliness and her father's care becomes important. In exams notice the effect of setting.

Harsh punishment increases Kezia's fear. In exams write about the balance of discipline and empathy.

This scene is an example of a warm father-child relationship. In exams understand the value of contrasting examples.

Her fear before her father appears even in her speech. In exams identify big feelings through small behaviours.

After the nightmare her father keeps her close. In exams identify the hidden trait of a character.