‘From Zlata’s Diary’ Summary Meanings Question Answers

From Zlata’s Diary: Summary, Meanings, Question and Answers as published in class 6 Wind Chimes English Textbook. Also watch the video tutorial given below. Click here for more.

Summary

Zlata Filipović chronicled her experiences as a child living through the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1995 in her diary, which is reminiscent of Anne Frank’s diary. Zlata writes candidly and earnestly about the hardships and joys she experiences. On June 5, 1992, Zlata lamented the prolonged power outage that was spoiling their food. They cooked everything perishable on a wood-burning stove, creating an impromptu feast. Despite her young age, Zlata understood the scarcity of even basic necessities, which caused anxiety among the adults.

On July 20 of the same year, Zlata empathized with the abandoned animals in Sarajevo, her hometown, as she observed them from her window. She reflected on how animals were not spared by wars. On August 18, Zlata was moved by her mother’s incredible efforts to manually transport water to their home for washing, cleaning, and bathing. She felt that the war had regressed society to the Middle Ages.

On October 21, 1992, Zlata’s father celebrated his birthday with a small gathering. Zlata had submitted some of her diary entries for UNICEF week to be read at the City Assembly. She was elated to learn that her diary had been chosen for publication.

Textbook Question & Answers

Comprehesion

Answer these questions in brief.

1. What was the immediate impact of the war on the children?
2. How did Zlata’s family save food when there was no electricity?
3. What made the summer school both enjoyable and tragic?
4. Who are Fipa and Mimmy?
5. What did Maja want to know about Zlata’s diary and why?
6. For what occasion was Zlata’s diary going to be published?

Answers:

1. The immediate consequence of the war on children was the closure of schools.
2. Zlata’s family consumed all perishable items by cooking them.
3. At summer school, children engaged in activities such as acting, reciting, and writing, until shelling claimed their friend Eldin’s life.
4. Zlata’s diary is known as “Mimmy,” and her nickname is Fipa.
5. Maja inquired whether Zlata documented the war in her diary, as she learned that children’s war experiences might be published.
6. Zlata’s diary was going to be published for the UNICEF week.

B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

1. So I will get the report card saying I’ve finished fifth grade.
   This implies that
   a. Zlata had passed her fourth grade exams.
   b. Zlata did well in her exams.
   c. She will be promoted without any exams.
2. Even they are not spared by the war.
   a. Who are ‘they’?
   b. In what way are they affected by the war?
   c. Comment on the tone of the sentence.
3. ‘Fipa, you are terrific.’
   a. Who says this and to whom?
   b. Why does the speaker say those words?
   c. What happens later?

Answers:

1. a. Zlata had passed her fourth grade exams. & c. She will be promoted without any exams.
2. a. They are pedigree dogs.
   b. Dog owners have had to leave their pets in the streets because they cannot feed them anymore.
   c. The sentence expresses the extent of the bleakness of war.
3. a. Maja says this to Zlata.
   b. Maja says this upon learning that Zlata writes about the war in her diary.
   c. Zlata’s diary is selected at the City Assembly to be published on UNICEF week.

C. Answer these questions.

1. It’s now definite there’s no more school.
   At what point during the war do you think such a decision would be taken?
2. Why did Zlata’s family cook everything they had even when there was a food shortage?
3. What can be inferred from, ‘we washed down our refrigerators and freezers’?
4. What kind of world did Zlata see from her window?
5. What does Zlata mean when she says, ‘The war is taking us to the olden times’?
6. Why do you think Zlata’s diary was published?
7. Why did Zlata think that having electricity for some time was ‘super good news’?
8. Scarcity makes us value things we take for granted. How does Zlata realise this?
9. How does war affect the everyday lives of common people?
10. Even amidst the tragedy of war, Zlata finds joy in some things. Discuss.

Answers:

1. This decision would only be made during an intense stage of the war, as it would put even civilians in danger.
2. Despite a food shortage, Zlata’s family cooked everything they had to prevent it from spoiling due to an electricity failure.
3. Zlata’s family had emptied their refrigerators and freezers completely.
4. Zlata observed that people were abandoning their dogs on the roads, leaving the confused animals unsure of where to go.
5. The war had disrupted even basic modern civic amenities such as electricity and running water, forcing Zlata’s family to use stored water for cleaning and washing.
6. The answer to this subjective question will be accepted as long as it is logically supported.
7. In wartime, electricity was such a rare luxury that even a few hours of it felt like great news to Zlata.
8. As the war intensified, modern daily essentials such as electricity and running water were suspended in Bosnia, making it impossible for people to store food, shower, or care for their pets. These were things that Zlata took for granted during peaceful times, but she now valued them greatly due to their scarcity during the war.

Grammar

A. Underline the adverbs in these sentences and say whether they are adverbs of time (T), manner (M) or frequency (F).

1. The old man walked slowly.
2. She never reads a book.
3. Bonnie rides the cycle carefully.
4. She always complains about her maid.
5. Today, we will have fruit for breakfast.
6. Father generally goes to office by bus.
7. I am going to meet my school friends in the evening.
8. We often think about you.

Answers:

1. slowly (M) 2. never (F) 3. carefully (M) 4. always (F) 5. Today (T) 6. generally (F) 7. evening (T) 8. often (F)

B. Fill in the blanks with the correct degrees of the adverbs in the brackets.

1. My mother paints …………………………………………… (beautifully) me.
2. Tej knits …………………………………………… (skillfully) among all her sisters.
3. Of all our relatives, my niece lives …………………………………………… (far) from my house.
4. I reach my office …………………………………………… (early) than most of my colleagues.
5. Of all times, I feel …………………………………………… (well) when I am in my garden.
6. Mother works …………………………………………… (carefully) when she is bathing the baby.
7. Our team played …………………………………………… (bad) of all.
8. She smiled …………………………………………… (happily) than before.

Answers:

1. more beautifully 2. most skillfully 3. farthest 4. earlier 5. best 6. most carefully 7. worst 8. more happily

C. Insert apostrophes, periods and commas in the correct places in this entry from Zlata’s diary. Capitalize letters wherever required.

tuesday, 25 august 1992

Dear Mimmy,

i go regularly to summer school. I like it. Were together. We dont think about the shelling or the war. Maja and Lela, who help our teacher irena vidovic, cheer us up We write we recite we spend the hours together. It takes me back to the days before the war. Im also glad to be able to go out into the street. True, its not far away (200 metres from my house) but I’ve finally stepped outside. Daddy takes me children mustn’t walk in the street alone in Sarajevo i was already going stir­ crazy. And I ‘do myself up’, I wear something nice I mustn’t show off too much.
ciao!

Answer:

Tuesday, 25 August 1992

Dear Mimmy,

I go regularly to summer school. I like it. We’re together. We don’t think about shelling or the war. Maja and Lela, who help our teacher Irena Vidovic, cheer us up. We write, we recite, and we spend hours together. It takes me back to the days before the war. I’m also glad to be able to go out into the street. True, it’s not far away (200 meters from my house) but I’ve finally stepped outside. Daddy tells me, ‘Children mustn’t walk in the street alone in Sarajevo.’ I was already going stir-crazy. And I ‘do myself up’, I wear something nice. I mustn’t show off too much.

Ciao!