Additional To Look Into
Summary: Heena’s Determination
The story “Heena’s Determination” revolves around a young girl named Heena, who feels disappointed and discouraged after securing the 10th rank in her class despite working hard. She returns home from school in tears, convinced that she is not good enough to ever succeed.
Her mother consoles her by telling her stories of famous people like Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison, and Abraham Lincoln—each of whom faced failures and hardships in their early life but succeeded through determination, hard work, and perseverance.
Heena learns that success is not always about being the fastest or smartest but about not giving up. Her mother reminds her of the fable “The Tortoise and the Hare,” showing that steady determination wins in the end.
The story ends with Heena feeling inspired and hopeful, realizing that with strong willpower, she too can achieve her goals.
Word Meanings
English to English
Word/Phrase | Meaning |
Flinging | Throwing something carelessly |
Rank | Position or place in a list |
Determination | Firm decision to do something |
Will power | Strong mental strength to do or resist something |
Expelled | Forced to leave a place (usually a school) |
Genius | A person with exceptional ability or intelligence |
Twinkled | Shone with a soft, flickering light (used here for eyes) |
Tortoise | A slow-moving animal with a hard shell |
Fable | A short story with a moral |
English to Hindi
Word/Phrase | Meaning (हिंदी में अर्थ) |
Flinging | पटकना / फेंकना |
Rank | रैंक / स्थान |
Determination | दृढ़ निश्चय |
Will power | इच्छाशक्ति |
Expelled | निष्कासित करना / स्कूल से निकालना |
Genius | विलक्षण प्रतिभा वाला व्यक्ति |
Twinkled | चमकना / टिमटिमाना (यहां आंखों की चमक) |
Tortoise | कछुआ |
Fable | नीति कथा / शिक्षाप्रद कहानी |
Comprehension Questions and Answers
- Why was Heena upset when she came home?
Ans: Heena was upset because she came 10th in class despite working hard and felt she would never succeed or win a prize.
- What did Heena’s mother do to cheer her up?
Ans: Heena’s mother told her inspiring stories of famous people like Winston Churchill, Thomas Edison, and Abraham Lincoln, who succeeded through determination and hard work.
- What happened to Winston Churchill in school?
Ans: Churchill performed poorly in school, and his teachers gave up on him. But with determination, he later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- Why was Thomas Edison expelled from school?
Ans: Edison was expelled because his teacher thought he was a slow learner. However, he studied at home and became a great inventor.
- How did Abraham Lincoln study as a child?
Ans: Lincoln was poor and worked during the day. At night, he studied under the street lamp and eventually became the President of America.
- What lesson does the story of the tortoise and the hare teach Heena?
Ans: It teaches Heena that winning does not depend on speed or intelligence alone but on consistent effort and determination.
- What change comes over Heena by the end of the story?
Ans: By the end, Heena becomes positive and determined, realizing that with strong will and hard work, she too can succeed.