“One Centimetre” by Bi Shu-min is a touching story that speaks to the quiet power of love, honesty, and self-respect. At its heart is Tao Ying, a mother who may not have much money, but has a heart full of dignity and wisdom. Every decision she makes is guided not by rules, but by what is right—especially in front of her little son, Xiao Ye.

When she chooses to buy an extra bus ticket because her son is just one centimetre taller than the free limit, she isn’t just paying a fare—she’s teaching her child that integrity matters more than saving money. And later, when she refuses to be wrongly measured at the temple, she shows that standing up for yourself quietly and respectfully is also an act of love.

This story reminds us that true strength doesn’t always shout—it often whispers, through everyday actions, especially those that protect the self-respect of our children and ourselves.

At www.dasklibro.com, we help you uncover such emotional layers and prepare CBSE exam answers that go beyond the obvious. On this page, you’ll find:

• 📘 Clear, exam-ready NCERT solutions
  
  

• 💭 Deep insights into the emotions and themes of the story
  
  

• ✍️ Student-friendly answers to help you write with empathy and confidence
  
  

Let “One Centimetre” show you how small moments often carry the greatest lessons in humanity.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT 

1. How did Tao Ying’s son influence the way she led her life?

✅ 20 words:

Tao Ying tried to become a perfect mother because her son watched and copied everything she did, even unknowingly.

✅ 40 words:

Xiao Ye's presence made Tao Ying very conscious of her behavior. She realized that her son imitated her actions. So, she tried to be more disciplined, ethical, and ideal in every way to set a good example for him.

✅ 60 words:

Xiao Ye influenced Tao Ying deeply. She noticed how he copied everything she did—from eating habits to moral choices. This made her careful with her actions, even in small things like eating watermelon or returning tickets. She started living more responsibly and honestly, always thinking about how her actions would shape her son’s values and future behavior.

✅ 80 words:

Tao Ying’s life changed after she realized how closely Xiao Ye observed and imitated her. He mirrored her actions—how she ate, spoke, and behaved. This made her determined to become a role model, behaving with dignity, honesty, and self-control. Even though it was tiring to maintain such discipline, she felt it was necessary to raise a good human being. Her entire lifestyle, thoughts, and actions became shaped by her goal of being the perfect, responsible mother in her son’s eyes.

 2. Pick out instances from the story to show that official rules are often arbitrary.

✅ 20 words:

The temple guard strictly enforced the height rule, ignoring Tao Ying’s explanation, showing rules can lack understanding and flexibility.

✅ 40 words:

At the temple, the guard blindly followed a red line as a standard, ignoring Tao Ying’s genuine concerns. This incident showed how official rules can be rigid and insensitive, ignoring individual circumstances and relying on inaccurate or inconsistent standards like the painted line.

✅ 60 words:

Official rules in the story appeared arbitrary and unfair. The guard used a poorly painted red line to decide Xiao Ye’s height, ignoring Tao Ying’s honesty. Later, even though she proved her son was shorter, she still had to suffer humiliation. The visit from temple officials showed they knew the mistake, proving that such rules often cause pain when applied without empathy or context.

✅ 80 words:

The story highlights how blindly following official rules can lead to injustice. At the temple, a red line on the wall decided who needed a ticket. The guard refused to measure Xiao Ye properly or believe Tao Ying’s words. Though her son had measured shorter earlier, she was humiliated publicly. Later, even the temple authorities acknowledged the error, showing that these rules, though official, were inconsistently applied and lacked fairness. Such rigid systems often hurt innocent people instead of helping them.

 3. Tao Ying was very careful about spending money. What were her reasons for refusing the compensation offered by the temple officials?

✅ 20 words:

Tao Ying refused the compensation because that day’s hurt and humiliation couldn’t be erased by money or free tickets.

✅ 40 words:

Though careful with money, Tao Ying rejected the compensation because it couldn’t undo the emotional pain she and her son suffered. The experience left lasting hurt, and she didn’t want to return to a place that had caused such humiliation.

✅ 60 words:

Tao Ying, despite being financially conscious, refused the temple’s money and free tickets. She felt that no compensation could erase the shame and emotional hurt of being wrongly judged in front of her son. That day’s happiness was lost forever. For her, dignity and self-respect mattered more than a refund. She wanted to protect her son’s feelings, not gain back money.

✅ 80 words:

Although Tao Ying was very careful with money and could have used the compensation, she refused both the five-dollar note and the tickets. The humiliation and pain she and her son faced couldn’t be undone by material offerings. She understood that once a special day is spoiled, it can’t be recreated. Also, the emotional scar on her son’s heart mattered more than money. Tao Ying’s decision reflected her self-respect, her values as a mother, and her desire to protect Xiao Ye’s emotional well-being.

4. Why was her final vindication important to Tao Ying?

✅ 20 words:

The final proof of her innocence restored her son’s trust. It was her way of protecting his love and respect.

✅ 40 words:

Tao Ying’s final vindication mattered deeply. She wanted her son to know she wasn’t wrong. Proving her honesty was more important than money or apology. It helped restore her dignity and rebuild the trust between a mother and her child.

✅ 60 words:

The final vindication meant everything to Tao Ying. She wasn’t just fighting over a ticket, but for her son’s trust and belief in her honesty. She had suffered public shame and emotional pain. The officials' confirmation that Xiao Ye was shorter restored her self-respect. More than anything, she wanted Xiao Ye to understand that his mother was truthful and had done nothing wrong.

✅ 80 words:

Tao Ying’s final vindication was crucial because it wasn’t just about proving her point—it was about restoring her dignity and her son’s trust. She feared that Xiao Ye saw her as dishonest or selfish. When the officials measured him and confirmed her claim, it gave her emotional relief. But more importantly, she wanted the officials to explain the truth to Xiao Ye, ensuring that he wouldn’t carry doubt in his heart. It was a mother’s fight to protect her son’s faith in her.

Appreciation 

 1. Comment on the significance of the first sentence of the story to its theme.

✅ 20 words:

The opening line shows Tao Ying’s habit of saving money. It reflects the theme of honesty, ethics, and personal choices.

✅ 40 words:

The first sentence reveals Tao Ying’s tendency to avoid buying tickets when alone. It introduces the theme of ethical conflict, survival, and moral choices. It sets the tone for exploring how small decisions reflect bigger struggles in everyday life.

✅ 60 words:

The opening line about Tao Ying skipping bus tickets hints at her inner conflict between survival and morality. This small act reflects her daily struggle with honesty, financial limitations, and personal values. It sets up the story’s deeper themes—how real-life choices, especially for working-class individuals, often lie in grey areas. It also prepares readers for the ethical dilemmas that follow.

✅ 80 words:

The first sentence—Tao Ying not buying a ticket when alone—introduces the story’s central conflict between ethical decisions and real-life constraints. It immediately shows how people like Tao Ying are forced to bend rules to save money. This small act leads us to explore bigger questions: What defines right or wrong? What happens when rules ignore human emotions? The opening perfectly sets the stage for a story that highlights the clash between rules, dignity, and the love of a mother for her child.

2. Would you describe the author’s portrayal of Tao Ying’s character in the story as sympathetic, critical, or realistic?

✅ 20 words:

The portrayal is realistic and sympathetic. Tao Ying is a loving mother, flawed yet honest, doing her best for her son.

✅ 40 words:

The author presents Tao Ying with sympathy and realism. She is not perfect but deeply human. Her struggles, fears, and decisions reflect those of many mothers. The story neither glorifies nor criticizes her—it simply shows her emotional and moral journey.

✅ 60 words:

Bi Shu-min’s portrayal of Tao Ying is deeply sympathetic and realistic. She shows a mother trying hard to balance dignity, morality, and love. Tao Ying is shown as a real person—sometimes weak, sometimes strong, but always caring. Her flaws don’t make her less admirable; they make her relatable. The story honors the everyday sacrifices and quiet strength of working-class mothers.

✅ 80 words:

The author paints Tao Ying’s character with both sympathy and realism. She is not idealized as a perfect mother, but rather presented with honest flaws, human doubts, and genuine emotions. Her small moral compromises, emotional outbursts, and deep love for Xiao Ye make her a believable and relatable character. Instead of judging her, the story invites readers to understand her struggles. Bi Shu-min uses Tao Ying’s experiences to show how dignity, honesty, and love can exist even in life’s smallest actions.

3. Identify the episodes that bring out the ambivalent attitude to ethics commonly seen in human life.

✅ 20 words:

Tao Ying skipping tickets and hitting Xiao Ye reflect life’s ethical confusion—right and wrong often mix in daily decisions.

✅ 40 words:

Tao Ying avoids paying bus fare when she can, yet insists on honesty before her son. She hits Xiao Ye unintentionally to fix his height. These incidents show moral confusion—how ethics are often flexible in real life, based on emotions.

✅ 60 words:

The story shows ethical dilemmas through Tao Ying’s actions. She justifies not buying bus tickets as fair punishment for careless conductors. She insists on moral values before her son but unknowingly hurts him. Her internal struggle to do right while surviving reflects how people often shift between honesty and compromise. These episodes portray how ethics in life are rarely black and white.

✅ 80 words:

Tao Ying’s life is full of morally confusing moments. She cheats the bus system when alone, yet buys a ticket to teach Xiao Ye values. She hits him in public, then regrets it deeply. Her actions are not purely ethical or unethical—they’re driven by love, pride, fear, and circumstance. These moments show how people often live with mixed moral standards, adjusting their choices depending on situations. The story powerfully captures this ethical grey zone present in daily life, especially among struggling, honest individuals.

 4. How effectively does the narrative technique adopted in this story illustrate ‘unity of thought’?

✅ 20 words:

The story flows around one main idea—a mother’s effort to be ideal. Every scene supports that central emotional theme.

✅ 40 words:

The entire story is woven around Tao Ying’s journey to be a perfect mother. Each episode—from the bus to the temple—adds depth to her character and purpose. This clear focus creates unity of thought, connecting events smoothly and meaningfully.

✅ 60 words:

The story maintains a strong unity of thought by focusing on Tao Ying’s role as a mother. From small acts like not biting near the watermelon rind to bigger conflicts like ticket arguments, every part reflects her desire to set a moral example. The narrative ties emotions, ethics, and struggles into a single thread, illustrating how a mother’s love guides every decision she makes.

✅ 80 words:

Bi Shu-min uses a simple yet emotionally rich narrative style to maintain unity of thought throughout the story. Everything revolves around Tao Ying’s constant effort to be a good mother. Each scene—from skipping tickets to being humiliated at the temple—reveals another layer of her moral and emotional conflict. The use of Tao Ying’s internal thoughts, realistic dialogue, and symbolic moments like the height line or burnt cakes all circle back to her core desire: raising her son with dignity, values, and love.

EXTRA QUESTIONS 

✅ 1. Why didn’t Tao Ying always buy a ticket when she rode the bus alone?

🔹 20 words:

She judged conductors. If they were careless, she didn’t buy a ticket, thinking it was harmless and saved money.

🔹 40 words:

Tao Ying only bought tickets when the conductor looked responsible. If he was careless, she avoided paying. She saw it as a small punishment for the conductor and a little saving for herself, not as a serious wrongdoing.

🔹 60 words:

Tao Ying often skipped buying a bus ticket when riding alone. She assessed the conductor's attitude first. If he seemed strict, she paid. But if he appeared lazy or inattentive, she avoided it. She thought her free ride wouldn’t affect anyone and used it as both a cost-saving method and subtle protest against irresponsibility.

🔹 80 words:

Tao Ying didn’t always purchase a bus ticket when traveling alone. She believed that whether or not she paid, the bus would still run, use the same fuel, and employ the same staff. She watched the conductor closely—if he seemed careless, she didn’t pay, considering it a minor punishment for his inattention. Tao Ying justified her choice by thinking it caused no real harm, especially as she struggled with money and wanted to save wherever she could.

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✅ 2. How does the story highlight a mother’s emotional strength?

🔹 20 words:

Tao Ying hides her pain, stays strong for her son, and always chooses love and dignity over anger or humiliation.

🔹 40 words:

The story shows Tao Ying’s strength in facing public insult, inner conflict, and guilt. Despite struggles, she stays calm and focused on her son’s emotional needs. She suppresses her pain to protect Xiao Ye and maintain his respect for her.

🔹 60 words:

Tao Ying shows immense emotional strength. When she’s humiliated at the temple, she doesn’t argue or cry. Instead, she calmly protects her son’s trust and dignity. She refuses compensation and only wants Xiao Ye to know she was honest. Her love is quiet but powerful, and she sacrifices her pride to become a strong emotional role model.

🔹 80 words:

The story reveals Tao Ying’s emotional strength through her actions. Though humiliated in public and heartbroken by Xiao Ye’s reaction, she remains composed. She doesn’t lash out at the guard or cry for sympathy. Instead, she focuses on preserving her son’s respect and restoring his trust in her. She later writes a letter and refuses compensation—not for justice or revenge, but to show Xiao Ye that his mother was honest. Her strength lies in her love, patience, and quiet dignity.

✅ 3. What does the bus scene reveal about Xiao Ye’s character?

🔹 20 words:

Xiao Ye is emotional, honest, and values promises. He eagerly wants a ticket to feel grown-up and respected.

🔹 40 words:

The bus scene shows Xiao Ye’s innocence and strong belief in promises. He demands a ticket because his mother promised it earlier. His excitement and insistence show how children connect love and honesty with small actions, like getting a bus ticket.

🔹 60 words:

Xiao Ye’s behavior on the bus reveals his emotional depth and innocence. When he reminds his mother of her promise about the ticket, it shows how seriously children take words. To him, a ticket means respect, pride, and fairness. His loud protest shows his frustration when adults don’t keep promises. His reactions reflect the sensitive and honest nature of a young child.

🔹 80 words:

Xiao Ye’s actions during the bus ride show that he is not just playful, but emotionally intelligent. He wants a bus ticket not because of necessity, but because it represents a promise and his pride. When his mother hesitates, he loudly reminds her, showing how deeply children value honesty. His insistence reveals a developing sense of fairness and self-worth. It also highlights how children judge adults’ sincerity through small gestures and expect them to fulfill even the simplest promises.

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✅ 4. Why did Tao Ying feel embarrassed at the temple gate?

🔹 20 words:

She felt insulted when the guard accused her of lying about her son’s height in front of a growing crowd.

🔹 40 words:

At the temple gate, Tao Ying felt ashamed as the guard publicly doubted her honesty. The crowd stared, and her son watched. She felt small, not because of guilt, but because her dignity and role as a mother were questioned.

🔹 60 words:

Tao Ying’s embarrassment at the temple gate stemmed from the guard’s cold accusation that her son was over the height limit. Though she believed she was right, she was treated like a liar. The growing crowd made it worse. Her son’s presence increased her shame, as she didn’t want him to doubt her truthfulness or lose respect for her in that humiliating moment.

🔹 80 words:

Tao Ying experienced deep embarrassment at the temple gate when the guard accused her of trying to sneak in her son without a ticket. The red line on the wall became a symbol of doubt, and strangers began judging her. What hurt more was Xiao Ye’s confused face—she feared losing his trust. Though she was honest, the public humiliation, combined with the suspicion and sarcasm of the guard, made her feel powerless and ashamed in a moment that should have brought joy.

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✅ 5. What role does the red height line play in the story?

🔹 20 words:

The red line symbolizes society’s strict rules, often flawed, that judge people unfairly without considering their reality or emotions.

🔹 40 words:

The red height line acts as a cold, mechanical rule. It becomes the cause of Tao Ying’s public shame and her son’s hurt. Though used to judge fairly, it shows how rigid standards can sometimes fail to see truth or humanity.

🔹 60 words:

The red height line represents fixed societal rules that fail to adjust to human emotions or truth. Though meant to be objective, it falsely declared Xiao Ye as taller than he was, causing a painful scene. It questioned Tao Ying’s honesty and crushed Xiao Ye’s trust. The story uses this line to show how impersonal systems can sometimes break people’s dignity.

🔹 80 words:

The red line at the temple is a powerful symbol. It stands for rigid, impersonal rules enforced without context. It becomes a source of humiliation when it falsely indicates that Xiao Ye is over the height limit. This creates emotional damage, causes public embarrassment, and results in a rift between mother and son. The story uses the red line to critique how harsh, mechanical measurements can judge people unfairly—especially those who already struggle to live with honesty and dignity.

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✅ 6. Why does Tao Ying hit her son at the temple gate?

🔹 20 words:

Tao Ying hits Xiao Ye out of panic and pressure, not anger. She meant to adjust his hair, not hurt him.

🔹 40 words:

Tao Ying didn’t mean to hurt her son. She panicked in front of the crowd and tried to smooth his hair, but it turned into a slap. The situation was tense, and her action was misunderstood, especially by Xiao Ye.

🔹 60 words:

Tao Ying accidentally hit Xiao Ye at the temple gate in a moment of panic. Surrounded by a judging crowd and questioned by the guard, she acted impulsively. She only wanted to fix his hair, hoping he would appear shorter. But the act became a slap, shocking Xiao Ye and deepening their emotional conflict. It was an unfortunate expression of helplessness, not violence.

🔹 80 words:

At the temple gate, when Xiao Ye stands tall and reaches the red line, Tao Ying reacts impulsively. Under pressure, with everyone watching, she tries to push his hair down to make him seem shorter. But the gesture turns into an accidental slap. It isn’t out of anger but desperation to end the painful scene. Xiao Ye is shocked—not just by the pain but by the betrayal. This moment becomes a turning point in the emotional gap between mother and child.

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✅ 7. What does the ticket symbolize for Xiao Ye?

🔹 20 words:

For Xiao Ye, the ticket symbolizes pride, maturity, and his mother’s promise. It gives him a sense of worth.

🔹 40 words:

Xiao Ye sees the ticket as more than paper. It stands for growing up, fairness, and keeping promises. Getting a ticket makes him feel valued. When denied, he feels rejected and doubts his mother’s honesty, hurting his feelings deeply.

🔹 60 words:

In Xiao Ye’s eyes, the ticket is a symbol of progress and recognition. He believes he is now tall enough and deserves one. More than a ride, it represents a fulfilled promise and his growth. When his mother hesitates, he feels betrayed and less important. The ticket becomes a measure of trust, love, and emotional security for the young boy.

🔹 80 words:

To Xiao Ye, the bus ticket is not just a requirement—it represents pride, maturity, and his mother’s promise. It makes him feel respected and grown-up. He views the ticket as proof of fairness and truth. When Tao Ying hesitates to buy one, it deeply hurts him. He feels she’s breaking her word. This small object becomes emotionally significant—it stands for love, honesty, and dignity in the child’s world. The ticket’s presence or absence affects how he views his mother and himself.

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✅ 8. How does the story reflect the struggles of working-class mothers?

🔹 20 words:

The story shows how working-class mothers sacrifice everything—money, pride, and comfort—to give their children respect and love.

🔹 40 words:

Tao Ying lives with little money and big responsibilities. She works hard, saves every penny, and still puts her child’s happiness first. The story highlights how working-class mothers silently suffer to raise their children with values, dignity, and care.

🔹 60 words:

Bi Shu-min presents a touching portrait of a working-class mother. Tao Ying cooks all day, carefully saves money, and still chooses her son’s pride over her financial needs. She never complains but feels deeply. Her battles—with society, rules, and emotions—are silent but strong. The story honors the invisible, daily sacrifices of mothers who carry love and struggle hand in hand.

🔹 80 words:

The story beautifully captures the daily life of a working-class mother. Tao Ying balances her small income, exhausting job, and family responsibilities with quiet strength. Though she often compromises in life, she never compromises her values for her child. Her emotional restraint, love, and pain all reflect the silent struggles many such mothers go through. Even when misunderstood or humiliated, she stands tall for her child. The story is a tribute to countless women who raise children with little means but enormous hearts.

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✅ 9. Why does Tao Ying refuse both the money and tickets offered later?

🔹 20 words:

She refuses them because no money can undo the emotional pain her son faced that day at the temple gate.

🔹 40 words:

Tao Ying rejects both the money and free tickets because she cannot forget the humiliation and pain caused to her son. For her, that day’s happiness was lost forever. Accepting compensation would never heal the emotional damage done.

🔹 60 words:

Though money could have helped, Tao Ying refused both the compensation and the free tickets offered by the temple officials. That day’s joy, once lost, couldn’t be bought back. She felt her son’s emotional hurt was more important than any money. She didn’t want to return to a place tied to such painful memories and chose dignity over compensation.

🔹 80 words:

When the temple officials offered Tao Ying money and tickets, she turned them down without hesitation. She knew that what her son lost that day—his trust, pride, and joy—could never be bought back with cash. The pain and humiliation they faced couldn’t be erased. By refusing the offer, Tao Ying showed that self-respect and emotional healing were far more valuable to her than any refund. She prioritized her son’s emotional well-being and dignity above all else.

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✅ 10. How does the story show that small actions can have big emotional consequences?

🔹 20 words:

Small acts, like refusing a ticket or a slap, hurt Xiao Ye deeply and damaged his trust in his mother.

🔹 40 words:

A small gesture—like denying a ticket or hitting Xiao Ye—leads to emotional wounds. Though Tao Ying didn’t mean harm, her actions shook Xiao Ye’s faith. The story shows how minor actions can leave lasting emotional marks, especially on children.

🔹 60 words:

The story shows how even small incidents, like not buying a ticket or raising a hand in public, can cause deep emotional damage. Xiao Ye is a sensitive child, and his trust in his mother is fragile. When Tao Ying unintentionally hurts him, it breaks their bond. The tale reminds us that children feel deeply, and small actions can have lasting emotional consequences.

🔹 80 words:

One Centimetre explores how everyday moments can leave deep emotional scars. Tao Ying didn’t think twice before skipping a ticket or touching her son’s head, but these seemingly small actions affected Xiao Ye’s emotions in big ways. He felt betrayed, unloved, and confused. His silence, mistrust, and emotional withdrawal show how minor acts by adults can deeply affect children. The story reminds readers to be mindful, as a single word or gesture can change the course of a child’s trust and feelings.

✅ 11. Why does Xiao Ye say “I don’t trust you” to his mother?

🔹 20 words:

He feels hurt and betrayed. He believes his mother avoided buying him a ticket, even though others said he was tall.

🔹 40 words:

When everyone, including the old lady, said Xiao Ye was tall enough, he felt his mother didn’t want to buy him a ticket. This made him feel betrayed. He lost trust in her and believed she intentionally held him back.

🔹 60 words:

Xiao Ye loses trust when his mother tries to re-measure him at home. He feels she’s trying to make him look shorter. Earlier, he had heard others say he was tall enough. He believes she refused to buy a ticket to save money, not because of the rules. That pain turns into mistrust, and he openly tells her, “I don’t trust you.”

🔹 80 words:

Xiao Ye is deeply hurt when his mother asks to measure him again at home. Throughout the day, strangers told him he was tall enough. But his mother acted as if he wasn’t, just to avoid buying a ticket. That confusion turns into frustration and emotional distance. He feels his mother not only broke a promise but also tried to fool him. He believes she chose money over honesty, leading him to say, “I don’t trust you,” with pain and disappointment.

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✅ 12. How does the writer show the impact of parental behavior on children?

🔹 20 words:

The story shows that children copy everything parents do. Tao Ying realizes her son imitates her actions and values deeply.

🔹 40 words:

Tao Ying notices Xiao Ye copying how she eats watermelon and behaves. This makes her more conscious of her actions. She understands that children watch and learn from their parents, which inspires her to become a better role model for him.

🔹 60 words:

The writer shows that children are the best imitators. When Tao Ying sees Xiao Ye eating watermelon exactly like her, she realizes how closely he watches her. It makes her more responsible and cautious about her actions. She wants to be an ideal mother so that her son grows up honest, polite, and respectful. Her behavior shapes his world.

🔹 80 words:

Bi Shu-min beautifully portrays how children absorb their parents' behavior. Tao Ying notices Xiao Ye mimicking how she eats watermelon—right down to the rind. This moment makes her realize that even her smallest actions impact him. From that day, she becomes extremely careful, choosing honesty, grace, and responsibility in every step. She sees herself as a living example for her child, knowing that children learn more from what they see than from what they’re told. The story highlights parenting as a silent but powerful influence.

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✅ 13. What does the old woman’s “flattering scale” reveal about people’s desires?

🔹 20 words:

It shows people like hearing good things—even if untrue. They want to look taller, slimmer, and feel better about themselves.

🔹 40 words:

The old woman’s scale is set to show people as taller and lighter. It reflects how people like to feel healthy and admired, even if the truth is different. Her logic shows the emotional need for encouragement over accuracy in everyday life.

🔹 60 words:

The old woman proudly calls her inaccurate scale a “fitness” scale. She knows it isn’t exact, but it makes people feel better—taller and lighter. This shows that many people prefer kindness over cold facts. It highlights how self-image matters to people and that sometimes emotional satisfaction is more comforting than truth. Her logic is flawed, but emotionally relatable.

🔹 80 words:

The flattering scale represents how people prefer pleasing illusions over uncomfortable truths. The old woman knowingly sets her scale to show people as taller and lighter. She says, “Don’t you want your son to grow tall?” revealing how parents and individuals find joy in small, comforting lies. This scene reflects society’s desire to feel better about themselves, even if it’s not accurate. The episode adds a layer of irony and emotion to the story, showing the gap between what people are and what they wish to be.

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✅ 14. How does Xiao Ye’s behavior change after the temple incident?

🔹 20 words:

Xiao Ye becomes quiet and withdrawn. The incident makes him feel confused, hurt, and emotionally distant from his mother.

🔹 40 words:

After the temple humiliation, Xiao Ye no longer behaves like a cheerful child. He stops talking, becomes sullen, and avoids eye contact. The emotional shock has made him grow up suddenly, and he no longer sees his mother with the same innocence.

🔹 60 words:

Xiao Ye’s behavior changes drastically after the incident. Earlier cheerful and energetic, he turns silent and distant. His mother notices that he has matured suddenly. He no longer asks questions or jokes like before. The emotional pain he experienced—of being misunderstood and slapped—left him shocked. That day took away a part of his childhood innocence and trust.

🔹 80 words:

The temple incident leaves a deep emotional impact on Xiao Ye. The excitement of the outing quickly turns into sadness and confusion. After the public scene, slap, and his mother’s panic, he becomes quiet, withdrawn, and sullen. His expressions change. He avoids questions and shows signs of growing up too fast. The trust he had in his mother seems shaken. His silence reflects not just sadness but emotional maturity beyond his age. The story shows how one moment can change a child forever.

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✅ 15. What does Tao Ying’s letter to the temple represent?

🔹 20 words:

The letter represents her effort to regain her son’s trust and prove she was honest, not a liar or cheat.

🔹 40 words:

Tao Ying’s letter isn’t about money or revenge. It’s her way of restoring her image in Xiao Ye’s eyes. She wants someone official to confirm she wasn’t wrong. Writing the letter is her emotional fight for dignity and trust.

🔹 60 words:

Tao Ying writes to the temple not for compensation but to prove her truth. She doesn’t want her son to think she lied. The letter represents her silent cry for justice and a mother’s emotional need to regain her child’s trust. It shows how important moral validation is for her, especially in front of her son who means everything to her.

🔹 80 words:

Tao Ying’s letter to the temple administration is deeply symbolic. It’s not just a complaint but a mother’s emotional cry for justice and self-respect. She wants the truth about her son’s height officially acknowledged so that Xiao Ye can once again look at her with trust and admiration. The letter reflects how emotionally hurt she was by the incident. Writing it becomes her only way to fix what was broken—not money, but her son’s faith in her honesty and love.

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✅ 16. How does the story criticize rigid rules and systems?

🔹 20 words:

The story shows that rigid rules, like the red height line, can be unfair, humiliating, and emotionally damaging.

🔹 40 words:

The red line, used to decide ticket eligibility, becomes a symbol of blind rule-following. The guard ignores real context and humiliates Tao Ying. This exposes how fixed systems, without empathy or human understanding, often hurt innocent people unfairly.

🔹 60 words:

The red line at the temple represents rules followed without emotion or reasoning. The guard insists Xiao Ye is over the limit, even when the mother explains otherwise. He doesn’t check, just humiliates her. This shows how official systems can be harsh, mechanical, and even wrong. The story criticizes how such systems lack flexibility, harming people who are honest and already struggling.

🔹 80 words:

The story strongly criticizes the way rigid systems enforce rules without considering emotions or context. The red height line is painted on a wall but becomes a harsh judgment tool. The guard blindly trusts it, ignoring Tao Ying’s explanations and even humiliating her. There is no room for discussion, humanity, or empathy. Through this, the writer questions how fair rules really are when applied without understanding. The story asks: Should systems work like machines, or should they listen to human voices too?

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✅ 17. Why is the story titled “One Centimetre”?

🔹 20 words:

The title refers to the small height difference that causes a big emotional rift between mother and son.

🔹 40 words:

“One Centimetre” shows how a tiny physical difference leads to a massive emotional gap. It represents misjudgment, mistrust, and misunderstanding. That one centimetre decides dignity, honesty, and love. The title reflects how small things can trigger big emotional reactions.

🔹 60 words:

The title “One Centimetre” is symbolic. It’s the small gap between Xiao Ye’s height and the red line—but it creates a huge emotional distance. It leads to public humiliation, a broken promise, and lost trust. This single centimetre becomes the measure of love, honesty, and dignity. The story uses this small unit to explore big human emotions and ethical dilemmas.

🔹 80 words:

The title One Centimetre carries deep symbolic meaning. A seemingly minor difference—just one centimetre—changes everything. It sparks public shame, emotional pain, and a loss of trust between mother and son. What starts as a height issue becomes a question of honesty, motherhood, and dignity. This title reflects how even the smallest things in life can create major emotional storms. It emphasizes the gap—not just in height, but in perception, understanding, and love that develops through one misunderstood moment.

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✅ 18. What lesson does Tao Ying learn about parenting?

🔹 20 words:

She learns that being a good parent means being truthful, careful, and emotionally present for her child at all times.

🔹 40 words:

Tao Ying realizes that children learn from what they see, not just what they’re told. She understands the importance of setting the right example and how even small mistakes can deeply affect a child’s emotions and trust in their parent.

🔹 60 words:

Parenting, Tao Ying learns, is not just about love but about daily behavior and small actions. Children, like Xiao Ye, are sensitive and observant. A broken promise, a harsh word, or a confused look can hurt them deeply. She realizes she must live with constant awareness, being both emotionally honest and morally upright so that her son grows into a kind and trusting person.

🔹 80 words:

Throughout the story, Tao Ying learns that parenting is not only about providing food or comfort but about shaping a child’s emotional world. She discovers that her son mirrors her behavior and forms his values based on how she acts. One small mistake can break trust. Her journey teaches her to be patient, kind, truthful, and a conscious role model. The story highlights that good parenting requires not perfection, but emotional presence, honesty, and the willingness to grow alongside your child.

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✅ 19. How is the theme of dignity portrayed in the story?

🔹 20 words:

Tao Ying fights silently for her dignity, even in humiliation. She wants her son to see her as honest and strong.

🔹 40 words:

Tao Ying never yells or cries when insulted. She keeps her dignity, refuses compensation, and writes a letter to prove her truth. She teaches that dignity isn’t loud—it’s quiet strength, especially in front of someone who matters most: her child.

🔹 60 words:

Dignity is a central theme in the story. Tao Ying endures humiliation without reacting harshly. She chooses to walk away rather than argue. She refuses money and doesn’t demand revenge. All she wants is for her son to know she was right. Her silent courage shows that real dignity comes from within—not from money or apologies, but from self-respect.

🔹 80 words:

In One Centimetre, dignity is shown not through shouting or fighting, but through quiet strength. Tao Ying doesn’t lash out when humiliated by the guard. She walks away gracefully, despite her pain. Later, she writes a letter—not for compensation but to clear her name before her son. She even refuses free tickets and simply asks the officials to tell Xiao Ye the truth. Her dignity lies in her humility, truthfulness, and calm courage, which makes her a deeply admirable character.

✅ 20. What is the emotional climax of the story?

🔹 20 words:

The climax comes when Xiao Ye tells his mother, “I don’t trust you.” It marks a heartbreaking emotional separation.

🔹 40 words:

When Xiao Ye says, “I don’t trust you,” it hits Tao Ying harder than anything else. That moment marks a deep emotional rupture. It shows the collapse of a sacred bond between a mother and her son—a truly painful turning point.

🔹 60 words:

The emotional climax occurs when Xiao Ye, after everything, tells his mother that he no longer trusts her. This line crushes Tao Ying. All her efforts to be a perfect mother feel meaningless. Her heart breaks because she never wanted to hurt him. The story peaks here emotionally, showing how misunderstandings can lead to painful emotional distances between loved ones.

🔹 80 words:

The story’s emotional climax comes when Xiao Ye declares, “I don’t trust you!” Tao Ying, who tried so hard to be the ideal mother—saving money, setting a good example, writing a letter—feels shattered. It’s the moment when her child’s faith is broken. Her efforts to maintain dignity, love, and truth seem lost. This moment is not just about mistrust—it’s about the deep emotional pain that comes when a child doubts a parent’s love and honesty. It defines the story’s emotional weight.