What kind of girl was the author?

The author describes herself directly as a questioning, non-conformist child, which the answer must capture precisely.

Concept

• The author was a "rebel" — she was not satisfied with the customary, traditional way of life expected of girls.
• She frequently questioned prevailing gender norms and social customs instead of accepting them silently.

Common mistakes

• Simply writing "she was naughty" or "disobedient" misses the precise nuance of intellectual questioning of customs that the passage highlights.
• Forgetting to use the author's own word, "rebel," which examiners look for as a key term in the marking scheme.

Real-world connect

• The passage celebrates questioning unjust traditions, a value reflected in the real-life stories of many women achievers who challenged gender stereotypes to pursue their goals.