Worksheet Solutions: Birth | English Class 11 PDF Download

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: What motivated Andrew Manson to attend to Joe Morgan's wife despite the late hour? _______
Ans: His sense of duty as a medical professional
Andrew Manson was motivated by his sense of duty as a medical professional. Despite the late hour and his personal issues, he couldn't ignore a medical emergency. This reflects his commitment to his profession.

Q2: Andrew believed that all marriages were a ___________.
Ans: dismal failure
Andrew's reflections during the story led him to the belief that all marriages were dismal failures. This viewpoint was shaped by his observations of unhappy marriages in his social circle.

Q3: The child was initially found by the midwife to be ___________.
Ans: stillborn
The midwife initially believed the child to be stillborn, as it showed no signs of life and appeared lifeless when she first encountered it.

Q4: Andrew suspected that the child's condition was due to ___________ in the blood.
Ans: excess of carbon-dioxide
Andrew Manson suspected that the child's condition was a result of suffocation due to an excess of carbon-dioxide in the blood, which indicated a lack of oxygen.

Q5: What was Andrew's immediate reaction when he saw the lifeless child? He ___________ with horror.
Ans: shivered with horror
When Andrew Manson first saw the lifeless child, he shivered with horror. This emotional and physical reaction reflects the shocking nature of the situation.

Q6: Andrew decided to attend to whom first, the child or the mother? ___________.
Ans: the mother
Andrew initially attended to the mother, who was unconscious and required immediate attention. This decision was based on the urgency of her condition.

Q7: After an hour-long struggle, a child was born ___________.
Ans: toward the dawn
After a challenging and extended struggle, a child was born toward the dawn, signifying the arrival of a new day and new life.

Q8: The midwife had placed the child beneath the bed ___________.
Ans: amongst soaked newspaper
The midwife, initially believing the child to be stillborn, had placed the child beneath the bed amongst soaked newspaper. This action reflects her initial reluctance and fear.

Q9: Andrew's treatment involved ___________ the child's chest.
Ans: crushing and relaxing
Andrew's treatment method included gently crushing and relaxing the child's chest, which was a critical part of his efforts to revive the seemingly stillborn child.

Q10: Andrew handed the child to the nurse with a sense of deep ___________.
Ans: satisfaction
Andrew handed the revived child to the nurse with a deep sense of satisfaction. This satisfaction stemmed from his accomplishment in saving the child's life and fulfilling his medical duty.

Assertion and Reason Based

Q1: Assertion: Andrew believed that all marriages were a dismal failure.
Reason: He had a happy and fulfilling marriage.
(a) True, and the reason is correct.
(b) True, but the reason is incorrect.
(c) False, and the reason is correct.
(d) False, and the reason is incorrect.
Ans: (b)
Andrew Manson was motivated by his sense of duty as a medical professional. Despite the late hour and his personal issues, he couldn't ignore a medical emergency. This reflects his commitment to his profession.

Q2: Assertion: The child was initially found stillborn.
Reason: Lack of oxygen and excess carbon dioxide caused the child's condition.
(a) True, and the reason is correct.
(b) True, but the reason is incorrect.
(c) False, and the reason is correct.
(d) False, and the reason is incorrect.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true, and the reason is correct. Andrew's contemplation in the story suggests that he believed all marriages were failures because of the troubled marriages he observed in his thoughts.

Q3: Assertion: Andrew decided to attend to the mother first.
Reason: The child required immediate attention.
(a) True, and the reason is correct.
(b) True, but the reason is incorrect.
(c) False, and the reason is correct.
(d) False, and the reason is incorrect.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true, and the reason is correct. The child was indeed found stillborn initially, as described in the story.

Q4: Assertion: The midwife initially refused to help Andrew with the child.
Reason: She believed the child was stillborn.
(a) True, and the reason is correct.
(b) True, but the reason is incorrect.
(c) False, and the reason is correct.
(d) False, and the reason is incorrect.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true, and the reason is correct. Andrew decided to attend to the mother first because she required immediate attention to save her life.

Q5: Assertion: Andrew's treatment saved the child's life.
Reason: He applied textbook knowledge alone.
(a) True, and the reason is correct.
(b) True, but the reason is incorrect.
(c) False, and the reason is correct.
(d) False, and the reason is incorrect.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true, and the reason is correct. Andrew's treatment, which involved resuscitation efforts, saved the child's life as described in the story.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Who is the protagonist of the story?
Ans: The protagonist of the story is Andrew Manson.

Q2: What motivated Andrew to attend to Joe Morgan's wife?
Ans: Andrew's sense of duty as a medical professional motivated him to attend to Joe Morgan's wife.

Q3: What was the condition of Mrs. Morgan when Andrew arrived?
Ans: When Andrew arrived, Mrs. Morgan was in a very serious condition as she was in labor.

Q4: What did Andrew contemplate during the break?
Ans: During the break, Andrew contemplated the failures of various marriages.

Q5: How did Andrew manage to revive the child?
Ans: Andrew revived the child by providing necessary medical treatment, manually infusing breath, and using resuscitation techniques.

Q6: What did the midwife initially believe about the child?
Ans: The midwife initially believed that the child was stillborn.

Q7: What was the child's initial condition?
Ans: The child's initial condition was stillborn.

Q8: What was Andrew's immediate reaction when he saw the lifeless child?
Ans: Andrew's immediate reaction was a physical response of shivering with horror.

Q9: What did Andrew do after reviving the child?
Ans: After reviving the child, Andrew handed the child over to the nurse.

Q10: How did Andrew feel at the end of the story?
Ans: At the end of the story, Andrew felt a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Describe Andrew Manson's initial situation at the beginning of the story.
Ans: At the beginning of the story, Andrew Manson had just returned home after a disappointing evening with his girlfriend, Christine. It was midnight, and despite his personal issues, he was requested by Joe Morgan to attend to his wife, who was expecting her first child. Despite the late hour, Andrew, driven by his sense of duty as a medical professional, agreed to go and assist.

Q2: Explain Andrew's thoughts about marriages as revealed in the story and provide examples from the text to support your explanation.
Ans: In the story, Andrew contemplates that all marriages are dismal failures. This view is shaped by his reflections on the marriages of people he knows. For example, he thinks about Branwell, who was foolishly devoted to a deceitful woman, and Edward Page, who was unhappily married to an ill-natured woman named Blodwen. These examples serve as evidence of the unhappiness and challenges in marriages that lead Andrew to the belief that all marriages are failures.

Q3: Narrate the events leading to the birth of the child.
Ans: The events leading to the birth of the child involve Andrew Manson's arrival at Joe Morgan's house after being requested to attend to his wife, who was in labor. Mrs. Morgan was in a very serious condition, and it was expected to take some time for the delivery to occur. During a break, Andrew contemplated the failures of marriages. When he returned to attend to the patient, he engaged in a harsh, hour-long struggle to deliver the child, which eventually was born stillborn.

Q4: How did Andrew handle the situation when he found the lifeless child?
Ans: When Andrew found the lifeless child, he refused to accept the midwife's assertion that the child was stillborn. He took immediate action, resuscitating the child by providing necessary treatment, manually infusing breath into the child, and reviving it. This decisive action showcases his medical skills, determination, and refusal to give up on a life, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: Reflect on the journey of Andrew Manson from a medical fresher to a capable doctor in the story "Birth."
Ans: In the story "Birth," Andrew Manson's journey represents his transformation from a medical fresher to a capable doctor. At the outset, he faces a personal disappointment with his girlfriend, Christine, but his sense of duty as a medical professional leads him to respond to an urgent call for help. This marks the beginning of his journey.
As the story unfolds, Andrew's actions and decision-making reflect his growth and development. He confronts the limitations of textbook knowledge and learns to rely on intuition and quick thinking. This critical thinking helps him save the seemingly stillborn child, showcasing his transition from a medical novice to a capable doctor.
Andrew's unwavering commitment to his medical duty, coupled with his perseverance, allows him to overcome challenges and make crucial decisions in a high-pressure situation. By the end of the story, he experiences a deep sense of satisfaction, having accomplished something great in the realm of medical practice. This transformation underscores the theme of personal and professional growth, making him a capable and resilient doctor.

Q2: Discuss the role of gender and traditional beliefs in the actions and reactions of the midwife in the story.
Ans: Gender and traditional beliefs play a significant role in shaping the actions and reactions of the midwife in the story. The midwife's initial hesitation to treat the seemingly stillborn child is influenced by traditional beliefs and her perception of gender roles.
Traditional gender roles often assigned women as caregivers during childbirth. The midwife, as a woman, likely adheres to this role and may have been influenced by traditional practices. She hesitates to accept the possibility of reviving the child, possibly due to her adherence to conventional practices.
Additionally, her reaction reflects the hierarchical structure of gender roles in society during the time the story is set. Male doctors, like Andrew Manson, were viewed as having more authority and knowledge in medical matters. The midwife's fear and reluctance to take action can be seen as an extension of this hierarchical dynamic.
As the story progresses, Andrew's determination challenges these traditional beliefs and leads to the successful revival of the child. This highlights the evolving roles of women in healthcare and the importance of embracing modern medical practices.

Q3: Analyze the emotional and psychological aspects of Andrew Manson's decision-making process during the childbirth case.
Ans: The emotional and psychological aspects of Andrew Manson's decision-making process during the childbirth case are central to the story's development. Andrew's decision-making reflects the complexity of his character and the challenging circumstances he faces.
Emotionally, Andrew begins the story with personal disappointment, having had a disappointing evening with his girlfriend, Christine. Despite this, his sense of duty as a medical professional overrides his emotional state, and he agrees to attend to Joe Morgan's wife. This demonstrates his emotional resilience and commitment to his profession.
Psychologically, Andrew encounters a critical situation where the child is seemingly stillborn. He experiences moments of horror and anxiety when he first gazes at the lifeless child. However, his determination and psychological resilience drive him to persist. He balances textbook knowledge with intuition, making quick decisions that lead to the child's revival.
Andrew's emotional and psychological journey throughout the story reflects the challenges and pressures of medical practice. His ability to overcome personal emotions and remain composed in a crisis showcases his growth as a doctor and his evolving decision-making process.

Q4: Explore the symbolism of the seemingly stillborn child's revival in "Birth" and its broader implications in the story.
Ans: The revival of the seemingly stillborn child in "Birth" holds deep symbolic meaning and carries broader implications in the story. It represents several themes and ideas.
Firstly, the revival of the child symbolizes the triumph of science and modern medical practices over traditional beliefs. It challenges the perception that some situations are beyond hope and highlights the potential for human intervention to bring about positive change.
The child's revival also symbolizes the emergence of new life and hope. It signifies the potential for transformation and rebirth, not only in medical terms but also in a broader context. Andrew Manson's actions represent his transition from a medical fresher to a capable doctor, reflecting personal and professional growth.
Additionally, the revival of the child underscores the idea that a sense of duty and responsibility can lead individuals to achieve extraordinary things. Andrew's unwavering commitment to his profession and the well-being of his patients is a powerful theme throughout the story.
In sum, the seemingly stillborn child's revival serves as a symbol of hope, change, and the potential for transformation, both in medical practice and in the broader human experience.