Birth Class 11 Important Questions and Answers

1.Why was Andrew so serious and overwrought that particular evening?

Ans. That evening Andrew was tense and serious. He had a disappointing evening with
his girlfriend Christine. Moreover, he had seen some painful incidents of husbands’
suffering at the hands of their wives. He was short of sleep as well.

2. Who was Joe Morgan? Why was he so tense, and waiting anxiously for Dr Andrew that
night?

Ans. Joe Morgan was in dire need of Dr Andrew’s help. His wife Susan was in labour. She
was going to deliver their first child after 20 years of marriage. Joe and Susan were keen
to have the child delivered safely. So he stood waiting anxiously for the doctor.

3. That night proved unusual and it influenced Dr Andrew’s whole future in Blaenelly.
What miraculous thing happened that night?

Ans. Dr Andrew had first begun his medical practice in the mining town of Blaenelly. The
successful handling of Mrs Joe’s ease proved a turning point in his life. It was no less than
a miracle that he had restored lilt in a stillborn child by dipping it in cold and warm
water alternately. Besides satisfaction, he earned name and fame.

4. Why were Susan and her Old mother so tense that night?

Ans. Susan was about to deliver a baby after 20 years of marriage. It was natural for her
and her husband Joe to be tense. Susan’s old mother also stood beside her tense and
hopeful.

5. Susan’s mother was wise in experience. What hints did she give of her wisdom?

Ans. Susan’s mother was a tall, grey-haired woman of nearly seventy. From her personal
experience, she knew that the childbirth would take some time. She was wise enough to
fear that Dr Andrew might not wait for long. So she tried to make him stay on by offering
him tea and sitting beside him.

6. Name the five central characters in the story Birth who played the key role?

Ans. The five central characters in the story ‘Birth’ are Joe Morgan, his wife Susan, his old
mother-in-law, a stout midwife and of course, Dr Andrew. The doctor played the key role
in saving two lives—that of Susan and her seemingly stillborn baby.

7. Why and when did a shiver of horror pass over Dr Andrew?

Ans. Dr Andrew was shocked and horrified as he looked at the lifeless newly born baby.
He also noticed that Susan was sinking. He was in a dilemma, whom to save first.
8. Dr Andrew faced the biggest dilemma of his life that night. How did he act and save two
lives?

Ans. Dr Andrew was called to supervise the first and crucial delivery of Susan Morgan. He
was tense and short of sleep. Still, he decided to wait. He gave a promise to Joe and his
wife that all would be well. But he became nervous to find both the mother and her baby
in trouble. He first gave an injection to Susan to stabilise her. Next, he lifted the stillborn
baby. put him in hot and cold water alternately and pressed the child’s chest. Luckily, he
saved both of them.

9. Comment on the behaviour and role of the midwife attending on Susan Morgan.

Ans. The midwife attending on Susan showed lack of experience and professional
attitude. She declared at once that the baby was stillborn. She pushed it under the bed.
Even when Andrew was trying to bring back life into the baby, she showed disbelief and
even discouraged Andrew from making such feverish efforts. The cry of the baby made
her exclaim with joy.

10. What did the stillborn child look like when Andrew turned his attention to it?

Ans. The baby’s body was fully formed and warm but it was lifeless. The nurse had
placed it beneath the bed. But Andrew pulled out the child. Its limp warm body was white
and soft as animal fat. The skin was smooth but the limbs seemed boneless. It was short
of oxygen.

11. What did Andrew do to restore life in the stillborn child?

Ans. Andrew recalled a similar case in the past. He gave the same treatment to the
stillborn baby. He asked for hot and icy cold water. He placed the baby into cold and
warm water alternately. He rubbed the child with a rough towel and pressed and
released the little chest with his hands. The miracle happened. Its skin turned pink and it
cried.

12. How did Andrew turn his sense of defeat and hopelessness into one of joy and
victory? Describe the last effort he made.

Ans. When Susan seemed to be out of danger, Andrew picked up the lax little lifeless
baby. He applied to water treatment on it. But even after half an hour of feverish effort,
there was no ray of hope. He finally made the last effort. He pressed and released the
little chest with both hands. This treatment worked and the little heart began to beat.

13. Describe the moments when the stillborn child gave a short heave and slowly revived.
Ans. Andrew for a while felt beaten and disappointed. But he made one last effort. He
pressed the baby’s chest gently and then released. The technique was successful. He felt
the little heart beating. A bubble of mucus came from one nostril. The child was gasping
and then gave a cry. The nurse cried hysterically and Dr Andrew felt relieved and dazed.

14. What was Andrew’s greatest achievement and satisfaction as he walked out of House
Number 12 Blame Terrace?

Ans. Dr Andrew was called to handle a critical case of delivery. He was tired. He felt
defeated. He was in a dilemma because of the sinking condition of Susan and the lifeless
form of her baby. But he saved both the lives. He called it his greatest reward and success.

15. Comment on the title of the story Birth. Why did it become so significant?

Ans. The title of the story Birth is apt and significant. The entire story revolves around
the case of Susan’s first delivery and her stillborn child. It is a very tense drama of defeat,
feverish effort, longing, hope and finally success. The handling of the case gave Dr
Andrew a feeling that he had done something real at last.

1. Give a brief life-sketch and achievement of Dr Andrew Manson.

Ans. Dr Andrew Manson was fresh from medical school. He was working as an assistant
to Dr Edward Page in a small mining town. He loved a girl Christine, but he had spent a
disappointing evening with her when he met Joe. He was tired and tense. It was past
midnight. But true to his calling, he accompanied Joe to attend on Susan Morgan, who was
in labour. He did not mind waiting. He did not settle his fees. He waited till daybreak
without a wink of sleep. He proved his worth when he faced a dilemma. The mother was
sinking, and the baby had no heartbeat. He made feverish efforts to save both. Going by
instinct he saved the mother first by administering a life-saving injection to her. When he
took the lifeless yet warm baby in his arms he suddenly remembered a similar case in his
medical college. He gave the same treatment to the baby and saved him. He brought them
both back to life.

2. Why was Andrew feeling so dull and listless that evening? How did that evening
influence his whole life and career?

Ans. Andrew returned to his house after midnight. His experience with Christine that
evening was not a happy one. Moreover, several episodes of unhappily married couples
also saddened him. Outside his house was Joe Morgan waiting anxiously for the doctor.
He led Andrew to his house where his wife Susan was in labour. Both were set upon
having this child. Andrew decided to wait and give medical aid. He had no idea that the
incident of that night would give him not only supreme satisfaction but also name and
fame. He worked hard and very intelligently to save the life of the mother as well as her
stillborn child.