GSEB Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 7 Birth Solutions

Reading With Insight

Question 1. “I have done something; oh, God! I've done something real at last”. Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?
Answer: Andrew is a doctor, and a doctor's main duty is to save lives. When he faces a difficult situation, he keeps his calm and performs what he needs to do. He first saves the mother and, through his immense efforts, manages to save a nearly dead, stillborn baby boy. What he achieved was truly miraculous. Andrew's feeling of happiness is certainly well-deserved. Doctors are expected to carry out their duties whenever they are needed. Andrew arrived home at midnight. He must have been exhausted but still answered the call when Joe Morgan asked him to come to his house. Morgan's wife required immediate help. Andrew performed his duties exceptionally well. That is why he exclaims, "I have done something; oh God! I've done something real at last.”
In simple words: Andrew, a doctor, saved both the mother and a nearly dead baby through incredible effort. He felt huge satisfaction, calling it "something real" because he had done his duty and achieved a miracle.

Exam Tip: When analyzing character statements, always explain the context, the character's feelings, and the significance of their actions to show a deep understanding.

Question 2. "There lies a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising physician." Discuss.
Answer: From long ago, we have often heard that there is a big difference between theory and practice. This is indeed true. The theoretical knowledge gathered from books sometimes does not offer solutions to all real-world problems. Medical textbooks provide information about treating various diseases, but at times, doctors encounter a dilemma that no standard theory can resolve. In the story 'Birth', Dr. Andrew experiences this exact situation. When both the mother and son required his attention, he had to make a tough decision. In this process, no medical textbook could have guided him. Instead, Dr. Andrew acted on instinct. He first rescued the mother and then the child. He treated the mother using conventional methods and the child with a mix of traditional and intuitive care. The final outcome of both approaches was successful.
In simple words: There's a big difference between what medical books teach and what doctors face in real life. Sometimes, textbook knowledge isn't enough for tough choices, and doctors must use their instincts, as Dr. Andrew did in 'Birth' to save both mother and child.

Exam Tip: Support your discussion with specific examples from the text to illustrate how Andrew's practical experience diverged from theoretical knowledge.

Question 3. Do you know of any incident when someone has been brought back to life from the brink of death through medical help? Discuss medical procedures such as organ transplants and organ regeneration that are used to save human life.
Answer: The progress in medical science is amazing. Every day, new medications are developed for many illnesses, making older treatments obsolete and useless. In fact, people suggest that in five years, surgical methods will be so advanced that today's surgical tools will be called 'Butchers instruments'. Organ transplant is one such procedure that truly demonstrates the massive leaps in medical science. This advancement became a real blessing in my friend's life. She suffered kidney failure. Despite huge efforts, a suitable donor could not be found. An appeal for a donor was made in all major newspapers and on television, and then a miracle occurred—a perfect match was discovered. The doctors quickly performed the kidney transplant. With God's grace, my friend has been living a healthy life. This happened almost fifteen years ago.
In simple words: Medical science is constantly advancing, bringing new ways to save lives. Organ transplants, for instance, are amazing procedures where a damaged organ is replaced, allowing someone near death to live a full life, like what happened with my friend's kidney transplant years ago.

Exam Tip: When discussing medical procedures, use clear and precise language to describe their purpose and impact, and if possible, include a brief, relevant example.

GSEB Class 11 English Birth Additional Important Questions And Answers

Answer The Following Questions In Four To Five Sentences Each:

Question 1. Why was Andrew Manson called in? How did he react to the call of duty?
Answer: Andrew Manson had just started his medical practice in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. He was summoned to assist Susan Morgan, who was expecting her first child after almost twenty years of marriage. Her husband, Joe Morgan, had been waiting for an hour outside the closed clinic. It was almost midnight when Andrew arrived. As Joe explained his wife's situation, Andrew forgot his own personal feelings. He quickly entered the house to get his bag and immediately headed for the driller's home. Since his expertise wasn't immediately required by the pregnant mother, he decided to wait downstairs. He examined her again after an hour. It was at 3:30 am when the nurse called him. He struggled for an hour before the baby was born. He then worked tirelessly to revive the weak mother and the stillborn child. He had to use all his knowledge and skills to fulfill his duty. He disregarded his own physical exhaustion or mental stress. Duty came first, and he responded to it with complete dedication.
In simple words: Andrew Manson was called to Joe Morgan's house to attend to his wife Susan, who was having her first baby after twenty years. Despite his tiredness, Andrew responded immediately and dedicated all his skill and effort to saving both the mother and the baby, showing complete devotion to his profession.

Exam Tip: Focus on detailing Andrew's immediate actions and internal state to fully answer how he reacted to the call of duty, highlighting his dedication.

Question 2. Give a brief account of the efforts made by Andrew to revive the stillborn baby.
Answer: A shiver of fear went through Andrew as he looked at the motionless form of the newborn baby. Though it was a perfectly formed boy, its soft, warm body was pale. This pallor indicated suffocation due to a lack of oxygen. Andrew remembered the treatment he had learned for such cases in the Samaritan hospital. Before the hot and cold water he had requested arrived, he placed the child on a blanket and started artificial respiration. Then he dipped the baby alternately in hot and cold water. Now, the child felt quite slippery. He rubbed it with a rough towel. He then pressed and released its chest until it began to rise. This was followed by other breaths. Andrew increased his efforts. The child began to gasp. A small bubble of mucus came from one tiny nostril. The pale skin slowly turned pink. The limbs were no longer floppy. Its head did not fall back loosely. The child cried out. It came to life.
In simple words: Andrew worked hard to revive the stillborn baby by first giving artificial respiration, then dipping it in hot and cold water, and rubbing it vigorously. He pressed and released its chest until it started breathing, leading to the baby's cry and return to life.

Exam Tip: When describing a sequence of events, list each step clearly and chronologically, using strong action verbs to convey the intensity of the efforts.

Question 3. Compare and contrast Andrew's emotional, mental and physical state at the beginning of the story and at the end.
Answer: At the start of the story, Andrew is physically exhausted and emotionally troubled. He had just returned from a disappointing evening with Christine, the woman he loved. His thoughts were heavy and disorganized. The incident he had witnessed at Cardiff station still filled his mind with sadness. Though he considered marriage a happy state, he could not help but remember the sad failures of many relationships. At the end of the story, Andrew is physically tired but emotionally joyful and mentally sharp. His mind is filled with happiness and fulfillment. He has accomplished an extraordinary feat, nothing less than a miracle. He calls upon God to witness that he has finally achieved something truly significant. This feeling of accomplishment helps him overcome physical weariness. His commitment to his patients allows him to attend to them completely. He forgets his personal feelings and thinks only about saving his patients.
In simple words: At the start, Andrew was tired and sad from relationship issues, with confused thoughts. By the end, though physically drained, he was cheerful and mentally clear, filled with joy and satisfaction from successfully saving lives, which helped him overcome his fatigue.

Exam Tip: Organize your answer by first describing Andrew's state at the beginning and then contrasting it with his state at the end, highlighting the transformative impact of his experience.

Question 4. What impression do you form of Andrew Manson on the basis of the story 'Birth'?
Answer: Andrew Manson is a young man who recently qualified as a doctor and began his medical practice as an assistant to Dr. Edward Page in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. He is in love with Christine and views marriage as a perfect state. His heart is full of affection. His stable mind and reasoning help him see the many marriages as sad failures. Andrew is mature enough to keep his private and professional lives separate. Once confronted with his responsibility, he performs his duties to the best of his ability. He is very conscientious. He is not just a theorist; he believes in practical solutions. He is pragmatic and isn't afraid to try unusual methods. Andrew has a kind heart. He understands the feelings of others. He knows how deeply Susan loved her upcoming baby. He has polite manners and a calming voice. Overall, Andrew strikes us as a dedicated doctor.
In simple words: Andrew Manson is portrayed as a dedicated, compassionate, and pragmatic young doctor. He can separate his personal feelings from his professional duties, isn't afraid to try new methods, and genuinely cares for his patients, making him a highly respected medical professional.

Exam Tip: When forming an impression of a character, analyze their actions, thoughts, and interactions with others, using adjectives that accurately reflect their personality traits.

Birth Summary In English

Birth Summary:

The summary of the story 'Birth' by A. J. Cronin begins with the main character, Andrew Mason, arriving in Bryngower late at night, where Joe Morgan was waiting for him despite the late hour. Joe Morgan is depicted as being anxious and restless, pacing back and forth.

Upon seeing Andrew, he expressed a feeling of relief. Joe, a "burly driller" or mine worker, was there to take Andrew to his house. He was pleased that Andrew had come and mentioned he had been waiting for him for the past hour. He informed Andrew that his wife had begun labor early.

Andrew was feeling a bit detached that day; he remembered what had happened earlier that evening with Christine, the girl he loves, and tried not to feel that disappointment. He is usually very responsive to his surroundings, but today he was not bothered and felt very distant from them. Together with Joe, they were going to 12 Blaina Terrace, Joe's house, to his expectant wife. But the narrator states that Andrew had no idea that the night ahead would be different, becoming a life-changing experience.

When both of them reached Joe's house, Joe, with restraint, said that he would not go inside but was confident in Andrew's abilities and trusted him. Andrew saw a poorly furnished but small and clean bedroom, up a narrow stairwell. Inside the room, he saw Mrs. Morgan's mother, a tall, grey-haired woman of almost seventy. Along with her was a sturdy elderly midwife who was waiting beside the patient and closely observing Andrew's expression.

Mrs. Morgan's mother offered to make Andrew a cup of tea. She understood it would not be a short ordeal, and she probably didn't want the doctor to leave, so she tried to make his stay as pleasant as possible. Andrew was tired and knew that if he went home, he could get an hour's sleep, but he chose to stay.

In the kitchen downstairs, he drank the tea he received from Mrs. Morgan's mother. After an hour, he went to check on Mrs. Morgan and then came down again. Everything was still, except for the wood burning in the fireplace and the sound of Joe's steps pacing outside. Mrs. Morgan's mother, sitting opposite him, was motionless in her black dress and continuously watching the doctor.

Andrew then started to think about all the relationship failures that were occurring around him and how he was conflicted with his own. He was so deeply engrossed in his thoughts that when the person sitting across from him spoke, he was startled. Mrs. Morgan's mother said that Susan, i.e., Mrs. Morgan, would not want chloroform if it harmed the baby. They were deeply invested in this child, and everyone was eagerly anticipating its arrival. Andrew collected himself and replied that the anesthetic would not harm the baby and that both of them would be fine.

At half-past three, the nurse called Andrew up, and that was when Andrew began his work. After a long struggle, as dawn approached, a child was born, lifeless. The doctor was horrified. After all his hard work and the promises he had made, he felt numb from uncertainty and exhaustion.

The doctor was torn between his two duties: whether to revive the child or save the failing mother. His moral conflict did not permit him to resolve this problem through conscious thought. With pure instinct, he first handed the child to the nurse's care and then went to tend to Susan, whose health was quickly worsening. The anesthetic was clouding over the woman's strength, and after the doctor's frantic efforts, he was able to somewhat stabilize the woman's condition.

The doctor then turned towards the pale, stiff child whom the midwife had placed beneath the bed. The pale whiteness that covered the delicate body of the newborn led Andrew to conclude that the child must be suffering from asphyxia pallida, a condition caused by a lack of oxygen supply to the body. Andrew quickly tried to remember a similar case he had seen at Samaritan and recalled its treatment method. He asked the midwife to bring him two bowls: one of hot water and one of cold water.

The midwife rushed to the kitchen and followed the doctor's instructions. Andrew then placed the child on a blanket and began a special breathing method. The doctor then submerged the child alternately in each bowl. He continued the ordeal for over fifteen minutes without any positive reaction from the child's lifeless body. A desperate sense of failure began to overwhelm him, but he refused to give up.

The midwife was watching the doctor's actions with great amazement. The doctor remembered Susan's strong desire for a child, her mother's longing for a grandchild, and all that now seemed pointless and beyond help. The midwife begged him to stop this "madness" and accept that the child was stillborn. But the doctor was determined not to let the efforts of the last half hour go to waste. As a final, desperate attempt, Andrew started rubbing the limp chest of the tiny child with a rough towel, almost crushing it.

Then, almost miraculously, the child's chest heaved and let out a puff of breath. After all, that effort finally succeeded beneath his fingers, making him overjoyed. Signs of life appeared in the child's still body as it let out a satisfying cry, calming all the chaos around him. The nurse thanked God for this miracle, and Andrew handed her the child. The room was a mess, and Susan was still in a trance. Her mother was still praying.

Then, almost automatically, Andrew left, saying he would collect his bag later. He went downstairs to the scullery and had a long drink of water, after which he went out to meet Joe. He informed him that everything was fine. It was five in the morning, and everything was gently returning to life.

The miners coming off their night shifts were on the road. Tired and exhausted, Andrew walked among them, while in his mind, all he could think was that at last, he had accomplished something meaningful. He had finally gained the confirmation he was seeking.