Bihar Board Class 12th English (Rainbow Part 2 Prose) Chapter 7 A Child Born) Solutions

Bihar Board Class 12 English Book Objective Type Questions and Answer

1. The ways of managing child-birth in traditional societies are [Sample Paper 2009 (A) | (a) Many and varied
(b) Little and few
(c) not a single or not at all
(d) as many as five
Answer:
(a) Many and varied

2. In many societies, women still go forth from their mother’s houses at marriage to live with [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
(a) her sister
(b) her uncle and aunt
(c) her neighbor
(d) her other in law
Answer:
(d) her other in law

3. In many traditional societies, the relationship between mother and child is [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
(a) more important
(c) unimportant
(b) less important
(d) not ascertained
Answer:
(a) more important

4. Sylheti Women go to stay during the last stage of pregnancy [Sample Paper 2009 (A) ] (a) at her uncle’s house
(b) at her brother’s house
(c) at her mother’s house
(d) at her sister’s house
Answer:
(c) at her mother’s house

5. What is the reward of pregnancy for a young Sylheti woman is [Sample Paper 2009 (A)] (a) a lot of love and care
(b) delicious food to eat
(c) fancy clothes to put on
(d) gets to go to her mother
Answer:
(d) gets to go to her mother

Bihar Board Class 12 English Book Very Short Type Questions and Answers

Q. 1. Answer these Questions

(a) Why a Sylheti woman visit her mother’s house during pregnancy? [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
Answer:
A Sylheti woman visits her mother's house during the final months of her pregnancy. This is a traditional practice where she receives dedicated care, emotional support, and prepares for the delivery in a familiar and comforting environment surrounded by her mother and other female relatives.

(b) How the whole matter of pregnancy for the Sylheti women is a celebration? [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
Answer:
For Sylheti women, pregnancy is treated as a joyous event marked by collective family rituals, special care, and festivities. The birth of the baby is celebrated with songs, feasts, and ceremonies involving the entire community of women, turning the entire period into one of happiness and social bonding.

(c) Why the garlands of turmeric and garlic are worn? [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
Answer:
Garlands made of turmeric and garlic are worn as a protective charm. It is a traditional belief that these items have the power to ward off evil spirits and protect the mother and the unborn child from harm or negative influences.

(d) On what occasion the songs Sylheti women and girls sing collectively? [Sample Paper 2009 (a)]
Answer:
Sylheti women and girls sing songs collectively during the naming ceremony of the newborn baby, which is held when the baby is seven days old. These songs often celebrate the child's arrival and reflect on the lives and experiences of women.

(e) How the visit to mother’s house during pregnancy of Sylheuc woman, is treated? [Sample Paper 2009 (A) |
Answer:
The visit to her mother's house is treated as a special privilege and reward for the pregnant Sylheti woman. She is warmly welcomed, pampered with favorite foods, and relieved of daily chores, allowing her to rest and prepare for childbirth in a supportive setting.

(f) What is Rupthoka in Bangla Desh? [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
Answer:
"Rupthoka" refers to a popular genre of Bengali fairy tales and folk stories. These tales, often involving kings, queens, and magical elements, are traditionally narrated to children, especially in the afternoons, for entertainment and moral education.

(g) Who has written, ‘A child is Bom”? [Sample Paper 2009 (A)]
Answer:
The essay "A Child is Born" has been written by the renowned Australian feminist writer and public intellectual, Germaine Greer.

Bihar Board Class 12 English Book Textual Questions and Answers

B. 1.1. Read the following sentences and write ‘T’ for true‘and ‘F’ for false statements

(i) In a traditional society, a pregnant woman has to follow the conventional procedure of childbirth.
(ii) Even taboos and prohibitions help to manage anxiety.
(iii) Western women suffer mostly because they have to manage everything on their own.
(iv) In traditional societies, childbirth is a family affair.
(v) The family support and conventional procedure lessen mother-infant mortality.
(vi) Freedom to live our own lives is more important than prenatal mortality.
(vii) Western people do not think that all mothers-in-law are unjust and vindictive.
(viii) Silent opposition in international conferences is not a major difficulty in the way of feminists.
(ix) In many traditional societies, the relation between mother and child is more important than that between husband and wife.
Answer:
(i) T, (ii) T, (iii) T, (iv) T, (v) F, (vi) T, (vii) F, (viii) F, (ix) T.

B. 1.2. Answer the following questions briefly :

Question 1.
How are the ways of managing childbirth in traditional societies useful?
Answer:
The traditional methods of managing childbirth are highly useful because they provide a structured, culturally-approved framework. Established rituals, taboos, and community participation actively involve the expectant mother, reducing her personal anxiety. This collective approach offers her emotional security and a sense of control, making the pregnancy journey more manageable and socially supported.

Question 2.
A pregnant woman in a traditional society does not feel that she is alone. Why?
Answer:
She does not feel alone because pregnancy is treated as a communal event. Her husband, extended family, and community members actively participate in the prescribed rituals and care routines. This collective involvement fosters a strong support system, giving her confidence and the reassuring feeling that she is guiding her pregnancy, not being overwhelmed by it.

Question 3.
What is the superstition associated with acquiring new clothes and instruments for baby Before birth?
Answer:
A common superstition in many traditional societies holds that preparing or buying clothes and other items for the baby before its birth brings bad luck or may even harm the unborn child. Consequently, the baby often arrives into the world without any pre-purchased essentials like napkins or a crib.

Question 4.
‘In our anxiety to avoid death, we may have destroyed the significance of the experience’ What is the ‘experience’ the writer refers to?
Answer:
The 'experience' the writer refers to is the profound, personal, and culturally rich journey of pregnancy and childbirth. In the pursuit of medical safety through Western technology, the emotional, social, and ritualistic significance that makes childbirth a deeply meaningful event in traditional settings is often lost.

Question 5.
What is the ‘tourism of anthropologies’ that the writer talks about?
Answer:
The writer uses the term 'tourism of anthropologies' to criticize a superficial Western interpretation of traditional practices. It refers to the tendency to view customs—like a bride living with her in-laws until she bears a child—as merely backward or oppressive, without understanding the deeper social structures and support systems that may be present.

Question 6.
What compels women to withdraw into silent opposition in international fora?
Answer:
Women from traditional backgrounds are often compelled into silent opposition for two main reasons. First, the conferences are conducted in foreign languages they are not fluent in. Second, they grow weary of being lectured about their own lives and problems by outsiders, rather than being genuinely consulted for their insights and experiences.

Question 7.
Why had Sudanese women officials stopped going to international conferences?
Answer:
Sudanese women officials stopped attending because they found the conferences frustrating and unproductive. Despite the treat of travel, they felt marginalized—their voices were not heard, and they were tired of being told about their own realities instead of being engaged as equal partners in dialogue.

B.2.1. Read the following sentences and write ‘T’ for true and ’F’ for false statements
(i) A Sylheti woman may not visit her mother’s house during pregnancy.
(ii) For Sylheti women, the whole matter of pregnancy is one of celebration.
(iii) Garlands of turmeric and garlic are worn to please gods.
(iv) The songs they sing are about the lives of women in Bengal.
(v) Visiting the mother’s house is one of the rewards of pregnancy.
(vi) In Bangladesh, Rupthoka is a kind of sweet dish.
(vii) All technological changes cause social developments.
(viii) Childbirth in modem hospitals is more brutal.
Answer:
(i) F, (ii) T, (iii) F, (iv) T, (v) T, (vi) F, (vii) T, (viii) T.

B.2.2. Complete the following sentences on the basis of the lesson
(a) The potential is alive in the memory of her community.
(b) She will have others, for many of the rituals of pregnancy involve the participation of the others who should support her.
(c) ID societies, except for remarkable accidents, birth is always attended.
(d) The description provided by the Amnesty for Women of typical Muslim marriage was no more than a coarse libel.
(e) In many traditional societies in Africa and India, the biological family is deliberately weakened by enforced
Answer:
(a) catastrophes, approach
(b) reinforcements, observances
(c) non- technocratic
(d) ethnocentric
(e) abstinence or actual separation of parents.

B.2.3. Answerthe following questions briefly

Question 1.
Where do Sylheti women go to stay during the last stage of pregnancy?
Answer:
During the last stage of pregnancy, Sylheti women traditionally go to stay at their parents' (mother's) house. They remain there for the delivery and the initial months of the newborn's life.

Question 2.
What is the reward of pregnancy for a young Sylheti woman?
Answer:
The greatest reward is the cherished opportunity to return to her parental home. There, she is freed from routine duties, receives nurturing care from her mother and sisters, and enjoys special foods, making it a period of rest and celebration before and after the birth.

Question 3.
How are children of the joint family in Bangladesh looked after?
Answer:
In a Bangladeshi joint family, child-rearing is a shared responsibility. Different daughters-in-law take on specific tasks—one bathes all the children, another cooks, and another feeds them. The children play together during the day and only return to their own mothers at night to sleep.

Question 4. What is the worst impact of western medicine in traditional societies?
Answer:
The worst impact is the erosion of supportive traditional practices and their replacement with an impersonal, technology-centric system. This often involves arrogant doctors, expensive treatments, and a focus on equipment over compassionate patient care, which can alienate and disempower women.

Question 5.
What is the immediate impact of poverty in the medical field?
Answer:
Poverty forces a reliance on seemingly advanced but often inappropriate Western medical technology. This creates a situation of cultural and economic dominance, where expensive, imported systems are prioritized over affordable, culturally-sensitive, and effective local healthcare practices.

C. 1. Bihar Board Class 12 English Book Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
What is the role of rituals in managing childbirth in traditional societies?
Answer:
Rituals play a central and multifaceted role in managing childbirth in traditional societies. They provide a pre-defined, culturally-sanctioned script that guides the expectant mother and her family through the pregnancy. These rituals, which include specific taboos, ceremonies, and practices, serve to actively engage the woman, giving her a sense of purpose and control. More importantly, they mobilize community support, involving the husband, elders, and other women. This collective participation transforms pregnancy from a private medical event into a shared social journey, significantly reducing anxiety and building a strong network of emotional and practical support for the mother.

Question 2.
The experience of childbirth is very significant. But modern technology has deprived the potential mother of this significant experience. How?
Answer:
Modern hospital-based childbirth, while focused on physical safety, often strips the experience of its personal and emotional significance. The mother is transformed from the central figure in a family celebration into a passive patient surrounded by strangers, machines, and clinical procedures. The intimate support of family is replaced by the busy, impersonal routine of medical staff. The profound rite of passage marked by traditional songs, blessings, and communal joy is lost. Consequently, what should be a climactic personal and cultural milestone can become an isolating, anxiety-ridden, and even traumatic event, turning a potential triumph into a personal crisis.

Question 3.
Describe the western interpretation of a bride’s longing for a child in a traditional society.
Answer:
The Western anthropological interpretation often views this longing through a lens of oppression. It suggests that in patrilocal joint families, a bride is not fully accepted as a member until she proves her fertility by bearing a child, preferably a son. This perspective paints the mother-in-law and the family structure as inherently vindictive and oppressive, forcing the woman into a desperate need for a child to gain status and security. This view, however, is critiqued by the author as an ethnocentric oversimplification that ignores the complex web of support and identity that children also bring within those societies.

Question 4.
How do languages come in the way of a better understanding of women’s problems?
Answer:
Language acts as a major barrier in two key areas. Firstly, at international conferences, discussions are dominated by global languages like English or French. Women from traditional societies, who are the true experts on their lived experiences, may lack fluency and thus cannot articulate their perspectives effectively, leading to silent withdrawal. Secondly, in modern hospitals, a communication gap exists between doctors/nurses and patients from rural or traditional backgrounds. This prevents proper diagnosis, denies the patient a voice in her own care, and fosters misunderstanding, ultimately hindering the development of solutions that are truly responsive to women's needs.

Question 5.
Describe the rewards of pregnancy as experienced by Sylheti women.
Answer:
For a Sylheti woman, pregnancy brings tangible and emotional rewards. The foremost reward is the sanctioned return to her natal home, where she is pampered and cared for by her mother and sisters. She enjoys special foods and a respite from daily labor. The birth itself triggers community-wide celebration: a naming ceremony (aqeeqah) after seven days with new clothes, feasting, and all-night singing sessions (jari) performed exclusively by women. These gatherings are filled with jokes, stories, and songs that celebrate her strength and achievement. Thus, pregnancy rewards her with cherished family time, social recognition, and a joyful celebration of her role as a mother.

Question 6.
Does the writer want to say that the use of western medicine in childbirth is producing horrible results? Do you agree with her views?
Answer:
The writer argues that the uncritical adoption of Western medical technology in traditional settings often produces negative outcomes. She highlights how it can be culturally insensitive, economically burdensome, and emotionally isolating, depriving women of a supportive and meaningful birth experience. While she acknowledges the value of medical safety, she warns against losing the psychosocial benefits of traditional systems.

Agreement/Viewpoint: The writer's perspective is largely valid. An ideal approach would be a synergistic model that integrates the life-saving advantages of modern medicine with the empathetic, community-based support and cultural relevance of traditional practices. This would ensure both physical safety and psychological well-being for the mother.

Question 7.

What could be the worse fates than death for a pregnant woman?

Answer:

For a pregnant woman, fates worse than death could include severe, long-term disability or chronic illness resulting from childbirth complications, which would prevent her from caring for her child or living a full life. It could also mean the loss of the baby after carrying it to term, leading to immense psychological trauma and social stigma in some communities. Additionally, being abandoned by her family due to birth-related injuries or being rendered infertile by unsafe practices could be considered a fate as devastating as death, as it impacts her entire future and social standing.

Question 8.

What are the problems of a modern woman in matters of pregnancy and childbirth?

Answer:

A modern woman often faces isolation due to nuclear family structures, lacking the traditional support system of elders. She may experience anxiety from balancing a career with pregnancy and postpartum demands. Despite advanced medical care, she might feel pressured by excessive information and conflicting advice. Financial burdens of healthcare and childcare, along with the struggle to maintain personal identity while adapting to motherhood, are significant challenges. Postpartum depression and the societal expectation to "bounce back" quickly add to her mental and emotional stress.

C.2. Group Discussion

Discuss the following in groups or pairs:

1. Childbirth is not the responsibility of the pregnant woman alone; it is a matter of family concern as well.

Answer:

Childbirth is a pivotal family event that impacts everyone. The pregnant woman undergoes physical and emotional changes requiring practical help, emotional reassurance, and sometimes financial support. The family ensures she gets proper nutrition, medical care, and rest. After birth, caring for the newborn and the mother is a collective responsibility, allowing the mother to recover. This shared concern strengthens family bonds, distributes the workload, and provides the child with a secure, loving environment crucial for healthy development.

2. The relationship between mother and child is more important than the relationship between husband and wife.

Answer:

It is not accurate to rank these relationships as one being more important than the other. The husband-wife relationship forms the foundation of the family, setting the tone of love, respect, and stability. A strong marital bond creates a secure environment in which the mother-child relationship can thrive. Both relationships are interdependent and serve different, vital purposes. A harmonious partnership between parents directly benefits the child's emotional well-being, making both relationships equally crucial for a healthy family unit.

C. 3. Composition Write a paragraph of about 100 words on each of the following

1. Rituals: their value in our cultural life.

Answer:

Rituals are the threads that weave our cultural identity together. They provide structure and meaning to life's major transitions—birth, marriage, death—connecting individuals to their community and heritage. Rituals offer comfort through familiar practices, reduce anxiety during uncertain times, and reinforce shared values. They foster social cohesion by bringing people together in celebration or solace. In a rapidly changing world, rituals act as anchors, preserving traditions and passing them to new generations. While some rituals evolve, their core value lies in creating a sense of belonging, continuity, and shared human experience.

2. Family is the hub of our social life.

Answer:

The family is the fundamental unit and primary hub of social life. It is where we first learn language, norms, values, and how to interact with others. Our deepest emotional bonds and initial sense of security are formed here. All social activities, festivals, and crises are primarily experienced and managed within the family framework. The support system provided by the family enables individuals to venture into the wider society with confidence. Thus, the family shapes our character and acts as the central point from which all our social connections and responsibilities radiate.

D. WORD STUDY D. 1. Dictionary Use

Ex. Correct the spelling of the following words

Ans.

anjeety → anxiety
usefullness → usefulness
bahaviars → behaviours
acquintance → acquaintance
neccessarily → necessarily
secratariet → secretariat
techanological → technological
comunities → communities
safisticated → sophisticated
equippment → equipment

D.2. Word Formation

Add suffix ‘able’ to the following words and fill in the blanks with the new words to complete the sentences (in some cases the final ‘e’ is. to be dropped.)

work, knowledge, consider, understand accept, agree, use, deplore.

(i) We did not find Varsha’s proposal............0++
(ii) Safdar has already spent........... amount in the repairing work.
(iii) The act of violence is quite..............
(iv) The refills are not
(v) Everyone found his behavior quite..........
(vi) knowledge of a car cannot make you a good mechanic.
(vii) Nikhat is quite............... you can seek advice from her.
(viii) Since he has been ill for a long period, his irritating nature is quite...........

Answer:

(i) acceptable, (ii) considerable, (iii) deplorable, (iv) usable, (v) agreeable, (vi) Workable, (vii) knowledgeable, (viii) understandable.

D. 3. Word-meaning

Ex. 1. Fill in the blanks with suitable phrases given in the box.

At bay, at the expense of, in order to, in response to, to ward off, look after, take care of, look at

(a) Pragya’s fever was not severe but it was the doctor’s assurance which kept her FOAL... «० ००००००००० ०००००
(b) It is not proper to ask others to your newborn babies.
(c) This time team India played seriously................. win the match.
(d) Development of a nation can never be achieved.................... Common people’s aspirations.
(e) Many women and children joined the freedom struggle movement..........:s:s++ Gandhiji’s call.
(f) The teacher infused confidence in the children...................... their fear of darkness.
(8) Everyone admiringlly.................. the paintings.
(h) The new gardener................ the plants with great affection.

Answer:

(a) at bay, (b) take care of, (c) in order to, (d) at the expense of, (e) in response to, (f) to ward off, (g) looked at, (h) looks after.

E. Grammar

Read the text to find out appropriate prepositions and fill in the blanks to complete the sentences:

(a) All the members.............. family participate.................... the function.
(b) The scientists were actively involved................00++ holding the natural calamities.................. bay.
(c) Pregnant women are advised to cling.............. a proper diet habit.
(d) The nurses were quite cooperative...................... breastfeeding.
(e) Modem obstetric is responsible.................. the decrease................. maternal mortality the past century.
(f) The west thinks that.................. many traditional societies, the relations................... SpOUSeS are exploitative.

Answer:

(a) of, in; (b) in, at; (c) to; (d) about; (e) for, in, in; (f) in, between.