Important Questions Chapter 7 English Rainbow Part 2 Class 12 Bihar Board बिहार बोर्ड

A Child Born

Short Questions with Answers

1. Who wrote the essay “A Child is Born”?

Answers : Germaine Greer wrote the essay “A Child is Born.”

2. What is the essay “A Child is Born” about?

Answers : It explores the cultural differences in childbirth and parent-child relationships in the East and the West.

3. What helps manage anxiety during pregnancy in traditional societies?

Answers : Taboos, prohibitions, and rituals help manage anxiety during pregnancy.

4. How is childbirth considered in traditional societies?

Answers : It is treated as a collective and cultural process with community support.

5. What superstition is associated with preparing for a baby before birth?

Answers : It is believed to bring bad luck to acquire baby items before birth.

6. What is the significance of rituals during pregnancy?

Answers : Rituals provide a sense of security and community involvement.

7. What do Sylheti women do during pregnancy?

Answers : They often go to their mother’s house for care and celebration.

8. How is the naming ceremony celebrated in Sylheti culture?

Answers : It involves singing, feasting, and gifting a new sari to the mother.

9. Why do some women withdraw from international conferences?

Answers : They face language barriers and are often not consulted about their lives.

10. What is considered more important in traditional societies: mother-child or husband-wife relationships?

Answers : Mother-child relationships are often more significant.

11. How are children cared for in Bangladesh’s joint families?

Answers : They are cared for collectively by the family members.

12. What is a common activity for children in traditional Bangladesh?

Answers : Listening to fairy tales, called “Rupthoka,” is common.

13. Why is childbirth in some modern hospitals criticized?

Answers : It can be impersonal and overly focused on technology.

14. What does Germaine Greer criticize about Western medicine in childbirth?

Answers : She criticizes its intrusive and depersonalized nature.

15. What role do women play in traditional childbirth rituals?

Answers : Women play a central role in supporting and celebrating childbirth.

16. What is a key difference in childbirth between the East and the West?

Answers : The East emphasizes community, while the West focuses on medicalization.

17. Why do some traditional societies weaken the biological family?

Answers : To strengthen the extended family system.

18. What are the “rewards” of pregnancy for Sylheti women?

Answers : They receive love, care, and a joyful celebration.

19. What does Germaine Greer say about the significance of childbirth experiences?

Answers : Modern technology may reduce its personal and cultural significance.

20. What impact does poverty have on modern medicine in childbirth?

Answers : Poverty limits access to advanced medical technology.

Medium Questions with Answers

1. How does the essay describe childbirth in traditional societies?

Answers : Childbirth in traditional societies is managed through rituals, taboos, and community participation. These practices reduce anxiety for the mother and provide emotional and physical support. The collective approach strengthens familial bonds during pregnancy.

2. What does Germaine Greer criticize about modern childbirth practices?

Answers : Greer criticizes modern childbirth for prioritizing technology over the mother’s emotional experience. She believes it transforms childbirth into a medical event, often isolating women and stripping the process of its cultural significance.

3. Why do some Sudanese women stop attending international conferences?

Answers : Sudanese women face language barriers and cultural misunderstandings at these conferences. They feel disrespected when their opinions are ignored, leading to silent opposition and eventual withdrawal.

4. What are the rewards of pregnancy for a Sylheti woman?

Answers : Sylheti women experience love, care, and joy during pregnancy, often in their mother’s home. Ceremonies like naming celebrations and cultural rituals make the process special for the mother and the family.

5. What does the essay say about the role of family in childbirth?

Answers : In traditional societies, childbirth is seen as a family affair. Family members, especially women, support the mother, which reduces maternal and infant mortality and strengthens social bonds.

6. How are children raised in joint families in Bangladesh?

Answers : In joint families, all children are cared for collectively by different women in the family. Tasks like bathing, feeding, and storytelling are shared, creating a supportive environment for both mothers and children.

7. What is the role of rituals in reducing pregnancy anxiety?

Answers : Rituals help manage pregnancy anxiety by surrounding the woman with cultural practices. These rituals ensure that she feels supported and prepared for childbirth, increasing her confidence and emotional stability.

8. Why is freedom to live one’s own way important according to the essay?

Answers : Greer suggests that freedom to make individual choices is vital, even in childbirth. She questions whether reducing mortality justifies sacrificing cultural values and personal dignity.

9. What does the essay say about traditional births being attended?

Answers : In traditional societies, childbirth is always attended by family or community members. This ensures emotional and physical support, even though it may have higher mortality risks than modern methods.

10. Why does Greer highlight the importance of traditional parenting roles?

Answers : Traditional parenting roles often involve extended family, creating strong kinship bonds. Greer emphasizes how these practices ensure collective responsibility for child-rearing, fostering a supportive community.

11. What are the cultural perceptions of mothers-in-law in traditional societies?

Answers : Mothers-in-law in traditional societies are often misunderstood as harsh and oppressive. However, the essay suggests that these relationships can also be nurturing and crucial for the new mother’s integration into the family.

12. How does poverty affect medical interventions in traditional societies?

Answers : Poverty limits access to advanced medical technologies in rural areas. Despite this, communities often resist such interventions due to cultural beliefs and a preference for traditional childbirth methods.

Long Questions with Answers

1. What does Germaine Greer highlight about childbirth in traditional societies?

Answers : Greer says childbirth in traditional societies is full of rituals and group support. These practices reduce a mother’s worry and make her feel safe and cared for. She believes such traditions make childbirth meaningful and connect families. Even without modern technology, these practices strengthen social bonds.

2. What is the writer’s view on the intrusion of modern medicine in childbirth?

Answers : The writer feels modern medicine makes childbirth very clinical and less personal. It reduces death rates but takes away the cultural and emotional side of the experience. Women lose control over the process and feel disconnected. Greer suggests mixing modern care with traditional practices for better balance.

3. How are Sylheti women cared for during pregnancy and childbirth?

Answers : Sylheti women stay at their mother’s house during the end of pregnancy and after birth. They get lots of love, attention, and care, and the baby’s arrival is celebrated with joy. Naming ceremonies include singing, eating, and giving gifts to the mother and child. These traditions make the experience very special.

4. What are the challenges faced by women in international conferences?

Answers : Women from traditional societies feel ignored at international conferences because of language and cultural differences. Instead of being asked about their lives, they are told what to do. This makes them feel left out and they stop attending such events. It discourages them even though the conferences are important.

5. How does the essay explain the importance of the mother-child relationship in traditional societies?

Answers : In traditional societies, the mother-child bond is often more important than the husband-wife bond. The child gives the mother a key role in the family, and everyone helps raise the child together. This teamwork builds strong family connections. It also supports the mother emotionally and practically.

6. What does Greer suggest about childbirth as a personal experience?

Answers : Greer says childbirth should be a personal and special experience for every woman. Modern hospital practices often make it feel mechanical and stressful. She believes women should have dignity and freedom during childbirth. Keeping cultural practices alive can make the process more meaningful.

7. Why do traditional societies prefer collective child-rearing practices?

Answers : In traditional societies, families raise children together to share responsibilities. Relatives help with tasks like feeding, bathing, and playing with the kids. This creates strong family ties and supports mothers emotionally and physically. It also ensures children grow up with family values.

8. What is the significance of rituals in managing pregnancy according to the essay?

Answers : Rituals during pregnancy give emotional support and reduce stress for women. Family and community involvement makes the mother feel cared for and confident. These practices prepare her for childbirth in a comforting way. Even old beliefs provide reassurance and stability for the mother.