Section C

[25 marks]
Questions 26 30 are based on the following passage

1
It was March 2001, and I as a fourth-year medical student I had just started my
obstetrics rotation in a rundown, sparsely equipped government hospital in Manila. My coclerks and I referred to the hospital as a baby factory. During a 24-hour period, it was not
unusual for the staff to attend to the birth of 180 babies.
2
This particular day, which was also my 25th birthday, marked my first ever shift
working in a delivery room. I felt ill-prepared for the coming onslaught of women giving
birth. I felt inexperienced and half the time I was praying that I wouldnt drop the slippery
infant as he came out to the world.
3
I soon got the hang of things. During deliveries, I would encourage the mothers by
saying Push, Mummy, so we can see if your baby is a girl or a boy! In this hospital, women
often saw a doctor for the first time on the day they were about to give birth. Finding out the
sex of the infant usually was enough motivation for them to push with all their might.
4
Around 10 pm 15 hours into my shift a patient was brought to my delivery table.
She was in her late 20s fair-skinned and with long straight hair. It was her second pregnancy,
and she was weeping softly. The woman had come to the emergency room because she had
not felt her baby kicking for several days. She had a brown foul-smelling discharge that
reeked of death and doctors could not detect a heartbeat using a Doppler ultrasound. The baby,
she was told, was dead.
5
It was my job to deliver the still-born infant. I wondered why this poor woman wasnt
given a Caesarean to ease her sufferings, but I assumed that, since this was a busy hospital, no
operating theatres were available. Besides, the obstetric resident told me that it would be an
easy delivery because the baby was dead and the mother had given birth before. She said I
should have the baby out in less than 30 minutes.
6
For the first time that night I was silent. How could I convince this woman to push,
just so she could deliver her dead child into the world?
7
After almost an hour, the resident returned and asked me why it was taking so long. I
whispered that I could feel the infants head but the mother just wasnt pushing enough. I
asked if I could speed up the delivery by doing an episiotomy, a small incision to enlarge the
birth canal. She nodded her approval.
8
I quickly made the incision and felt the baby pop into my hands. He was a lovely little
boy, weighing about three kilos. As was normal practice, I placed the infant on a sterile sheet I
had draped over the mothers abdomen. She looked at her dead son then turned her head away.
I was quiet the whole time. There are simply no words to say to a woman who has just given
birth to a dead infant.

10

15

20

25

30

35

9
As I started to suture the incision I had made, I heard a small cough. I looked up at the 35
baby, who was still on the mothers belly. Then I heard the loveliest and loudest sound of my
life. He was screaming his lungs out! All I could say was, Mummy your baby is alive! over
and over again. Her soft cries turned into convulsive happy tears. Doctor, thank you for
bringing my child to life, she said repeatedly.
10
It was the most memorial birthday I ever had. Nothing compares to that magical 40
moment when I experienced the wonderful miracle of birth and learned first-hand that doctors
are not gods. By all accounts, the infant should have been dead. It was then I realised that if I
were to make mistakes as a doctor, this was the kind I would not mind making to be proven
wrong by a patient who turns out to be alive when I thought he was dead.
11
I never found out what happened to that woman and her baby after they were 45
discharged. But I will never forget them. They made me believe that miracles do happen.
(Adapted from: A Little Miracle, Readers Digest, Dec 2005; Dr Fay Catherine Gloria)
Answer all questions. You are advised to answer them in the order set.

26

(a) Why was the hospital referred to as a baby factory?

________________________________________________________________[ 1 mark]
(b) Where did the writer worked in on her 25th birthday?
________________________________________________________________[ 1 mark]

27

In paragraph 3,
(a) how would the writer encourage the mothers during deliveries?
________________________________________________________________[ 1 mark]
(b) which phrase conveys the meaning of being familiar?
________________________________________________________________[ 1 mark]

28

Give two reasons why the baby was told to be a still-born.

(a) _____________________________________________________________[ 1 mark]
(b) _____________________________________________________________[ 1 mark]

29

(a) In paragraph 7, what led to the episiotomy?

________________________________________________________________[ 1 mark]
(a) In paragraph 8, why did the woman turned her head away from her baby?
________________________________________________________________[ 1 mark]

30

In your own words, why do you think the writer mention that doctors are not gods?
__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ [ 2 marks]

Question 31

Write a summary on:

How the writer deliver and save the baby
What she thought during the process
Your summary must
Be in continuous writing (not note form)
Not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given
Use materials from lines 18 to 38
Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change the original
meaning.
Begin your summary as follows:
The writer was assigned to deliver the still-born infant. She..

[15 marks]
Answer scheme

26

(a) the staff would attend to the birth of 180 babies daily / allow lifting from line 3 to 4
During a 24-hour period .babies
(b) in a delivery room

27

(a) by saying Push Mummy, so we can see if your baby is a girl or a boy / by
motivating them to find out the sex of the baby.
(b) got the hang of (things)

28

(a) the mother had a brown foul-smelling discharge (that reeked of death)
(b) doctors could not detect a heartbeat using a Doppler ultrasound

29

(a) It was taking so long and the mother just wasnt pushing enough
(b) She was sad / she could not bear to see the dead baby / she was disappointed

30

Accept any relevant answer

31

Content points

NO
1

POINTS
wondered why this poor woman
wasnt given a Caesarean to ease her
sufferings
assumed that, since this was a busy
hospital, no operating theatres were
available
the obstetric resident told me that it
would be an easy delivery
because the baby was dead and the
mother had given birth before
How could I convince this woman to
push, just so she could deliver her
dead child into the world?
I could feel the infants head but the
mother just wasnt pushing enough
asked if I could speed up the delivery
by doing an episiotomy
I quickly made the incision
and felt the baby pop into my hands
I placed the infant on a sterile sheet I
had draped over the mothers abdomen
I started to suture the incision I had
made

3
4
5

6
7
8
9
10
11

POSSIBLE PARAPHRASING
LINES
thought the women should undergo 19-20
Caesarean to alleviate her pain
The hectic hospital had no vacant 20-21
operating theatres
her obstetric resident told her that it 21-22
would be uncomplicated
since the baby was dead and the 22
mother was experienced.
persuaded the woman to deliver her 24-25
still-born baby
The baby was nearly delivered but the 27
mother gave up
requested for an episiotomy
28
30
the baby immediately delivered
30
The baby was on a disinfected sheet 31-32
on the mothers belly
stitched the cut
35

12
13
14

I heard a small cough

35
He was screaming his lungs out
The baby shrieked
37
All I could say was, Mummy your declared the baby survived, repeatedly 37-38
baby is alive! over and over again
to the mother.

The writer was assigned to deliver the still-born infant. She thought the woman should undergo
Caesarean to alleviate her pain but supposed the hectic hospital had no vacant operating theatres.
Her superior told her it would be uncomplicated since the baby was dead and the mother was
experienced. She was uncertain on persuading the woman to deliver her still-born baby. The
baby was almost out but the mother gave up so she requested for an episiotomy. She quickly
made the incision and the baby immediately delivered. The baby was on a disinfected sheet on
the mothers belly while she stitched the cut. Suddenly, she heard a small cough and the baby
shrieked. She declared the baby survived repeatedly to the mother.

Section D
[20 marks]
32 Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
He had such quiet eyes
She did not realise

They were two pools of lies

Layered with thinnest ice
To her, those quiet eyes
Were breathing desolate sighs
Imploring her to be nice
And to render him paradise
If only shed been wise
And had listened to the advice
Never to compromise
With pleasure-seeking guys
Shed be free from the hows and whys
Now heres a bit of advice
Be sure that nice really means nice
Then youll never be losing at dice
Though you may lose your heart once or twice
Bibsy Soenharjo-1968
(a) In the first stanza, what does the phrase two pools of lies imply?
_______________________________________________________________ [ 1 mark]
(b) What does the persona advice about:
(i) men ________________________________________________[ 1 mark]
(ii) love _________________________________________________[ 1 mark]
(c) If you meet such a man as depicted in the poem, what would you like to tell him and why?
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ [ 2 marks]
Answer scheme
32

(a) the mans eyes are full with deceit / the man is dishonest
(b)
(i) not to be easily fooled by their appearance or what they say
(ii) be ready to be heart-broken / you may find true love or you may not
(c) accept any relevant answer

Section A: Directed Writing

[35 marks]
[Time suggested: 45 minutes]
You are noticing that many of your fellow friends in school are stressed out. You decided to
interview the school counselor about the issue. Based on your findings from the interview, write
an article for the school newsletter about tips on living a stress-free life.
Use the following notes to write your article:

STRESS
something that causes a state of strain or tension to a person

Tips on living a stress-free life

Physically

Emotionally

Exercise regularly
Eat a healthy and balanced diet
Take slow deep breaths when stressed
Always keep a straight and correct body
posture
Get a massage

Pray / meditate to calm down

Smile as often as possible
Be grateful and always count your blessings
Distract yourself by doing fun activities
Have a positive outlook on life

When writing the article you should remember to:

Provide a title
Use all the points given.
Add two other suggestions of your own.

Section B: Continuous Writing

[50 marks]
[Time suggested: One hour]
Write a composition of about 350 words on one of the following topics.
1. A terrible encounter.
2. Describe a scene at a local night market.

3. People without a tertiary education will not be successful. Do you agree?

4. Write a story ending with:
. life just had to go on.
5. Trouble

Answer scheme
Format marks

Title (1 mark)
Writers name (1 mark)

Content marks (1 mark for each content)

C1
C2

something that causes a state of strain or tension to a person

Exercise regularly

C3
C4
C5
C6
C7
C8
C9
C10
C11
C12
C13

Eat a healthy and balanced diet

Take slow deep breaths when stressed
Always keep a straight and correct body posture
Get a massage
Pray / meditate to calm down
Smile as often as possible
Be grateful and always count your blessings
Distract yourself by doing fun activities
Have a positive outlook on life
Own suggestions
Own suggestions