INTERNATIONAL HOPE SCHOOL BANGLADESH
2020 – 2021 ACADEMIC YEAR – SECOND TERM
PRIMARY SECTION – ENGLISH LANGUAGE – COMPREHENSION WORKSHEET 2
Name: …………………...
Grade: 5 ( ) Date: ……………………….
Saving Babies
Read this newspaper report.
Wednesday 01 January, 2014 Morning Times
Baby Safety Island for
Abandoned Babies
by Christopher Bridgeman
A new initiative, taken by the Shenzhen and
Guangzhou welfare authorities to save
unwanted babies, attracted widespread attention
from the public. The authorities will start a
'baby box' programme next year for parents to
leave unwanted new-born babies in a safe place.
A 'Baby Safety island' will be placed close to
each welfare centre and hospital. There will be a
button attached to the hatch for parents to alert
the staff when they drop off their babies.
"There will, be no cameras, so parents will be
totally anonymous," promised the authorities.
The proposed 'Baby Safety Island' will be air-
conditioned and will be equipped with humidity
monitors, a bed, a thermometer and an
incubator.
'Baby box' has been successful in reducing
infant deaths in places where it has been
implemented. This concept was first launched in
Hubei Province, China, in June 2011. According
IHSB Number: …………….
Issue 56, Volume 10
to the staff at the Shijiazhung Social Welfare
institute in Hebei, the number of unwanted
babies left to die in mainland China is as high as
100,000. However, since the establishment of
their 'Baby box' in June 2011, the survival rate
of abandoned babies in their area has gone up
by 20 per cent.
Critics of the scheme argue that the 'baby box'
will not solve the problem of baby
abandonment. On the contrary, it will only
encourage more out of-wed-lock births and
irresponsible parents.
"Now, irresponsible parents will be able to
abandon their offspring easily as the authorities
are providing a legal and accessible way for
them to do so," said Mr Hu, a social worker in
Shenzhen.
In response to the critics, Tang Rongsheng,
head of the Shenzhen Social Welfare Centre,
replied, "The life of an infant is fragile. Fifteen
to twenty minutes after an infant is abandoned is
the prime time to save its life. The shelter, in
fact, embodies the idea of prioritising the
interest of the child."
Other officials in Shenzhen also explained that
Shenzhen and Guangzhou have many migrant
workers and many of them prefer to have sons
instead of daughters. The 'baby box is, in fact,
the only way to save the lives of innocent baby
girls by encouraging parents to abandon them in
a safer and more humane way.
China introduced a constrictive one-child
policy in 1979 to keep the country's exploding
population under control. This policy restricts
urban couples to having just one child. Despite
egalitarian policies in China, many families
hope to have a son to provide for them in their
old age. As a result, the country has a very high
rate of female infanticide.
Ms Josephine Chie, director of Against Child
Abuse, thinks that although the 'baby box' may
help more abandoned baby girls to survive; it
will not solve the root problem of baby
abandonment. She believes that China should
relook its outdated one-child policy and people
should be taught to value life, be it the life of a
male or a female.
Exercise A
Circle the correct answer.

1. 'Baby Safety Island' is _________

(a) a facility proposed by the Shenzhen and Guangzhou welfare authorities for parents to drop off their
unwanted babies
(b) a facility proposed by the Shenzhen and Guangzhou welfare authorities to prevent child abuse
(c) a department set up by the Hebei province to prevent female infanticide
(d) a department set up by the Chinese government to implement its one-child policy

2. The newspaper report is written by

(a) Tang Rongsheng (b) Christopher Bridgeman (c) Josephine Chie (d) Shijiazhung

3. Tang Rongsheng works in _________

(a) Shijiazhung Social Welfare Institute (b) Guangdong Childcare Centre (c) Baby Safety Island
(d) Shenzhen Social Welfare Centre

4. A baby box is ________

(a) a safe place where people can leave new-born babies anonymously to be found and cared for
(b) a safe place where babies are born
(c) a special orphanage for baby girls
(d) a special box where babies play

5. Why is the baby box in Hebei province considered successful?

(a) The percentage of children being abandoned has gone up by 20 per cent.
(b) The percentage of children being abandoned has gone down by 20 per cent.
(c) The survival rate of abandoned babies has gone up by 20 per cent.
(d) The survival rate of abandoned babies has gone down by 20 per cent.
Exercise B
Answer these questions.

1. What are the facilities that will be offered by the Baby Safety Island? Tick the correct
boxes.

2. Name two disadvantages of setting up Baby Safety Islands.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3. Where was the first baby box launched in China?

____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

4. How does the one-child policy, introduced by the Chinese government in 1979, work?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

5. How will the Shenzhen and Guangzhou welfare authorities encourage parents to drop o

off their babies at Baby Safety Island?

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
 6. Do you think Baby Safety Island will save more baby girls or baby boys? Why?

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
7. Explain the sentence 'The shelter, in fact, embodies the idea of prioritising the interest of

the child.'

_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
8. Do you think China's one-child policy is successful? Comment.

__________________________________________
__________________________________________
9. Do you support the idea of the 'baby box' to save unwanted babies? Give a reason for
your answer.

______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
10. Suggest a way to discourage people from abandoning their babies.
____________________________________
____________________________________
___________________________________