Chapter 16 & 17 - The Midwife's Apprentice

What does the rich man say is wrong with his wife?

• She is having a baby soon.

• She has a severe fever.

• She's got a stomach worm.

• She has a horrible headache.

Answer explanation

On page 105, the rich man states, "'My wife is being devoured by a stomach worm,'" (Cushman, pg. 105).

How does Alyce react to the realization that the woman is going to have a baby?

• She chooses to hide herself because of what happened with Emma.

• She chooses to actively help because of what happened with Emma.

• She feels sorry and tells the woman where to find a midwife.

• She feels angry and chooses not to say anything.

Answer explanation

The text says, "Alyce stood watching from a place under the stairs, unwilling to be part of the scene, for the sounds and smells were all too familiar and spoke of her failure with Emma Blunt," (Cushman, pg. 107).

What is actually wrong with the rich man's wife?

• She's going to have a baby.

• She has a rare type of disease.

• She's bleeding profusely.

• She actually isn't ill at all.

What kind of flashbacks is Alyce having right before she decides to help deliver the baby?

• She steels her nerves and flashes back to helping the cow deliver the calf.

• She flashes back to the times she helped the midwife deliver children.

• She thinks of how she will not be able to stay if she doesn't try to help.

• She hears the voices of those mocking her before deciding she must try.

Answer explanation

On page 108, Alyce describes several people discouraging her to try because they called her a "nitwit" or when the midwife said she "gave up".

What kind of tale do the servants start to make up about Alyce?

• That Alyce performed unspeakable black magic.

• That Alyce was a skilled midwife with nothing magical about her at all.

• That Alyce transformed the stomach worm into a son.

• That Alyce was Juno, the Roman goddess of childbirth, in disguise.

What does the rich man and his wife offer Alyce in Chapter 17?

• A new job to work for them.

• A lot of fame by spreading the story about her.

• A lot of animals so she can be self-employed.

• A new apron to help her in the future.

How does the inn-keeper try to persuade Alyce to stay?

• By spreading word about her.

• By giving her bigger food servings.

• By offering her gifts everyday.

• By offering her a penny every now and then.

At the end of the book, what does Alyce decide to be?

• For now, a nursemaid and later a midwife.

• For now, an apprentice and later a midwife.

• Forever an apprentice.

• Forever an inn maid.