"The Hospital"

Passage from "Les Misérables"

The hospital was a low and narrow building of a single story, with a small garden.

Three days after his arrival, the Bishop visited the hospital…

"How many sick people have you at the present moment?"

"Twenty-six…"

"That was the number which I counted," said the Bishop.

"The beds," pursued the director, "are very much crowded against each other."

"That is what I observed."

"The halls are nothing but rooms, and it is with difficulty that the air can be changed in them."

"So it seems to me."

"And then, when there is a ray of sun, the garden is very small..."

"That was what I said to myself."

"In case of epidemics,—we have had the typhus fever this year; we had the sweating sickness two years ago, and a hundred patients at times,—we know not what to do."

"That is the thought which occurred to me"…

This conversation took place in the gallery dining-room on the ground-floor.

The Bishop remained silent for a moment; then he turned abruptly to the director of the hospital.

"Monsieur," said he, "how many beds do you think this hall alone would hold?"

"Your dining-room?" exclaimed the stupefied director.

The Bishop cast a glance round the apartment, and seemed to be taking measures and calculations with his eyes.

"It would hold full twenty beds," said he, as though speaking to himself. Then, raising his voice:—

"… I will tell you something. There is evidently a mistake here. There are thirty-six of you, in five or six small rooms. There are three of us here, and we have room for sixty. There is some mistake, I tell you; you have my house, and I have yours. Give me back my house; you are at home here."

On the following day the thirty-six patients were installed in the Bishop's palace, and the Bishop was settled in the hospital.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1) The above passage can best be described as which of the following?

a. an interview

b. a monologue

c. a lecture

d. a dialogue

2) Which of the following words best describes the Bishop’s first impression of the hospital?

a. impressive

b. unsatisfactory

c. excessive

d. unnecessary

3) Based on the above passage, which of the following best describes the Bishop’s personality?

a. greedy

b. defensive

c. generous

d. anxious

4) In the above passage, the following exchange takes place near the end:

"Monsieur," said he, "how many beds do you think this hall alone would hold?"

"Your dining-room?" exclaimed the stupefied director.

In this exchange, what is the best meaning of the word "stupefied"?

a. shocked

b. angry

c. unintelligent

d. cautious

5) The above passage is told from which of the following Points of View?

a. 1^st person

b. 2^nd person

c. 3^rd person limited

d. 3^rd person omniscient

6) Which of the following happens at the end of the above passage?

a. the Bishop's house becomes the new hospital

b. the Bishop becomes the director of the hospital

c. the director's house becomes the new hospital

d. the director decides that he cannot accept the Bishop's help

Answer Key

1) The above passage can best be described as which of the following?

a. an interview

b. a monologue

c. a lecture

d. a dialogue

2) Which of the following words best describes the Bishop’s first impression of the hospital?

a. impressive

b. unsatisfactory

c. excessive

d. unnecessary

3) Based on the above passage, which of the following best describes the Bishop’s personality?

a. greedy

b. defensive

c. generous

d. anxious

4) In the above passage, the following exchange takes place near the end:

"Monsieur," said he, "how many beds do you think this hall alone would hold?"

"Your dining-room?" exclaimed the stupefied director.

In this exchange, what is the best meaning of the word "stupefied"?

a. shocked

b. angry

c. unintelligent

d. cautious

5) The above passage is told from which of the following Point of Views?

a. 1^st person

b. 2^nd person

c. 3^rd person limited

d. 3^rd person omniscient

6) Which of the following happens at the end of the above passage?

a. the Bishop's house becomes the new hospital

b. the Bishop becomes the director of the hospital

c. the director's house becomes the new hospital

d. the director decides that he cannot accept the Bishop's help