"Suffering"

Passage from "My Man Jeeves"

 

You know, I rather think I agree with those poet-and-philosopher Johnnies who insist that a fellow ought to be devilish pleased if he has a bit of trouble. All that stuff about being refined by suffering, you know. Suffering does give a chap a sort of broader and more sympathetic outlook. It helps you to understand other people's misfortunes if you've been through the same thing yourself.

 

As I stood in my lonely bedroom at the hotel, trying to tie my white tie myself, it struck me for the first time that there must be whole squads of chappies in the world who had to get along without a man to look after them...

 

Of course, when you come to think of it, there must be quite a lot of fellows who have to press their own clothes themselves and haven't got anybody to bring them tea in the morning, and so on. It was rather a solemn thought, don't you know. I mean to say, ever since then I've been able to appreciate the frightful privations the poor have to stick.

 

 

 

Reading Comprehension Questions

 

1)     In the first sentence of the above passage, the narrator speaks about "those poet-and-philosopher Johnnies."  In this context, the term "Johnnies" is referring to which of the following?

a.      anybody who the narrator knows

b.      anybody who is a "poet-and-philosopher"

c.      anybody with the name "Johnnie"

d.      anybody who has a nickname

 

2)     In the first paragraph, the author writes "All that stuff about being refined by suffering."  In this context, what is the meaning of the phrase "refined by suffering"?

a.      unable to feel pain or misery

b.      excited to feel pain and misery

c.      improved by pain and misery

d.      unaware of pain and misery

 

3)     Based on the narrator's statements in the above passage, he was most likely which of the following earlier in his life?

a.      rich and pampered

b.      poor and struggling

c.      angry and cruel

d.      caring and sensitive

 

4)     Which of the following best describes the tone of the above passage?

a.      reflective

b.      annoyed

c.      devious

d.      delighted

 

5)     Which of the following best describes the format of the above passage?

a.      snappy dialogue

b.      character flashback

c.      lyrical verse

d.      narrator's thoughts

 

6)     In the final sentence of the above passage, the narrator states:  "I've been able to appreciate the frightful privations the poor have to stick."  Based on the context, what is the meaning of the word "privations"?

a.      advantages

b.      hardships

c.      clothing

d.      careers

 

 

Answer Key

1)     In the first sentence of the above passage, the narrator speaks about "those poet-and-philosopher Johnnies."  In this context, the term "Johnnies" is referring to which of the following?

a.      anybody who the narrator knows

b.     anybody who is a "poet-and-philosopher"

c.      anybody with the name "Johnnie"

d.      anybody who has a nickname

 

2)     In the first paragraph, the author writes "All that stuff about being refined by suffering."  In this context, what is the meaning of the phrase "refined by suffering"?

a.      unable to feel pain or misery

b.      excited to feel pain and misery

c.      improved by pain and misery

d.      unaware of pain and misery

 

3)     Based on the narrator's statements in the above passage, he was most likely which of the following earlier in his life?

a.      rich and pampered

b.      poor and struggling

c.      angry and cruel

d.      caring and sensitive

 

4)     Which of the following best describes the tone of the above passage?

a.      reflective

b.      annoyed

c.      devious

d.      delighted

 

5)     Which of the following best describes the format of the above passage?

a.      snappy dialogue

b.      character flashback

c.      lyrical verse

d.     narrator's thoughts

 

6)     In the final sentence of the above passage, the narrator states:  "I've been able to appreciate the frightful privations the poor have to stick."  Based on the context, what is the meaning of the word "privations"?

a.      advantages

b.     hardships

c.      clothing

d.      careers