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READ THIS
This is a simple but meaningful story of two people who meet up at a hospital.
One is an elderly man suffering from emphysema who needs looking after. The other is a young but
simple woman who has been rejected by her family.
They decide to help each other.
READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE:
The air was heavy with antiseptic and anaesthetic. It caught in Donald's lungs, already irritable from the
walk from the bus in the morning chill. He was afraid that the pungency would set off a fit of useless
coughing that would go on and on, leaving him exhausted, and sat himself down on one of the orange and
black moulded plastic chairs near the entrance, forcing himself to take small even breaths until his normal
rhythm of breathing returned.
The place was already beginning to fill up and he would have to move to the front to claim his early place
in the queue.
It would be easier if Ella were still here, Ella who had always been his strength. "You can do it," her
remembered familiar voice said. That was when he had been offered promotion, more authority,
responsibility for a section, a hundred men, and confidence had left him. But he had managed before he
was invalided out. The girls could be a help now, too, if they would. The walking and the bus journey took
it out of him more and more. But they were busy with their families and he did not want to lay claim to their
concern with his prognosis: "We can stabilise your condition, but we can't cure you." The medicines were
not helping. He had given up smoking, but fumes and dust continued the damage. Would it be possible
to get away?
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
What is the setting for this scene? How do you know? (3)
[Need help?]
The story opens in a hospital waiting room.
We know because of the references to "antiseptic" and "anaesthetic", both of which are
peculiar to a hospital.
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What does the word "pungency" mean in the context of this passage? (2)
[Need help?]
"Pungency" means that something has a sharp smell, and is sometimes used for something that
has a sharp taste.
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What is wrong with Donald? How do you know? (3)
[Need help?]
Donald suffers from emphysema. His lungs are damaged and he finds it difficult to breath. Dust and
pollution irritate his lungs badly.
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Who is Ellen? What do we know about her? (2)
[Need help?]
Ellen was Donald's deceased wife.
Although the passage does not actually tell you she is deceased, it seems clear that she is dead rather
than that they are divorced.
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Provide a more common expression for "he was invalided out". (2)
[Need help?]
In South Africa we tend to use the term "boarded": "He was boarded from the railways", i.e.
because of some physical ailment he could no longer work and so he was put on a form of early pension.
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Who are "the girls"? Why can they not look after Donald? (3)
[Need help?]
The "girls" are presumably Donald's daughters.
They are married and have their own families to look after, and do not need an invalid father to add to their
troubles.
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What is meant by "his prognosis"? (1)
[Need help?]
A prognosis is a diagnosis.
"What is the prognosis?" she asked. "The doctor says I have cancer!" he replied.
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Even though Donald has given up smoking, his condition continues to deteriorate. Why? (2)
[Need help?]
Things like dust, smoke and fumes from cars all aggravate emphysema.
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