Florence Nightingale was born in 1820 in a very rich family. As a child, she was home-schooled by her father. As Florence grew up and became a young woman, she decided she wanted to train to become a nurse. Her father was against the idea, but Florence disobeyed him. She believed her purpose in life was to help others and she was determined to be a nurse.

In 1953, the Crimean War started, and soon many injured British soldiers were suffering in terrible conditions. Florence, now a trained nurse, was asked to go to Crimea to help. She agreed and was sent to Barrack Hospital.

Once there, Florence saw thousands of sick and wounded men, and there were not even enough beds for all of them. The hospital was dirty, smelly and full of rats. A lot of the men were dying from diseases they had caught in the hospital.

At first, all Florence and the other nurses were allowed to do was clean. They were not allowed to nurse the sick men. But, as more and more sick and injured soldiers started to arrive, the doctors were  forced to ask Florence for her help.

Florence and her team were very serious about their work and they all wore same uniform. Thanks to their efforts, the hospital was cleaner and healthier for the sick soldiers, who thought Florence was a very special lady for what she had done for them.

When Florence arrived home, she was a heroine. The people loved her and she became very famous. She had songs written about her and received lots of awards, even one from the Queen herself.

But Florence didn’t like being famous and was only interested in improving more and more hospitals. She wrote letters to hospital managers all around England to put pressure on them to change their hospitals for the better. Florence even set up her own training school for nurses, at Saint Thomas’ Hospital in London.

Florence will always be remembered for changing the health system forever.

1. Florence

A. was a young nurse                     C. had the same idea about the future with her father

B. was born into a poor family         D. would like to be a nurse       

2. Florence’s father

A. took her to school                                          C. did not like the idea of Florence becoming a nurse

B. wanted her to become a nurse                     D. believed that Florence should help other people

3. Florence became a nurse

      A. during the Crimean War C. when there were many injured soldiers

      B. before the Crimean War started                              D. when she was asked to

4. Why did Florence go to Crimea?

A. She was sick.                                                        C. She wanted to travel

B. She was asked to.                                                  D. She wanted to work.

5. What was Florence NOT allowed to do at Barrack Hospital when she first got there?

A. clean                   B. nurse sick people                   C. become a doctor          D. wear uniform

6. What did the soldiers in the hospital think of Florence?

A. She was a good woman  B. She was a good cleaner

C. She looked healthier than before                            D. She was very serious to them

7. What did the Queen do?

A. She sang songs about Florence.                              C. She gave Florence a special award.

B. She gave Florence lots of awards.                           D. She wrote books about Florence.

8. What did Florence like more?

A. She liked being famous. C. She liked being a nurse.

B. She liked both.                                                      D. There was no information.

9. What did Florence do at St Thomas’ Hospital?

A. She taught people how to be a good nurse.              C. She improved it.   

B. She wrote lots of letter.   D. She got extra training.

10. People will never forget Florence

      A. because she got many awards                                C. because she was young and beautiful

      B. because she helped changing the hospitals              D. because she helped changing the health system