Exercise 1: Read the story and get a general idea.

THE DOCTOR'S ADVICE

Once an old gentleman went to see a doctor. The doctor examined him and said: "Medicine won't help you. You must have a complete rest. Go to a quiet country place for a month, go to bed early, drink milk, walk a lot, and smoke just one cigar a day."

"Thank you very much," said the old gentleman, "I shall do everything you say."

A month later the gentleman came to the doctor again. "How do you do!" said the doctor, "I am very glad to see you. You look much younger."

"Oh, doctor," said the gentleman, "I feel quite well now. I had a good rest. I went to bed early, I drank a lot of milk, I walked a lot. Your advice certainly helped me. But you told me to smoke one cigar a day, and that one cigar a day almost killed me at first. It's no joke to start smoking at my age."

 

Exercise 2: Answer the questions.

1. Whom did the old gentleman go to see once?

2. What did the doctor do with him?

3. What did the doctor advise the old gentleman?

4. When did the old gentleman come to see the doctor again?

5. How did the old gentleman look?

6. What did the old gentleman say about his rest?

7. What almost killed him at first?

8. Why did a cigar a day almost kill him at first?

 

Exersice 3: Read the dialogue with your partner a few times. Take turns being each character. Practice your intonation and pronunciation.

Receptionist: Doctor’s office.

Patient: This is Ruth Perez. I’d like to make an appointment with Dr. Barnes.

Receptionist: Why do you want to see the doctor?

Patient: I have a sore throat.

Receptionist: How long have you had it?

Patient: I’ve had it about three days.

Receptionist: Can you come in tomorrow morning at 11:00?

Patient: Yes, that’s fine.

Receptionist: Okay. We’ll see you tomorrow, Ms. Perez.

Patient: Thank you. Bye.

Receptionist: Good morning, sir! Have you got a fixed appointment with Dr. Carter?

Patient 1: Hello! Yes, I made an appointment two days ago. My name is Brian Matts.

Receptionist: I see. Yes, I've found your Registration form. Your time is 10 am. It's a quarter to 10 now. Could you wait for 10-15 minutes, please? Dr. Carter is still a bit busy.

Patient 1: Yes, sure. I'll wait in the hall.

(10 minutes later)

Receptionist: Mr. Matts, you can come in. The doctor is waiting for you.

Patient 1: Thank you.

Doctor: Good morning! How can I help you?

Patient 1: Good morning, doctor! I haven't been feeling well lately and my wife suggested that I should visit you.

Doctor: What are the main symptoms that you suffer.

Patient 1: I have a frequent headache and fever. Also I often sneeze and cough these days.

Doctor: I see. I'll have to look at your throat and listen to your lungs. Come closer, please.

Patient 1: All right.

Doctor: Open your mouth. And now take off your shirt. According to what I see so far, you've got a bad cold. It's preferred to stop to work for a week or two and to stay in bed. It's also necessary to drink lots of hot tea.

Patient 1: I have already stopped my work and I am staying at home. I'll start drinking more hot tea or milk. It usually helps me. Are there any other prescriptions for my condition?

Doctor: Yes, there are. You will also need to buy some drugs which I'll prescribe.

Patient 1: Thank you, doctor. That's very helpful.

Doctor: Oh, nearly forgot. Apart from hot tea and some drugs, you definitely need to buy some cough drops. You can choose the ones you like. They are with different flavours and rather helpful.

Patient 1: Thank you. I'll do that.

Exersice 4: Make up and act out dialogues, using the following vocabulary.

 

1. What can I do for you? Let me examine you, I'm afraid, won't help, a complete rest, a quiet country place, to go to bed, to drink milk, to walk a lot.

 

2. Glad to see you, how are you? Fine, to look much younger, to feel quite well, to have a good rest, to go to bed early, advice, to kill, at first, it's no joke, at my age, never in my life, to be sorry.