2. Make up your own dialogues using these situations:

1. One of your fellow-students falls ill. He has a high temperature. You tell another student about it. He says the two of you must visit him. You think you must wait a day or two. It may be inconvenient for the family.

2. It is often said that in today’s world, there is a lot of stress in our lives. We live at a faster pace than those who went before us, and as a result, we often feel exhausted, pressed, tense, depressed, and anxious. Make a conversation between friends about can’t go on problems.

3. Act out a dialogue in class, translate it: The Doctor’s Visit

John: Did you ring up the doctor?

Helen: Yes, but he can’t come round at once. He’s got urgent cases.

-I wish he’d come. Thank goodness, there he is.

-Well, Mrs. Smith and what’s the matter with you?

-There’s nothing the matter with her.

-Oh! So you are the patient?

-I feel very bad, doctor. I’m aching all over.

-Have you taken your temperature? A bit feverish. How’s your appetite?

-Can’t eat a thing.

-Then don’t. Better stay where you are for the present.

-Is it serious?

-Not this time. I’ll give you a prescription. Take a dose every three hours. You’ll soon be all right. I’ll look in again in the morning.

-What’s the matter with him doctor?

-He’s got a thorough chill. Perhaps a touch of flu. Give him light food and keep him warm. You might put a compress on his throat for the night. If he begins to cough, give him a pill.

-Thank you.

1

-How is your father keeping?

-He’s been off work for a day or two.

-What’s wrong with him?

-He’s gone down with a cold.

-Tell him I hope he soon feels better.

-That’s very kind of you. I’ll pass it on.

2

-Where’s Tom this evening?

-He’s not feeling very well.

-Really? What’s the trouble?

-I think he must have eaten something.

-Give him my regards and tell him to take things easy.

Thank you very much. I’ll tell him what you said.

4. Answer the following questions:

1. What preventive measures can reduce the risk of infection/flu?

2. Are there any preventive health programs in this country?

3. What advantages and drawbacks of the state health-care system and private medical care do you know?

4. What factors influence the quality of medical care?

5. Speak on the following topics. Use the phrases given below:

A visit to a doctor:

-to feel anxious;

-to worry about;

-under the weather;

-to catch a cold/flu;

-to run a temperature;

-to make complaint;

-to have a thorough medical examination;

-to take some medicine;

-to be well in a day or two.

Preventing disease:

-to spend much time in the open air;

-to keep to a rational diet;

-to have regular meals;

-to go jogging;

-to go in for sports;

-to take long walks;

-to divide time between work and play;

-to keep regular hours;

-to give up smoking and other bad habits;

-to have a regular medical checkup.

6. Read the text, translate it and retell all the useful information to your friends: health care in britain

The NHS (the national health service)

Private medical care

It is paid for by taxes and national insurance. People do not have to pay for medical treatment. People’s names are on the GP’s (general practitioner) list. They may make an appointment to see the doctor or may call the doctor out to visit them if they are ill. GPs are trained in general medicine, but they are not specialists in any particular subject. People first go to their GP and then the GP will make an appointment for the patient to see a specialist at a hospital or clinic. When medicine is needed, the doctor writes out a prescription which the patient then takes to a chemist’s. There is a charge for each prescription, which is the same regardless of the medicine, although many categories of people are exempt.

People must pay for a private medical care. Some people have private health insurance to help them pay for private treatment. Private patients sometimes use ‘pay beds’ in NHS hospitals, which are usually in a separate room. There are also some hospitals and clinics which are completely private. These are sometimes called ‘nursing homes’. Special doctors have greater prestige than ordinary GPs. Some have a surgery in Harley Street in London-conventionally the sign that a doctor is one of the best. The exceptions to free medical care are teeth and eyes. But some people do not have to pay.