Cultural notes

Even in medical clinics, you will sometimes have to wait for some time before you see the doctor. The advantage of a medical clinic over a regular doctor's office is that you do not need an appointment. Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

Doctors are not supposed to dispense drugs, other than free samples. When your doctor gives you a prescription for medicine, you will have to go to a pharmacy or drugstore to have it filled. Sometimes the pharmacist will call your doctor to confirm the dosage or the nature of the prescription.

Action

DOCTOR: How are you today?

YOU: Not so good. I think I have the flu or something.

DOCTOR: What are your symptoms?

YOU: I have a fever, chills, and a sore throat.

DOCTOR: Let's take a look. Open wide.

NARRATOR: The doctor checks your throat for signs of infection.

DOCTOR: Hmmmm, your throat is pretty red. How long have you had a fever?

YOU: Since last night. It comes and goes. What's wrong with me?

DOCTOR: You have some sort of bacterial infection. I'm going to write you a prescription. Take it to any drugstore, and they'll give you some pills that you'll need to take for five days. You should be completely well by then.

YOU: Thanks. I sure wish I felt better. I guess I'll go home and rest.

Lesson 29 «At the Dentist’s Office»

Vocabulary

ache (inf., to ache)

assistant (noun)

A dentist's assistant may also be a "dental hygienist."

concur, I (to concur)

"To concur" with someone is "to agree" with that person.

dentist (noun)

examines, she (to examine)

flood (noun)

hurt, it will (to hurt, fut.)

illness (noun)

A noun similar to "illness" is "sickness" or "disease."

intense (adj.)

Novocain (prop. noun)

"Novocain" is an "anesthetic" often used in dentistry.

numb (adj.)

When something is "numb" it means that it is not sensitive to pain.

p.m. (abbr.," post meridiem")

pain (noun)

recovered (past part., to recover)

removed (past part., to remove)

Reference is made in this dialogue to having a tooth "removed." "To remove" a part of the body means "to take out" or "to extract." (e.g.: "The doctors removed his appendix." [i.e., they took out his appendix surgically].)

said, she (to say, past)

teeth (noun, pl.)

The singular form of "teeth" is "tooth." One may have one's "natural teeth" or a set of "false teeth." One goes to the "orthodontist" to have "braces" placed on the teeth to straighten them. One should "brush one's teeth," "floss," and "have one's teeth cleaned" to maintain a healthy "smile" and "gums."

tooth (noun)

"Tooth" is the singular form of "teeth."

toothache (noun)

Yellow Pages (prop. noun)

"Yellow Pages" refers to a telephone guide that directs you to businesses and their products; it is organized alphabetically by topic.

Story

Just when you've recovered from your illness, one of your teeth starts to ache. You haven't been able to go to the attorney's office yet because of the flood in your apartment and your sore throat. Now you must find a dentist. The pain is intense. You look in the Yellow Pages of the phone book, call a dentist's office close to your apartment, and make an appointment.