Health is the greatest wealth

Is there anything more important than health? I don't think so. ”Health is the greatest wealth,“ wise people say. You can't be good at your studies or work well when you are ill.

If you have a headache, heartache, toothache, backache, earache or bad pain in the stomach, if you complain of a sore throat or a bad cough, if you run a high temperature and have a bad cold in your head, or if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, I think you should consult a doctor.

The doctor will examine your throat, feel your pulse, test your blood pressure, take your temperature, sound your heart and lungs, test your eyes, check your teeth or have your chest X-rayed.

After that he will prescribe some treatment, pills, tablets or some other medicine which we can buy at the chemist's. He will recommend you to stay in bed for some time, because there might be serious complications. The only thing you have to do is to follow his recommendations.

Speaking about doctors' recommendations, I can't help telling you one funny story.

An old gentleman came to see the doctor. The man was very ill. He complained of weakness, insomnia, memory loss and serious problems with his heart, lungs and liver. The doctor examined the patient and said that no medicine could cure his disease.

Do you want to know what the doctor's advice was?

He told his patient to go to a quiet place for a month and have a good rest. He also advised him to eat a lot of meat, drink two glasses of red wine every day and take long walks. In other words, the doctor recommended him to follow the rule: ”Eat at pleasure, drink with measure and enjoy life as it is.“

The doctor also said that if the man wanted to be well again, he shouldn't smoke more than one cigarette a day.

A month later the gentleman came into the doctor's office. He looked cheerful and happy. He thanked the doctor and said that he had never felt a healthier man.

”But you know, doctor,“ he said, ”it's not easy to begin smoking at my age.“

Exercise 1

Find in the text English equivalents of the following words and word combinations:

головная боль; боль в сердце; зубная боль; боль в спине или в пояснице; боль в ухе; сильная боль; жаловаться на боль в горле; кашель иметь высокую температуру; сильная простуда; страдать от; кровяное давление; обратиться к врачу; осмотреть; проверить пульс; измерить кровяное давление; измерить температуру; прослушать сердце и легкие; проверить зрение; проверить зубы; сделать рентген грудной клетки; прописать (лечение), выписать (рецепт); следовать рекомендациям; потеря памяти; излечивать; много ходить пешком; хорошо себя чувствовать.

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences:

1. Health is…

2. If you have a …, …, …, I think you should consult a doctor.

3. The doctor will prescribe some …

4. He will recommend you to stay in bed for some time, because…

Exercise 3

Answer the questions:

1. Do you agree with the saying ”Health is the greatest wealth“?

2. What symptoms can people have when they are ill?

3. How will the doctor examine his patient?

4. Where do people usually buy medicine?

5. What can happen if you don’t follow the doctor’s recommendations?

Discussion

Do you agree or not? Comment on the following statements.

1. Health is better than wealth.

2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

3. Health is better than wealth.

Role play

Visiting the Doctor

Setting: At the policlinics.

Situation: Different people came to the policlinics to consult the doctor. Before visiting the doctor they are sitting in the waiting room and talking about their health problems.

Characters:

Card I — A patient who has a flu.

Card II— An old lady who suffers from hypertension.

Card III — A student with the broken arm.

Card IV— A man who has a pain in his stomach.

Card V — A child who has caught some infectious disease.

Writing

Write an essay on one of the following topics:

1. A human brain is a fantastic mind machine.

2. Nowadays people are getting more and more concerned about food and air.

3. Sports usually ward off diseases.

PART II

Task. Read the dialogue. Role-play a similar conversation.

Describing people

A: Tony, who’s that man who’s talking so loudly?

T: Which one?

A: The bald man…the one with the mustache.

T: Oh, him! That’s Mark Harris. He is the producer of ”Pals“.

A: And that woman who’s standing next to him. Is she his wife?

T: The one with the gray hair? Why do you reckon she’s his wife?

A: She is the only one who isn’t laughing at his jokes!

T: Right. Everyone else has to! Same again?

A: No, thanks. I’ll just have a mineral water.

Task. Read the dialogue. Role-play a similar conversation.

Family relations

A: Hi, Dan! We are making a survey on family ties. Can I ask you some questions?

B: Yes, please.

A: What makes a home a comfortable, pleasant place to live in?

B: I think that kind and good relations between people make their home a pleasant place for them. When you feel love and support you cope with any difficulty.

A: Who supported you and helped you find the way out of difficulties in your life?

B: My parents and friends tried to help me in such situations.

A: Whom do you admire in your family? What have you learnt to do from this person?

B: My grandmother. She is a wonderful person. Her life wasn’t easy, but she always had a positive attitude to the events that happened. She taught me to be patient and tolerant to other people.

A: Do you agree that your family is the most wonderful treasure you have?
B: Yes, sure.

Task. Read the dialogue. Role-play a similar conversation.

ENGLISH COURSES

G: Donna, you speak English so fluently. I know English just a little bit and I want to improve it.

D: Thanks. This summer I’ve been in the UK as a student on the Intensive Course for English Language Development.

G.: I’ve thought about it also. Tell me about these courses.

D.: It’s the Summer Study Program. You can study for four or eight weeks and create a program of study which suits your own learning needs.

G.: Who can study there?

D.: All students over 18 years of age with intermediate or advanced English level.

G.: What are the aims of these courses?

D.: It’s the possibility to improve your English language skills.

Task. Read the dialogue. Role-play a similar conversation.

Asking the way

1.

A: Excuse me, can you tell me where South Street is, please?

B: Take the second on the left and then ask again.

A: Is it far?

B: No, it's only about 5 minutes' walk.

A: Many thanks.

B: Not at all.

2.

A: Excuse me, please. Could you tell me the way to the station?

B: Turn round and turn left to the traffic lights.

A: Will it take me long to get there?

B: No, it's not distance at all.

A: Thank you.

B: That's 0.K.

3.

A: Excuse me, but I'm trying to find the Town Hall.

B: Take the third on the right and go straight on.

A: Should I take a bus?

B: No, you can walk it in under 5 minutes.

A: Thank you very much indeed.

B: That's quite all right.

4.

A: Excuse me, please, could you tell me how to get to the town centre?

B: First right, second left. You can't miss it.

A: No, it's only a couple of hundred yards.

B: Thanks very much.

A: It's a pleasure.

5.

A: Does this bus go to the station?

B: No, you'll have to get off at the bank and tаke a one-nine-two (192).

A: Can you tell me where to get оff?

B: It's the next stop but one.

6.

A: Do you go to the sea-front?

B: No, you're going the wrong way. You want a one-two-three (123) from church.

A: Have we got much further to go?

B: It's the next stop.

TOWN

SPEECH PATTERNS

Asking for directions

How do I get to your office?

Can you tell me the best way of getting to your office?

What's the quickest way of getting to your office?

Where are you exactly?

Getting information

Will you be coming by car or by train?

It's much easier if you take the train.

Which hotel are you staying at?