Unit6

II. Listening Skills

Listening to People Talk about Health

1.                   M: I haven’t been to see my doctor for a very long time. I’m worried that he’ll be angry     with me for not having a physical examination for so long.

  W: Which is more important, the doctor’s feelings or your health? You’d better go if you want to make sure everything is all right with you.

2.                   W: Oh, I’ve got a cold. I’m not used to the cold weather, and it often gets the best of me.     What I need now is some good medicine.

 M: The best medicine is to keep healthy. I promise you that if you get involved with some sort of physical exercise, you’ll get sick a lot less. Why don’t you try joining a gym?

3.       W: Exams are coming up soon. I’ve been so busy with schoolwork that I’ve had a lot of    trouble sleeping.

  M: School is important, but so is your health. Maybe you should talk to a doctor. Doctors see people all the time for this very problem. They can help you.

 

4. M: Do you mind if I have a cigarette before we eat?

  W: Well, actually, I do. If you don’t mind, could you smoke outside? If you want to poison your body and shorten your life, that’s your business. But as for me, I want to live long and healthy.

 

5. W: Robert, when we last talked, you promised there would be less television and junk food, and more exercise in your life. But now you’re becoming quite overweight.

  M: I know it’s bad, but I really like watching TV. After all we should enjoy ourselves while we are young.

  W: But you’re risking your health watching TV so much.

  M: Oh, yes: heart trouble, high blood pressure. But I’d rather die than give up TV.

    The man once promised he would watch TV less, eat less junk food and have more exercise. III. Listening In

Task 1: Diets

If you’re a young lady in your twenties, you may be either on a diet or wondering which diet to follow. Indeed, people are so concerned with their appearance that the word “diet” has lost its original meaning. It now has the same meaning as “weight loss diet”. There was a time when women bound their waists to have a nice figure. Them came Twiggy, a British supermodel most famous in the 1960s, and since then everyone has wanted to look like a twig. Because of this trend, many diets have become popular. It is not uncommon to meet young girls who look weak enough to be blown away in the wind, yet they are still talking about diets! However, extreme diets can lead to health problems. Many such dieters may end up with very serious disorders. Princess Diana suffered from an excessively strong appetite; Karen Carpenter, a popular singer of the 1970s, died of the less of appetite. You should know that looking good is important but not when it comes at he risk of your health and life. Better eating habits and proper exercise are all you need to be fit and look good.

Task 2: Culture Shock

(D=Doctor; S=Student)

D: Hello, I’m Dr. Black. How’re you feeling?

S: I’m not feeling well, doctor.

D: What seems to be the problem?

S: I don’t know. I just feel tired all the time. I want to sleep all day. I’m not interested in studying or being with people.

D: How long had this been going on?

S: Almost one month now.

D: Are there any other symptoms?

S: I’m just tired.

D: Do you have many friends?

S: I don’t really have many here. I’m an international student.

D: I imagine that many things about your life here are different from your home.

S: Yeah, my life’s changed a lot. Foods, customs, socializing…even body language and gestures are all different from those in my own country.

D: How long have you lived here?

S: Almost three months now. It seems much linger; it’s a struggle for me to get used to the new way of life here.

D: Hmm. Well, let’s check you over. (a few minutes later) Well, I don’t see anything physically wrong with you. Your heart is strong. Lungs are clear. Your blood pressure is normal.

S: Then what do you think is wrong with me, doctor?

D: Your problem seems to be culture shock. Sometimes when people move to a new location, especially a new country, they experience culture shock. Sometimes this culture shock can be serious, and people become very depressed. I suggest that you try to spend some time each week with people from your own culture.

S: But my teachers tell me to speak English all the time.

D: I understand, but right now we need to deal with your symptoms. Follow my advice, and you’ll feel better.

S: How long does this last?

D:Culture shock lasts for a while and then begins to disappear. The length of time varies from person to person. If you aren’t feeling better in two or three weeks, please call me again.

 

Task 3: I’m Betty Sanders in 1012!

A woman called a hospital and said,” Hello, I would like some information on a patient to know if she is getting better.” The voice on the other end of the line said, “What is the patient’s name?” the caller said,” she’s Betty Sanders in room 1012, and I’m her sister, Donna Sanders. I’m listed on her privacy release form.” The person on the other end of the phone said, “Oh, yes, Ms. Donna Sanders. Here you are on her release form. OK, Betty Sanders, in room 1012.” He said, “Oh, yes. Ms. Sanders is doing very well. In fact, she’s had three meals. Her blood pressure is fine. She’ going to be taken off the heart monitor in a couple of hours and if she continues this improvement. Gr. Bertran is going to send her home the day after tomorrow.” The woman said, “thank God! That’s wonderful! Oh! That’s fantastic! That’s wonderful news!” the man on the phone said, “from your enthusiasm, I take it you and your sister must be very close!” she said, “actually, I am Betty Sanders in 1012! My doctor never tells me anything.”

 

Task 4: An Announcement

Receptionist: Good morning. Dr. Black’s office.

Student:    Hello, this is Albert Shaw. I’d like to make an appointment with Dr. Black for a checkup. Would 9:30 be all right?

Receptionist: Let’s see. He doesn’t have any openings in the morning. But there’s a cancellation in the afternoon at 3 o’clock.

Student:    Hmmm, how about 3:30? I’ll have a class until 3:15.

Receptionist: OK, let’s make it 3:30 the day after tomorrow. That’s Thursday.

 

V. Let’s Talk

Nancy: Hi, Mike! You look so pale today. Is everything all right?

Mike: I don’t know, Nancy. I’m just feeling tired and stressed out.

Nancy: Why don’t you do something to relax?

Mike: Well, I’m on the go from morning till night. It’s hard for me to slow down.

Nancy: Well, everyone needs some form of relaxation. This is important for a healthy mind and body.

Mike: I see. But how can I get rid of my stress?

Nancy: Stress is a part of daily life, and there’s no way to avoid it. In fact, a certain amount of stress is helpful—it can encourage us to meet a deadline or get things done. But if stress gets out of control, it can lead to poor performance and ill health.

Mike: Then how much stress can we manage?

Nancy: It depends on the individual. I’m the kind of person who is not afraid of stress, but it looks like you may lose heart easily in a stressful situation.

Mike: You said it!  I get anxious at the first sign of trouble.

Nancy: I usually take everything in stride.

Mike: You know what? When I’m under stress. I’d like to reach for something to eat.

Nancy: Yeah. Stress and overeating are often related. Stress triggers eating even when we’re not hungry.

Mike: no wonder I’ve been putting on weight since I entered college.

Nancy: Stress can be harmful to our health. Long-term stress can even lead to serious conditions, such as heart disease.

Mike: How terrible! What should we do then?

Nancy: Since we can’t remove stress from our lives, what we need to do is find ways to deal with it. Maybe we should adopt a laidback attitude toward stress.

Mike: Sounds encouraging!

 

VI. Furthering Listening and Speaking

Task 1: Medical Services on Campus

While every university in America has its own policies and creates its own rules, most provide some type of medical service or health insurance for students, especially large universities. If students have a cold, or other illnesses, they can see a doctor, and they may also seek medical advice on a range of issues. Free testing for STDs such as HIV is a major part of disease prevention—sharing important information about the epidemic. If students need a major operation or procedure, they must seek outside assistance, but the school may help them make the arrangements. Smaller universities and colleges are not likely to provide in-depth medical assistance; they usually deal with small problems in housing, and assist students to take care of major issues off campus. Universities and colleges without student housing do not offer medical services.

 

Task 2: the flu

There’s nothing gradual about the flu. It hits you like a hammer. One minute you’re feeling fine, and the next you can be shivering, burning up, and then shivering again. In minutes, your legs become weak and your body aches in places that have never hurt before. Influenza can break out so suddenly that people can sometimes say, “it hit me at exactly nine last night.” But whether the flu strikes at night or on the bus to school, there’s just one thing a victim wants to do: lie down in bed. A healthy person can fight off the flu in three to five days, though coughing and tiredness can last two more weeks. An attack of the flu is often followed by another illness. Doctors recommend that old people, or people of any age with heart or lung problems, get a flu vaccine every year. Because flu viruses change all the time, a new vaccine must be prepared each year to protect against future attacks.