A Visit to the Doctor
Do more with this exercise
Dr Lee (A) talks to Tom (B), who is ill. Read the dialogue, then do the exercises. You can listen to the lines, too.
Reading text
cough
a sound you make when your throat is not wellsore throat
a pain in your throatfever
a very hot body when you are illtired
when you want to sleepheadache
a pain in your headserious
very bad, not smallrest
to stop work and relaxmedicine
something you take when you are illmeals
the times when you eat, for example breakfast or dinnerfever
a very hot body when you are illPractice exercises
Choose the correct answer
Select the option that answers the question.
1.What does the doctor say Tom has?
2.What should Tom drink?
3.Can Tom go to work tomorrow?
Right or wrong?
Decide whether each sentence is correct.
4.Tom has a headache.
5.Tom must stay in bed for a week.
6.The doctor says it is serious.
Fill the gaps
Type the missing word.
Listen and choose
Listen once or twice, then choose what you hear.
10.What is Tom's problem?
11.When must Tom take the medicine?
12.When did it start?
Listen and write
Listen to the sentence, then type what you hear.
13.Listen and write the sentence.
14.Listen and write the sentence.
15.Listen and write the sentence.
Frequently asked questions
What level is this reading text?
It is written for A2 learners. It uses should, must, have to and don't have to for advice and rules, with common words about health.
How can I use this page to learn English?
Read the dialogue, check the glossary, answer the questions, then listen and write three sentences from the text.
Can I listen to the dialogue?
Yes. Press the play button on a line to hear it, or use the listening exercises to practise what you hear.
Answer key
1. What does the doctor say Tom has?
Answer: A cold
The doctor says: “You have a cold.”
2. What should Tom drink?
Answer: Water and hot tea
The doctor says: “You should drink a lot of water and hot tea.”
3. Can Tom go to work tomorrow?
Answer: No, he mustn't
The doctor says: “No, you mustn't. You have to stay in bed for two days.”
4. Tom has a headache.
Answer: True
Tom says: “Yes, I do. My head hurt all night.”
5. Tom must stay in bed for a week.
Answer: False
The doctor says: “You have to stay in bed for two days.”
6. The doctor says it is serious.
Answer: False
The doctor says: “No, it isn't.” It is only a cold.
7. The doctor gives Tom some ___ for his throat.
Answer: medicine
The doctor says: “Here is some medicine for your throat.”
8. Tom's body is very hot. He has a ___.
Answer: fever
A very hot body when you are ill is a fever.
9. Tom has a cough and a sore ___.
Answer: throat
Tom says: “I have a bad cough and a sore throat.”
10. Listening question 10: I have a bad cough and a sore throat.
Answer: A cough and a sore throat
The speaker says, “I have a bad cough and a sore throat.”
11. Listening question 11: You must take it twice a day, after meals.
Answer: After meals
The speaker says, “You must take it twice a day, after meals.”
12. Listening question 12: It started three days ago.
Answer: Three days ago
The speaker says, “It started three days ago.”
13. Dictation 13
Answer: You should drink a lot of water and hot tea.
The sentence gives advice with should.
14. Dictation 14
Answer: You have to stay in bed for two days.
The sentence says what Tom has to do.
15. Dictation 15
Answer: You don't have to come back if you feel better.
The sentence says that coming back is not necessary.