55. My eighty-year-old grandma has a fever
My eighty-year-old grandma has a fever. How do we identify its causes?
A fever is a common symptom of the flu virus.
So, she caught the flu from my ninety-year-old grandpa.
Do they have equally high temperature?
He had a fever last week. His temperature decreased to normal recently.
Did he take tablets for fever?
Yes, but she does not want to take them. Her temperature remains high for now.
She must take the medicine to get better. Tell her they are vitamins!
Words
better, caught (base form: catch), common, decrease, eighty-year-old, equally, fever, flu, grandma, grandpa, high, identify, its, medicine, must, ninety-year-old, normal, remain, tablet, vitamin, week
Phrases
has a fever
a common symptom of
the flu virus
caught the flu from
equally high
last week
take tablets for
for now
to get better
56. Are patients put to sleep during surgical operations?
Are patients put to sleep during surgical operations?
In some cases, they must be unconscious. In other cases, conscious.
When must a patient be awake? Can you give a fairly common example?
Laser eye surgery. It’s a complex operation to improvevision.
Is it crucial for patients to stay motionless?
No, the complex surgical equipment controls every motion of their eyes.
Is there risk that the vision becomes worse as a result?
The risk is minimal. In most cases, the vision recovers quickly after the operation.
Words
awake, become, complex, conscious, control, crucial, during, equipment, every, example, fairly, improve, laser, minimal, motion, motionless, operation, patient, recover, result, surgical, unconscious, vision, worse
Phrases
put to sleep
in some cases
in other cases
be awake
a common example
eye surgery
a complex operation
to improve vision
Is there risk that…
becomes worse
as a result
in most cases
57. My fingers and toes are aching
My fingers and toes are aching. Besides, I have knee pain. What doctor should I see?
An orthopedist.
I also feel pain in the lungs and other internal organs.
Visit an internist. I know a good one, but she is pregnant and on maternity leave now.
In addition, I have nightmares. I dream that a hospital nurse drops poison on my tongue by mistake. This causes throat spasm!
That is likely a mental problem. Does anyone get on your nerves in reality?
Yeah, poisonous snakes do. They are hard of hearing but see well up close. Their venom can cause shock!
There are no venomous snakes in our area. Start with consulting a psychiatrist!
Words
ache, aching, also, besides, close, consult, consulting, dream, drop, feel, hearing, internal, internist, knee, leave, lung, maternity, mental, mistake, nerve, nightmare, nurse, organ, orthopedist, our, poison, poisonous, pregnant, psychiatrist, reality, shock, snake, spasm, throat, toe, tongue, venom, venomous, visit
Phrases
knee pain
feel pain in
internal organs
visit an internist
on maternity leave
have nightmares
dream that
by mistake
throat spasm
a mental problem
get on your nerves
in reality
poisonous snakes
hard of hearing
see well
up close
start with
Going on Foot
58. Excuse me, how do we get to the city center?
Excuse me, how do we get to the city center?
It’s on the opposite side of the river. You need to go across the river.
Is there a bridge nearby?
Yes, walk along the riverbank until you see it.
Is that far from here?
Yes, it’s a long walk. It takes about an hour to get there.
Is there a shorter path?
No, unless you take a boat.
Words
boat, bridge, center, excuse, foot, opposite, path, riverbank, shorter (base form: short), unless, until
Phrases
Excuse me…
how do we get to
city center
on