Speak English Around Town Lesson 10 Idioms, Proverbs, Expressions MCQ Test
LESSON 10 – Visiting the Doctor
VISITING THE DOCTOR
Grace has an appointment with Dr. Wilson. After discussing her symptoms and giving her a check-up, he says she has the flu.
Doctor: Hi, I’m Dr. Wilson. What seems to be the trouble?
Grace: I’ve been under the weather for days.
Doctor: The flu is going around. Did you get the vaccine?
Grace: No, this year I didn’t get around to it.
Doctor: What are your symptoms?
Grace: I’ve had a splitting headache since yesterday morning. My whole body hurts.
Doctor: You have all the telltale signs of the flu. Let me take your temperature … 101. That’s on the high side.
Grace: My throat hurts, too.
Doctor: Let me take a peek. Yes, your throat is very red. It looks like a garden variety flu.
Grace: Are you going to prescribe some medicine for it?
Doctor: You can take Tylenol for your headache. Also, be sure to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water.
Grace: How long do you think this is going to drag on?
Doctor: You should be back on your feet in a week or so.
Grace: I have to get better quickly! I’m needed at the office.
Doctor: Well, there’s no magic bullet. You’re going to have to let this run its course.
Language Lens: Going to / Will
In spoken English, “going to” is the form used most often to talk about the future.
=> Use “going to” to talk about something planned for the future:
◼ I’m going to buy a new car this year.
◼ Is your daughter going to attend Dartmouth or Columbia?
◼ What are you going to do on New Year’s Eve?
=> Use “going to” to make a prediction based on evidence you have now:
◼ Be careful. You’re going to spill your drink!
◼ This plan is too complicated. It’s not going to work.
“Will” is also often used to speak about the future. Use will (or ‘II) in these situations:
=> To talk about a decision made at the moment of speaking.
Once you’ve made the decision, use “going to” to talk about it:
◼ I’ll make the dinner reservations for Saturday night. Bob, please let Sara know that I’m going to make the dinner reservations.
◼ Mom: “If you don’t go to bed right now, I’m not taking you to the zoo tomorrow morning!”
Zach: “I’ll go to bed now! Dad, I’m going to go to bed now.”
=> To talk about things we believe to be true about the future:
◼ I’m sure you’ll like your new job.
◼ The dean will serve for five years.
◼ Our new toaster will arrive next Monday.
=> To make a promise or an agreement with someone:
◼ I’ll call you when I get to Paris.
◼ I’ll send you the check tomorrow.
Note: Do not use “will” or “going to” in future time clauses.
SAY: As soon as you finish the report, call me and we’ll review it.
NOT: As soon as you will finish the report, call me and we’ll review it.
IDIOMS
- back on one’s feet
→ healthy again; returned to good health
Example: I was sick for two weeks, but now I’m back on my feet.
- (to) drag on
→ to last too long; to last longer than one wants
Example: I’ve had a cold for three weeks. It just keeps dragging on!
- garden variety
→ ordinary; common; not unusual
Example: The necklace that Jim bought his girlfriend is not a garden variety piece of jewelry. It cost $100,000.
- (to) get around to it
→ to have a chance to do something; to have time to do something
Example: I know I need to have my cholesterol checked, but I just haven’t gotten around to it.
- going around
→ spreading; going from one person to another
Example: Your stomach hurts? You must have caught the bug that’s going around.
- magic bullet
→ a drug or therapy that cures or prevents an illness, without harmful side effects; a simple solution to a problem (usually one that is too simplistic and doesn’t work)
Example: Bedbugs are very hard to get rid of. Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet.
NOTE: this is often used in the negative: “no magic bullet”
- on the high side
→ rather high
Example: Emma stayed home from school yesterday because her temperature was on the high side.
- or so
→ approximately (referring to a time period or quantity of something)
Example: There were 200 or so people at the conference.
- (to) run its course
→ to allow time for an illness to pass through one’s body
Example: There’s no cure for the cold. Just let it run its course.
- splitting headache
→ a very bad headache
Example: Julia left work early, saying she had a splitting headache.
- (to) take a peek
→ to have a quick look
Example: Your car isn’t running well? Let me take a peek under the hood and see if I can figure out what’s wrong.
- telltale signs
→ sure signs of a problem; typical symptoms that indicate something
Example: Liz feels nauseous all the time and says she’s gaining weight. Those are telltale signs that she’s pregnant!
- under the weather
→ feeling sick
Example: If you’re under the weather, don’t go to work.
- What seems to be the trouble?
→ What’s wrong?
Example: “What seems to be the trouble?” asked the auto mechanic when we brought our car in to the shop.
