English Vocabulary in Use Elementary » Unit 6: Health and illness

Word List
  • aspirin
  • asthma
  • cancer
  • cholera
  • dentist
  • diet
  • exercise
  • good for you
  • have a healthy diet
  • have a heart attack
  • have toothache
  • hay fever
  • health
  • heart attack
  • How heavy are you?
  • How much do you weigh?
  • How old is he?
  • How tall is...?
  • illness
  • malaria
  • mosquito
  • sick
  • sneeze
  • stressed
  • toothache
  • tropical
  • cold
  • doctor
  • feel
  • fine
  • have a cold
  • have a headache
  • headache
  • hospital
  • How are you?
  • ill
  • relax
  • well
Exercises

6.1 ‣ Complete the dialogues.

  1. A: How are you today?
    B:
    A: Good!
  2. A: Are you OK?
    B: No, _____
    A: Would you like to use the bathroom?
    B: Yes, thank you.
  3. A: I _____
    B: I’ll get a doctor.
    A: Oh, thank you.
  4. A: _____
    B: Here’s the dentist’s phone number.
    A: Thanks.
  5. A: Your nose is red. Have you got _____?
    B: Yes.
    A: Have a hot drink and go to bed early.

6.2 ‣ Match the illnesses in the table with a possible treatment.

  1. a. go to the dentist
  2. b. take an aspirin
  3. c. go to hospital
  4. d. go to bed with a hot drink
illnesstreatment
a headache
toothache_____
a heart attack_____
a cold_____

6.3 ‣ What illnesses are connected with …

  1. a mosquito bite?
  2. bad drinking water? _____
  3. pollution, traffic fumes, etc.? _____
  4. grass, flowers, sunshine, etc.? _____
  5. smoking, unhealthy diet, no exercise? _____

6.4 ‣ Answer these questions. Use a dictionary to help you.

  1. Do you have a healthy diet?
    _____
  2. What exercise do you do?
    _____
  3. Do you often feel stressed?
    _____
  4. Have you ever been in hospital?
    _____
  5. Do you get hay fever in summer?
    _____
Answer Key
A ‣ How are you today?

I’m very well, thanks.

I’m fine, thanks.

I don’t feel very well. I must go home and rest. (I’ll probably be OK tomorrow.)

I feel ill. Can you get a doctor, please? (Perhaps it’s a serious problem.)

That fish was bad. I think I’m going to be sick! (I want to vomit.)

B ‣ Everyday problems

Have you got an aspirin? I’ve got a headache. /ˈhedeɪk/

I’ve got toothache. /ˈtuːθeɪk/ I need to go to the dentist.

I’m going to bed with a hot drink. I’ve got a cold.
C ‣ Problems people have for many years / all their lives

I get hay fever every summer, from flowers and grass. I sneeze all day. /sniːz/

My little brother has asthma; sometimes he can’t breathe. /ˈæsmə/

D ‣ Illnesses in hot / tropical countries

In some countries, mosquitoes can give people malaria. /məˈleəriə/

The drinking water was bad, and many children had cholera. /ˈkɒlərə/

E ‣ Serious illnesses

Every year cancer kills many people who smoke. /ˈkænsə/

My father went to hospital when he had a heart attack.

Common mistakes

My father had a heart attack [NOT got a heart attack].

F ‣ Expressions

A: Do you have a healthy diet?

B: Yes, I eat lots of fruit and vegetables.

A: Do you exercise?

B: Yes, I like swimming, jogging and cycling. They’re really good for you.

A: I feel stressed!

B: Do you? You need to relax more and don’t panic about work!

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