Language Expansion: Everyday Ailments

For every common health problem, there’s a product for sale to cure it. Are you suffering from insomnia? There's a pill to help you fall asleep. Did a pimple appear on your face? There's a cream for that. If you have a headache after a long day at work, or perhaps a sore throat and fever, you can buy something to make you feel better. Do you have indigestion because you ate the wrong kind of food? There's a pill to end the burning feeling in your stomach. If food won't stay in your stomach at all, you can take some medicine to end the nausea. Or maybe you ate too fast, so now you have the hiccups. Well, you won't find anything at the pharmacy for hiccups, but there's probably a company working on a new product for that right now.

A. Write the words in blue next to their definition.

(Viết các từ màu xanh lam bên cạnh định nghĩa của chúng)

1. insomnia not being able to sleep

2. __________ high body temperature

3. __________ a repeated send in your throat, often from eating too quickly

4. __________ a feeling that what's in your stomach will come up

5. __________ pain in the stomach because of something you have eaten

6. __________ a small raised spot on the skin

7. __________ a pain in your head

8. __________ a general feeling of pain in the throat

Answer:

1. insomnia - not being able to sleep

2. fever - high body temperature

3. hiccups - a repeated send in your throat, often from eating too quickly

4. nausea - a feeling that what's in your stomach will come up

5. indigestion - pain in the stomach because of something you have eaten

6. pimple - a small raised spot on the skin

7. headache - a pain in your head

8. sore throat - a general feeling of pain in the throat

B. What natural remedies do you know about?

(Bạn biết những biện pháp tự nhiên nào?)

Answer:

1. Ginger: Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and can help with digestion, nausea, and headaches. It can be consumed as a tea, in food, or as a supplement.

2. Honey: Honey has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to soothe sore throats, coughs, and wounds. It can be consumed on its own or added to tea.

3. Chamomile: Chamomile is a natural sedative and can help with sleep, anxiety, and digestion. It can be consumed as a tea or in supplement form.

4. Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus has antimicrobial properties and can be used to soothe sore throats and coughs. It can be consumed as a tea or added to a humidifier.

5. Lavender: Lavender has calming properties and can help with stress, anxiety, and insomnia. It can be consumed as a tea, used in aromatherapy, or applied topically as an essential oil.

C. Match the actions with the purposes.

(Nối hành động với mục đích)

Answer:

1. Get plenty of sleep at night - c. to feel rested during the day.

2. Eat fruits and vegetables - e. to get enough vitamins in your diet.

3. Take a nap - a. to help them fall asleep.

4. Give children warm milk - a. to help them fall asleep.

5. Ask your doctor questions - b. to find out the best remedy for your problem.

6. Lift weights - d. to make your muscles stronger.

Conversation (Optional)

D. Close your book and listen to the conversation. What remedies for fatigue do the speakers talk about?

(Đóng cuốn sách của bạn và lắng nghe cuộc trò chuyện. Những biện pháp khắc phục sự mệt mỏi mà các diễn giả nói về?)

Olivia: Hi, Ashley. Are you drinking coffee? That's new.

Ashley: Hi, Olivia. You're right. I usually don't drink coffee, but I need it today to wake up.

Olivia: You do look tired. Did you get enough sleep last night?

Ashley: No, I was worried about today’s test, so it was hard to fall asleep.

Olivia: Come on. Let’s go for a walk.

Ashley: Go for a walk? Why?

Olivia: To wake you up and to get some oxygen to your brain before the test.

Ashley: That's a good idea. Where do you want to go?

Answer:

In the conversation, the speakers talk about drinking coffee to wake up, taking a walk to get some oxygen to the brain and wake up, and difficulty falling asleep due to worry before a test. So the remedies for fatigue that the speakers talk about are drinking coffee and taking a walk.

E. Practice the conversation in pairs. Find and underline the infinitives of purpose.

(Thực hành hội thoại theo cặp. Tìm và gạch dưới các động từ chỉ mục đích)

Answer:

The infinitives of purpose in the conversation are:

• "to wake up" - used after "need it" in Ashley's response

• "to get some oxygen to your brain" - used after "go for a walk" in Olivia's suggestion

Goal check

Join another pair. Follow the steps.

(Tham gia một cặp khác. Thực hiện theo các bước)

1. Tell the other pair which ailments from A you talked about.

2. Ask them to suggest remedies for those ailments. Then switch roles.

Answer:

An example conversation:

Person A: Hi, do you ever have trouble sleeping?

Person B: Yeah, sometimes I have insomnia and it's hard to fall asleep.

Person A: Have you tried any remedies for that?

Person B: I usually take some natural supplements like valerian root or chamomile tea before bed.

Person A: Those are good ideas. I've heard that meditation and deep breathing exercises can also help with insomnia.

Person B: I'll have to try those out. Have you ever had a fever before?

Person A: Yeah, sometimes I get a high body temperature when I'm sick.

Person B: What do you do to feel better?

Person A: Usually I take some over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen and try to rest as much as possible.

Person B: That makes sense. I've heard that drinking fluids and using a cool compress can also help bring down a fever.

Person A: Good to know. Do you have any remedies for hiccups?

Person B: Yeah, sometimes I get them after eating too quickly. I usually try holding my breath or drinking water upside down to stop them.

Person A: Interesting. I've also heard that gargling salt water or sipping on vinegar can help get rid of hiccups.

Person B: That sounds kind of gross, but I'll keep it in mind.