In this section you will review and practise useful language used in the medical profession.

1. Quotes on science.

An illustration of anatomical drawings, charts and diagrams.

Match the two parts to complete these quotes about science and medicine.

See the names of the people who said these quotes.

1. George Bernard Shaw
2. Vera Rubin
3. William Osler
4. Homer Burton Adkins
5. George Bernard Shaw

2. Pronunciation: Common medical words.

Put these common scientific and medical words in the order that you hear them. Then listen again and repeat the words.

The word research can be pronounced in two different ways: research or research.

3. Pronunciation: Word stress.

Click and drag the words to the correct box, according to the stress patterns.

The word theory can be prounced in two different ways: with two syllables /ˈθɪə·ri:/ or with three syllables /ˈθɪ·ə·ri:/.

4. Listen and write.

Listen to the quotes from exercise 1. You will hear each one twice. Write exactly what you hear.

5. Vocabulary: Parts of the body.

Match the words to the numbers. Listen and repeat the words.

An illustration of a body showing internal organs with numbers, number 1 is the organ for breathing, number 2 is the organ just below the heart, number 3 is the part of the digestive system on the patient's righthand side, number 4 is the part where urine is collected, number 5 is the long convoluted part of the digestive system, number 6 is one of the two organs that filters the blood, number 7 the part where food is initially digested, number 8 is organ that pumps blood.

Now listen again and repeat the words.

6. Vocabulary: Parts of the body.

A photo of an arm with a plaster on it.

Choose the correct word for each definition.

7. Common names for bones.

An image of an X-ray of a hand.

Match the medical names of the bones to the common names.

8. Symptoms, conditions and treatment.

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.

Listen to check your answers. Then listen again and repeat the sentences.

9. Common illnesses.

A photo of a young child with red spots on his back.

Many common illnesses, especially those normally associated with childhood, have common names. Choose the correct options to complete the table.

10. Common illnesses.

A photo of an ill child in a bed with a thermometer in his mouth.

Can you remember? Choose the correct words to complete the table.

Pronunciation

The following words are grouped according to their vowel sounds. However, one word in each line is an odd one out; it has a different vowel sound. Do you know which word it is? (For words with more than one syllable we are referring to the underlined letters.)

  1. symptom, mild, virus, type
  2. heal, measles, head, cheek
  3. itchy, blister, lip, vaccine
  4. croup, cough, rubella, include
  5. mumps, puffy, runny, pneumonia

You can see the answers here.

1. symptom
2. head
3. vaccine
4. cough
5. pneumonia

Now listen and repeat the words.

11. Listen.

A photo of a young child with red spots on her face.

Now listen to the descriptions and choose the correct illness.