Từ vựng – Topic 8: Health

Sức khỏe cũng là một chủ đề hay xuất hiện trong bài IELTS Speaking, hãy chú ý tới các từ in đậm để nắm chắc những từ vựng, idiom (thành ngữ) hay collocation (các từ thường đi với nhau) liên quan đến chủ đề này nhé.

Part 1

Giám khảo: Have you got a relation you’re particularly fond of?
Sinita: Yes … my granddad … he’s 94 years old but generally he’s as fit as a fiddle … we’re very close and see each other a lot … whenever he goes down with a cold or is under the weather I make a point of visiting him …

Giám khảo: Do you do any sport?
Jon: Yes … I’m keen on skateboarding … but I haven’t done it for a while … I had a bad fall recently and pulled a muscle and had a few cuts and bruises … but I’m on the mend and hope to be doing it again soon …

Giám khảo: Is there anything you’re particularly afraid of?
Davide: The dentist … I hate going to the dentist … I only ever go if I have a toothache so it usually means I have to have a filling or even have a tooth out … I really don’t like it …

Part 2

Describe a time when you were ill.

You should say:

• when this was
• what your symptoms were
• how long the illness lasted
• how it affected your life at the time.

Sample:

This is a tricky one really as I’m usually quite healthy … I’ve never been seriously ill … like everyone else I sometimes get a few aches and pains or catch a cold … I can remember a few months ago I had to have time off work with a heavy cold … I had the usual symptoms … a blocked nose … sore throat … it lasted quite a while … about 2 weeks I think though I didn’t have that much time off work … for a few days I remember feeling poorly but I was over the worst of itafter a few days and went back to work … I always find it’s better to be active when you feel ill as it keeps your mind off your symptoms … I think my family get a little fed up with me when I’m ill though … I tend to feel sorry for myself and lie on the sofa all day as if I’m at death’s door … but as I said earlier … on this occasion it was nothing serious and didn’t really cause me any problems …

Part 3

Giám khảo: What costs are involved when you are ill in your country?
Anya: Well … people have to pay prescription charges which can be quite expensive … but fortunately general healthcare is free … unless you want to go private of course and then  you can pay a fortune for your treatment …

Giám khảo: In your experience are people too quick to take time off work when they’re ill?
Alicia: Yes .. I’ve got friends who have a day off work if they wake up with a runny nose … and in most cases they seem to make a speedy recovery after they’ve phoned in sick …

Giám khảo: Do women pay more attention to their health than men?
Julie: I think so yes … women are more likely to see their GP for a check-up if they’re concerned about something … men tend to avoid facing up to any health problems they have … my dad always seems to have a very chesty cough but refuses to go to make an appointment to see the doctor …

Glossary

• aches and pains: những cơn đau âm ỉ
• to be a bit off colour: hơi xuống sắc
• to be at death’s door: (informal) cực kì ốm yếu bệnh tật
• to be on the mend: hồi phục sau bệnh
• to be over the worst: vượt qua giai đoạn nguy hiểm
• to be under the weather: (informal) thấy không khỏe
• a blocked nose: mũi bị nghẹt
• to catch a cold: bị cảm lạnh
• a check-up: buổi kiểm tra sức khỏe
• a chesty cough: ho tức ngực, ho khan
• cuts and bruises: vết thương không nghiêm trọng
• to feel poorly: bị bệnh
• as fit as a fiddle: rất khỏe mạnh, khỏe như vâm
• to go down with a cold: dính bệnh
• to go private: khám bệnh viện/phòng khám tư
• GP: (General Practitioner) bác sĩ đa khoa
• to have a filling: trám răng
• to have a tooth out: nhổ răng
• a heavy cold: cảm nặng
• to make an appointment: hẹn gặp bác sĩ
• to make a speedy recovery: hồi phục nhanh chóng
• to phone in sick: gọi điện xin nghỉ ốm
• prescription charges: tiền thuốc kê đơn
• to pull a muscle: bong gân
• a runny nose:chảy nước mũi
• a sore throat: đau họng, viêm họng

(Nguồn: ieltsspeaking.co.uk)