At the chemist

Listen to a conversation at a chemist's to practise and improve your listening skills.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation

Transcript

Chemist: Hello, can I help?

Customer: Yes, my wife sent me here. I, erm, need something for a sore throat … and I can't stop coughing. It really hurts.

Chemist: Do you have a headache too?

Customer: Not really, no.

Chemist: Well, we have this syrup. And these lozenges.

Customer: Which is better?

Chemist: They're both good. The syrup is more expensive.

Customer: Oh, well … I'll take the lozenges, then. How many do I take?

Chemist: Just one.

Customer: Sorry, I'm sorry. Er, how often should I take it?

Chemist: Just one every four to six hours. Take it before mealtimes. Are you allergic to any medicine?

Customer: No.

Chemist: Then you'll be fine with this.

Customer: Can I get some antibiotics too?

Chemist: I'm afraid you need a prescription for that.

Customer: Ah.

Chemist: You know, you should really see a doctor if that cough continues.

Customer: Thanks. I know.

Chemist: Anything else?

Customer: No, thanks.

Chemist: That'll be £7.49 then, please.

Task 1

Exercise

Task 2

Exercise

Discussion

How often do you get a cough or a cold? What do you recommend?

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Language level

B1 Intermediate

When I was youth, I usually got cough and cold on account of changing season. But recently, I do not get the cough and cold anymore. The doctor told me to exercise regularly everyday. As a result, my body resistance becomes powerful. So, I would like to recommend that taking diet and working out everyday can keep you away from diseases. Therefore, you can stay in immunity by yourself not by treatment.

Rarely do I catch a cold. If I happen to get one that persists and doesn't respond to acceptable home remedies like keeping warm, taking fluids, having a bedrest or sucking on a lozenge, I definitely would have to see a Doctor just to be sure nothing serious is taking place. However, it could also indicate onset or worsening of an infectious process probably caused by microorganisms, exposure to an allergen/ toxin or presence of unknown factors that may warrant further investigations and treatment. So, my suggestion is to visit a Doctor if you are not feeling well.

I usually don't get cold but when I do it lasts for at least two weeks. To get rid of that I kept drinking hot beverages and take some steam from boiling water by covering my head over it with a towel.

very good

I don´t often catch a cold, perhaps one or two times per year. I´m usually careful with getting warm, I wear warm coats and I don´t walk barefoot at home. It´s also important to wear gloves and thick socks because you lose a big amount of heat through hands and feet. That´s my piece of advice. Cheers from Madrid.

during corona virus isn't easy to hear that coughing ))) I recommend grandmother's home remedies ))

I rarely get cough or cold in general i am taking care of myself usually and concentrate on raising my self immunity to disease, i recommend to excersise and eat healthy diet contains more fresh vitamins, in between drinking warm hot liquids with cinnamon or ginger to boost our health.

I have got in February an eye cold, and the eye has been seen by the doctor then he wrote a prescription after that I have been to have to buy them from the chemist. They were one lozenge, eye liquid, and cream for the eye. I got lozenges 3 times in a day and got eye liquid then I apply the cream on the eye. I would recommend to others if outside would be cold, take your warm cap and cover your head warm.

I think that once a year I'd could get a cold, for changes in weather, when arrive cold and rainy days, usually when I feel sore throat and some cough, I take flew lozenges and drink a lot water to avoid get flu. and now I know that is good to treat the flu taking vitamin c.