CAMBRIDGE
ENGLISH VOCABULARY IN USE ADVANCED
UNIT 53
Medical language
A
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Medical
information leaflets
Read this extract from a leaflet
included in a packet of painkillers.
1
measured amount of medicine that is relatively small
2
medical condition in which breathing becomes difficult because air passages
have narrowed
3
record of medical conditions a person has experienced
4
illness of the body or mind
5
illness of the stomach or digestive passages
6
tube that carries solid waste out of the body
7
unwanted results
8
sudden change in blood supply to the brain causing loss of function of part
of the body
9
illnesses or physical problems
10 take more than
11 length
12 unwanted effects in addition to the intended one
13 conditions affecting skin or breathing because of eating
or coming into contact with certain substances
14 small pieces
15 medical term for excrement (formal) or poo (informal,
childish)
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B
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Medical metaphors
Social
and other problems are oft en talked about as if they were illnesses: The
current spate of car thefts is a symptom of a deeper underlying
problem. [medical meaning = problem indicating an illness]
This
behaviour is symptomatic of his general lack of self-confidence.
The
causes of a problem can be diagnosed and the outlook for a situation
can also be referred to as the prognosis. [medical meaning = identify
what illness a patient has] [medical meaning = how experts expect an illness
to develop]
The
medical meaning of the key word is given in brackets before the examples
below: [ailing = unwell, sickly] an ailing organisation [one
that has a lot of problems] The economy has been ailing for some time,
but there are hopes of a recovery soon. [rash = a lot of small red
spots on the skin] a rash of burglaries [a number of similar things
happening at the same time]
[fever
= high temperature] World Cup fever, election fever [great
excitement]
at
fever pitch, to reach fever pitch [a point of very high
intensity] With a week to go before Anne’s wedding, preparations had reached fever
pitch.
[jaundiced
= yellow-looking skin because of a liver problem] Experts in the history
of the area take a rather jaundiced view of the likely success of the
peace talks. [unenthusiastic or sceptical because of previous bad
experiences]
[scar
= mark left on skin after an injury such as a cut] carry the scars of /
be scarred by [be permanently affected by a negative experience] I’m
afraid that children will always be scarred by experiencing war at a
young age.
[infect
= pass on an illness] I hope Helen’s enthusiasm will infect everyone
else. [pass on to]
[pulse
= regular beating of heart, e.g. as felt on wrist] That journalist really
has his finger on the pulse of public opinion. [understands how things
are changing]
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EXERCISES
53.1
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Choose
the best word to complete each sentence.
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53.2
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Replace
the underlined expressions with one of the metaphors from B. Make any other necessary
changes.
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53.3
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The
medical words in the box below are used metaphorically in the following text.
Fill the gaps using these words. Use a dictionary if necessary.
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53.4
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Over to you
Learn
more medical vocabulary by going to the following website, which provides
information for people who want to learn more about a medical condition:
www.nhs.uk.
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ANSWER KEY
53.1
1 disorder 6 stroke
2 history 7 poo 3 allergic 8 are 4 exceed 9 Disorientation 5 adverse 10 duration
53.2
1 Excitement reached fever pitch as
the day of the final match dawned.
2 Although industry is doing well in the north of the country, in the south it is ailing. 3 The manager said that there had been a rash of complaints about the hotel. 4 Unfortunately, she still carries the scars of / is still scarred by her divorce. 5 The problems we have experienced in our neighbourhood are symptomatic of wider problems in society. 6 What do you think the prognosis is for the peace talks? 7 I voted for the Green Party because they seem to have their finger on the pulse. 8 The business has been ailing for some time now. 9 I’m afraid I have rather a jaundiced view of the banking industry.
53.3
1 paralysed
2 ailing 3 fatal 4 rash 5 contagious 6 fever 7 disease 8 prognosis |
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