23. Л talkative woman

Once a middle-aged woman felt that she was seriously ill. She decided to consult a physician. She did not know any experien­ced physician in the town and asked a friend of here to give her a piece of advice. She was given the name of Richard Prime who was a very experienced physician. It was very difficult to make an appointment with Dr. Prime as he had many patients in the town.

Nevertheless the sick woman managed to make an appoin­tment with Dr. Prime and soon he examined her. He listened to all her complaints vciy attentively, examined her very carefully, made the customary tests but failed to make any diagnosis. He could not say what the matter was.

Meanwhile the sick woman continued to describe her aches and pains. She spoke vciy loudiy and quickly for an hour or so. The physician felt exhausted and thought: "If she were really ill, she would not be able to speak so energetically." He could not tell it to the sick woman, as s! e might get offended.

An idea came to his mind and he asked the sick woman to show him her tongue. The woman did so obediently. The physician examined the tongue carefully and thought: "How nice it is, when she doesn't talk!"

He could not say it out loud, so he told the sick woman the following words: "Nov. 1 know what your trouble is!" The woman looked at the physician with hope and fear. She was afraid that her disease was incurable. At last she said: "I hope my disease is curable, doctor."

The physician smiled and said: "Quite. Just your tongue needs a long rest." The woman was clever enough to follow the physician's advice and soon she felt much better.

Find the following word combinations in the text:

была серьезно больна; опытный терапевт; дать ей совет; записаться к д-ру Прайму; тем не менее: он се осмотрел; очень внимательно; не удалось поставить диагноз; между

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тем; очень громко; в течение почти часа; так энергично; обидеться; пришла в голову мысль; так покорно; сказать вслух; с надеждой и страхом; моя болезнь излечима; доста­точно умна; значительно лучше.

Answer the questions:

1. Who felt ill?

2. What did the woman decide to do?

3. Whom did she ask for a piece of advice?

4. What was Richard Prime?

5. Why was it difficult to make an appointment with him?

6. Why couldn't Dr. Prime make a diagnosis?

7. Why did he feel exhausted?

8. What idea came to his mind?

9. What did he tell the sick woman?

10. Why did she follow the physician's advice?

Finish the sentences:

1. A middle-aged woman felt...

2. She consulted a...

3. He failed to...

4. The woman continued to describe...

5. She spoke so...

6. The physician felt...

7. An idea came...

8. He said...

1. The woman was afraid that... 10. The physical! told her...

WORD LIST:

physician — врач-терапевт

customary test — обычные анализы

aches and pains — боли

fear — страх

to exhaust — утомить

couldn't help... — не могла не...