I. The title above is taken from an English proverb. What do you think it means?

II. When was the last time you were ill? Do you worry about staying well? Do you think you’re fairly healthy? Read the questionnaire and find out.

How are you keeping?

When someone says “How are you?” do you reply “Fine, thanks, how are you?” or do you say “I’m not feeling very well. I’ve had a bad cold, I’ve been off work, and now I’ve got a dreadful cough”? Some people never seem to be ill, others have always got something wrong with them … or think they have. Try the questionnaire and find out how you’re keeping.

1. Have you ever broken an arm or a leg?

2. Have you ever stayed at home because of illness?

3. Have you ever taken vitamin pills?

4. Have you ever given up any of the following because of your health? (smoking, drinking, coffee, meat, sunbathing)

5. Have you ever taken up any of the following because of your health? (running, swimming, regular exercise)

6. Have you ever had an accident while watching a sport?

7. Have you ever had an accident while playing a sport?

8. Have you ever had …? (a heart attack, high blood pressure, malaria)

9. Have you ever had …? (flu, a headache, food poisoning)

10. Have you ever become ill on holiday?

11. Have you ever worried about getting ill?

12. Have you ever stayed in hospital?

13. Have you ever looked up an illness in a medical dictionary?

14. How are you keeping? (Not so good. I’ve never felt better!)

Mostly YES: Either you’ve been unlucky with your health or you’ve become a hypochondriac. Relax! Life’s too short to worry so much about your health.

Mostly NO: You’re very lucky … so far. You’re healthy and you don’t worry much. But maybe you need to take better care of yourself – just in case.

III. Asking about health.

When an Englishman asks you about your health, he is probably only doing so out of politeness unless he knows you have been ill, he is certainly not expecting a detailed medical report, and will be most surprised if you give him one.

— How’s your father keeping? How’s your brother these days? What’s wrong with him? What’s the trouble? What’s the matter? What’s up with him?

— He’s gone down with a cold. He’s not feeling very well. He hasn’t been too well just recently. As a matter of fact, he’s laid up. I think he must have eaten something.

— Tell him I hope he soon feels better. Give him my regards and tell him to take things easy. I hope he soon gets over it. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.

— Thank you very much. I will tell him what you said/ you inquired about him.

IV. Learn the parts of the body that you don’t already know.

V . Complete the chart.

foot

nose

neck

back

wrist

ear

tooth

finger

toe

knee

mouth

thumb

throat

shoulder

face

waist

eyes

elbow

ankle

head	body	arm	leg

VI. Look at these lists of the body. Which part doesn’t belong?

1.  finger	 ankle	 thumb	 wrist
2.  arm	 elbow	 thumb	 toe
3.  eyes	 ankle	 nose	 ear
4.  waist	 back	 shoulder	 arm

VII. Match the verbs on the left with a suitable part of the body on the right to form common expressions.

blow shake comb fold bend nod bite

your knees your nose your nails your head your arms your hair hands

VIII. What do these actions often mean? (There may be lots of possible answers.)

1. People often smile when …………………………………………

2. They often breathe quickly after …………………………………

3. They laugh when …………………………………………………

4. They may bite their nails …………………………………………

5. They blow their nose ……………………………………………..

6. They shake their head …………………………………………….

7. They nod their head ……...……………………………………….

8. They cry …………………………………………………………..

9. They yawn when ………………………………………………….

IX. Choose the right word.

The words usually confused:

illness (sickness) — disease

"illness" is the state of being ill; "disease" refers to a particular kind of illness with a special symptoms and name.

pain — ache

"pain" refers to suffering of body. It is sharp and sudden;

"ache" — means a continuous pain.

cure — heal — treat

"cure" means to bring back to health;

"heal" means to make healthy after wounds of any kind ( e.g. cuts are healed);

"treat" means to take care of with medicines, etc. It refers to the process of curing (e.g. a person must be treated to be cured).

a) ill — sick ( Mind: "ill" is never used before a noun)

1. The nurse mixed the medicine with a teaspoon and gave it to the . . . man who sat up in bed to take it. 2. When people are . . . and have a temperature of over 39 degrees we say they are in high fever. 3. When I go on board a ship or a boat, I feel ... . 4. He was suddenly taken . . .

b) illness (sickness) — disease

1. What did the man die of? Did he suffer from any chronic ... or complications after a serious ...? 2. The . . . was catching, and the doctor said he would put me on the sick-list. 3. Scarlet fever is a catching .... 4. His . . . prevented him from going to school together with his friends.

c) treat — cure

1) After scarlet fever complications developed, and they had to be ... for a month before the patient was completely ... .2) The open air life in the mountain . . . him of headaches. 3) The doctor said that if I followed his instructions, I should soon be ... of the disease.

d) cure — heal

1. Fresh air, sunshine, good food may ... a patient of consumption by . . . his lungs. 2. After a fortnight of slight fever, the wound . . . and he recovered. 3. The doctor applied a medicine which soon . . . the deep cut in my arm. 4. It’s difficult to … the patient, the disease is incurable. 5. They … her for cancer.

e) ache — pain — hurt

1. As Joe was coming home a sudden ... in his heart made him stop and lean

against the wall of a house. 2. Wet weather often makes old people feel an … in their bones. 3. He fell down the stairs and … his leg. 4. This heavy suit-case makes my arm … . 5. Did you … yourself? 6. It … me to cough. 7. Her words hurt my feelings and caused me great … .