Oral Comprehension Text 1

Before you start listening to the dialogue “Nursing a Sick Husband”, get acquainted with the words given below:

to nurse smb. – няньчити когось, to get a temperature – мати температуру, to stay in bed – залишатися у ліжку, sensible – розважливий/розумний, to prevent smb. from doing smth. – перешкоджати комусь щось зробити, to go up – підніматися (про температуру), to suit smb. – личити (пасувати, годитися, підходити), to be bitter about smth. – злитися з приводу чогось, to be grateful to smb. – бути вдячним комусь, to look after smb. – піклуватися про когось, to keep smb. in bed – тримати когось у ліжку, naughty – неслухняний (вередливий, примхливий, пустотливий), to catch another cold – підхопити іншу (ще одну) хворобу, to groan – важко зітхати (охкати, стогнати, бідкатися, бурчати), disingenuously – нещиро, to stay up – вставати (підніматися)

Nursing a Sick Husband

(Dialogue)

Harry: Nora! Nora!

Nora (coming into the room): Yes, what is it now, Harry?

Harry: Oh, there you are. Look here, Nora, I’m tired of lying here on my back with nothing to do. I hate doing nothing.

Nora: Don’t be silly, Harry. You’ve got a temperature, and staying in bed is the only sensible thing to do. Now just be quiet, and stop preventing me from doing my housework.

Harry: No, seriously, Nora, I can’t bear it. Lying flat on my back.

Nora: Well, then try lying on your stomach for a change!

Harry: Stop being funny. I’m going to get up. There! Look! I’m standing up. I’m quite all right. What’s the use of staying in bed?

Nora: I think you’re being very silly. You’ll only make your temperature go up again.

Harry: It’s no use talking, Nora. Being ill doesn’t suit me.

Nora: No! And trying to nurse you doesn’t suit me!

Harry: Now don’t be bitter about it. You know I’m grateful to you for looking after me. But you mustn’t try to keep me in bed like a naughty boy.

Nora: Well, you began it by behaving like a naughty boy!

Harry: I’m all against this staying in bed for no reason.

Nora: Harry, being ill is a reason … Now don’t stand by that window and catch another cold … Let me see … Half past eleven …

Harry: Why do you keep looking at the clock?

Nora: I’m expecting Mother – she’s coming over for the day.

Harry: Good heavens, I didn’t know that.

Nora: Yes, I think she has something she wants to talk to you about.

Harry: Oh, heavens! Has she? (Groans.) Oh, … You know, Nora, I do feel a bit ill, perhaps I’d better get back to bed.

Nora (disingenuously): Oh, what a pity! I thought perhaps you might stay up to see her.

Harry: That’s the very reason I’m getting back into bed.

Nora: What did you say?

Harry: Oh, er … – nothing.

Answer the following questions to the text:

1. Why is the husband so indignant?

2. Why is Nora so upset?

3. What made Harry change his intention to stand up?

Text 2

Before you start listening to the dialogue “At the Doctor”, get acquainted with the words given below:

a terrible condition – жахливий стан, treatment – лікування, a patient - пацієнт