A. Listen to Scott, a doctor talking about his cat phobia. What happens if he sees a cat?
B. Listen again and answer the questions.
1 What’s the medical name of his phobia?
2 How long has he had his phobia?
3 How did it start?
4 Does his phobia affect his work?
5 What treatment is he having?
6 Does he think his phobia will disappear?
Answers
A
He starts to feel very nervous, his heart beats quickly.
And he has to go away very quickly from where the cat is.
B
1 Felinophobia or Gatophobia.
2 Since he was fire or six years old.
3 A friend’s cat bit him.
4 Yes, sometimes. (He can’t be in the same room as a cat. He has to ask people to take the cat out of the room.)
5 He’s going to a therapist. (After three sessions he can look at a photo of a cat and touch a toy cat.)
6 Yes, he’s optimistic. (He thinks one day he might have a cat as a pet.)
Audioscripts
I = interviewer, S = Scott
I What exactly is your phobia, Scott?
S Well, the medical name is Felinophobia or Gatophobia.
I And what does that mean exactly?
S It means I’m afraid of cats.
I Cats?
S Yes.
I How long have you had this phobia?
S Since I was a child.
I And how did it start?
S When I was five or six years old, I remember going to a friend’s house and I saw a cat on the stairs. And the cat was looking at me, well staring at me. I went to touch it, and it bit me. And since then I’ve always been afraid of cats.
I What happens if you see a cat?
S Well, I start to feel very nervous, my hearts beats quickly. And I have to go away very quickly from where the cat is. For example, if I see a cat in the street, I always cross to the other side.
I What do you do?
S I’m a doctor.
I Is your phobia a problem for you in your work?
S Yes, sometimes. For example, if I go to a house and there is a cat, I have to ask the people to put the cat in another room. I can’t be in the same room as a cat.
I Have you ever had any treatment for your phobia?
S Yes, I’ve just started going to a therapist. I’ve had three sessions.
I How’s it going?
S Well, now I can look at a photo of a cat without feeling nervous or afraid. And I can touch a toy cat. The next step will be to be in a room with a real cat.
I Do you think you will ever lose your phobia of cats?
S I hope so. I’m optimistic. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll have a cat as a pet.