At the doctor’s – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the telephone conversation between a patient and a clinic receptionist. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why does Kevin want to see the doctor?
(A) He has a terrible headache.
(B) He has a bad backache.
(C) He needs some sleep medicine.
2 What time is Kevin’s appointment with Dr. Smith?
(A) 9:00 AM.
(B) 10:30 AM.
(C) 8:00 AM.
3 What is Kevin going to do on Tuesday morning?
(A) Go to work early.
(B) Have a meeting with his boss.
(C) Take the morning off from work.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Kevin clearly states, “I have a terrible backache.”
- Trap A is wrong: A headache is a different health problem not mentioned in the audio.
- Trap C is wrong: Medicine is a plausible reason to visit a doctor, but it is not the reason Kevin gives.
2 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The receptionist confirms at the end, “Your appointment is booked for 10:30 AM on Tuesday.”
- Trap A is wrong (The Twist): The receptionist wanted to give him the 9:00 time, but the doctor has a meeting.
- Trap C is wrong: 8:00 AM is not mentioned in the conversation.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Because the appointment is at 10:30, Kevin decides, “I will just take the morning off.”
- Trap A is wrong: Kevin says “I wanted to come earlier before work”, but he changes his mind because his back hurts too much.
- Trap B is wrong: Dr. Smith has a meeting at 9:00, not Kevin.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Good morning, City Medical Clinic. How can I help you?
Kevin: Hello. I’d like to make an appointment to see Dr. Smith, please. I have a terrible backache.
Receptionist: I’m sorry to hear that. When would you like to come in?
Kevin: Do you have any time on Tuesday morning?
Receptionist: Let me check his schedule. Well, I wanted to put you in at 9:00, but Dr. Smith has a meeting then. However, he is free at 10:30 AM.
Kevin: Hmm, I wanted to come earlier before work. But my back hurts a lot, so 10:30 is fine. I will just take the morning off.
Receptionist: Great. Your appointment is booked for 10:30 AM on Tuesday.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between a doctor and a patient. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What are the patient’s main health problems?
(A) A cough and a sore throat.
(B) A high fever and a cough.
(C) A stomachache and a sore throat.
2 When did the cough and sore throat begin?
(A) On Sunday.
(B) Yesterday morning.
(C) Last night.
3 What is the doctor going to give the patient?
(A) A glass of cold water.
(B) Some sleeping pills.
(C) Some cough syrup.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: The patient clearly states, “I have a bad cough and my throat hurts a lot” (throat hurts = sore throat).
- Trap B is wrong: The doctor asks about a fever, but the patient says “my temperature was normal.” (No fever).
- Trap C is wrong: A stomachache is a plausible illness, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The patient explicitly says, “the cough and sore throat actually started yesterday morning.”
- Trap A is wrong (The Trap): The patient says “I felt a little tired on Sunday”, but the specific symptoms (cough/sore throat) didn’t start then.
- Trap C is wrong: “Last night” is when the patient checked for a fever and couldn’t sleep well, not when the symptoms started.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: At the end of the conversation, the doctor says, “I’ll give you some cough syrup.”
- Trap A is wrong: The patient mentions “drinking cold water” as the reason he thought he got sick, not what the doctor gives him.
- Trap B is wrong: The patient says he couldn’t sleep well, making “sleeping pills” a very logical trap, but the doctor does not offer them.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Doctor: Good morning. What seems to be the problem today?
Patient: Good morning, Doctor. I feel really awful. I have a bad cough and my throat hurts a lot.
Doctor: I see. When did these symptoms start?
Patient: Well, I felt a little tired on Sunday. But the cough and sore throat actually started yesterday morning. I thought it was just from drinking cold water, but it’s getting worse.
Doctor: Do you have a fever?
Patient: I checked last night, and my temperature was normal. But I couldn’t sleep well because of the cough.
Doctor: Okay, let me examine your throat. Open wide and say ‘ah’. Hmm, it looks very red. I’ll give you some cough syrup.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a doctor and a patient. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 How should the patient take the new medicine?
(A) Right before going to sleep.
(B) Two times a day after meals.
(C) Once a day in the morning.
2 Where is Mr. Miller going tonight?
(A) To a pharmacy.
(B) To a restaurant for dinner.
(C) To a party.
3 What is the doctor’s strict rule for Mr. Miller?
(A) He must not drink any alcohol.
(B) He should drink wine at the party.
(C) He cannot drink any fruit juice.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The doctor says, “you need to take it twice a day, but always after a meal.” (“Twice” means two times).
- Trap A is wrong (The Twist): Mr. Miller says “I usually take my pills right before I go to sleep.” This is his normal habit, but it is NOT the rule for this new medicine.
- Trap C is wrong: “Breakfast” (morning) is mentioned, but he has to take it after dinner too, so “once a day” is incorrect.
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Mr. Miller says, “And I have a party tonight.”
- Trap A is wrong: Going to a pharmacy is a logical thing to do with a prescription, but he doesn’t mention doing it tonight.
- Trap B is wrong: Dinner is mentioned when talking about the medicine time, but not as his specific plan for tonight.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: The doctor clearly warns him, “You must not drink any alcohol while taking these pills.” (Wine is a type of alcohol).
- Trap B is wrong: Mr. Miller asks to drink wine, but the doctor says “I’m afraid not.”
- Trap C is wrong: The doctor actually tells him to “Have some juice instead”, so he can drink juice.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Doctor: Here is your prescription, Mr. Miller.
Patient: Thanks, Doctor. Um, how often should I take this? I usually take my pills right before I go to sleep.
Doctor: Well, for this medicine, you need to take it twice a day, but always after a meal. After breakfast and after dinner is best.
Patient: Oh, okay. After meals, not before sleep. Got it. And I have a party tonight. Is it okay if I drink a little wine?
Doctor: I’m afraid not. You must not drink any alcohol while taking these pills. Have some juice instead.
Patient: Alright, no wine for me then. Thank you.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between a patient and a receptionist. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the patient’s date of birth?
(A) May 30th.
(B) March 13th.
(C) May 13th.
2 Which card does the receptionist need from the patient?
(A) A health insurance card.
(B) A driver’s license.
(C) A credit card.
3 What should the patient do next?
(A) Go into the doctor’s room immediately.
(B) Sit down and wait.
(C) Fill out some medical forms.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The patient explicitly says, “No, the 13th. One-three.”
- Trap A is wrong (Number Trap): The receptionist mishears and asks “May 30th?”, but the patient corrects her.
- Trap B is wrong: March is a different month, not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: The receptionist clearly asks, “I just need to see your health insurance card.”
- Trap B is wrong (The Twist): The patient gives his driver’s license first by mistake (“Oh, wait, sorry. That’s my driver’s license”), but it’s not what the receptionist asked for.
- Trap C is wrong: A credit card is a plausible item in a wallet, but it is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The receptionist tells him, “Please have a seat in the waiting area.” (“Have a seat” means to sit down).
- Trap A is wrong: The receptionist says “The doctor will call you soon,” meaning he has to wait, not go in immediately.
- Trap C is wrong: Filling out forms is a very common activity at a clinic, but it is not mentioned in this conversation.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Good morning. Welcome to City Health Clinic. How can I help you?
Patient: Hi. My name is Robert Johnson. I have an appointment with Dr. Lee at 9 AM.
Receptionist: Let me check… Ah, yes, Robert Johnson. Could you tell me your date of birth, please?
Patient: It’s May 13th, 1990.
Receptionist: May 30th?
Patient: No, the 13th. One-three.
Receptionist: Got it. Now, I just need to see your health insurance card before you see the doctor.
Patient: Sure. Here you go. Oh, wait, sorry. That’s my driver’s license. I pulled out the wrong one. Here is my health insurance card.
Receptionist: Thank you. Please have a seat in the waiting area. The doctor will call you soon.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a pharmacist. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did the customer give the pharmacist at the beginning?
(A) A health insurance card.
(B) A prescription.
(C) A box of medical masks.
2 What extra item did the customer decide to buy?
(A) Some cough drops.
(B) A box of medical masks.
(C) Some vitamins.
3 How much money did the customer pay in total?
(A) 15 dollars.
(B) 5 dollars.
(C) 20 dollars.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The customer clearly says, “I have a prescription from my doctor. Here it is.”
- Trap A is wrong: A health insurance card is a plausible thing to show at a pharmacy, but it is never mentioned in the audio.
- Trap C is wrong: The customer buys the masks at the end of the conversation; he didn’t give them to the pharmacist at the beginning.
2 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The customer asks, “Actually, do you have any medical masks? I need a box.”
- Trap A is wrong (The Twist): The customer says “I thought about buying some cough drops, but my throat is fine now.” He thought about it, but rejected the idea.
- Trap C is wrong: Vitamins are not mentioned in the conversation.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The pharmacist says “your new total is 20 dollars,” and the customer replies, “Here is 20 dollars.”
- Trap A is wrong (Math Trap): 15 dollars is only the price of the medicine, not the total.
- Trap B is wrong (Math Trap): 5 dollars is only the price of the medical masks.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Pharmacist: Next, please! Hello, how can I help you today?
Customer: Hi. I have a prescription from my doctor. Here it is.
Pharmacist: Let’s see… Okay, we have this medicine. That will be 15 dollars, please.
Customer: Great. Oh, wait. I thought about buying some cough drops, but my throat is fine now. Actually, do you have any medical masks? I need a box.
Pharmacist: Yes, we do. A box of medical masks is 5 dollars. So, your new total is 20 dollars.
Customer: Perfect. Here is 20 dollars. Thank you very much.
Pharmacist: You’re welcome. Have a good day!