Lesson 16

Dialogue I

(Seeing a Doctor)

Patient: Doctor, my stomach really hurts.

Doctor: What did you eat yesterday?

Patient: I didn't have time to cook yesterday, so I had some leftovers. I had to go

to the rest room many times.

Doctor: How many days had the food been there?

Patient: I don't know.

Doctor: Lie down. I'll have a look at you.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Doctor. You ate spoiled food.

Patient: Will I need shots?

Doctor: That won't be necessary. You can just take this medicine. Three times

a day, two pills at a time.

Patient: All right. Shall I take them before or after meals?

Doctor: Before meals, but you'd better not have anything for twenty-four hours.

Patient: Then wouldn't I starve to death? That's not a good way to handle it.

Dialogue II

Ma: Little Xie, what's the matter with you? How come you've got red eyes?

Are you homesick?

Xie: No, I'm not homesick. I don't know why, but recently I haven't been

feeling well. My eyes have been watery all the time, and they are red and

itchy.

Ma: You must be allergic to something.

Xie. That's what I thought. That's why I went to a drugstore and got some

medicine. I've already taken four or five different kinds, all of no use.

Ma: Show me the medicine that you bought.

Xie: Here they are.

Ma: These medications are useless. You should hurry and see a doctor.

Otherwise the illness will get more and more serious.

Xie: I've got a lot of school work. It not only costs money but also takes time

to see a doctor. I'd like to try some more medicine. Besides, last time when

I got sick, I didn't go see a doctor, and eventually got well.

Ma: It must be that you didn't get health insurance. Is that right?

Xie: You guessed it