BBC Learning English

How to …
Ask for clarification from a doctor
Quiz

For each question choose the one correct answer.

1: Doctor: Take three teaspoonfuls after breakfast.

Patient: _______________________________
a: What size breakfast?
b: What size spoon?

2: Doctor: Apply the ointment sparingly, twice a day.

Patient: ___________________________________
a: How much should I use?
b: How many should I use?

3: Doctor: Swallow the tablets whole with plenty of water.

Patient: _____________________________________
a: How many should I chew?
b: How should I take them?

4: Doctor: Use two eye drops before bedtime.

Patient: ___________________________
a: When should I use them?
b: When should I swallow them?

5: Doctor: Use two puffs of the inhaler each morning.

Patient: _________________________________
a: What type of medicine is it?
b: What type of tablets are they?

6: Doctor: Use the ear drops as required for seven days.

Patient: ___________________________________
a: How long should I drink them for?
b: How long should I use them for?

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ANSWERS

For each question choose the one correct answer.

1: Doctor: Take three teaspoonfuls after breakfast.

Patient: _______________________________

a. What size breakfast?

Wrong –It’s important to know how much medicine to take. Try again!
b: What size spoon?
Correct – You are asking how much medicine you should take,.

2: Doctor: Apply the ointment sparingly, twice a day.

Patient: ___________________________________

a: Exactly how much should I use?

Correct – This checks you understand that 'sparingly' means a very small amount.
b: How many should I use?
Wrong – Try again- 'ointment' is an uncountable noun.

3: Doctor: Swallow the tablets whole with plenty of water.

Patient: _____________________________________

a: How many should I chew?

Wrong –'Swallow whole' and 'chew' are opposites.
b: How should I take them?
Correct –Swallow tablets 'whole', means you shouldn't chew or suck them.

4: Doctor: Use two eye drops before bedtime.

Patient: ___________________________

a: When should I use them?

Correct – This checks you understand that 'before bedtime' means before you go to sleep at
night.
b: When should I swallow them?
Wrong – 'Eye' drops are a liquid form of medicine to be used in the eyes; you don't swallow
them.

How to … © BBC Learning English 2007

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5: Doctor: Use two puffs of the inhaler each morning.
Patient: _________________________________

a: What type of medicine is it?

Correct – That's a good question. An inhaler delivers medicine that we breathe in.
b: What type of tablets are they?
Wrong – Try again – an inhaler doesn't deliver tablets.

6: Doctor: Use the ear drops as required, for seven days.

Patient: ___________________________________

a: How long should I drink them for?

Wrong –'Ear drops are a liquid form of medicine that are used in the ears. You don't drink
them.
b: How long should I use them for?
Correct – This checks when you should stop using the medicine (even if you have some left).

How to … © BBC Learning English 2007

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