ESL Everyday Functional English 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are calling a doctor's office for the first time. What is the most appropriate thing to say?
- I need a doctor right now!
- My name is [name] and I am sick.
- I'd like to schedule an appointment, please. (Correct answer)
- When is the doctor available?
Correct answer: I'd like to schedule an appointment, please.
'I'd like to schedule an appointment, please' is the standard polite phrase for requesting a medical appointment by phone.
Question 2: In the United States, when someone sneezes, the customary thing to say is:
- Stop that!
- Are you sick?
- Bless you. (Correct answer)
- Excuse me.
Correct answer: Bless you.
Saying 'Bless you' after someone sneezes is a common social custom in the United States.
Question 3: A pharmacist asks 'Do you have any drug allergies?' What is the pharmacist asking?
- If you enjoy taking medicine.
- If any medications cause you a harmful or negative reaction. (Correct answer)
- If you prefer name-brand or generic drugs.
- If you have a prescription.
Correct answer: If any medications cause you a harmful or negative reaction.
An 'allergy' in a medical context means a harmful reaction your body has to a substance, so the pharmacist is checking your safety.
Question 4: You receive a voicemail from your boss. How should you professionally respond?
- Send a text message saying 'k'.
- Wait until you see them in person.
- Call back and say 'Hi, this is [name]. I'm returning your call.' (Correct answer)
- Call back and immediately explain your problem.
Correct answer: Call back and say 'Hi, this is [name]. I'm returning your call.'
Identifying yourself and stating that you are returning a call is the standard professional phone etiquette.
Question 5: A doctor asks 'What brings you in today?' What does this question mean?
- What transportation did you use to get to the office?
- Who came with you to the appointment?
- What symptoms or health concerns do you have? (Correct answer)
- What items did you bring with you?
Correct answer: What symptoms or health concerns do you have?
This is a common idiomatic expression doctors use to ask about the reason for your visit or your symptoms.
Question 6: Which phrase most politely expresses that you did not hear or understand what someone said?
- What?!
- You are not speaking clearly.
- I beg your pardon? Could you please repeat that? (Correct answer)
- Say it again, now.
Correct answer: I beg your pardon? Could you please repeat that?
'I beg your pardon?' is a formal and polite way to ask someone to repeat themselves, and adding 'Could you please' is even more courteous.
Question 7: When calling 911 in an emergency, what information is most critical to communicate first?
- A complete description of everyone involved.
- How long the emergency has been happening.
- Your name, the type of emergency, and your location. (Correct answer)
- Your social security number and date of birth.
Correct answer: Your name, the type of emergency, and your location.
Dispatchers need to know the type of emergency and your location immediately so they can send the correct help as quickly as possible.
ESL Everyday Functional English 2
You are calling a doctor's office for the first time.
What is the most appropriate thing to say?