A. Read the following dialogue and answer the questions below.

1. What is wrong with Mrs Kowalska?
2. What does the doctor tell her to do?

Dialogue

Mrs Kowalska: Hello doctor, I've come to see you because I've got a terrible rash all over my body. I've been reading in the papers that there's an outbreak of German measles in Italy, maybe I've caught it! I remember my sister had German measles 6 years ago and it looked just like this. I want to start a family and I've read that German measles can be very dangerous for pregnant women.

Dr Pellegrino: Okay, Mrs Kowalska, calm down and let's not jump to any hasty conclusions. This looks nasty, have you been scratching it?

Mrs Kowalska: Yes, it's so itchy I can't help it.

Dr Pellegrino: Well, don't worry, it's not German measles, it looks like heat rash to me. Have you been in the sun a lot?

Mrs Kowalska: Of course, we're on holiday. We've been sightseeing, we've seen the cathedral, several of the beautiful museums in Florence and yesterday we found the beautiful Plaza del San Spirito, quite by chance. We really love this city; I can't believe how many beautiful buildings there are you must be so proud living here, although the beggars are a nuisance. And the food is fantastic we had delicious lasagne yesterday.

Dr Pellegrino: I'm sorry about the beggars, but you're right it is a beautiful city, but you are from Poland and the Polish are not used to such hot weather, so you must be careful.

Mrs Kowalska: Can you give me some ointment to make it go?

Dr Pellegrino: I suggest using some camomile lotion three times a day. You can also try taking a shower and let yourself dry without a towel. Wear loose fitting cotton clothes. Don't use any antiperspirant until it has cleared up. You should also avoid all oil based lotions and these will trap sweat and make the rash worse. Maybe you should stay out of the sun for a couple of days.

Mrs Kowalska: But we're on holiday; it's the only chance in the whole year I get to spend any time in the sun. Tomorrow we're going by train to the sea and I want to work on my tan. I've heard the beaches are very beautiful I can't stay out of the sun, it would ruin my holiday.

Dr Pellegrino: I understand, but if you want to avoid the rash be careful. How much longer do you have in Italy?

Mrs Kowalska: The plane leaves on Friday, I wish we could have longer; there are so many beautiful places to see. I think I'd need a year just to see the basic sites.

Dr Pellegrino: Well of course, but I've heard Poland has many beautiful towns too, where would you recommend?

Mrs Kowalska: Krakow is lovely, but Gdansk and Poznan are also worth visiting. The countryside is also beautiful, we have some of the oldest forest in Poland, you can see bears, wolves and bison living in the wild. We have mountains in the south and the coast in the north is wonderful.

Dr Pellegrino: Thank you, I'll bear it in mind when I plan my next holiday. Now take care in the sun Mrs Kowalska and your rash should clear up in no time.

Mrs Kowalska: I hope so, thank you doctor.

Glossary:

talkative - gadatliwy
jump to conclusions - wyciągać pochopne wnioski
itchy rash - swędząca wysypka
outbreak - wybuch (epidemii)
German measles - różyczka
pregnant - w ciąży
scratching - drapanie
heat rash - potówki
ointment - maść
beggars - żebracy
nuisance - uciążliwość
lotion - płyn, emulsja
camomile lotion - emulsja rumiankowa
sweat - pot
trap - pułapka
oil based lotions - emulsje na bazie oliwki
in no time - błyskawicznie


B. Look again at the dialogue and find an example of each of the rules below.

a/an
talking about one countable noun for the first time
meaning 'per' e.g. once a day

the
items talked about before
media e.g. the papers, the TV
single items, whose reference is clear
objects of which there is only one e.g. the Parthenon
national groups
classes of people (e.g. the unemployed)
some geographical names (e.g. the coast)
superlatives, ordinals (e.g. the same, the only
transport with fixed timetable (e.g. the bus, the train, but a taxi)

no article
uncountable / general reference plural / abstract
most proper names
preposition + transport
names of meals


C. Fill each gap with a/an, the or no article.

1. ______ French are famous for their love of food and wine.
2. I've got _______ terrible sore throat.
3. If you drive along ______ coast, you'll see some beautiful scenery.
4. Paris is ____ most beautiful city I have ever visited.
5. ____ TV is controlled by the state in Byelorussia.
6. My poor mother has to take pills 2 times _____ day for the rest of her life.
7. _______ man I met yesterday was ____ judge.
8. _____ plane to Athens leaves in 20 minutes.
9. _______ paella is a popular Spanish dish.
10. I always travel by _____ bus in cities, it?s much quicker.
11. ____ Mr Jones is an engineer.
12. There are many stray ___ dogs in Athens.


Key

A
1. She has heat rash
2. be careful in the sun, wear loose fitting cotton clothes, use camomile lotion not antiperspirant, or oil based lotions.

B.

rule
a/an talking about one countable noun for the first time
example from dialogue
a terrible rash, a family, an outbreak

rule
a/an meaning 'per' e.g. once a day
example from dialogue
three times a day

rule
the items talked about before
example from dialogue
if you want to avoid the rash

rule
the media e.g. the radio, the TV
example from dialogue
the papers

rule
the single items, whose reference is clear
example from dialogue
the basic sites

rule
the objects of which there is only one e.g. the Parthenon
example from dialogue
the sun

rule
the national groups
example from dialogue
the Polish

rule
the classes of people (e.g. the unemployed)
example from dialogue
the beggars

rule
the some geographical names (e.g. the coast)
example from dialogue
the sea; the south; the north; the wild

rule
the superlatives, ordinals (e.g. the same, the only
example from dialogue
the oldest forest

rule
the transport with fixed timetable (e.g. the bus, the train, but a taxi)
example from dialogue
the plane

rule
no article, uncountable / general reference plural / abstract
example from dialogue
on holiday; bears, wolves and bison

rule
no article, most proper names
example from dialogue
Italy

rule
no article, preposition + transport
example from dialogue
by train

rule
no article, names of meals
example from dialogue
lasagne

C.
1. the
2. a
3. the
4. the
5. the
6. a
7. the/a
8. the
9. no article
10. no article
11. no article
12. no article