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The document describes the invention of the stethoscope by René Laënnec in 1816. Laënnec was a French physician who invented the stethoscope to help him more clearly listen to patients' internal sounds without direct physical contact. Over several years he experimented with different designs and materials for his invention. The stethoscope has since become an essential medical tool and the unofficial symbol of the medical profession.

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38 views2 pages

03outlook1 ExtraReadWritePrac3

The document describes the invention of the stethoscope by René Laënnec in 1816. Laënnec was a French physician who invented the stethoscope to help him more clearly listen to patients' internal sounds without direct physical contact. Over several years he experimented with different designs and materials for his invention. The stethoscope has since become an essential medical tool and the unofficial symbol of the medical profession.

Uploaded by

joan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name:

EXTRA READING AND WRITING PRACTICE 3


Read the text and answer the questions that follow.

The Embarrassed Doctor’s Great Invention


I Nothing identifies a doctor quite like a stethoscope. This medical instrument has become the unofficial
symbol of medicine. The stethoscope is already over 200 years old, and it is rare to see a doctor or nurse
examining patients without one.
II The stethoscope was invented by René Laënnec in 1816. At that time, great advances were being made in
the field of medicine, but diagnosing certain conditions, such as heart and lung disease, was often
problematic. One common practice of examining a patient was through auscultation, which meant putting an
ear directly against the patient’s chest or back and listening for certain sounds. This technique had been
around since the time of the Ancient Egyptians. It was the most effective diagnostic technique at the time, but
because it was difficult to clearly hear the body’s sounds, doctors would often miss critical signs that might
indicate illness.
III One day, a young overweight woman, who Laënnec suspected of having heart disease, came to see him.
Laënnec didn’t think that he would hear anything clearly because of the woman’s size. At that moment, he
was reminded of something he had seen. He took a sheet of paper and rolled it up tightly into a neat tube,
placed one end on the woman’s chest and his ear to the other end. Laënnec found that he could hear the
woman’s heart more clearly than by putting his ear to her chest.
IV Over the next three years, Laënnec experimented with different designs and materials. Eventually, he
came up with a narrow tube of wood about 25 cm long which he called the stethoscope – from the Greek
stethos meaning chest and scopos meaning examine, or inspect. Using the new tool, Laënnec managed
to learn how to diagnose a variety of different serious chest diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia
and emphysema. A few years later, an Irish doctor, Arthur Leared, developed a stethoscope to fit in both
ears, and since then the design has remained largely unchanged.
V Sadly, Laënnec died at the age of 45 from tuberculosis, having been diagnosed by his nephew using the
stethoscope Laënnec himself had invented.

1 Choose the correct answer.

1 Which statement is NOT true about auscultation?


a It is an ancient practice.
b It involves physical contact with a patient.
c It is used to detect ear illnesses.
2 Laënnec’s original design … .
a hasn’t changed much
b fitted into both ears
c was made of wood

2 Decide if the following sentences are T (true) or F (false). Find evidence in the text to support
your answers.
...... 1 Laënnec heard the woman’s heart better with the paper tube.
......................................................................................................................................................
...... 2 Laënnec used his stethoscope to diagnose his nephew.
......................................................................................................................................................

1
Name:

3 Answer the question.

What is ironic about the last paragraph?


..................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................

4 Complete the sentences without changing the meaning of the original sentence.

1 It is rare to see a doctor or nurse examining patients without a stethoscope.


Doctors and nurses ............................................................................................................................ .
2 Many doctors were concerned about using this particular method.
This particular method ........................................................................................................................ .

5 Find words or expressions in the text that mean:

1 an area of a particular subject or profession (paragraph II) .............................


2 not notice (paragraph II) .............................
3 thought of or suggested an idea (paragraph IV) .............................
4 almost completely (paragraph IV) .............................

6 Write a composition of about 100-150 words. Choose ONE option.

1 What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a doctor?
2 Do you think it’s a good idea to use the Internet to diagnose yourself? Why or why not?

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