Describe a Time When you Had Some Medicine- IELTS Cue Card

Sample Answer

We all have a tendency to contract diseases or minor illnesses from time to time. Even if an individual follows a proper lifestyle, sometimes our body fails to safeguard against ailments. Although our immune system is capable of eliminating near about any kind of virus, bacteria or other sorts of foreign elements that cause us discomfort, sometimes an individual may need other counter-measures. One such instance where I had to medicines to ease my discomfort was when I had an agonizing stomachache. Although stomachaches were nothing out of the ordinary when I was a child, and I was able to handle them quite well in the past, however, in this particular episode, I experienced malaise as I had never before.

This incident happened quite recently, and I was bedridden for three days due to the pain and stiffness. Initially, it started as a mild irritation in my gut which I ignored. Eventually, The pain began to grow, up to the point where it was unbearable. The hardest part of the stomachache was in the middle of the night, and I could not lay still and try to fall asleep. The situation worsened as I did not have any medicines at the moment with me and was home alone. I spent the entire night twisting and turning on my bed, trying to find ways to distract my mind from the anguish. Next morning, the pain subsided, and I was able to visit a doctor who diagnosed me with food poisoning. She prescribed a few medicines, which I proceeded to take regularly over the next week.

Although the stomachache reduced significantly on the third day, I continued to take my medicines as prescribed by the doctor. Fortunately, I recovered from my affliction and have been careful about my food choices.

Vocabulary

• Contract

Meaning: catch or develop (a disease or infectious agent).
Eg: People tried their best to not contract the COVID-19 virus.

• Safeguard

Meaning: protect from harm or damage with an appropriate measure.
Eg: The moat was prepared to safeguard the castle from invasions.

• Eliminating

Meaning: destroy utterly; wipe out.
Eg: The soldiers were successful in eliminating the enemy troops.

• Malaise

Meaning: a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify.
Eg: Kristen has been suffering from a malaise for a long time.

• Anguish

Meaning: severe mental or physical pain or suffering.
Eg: The minister understood the anguish of the local community.

Speaking Part 3 – Follow up Questions

• What do you think of buying medicine online?

The Internet has allowed people to undertake numerous activities in the comfort of their homes. One such example is the availability of medicines online. The practice of buying medicines through online marketplaces is becoming exceedingly common. Many people find it difficult to search physical pharmacies for a particular medicine they are prescribed. Thus, in my opinion, online medicine shopping is a boon for such individuals.

• In your opinion, why do some people dislike taking medicine?

There can be several reasons for a person to have an aversion to medicines. A typical reason for such a reaction is that most people can’t stand the taste or smell of certain medicines. Some medicines might even make an individual regurgitate. Another reason is that people become addicted to certain medicines and drugs and thereby prefer to avoid them.

• Some people say medicine is harmful. Do you think so?

Medicines are supplements that are taken to cure ailments and diseases. However, they can pose a threat to an individual’s health if not taken cautiously. Some medicines can have detrimental side effects which might need further treatment. The human body also has a tendency to become dependent on medication over prolonged periods of usage. Therefore, it is true that medicines can be harmful if misused or used without supervision.

• What do you think of fake medicine?

Many organizations around the world dispense fake medicines. Such felonious practices are undertaken to obtain a higher profit margin on medicine sales. I believe that people caught in the act of making or distributing fake medicines should be severely punished. People have been known to lose their lives or become terminally ill due to the use of fake medicines unknowingly.

Vocabulary

• Boon

Meaning: a thing that is helpful or beneficial.
Eg: The rainy showers this week came as a boon in this hot weather.

• Aversion

Meaning: a strong dislike or disinclination.
Eg: Their aversion to meat was due to their vegetarian upbringing.

• Regurgitate

Meaning: bring (swallowed food) up again to the mouth.
Eg: Dave was so nervous before the play, it made him regurgitate.

• Ailments

Meaning: an illness, typically a minor one.
Eg: Rahul suffered from various ailments which made him miss school quite often.

• Felonious

Meaning: relating to or involved in crime.
Eg: Jesse James was the leader of the felonious James-Younger gang in America.