Extended Family – A1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
A passenger is buying a train ticket to visit her family. Listen to the conversation at the train station. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Who is the passenger going to visit?
(A) Her parents
(B) Her grandparents
(C) Her aunt
2 What time is the passenger’s train?
(A) 8 o’clock
(B) 10 o’clock
(C) 12 o’clock
3 How much is the train ticket?
(A) 15 pounds
(B) 50 pounds
(C) 5 pounds
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (Her grandparents)
- Explanation: The passenger says, “I want to visit my grandparents.” The agent also repeats this word. Option A (parents) and Option C (aunt) are family words, but they are not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: B (10 o’clock)
- Explanation: The agent asks about the “8 o’clock” train (Option A is the trap). The passenger says “No” because it is too early, and chooses the “10 o’clock” train. Option C (12 o’clock) is a plausible time but is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: B (50 pounds)
- Explanation: The passenger asks if the ticket is “15 pounds” (Option A is the phonetic trap). The agent corrects her, saying “No, it is not 15. It is 50 pounds.” He also repeats “Five-zero” to be clear. Option C (5 pounds) is just a plausible number.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Agent: Good morning. Can I help you?
Passenger: Yes, I need a train ticket to Oxford. I want to visit my grandparents.
Agent: Your grandparents in Oxford. Okay. Do you want the 8 o’clock train?
Passenger: No, 8 o’clock is too early. I want the 10 o’clock train.
Agent: The 10 o’clock train. Great.
Passenger: How much is the ticket? Is it 15 pounds?
Agent: No, it is not 15. It is 50 pounds. Five-zero.
Passenger: 50 pounds. Okay, here is the money.
Listening 2
A customer is buying a shirt for her grandfather in a clothing store. Listen to the conversation in a clothing store. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Who is the customer buying the shirt for?
(A) Her father
(B) Her grandfather
(C) Her uncle
2 What color shirt does she buy?
(A) Blue
(B) Green
(C) Red
3 What size is the shirt?
(A) S (Small)
(B) L (Large)
(C) XL (Extra Large)
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (Her grandfather)
- Explanation: The customer explicitly says, “I want to buy a shirt for my grandfather,” and the assistant repeats it. Option A (father) and Option C (uncle) are other male family members, acting as distractors.
2 Correct Answer: B (Green)
- Explanation: The assistant asks, “Does he like blue?” (Option A is the trap). The customer answers, “No, he doesn’t like blue. He likes green,” and spells the word G-R-E-E-N. Option C (Red) is a plausible color but is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: C (XL / Extra Large)
- Explanation: The assistant asks if the size is “Large” or “L” (Option B is the trap). The customer says, “No, Large is too small. He needs an Extra Large. X-L.” Option A (Small) is a trap because the customer uses the word “small” to describe the Large size.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Assistant: Hello. Can I help you?
Customer: Yes, please. I want to buy a shirt for my grandfather.
Assistant: A shirt for your grandfather. Okay. What color does he like? Does he like blue?
Customer: No, he doesn’t like blue. He likes green. G-R-E-E-N.
Assistant: Green. Very nice. And what size? Is he a Large? L?
Customer: No, Large is too small. He needs an Extra Large. X-L.
Assistant: Okay, one green shirt in size XL. That is 20 dollars.
Customer: Thank you. Here is the money.
Listening 3
A customer is calling a restaurant to book a table for his family. Listen to the phone call to a restaurant. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 How many people are coming to the dinner?
(A) 2
(B) 12
(C) 20
2 What day is the family dinner?
(A) Friday
(B) Saturday
(C) Sunday
3 What is the customer’s name?
(A) Carter
(B) Carver
(C) Parker
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (12)
- Explanation: The customer says, “For twelve people,” and repeats the numbers “One-two” to be clear. Option C (20) is a phonetic trap because “twelve” and “twenty” can sound confusing for beginners. Option A (2) is just a plausible number trap.
2 Correct Answer: B (Saturday)
- Explanation: The receptionist asks, “Is it for Friday evening?” (Option A is the trap). The customer says, “No, not Friday. We want to come on Saturday.” Option C (Sunday) is a weekend day but is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: A (Carter)
- Explanation: The customer spells his name clearly: C-A-R-T-E-R. Option B (Carver) and Option C (Parker) are traps because they sound very similar to Carter, testing if the listener caught the exact spelling.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Hello. Star Restaurant. Can I help you?
Customer: Yes. I want to book a big table for my family.
Receptionist: Of course. How many people?
Customer: For twelve people. One-two. My grandparents, aunts, and uncles are coming.
Receptionist: Twelve people. Okay. Is it for Friday evening?
Customer: No, not Friday. We want to come on Saturday. Saturday at 7 o’clock.
Receptionist: Saturday at 7 o’clock. What is your name, please?
Customer: My name is Carter. C-A-R-T-E-R.
Receptionist: C-A-R-T-E-R. Thank you, Mr. Carter. See you on Saturday.
Listening 4
A customer is renting a large vehicle for a family holiday. Listen to the conversation at a car rental shop. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Who is coming on the holiday with the customer?
(A) His parents and sister
(B) His grandparents and cousins
(C) His aunt and uncle
2 What kind of vehicle does the customer need?
(A) A normal car
(B) A big bus
(C) A big van
3 How many seats does the vehicle have?
(A) 15
(B) 16
(C) 60
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (His grandparents and cousins)
- Explanation: The customer clearly says, “My grandparents and cousins are coming.” Option A and Option C use other family words to trick the listener, but they are never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: C (A big van)
- Explanation: At first, the customer asks for a “car” (Option A is the trap). But the agent says a normal car is too small and spells out the correct vehicle: “You need a big van. V-A-N.” Option B (bus) is just a plausible wrong answer.
3 Correct Answer: B (16)
- Explanation: The customer asks how many seats the van has, and the agent answers, “It has 16 seats. Sixteen.” Option A (15) is a trap because 15 is the number of people, not the number of seats. Option C (60) is a phonetic trap because “sixteen” and “sixty” sound similar to beginners.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Agent: Good morning. Do you need a car?
Customer: Yes. I want to rent a car for my family holiday.
Agent: Okay. How many people are in your family?
Customer: My grandparents and cousins are coming. We are 15 people. One-five.
Agent: 15 people? A normal car is too small. You need a big van.
Customer: Yes, a van. How many seats does the van have?
Agent: It has 16 seats. Sixteen.
Customer: Great. 16 seats is perfect for us.
Listening 5
A man is lost and asks a local woman for directions to his aunt’s house. Listen to the conversation between a man and a local woman. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Whose house is the man looking for?
(A) His aunt’s house
(B) His friend’s house
(C) His uncle’s house
2 What is the address of the house?
(A) 7 Apple Street
(B) 17 Apple Street
(C) 70 Apple Street
3 What are the correct directions to the house?
(A) Turn left.
(B) Turn right.
(C) Turn around.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: A (His aunt’s house)
- Explanation: The man clearly says, “I am looking for my aunt’s house.” Option C (uncle’s house) is another family word used as a distractor. Option B (friend’s house) is a plausible reason to ask for directions, but it is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: B (17 Apple Street)
- Explanation: The man states the address is “17 Apple Street” and repeats the numbers “One-seven” to be very clear. Option C (70) is a phonetic trap because “seventeen” and “seventy” can sound very similar. Option A (7) is also a number trap.
3 Correct Answer: B (Turn right)
- Explanation: The man asks, “Do I turn left?” (Option A is the trap). The woman says, “No, don’t turn left. Go straight, and then turn right.” She repeats “Turn right” to confirm. Option C (Turn around) is never mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Pedestrian: Excuse me. Can you help me, please? I am looking for my aunt’s house.
Local: Sure. What is the address?
Pedestrian: It is 17 Apple Street. One-seven Apple Street.
Local: 17 Apple Street? Oh, that is near here.
Pedestrian: Great! How do I get there? Do I turn left?
Local: No, don’t turn left. Go straight, and then turn right.
Pedestrian: Turn right?
Local: Yes. Turn right. The house is next to the park.
Pedestrian: Thank you very much!