Days & Dates – A1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
A tourist is calling a hotel to book a room. Listen to the phone call to a hotel. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What type of room does the tourist want?
(A) A single room
(B) A double room
(C) A family room
2 What month is the tourist’s stay?
(A) April
(B) August
(C) September
3 What is the start date of the booking?
(A) August 5th
(B) August 15th
(C) August 8th
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (A double room)
- Explanation: The tourist explicitly says, “I want to book a double room, please.” Option A (single room) and Option C (family room) are common room types but are not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: B (August)
- Explanation: The tourist says the stay is in “August”. Option A (April) is a phonetic trap because it also starts with “A”. Option C (September) is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: A (August 5th)
- Explanation: The receptionist asks if the stay is from “the 15th” (Option B is the trap). The tourist corrects her: “No, not the 15th. It is from the 5th of August,” and confirms with “Number five.” Option C (August 8th) is the date the tourist leaves, not the start date.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Good morning. Sunset Hotel. Can I help you?
Tourist: Yes, hello. I want to book a double room, please.
Receptionist: A double room. Okay. When is your stay?
Tourist: It is in August.
Receptionist: August. And what is the date? Is it from the 15th?
Tourist: No, not the 15th. It is from the 5th of August. Number five.
Receptionist: From the 5th. And when do you leave?
Tourist: We leave on the 8th of August.
Receptionist: The 8th. So, that is three nights.
Tourist: Yes, three nights. Thank you!
Listening 2
A patient is calling a dental clinic to book an appointment. Listen to the phone call between a patient and a nurse. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Who does the patient want to see?
(A) A doctor
(B) A dentist
(C) A teacher
2 What day is the appointment?
(A) Monday
(B) Tuesday
(C) Wednesday
3 What is the date next Wednesday?
(A) The 7th
(B) The 10th
(C) The 17th
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (A dentist)
- Explanation: The patient clearly says, “I need to see the dentist, please.” Option A (A doctor) is a related medical profession used as a distractor, but not the exact word mentioned. Option C (A teacher) is completely incorrect.
2 Correct Answer: C (Wednesday)
- Explanation: The nurse suggests “next Monday” (Option A is the trap). The patient says, “No, I am busy on Monday. Can I come on Wednesday?” The nurse confirms Wednesday is okay. Option B (Tuesday) is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: C (The 17th)
- Explanation: The nurse says, “It is the 17th,” and repeats “One-seven” to be clear. Option B (The 10th) is a trap because 10 is the time of the appointment (10 o’clock), not the date. Option A (The 7th) is a phonetic trap for the number 17.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Nurse: Hello, Smile Dental Clinic. Can I help you?
Patient: Hello. I need to see the dentist, please.
Nurse: Okay. Can you come next Monday?
Patient: Next Monday? No, I am busy on Monday. Can I come on Wednesday?
Nurse: Wednesday… Let me check. Yes, you can. What time on Wednesday? At 10 o’clock?
Patient: 10 o’clock is good. Wait, what is the date next Wednesday?
Nurse: It is the 17th. One-seven.
Patient: The 17th. Okay, see you on Wednesday. Thank you.
Listening 3
A passenger is buying a plane ticket at the travel agency. Listen to the conversation at the travel agency. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where does the passenger want to fly to?
(A) Paris
(B) London
(C) New York
2 What month does the passenger want to fly?
(A) March
(B) May
(C) April
3 What date must the passenger fly?
(A) The 12th
(B) The 20th
(C) The 22nd
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (London)
- Explanation: The passenger clearly says, “I need a ticket to London”. Option A (Paris) and Option C (New York) are other famous cities used as distractors but are not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: A (March)
- Explanation: The agent asks, “In May?” (Option B is the trap). The passenger corrects him: “No, not May. I need to fly in March”. Option C (April) is a plausible month but is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: B (The 20th)
- Explanation: The agent suggests “the 22nd” (Option C is the trap). The passenger explicitly says, “No, the 22nd is too late. I must fly on the 20th,” and emphasizes “Two-zero.” Option A (The 12th) is a phonetic trap.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Agent: Good morning. Can I help you?
Passenger: Yes, I need a ticket to London, please.
Agent: A ticket to London. Okay. When do you want to fly? In May?
Passenger: No, not May. I need to fly in March.
Agent: March. Okay. Do you want to fly on the 22nd of March?
Passenger: No, the 22nd is too late. I must fly on the 20th. Two-zero.
Agent: Let me check. Yes, I have a ticket for the 20th of March.
Passenger: Perfect. Thank you!
Listening 4
A customer is calling the post office to ask when his package will be delivered. Listen to the phone call between a customer and a post office agent. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the customer’s package code?
(A) B-O-X
(B) F-O-X
(C) P-O-X
2 What day will the package come?
(A) Tuesday
(B) Thursday
(C) Friday
3 What is the date on Thursday?
(A) The 3rd
(B) The 13th
(C) The 30th
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: A (B-O-X)
- Explanation: The customer clearly spells his code: B-O-X. Option B (F-O-X) and Option C (P-O-X) are phonetic traps because the letters F, P, and B can sound similar over the phone to a beginner.
2 Correct Answer: B (Thursday)
- Explanation: The customer asks, “Will the package come on Tuesday?” (Option A is the trap). The agent says, “No, it will not come on Tuesday. It will come on Thursday”. Option C (Friday) is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: B (The 13th)
- Explanation: The customer asks if the date is “the 30th” (Option C is the phonetic trap). The agent corrects him: “No, Thursday is the 13th,” and emphasizes “One-three. Not 30” to ensure clarity. Option A (The 3rd) is just a single-digit number trap.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Agent: Hello. Express Post. Can I help you?
Customer: Hello. I want to ask about my package.
Agent: Sure. What is your package code, please?
Customer: It is B-O-X.
Agent: B-O-X. Let me check.
Customer: Will the package come on Tuesday?
Agent: No, it will not come on Tuesday. It will come on Thursday.
Customer: Thursday. Okay. And what is the date? Is it the 30th?
Agent: No, Thursday is the 13th. One-three. Not 30.
Customer: Thursday the 13th. Great. Thank you very much!
Listening 5
A reader is borrowing a book and the librarian tells him the return date. Listen to the conversation in a library. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What does the librarian stamp?
(A) A library card
(B) A notebook
(C) A letter
2 What date must the reader return the book?
(A) The 3rd
(B) The 13th
(C) The 30th
3 What month must the reader return the book?
(A) March
(B) April
(C) May
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: A (A library card)
- Explanation: The librarian clearly says, “Let me stamp your library card”. Option B (notebook) and Option C (letter) are just plausible paper-related items but are never mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: C (The 30th)
- Explanation: The reader asks if he needs to return it on “the 13th” (Option B is the phonetic trap). The librarian corrects him: “No, not the 13th. You must return it on the 30th,” and confirms with “Three-zero.” Option A (The 3rd) is a single-digit trap.
3 Correct Answer: B (April)
- Explanation: The reader asks, “Is it in May?” (Option C is the trap). The librarian says, “No, not May. It is the 30th of April”. Option A (March) is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Reader: Hello. I want to borrow this book, please.
Librarian: Okay. Let me stamp your library card.
Reader: Thank you. When must I return the book? Is it on the 13th?
Librarian: No, not the 13th. You must return it on the 30th. Three-zero.
Reader: Oh, the 30th. What month is that? Is it in May?
Librarian: No, not May. It is the 30th of April.
Reader: I understand. The 30th of April. Thank you.
Librarian: You are welcome. Enjoy the book!