Days & Dates – A1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the passenger’s problem?
(A) He lost his train ticket.
(B) He bought a ticket for the wrong day.
(C) He missed his train.
2 What day is on his FIRST ticket (the wrong ticket)?
(A) Tuesday
(B) Thursday
(C) Today
3 What day does the passenger WANT to travel?
(A) Tuesday
(B) Wednesday
(C) Thursday
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) He bought a ticket for the wrong day.
- Explanation: The passenger says he has a “problem with my train ticket” and explains he bought it for Tuesday but wants to go on Thursday (wrong day). Option (A) is a trap because “ticket” is mentioned, but he didn’t lose it. Option (C) is a common train problem but not mentioned here.
2 Correct Answer: (A) Tuesday
- Explanation: The passenger says, “I bought a ticket for Tuesday.” Option (B) “Thursday” is a trap because it is mentioned in the audio, but it is the day he wants to go, not the ticket he currently has. Option (C) is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: (C) Thursday
- Explanation: The passenger explicitly states, “But I want to travel on Thursday.” Option (A) is the trap (the day he accidentally bought). Option (B) “Wednesday” is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Passenger: Excuse me. I have a problem with my train ticket.
Clerk: How can I help you?
Passenger: I bought a ticket for Tuesday. But I want to travel on Thursday. Can I change it?
Clerk: Let me see. From Tuesday to Thursday… Yes, you can. Here is your new ticket for Thursday.
Passenger: Thank you so much!
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where is the man calling?
(A) A school
(B) A hospital
(C) A clinic
2 What day did the man miss his appointment? (The OLD appointment)
(A) Sunday
(B) Monday
(C) Wednesday
3 What day is the NEW appointment?
(A) Monday
(B) Tuesday
(C) Wednesday
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (C) A clinic
- Explanation: The receptionist answers the phone and says, “Hello, City Clinic.” Option (B) is a trap because a hospital is similar to a clinic, but it is not the exact word used. Option (A) is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (B) Monday
- Explanation: The patient says, “I missed my appointment yesterday. Yesterday was Monday.” Option (A) “Sunday” is not mentioned but sounds a little like Monday. Option (C) “Wednesday” is the trap because it is mentioned in the audio, but it is the new day, not the missed day.
3 Correct Answer: (C) Wednesday
- Explanation: The patient asks, “Can I come on Wednesday?” and the receptionist says yes. Option (A) “Monday” is the trap (the day he missed). Option (B) “Tuesday” is not mentioned at all.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Hello, City Clinic. How can I help you?
Patient: Hello. My name is Tom. I missed my appointment yesterday. Yesterday was Monday. I am very sorry.
Receptionist: Monday… Yes, I see your name here. Do you want a new appointment?
Patient: Yes, please. Can I come on Wednesday?
Receptionist: Yes, Wednesday is fine. See you on Wednesday.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a brother and a sister. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the date today?
(A) May 8th
(B) May 9th
(C) March 9th
2 Whose birthday is it today?
(A) The sister’s birthday
(B) The brother’s birthday
(C) Their mother’s birthday
3 What is the problem?
(A) They have no gift.
(B) They have no cake.
(C) They are late for the party.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) May 9th
- Explanation: The brother asks if it is the 8th, but the sister insists: “No, it is the ninth. May 9th.” Answer (A) is a distractor based on adjacent numbers, while answer (C) is a distractor using a month with the same initial letter.
2 Correct Answer: (C) Their mother’s birthday
- Explanation: The brother cries out, “May 9th is Mom’s birthday!” Neither option (A) nor (B) is identified as the person whose birthday it is.
3 Correct Answer: (A) They have no gift.
- Explanation: The brother concludes by saying, “And we have no gift for her!” While options (B) and (C) represent typical birthday situations, they do not appear in the audio track.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Brother: Wait! What is the date today? Is it the eighth?
Sister: No, it is the ninth. May 9th.
Brother: Oh no! May 9th is Mom’s birthday! I forgot!
Sister: Today? Are you sure?
Brother: Yes, today is the ninth. And we have no gift for her!
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between two roommates. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What does the first person want to drink?
(A) Water
(B) Juice
(C) Milk
2 What is the date on the box? (The expiration date)
(A) April 13th
(B) April 15th
(C) April 30th
3 What is the date TODAY?
(A) April 5th
(B) April 13th
(C) April 15th
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (C) Milk
- Explanation: Roommate A says clearly, “I want to drink this milk.” Options (A) and (B) are other common drinks but are not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: (A) April 13th
- Explanation: Roommate A looks at the box and says, “It says April 13th.” Option (C) “30th” is a phonetic trap because “thirteenth” and “thirtieth” sound very similar. Option (B) is a trap because it is today’s date, not the date on the box.
3 Correct Answer: (C) April 15th
- Explanation: Roommate B warns his friend by saying, “Today is April 15th!” Option (A) “5th” sounds a bit like 15th but is incorrect. Option (B) “13th” is the date on the milk box, not today’s date.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Roommate A: I am thirsty. I want to drink this milk.
Roommate B: Wait! Stop! Look at the date on the box.
Roommate A: The date? Let me see. It says April 13th. Yes, April 13th.
Roommate B: April 13th? Today is April 15th! The milk is bad.
Roommate A: Oh, you are right. I will throw it away.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between two colleagues. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What holiday are they talking about?
(A) New Year’s Day
(B) Independence Day
(C) Christmas Day
2 What date is the holiday?
(A) June 4th
(B) July 4th
(C) July 14th
3 What day of the week is the holiday THIS YEAR?
(A) Monday
(B) Tuesday
(C) Sunday
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Independence Day
- Explanation: Colleague B clearly says, “I think Independence Day is on Monday.” Options (A) and (C) are other popular holidays but they are not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: (B) July 4th
- Explanation: Both speakers mention “July 4th”. Option (C) “14th” is a phonetic trap because “fourteenth” sounds similar to “fourth” for beginners. Option (A) “June 4th” uses the wrong month.
3 Correct Answer: (B) Tuesday
- Explanation: Colleague A looks at the calendar and corrects the mistake, saying, “No, July 4th is on Tuesday this year.” Option (A) “Monday” is the trap because Colleague B thought it was Monday at first. Option (C) “Sunday” is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Colleague A: Is the holiday on Monday or Tuesday?
Colleague B: I think Independence Day is on Monday. July 4th is a Monday.
Colleague A: Wait. Let me look at the calendar. No, July 4th is on Tuesday this year.
Colleague B: Oh, Tuesday! That is good. I can ask for Monday off.