Shopping & Money – A1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What color is Anna’s new bag?
(A) Dark blue
(B) Black
(C) Brown
2 How much did the bag cost?
(A) $10
(B) $15
(C) $50
3 What is the name of the store?
(A) Bello
(B) Vella
(C) Bella
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Black
- Explanation: Tom asks if the bag is black or dark blue (The Trap). Anna clearly answers, “It is black” (The Key). Brown is not mentioned in the audio.
2 (A) $10
- Explanation: Tom guesses that the bag costs fifty dollars (The Trap). Anna corrects him and says, “It was only ten dollars! One, zero” (The Key). $15 sounds similar to 50, but it is not the correct number.
3 (C) Bella
- Explanation: Anna explicitly spells out the name of the store letter by letter: “B-E-L-L-A” (The Key). The other options have similar sounds to trick the listener.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Anna: Look at my new bag, Tom! I bought it at the new store.
Tom: Oh, it is very nice, Anna. Is it black or dark blue?
Anna: It is black. And it was very cheap!
Tom: Really? How much was it? Fifty dollars?
Anna: No, not fifty. It was only ten dollars! One, zero.
Tom: Ten dollars? Wow, that is a great price.
Anna: I know! The store is called Bella. B-E-L-L-A. You should go there!
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What does Ben want to do?
(A) Buy a book
(B) See a movie
(C) Buy a video game
2 How much money does Ben ask for?
(A) £5
(B) £15
(C) £50
3 How does Ben spell the number?
(A) F-I-F-T-Y
(B) F-I-V-E
(C) F-I-F-T-E-E-N
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) See a movie
- Explanation: Ben says directly, “I want to see a new movie.” The option “Buy a book” is a common distracter in this topic but is not mentioned.
2 (A) £5
- Explanation: Mom misunderstands and thinks Ben said “fifteen” (The Trap). Ben corrects her: “No, Mom. Not fifteen. Only five pounds” (The Key).
3 (B) F-I-V-E
- Explanation: To make sure Mom understands, Ben spells the word: “F-I-V-E”. This is a typical A1 technique to help learners catch keywords.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Ben: Mom, can I have some money, please?
Mom: How much do you need, Ben?
Ben: I want to see a new movie. I need five pounds.
Mom: Fifteen pounds? That is expensive!
Ben: No, Mom. Not fifteen. Only five pounds. F-I-V-E.
Mom: Oh, five pounds. Okay, here you are.
Ben: Thanks, Mom!
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 How much money does Jack count at first?
(A) $50
(B) $15
(C) $13
2 What is the total amount of money they have?
(A) $20
(B) $5
(C) $25
3 What does Lily want to buy?
(A) A new game
(B) A piggy bank
(C) A comic book
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) $15
- Explanation: Jack starts counting and says, “You have fifteen dollars here.” Option A ($50) is a distractor because “fifteen” and “fifty” sound similar in English.
2 (A) $20
- Explanation: Lily finds 5 dollars more. Jack does a simple math: “fifteen plus five is twenty” (The Key). The total is repeated to confirm the information.
3 (C) A comic book
- Explanation: At the end of the talk, Lily says clearly, “I want to buy a new comic book.”
AUDIO SCRIPT
Lily: Jack, look! My piggy bank is full. Help me count the money.
Jack: Okay. Let’s see… One, two, three… You have fifteen dollars here.
Lily: Wait! Here is five dollars more.
Jack: Oh, I see. So fifteen plus five is twenty.
Lily: Yay! We have twenty dollars!
Jack: That is a lot of money!
Lily: I want to buy a new comic book.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What does Sam want to buy?
(A) A bag
(B) A watch
(C) A phone
2 How does Sam feel about the item?
(A) He thinks it is cheap.
(B) He thinks it is ugly.
(C) He likes it, but it is expensive.
3 How much does the item cost?
(A) $100
(B) $10
(C) $200
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) A watch
- Explanation: Sam clearly says at the beginning, “Wow, look at that watch, Emma!” (The Key). The other options (A bag, A phone) are common things to buy at a mall but are not mentioned in the conversation.
2 (C) He likes it, but it is expensive.
- Explanation: Sam says, “I really like it” and “It is very expensive.” Option A (cheap) is the opposite of the truth.
3 (A) $100
- Explanation: Sam says the price is “one hundred dollars” and emphasizes it by saying “One, zero, zero” (The Key). Option B ($10) is a distractor to test if learners can distinguish between basic numbers.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sam: Wow, look at that watch, Emma!
Emma: It is very nice. Do you want to buy it?
Sam: I really like it. But I don’t have money. It is very expensive.
Emma: Really? How much is it?
Sam: It is one hundred dollars. One, zero, zero.
Emma: Oh, yes. That is too expensive. Let’s go to another store.
Sam: Good idea.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where is David going?
(A) To the bank
(B) To the supermarket
(C) To the restaurant
2 What does Mark want David to buy?
(A) Juice
(B) Water
(C) Milk
3 How much money does Mark give to David?
(A) $10
(B) $12
(C) $20
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) To the supermarket
- Explanation: Mark asks if David is going to the bank (The Trap). David clearly says, “No, I am not. I am going to the supermarket” (The Key).
2 (C) Milk
- Explanation: David asks, “Do you want some juice, too?” (The Trap). Mark says no and confirms he only wants milk (The Key). Water is not mentioned in the audio.
3 (A) $10
- Explanation: Mark gives the money and says, “Here is ten dollars” (The Key). He also spells out the numbers “One, zero” to make it very clear.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: Hey David, are you going to the bank?
David: No, I am not. I am going to the supermarket.
Mark: Great! Can you buy some milk for me?
David: Sure. Do you want some juice, too?
Mark: No, just milk, please. Here is ten dollars. One, zero.
David: Ten dollars. Okay, see you later!