Festivals – A1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (A) Jingle Bells

• Explanation: Anna clearly says, “I want to sing Jingle Bells.” Mr. Smith also repeats it: “Great! Jingle Bells.”
• Trap: Option (B) is a trap. Anna says she likes “Silent Night”, but she does not choose to sing it. Option (C) is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (C) He will dance.

• Explanation: Mr. Smith says, “And Leo will dance.”
• Trap: Option (A) is a trap because singing is Anna’s job, not Leo’s. Option (B) is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Room 14

• Explanation: Mr. Smith tells Anna to practice in “Room 14” and makes it very clear by saying “one-four”. Anna repeats “Room 14”.
• Trap: Options (A) and (C) are classic A1 traps. Number 14 (fourteen) can sound like 4 (four) or 40 (forty) to beginners.

Mr. Smith: Hello, Anna. The school Christmas festival is next week.

Anna: I am very excited, Mr. Smith!

Mr. Smith: We need a singer. Do you want to sing “Silent Night” or “Jingle Bells”?

Anna: I like “Silent Night”, but I want to sing “Jingle Bells”.

Mr. Smith: Great! “Jingle Bells”. And Leo will dance. Do you want to dance with him?

Anna: No, thank you. I just want to sing. Where do I practice?

Mr. Smith: In Room 14. That is one-four.

Anna: Okay, Room 14. Thank you!

1 Correct Answer: (B) Friday

• Explanation: Mr. Lee says, “The company New Year party is this Friday.” Sarah also repeats “This Friday?”.
• Trap: Options (A) and (C) are other days of the week, but they are not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (C) At a restaurant

• Explanation: Mr. Lee clearly says, “It is at the Blue Ocean Restaurant.”
• Trap: Option (A) is a very good trap. It is a company party, so people might think it is at the office. Sarah asks, “Is it at the office?”, but Mr. Lee answers “No.”

3 Correct Answer: (B) 6:00

• Explanation: Mr. Lee says the party starts at “6:00 in the evening” and repeats “6:00”. Sarah also confirms by saying “6:00 PM.”
• Trap: Options (A) and (C) are plausible times for a party but are not mentioned.

Mr. Lee: Hello, Sarah. The company New Year party is this Friday.

Sarah: This Friday? That is great, Mr. Lee! Where is the party? Is it at the office?

Mr. Lee: No, it is not at the office. It is at the Blue Ocean Restaurant.

Sarah: The Blue Ocean Restaurant. Okay. What time does it start?

Mr. Lee: It starts at 6:00 in the evening. Please be there at 6:00.

Sarah: 6:00 PM. Okay, I will be there. See you on Friday!

1 Correct Answer: (B) The Spring Festival

• Explanation: Ms. Baker clearly says, “Next week is the Spring Festival.”
• Trap: Options (A) and (C) use other seasons, but they are not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Wednesday

• Explanation: Ms. Baker says the holiday starts on “Wednesday” and repeats it. Leo also repeats it.
• Trap: Option (A) is a very good trap. Leo asks, “Do we come back on Monday?” and Ms. Baker says “Yes.” Monday is the day they go back to school, not the day the holiday starts.

3 Correct Answer: (B) The 15th

• Explanation: Ms. Baker says the holiday starts on “Wednesday, the 15th.”
• Trap: Option (C) is a classic A1 trap. The pronunciation of “fifteenth” (15th) and “fiftieth” (50th) can be confusing for beginners. Option (A) uses a similar sound but is incorrect.

Leo: Excuse me, Ms. Baker. Do we have school next week?

Ms. Baker: No, Leo. Next week is the Spring Festival. We have a holiday.

Leo: Oh, wonderful! When does the holiday start?

Ms. Baker: It starts on Wednesday. Wednesday, the 15th.

Leo: Wednesday the 15th. Okay. Do we come back on Monday?

Ms. Baker: Yes, you come back to school on Monday. Have a good holiday, Leo!

Leo: Thank you, Ms. Baker. You too!

1 Correct Answer: (B) The Moon Festival

• Explanation: Mr. Green clearly says, “The Moon Festival is next week.”
• Trap: Option (C) is a trap. The students are making paper stars, but the festival is the Moon Festival. Option (A) is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Red

• Explanation: Tom asks to use the “red paper”, and Mr. Green says “Yes”.
• Trap: Option (B) is a trap because “blue paper” is on the desk, but Tom does not choose it. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) A big star

• Explanation: Mr. Green repeats the instruction twice: “Please cut one big star.”
• Trap: Option (A) is a trap. Mr. Green says the word “small”, but he says “Not a small star.” Option (B) mixes the word “big” and “moon” (from Moon Festival), but they are not cutting moons.

Mr. Green: Good morning, class. The Moon Festival is next week. Let’s make paper stars today. First, look at the paper on your desk. We have red paper and blue paper.

Tom: Can I use the red paper, Mr. Green?

Mr. Green: Yes, Tom. You can use the red paper. Now, take your scissors. Please cut one big star. Not a small star. Cut one big star. Let’s start!

1 Correct Answer: (B) London

• Explanation: Mark clearly says, “I went to London”.
• Trap: Option (A) is a trap. Mark asks Julia “Did you go to Paris?”, so the word “Paris” is in the audio, but it is not where Mark went.

2 Correct Answer: (A) At home

• Explanation: Julia answers Mark’s question by saying, “I stayed at home.” Mark also repeats, “Oh, you stayed at home.”
• Trap: Option (B) is the trap. Mark asks if she went to Paris, but Julia says “No, I did not go to Paris.” Option (C) is where Mark went, not Julia.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Her family

• Explanation: Mark asks if she was alone, and Julia says, “No, I was with my family.”
• Trap: Options (A) and (B) are plausible people to spend a holiday with, but they are not mentioned in the conversation.

Mark: Good morning, Julia. Happy New Year!

Julia: Happy New Year, Mark! Did you have a good holiday?

Mark: Yes, I did. I went to London. What about you? Did you go to Paris?

Julia: No, I did not go to Paris. I stayed at home.

Mark: Oh, you stayed at home. Were you alone?

Julia: No, I was with my family. We had a great time!

Mark: That is nice. Well, back to work!