Festivals – A1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) Anna

• Explanation: The man clearly says the name and spells it out: “A-N-N-A.”
• Trap: Options (A) and (C) are traps because “Emma” and “Hannah” sound very similar to “Anna”.

2 Correct Answer: (B) 5:00

• Explanation: The woman answers his question by saying, “No, it closes at 5:00. Five o’clock.”
• Trap: Option (C) is a trap because the man asks, “At 9:00?”. Option (A) is the current time (“it is 4:30 now”), not the closing time.

3 Correct Answer: (A) A doll

• Explanation: The man says, “I want to buy a doll.”
• Trap: Option (B) is a very common trap. The woman suggests a book, but the man says “No, not a book.” Option (C) is a plausible toy but is never mentioned.

Man: Oh no! Tomorrow is Christmas. I forgot to buy a gift for Anna! A-N-N-A.

Woman: Do not worry. The toy store is open.

Man: What time does it close? At 9:00?

Woman: No, it closes at 5:00. Five o’clock.

Man: 5:00? But it is 4:30 now! We need to go fast.

Woman: Okay. Do you want to buy a book for her?

Man: No, not a book. I want to buy a doll. She loves dolls!

Woman: Good idea. Let’s go!

1 Correct Answer: (C) It is black.

• Explanation: The woman says clearly, “No, the chicken is black. We cannot eat it.”
• Trap: Options (A) and (B) are common problems with food, but they are not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (B) She is sad.

• Explanation: The woman says, “I am very sad.”
• Trap: Option (A) is the opposite of how she feels. Option (C) is a plausible negative emotion, but she specifically says she is “sad”, not “angry”.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Cheese pizza

• Explanation: The man suggests, “Let’s eat pizza,” and the woman agrees, “Let’s order a cheese pizza.”
• Trap: Option (A) is a classic trap. They wanted to eat chicken for the festival, but they cannot eat it because it is black. Option (C) is not mentioned.

Woman: Oh no! The Christmas dinner is ruined.

Man: What is wrong? Is the chicken okay?

Woman: No, the chicken is black. We cannot eat it. I am very sad.

Man: That is okay. Do not be sad. Let’s eat pizza.

Woman: Pizza? Okay. Let’s order a cheese pizza.

Man: Great! Cheese pizza is delicious.

1 Correct Answer: (B) The fireworks

• Explanation: Leo clearly says, “The fireworks! They are very loud.”
• Trap: Option (A) is a classic trap. The Dad asks if Leo is scared of the monster masks, but Leo says, “No, not the masks.” Option (C) is a plausible fear for a child, but it is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Go home

• Explanation: Leo says twice that he wants to go home (“I want to go home” and “Just home. Please!”).
• Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The Dad offers him ice cream, but Leo says, “No ice cream, Dad.” Option (B) is not mentioned as something Leo wants to do.

3 Correct Answer: (A) 10 minutes

• Explanation: The Dad says, “We will be home in 10 minutes” and repeats “Just 10.”
• Trap: Option (C) is a trap because the Dad mentions “20 minutes” but explicitly says “Not 20 minutes.” Option (B) is a sound-alike trap, but it is not mentioned.

Dad: Do you like the festival, Leo?

Leo: No, Dad. I am scared!

Dad: Scared? Are you scared of the monster masks?

Leo: No, not the masks. The fireworks! They are very loud. Boom, boom! I want to go home.

Dad: Okay. Do you want an ice cream first?

Leo: No ice cream, Dad. Just home. Please!

Dad: Alright. Let’s go to the car. We will be home in 10 minutes. Not 20 minutes. Just 10.

Leo: Okay, Dad.

1 Correct Answer: (B) It is raining.

• Explanation: Emma asks, “is it raining?” and Sam answers, “Yes, it is raining.”
• Trap: Options (A) and (C) are other weather conditions, but they are not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (C) She is very sad.

• Explanation: Emma clearly says, “I am very sad.”
• Trap: Option (A) is a trap. Emma says the festival is “great” at the beginning, but when it rains, her feeling changes to sad. Option (B) is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (A) On Bus 13

• Explanation: Sam corrects Emma and says, “No, we need Bus 13,” and clarifies by saying “One-three.” Emma also repeats “Bus 13” at the end.
• Trap: Option (B) is a classic A1 trap. Emma suggests “Bus 30” first, but it is the wrong bus. “13” and “30” sound very similar. Option (C) is a plausible way to go home in the rain, but it is not mentioned.

Sam: Look at the beautiful lights, Emma!

Emma: Yes, the festival is great. Oh no… is it raining?

Sam: Yes, it is raining. I am getting wet.

Emma: Oh, the lights are off now. I am very sad.

Sam: Me too. We cannot see the festival in the rain. Let’s go home.

Emma: Okay. Let’s go home on Bus 30.

Sam: Bus 30? No, we need Bus 13. One-three.

Emma: Oh, right. Bus 13. Let’s go.

1 Correct Answer: (A) A blue shirt

• Explanation: Tom says, “Wow, a blue shirt! I love blue.”
• Trap: Option (B) has the wrong color. Option (C) has the right color but the wrong clothing item.

2 Correct Answer: (B) It is too big.

• Explanation: Tom clearly says, “But Mary, it is too big for me.”
• Trap: Option (A) is a classic trap. Tom needs a “small” shirt, so learners might hear the word “small” and choose this option, but the shirt he received is too big. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Small

• Explanation: Mary says, “But you wear a size Small.” Tom agrees, “Yes, I need a small shirt.”
• Trap: Option (A) is a trap because “Large” is the size of the shirt in the box, not the size Tom needs. Option (B) is a common size but is not mentioned in the audio.

Mary: Merry Christmas, Tom! Here is your gift. Open it!

Tom: Oh, thank you, Mary! Wow, a blue shirt! I love blue.

Mary: I am glad you like it. Is it good?

Tom: It is very beautiful. But Mary, it is too big for me. Look, it is a size Large.

Mary: Oh no! A size Large? But you wear a size Small.

Tom: Yes, I need a small shirt.

Mary: I am so sorry. I have the receipt. We can change it tomorrow.

Tom: That is okay, Mary. Thank you!