Biography – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to Mark and Elena talking at an English club. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where was Elena born?
(A) In a large city.
(B) In a small town.
(C) On a farm.
2 How many brothers or sisters does Elena have?
(A) One older brother.
(B) One younger brother.
(C) She doesn’t have any.
3 What was Elena’s hobby when she was a child?
(A) Riding horses.
(B) Working on a farm.
(C) Painting pictures.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (In a small town.)
- Explanation: Elena says, “I was actually born in a small town called Riverdale.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is incorrect because she lives in the city now, but she wasn’t born there. Option C is incorrect because she lived near a farm, not on it.
2 Correct Answer: A (One older brother.)
- Explanation: When Mark asks if she has a big family, Elena clearly answers, “Just me and my older brother.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Options B and C do not match the audio.
3 Correct Answer: C (Painting pictures.)
- Explanation: Elena says, “So, I took up painting instead. I painted lots of trees and flowers.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the “Twist Trap”. She wanted to ride horses, but her parents said it was too dangerous. Option B is incorrect because she only lived near a farm; she didn’t work on one.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: Hi, I’m Mark. Is this your first time at the English club?
Elena: Yes, it is. I’m Elena. Nice to meet you.
Mark: Nice to meet you too. Are you from around here?
Elena: Well, I live in the city now, but I wasn’t born here. I was actually born in a small town called Riverdale. My family moved here when I was ten.
Mark: Do you have a big family?
Elena: Just me and my older brother.
Mark: What did you like doing when you lived in Riverdale?
Elena: Um, I really wanted to ride horses, because we lived near a farm. But my parents said it was too dangerous. So, I took up painting instead. I painted lots of trees and flowers.
Mark: That sounds really nice!
Listening 2
Listen to a grandfather and his grandson looking at an old photo. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where did the grandfather live when he was twenty?
(A) In a crowded city.
(B) In a village near the ocean.
(C) In a small mountain town.
2 Why did the grandfather move to the city?
(A) Because he didn’t like the sea anymore.
(B) Because he wanted to go to university.
(C) Because he needed to find a job.
3 What was his very first job?
(A) A baker.
(B) A teacher.
(C) A photographer.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (In a village near the ocean.)
- Explanation: The grandfather says, “I lived in a quiet village by the sea.” (Sea = Ocean).
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is wrong because he moved to the city later. Option C is not mentioned in the recording.
2 Correct Answer: C (Because he needed to find a job.)
- Explanation: He explains that even though he loved the village, “there were no jobs… So, I moved to the city to find work.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is wrong because he said the village was “beautiful” and he “wanted to stay”. Option B is a plausible guess but not mentioned in the script.
3 Correct Answer: A (A baker.)
- Explanation: This is a “Twist Trap”. The grandson asks if he was a teacher, and the grandfather says he thought about it, but “actually, my first job was working in a small bakery.” (A person working in a bakery is a baker).
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is the trap (it was only an idea, not the actual job). Option C is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Grandson: Grandpa, look at this old black and white photo! Is this you?
Grandfather: Let me see… ah, yes! That was me in 1970. I was twenty years old then.
Grandson: You look so young! Where did you live?
Grandfather: I lived in a quiet village by the sea. It was beautiful, and I wanted to stay there forever. But there were no jobs for young people. So, I moved to the city to find work.
Grandson: Was your first job as a teacher? You told me you liked books.
Grandfather: Well, I thought about being a teacher, but actually, my first job was working in a small bakery. I started work at 4 a.m. every morning!
Grandson: Wow, that’s very early!
Listening 3
Listen to two teenagers, Leo and Mia, talking about a famous singer. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 When was the singer, Lily Heart, born?
(A) In 2005.
(B) In 2010.
(C) In 2015.
2 How old was Lily when she started singing?
(A) Five years old.
(B) Ten years old.
(C) Fifteen years old.
3 Where was Lily’s very first concert?
(A) In London.
(B) In Paris.
(C) In New York.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: A (In 2005.)
- Explanation: Mia clearly states the fact: “Did you know she was born in 2005?”
- Why the traps are wrong: Options B and C are plausible birth years for a young person, but they are not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: B (Ten years old.)
- Explanation: This is a “Twist Trap”. Mia says she started taking singing lessons “at age ten”.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap because she was five when she started playing the piano, not singing. Option C is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: B (In Paris.)
- Explanation: Another “Twist Trap”. Mia explains that because Lily got sick, “her very first concert was in Paris last year.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the trap. Leo heard it was in London, and Mia confirms she wanted to perform there, but it didn’t happen because she got sick. Option C is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Leo: Hey Mia, are you listening to Lily Heart’s new song?
Mia: Yes! I love her. Did you know she was born in 2005? She is so young.
Leo: Wow, 2005? I thought she was older. When did she start singing?
Mia: Well, she started playing the piano when she was five. But she didn’t like it. So, she started taking singing lessons at age ten.
Leo: That’s cool. I heard her first concert was in London.
Mia: Actually, she wanted to perform in London, but she got sick. So her very first concert was in Paris last year.
Leo: Oh, I didn’t know that!
Listening 4
Listen to Tom and Sarah talking about their old neighbor, David. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where did David go to college?
(A) At the state university.
(B) At a college in Florida.
(C) In his hometown.
2 What did David study in college?
(A) Engineering.
(B) Business.
(C) Hotel management.
3 What is David doing now?
(A) He is working as an engineer.
(B) He is opening a new restaurant.
(C) He is managing a large hotel.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (At a college in Florida.)
- Explanation: Tom says, “So, he went to a smaller college in Florida instead.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. Sarah asks if he went to the state university, and Tom says he wanted to, but he didn’t get in. Option C is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: B (Business.)
- Explanation: When asked if David is an engineer, Tom replies, “Actually, he studied business.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap because Sarah mentions “He really wanted to study engineering”, but that was his past desire, not what he actually studied. Option C is a plausible guess based on his current job, but it is not what the audio says he studied.
3 Correct Answer: C (He is managing a large hotel.)
- Explanation: Tom states clearly about David’s current job: “So now he manages a big hotel in Miami.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is incorrect because he never became an engineer. Option B is a “Twist Trap” – he planned to open a restaurant, but it was too expensive.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Tom: Sarah! It’s great to see you. Do you still talk to our old neighbor, David?
Sarah: Hi Tom! No, it’s been years. Did he go to the state university? He really wanted to study engineering.
Tom: He wanted to, but he didn’t get in. So, he went to a smaller college in Florida instead.
Sarah: Oh, Florida! What does he do now? Is he an engineer?
Tom: Actually, he studied business. He planned to open a restaurant, but it was too expensive. So now he manages a big hotel in Miami.
Sarah: Wow, that’s a big change. Good for him!
Listening 5
Listen to Alex introducing his girlfriend, Anna, to his mother. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is Anna’s job now?
(A) A nurse.
(B) A receptionist.
(C) A dentist.
2 Where did Anna grow up?
(A) In New York.
(B) In Boston.
(C) In Chicago.
3 Who are the other children in Anna’s family?
(A) Three brothers.
(B) Two younger sisters.
(C) She doesn’t have any brothers or sisters.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (A receptionist.)
- Explanation: Anna says, “So now I am a receptionist at a dental clinic.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. Alex says she works at the hospital, and Anna confirms she was a nurse there, but she changed her job because it was stressful. Option C is plausible because she works at a dental clinic, but she is not the dentist.
2 Correct Answer: B (In Boston.)
- Explanation: Anna says, “So, I actually grew up in Boston.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the trap. She was born in New York, but her family moved when she was a baby, so she didn’t grow up there. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
3 Correct Answer: B (Two younger sisters.)
- Explanation: Anna clearly states, “I only have two younger sisters.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Speaker Confusion” trap. Alex is the one who has three brothers, not Anna. Option C is incorrect.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mother: Hello! You must be Anna. Alex talks about you all the time.
Anna: It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Davis.
Alex: Mom, Anna works at the city hospital.
Anna: Well, I worked there as a nurse for a year, but it was too stressful. So now I am a receptionist at a dental clinic.
Mother: Oh, that’s nice! Did you grow up here in New York?
Anna: I was born here, but my family moved to Boston when I was a baby. So, I actually grew up in Boston.
Mother: I see. Do you have a big family like ours?
Anna: Not really. Alex has three brothers, but I only have two younger sisters.