Biography – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation at a library. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 How do you spell the woman’s last name?
(A) T-H-O-M-S-O-N
(B) T-H-O-M-P-S-O-N
(C) T-O-M-P-S-O-N
2 When is Sarah’s birthday?
(A) July 14th.
(B) July 15th.
(C) July 5th.
3 What is Sarah’s current job?
(A) A teacher.
(B) A librarian.
(C) A shop assistant.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (T-H-O-M-P-S-O-N)
- Explanation: Sarah spells her name clearly: “T-H-O-M-P-S-O-N.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is missing the letter ‘P’, and Option C is missing the letter ‘H’. These are common spelling traps in English.
2 Correct Answer: B (July 15th.)
- Explanation: This is a “Correction Trap”. Sarah first says “July 14th” but immediately corrects herself: “Oh, wait… sorry, it’s July 15th.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is her brother’s birthday. Option C (July 5th) is a distractor based on the number “5” in her house address.
3 Correct Answer: C (A shop assistant.)
- Explanation: This is a “The Twist” trap. Sarah mentions she wanted to be a teacher, “but” she couldn’t find a job. “So, I am working as a shop assistant for now.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A was her intended career/major, not her current job. Option B is the person she is talking to.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Librarian: Good morning. How can I help you?
Sarah: Hi. I’d like to register for a library card, please.
Librarian: Certainly. First, what’s your full name?
Sarah: It’s Sarah Thompson. That’s T-H-O-M-P-S-O-N.
Librarian: Thank you. And your date of birth?
Sarah: It’s July 14th, 1998. Oh, wait… sorry, it’s July 15th. My brother’s birthday is on the 14th!
Librarian: No problem. July 15th, 1998. And where do you live?
Sarah: At 50 North Street.
Librarian: Is that 1-5?
Sarah: No, it’s 5-0. Five-zero North Street.
Librarian: Got it. Last question: what is your occupation?
Sarah: Well, I graduated to be a teacher, but I couldn’t find a job at a school. So, I am working as a shop assistant for now.
Librarian: Okay. Here is your card!
Listening 2
Listen to a conversation between a bank teller and an international student. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where is the student from?
(A) Spain.
(B) Mexico.
(C) The UK.
2 When did the student arrive in the UK?
(A) In August.
(B) On September 5th.
(C) On September 15th.
3 Where is the student currently studying?
(A) At City College.
(B) At the Global Business School.
(C) At the National University.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (Mexico.)
- Explanation: The student corrects the teller by saying, “…but I’m actually from Mexico.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. The teller guesses Spain, and the student says he speaks Spanish, but he is not from there. Option C is the country he just arrived in, not his home country.
2 Correct Answer: B (On September 5th.)
- Explanation: The student explains the delay: “So, I arrived here on September 5th.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap. He planned to arrive in August, but his visa was late. Option C is a phonetic distractor (5th vs 15th).
3 Correct Answer: B (At the Global Business School.)
- Explanation: The student states his current school clearly: “So, I am studying at the Global Business School now.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the trap. The teller asks if he studies at City College, and the student says he applied there, but didn’t go because it was too expensive. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Teller: Good morning. To open your student bank account, I need some personal details. You are from Spain, right?
Student: Well, I speak Spanish, but I’m actually from Mexico.
Teller: Oh, Mexico! And when did you arrive in the UK?
Student: I planned to come in August, but my visa was late. So, I arrived here on September 5th.
Teller: September 5th, okay. And which university are you studying at? The City College?
Student: I applied there, but it was too expensive. So, I am studying at the Global Business School now.
Teller: Great. Let me print your forms.
Listening 3
Listen to a tour guide talking about the city’s first mayor at a museum. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where was William Carter born?
(A) In this city.
(B) In a small village in Canada.
(C) In New York.
2 What was William Carter’s first job?
(A) A doctor.
(B) A builder.
(C) A mayor.
3 What did William plan to do before he became the mayor?
(A) He planned to go to medical school.
(B) He planned to move to New York.
(C) He planned to build a new museum.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (In a small village in Canada.)
- Explanation: The tour guide says, “…but he was actually born in a small village in Canada.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the “Twist Trap”. The guide mentions that many people think he was born there, but he wasn’t. Option C is a city he planned to move to later in life.
2 Correct Answer: B (A builder.)
- Explanation: The guide explains his career path: “So, he started working as a builder instead.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. He wanted to be a doctor, but it was too expensive. Option C is what he became much later (in 1890).
3 Correct Answer: B (He planned to move to New York.)
- Explanation: The guide says, “Later, he planned to move to New York, but…”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap because he wanted to go to medical school when he was a young man, not right before becoming mayor. Option C is plausible contextually (they are in a museum), but it is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Tour Guide: Welcome to the City Museum, everyone. Please gather around this big painting. This is William Carter, our city’s first mayor.
Many people think he was born here, but he was actually born in a small village in Canada. His family moved to this area when he was five years old.
As a young man, William really wanted to be a doctor like his father, but medical school was too expensive. So, he started working as a builder instead. He built many of the old houses you see in our town today.
Later, he planned to move to New York, but the local people loved his work and trusted him. So, they asked him to be the mayor in 1890.
Listening 4
Listen to a conversation between a customs officer and a tourist at the airport. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where was the tourist born?
(A) In Berlin.
(B) In Munich.
(C) In Frankfurt.
2 What is the tourist’s current job?
(A) A student.
(B) A graphic designer.
(C) A photographer.
3 Where does the tourist work?
(A) At a big magazine.
(B) At a small computer company.
(C) At an art school.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (In Munich.)
- Explanation: The tourist clarifies his birthplace by saying, “…but I was actually born in Munich.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. The officer asks if he was born in Berlin, and the tourist says he lives there now, but wasn’t born there. Option C is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: B (A graphic designer.)
- Explanation: The tourist explains his current occupation: “So, now I am a graphic designer.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap. The officer asks if he is a student, and he confirms he was a student last year, but he has already graduated. Option C is a plausible guess for a creative job, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
3 Correct Answer: B (At a small computer company.)
- Explanation: The tourist states his current workplace: “So, I work at a small computer company.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the trap. He wanted to work for a big magazine, but they didn’t have any open jobs. Option C is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Officer: Good morning. Can I see your passport, please?
Tourist: Yes, here you go.
Officer: Thank you. It says you are from Germany. Were you born in Berlin?
Tourist: Well, I live in Berlin now, but I was actually born in Munich. My family moved when I was young.
Officer: I see. And what is your occupation? Are you a student?
Tourist: I was a student last year, but I graduated. So, now I am a graphic designer.
Officer: Very nice. And where do you work?
Tourist: I wanted to work for a big magazine, but they didn’t need anyone. So, I work at a small computer company.
Officer: Okay. Enjoy your trip!
Listening 5
Listen to a conversation between a receptionist and a new patient at a clinic. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where does Mark live now?
(A) On Elm Street.
(B) On Maple Avenue.
(C) On Main Street.
2 What is Mark’s occupation?
(A) A teacher.
(B) A receptionist.
(C) A taxi driver.
3 Who in Mark’s family had heart problems?
(A) His grandfather.
(B) His parents.
(C) His brother.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (On Maple Avenue.)
- Explanation: Mark states his current address clearly: “So, my new address is 12 Maple Avenue.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. The receptionist asks if he lives on Elm Street, and Mark says he lived there last year, but he moved. Option C is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: C (A taxi driver.)
- Explanation: Mark explains his job: “…but I actually work as a taxi driver.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. He wanted to be a teacher, but that is not his actual job. Option B is a “Speaker Confusion” trap (the person he is talking to is the receptionist).
3 Correct Answer: A (His grandfather.)
- Explanation: Mark answers the medical question by saying, “My grandfather had a bad heart…” (A bad heart = heart problems).
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is a trap. The receptionist asks about his family, but Mark confirms that his parents are “very healthy”. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Good morning. Are you a new patient?
Mark: Yes, I am. My name is Mark Davis.
Receptionist: Nice to meet you, Mr. Davis. I need to fill out your health form. Do you live on Elm Street?
Mark: I lived there last year, but I moved. So, my new address is 12 Maple Avenue.
Receptionist: Okay, 12 Maple Avenue. And what is your occupation?
Mark: Well, I wanted to be a teacher, but I actually work as a taxi driver.
Receptionist: I see. Now, a medical question. Does anyone in your family have heart problems?
Mark: My grandfather had a bad heart, but my parents are very healthy. So, no, they don’t.
Receptionist: Great. Please take a seat.