Childhood memories – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (A) It was gray with purple buttons.

• Explanation: The customer clearly describes his old toy: “my favorite one was thick and gray. It had a small screen and purple buttons.” Option (B) is a trap; yellow is the color of the new console the shop has today, not the one he had as a kid. Option (C) is a plausible description of modern electronics, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (B) Another person already bought it.

• Explanation: The assistant says about the gray console, “…but another man bought it.” Option (A) is a trap; it might be expensive because it is an antique, but price is never mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; the shop does sell old toys, but they just don’t have that specific gray one anymore.

3 Correct Answer: (C) The assistant shows the customer a yellow console.

• Explanation: The assistant says, “We got a yellow one this morning… Do you want to see it?” and the customer agrees. Option (A) is a trap; he says “Oh, no!” when he hears the gray one is gone, but he stays to see the yellow one. Option (B) is a trap; the customer actually says, “Yellow is perfectly fine,” meaning he wants it.

Customer: Excuse me, do you sell old toys here? I’m looking for a game console from the 1990s.

Assistant: We have a few. What did it look like?

Customer: Well, my favorite one was thick and gray. It had a small screen and purple buttons. I played it all the time when I was ten.

Assistant: Ah, I know that one. We actually had a gray one yesterday, but another man bought it.

Customer: Oh, no! I really wanted it.

Assistant: But wait! We got a yellow one this morning. It’s the exact same model. Do you want to see it?

Customer: Yes, please! Yellow is perfectly fine.

1 Correct Answer: (B) Science

• Explanation: The student clearly says, “No, he was a science teacher.” Option (A) is a trap; the guard asks if he teaches math, but the student says no. Option (C) is a common school subject but is never mentioned in the conversation.

2 Correct Answer: (B) He was short and had a beard.

• Explanation: The student describes the teacher by saying, “He was quite short and had a big beard.” Option (A) is a trap; this is the guard’s incorrect guess about the teacher’s appearance. Option (C) is a plausible description of an older man, but white hair is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) He retired last year.

• Explanation: The guard says, “No, he retired last year.” Option (A) is a trap; the student asks if he moved to another school, but the guard says no. Option (B) is a trap; the audio says he visits the school library on Fridays, not that he works there.

Student: Excuse me. I used to study here ten years ago. I’m looking for my favorite teacher, Mr. Harris. Does he still work here?

Guard: Mr. Harris? Does he teach math? Is he a tall man with glasses?

Student: No, he was a science teacher. He was quite short and had a big beard.

Guard: Ah, I remember him now! I’m sorry, but he doesn’t work here anymore.

Student: Oh, did he move to another school?

Guard: No, he retired last year. But he still lives nearby, and he usually visits the school library on Fridays. You should come back then!

Student: That’s a great idea. Thank you!

1 Correct Answer: (B) Light yellow

• Explanation: The customer clearly says, “…but actually, it was a light yellow dress.” Option (A) is a trap; the dress looks white in the blurry photo, but that was not its real color. Option (C) is a common color but is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Her grandmother

• Explanation: The customer states, “My grandmother made it for me.” Option (B) is a plausible guess for who makes clothes, but it is not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; her father is mentioned later in the audio (standing in front of the ocean), but he didn’t make the dress.

3 Correct Answer: (C) At the beach

• Explanation: The customer explains the twist by saying, “We were actually at the beach.” Option (A) is a trap; the editor guesses it is a garden, and the customer thought so too at first, but it was wrong. Option (B) is a plausible outdoor location but is not mentioned in the conversation.

Editor: Welcome to the photo shop. How can I help you today?

Customer: Hi. I have this old family photo from when I was seven. It is very blurry. Can you fix it?

Editor: I can try. Do you remember the colors? What color was your dress?

Customer: Well, it looks white in this picture, but actually, it was a light yellow dress. My grandmother made it for me.

Editor: Okay, light yellow. And where were you standing? It looks like a garden.

Customer: I thought we were in our garden too! But look closely at the back. We were actually at the beach. You can see the ocean behind my father.

Editor: Ah, yes. I see the water now. I will fix the ocean background for you.

1 Correct Answer: (C) Chickenpox

• Explanation: Tom says clearly, “But I had chickenpox when I was eight.” Option (A) is a trap; a stomachache is mentioned later in the audio, but it is not the illness he had when he was eight. Option (B) is a common childhood illness, but it is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Peanuts

• Explanation: Tom states, “Actually, my mom thought I was allergic to peanuts…” Option (B) is a trap; the doctor asks about seafood, but Tom’s mother did not think he was allergic to it. Option (C) is a plausible allergy, but it is not mentioned in the conversation.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Milk

• Explanation: Tom uses the word “However” to give the real information: “However, I am allergic to milk.” Option (A) is a trap; peanuts are mentioned, but he is not actually allergic to them (it was just a stomachache). Option (C) is a plausible food allergy, but it is never mentioned.

Doctor: Let’s check your medical history, Tom. Did you have any illnesses when you were a child?

Tom: Well, I didn’t have anything too serious. But I had chickenpox when I was eight.

Doctor: Okay, chickenpox. And do you have any allergies? Are you allergic to peanuts or seafood?

Tom: Actually, my mom thought I was allergic to peanuts because I got sick once. But the doctor said it was just a bad stomachache. However, I am allergic to milk. I can’t drink it at all.

Doctor: I see. I will add that to your file.

1 Correct Answer: (C) To find an old photo of himself

• Explanation: The visitor clearly says, “No, I just want to find an old photo of myself.” Option (A) is a trap; the librarian asks if he is doing a school project, but he says “No.” Option (B) is a plausible reason to read an old newspaper, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (B) His childhood soccer team

• Explanation: The visitor explains the twist by saying, “…actually, it was a picture of my childhood soccer team!” Option (A) is a trap; he thought the picture was of his music band at first, but he was wrong. Option (C) is a plausible guess for a newspaper photo, but it is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) August

• Explanation: The visitor says, “The picture was actually printed in August.” Option (B) is a trap; the game happened in July, but the newspaper picture was not printed in that month. Option (A) is a common month but is never mentioned in the conversation.

Visitor: Excuse me. I’m looking for a local newspaper from fifteen years ago.

Librarian: Let me check. Yes, we have those old papers on our computer system. Are you doing a school project?

Visitor: No, I just want to find an old photo of myself. At first, I thought my school music band was in the paper that year. But actually, it was a picture of my childhood soccer team! We won a big game.

Librarian: That’s fun! Do you know what month the game was?

Visitor: Well, the game was in July. But unfortunately, they didn’t put it in the news right away. The picture was actually printed in August.

Librarian: Okay, let’s open the August file then.