Last weekend – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a shop assistant. Then, circle the correct answer for each question.
1 What did the customer wear to the party on Sunday?
(A) A new blue shirt.
(B) An old black shirt.
(C) A white jacket.
2 Why didn’t the customer wear the new shirt?
(A) Because it had a hole.
(B) Because it was too small.
(C) Because he didn’t like the color.
3 What does the customer want to do now?
(A) Get his money back.
(B) Get a bigger size.
(C) Buy a different color.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) An old black shirt.
- Explanation: The customer says, “So, I wore my old black shirt instead.” Option (A) is the trap (The Twist); he wanted to wear the new blue shirt, but he couldn’t. Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.
2 (B) Because it was too small.
- Explanation: The customer explains, “But when I tried it on at home, it was too small.” Option (A) is a trap; the assistant asks if there is a hole, but the customer says “No, the shirt is fine.” Option (C) is incorrect because he says he really likes the color.
3 (B) Get a bigger size.
- Explanation: The customer states clearly, “So, I just want to exchange it for a larger size, please.” Option (A) is the trap; the assistant asks if he wants his money back, but he chooses to exchange it. Option (C) is not mentioned (he wants the same color).
AUDIO SCRIPT
Assistant: Hello. How can I help you today?
Customer: Hi. I bought this blue shirt here last Saturday, but I need to return it.
Assistant: Oh, is there something wrong with it? Did you find a hole?
Customer: No, the shirt is fine. I wanted to wear it to a birthday party on Sunday night. But when I tried it on at home, it was too small. So, I wore my old black shirt instead.
Assistant: I see. Would you like to get your money back?
Customer: Well, I really like the color. So, I just want to exchange it for a larger size, please.
Assistant: No problem. Let me check if we have a large one for you in blue.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between a hotel guest and a receptionist. Then, circle the correct answer for each question.
1 What was the guest’s problem on Saturday night?
(A) His bed was uncomfortable.
(B) The people next door were very noisy.
(C) His room was too cold.
2 Why didn’t the guest call the receptionist?
(A) Because his phone had no power.
(B) Because he didn’t know the phone number.
(C) Because the front desk was closed.
3 What did the guest actually do during the night?
(A) He listened to music.
(B) He went to sleep at 3 AM.
(C) He read a book outside.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) The people next door were very noisy.
- Explanation: The guest complains, “But the people in the next room played really loud music until 3 AM.” Option (A) is a trap; the receptionist asks if the bed was uncomfortable, but the guest says, “No, the bed was great.” Option (C) is never mentioned.
2 (A) Because his phone had no power.
- Explanation: The guest explains, “I thought about calling you, but my phone was out of battery.” “Out of battery” means it had no power. Options (B) and (C) are plausible reasons in real life, but they are not in the audio.
3 (C) He read a book outside.
- Explanation: The guest says, “So, I just sat on the balcony and read a book instead.” Option (A) is a trap; the neighbors listened to music, not him. Option (B) is also a trap; the music played until 3 AM, but he explicitly states, “I couldn’t sleep at all!”
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Good morning, sir. How was your weekend at our hotel?
Guest: Good morning. Well, I wanted to have a relaxing weekend, but I had a terrible time on Saturday night.
Receptionist: Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. What happened? Was your bed uncomfortable?
Guest: No, the bed was great. But the people in the next room played really loud music until 3 AM. I couldn’t sleep at all!
Receptionist: That is awful. Why didn’t you call the front desk? We could ask them to stop.
Guest: I thought about calling you, but my phone was out of battery. So, I just sat on the balcony and read a book instead.
Receptionist: I apologize for this. Let me give you a free breakfast coupon for today.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a doctor and a patient. Then, circle the correct answer for each question.
1 What did Mark eat for lunch on Sunday?
(A) Pizza.
(B) Seafood.
(C) Chicken.
2 What did Mark do in the afternoon?
(A) He drove home.
(B) He went to the hospital.
(C) He played volleyball.
3 When did Mark’s stomachache start?
(A) Right after lunch.
(B) In the evening.
(C) On Monday morning.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Seafood.
- Explanation: Mark says, “So, we had lunch at a new seafood restaurant instead.” Option (A) is the trap (The Twist); he wanted to eat pizza, but the place was closed. Option (C) is a plausible food, but it is never mentioned.
2 (C) He played volleyball.
- Explanation: Mark states clearly, “No, I felt fine all afternoon. We even played volleyball.” Option (A) is the trap; he drove home, but that was in the evening, not the afternoon. Option (B) is incorrect because he is at the doctor’s office now (Monday), not during Sunday afternoon.
3 (B) In the evening.
- Explanation: Mark explains, “But when we drove home in the evening, my stomach started hurting really badly.” Option (A) is the trap; the doctor asks if he felt sick right after lunch, but Mark answers “No.” Option (C) is when he goes to the doctor, not when the pain started.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Dr. Smith: Good morning, Mark. How can I help you today?
Mark: Good morning, Doctor. I’ve had a terrible stomachache since last night.
Dr. Smith: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Did you eat anything unusual this weekend?
Mark: Well, on Sunday, my family went to the beach. We wanted to eat at our favorite pizza place, but it was closed. So, we had lunch at a new seafood restaurant instead.
Dr. Smith: I see. Did you feel sick right after lunch?
Mark: No, I felt fine all afternoon. We even played volleyball. But when we drove home in the evening, my stomach started hurting really badly.
Dr. Smith: Okay, let me examine you. It sounds like food poisoning.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between a passenger and a bus station employee. Then, circle the correct answer for each question.
1 Where did the passenger want to go on Saturday evening?
(A) To the hospital.
(B) To her aunt’s house.
(C) To the supermarket.
2 Why didn’t the number 10 bus arrive?
(A) Because the driver was sick.
(B) Because the bus broke down.
(C) Because the weather was bad.
3 How did the passenger finally go to the city center?
(A) She caught the number 15 bus.
(B) She walked down the street.
(C) She took a taxi.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) To her aunt’s house.
- Explanation: The passenger says, “I wanted to visit my aunt in the city center.” Options (A) and (C) are plausible places a person might go, but they are not mentioned in the audio.
2 (B) Because the bus broke down.
- Explanation: The employee explains the reason: “But unfortunately, the number 10 bus broke down on the highway.” (“Broke down” means the engine stopped working). Options (A) and (C) are common reasons for bus delays, but they are distractors not found in the text.
3 (C) She took a taxi.
- Explanation: The passenger says, “So, I just took a taxi.” Option (A) is the trap (The Twist); the employee asks if she caught the number 15 bus instead, but she clearly answers “No.” Option (B) is incorrect because she mentions the “wrong street,” but doesn’t say she walked.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Passenger: Excuse me. I was here last Saturday evening to catch the number 10 bus, but it never arrived.
Employee: Oh, I apologize for that, ma’am. What time were you waiting?
Passenger: At 7 PM. I wanted to visit my aunt in the city center. I waited for almost an hour!
Employee: I am very sorry. We planned to run all buses on time. But unfortunately, the number 10 bus broke down on the highway.
Passenger: Oh, really? That’s terrible.
Employee: Yes. Did you catch the number 15 bus instead? It also goes to the city center.
Passenger: No, the number 15 goes to the wrong street for me. So, I just took a taxi. It was very expensive!
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between a gym member and a receptionist. Then, circle the correct answer for each question.
1 What did Tom do at the gym on Sunday afternoon?
(A) He lifted weights.
(B) He ran on the treadmill.
(C) He cleaned his gym bag.
2 Why didn’t Tom lift weights?
(A) Because the room was too crowded.
(B) Because he was very tired.
(C) Because he didn’t have his membership card.
3 Where did Tom leave his membership card?
(A) In the locker room.
(B) In his gym bag.
(C) On the treadmill.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) He ran on the treadmill.
- Explanation: Tom says, “So, I just ran on the treadmill instead.” Option (A) is the trap (The Twist); he planned to lift weights, but he didn’t. Option (C) is never mentioned.
2 (A) Because the room was too crowded.
- Explanation: Tom explains his reason clearly: “I planned to lift weights, but the weight room was too crowded.” Options (B) and (C) are plausible real-life reasons but are not mentioned in the audio.
3 (C) On the treadmill.
- Explanation: Tom finally remembers: “But then I remembered I put it on the treadmill…” Option (A) is a trap; the receptionist asks if he left it in the locker room, but he says “I don’t think so.” Option (B) is also a trap; he thought he put it in his gym bag, but he was wrong.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Good morning, Tom. Can I see your membership card, please?
Tom: Hi, Sarah. Actually, I think I left it here on Sunday afternoon.
Receptionist: Oh? Did you leave it in the locker room?
Tom: I don’t think so. I planned to lift weights, but the weight room was too crowded. So, I just ran on the treadmill instead.
Receptionist: Okay. Did you put the card in your gym bag after that?
Tom: I thought I did. But then I remembered I put it on the treadmill, next to my water bottle.
Receptionist: Let me check the lost and found box for you. Ah, here it is!
Tom: Oh, thank you so much!