Life events – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a TV news anchor talking about a local woman. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 How old is Mrs. Betty Smith today?
(A) 80 years old.
(B) 90 years old.
(C) 100 years old.
2 Where did Betty’s family have the birthday party?
(A) At Betty’s house.
(B) At a bakery.
(C) At a hotel.
3 How many grandchildren does Betty have?
(A) Four.
(B) Fifteen.
(C) Fifty.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The news anchor asks, “Did she turn 80 or 90?” (Options A and B – Traps), and then answers, “No, today Betty is exactly 100 years old!” (Option C – Key).
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation (The Twist): The anchor says the family “originally planned to have a small dinner at her house” (Option A – Trap). However, they changed their minds and decided to “rent a big room at the Plaza Hotel instead” (Option C – Key). Option B is a trap because the anchor mentions Betty is a “famous baker,” but the party was not at a bakery.
3 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The anchor clearly states that Betty has “fifteen grandchildren” (Option B – Key). Option A is a trap because “four” is the number of children she has, not grandchildren. Option C (Fifty) is a phonetic trap (fifteen vs. fifty) which is very common in A2 listening tests.
AUDIO SCRIPT
News Anchor: Good evening. In our local news today, we want to say a very happy birthday to Mrs. Betty Smith. Betty is a famous baker in our town, and today is a very special day for her. Did she turn 80 or 90? No, today Betty is exactly 100 years old! Her family originally planned to have a small dinner at her house. But, because so many people wanted to come, they decided to rent a big room at the Plaza Hotel instead. Betty has a very large family. She has four children and fifteen grandchildren! Everyone had a wonderful time celebrating with her today. Happy birthday, Betty!
Listening 2
Listen to a vlogger talking about her weekend trip. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the vlogger’s exciting news?
(A) She had a great birthday party.
(B) She got engaged to her boyfriend.
(C) She got a job at a fancy restaurant.
2 What did the couple actually do on Saturday evening?
(A) They went for a walk by the ocean.
(B) They ate dinner at a fancy restaurant.
(C) They went shopping for a new dress.
3 When are they going to get married?
(A) Next weekend.
(B) Next month.
(C) Next year.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The vlogger explicitly says at the beginning, “I am officially engaged!” (Option B – Key). Option A is a trap because she mentions they went to the beach to “celebrate my birthday,” but her exciting news for the video is the engagement. Option C is a trap related to the restaurant mentioned later.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation (The Twist): The vlogger says she “originally thought we were going to a fancy restaurant” (Option B – Trap). However, the word “But” introduces what actually happened: “he took me for a walk by the ocean” (Option A – Key). Option C is a trap because she mentions wearing a “nice dress”, but she didn’t go shopping for it.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: At the end of the vlog, she clearly states, “We are planning to have our wedding next year” (Option C – Key). Option A (Next weekend) is a trap because “Last weekend” was when the proposal happened. Option B is a plausible distractor but is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Vlogger: Hi everyone, welcome back to my channel! I have some exciting news to share with you all today: I am officially engaged! Last weekend, my boyfriend, Mark, took me to the beach to celebrate my birthday. On Saturday evening, he told me to wear a nice dress. I originally thought we were going to a fancy restaurant for dinner. But, we didn’t go to a restaurant. Instead, he took me for a walk by the ocean, and then he suddenly asked me to marry him! I was so surprised and happy. Of course, I said yes! We are planning to have our wedding next year.
Listening 3
Listen to a podcast host talking about his gap year. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What did the speaker originally want to study at university?
(A) Italian language.
(B) Cooking.
(C) Business.
2 What did the speaker do during his gap year?
(A) He worked in a restaurant.
(B) He started a new business.
(C) He worked with his father.
3 What did the speaker actually do when he returned home?
(A) He went to business school.
(B) He went to culinary school to be a chef.
(C) He opened a restaurant in Italy.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The speaker explicitly says, “I originally wanted to study Business at university” (Option C – Key). Option A is a trap because he traveled to Italy, but he didn’t study the language. Option B is a trap because cooking is what he decided to do later.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: He says that in Italy, “I got a part-time job in a small restaurant kitchen” (Option A – Key). Option B is a trap because “business” is mentioned in the audio, but he didn’t start one. Option C is wrong because his father was the reason he initially wanted to study business, not the person he worked with.
3 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation (The Twist): The speaker says he didn’t go to business school (Option A – Trap). Instead, because he loved cooking in Italy, he “went to a culinary school to become a chef instead” (Option B – Key). Option C is a trap combining “restaurant” and “Italy”, but he went to school at home, not opened a restaurant in Italy.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Podcast Host: Welcome back to my podcast! Today, I want to talk about my gap year. When I finished high school at 18, I originally wanted to study Business at university because my father is a businessman. But, I decided to take one year off first and traveled to Italy. While I was there, I got a part-time job in a small restaurant kitchen. I learned how to cook traditional food every day and I really loved it. So, when I came back home, I didn’t go to business school. I went to a culinary school to become a chef instead. It was the best decision of my life.
Listening 4
Listen to a radio DJ reading a message from a listener. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why is the father sending this message?
(A) Because it is Lily’s birthday.
(B) Because Lily graduated from high school.
(C) Because Lily got a new job.
2 What did the father originally plan to do for his daughter?
(A) Have a big party.
(B) Buy her a plane ticket.
(C) Take her to a music concert.
3 What is the father’s actual gift to Lily?
(A) A new music CD.
(B) A trip to Paris.
(C) A lot of money.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The DJ reads the father’s message: “congratulations on your high school graduation!” (Option B – Key). Option A is a trap because birthdays are a common reason for radio messages, but it is not mentioned here. Option C is a plausible life event but is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation (The Twist): The father says, “I originally planned to have a big party for you” (Option A – Key). Option B is a trap because buying a plane ticket is what he actually did in the end, not what he originally planned. Option C is a trap related to the context of a music radio show.
3 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The father says, “So, I bought you a plane ticket to Paris instead!” which means he is giving her a trip (Option B – Key). Option A is a trap because the radio DJ is going to play her favorite song, but the father’s gift is the ticket. Option C is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Radio DJ: Good evening, listeners! Welcome to ‘Night Music’. Tonight, we have a very special message from a father to his daughter, Lily. He says: ‘Dear Lily, congratulations on your high school graduation! I am so proud of you. I originally planned to have a big party for you with all our family and friends. But, you told me you wanted to see the world. So, I bought you a plane ticket to Paris instead! Have a great trip, my sweet girl.’ And now, here is her favorite song to celebrate. Let’s listen!
Listening 5
Listen to a school principal making an announcement. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why is the principal making this announcement?
(A) To talk about a new local college.
(B) To congratulate a student on a big achievement.
(C) To invite students to a science competition.
2 What did Tommy originally plan to do next year?
(A) Study at a local community college.
(B) Study at Oxford University.
(C) Get a job as an engineer.
3 How is Tommy going to pay for Oxford University?
(A) His parents will pay for it.
(B) He has a full scholarship.
(C) He will work at the university.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The principal says, “I want to congratulate one of our senior students, Tommy Lee” (Option B – Key). Option A is a trap because he mentions a “local community college,” but that is not the main purpose of the announcement. Option C is a trap because he talks about a “science competition” that Tommy entered, not an invitation for others.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation (The Twist): The principal explicitly states that Tommy “originally planned to study at our local community college next year” (Option A – Key). Option B is a trap because studying at Oxford is what he is actually going to do now. Option C is a trap combining “Engineering” with a job, but Tommy is going to study it, not work yet.
3 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The principal says Tommy “won a full scholarship to study Engineering at Oxford University” (Option B – Key). Option A is a trap because the audio mentions that “big universities are very expensive”, which implies his parents couldn’t easily pay for it. Option C is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Principal: Good morning, students and teachers. This is your Principal, Mr. Harris. I have a very special announcement today. I want to congratulate one of our senior students, Tommy Lee. Tommy is a very hardworking student. He originally planned to study at our local community college next year because big universities are very expensive. But, he recently entered a national science competition. And guess what? He won first prize! So, he is not going to the local college. Instead, he won a full scholarship to study Engineering at Oxford University. We are all so proud of him. Please congratulate Tommy when you see him today.