Hotels & Accommodation – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between two friends planning a vacation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did Mark initially find for their trip?
(A) A cheap hotel
(B) An expensive restaurant
(C) A big apartment
2 Why does Sarah prefer not to stay at the hotel?
(A) It is too far from the beach.
(B) Eating at restaurants will cost a lot of money.
(C) The hotel room is too expensive.
3 What do they finally decide to do?
(A) Look for a cheaper hotel.
(B) Eat out every day.
(C) Rent the apartment.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: A) A cheap hotel
- Explanation: At the beginning of the conversation, Mark clearly says, “I found a really cheap hotel near the beach.”
- Trap: Option C is a trap because “a big apartment” is mentioned later by Sarah, not the first thing Mark found. Option B is also a trap; they talk about eating being expensive, but not an “expensive restaurant” specifically.
2 Correct Answer: B) Eating at restaurants will cost a lot of money.
- Explanation: Sarah says, “But, eating out every day is going to be very expensive.” This is her main reason for not wanting the hotel.
- Trap: Option C is a trap because the hotel itself is “really cheap”, not expensive. Option A is incorrect because Mark mentions the hotel is actually “near the beach.”
3 Correct Answer: C) Rent the apartment.
- Explanation: This is where the “Twist” happens. Even though Mark doesn’t want to cook, he agrees with Sarah about saving money. He says, “Let’s book the apartment,” and Sarah confirms, “I’ll reserve it tonight.”
- Trap: Option B is what they are trying to avoid by not staying at the hotel. Option A is incorrect because they stop looking for hotels and choose the Airbnb instead.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: So, Sarah, where are we staying for our trip to Miami? I found a really cheap hotel near the beach.
Sarah: Well, a hotel sounds nice and relaxing. But, eating out every day is going to be very expensive.
Mark: That’s true. Do you have another idea?
Sarah: I was looking at an apartment on Airbnb. It costs a little more than the hotel, but it has a big kitchen. We can cook our own meals!
Mark: Hmm… I don’t really want to cook on vacation. But you’re right about the money. Let’s book the apartment.
Sarah: Great! I’ll reserve it tonight.
Listening 2
Listen to a husband and wife talking in their hotel room. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What does the wife say about the bathroom?
(A) It is very big.
(B) It is bright and clean.
(C) It has clean towels.
2 What do they decide to do next?
(A) Sleep on the bed.
(B) Unpack their bags.
(C) Go to the beach.
3 Why did the husband change his plan?
(A) He saw the beautiful ocean outside.
(B) The hotel bed was too small.
(C) He needed to find his swimsuit.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B) It is bright and clean.
- Explanation: The wife explicitly says, “It’s so bright and clean” when looking at the bathroom.
- Trap: Option A is incorrect because “huge” (big) was used to describe the bed, not the bathroom. Option C is a trap because “towels” are mentioned at the very end of the conversation, but not as a description of the bathroom itself.
2 Correct Answer: C) Go to the beach.
- Explanation: This is the “Twist”. The husband says, “I want to go swimming right now!” and the wife agrees. “Going swimming” means they are going to the beach/ocean.
- Trap: Option A is what the husband originally wanted to do (“take a nap”), but he changed his mind. Option B is also a trap because he explicitly rejects it by saying, “Let’s unpack later.”
3 Correct Answer: A) He saw the beautiful ocean outside.
- Explanation: The wife points out the “beautiful view of the ocean”, which makes the husband say “I’m not that tired anymore” and decide to go swimming.
- Trap: Option B is wrong because the bed is described as “huge” and “amazing”, not small. Option C is plausible but never mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Husband: Wow, this room is fantastic! The bed is huge.
Wife: I know! And look at the bathroom. It’s so bright and clean.
Husband: Yeah. Well, that flight made me really tired. I think I’m going to take a nap on this amazing bed.
Wife: Wait, come look at the window! We have a beautiful view of the ocean! The water looks so warm.
Husband: Oh, wow… You’re right. Actually, I’m not that tired anymore. Let’s unpack later. I want to go swimming right now!
Wife: Great idea! I’ll get the towels.
Listening 3
Listen to a conversation between two friends about a trip to Europe. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What was the problem with Lisa’s bed?
(A) It was very expensive.
(B) It made a lot of noise.
(C) It was too small.
2 Why was Lisa unhappy with the bathroom?
(A) It was closed in the morning.
(B) It was too dirty.
(C) There were too many people using it.
3 What did Lisa decide to do after two days? (The Twist)
(A) She moved to her cousin’s apartment.
(B) She stayed at the hostel for five days.
(C) She booked a new hotel room.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B) It made a lot of noise.
- Explanation: Lisa says the bunk bed was old and “made a loud noise every time I moved.”
- Trap: Option A is wrong because she specifically says she booked a “cheap bed”. Option C is a common complaint about beds but is not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: C) There were too many people using it.
- Explanation: Lisa mentions that the shared bathroom was “always crowded in the morning.” Crowded means there are too many people.
- Trap: Option A is a trap using the word “morning”; the bathroom wasn’t closed, it was just full of people. Option B is a plausible hostel problem but is not mentioned in the story.
3 Correct Answer: A) She moved to her cousin’s apartment.
- Explanation: This is the Twist. Lisa couldn’t handle the noise and the crowds, so she changed her plan. She says, “I called my cousin in Paris and stayed at her apartment instead.”
- Trap: Option B is what she originally planned to do (“planned to stay there for five days”). Option C is incorrect because she didn’t go to a hotel; she went to family.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Ben: Hey Lisa. How was your backpacking trip in Europe?
Lisa: The cities were beautiful, but my first hostel in Paris was a nightmare.
Ben: Really? What happened?
Lisa: Well, I booked a cheap bed in a big room. But the bunk bed was so old. It made a loud noise every time I moved. I couldn’t sleep!
Ben: Oh no. That’s the worst.
Lisa: And the shared bathroom was always crowded in the morning. I planned to stay there for five days to save money. But after two days, I called my cousin in Paris and stayed at her apartment instead.
Ben: That was a lucky escape!
Listening 4
Listen to two friends talking in their hotel room before leaving. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did Mark already pack in his bag?
(A) His phone charger.
(B) His passport.
(C) The room keys.
2 Where did David think the phone charger was?
(A) In the bathroom.
(B) In the wardrobe.
(C) Next to the bed.
3 What is the final result? (The Twist)
(A) Mark left his phone charger in the backpack.
(B) Mark forgot to pack his shirts.
(C) Mark has to get his charger from next to the bed.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B) His passport.
- Explanation: Mark clearly states, “I already put my passport in my bag.”
- Trap: Option A is a trap because Mark thought he put his charger in his backpack, but he didn’t. Option C is plausible when checking out but is never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: A) In the bathroom.
- Explanation: When Mark cannot find his charger, David asks, “Did you leave it in the bathroom?”
- Trap: Option B is a trap because the “wardrobe” was mentioned earlier when David asked Mark to check for his clothes. Option C is the actual location of the charger, not where David thought it was.
3 Correct Answer: C) Mark has to get his charger from next to the bed.
- Explanation: This is the Twist. Mark realizes his mistake and says, “It’s still plugged in next to the bed. I need to get it.”
- Trap: Option A is what Mark originally thought he did, but he was wrong. Option B is incorrect because Mark explicitly said, “I packed all my shirts.”
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: Okay, my suitcase is closed. I am ready to check out!
David: Are you sure? Did you look inside the wardrobe and the drawers?
Mark: Yeah, I packed all my shirts. Oh, and I already put my passport in my bag.
David: That’s good. But what about your phone charger?
Mark: I think I put it in my backpack. Wait… no, it’s not here.
David: Did you leave it in the bathroom?
Mark: Ah, I remember now! It’s still plugged in next to the bed. I need to get it.
David: Hurry up! Our taxi is arriving soon.
Listening 5
Listen to a daughter calling her mother from a hotel. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where is the daughter’s hotel located?
(A) Far from the city.
(B) In the city center.
(C) Next to a famous bakery.
2 What did the daughter plan to do for breakfast at first?
(A) Go to a famous bakery.
(B) Eat the hotel’s buffet breakfast.
(C) Buy food from a shop.
3 Why did she eat at the hotel? (The Twist)
(A) She was too tired to walk outside.
(B) The bakery was closed.
(C) The hotel breakfast was amazing and free.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B) In the city center.
- Explanation: The daughter clearly states, “It’s actually right in the city center.”
- Trap: Option A is a trap because the mother asks, “Is it far from the city?”, but the daughter says “No”. Option C is plausible but not mentioned as the hotel’s location.
2 Correct Answer: A) Go to a famous bakery.
- Explanation: When the mother asks about the famous bakery, the daughter says, “Well, I wanted to go there.” This shows her initial plan.
- Trap: Option B is a trap because this is what she actually did in the end, not her first plan. Option C is a trap using the word “shop” mentioned earlier in the audio.
3 Correct Answer: C) The hotel breakfast was amazing and free.
- Explanation: This is the Twist. She changed her plan from the bakery to the hotel because “it looked amazing. Also, it was free!”
- Trap: Option A and Option B are plausible reasons for someone to stay at the hotel for breakfast, but they are never mentioned in the conversation.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mom: Hello?
Daughter: Hi Mom, it’s me! I just want to say I arrived at the hotel safely.
Mom: Oh, good. How is it? Is it far from the city?
Daughter: No, it’s great! It’s actually right in the city center. We can walk to all the shops.
Mom: That’s nice. Did you go to that famous bakery for breakfast this morning?
Daughter: Well, I wanted to go there. But I saw the hotel’s buffet breakfast, and it looked amazing. Also, it was free! So, I just ate at the hotel instead.
Mom: Oh, that saves money! Enjoy your trip, honey.