Hotels & Accommodation – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a guest complaining to a hotel receptionist. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the problem in the bathroom?
(A) The shower is very dirty.
(B) There is no hot water.
(C) The door is broken.
2 Why can’t the repair person come immediately?
(A) He is busy for two hours.
(B) He is not working today.
(C) He went out for dinner.
3 How do they solve the problem? (The Twist)
(A) The guest waits two hours for the repair person.
(B) The guest goes out for dinner without showering.
(C) The receptionist moves the guest to a new room.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B) There is no hot water.
- Explanation: The guest clearly states his first problem: “The shower has no hot water. It is completely cold.”
- Trap: Option A and Option C are common hotel problems, but they are not mentioned in this conversation.
2 Correct Answer: A) He is busy for two hours.
- Explanation: The receptionist explains the situation: “…he is busy for the next two hours.”
- Trap: Option B is a plausible reason but is incorrect. Option C is a trap using the word “dinner”, which is mentioned later by the guest, not the repair person.
3 Correct Answer: C) The receptionist moves the guest to a new room.
- Explanation: This is the Twist. The original plan was to fix the items, but because it takes too long, the receptionist changes the plan. She says, “Let’s just move you to a different room then.”
- Trap: Option A is what the receptionist originally offered, but the guest refused because he couldn’t wait. Option B is a trap because he specifically says he needs to take a shower before dinner.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Guest: Hello, this is room 215. I have some problems with my room.
Receptionist: I’m sorry to hear that. What’s wrong, sir?
Guest: The shower has no hot water. It is completely cold. Also, the air conditioner isn’t working. It’s very hot in here.
Receptionist: I apologize for that. I can send a repair person to fix them, but he is busy for the next two hours.
Guest: Oh, I can’t wait that long! I need to take a shower and get ready for dinner right now.
Receptionist: I understand. Let’s just move you to a different room then. Room 315 is available and everything works perfectly. I will bring you the new key.
Guest: That’s much better. Thank you!
Listening 2
Listen to a conversation between a hotel guest and a receptionist. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the problem with room 304?
(A) It is too small.
(B) It has two single beds.
(C) The bed is broken.
2 What kind of room did the guest book?
(A) A VIP suite.
(B) A single room.
(C) A standard double room.
3 How does the receptionist solve the problem? (The Twist)
(A) He gives the guest a better room for free.
(B) He puts the two single beds together.
(C) He gives the guest her money back.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B) It has two single beds.
- Explanation: The guest clearly states the problem: “It has two single beds.”
- Trap: Option A is a trap because she mentions a “small bed” later, but the main problem is the type of beds, not the size of the room. Option C is a common hotel problem but is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: C) A standard double room.
- Explanation: The receptionist confirms her booking: “Ah, yes. You booked a standard double room.”
- Trap: Option A is what she gets in the end, not what she booked. Option B is a trap because the room she is currently in has “single” beds, but she didn’t book a single room.
3 Correct Answer: A) He gives the guest a better room for free.
- Explanation: This is the Twist. Since the hotel is full, he changes the plan and offers an upgrade: “I will move you to a VIP suite… and it is completely free.”
- Trap: Option B is a very logical and common real-world solution for twin beds, but it is not what happens in the audio. Option C is a plausible customer service action, but he gives her a room, not a refund.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Guest: Excuse me. I think there is a mistake with my room.
Receptionist: Oh? What is the problem, ma’am?
Guest: I am in room 304. It has two single beds. But I booked a room with one large double bed.
Receptionist: Let me check your reservation. Ah, yes. You booked a standard double room. I am so sorry. The hotel is very full today, and we don’t have any standard double rooms left.
Guest: So, I have to sleep in a small bed?
Receptionist: No, ma’am. Since it is our mistake, I will move you to a VIP suite on the top floor. It has a huge King-size bed, and it is completely free.
Guest: Oh, really? A VIP suite? That is wonderful! Thank you.
Listening 3
Listen to a guest calling the hotel reception. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where did the guest think the music was coming from at first?
(A) The hotel lobby.
(B) A street party.
(C) The room next door.
2 What did the receptionist say about room 403?
(A) It is empty tonight.
(B) The guests are having a party.
(C) The TV is broken.
3 What does the guest decide to do? (The Twist)
(A) Call the police.
(B) Wait for the music to stop.
(C) Change to a different room.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: C) The room next door.
- Explanation: At the beginning, the guest complains, “The people next door in room 403 are playing loud music.”
- Trap: Option B is the actual source of the music, but not what the guest thought at first. Option A is a plausible place for music but is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: A) It is empty tonight.
- Explanation: The receptionist checks the system and says, “Sir, nobody is in room 403 tonight. It is completely empty.”
- Trap: Option B is what the guest assumed was happening, but it was incorrect. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
3 Correct Answer: B) Wait for the music to stop.
- Explanation: This is the Twist. Since the street party ends in five minutes, the guest changes his mind about needing action. He says, “Then I don’t need to change my room. I will just wait for it to finish.”
- Trap: Option A is a trap using the word “police” mentioned by the receptionist, but the guest doesn’t call them. Option C is what a guest usually does when there is noise, but he explicitly says he doesn’t need to do it.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Guest: Hello, this is room 402. I want to complain about the noise. The people next door in room 403 are playing loud music. I can’t sleep!
Receptionist: Let me check the system. Sir, nobody is in room 403 tonight. It is completely empty.
Guest: Really? Then where is the music coming from? Let me open the window… Oh, I see now. There is a big party on the street outside.
Receptionist: Yes, the city festival is tonight. But don’t worry, the police said the music must stop at midnight. That is in only five minutes.
Guest: Oh, okay. Then I don’t need to change my room. I will just wait for it to finish.
Receptionist: Thank you for understanding. Good night!
Listening 4
Listen to a guest talking to a hotel receptionist. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the guest’s problem?
(A) He cannot find his room.
(B) He left his keycard inside his room.
(C) He lost his wallet in the hotel.
2 What does the receptionist ask to see first?
(A) The guest’s passport.
(B) The old keycard.
(C) A credit card.
3 How do they solve the problem? (The Twist)
(A) The receptionist gives him a new key immediately.
(B) The guest waits in the lobby for his friend.
(C) A security guard goes to the room with the guest.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B) He left his keycard inside his room.
- Explanation: The guest clearly explains his situation: “I am locked out of my room… I left my keycard on the bed…”
- Trap: Option A is a trap because he knows his room number (412), he just can’t get in. Option C is a common travel problem but is not mentioned in this audio.
2 Correct Answer: A) The guest’s passport.
- Explanation: Before making a new key, the receptionist says, “But first, I need to see your passport, please.”
- Trap: Option B is impossible because the old keycard is locked in the room. Option C is a plausible thing to ask for at a hotel, but she specifically asks for his passport.
3 Correct Answer: C) A security guard goes to the room with the guest.
- Explanation: This is the Twist. Because the passport is also locked inside, the receptionist changes the normal plan. She says, “I will call our security guard. He will go upstairs with you, open the door…”
- Trap: Option A is what the guest hoped would happen, but the receptionist cannot do it without seeing an ID first. Option B is not mentioned at all.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Guest: Excuse me. I have a bit of a problem. I am locked out of my room.
Receptionist: Don’t worry, sir. I can help with that. What is your room number?
Guest: It’s room 412. I left my keycard on the bed, and the door closed behind me.
Receptionist: I see. I can make you a new card. But first, I need to see your passport, please.
Guest: Oh no! I can’t give it to you. My passport is inside the room with my key!
Receptionist: That is okay. Let’s change the plan. I will call our security guard. He will go upstairs with you, open the door, and check your passport inside the room.
Guest: Phew! Thank you so much. I felt so silly!
Listening 5
Listen to a guest talking to a hotel manager. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did the guest break in his room?
(A) A window.
(B) A television.
(C) A water glass.
2 What was the guest worried about?
(A) Paying money for the broken item.
(B) Moving to a new hotel room.
(C) Cutting his hand.
3 What does the manager tell the guest to do? (The Twist)
(A) Clean the floor carefully.
(B) Wait in the hotel lobby.
(C) Pay for a new glass.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: C) A water glass.
- Explanation: The guest clearly states what happened: “I dropped a water glass on the floor, and it broke.”
- Trap: Option A and Option B are plausible things that can break in a hotel room, but they are never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: A) Paying money for the broken item.
- Explanation: The guest expects to pay a fine. He asks, “How much do I need to pay?”
- Trap: Option C is a trap because the manager says the glass is “very dangerous”, but the guest already said “I’m fine”, so he was not worried about being hurt. Option B is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: B) Wait in the hotel lobby.
- Explanation: This is the Twist. The guest tried to clean it himself, but the manager changes the plan for safety. She says, “Please wait here in the lobby for ten minutes so it is safe.”
- Trap: Option A is what the guest tried to do at first, but the manager says “please don’t touch”. Option C is what the guest expected to do, but the manager says “don’t worry about the money.”
AUDIO SCRIPT
Guest: Excuse me. I need to tell you something. I had a small accident in my room.
Manager: Are you okay, sir? What happened?
Guest: Yes, I’m fine. But I dropped a water glass on the floor, and it broke. I tried to clean it up, but there are too many small pieces. How much do I need to pay?
Manager: Oh, please don’t touch the broken glass! It is very dangerous. And don’t worry about the money. We will not charge you for one glass.
Guest: Really? Thank you so much.
Manager: You’re welcome. I will send a cleaner to your room right now. Please wait here in the lobby for ten minutes so it is safe.
Guest: Sure, I will do that.