Detailed Directions – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (A) He is going the wrong way.

• The Key: The police officer tells the tourist directly: “…but you are going the wrong way.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because the word “map” is mentioned (“Let me see your map”), but he hasn’t lost it; he just doesn’t know how to read it. Option (C) is a plausible tourist problem but is not mentioned.

2 (B) Turn around.

• The Key: The officer gives the first instruction clearly: “Just turn around.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the classic “Twist” trap. The officer was going to say keep walking straight, but realized the tourist was facing the wrong direction.

3 (C) At the next intersection.

• The Key: The officer gives a specific direction: “When you get to the intersection, turn left.”
• The Trap: Option (B) uses the destination “museum” to confuse the listener, but the museum is where they arrive after turning left. Option (A) is not mentioned in the audio.

Tourist: Excuse me, officer. I think I am lost. I’m looking for the City Museum. Am I walking the right way?

Police Officer: The City Museum? Let me see your map. Ah, I was going to tell you to keep walking straight, but you are going the wrong way.

Tourist: The wrong way? Oh no!

Police Officer: Don’t worry. Just turn around. Walk back down this street to the next intersection.

Tourist: Turn around and walk to the intersection.

Police Officer: Yes. When you get to the intersection, turn left. The museum is a very big building on your right.

Tourist: Turn around, go to the intersection, turn left. Thank you so much!

1 (A) Number 40.

• The Key: The homeowner says clearly, “This is number 40.”
• The Trap: Option (C) is the destination written on the package. Option (B) is the number of the next house.

2 (B) Two houses down the street.

• The Key: The homeowner gives the correct direction: “go two more houses down the street.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the classic trap. The shipper guessed it was the next house, but the homeowner corrected him because the next house is only 42. Option (C) is a plausible direction but is not mentioned.

3 (C) It has a red door.

• The Key: The homeowner explicitly says, “Number 44 is the one with the red door.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a direct trap; the white door belongs to the house the shipper must avoid. Option (B) uses the correct color but changes the noun from “door” to “gate” to trick students who only listen for keywords without understanding the full sentence.

Shipper: Excuse me, I have a package for Mr. Smith at number 44. Is this the right house?

Homeowner: No, I’m sorry. This is number 40. Mr. Smith doesn’t live here.

Shipper: Oh, my mistake. Is number 44 the next house?

Homeowner: Well, I was going to say yes, but the next house is only number 42. You need to walk past it and go two more houses down the street.

Shipper: Two more houses down. Okay.

Homeowner: Yes. Don’t go to the house with the white door. Number 44 is the one with the red door. You can’t miss it.

Shipper: Past 42, two houses down, red door. Thank you very much!

1 (B) Next to the river.

• The Key: Tourist B corrects her friend and states their real location: “We are right here, next to the river.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a classic trap. Tourist A thought they were at the train station because he read the map wrong, but Tourist B says, “We are not at the train station.” Option (C) is their final destination, not their current location.

2 (B) Cross the bridge.

• The Key: Tourist B gives the correct first step: “We have to cross this bridge first.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the exact trap (“The Twist”). Tourist A originally wanted to turn right, but Tourist B says, “we shouldn’t turn right.” Option (C) is a correct instruction, but it is the second step, not the first thing they need to do.

3 (A) On the left.

• The Key: Tourist B clearly says, “The museum will be on your left.”
• The Trap: Option (B) uses the word “right”, which was mentioned earlier as the wrong direction to turn. Option (C) uses a location mentioned at the beginning of the audio to confuse the listener.

Tourist A: Let’s look at the map. Okay, so we are here at the train station. To get to the art museum, we need to turn right.

Tourist B: Wait, let me see… No, you are looking at the map upside down! We are not at the train station.

Tourist A: We aren’t? Where are we then?

Tourist B: We are right here, next to the river. So, we shouldn’t turn right.

Tourist A: Oh, my mistake. What should we do?

Tourist B: We have to cross this bridge first. Then, go straight past the park. The museum will be on your left.

Tourist A: Okay, cross the bridge and go straight. Let’s go!

1 (A) Because the road is closed for construction.

• The Key: The worker explains the twist clearly: “…but the road is closed for construction today.”
• The Trap: Option (C) is a trap. The worker mentions “it is the fastest way,” but that is not the reason the road is blocked. Option (B) is a plausible real-life reason but is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (B) Turn around.

• The Key: The worker gives the first instruction: “You need to turn around.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is explicitly warned against when the worker says, “don’t turn left.” Option (C) is the final destination, not the first step.

3 (C) Behind the supermarket.

• The Key: The worker tells the driver to use the “small alley right behind the supermarket.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a landmark the driver passes, but not where the alley is. Option (B) is a distractor because the alley leads to the hospital, but the audio specifies it is behind the supermarket.

Driver: Excuse me! Can I drive straight down this road to the city hospital?

Construction Worker: I’m sorry, sir. Well, I know it is the fastest way, but the road is closed for construction today. So, you can’t go this way.

Driver: Oh no. How do I get to the hospital then?

Construction Worker: You need to turn around. Drive back to the traffic lights.

Driver: Turn around and go to the traffic lights. Okay.

Construction Worker: Yes. Then, don’t turn left. Go straight and drive through the small alley right behind the supermarket. That road will take you to the hospital.

Driver: Turn around, go straight at the lights, use the alley behind the supermarket. Thank you!

1 (B) Because the map is wrong.

• The Key: The caller clearly states: “The map is wrong.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a distractor; the app is working, but the information is incorrect. Option (C) is a common reason used in other listening tests, but it is not mentioned here.

2 (C) Stay on the main road.

• The Key: The caller gives the explicit instruction: “Just stay on the main road and keep going straight.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the classic “Twist” trap. Turning left is what the map suggests, but the caller specifically says, “please don’t do that.”

3 (A) In front of the bakery.

• The Key: The caller says, “Please park your car right in front of the bakery.”
• The Trap: Option (B) uses the correct landmark (bakery) but the wrong preposition (behind instead of in front of). Option (C) refers to the area the car must avoid.

Driver: Hello, this is your taxi driver. I am on Oak Street right now.

Caller: Hi! Are you looking at the map app?

Driver: Yes, it tells me to turn left into a small alley.

Caller: Oh, please don’t do that. The map is wrong. The alley is too narrow for a car.

Driver: Okay. Where should I go instead?

Caller: Just stay on the main road and keep going straight. You will see a bakery. Please park your car right in front of the bakery. I will walk out and meet you.

Driver: Understood. Stay on the main road and park in front of the bakery. See you in a minute.