Holiday Experiences – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a conversation between a tourist and a car rental agent. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What does the tourist say about driving on the mountain roads?
(A) It was very difficult to drive.
(B) The car drove very well.
(C) The car broke down.
2 What was the problem inside the car?
(A) The air conditioning was weak.
(B) It was too cold.
(C) The seats were uncomfortable.
3 When did the tourist feel uncomfortable in the car?
(A) In the morning.
(B) Around noon.
(C) At night.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) The car drove very well.
- Explanation: The tourist clearly states, “the car drove beautifully up there.” Option A is the trap: the tourist says, “I was a bit worried” before the drive, but it wasn’t difficult in reality. Option C is a plausible car problem but is never mentioned.
2 (A) The air conditioning was weak.
- Explanation: The tourist explains the issue: “but it was quite weak.” Option B is the trap: the tourist “thought the air conditioning would be very cold”, but it was actually the opposite. Option C is a trap: the word “uncomfortable” is mentioned, but it was because of the heat, not the seats.
3 (B) Around noon.
- Explanation: The tourist says, “It was a bit uncomfortable around noon when the sun was hot.” Option A and Option C are plausible times of the day for a road trip but are not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Agent: Hello! Are you returning the car today? How was your trip?
Tourist: Yes, here are the keys. The trip was really great!
Agent: That’s good to hear. Did you have any problems with the car?
Tourist: Well, I was a bit worried about the mountain roads, but the car drove beautifully up there. So that was perfect.
Agent: Excellent. And how about the inside of the car?
Tourist: Actually, there was one small issue. I thought the air conditioning would be very cold, but it was quite weak. It was a bit uncomfortable around noon when the sun was hot.
Agent: Oh, I’m sorry about that. We will check it right away.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a photo clerk. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What size does the woman choose for her five photos?
(A) Standard size.
(B) Large size.
(C) Small size.
2 Why was the woman able to get a good photo of the singer?
(A) The museum was not crowded.
(B) The museum was very busy.
(C) The clerk helped her.
3 Why did the woman take a photo with the king’s statue?
(A) She likes the king more than the queen.
(B) The queen’s statue was not available.
(C) The king’s statue was being repaired.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Large size.
- Explanation: The woman says, “But these five are so beautiful that I’ve decided to get them in a large size instead.” Option A is the trap: she mentions “standard size” as her original plan, but she changed her mind.
2 (A) The museum was not crowded.
- Explanation: She explains, “But actually, there were very few people there” (few people = not crowded). Option B is the trap: she mentions “crowded” as what she “thought” would happen, but it wasn’t the reality.
3 (B) The queen’s statue was not available.
- Explanation: The woman states she chose the king because the queen’s statue “was being repaired” (not available to use). Option C is the trap: it was the queen’s statue being repaired, not the king’s.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Clerk: Good morning! How can I help you today?
Customer: Hi. I have some photos from my trip to the wax museum. I’d like to print these five, please.
Clerk: Certainly. Do you want them in the standard size?
Customer: Well, I originally wanted all of them in standard size. But these five are so beautiful that I’ve decided to get them in a large size instead.
Clerk: Good choice. Oh, this one with the famous singer is great!
Customer: Thanks! I thought it would be difficult to take because the museum is usually crowded. But actually, there were very few people there.
Clerk: And this one?
Customer: Ah, that’s a famous king. I really planned to take a photo with the queen, but her statue was being repaired. So I chose the king instead.
Clerk: I see. They will be ready in thirty minutes.
Listening 3
Listen to a conversation between a customs officer and a passenger at the airport. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 How many days did the passenger actually stay in Japan?
(A) Two weeks.
(B) Ten days.
(C) Seven days.
2 What electronic item did the passenger bring back?
(A) A laptop.
(B) A smartphone.
(C) A camera.
3 Why didn’t the passenger buy a laptop?
(A) It was too expensive.
(B) It didn’t have an English keyboard.
(C) The shops were closed.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Ten days.
- Explanation: The passenger says, “…so I only stayed for ten days.” Option A is the trap: he “planned” to stay for two weeks, but he had to come back early. Option C is a plausible length for a trip but is not mentioned.
2 (C) A camera.
- Explanation: The passenger clearly states, “So, I just bought a camera instead.” Option A is the trap: he “wanted to buy a laptop”, but he didn’t buy it. Option B is a plausible electronic good but is never mentioned in the audio.
3 (B) It didn’t have an English keyboard.
- Explanation: The passenger explains, “Unfortunately, I couldn’t find an English keyboard.” Option A is the trap: he mentions the word “expensive” because he thought it would be expensive, but he says “it was actually quite cheap.” Option C is plausible but not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Officer: Welcome back. Can I see your passport, please?
Passenger: Here you go.
Officer: Thank you. Where did you travel from today?
Passenger: I flew in from Japan.
Officer: How long was your trip?
Passenger: Well, I planned to stay for two weeks. But actually, I had to come back early for work, so I only stayed for ten days.
Officer: I see. Did you buy any electronic goods there?
Passenger: I really wanted to buy a laptop. I thought it would be too expensive, but it was actually quite cheap! Unfortunately, I couldn’t find an English keyboard. So, I just bought a camera instead.
Officer: Okay, that’s fine. You can go through.
Listening 4
Listen to a conversation between a tour guide and a tourist. Complete the feedback form below. Write ONE WORD for each gap.
TOUR FEEDBACK FORM
1 Hotel room: It was small but very (1) ___________.
2 Food: The breakfast was good, but the dinners were too (2) ___________.
3 Favorite activity: The (3) ___________ trip.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 clean
- Explanation: The tourist says, “…I thought the room was a bit small, but it was very clean.” The conjunction “but” helps listeners identify the positive adjective that contrasts with “small”.
2 spicy
- Explanation: The tourist explicitly states, “the dinners were quite spicy for me.” The trap here is the word “sweet”, which is the type of food the tourist prefers, not how the dinner actually tasted. “Delicious” is also a trap as it refers to the breakfast.
3 boat
- Explanation: The tourist says, “I loved the boat trip.” The trap is the word “hiking”, which was their original plan (“We planned to go hiking”), but they changed it because of the rain.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Guide: Hello! Could you help me fill out this feedback form for our tour?
Tourist: Sure.
Guide: Great. First, how was the hotel? Was it comfortable?
Tourist: Well, I thought the room was a bit small, but it was very clean. So, I liked it.
Guide: Good. And what about the food? Did you enjoy the local dishes?
Tourist: The breakfast was delicious! But actually, the dinners were quite spicy for me. I prefer sweet food.
Guide: I’m sorry to hear that. Finally, what was your favorite activity?
Tourist: I loved the boat trip. We planned to go hiking, but it rained, so we took the boat instead. It was fantastic.
Guide: Thank you for your feedback!
Listening 5
Listen to a phone conversation between a tourist and an insurance agent. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What item did the tourist lose?
(A) A wallet.
(B) A camera.
(C) A passport.
2 Where did the tourist actually lose the item?
(A) At a restaurant.
(B) At a hotel.
(C) At the night market.
3 What did the tourist notice about the bag?
(A) It was open.
(B) It was very heavy.
(C) It was left at the restaurant.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) A camera.
- Explanation: The tourist clearly states, “…unfortunately, I lost my camera.” Option A is the trap: the agent asks, “Did you lose your wallet?” but the tourist says it is safe. Option C is a plausible travel item but is never mentioned.
2 (C) At the night market.
- Explanation: The tourist explains, “Someone took it at the crowded night market.” Option A is the trap: the agent asks if they left it at the restaurant, and the tourist “thought so” at first, but it wasn’t there. Option B is not mentioned in the audio.
3 (A) It was open.
- Explanation: The tourist says, “Then I noticed my bag was open.” Option C is the trap: the restaurant is where they went to look for the camera, not where they left the bag. Option B is plausible but not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Agent: Hello, Travel Insurance. How can I help you?
Tourist: Hi, I need to report a lost item.
Agent: I’m sorry to hear that. Did you lose your wallet?
Tourist: No, my wallet is safe. But unfortunately, I lost my camera.
Agent: Okay. Where did you lose it?
Tourist: Well, we had dinner at a restaurant first. After that, we walked around the night market.
Agent: So you left it at the restaurant?
Tourist: I thought so! But I went back to look, and it wasn’t there. Then I noticed my bag was open. Someone took it at the crowded night market.
Agent: I understand. I will send you a form to fill out.