Department stores – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
A floor manager is showing a new sales assistant around the department store on her first day. Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where is the break room?
(A) Behind the cash register.
(B) Near the elevators.
(C) By the front door.
2 What is behind the cash register?
(A) A supply closet.
(B) The restrooms.
(C) The manager’s office.
3 Where will Emma work today?
(A) In the break room.
(B) At the cash register.
(C) By the front door.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Near the elevators.
- Explanation: The manager clearly says, “The break room is actually on the left, near the elevators.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Emma asks if it is behind the cash register, but the manager says “No”. Option (C) is where she will work later, not the break room.
2 Correct Answer: (A) A supply closet.
- Explanation: When Emma asks about the door behind the cash register, the manager tells her “that door is just a supply closet.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap because the restrooms are next to the break room, not behind the register. Option (C) is a plausible room in a store but it was never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: (C) By the front door.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. The manager changes his plan and says, “please stand by the front door to welcome customers instead.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The manager wanted her at the cash register first, but the store wasn’t busy. Option (A) is where she puts her bag, not where she works.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Manager: Welcome to the team, Emma. Let me show you around the store.
Emma: Thank you! First, where can I put my bag?
Manager: You can leave it in the break room.
Emma: Is the break room behind the cash register? I saw a small door there.
Manager: No, that door is just a supply closet. The break room is actually on the left, near the elevators. The restrooms are next to it.
Emma: Got it. And where should I work today?
Manager: Well, I wanted you to work at the cash register, but it’s not busy right now. So, please stand by the front door to welcome customers instead.
Emma: Okay, I’ll go put my bag away now.
Listening 2
Two staff members, Mike and Sarah, are in the stockroom counting shoe boxes for an upcoming event. Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 How many boxes of sports shoes do they have in total?
(A) 8
(B) 12
(C) 20
2 Why do they need at least twenty boxes of sports shoes?
(A) For the weekend sale.
(B) For a new store display.
(C) Because they are very popular.
3 What does Sarah tell Mike to do about the black boots?
(A) Move them to the shelf.
(B) Order some more.
(C) Put them on sale.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (C) 20
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. Sarah first counts 12 boxes on the shelf, but then she finds 8 more on the floor. She calculates: “twelve plus eight… that makes twenty boxes in total.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap because it is the first number Sarah says before she finishes counting. Option (A) is the number of extra boxes she finds, not the total amount.
2 Correct Answer: (A) For the weekend sale.
- Explanation: Mike says, “That’s not enough for the weekend sale.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Options (B) and (C) are plausible reasons for needing more shoes in a store, but the speakers never mention a display or the shoes being popular.
3 Correct Answer: (B) Order some more.
- Explanation: At the end of the conversation, Sarah says they only have five pairs of black boots left and tells Mike, “You should order some more.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is not mentioned (she found sports shoes on the floor, not boots). Option (C) is a trap using the word “sale” from earlier in the conversation, but it doesn’t apply to the boots.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mike: Hey Sarah, are you done counting the shoes in the stockroom?
Sarah: Almost, Mike. I’m counting the sports shoes right now. Let’s see… ten, eleven, twelve. Okay, we have twelve boxes of sports shoes on this shelf.
Mike: Twelve? That’s not enough for the weekend sale. We need at least twenty.
Sarah: Oh, wait a minute! I didn’t see these boxes on the floor. There are eight more here. So, twelve plus eight… that makes twenty boxes in total.
Mike: Perfect. What about the black boots?
Sarah: We only have five pairs of black boots left. You should order some more.
Listening 3
David is finishing his shift at the department store, and Lisa is just starting hers at the cash register. Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What do they have enough of at the cash register?
(A) Receipt paper.
(B) Small change.
(C) Plastic bags.
2 What did Lisa think was the problem?
(A) The cash computer was broken.
(B) They needed more five-dollar bills.
(C) The store was too busy.
3 What will Lisa do next?
(A) Fix the broken computer.
(B) Get more money from the manager.
(C) Get some paper for the printer.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Small change.
- Explanation: When Lisa asks “Do we have enough small change?”, David answers “We are good. We have lots of one-dollar and five-dollar bills.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. They are actually running out of receipt paper, so they do NOT have enough of it. Option (C) is a plausible item at a checkout, but it was not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (A) The cash computer was broken.
- Explanation: When David says there is a problem, Lisa immediately asks, “Did the cash computer break again?”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is incorrect because David just said they have lots of bills. Option (C) is not mentioned as a problem, although David said he printed a lot of receipts.
3 Correct Answer: (C) Get some paper for the printer.
- Explanation: Because the receipt printer is almost out of paper, Lisa says, “I will go to the manager’s office and get a new roll of paper right now.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap because the computer was mentioned, but David confirmed “the computer is fine today.” Option (B) is a trap because she is going to the manager’s office, but for paper, not money.
AUDIO SCRIPT
David: Hi Lisa, are you ready for your shift?
Lisa: Yes, I am! How was the store today? Do we have enough small change?
David: We are good. We have lots of one-dollar and five-dollar bills. But, there is one small problem.
Lisa: Oh? Did the cash computer break again?
David: No, the computer is fine today. But the receipt printer is almost out of paper. I printed a lot of receipts this morning.
Lisa: I understand. I will go to the manager’s office and get a new roll of paper right now.
David: Great. Have a good shift!
Listening 4
A team leader and a staff member are organizing the handbag display area in a department store. Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where should Mark put the NEW handbags?
(A) In the stockroom.
(B) On the back shelves.
(C) On the front shelves.
2 Why does the leader want the new bags near the door?
(A) So that customers can see them.
(B) Because they are very heavy.
(C) Because there is no space on the back shelves.
3 What will happen to the OLD handbags?
(A) They will stay on the front shelves.
(B) They will be moved to the back shelves.
(C) They will be taken to the stockroom.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (C) On the front shelves.
- Explanation: The leader clearly tells Mark, “please put the new ones on the front shelves near the door.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap because Mark asks if he should put them on the back shelves, but the leader says “No”. Option (A) is the destination for the old bags.
2 Correct Answer: (A) So that customers can see them.
- Explanation: After telling Mark to put the new bags near the door, the leader explains, “We want everyone to see them.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Options (B) and (C) might be logical reasons in a real-life store, but the speakers never mention the weight of the bags or the space on the shelves.
3 Correct Answer: (C) They will be taken to the stockroom.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. Mark asks if he should move the old bags to the back shelves, but the leader corrects him: “Let’s pack them in boxes and take them to the stockroom.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap based on Mark’s suggestion which was rejected. Option (A) is where the old bags are right now, not where they are going.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Leader: Hi Mark, the new handbags just arrived. We need to display them right now.
Mark: Great. Should I put them on the back shelves?
Leader: No, please put the new ones on the front shelves near the door. We want everyone to see them.
Mark: Okay. What about the old handbags on the front shelves right now? Should I move them to the back shelves?
Leader: Actually, no. Let’s pack them in boxes and take them to the stockroom. They are not on sale anymore.
Mark: Understood. I will do that right away.
Listening 5
The store manager is giving a morning briefing to the staff before the department store opens. Listen to the announcement and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Which section has the special discount today?
(A) The clothing section.
(B) The electronics section.
(C) The furniture section.
2 What time does the special sale begin?
(A) At 9:00 AM.
(B) At 10:00 AM.
(C) At 12:00 PM.
3 What should the staff tell the customers to do?
(A) Go to the third floor.
(B) Wait at the front door.
(C) Go to the clothing section.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) The electronics section.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. The manager says they usually have discounts in the clothing section, but today the discount “is only for the electronics section.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The clothing section is mentioned, but it is their usual habit, not today’s plan. Option (C) is a plausible section in a store, but it is never mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (B) At 10:00 AM.
- Explanation: The manager clearly states, “It starts at 10 AM.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. 9 AM is the time the department store opens, not the time the sale starts. Option (C) is when the sale finishes (2 hours after 10 AM), not when it begins.
3 Correct Answer: (A) Go to the third floor.
- Explanation: The manager instructs the team: “if customers ask, please tell them to go to the third floor.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap using a location mentioned earlier in the audio, but it is not where the sale is. Option (B) is plausible before opening time, but it is not what the manager tells the staff to say.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Manager: Good morning, team! Please listen carefully before we open the store at 9 AM. We have a special sale today.
Staff crowd: Yes, boss.
Manager: I know we usually have our big discounts in the clothing section. But today is different. The special 50% discount is only for the electronics section.
Staff crowd: Oh, okay.
Manager: So, if customers ask, please tell them to go to the third floor. Also, remember that this sale doesn’t start right now. It starts at 10 AM and lasts for two hours. Let’s have a great day!