Returning goods – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between two friends. Read the questions and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the problem with the man’s shirt?
(A) He does not like the color.
(B) It is too small for him.
(C) It is missing a button.
2 What does the man decide to do with the shirt?
(A) Give it to his younger brother.
(B) Keep it in the box.
(C) Exchange it for a bigger one.
3 Why does the man invite Lisa to go with him?
(A) He wants her to go to the mall with him.
(B) He needs her to pay for the new shirt.
(C) He wants to buy her a pair of shoes.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: The man says the shirt is “way too tight,” which means it is too small.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. He mentions the color, but he says he “really loves the color,” not that he dislikes it. Option (C) is not mentioned at all.
2 Correct Answer: (C)
- Explanation: The man says, “I’m going to take it back to the store and get a larger size instead.” This means he wants to exchange it.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the main trap. Lisa asks if he will give it to his brother, and he says “I thought about it, but…” This is the “Twist” technique—he planned to do it, but changed his mind.
3 Correct Answer: (A)
- Explanation: He says, “I’m going to the mall this afternoon. Do you want to come with me?” He simply wants some company.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap. Lisa mentions that she needs to “look for some shoes,” but the man is not buying them for her. Option (B) is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Tom: Hey Lisa! You know that blue shirt my aunt gave me?
Lisa: Yeah, it’s really nice.
Tom: Well, um, I tried it on yesterday, but it’s way too tight. I can hardly move!
Lisa: Oh, that’s too bad. Are you going to give it to your brother?
Tom: I thought about it, but I really love the color. So, I’m going to take it back to the store and get a larger size instead.
Lisa: That’s a good idea. Do you have the receipt?
Tom: Yes, it was in the box. Ah, I’m going to the mall this afternoon. Do you want to come with me?
Lisa: Sure! I need to look for some shoes anyway.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between a husband and wife. Read the questions and choose the best answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the problem with the hairdryer?
(A) It is the wrong color.
(B) It does not work anymore.
(C) It was too cheap.
2 Where did the woman find the receipt?
(A) On the kitchen counter.
(B) Inside a shopping bag.
(C) In her jacket pocket.
3 When will the woman return the hairdryer?
(A) Right now.
(B) Tomorrow morning.
(C) Yesterday afternoon.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: The woman says the hairdryer “suddenly stopped working.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap because she mentions the word “expensive,” not “cheap.”
2 Correct Answer: (C)
- Explanation: After checking other places, she finds it in her “blue jacket” pocket.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The husband suggested the “kitchen counter,” but the woman said she “already looked there” and only found a different receipt.
3 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: This is the “Twist.” She says: “I planned to go now, but… I’ll go tomorrow morning instead.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. It was her original plan, but she changed her decision because she felt tired.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Wife: Mark, have you seen the receipt for the hairdryer? I used it this morning, but it suddenly stopped working.
Husband: Oh, that’s not good! Did you check the kitchen counter? I saw some shopping bags there earlier.
Wife: I already looked there, but I only found the grocery receipt from yesterday. I’m so worried because the hairdryer was quite expensive.
Husband: Hmm… Wait! Check the pocket of your blue jacket. You were wearing it when we bought it at the supermarket.
Wife: Oh, let me see… Ah, yes! It’s right here. Thank goodness! Now I can finally take it back and get a refund.
Husband: Do you want to go to the store now?
Wife: I planned to go now, but I’m feeling a bit tired. I think I’ll go tomorrow morning instead.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between two roommates. Read the questions and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why does Sarah want to return the sneakers?
(A) They are too small.
(B) She does not like the color.
(C) They are too expensive.
2 How many days does the store allow for returns?
(A) 2 days.
(B) 14 days.
(C) 30 days.
3 When will Sarah go to the store?
(A) This weekend.
(B) Today after work.
(C) Tomorrow morning.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A)
- Explanation: Sarah explicitly says, “They are a bit too small.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Options (B) and (C) are plausible reasons for returning an item, but they are never mentioned in the conversation.
2 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: Emma reads the rule and says, “The receipt says you only have 14 days to return things.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a major trap. Sarah says, “I thought I had 30 days,” but this was her misunderstanding, not the actual store policy.
3 Correct Answer: (C)
- Explanation: This is the “Twist” technique. Sarah’s final decision is: “I’ll just go tomorrow morning before my class.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is her original plan, but she has to change it because the deadline is tomorrow. Option (B) is Emma’s suggestion, but Sarah rejects it because she is “too busy” today.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Hey Sarah, are you still going to return those sneakers?
Sarah: Yeah, I want to. They are a bit too small. I plan to go this weekend.
Emma: But you bought them two weeks ago! The receipt says you only have 14 days to return things. That means tomorrow is the last day.
Sarah: Oh no, really? I totally forgot. I thought I had 30 days to return them.
Emma: No, it’s only 14 days. You should go today after work.
Sarah: I can’t today, I’m too busy. I’ll just go tomorrow morning before my class.
Emma: Good idea. Make sure you don’t forget the receipt!
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between a brother and a sister. Read the questions and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why is Mike returning the headphones?
(A) They do not work with his phone.
(B) They are too heavy.
(C) They are broken and ripped.
2 Which box is Mike using to return the item?
(A) The original box.
(B) A new box.
(C) A plastic shipping bag.
3 Where did Mike finally find the tape?
(A) On the desk.
(B) Inside the box.
(C) Under his jacket.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A)
- Explanation: Mike explicitly says, “They don’t work with my phone.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap. He mentions the word “ripped”, but it was the box that ripped, not the headphones. Option (B) is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: Mike says, “I have to use this new box instead.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the “Twist” trap. He “planned to use the original box”, but he couldn’t because it was damaged.
3 Correct Answer: (C)
- Explanation: At the end of the conversation, Mike says the tape is “under my jacket.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. Anna found the scissors on the desk, not the tape. Option (B) is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Anna: What are you doing with that big box, Mike?
Mike: I’m sending these headphones back to the online store. They don’t work with my phone.
Anna: Oh, that’s a shame. Do you need any help?
Mike: Yeah. I planned to use the original box, but it ripped when I opened it. So, I have to use this new box instead. Can you pass me the tape and scissors?
Anna: Sure. I think the scissors are on the desk… Here you go. But I don’t see any tape.
Mike: Ah, wait. It’s under my jacket! I found it. Thanks anyway.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between two colleagues. Read the questions and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why does Anna want to return the notebook?
(A) It is the wrong color.
(B) It does not have any lines inside.
(C) It is too small for the meeting.
2 Where is David going first after work?
(A) To the stationery store.
(B) Directly to his home.
(C) To see a dentist.
3 Where can David find the receipt?
(A) Inside the notebook’s cover.
(B) In Anna’s office.
(C) In a blue shopping bag.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: Anna mentions: “I wanted one with lines… but this one is completely blank.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Options (A) and (C) are common reasons for returning goods, but they are not mentioned in this conversation.
2 Correct Answer: (C)
- Explanation: This is the “Twist” technique. David says: “I’m going to the dentist first today.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is where he will go after the dentist. Option (B) is what he usually does, but his plan changed today.
3 Correct Answer: (A)
- Explanation: Anna says: “Here’s the receipt. It’s inside the front cover.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a common distractor in “Returning goods” topics, but in this specific script, the receipt is placed inside the book itself.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Anna: Hi David. Do you have a minute? I need a small favor.
David: Sure, Anna. What is it?
Anna: I bought this notebook for our meeting yesterday, but I made a mistake. I wanted one with lines for writing, but this one is completely blank inside.
David: Oh, I see. Do you want me to take it back to the store for you?
Anna: Yes, please! You usually walk past that stationery store on your way home, right?
David: Well, I’m going to the dentist first today. However, the store is right next to it, so I can stop there afterwards.
Anna: That would be great! Here’s the receipt. It’s inside the front cover.
David: No problem. I’ll get the correct one for you.