School life – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (C) Sharks

• Explanation: Tom finally decides, “…I’ll just take a book about sharks instead.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is “The Twist Trap”. Tom asks for books about lions first, but they are all checked out. Option (B) is “The Rejected Option”. The librarian suggests books about bears, but Tom rejects the idea.

2 (B) Two weeks

• Explanation: The librarian clearly states, “I’m afraid the maximum is two weeks.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (C) is “The Trap”. Tom asks, “Can I borrow it for three weeks?” but the librarian rejects this request. Option (A) is a plausible time frame but is never mentioned in the audio.

3 (B) His student ID card

• Explanation: The librarian tells Tom, “I need to see your student ID card, please.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is the “Plausible Trap”. People usually show a library card at a library, but in this school library, she specifically asks for a student ID. Option (C) is mentioned at the beginning (Tom needs the book for his science project), but he doesn’t need to show it.

Librarian: Hello. Can I help you?

Tom: Hi. I need to find a book about animals for my science project. Do you have any books about lions?

Librarian: Let me check the computer. Hmm, I’m sorry, but all the books about lions are checked out right now. We have some great books about bears, though.

Tom: Bears? Um, actually, I think I’ll just take a book about sharks instead. I really love ocean animals.

Librarian: Good choice. You can find those on the second shelf over there.

Tom: Here it is. Can I borrow it for three weeks?

Librarian: I’m afraid the maximum is two weeks. I need to see your student ID card, please.

Tom: Oh, right. Here you go!

1 (C) The Chemistry Lab

• Explanation: Emma asks clearly at the beginning, “Can you help me find the Chemistry Lab?”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is where they are standing right now (“We are at the main gate right now”). Option (B) is “The Trap” (a landmark). Liam tells her to walk past the library, but it is not her destination.

2 (B) The second floor

• Explanation: Liam explains the new location: “It’s actually on the second floor now.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is “The Twist Trap”. Emma asks if it is on the first floor, and Liam admits he thought so too, but they moved it. Option (C) is a plausible floor number but is never mentioned.

3 (A) Next to the stairs

• Explanation: Liam gives the exact location: “The Chemistry Lab is right next to the stairs.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (B) is a trap using a previously mentioned location (the library), but they do not say it is across from it. Option (C) is a plausible location for a school room, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

Emma: Excuse me, I’m a new student here. Can you help me find the Chemistry Lab?

Liam: Sure! We are at the main gate right now. You just need to go straight and walk past the library.

Emma: Okay, past the library. Is the lab on the first floor?

Liam: Well, I thought it was, but they moved it this year. It’s actually on the second floor now.

Emma: Second floor. Got it. Do I turn right or left?

Liam: Just go up the stairs, and turn left. The Chemistry Lab is right next to the stairs. You can’t miss it.

Emma: Thanks a lot!

1 (B) A grid notebook

• Explanation: Liam asks for a grid notebook at the beginning, and the clerk eventually finds one for him.
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is “The Trap”. The clerk says they have lots of lined notebooks, but Liam doesn’t buy them because he specifically needs a grid one for Math. Option (C) is a plausible type of notebook but is never mentioned.

2 (C) Black

• Explanation: Liam clearly asks the clerk, “I also need two ballpoint pens. Black ones, please.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is a “Detail Trap”. Blue is mentioned in the audio (“It has a blue cover”), but it describes the notebook, not the pens. Option (B) is a plausible pen color but is not mentioned.

3 (B) With cash

• Explanation: Liam says, “I’ll just pay with cash today. Here is a ten-dollar bill.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is “The Twist Trap”. The clerk asks if he is paying by card, and Liam says he usually does, but he left it in his locker. Option (C) is a plausible payment method but is not mentioned in the audio.

Liam: Hi. I need to buy a grid notebook for my Math class. Do you have any?

Clerk: Let me check. Um… we have lots of lined notebooks, but it looks like we are sold out of grid ones. Oh, wait! I found one at the back. It has a blue cover. Is that okay?

Liam: Yes, that’s perfect! I also need two ballpoint pens. Black ones, please.

Clerk: Sure, here are your two black pens. That will be $5 in total. Are you paying by card?

Liam: I usually pay by card, but I left it in my locker. I’ll just pay with cash today. Here is a ten-dollar bill.

Clerk: Thank you. Here is your $5 change. Have a good day!

1 (C) The 4:30 bus

• Explanation: After realizing his schedule, Tom says, “I’ll take the 4:30 one.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (B) is “The Twist Trap”. Tom wanted the 3:30 bus at first, but he realizes he has football practice until 4:00. Option (A) is a “Number Trap”; 3:15 is the time his classes finish, not a bus time.

2 (B) He has football practice.

• Explanation: Tom explains, “…I have football practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4:00.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is the “Rejected Idea”. His classes actually finish early (at 3:15). Option (C) is a plausible reason for a student to stay late at school, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

3 (C) A monthly pass

• Explanation: Tom agrees with the clerk and says, “I’ll buy a monthly pass then.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (B) is “The Twist Trap”. Tom asks, “Can I get a weekly pass, please?” but the clerk rejects this because they don’t sell them. Option (A) is “The Plausible Trap” as it is mentioned by the clerk as an option, but Tom does not choose it.

Tom: Excuse me, I’d like to buy a bus pass for the afternoon. What time does the bus leave?

Clerk: Hello! We have two afternoon buses. One leaves at 3:30, right after school, and the other leaves at 4:30.

Tom: I finish classes at 3:15, so I wanted the 3:30 bus. But wait… I have football practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4:00.

Clerk: In that case, you should take the 4:30 bus so you don’t miss it.

Tom: You’re right. I’ll take the 4:30 one. Can I get a weekly pass, please?

Clerk: I’m sorry, we only sell monthly passes or daily tickets. A monthly pass is $20.

Tom: Oh, okay. I’ll buy a monthly pass then. Here is twenty dollars.

1 (B) A cheese sandwich

• Explanation: Tom decides at the end, “…I guess I’ll just take a cheese sandwich then.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is “The Twist Trap”. Tom asks for a chicken sandwich at the beginning, but they are sold out. Option (C) is “The Rejected Option”. The worker says they have egg sandwiches left, but Tom chooses cheese instead.

2 (C) The cafeteria didn’t have any left.

• Explanation: The worker explicitly says, “…we are completely sold out of chicken sandwiches right now.” (“Sold out” means they don’t have any left).
• Why the traps are wrong: Options (A) and (B) are “Plausible Traps”. Students often change their minds or find things too expensive, but in this case, Tom still “really wanted chicken,” so neither of these is the correct reason.

3 (B) $6

• Explanation: The cafeteria worker tells Tom the total price: “That will be six dollars, please.”
• Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is a “Number Trap”. $4 is the change Tom receives back, not the cost of the food. Option (C) is also a “Number Trap”. $10 is the bill Tom hands to the worker to pay, not the total cost.

Tom: Hi. Can I get a chicken sandwich and a bottle of orange juice, please?

Cafeteria Worker: Let me see. I’m sorry, we are completely sold out of chicken sandwiches right now. We only have cheese or egg sandwiches left.

Tom: Oh, that’s a shame. I really wanted chicken. Well, I guess I’ll just take a cheese sandwich then.

Cafeteria Worker: Okay, one cheese sandwich and one orange juice. That will be six dollars, please.

Tom: Here is a ten-dollar bill.

Cafeteria Worker: Thank you. And here is your four dollars change. Have a good day!