Learning languages – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 When will Emma take her English class?
(A) On Mondays and Wednesdays.
(B) On Tuesdays and Thursdays.
(C) On Saturday mornings.
2 Why doesn’t Emma choose the first class schedule?
(A) She works in the evening.
(B) She plays tennis on one of those days.
(C) She thinks the class is too late.
3 How much will Emma pay for the course?
(A) $100
(B) $150
(C) $200
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) On Mondays and Wednesdays.
- Explanation: Mike offers the class on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Emma agrees by saying, “That’s perfect.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap (The Twist). Mike originally offers the Tuesday/Thursday class, but Emma cannot take it. Option (C) was not mentioned.
2 (B) She plays tennis on one of those days.
- Explanation: When Mike suggests the Tuesday and Thursday class, Emma replies, “Oh, I play tennis on Thursdays.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. Emma says she works “during the day,” which is why she needs an evening class, but she doesn’t work in the evening. Option (C) is a plausible guess but was not mentioned.
3 (B) $150
- Explanation: Mike explains the final price because of the discount: “…so it’s only one hundred and fifty dollars.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the trap. The tuition fee is usually $200, but the price changed because of a “special discount.” Option (A) was not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mike: Hello, welcome to the City Language Center. How can I help you?
Emma: Hi. I want to register for the A2 English course. Do you have any evening classes? I work during the day.
Mike: Let me check. We have a class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 PM.
Emma: Oh, I play tennis on Thursdays.
Mike: Well, there is another evening class on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Emma: That’s perfect. How much is the tuition fee?
Mike: It’s usually two hundred dollars. But we have a special discount this week, so it’s only one hundred and fifty dollars.
Emma: Great! Can I fill out the registration form now?
Mike: Of course. Here you go.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What kind of dictionary does the customer want?
(A) A large and detailed dictionary.
(B) A small dictionary with pictures.
(C) A pocket dictionary with only text.
2 Why did the customer dislike the first dictionary?
(A) Because it was too expensive.
(B) Because it didn’t have enough words.
(C) Because it was too heavy.
3 Which dictionary did the customer finally buy?
(A) The “Visual Dictionary for Beginners”.
(B) The pocket dictionary.
(C) An English grammar book.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) A small dictionary with pictures.
- Explanation: The customer explicitly asks for these features: “I need something small to carry in my bag. And maybe with pictures?”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is what the clerk offered first, but the customer rejected it. Option (C) is a pocket dictionary mentioned by the clerk, but the customer didn’t want it because it lacked pictures.
2 (C) Because it was too heavy.
- Explanation: When shown the first dictionary, the customer says, “Oh, it’s a bit too heavy for me.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The price is mentioned at the end ($12), but it wasn’t the reason for rejecting the first book. Option (B) is wrong because the first book actually had too many words (50,000) for a beginner.
3 (A) The “Visual Dictionary for Beginners”.
- Explanation: The clerk suggests this one because it’s small and has images, and the customer says, “That’s perfect!… I’ll take it.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The clerk mentioned the pocket dictionary, but the customer chose the visual one instead. Option (C) was not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Customer: Excuse me, I’m looking for an English-Vietnamese dictionary. I just started learning English.
Clerk: Well, we have this one. It’s very popular. It has fifty thousand words and it’s very detailed.
Customer: Oh, it’s a bit too heavy for me. Um, I need something small to carry in my bag. And maybe with pictures?
Clerk: I see. We have a pocket dictionary, but it only has text. Oh, wait! How about this “Visual Dictionary for Beginners”? It’s small and it has lots of colorful images.
Customer: That’s perfect! It’s exactly what I was looking for. How much is it?
Clerk: It’s twelve dollars.
Customer: Great, I’ll take it.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where will the boy take his English lessons?
(A) At his school.
(B) At his home.
(C) At the tutoring center.
2 Why does Mr. Brown want this location?
(A) Because he doesn’t have time to drive his son.
(B) Because the center is closed in the evening.
(C) Because it is cheaper.
3 When will the tutor come to teach the boy?
(A) Every evening.
(B) On Saturday mornings.
(C) On Sunday afternoons.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) At his home.
- Explanation: Mr. Brown explicitly says, “Actually, I want someone to teach him at home.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the trap. The staff mentions they have classes “here at our center,” but the father rejects this idea. Option (A) was not mentioned.
2 (A) Because he doesn’t have time to drive his son.
- Explanation: After stating he wants a tutor at home, Mr. Brown gives the reason: “I don’t have time to drive him.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The center is actually open because they have classes “every evening.” Option (C) is a plausible guess but was not mentioned in the conversation.
3 (C) On Sunday afternoons.
- Explanation: They agree on the final schedule at the end of the conversation: “But we have a very good teacher available on Sunday afternoons.” and Mr. Brown replies, “Sunday afternoon is fine.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the main trap (The Twist). Mr. Brown “originally wanted” Saturday mornings, but the tutors are fully booked. Option (A) is the schedule for the classes at the center, not the in-home tutor.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Staff: Hello, Star Tutoring. How can I help you?
Mr. Brown: Hi. I’m looking for an English tutor for my ten-year-old son.
Staff: Great. We have small classes here at our center every evening.
Mr. Brown: Actually, I want someone to teach him at home. I don’t have time to drive him.
Staff: I understand. We can send an in-home tutor. When do you want the lessons?
Mr. Brown: I originally wanted a tutor for Saturday mornings.
Staff: Let me check. Ah, unfortunately, our tutors are fully booked on Saturdays. But we have a very good teacher available on Sunday afternoons.
Mr. Brown: Hmm, Sunday afternoon is fine. Let’s do that.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 When will Tom take the English exam?
(A) On November 5th.
(B) On November 12th.
(C) Next weekend.
2 Why can’t Tom take the first test?
(A) Because the test is full.
(B) Because he lost his ID card.
(C) Because he has a school trip.
3 What must Tom bring to the test?
(A) His national ID card and two photos.
(B) His student card and two photos.
(C) A pen and a notebook.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) On November 12th.
- Explanation: Tom agrees to the second date by saying, “That’s perfect. I’ll take the test on the 12th.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap (The Twist). The staff offers November 5th first, but Tom cannot take it. Option (C) was not mentioned.
2 (C) Because he has a school trip.
- Explanation: Tom explicitly states his reason for not taking the test on the 5th: “Oh, I have a school trip on the 5th.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The ID card is mentioned later in the audio, but it is not the reason he rejects the first date. Option (A) is a plausible guess but was not mentioned.
3 (A) His national ID card and two photos.
- Explanation: The staff tells him exactly what to bring: “You must bring your national ID card and two passport photos.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Tom asks if he should bring his student card, but the staff says, “No, we don’t accept student cards.” Option (C) is a plausible guess for a test but was not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Tom: Hello, I want to register for the English A2 exam next month. When is the first test?
Staff: Let me see. The first test is on November 5th.
Tom: Oh, I have a school trip on the 5th. Are there any other dates?
Staff: Yes, we have another one on November 12th.
Tom: That’s perfect. I’ll take the test on the 12th. What do I need to bring on the test day? My student card?
Staff: No, we don’t accept student cards. You must bring your national ID card and two passport photos.
Tom: Okay, my ID card and two photos. Thank you!
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between a tourist and a local person. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where does the tourist want to go?
(A) To the park.
(B) To the train station.
(C) To the airport.
2 How will the tourist travel there in the end?
(A) By taxi.
(B) On foot (walking).
(C) By bus.
3 Why shouldn’t the tourist walk?
(A) Because he doesn’t know the way.
(B) Because he has a heavy bag.
(C) Because it is raining.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) To the train station.
- Explanation: The tourist clearly says, “I need to go to the train station.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap because the local mentions “the park” when giving directions, but it is not the final destination. Option (C) is a plausible place for a tourist to go, but it is never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: (A) By taxi.
- Explanation: At the end, the local tells him to “take a taxi,” and the tourist agrees, saying, “That is a good idea.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option (B) is the “Twist” trap. The local first says it is a “ten-minute walk,” but then changes his mind and tells the tourist not to walk. Option (C) is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: (B) Because he has a heavy bag.
- Explanation: The local changes the plan and says, “Your suitcase is very big and heavy. Don’t walk.” (Suitcase = bag).
- Why the traps are wrong: Options (A) and (C) are common reasons why people take taxis instead of walking, but they are not the reason given in this conversation.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Tourist: Excuse me… do you speak English?
Local: A little bit. How can I help you?
Tourist: I need to go to the train station. Where is it?
Local: Ah, the train station. Go straight, then turn left at the park. It is a ten-minute walk.
Tourist: Straight, then left. Thank you.
Local: Wait! Your suitcase is very big and heavy. Don’t walk. You should take a taxi over there. It is faster.
Tourist: Oh, a taxi. That is a good idea. Thank you very much!