Learning languages – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What does the customer ask the server to do at the beginning?
(A) To bring her a new menu.
(B) To speak more slowly.
(C) To translate the food names.
2 What did the server suggest to the customer?
(A) Chicken soup.
(B) Hot tea.
(C) A cold drink.
3 What does the customer finally order?
(A) Chicken soup.
(B) Hot tea.
(C) A glass of water.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) To speak more slowly.
- Explanation: The customer explicitly asks, “Could you please speak a little slower and repeat that?” because her English is not very good.
- Why the trap is wrong: Options (A) and (C) are plausible things a language learner might ask for in a restaurant, but they were not mentioned in the audio.
2 (A) Chicken soup.
- Explanation: The server tells the customer, “…we have a special on chicken soup today.” This is his suggestion.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Hot tea is what the customer eventually orders, but it is not what the server suggested. Option (C) was not mentioned.
3 (B) Hot tea.
- Explanation: The customer makes her final decision clear: “So, I will just have a hot tea instead.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap (The Twist). The customer says, “I originally wanted to try the chicken soup,” but she changes her mind because her stomach hurts. Option (C) was not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Server: Welcome to The Green Cafe! Are you ready to order? We have a great special on chicken soup today.
Customer: Excuse me, my English is not very good. Could you please speak a little slower and repeat that?
Server: Oh, I am sorry! I said, we have a special on chicken soup today. Would you like some?
Customer: Thank you for speaking slowly. I originally wanted to try the chicken soup. But my stomach hurts a little today. So, I will just have a hot tea instead.
Server: No problem at all. One hot tea. Anything else?
Customer: No, that’s all. Thank you.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why is the student talking to the receptionist?
(A) To exchange a book.
(B) To pay for a language class.
(C) To buy a Student Book.
2 Which book does the student need for his class?
(A) The Level B1 Workbook.
(B) The Level A2 Workbook.
(C) The Level B1 Student Book.
3 How much does the correct book cost?
(A) $5
(B) $20
(C) $25
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) To exchange a book.
- Explanation: The student has a workbook he bought by mistake and wants the correct one. The receptionist asks, “Do you want to exchange it?” and he replies, “Yes, please.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the trap (The Twist). The receptionist asks if he wanted the “Student Book instead,” but he says “No.” Option (B) is a plausible guess for a language center but was not mentioned.
2 (B) The Level A2 Workbook.
- Explanation: The student clearly states his level and need: “I am in the Level A2 class. I need the A2 Workbook.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The Level B1 Workbook is the book he bought by mistake, not the one he needs. Option (C) is the book the receptionist guessed he wanted.
3 (B) $20
- Explanation: The receptionist gives the price of the new book he needs: “…the A2 book is only twenty dollars.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the first trap. $25 is the price of the wrong book (the B1 book). Option (A) is the second trap. $5 is the amount of money the student gets back (his change), not the price of the book.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Student: Excuse me. Um, I bought this workbook yesterday, but I think I made a mistake.
Receptionist: Let me see. You bought the Level B1 Workbook. Did you want the B1 Student Book instead?
Student: No, actually, I am in the Level A2 class. I need the A2 Workbook.
Receptionist: I see. We have the A2 Workbook right here. Do you want to exchange it?
Student: Yes, please. But does it cost more?
Receptionist: Let’s see. The B1 book is twenty-five dollars. However, the A2 book is only twenty dollars. So, I will give you five dollars back.
Student: That’s great! Thank you so much.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is Leo’s problem?
(A) He doesn’t understand the listening test.
(B) He can’t hear the audio.
(C) He cannot see the computer screen.
2 What did Leo originally want to do?
(A) Move to another desk.
(B) Ask for new headphones.
(C) Turn up the volume.
3 How does the teacher solve the problem?
(A) He fixes the broken computer.
(B) He moves Leo to a new desk.
(C) He gives Leo extra headphones.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) He can’t hear the audio.
- Explanation: Leo states his problem clearly at the beginning: “I can’t hear the audio for our listening test.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a plausible guess for a student taking a test, but it is not his problem. Option (C) was not mentioned.
2 (A) Move to another desk.
- Explanation: Because he thinks the computer is broken, Leo asks, “Can I move to another desk?”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Getting new headphones is the solution the teacher gives him, not what Leo originally asked for. Option (C) was not mentioned.
3 (C) He gives Leo extra headphones.
- Explanation: Mr. Clark tells him, “Just take these extra headphones from my desk.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap because Leo thought the computer was broken, but Mr. Clark says “the computer is fine.” Option (B) is the main trap (The Twist). Leo asked to move, but Mr. Clark explicitly says, “No, you don’t need to move.”
AUDIO SCRIPT
Leo: Excuse me, Mr. Clark. I have a problem.
Mr. Clark: Yes, Leo? What’s wrong?
Leo: I can’t hear the audio for our listening test. I think this computer is broken. Can I move to another desk?
Mr. Clark: Let me check. Ah, the computer is fine, but your headphones are broken. The cable is cut.
Leo: Oh, I didn’t see that. So, should I move?
Mr. Clark: No, you don’t need to move. Just take these extra headphones from my desk. Plug them in.
Leo: Okay… Oh, it works! Thank you, Mr. Clark. I can hear the audio now.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why is the customer calling?
(A) Because she forgot her password.
(B) Because she forgot her username.
(C) Because she wants to delete her account.
2 What happened to the customer yesterday?
(A) She bought a new phone.
(B) She lost her phone.
(C) She changed her email address.
3 How will the customer receive the new password?
(A) By phone number.
(B) By email.
(C) By mail.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) Because she forgot her password.
- Explanation: The customer states her problem at the beginning: “I can’t log in to my account. I forgot my password.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The agent asks for her username, and she remembers it (“StarStudent20”). She did not forget it. Option (C) was not mentioned.
2 (B) She lost her phone.
- Explanation: The customer explains why she cannot use her phone number: “Oh, I lost my phone yesterday.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap related to the word “phone,” but she lost it, she didn’t buy a new one. Option (C) is a plausible guess for an account problem, but it was not mentioned.
3 (B) By email.
- Explanation: The customer asks, “Can you send it to my email instead?” and the agent agrees: “Yes, of course. I just sent the email.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the main trap (The Twist). The agent originally offered to send it to her phone number, but the customer rejected this because she lost her phone. Option (C) is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Agent: Hello, EnglishMaster App Support. How can I help you?
User: Hi. I can’t log in to my account. I forgot my password.
Agent: I can help with that. What is your username?
User: It’s “StarStudent20”.
Agent: Thank you. I can send a new password to your phone number.
User: Oh, I lost my phone yesterday. I don’t have that number anymore. Can you send it to my email instead?
Agent: Yes, of course. I just sent the email. Please check your inbox.
User: Okay, I got it! Thank you so much.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where did Leo and Maria go to practice speaking?
(A) To the lake.
(B) To the cafe.
(C) To the park entrance.
2 What did Maria want to buy?
(A) A cup of coffee.
(B) A new bag.
(C) Some water.
3 Why couldn’t Leo call Maria on her phone?
(A) Because her phone was in her bag.
(B) Because he lost his own phone.
(C) Because her phone was broken.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) To the cafe.
- Explanation: Leo explains their final location: “So, we went to the cafe instead.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap (The Twist). Leo says they “wanted to interview tourists near the lake,” but they didn’t do it because it was too crowded. Option (C) was not mentioned.
2 (C) Some water.
- Explanation: Leo says, “She went to buy some water…”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a very strong trap. They are at a “cafe”, so students might guess she bought coffee, but the audio specifically says “water”. Option (B) is a trap using the word “bag” which is mentioned later in the audio.
3 (A) Because her phone was in her bag.
- Explanation: Leo explains why he can’t call her: “…she left her bag with me. Her phone is inside it!”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The audio mentions wanting to call, but Leo didn’t lose his phone; he has Maria’s phone with him. Option (C) is a plausible guess but was not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Leo: Mr. Davis, I have a problem. I can’t find my speaking partner, Maria.
Mr. Davis: Oh? When did you last see her?
Leo: Well, we wanted to interview tourists near the lake. But it was too crowded. So, we went to the cafe instead.
Mr. Davis: Is she inside the cafe?
Leo: No. She went to buy some water, and I waited outside. But she didn’t come back.
Mr. Davis: Did you try to call her phone?
Leo: Yes, I wanted to, but she left her bag with me. Her phone is inside it!
Mr. Davis: Don’t worry, Leo. Let’s go back to the cafe together to look for her.