Music – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (C) Seated tickets in the back.

• Explanation: The customer clearly states her first choice: “I think I want seated tickets. My friend gets tired easily.” Option (A) is the A2 Twist/Trap because standing tickets are what she buys at the end, not what she wanted at first. Option (B) is a plausible ticket type but is never mentioned in the audio.

2 (A) Because the seated tickets are all sold out.

• Explanation: The clerk tells her, “I am sorry, but all the seated tickets are sold out.” Because of this, she changes her mind and buys the standing ones. Option (B) is a trap; the standing tickets are near the stage, but that is not the reason she chose them (she just had no other choice). Option (C) is a logical guess in real life, but the price difference is not mentioned.

3 (B) $100

• Explanation: The customer buys two tickets, and the clerk confirms at the end: “That will be $100 in total.” Option (A) is a math trap because $50 is the price for only one ticket (“They are $50 each”). Option (C) is an unmentioned distractor.

Clerk: Hello, how can I help you?

Customer: Hi, I would like two tickets for the rock concert this Saturday night, please.

Clerk: Sure. Do you want seated tickets in the back, or standing tickets near the stage?

Customer: I think I want seated tickets. My friend gets tired easily.

Clerk: I am sorry, but all the seated tickets are sold out. We only have standing tickets left. They are $50 each.

Customer: Oh, that’s a shame. But we really want to see the band. Okay, I will take two standing tickets, please.

Clerk: Great. That will be $100 in total.

1 (B) Thursday evenings.

• Explanation: The receptionist says, “The beginner class is on Thursday evenings.” Option (A) is the A2 Twist/Trap; the student asks about Tuesdays first, but that class is for “advanced students”. Option (C) is a plausible time for a class, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

2 (B) $60

• Explanation: The receptionist clearly states the fee: “It’s $60 a month.” Option (A) is a phonetic trap because “sixteen” (16) sounds very similar to “sixty” (60) for A2 learners. Option (C) is an unmentioned distractor.

3 (C) He doesn’t need to bring an instrument.

• Explanation: When the student asks if he needs to bring his own instrument, the receptionist says, “No, you don’t have to. We have plenty of guitars here…” Option (A) is a trap because the student says he “was going to buy a new guitar,” but he realizes he doesn’t need to. Option (B) is a logical guess but is not mentioned in the conversation.

Receptionist: Hello, welcome to the City Music Center. How can I help you?

Student: Hi, I want to join the beginner guitar class. Do you have any classes on Tuesdays?

Receptionist: I’m sorry, the Tuesday class is for advanced students. The beginner class is on Thursday evenings.

Student: Thursday is fine for me. How much is the fee?

Receptionist: It’s $60 a month.

Student: Okay. I was going to buy a new guitar today, but do I need to bring my own instrument to class?

Receptionist: No, you don’t have to. We have plenty of guitars here for students to use during the lesson.

Student: That’s great! I will sign up right now.

1 (C) An electric guitar.

• Explanation: The shop assistant’s first suggestion is, “We have this beautiful electric guitar.” Option (A) is the A2 Twist/Trap because the acoustic guitar is what she buys at the end, not the one shown first. Option (B) is a plausible instrument but is never mentioned in the audio.

2 (B) Because it costs too much money.

• Explanation: The customer says the electric guitar is “too expensive for me” and asks for “a cheaper one.” (“costs too much money” is a paraphrase of “too expensive”). Options (A) and (C) are plausible reasons to reject a guitar in real life, but they are not mentioned in the conversation.

3 (A) An acoustic guitar and a bag.

• Explanation: The customer agrees to buy the second guitar (“I will take the acoustic guitar, please”) and adds one more item (“Oh, and I also need a bag for it”). Option (B) is a trap using the first guitar (which she rejected) and an unmentioned item (book). Option (C) is a trap because she doesn’t buy only the guitar; she also buys a bag.

Shop Assistant: Hello, welcome to the music shop. How can I help you today?

Customer: Hi. I want to learn how to play the guitar. Can you help me choose one? I need something easy to play.

Shop Assistant: Sure! We have this beautiful electric guitar. It’s very popular right now and sounds amazing.

Customer: Oh, it looks great, but I think it is too expensive for me. Do you have a cheaper one?

Shop Assistant: Yes, we do. How about this wooden acoustic guitar? It’s much cheaper and it is perfect for beginners.

Customer: That sounds wonderful. I will take the acoustic guitar, please. Oh, and I also need a bag for it.

1 (B) A romantic song.

• Explanation: The woman says, “She really loves romantic music.” Option (A) is the A2 Twist/Trap; the DJ suggests a fast dance song and the woman “was going to ask” for one, but she changed her mind. Option (C) is a trap because a pop song is what the DJ is playing right now, not what the woman requested.

2 (A) Because it is her friend’s birthday.

• Explanation: The woman gives a clear reason: “…but today is my friend’s birthday.” Option (B) is a trap using the word “dance” from earlier in the conversation. Option (C) is plausible in real life but is not mentioned in the audio.

3 (C) In five minutes.

• Explanation: The DJ says, “I will play your song in five minutes, okay?” and the woman agrees. Option (A) is a trap because the woman wants it, but the DJ has to finish the current song first (“However, I have to finish playing this pop song first”). Option (B) is not mentioned in the conversation.

Woman: Hi, excuse me. Can I request a song, please?

Man: Sure! We are playing a lot of fast dance songs right now. Do you want something like that?

Woman: Well, I was going to ask for a dance song, but today is my friend’s birthday. She really loves romantic music. I wrote the name of the song on this piece of paper.

Man: Let me see… “Moonlight Love”. That is a beautiful song. However, I have to finish playing this pop song first. I will play your song in five minutes, okay?

Woman: That is perfect. Thank you so much!

1 (C) Because the traffic is very bad.

• Explanation: The man says clearly, “The traffic is really bad right now. You will be late.” Option (A) is a plausible reason for tourists in real life, but it is not mentioned in the audio. Option (B) is also a logical guess but is never stated.

2 (B) On foot.

• Explanation: The woman asks, “can I just walk there?” and the man agrees (“Yes, it only takes ten minutes”). “On foot” is a synonym for walking. Option (C) is the A2 Twist/Trap; she wanted to take a taxi at first, but the man told her not to. Option (A) is an unmentioned distractor.

3 (B) Next to the museum.

• Explanation: The man gives the exact location at the end: “The Concert Hall is right next to the museum.” Option (A) is a trap because the park is mentioned (“go past the big park”), but the hall is not inside it. Option (C) is a trap because she needs to turn left at the traffic light, but that is not the final location of the building.

Woman: Excuse me, I am looking for the City Concert Hall. I have tickets for the piano concert tonight. Should I take a taxi?

Man: A taxi? No, don’t do that. The traffic is really bad right now. You will be late. It is actually very close from here.

Woman: Oh, that’s good! So, can I just walk there?

Man: Yes, it only takes ten minutes. Just walk straight down this street, go past the big park, and then turn left at the traffic light. The Concert Hall is right next to the museum.

Woman: Walk straight, go past the park, and turn left. Thank you so much!