Books & Reading – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to an announcement in a library. Choose the correct answer A, B, or C.
1 What time is the library closing today?
(A) At 4:45 PM.
(B) At 5:00 PM.
(C) At 6:00 PM.
2 What should you do if you want to take a book home?
(A) Bring it to the front desk.
(B) Put it on the shelf.
(C) Leave it on the table.
3 Where should visitors put the books they do NOT want to borrow?
(A) At the front desk.
(B) On the tables.
(C) On the shelves.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Answer: B
- Explanation : The announcer says, “today is Sunday, so the library will close in 15 minutes, at 5:00 PM.”
- Trap: Option A (4:45 PM) is the current time, not the closing time. Option C (6:00 PM) is a trap because it is the “usual” closing time for weekdays, but not for today.
2 Answer: A
- Explanation : The announcer gives a clear instruction: “If you want to take books home, please bring them to the front desk right now.”
- Trap: Options B and C are instructions for books that visitors do not want to take home.
3 Answer: C
- Explanation : The announcer says, “You must put them back on the shelves instead.”
- Trap: Option B is a tricky trap using negative instruction. The announcer mentions “tables” but says “do not leave them on the tables.” Option A is for books people want to borrow.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Announcer: Attention, library visitors. The time is now 4:45 PM. We usually close at 6:00 PM on weekdays. However, today is Sunday, so the library will close in 15 minutes, at 5:00 PM. Please finish your reading. If you want to take books home, please bring them to the front desk right now. If you do not want to borrow them, please do not leave them on the tables. You must put them back on the shelves instead. Thank you for visiting, and have a good evening.
Listening 2
Listen to a radio host talking about a new book. Choose the correct answer A, B, or C.
1 What kind of book did Mark originally plan to talk about?
(A) A cookbook
(B) A history novel
(C) A science fiction book
2 Why does Mark usually dislike cooking books?
(A) Because they are too expensive.
(B) Because they have too many pictures.
(C) Because they are difficult to follow.
3 What is special about the book “Quick Dinners”?
(A) It has long, detailed texts.
(B) It is written by a famous chef.
(C) It is full of beautiful pictures.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Answer: B
- Explanation : Mark says at the beginning, “Today, I wanted to talk about a new history novel. However…”
- Trap: Option A (A cookbook) is a trap. It is the book he actually talks about, not the one he originally planned to talk about. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
2 Answer: C
- Explanation : Mark clearly states, “I usually hate cooking books because they are so difficult to follow.”
- Trap: Option A is a logical guess in real life, but it is not mentioned. Option B is a trap because having many pictures is what he likes about the new book, not the reason he dislikes old ones.
3 Answer: C
- Explanation : Mark describes the new book by saying, “Instead, it is full of beautiful pictures and the recipes are very easy to make.”
- Trap: Option A is a trap using negative instruction. He says the book “doesn’t have” long texts, so option A is incorrect. Option B is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: Welcome back to “Weekend Reading”. I’m your host, Mark. Today, I wanted to talk about a new history novel. However, I found something much more exciting yesterday! It’s a brand new cookbook called “Quick Dinners”. Now, I usually hate cooking books because they are so difficult to follow. But, this one is different. It doesn’t have long, boring texts. Instead, it is full of beautiful pictures and the recipes are very easy to make. Even if you are terrible at cooking, you will love this book. So, go to your local bookstore and get a copy today!
Listening 3
Listen to a vlogger talking about the books she bought. Choose the correct answer A, B, or C.
1 Why did Emma buy the first book, “The Dark House”?
(A) Because she loves mystery novels.
(B) Because it has a beautiful cover.
(C) Because it is by a famous author.
2 What does Emma say about the second book, “Summer Days”?
(A) It was very cheap.
(B) It has a beautiful cover.
(C) It was written by a famous author.
3 Who did Emma buy the third book for?
(A) For herself.
(B) For her little brother.
(C) For a famous author.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Answer: B
- Explanation : Emma says, “However, the cover of this book was so beautiful that I had to buy it!”
- Trap: Option A is a trap using negative meaning. She says she does not usually read mystery novels. Option C is the reason she bought the second book, not the first one.
2 Answer: C
- Explanation : Emma explains, “I bought it because the author is very famous.”
- Trap: Option A is a trap because she actually says the book was “quite expensive,” which is the opposite of cheap. Option B is a trap because the beautiful cover belongs to the first book.
3 Answer: B
- Explanation : Emma clearly states, “Instead, I saw this funny comic book and bought it for my little brother.”
- Trap: Option A is a strong trap. She says “I wanted to buy a romance book for myself,” but uses the word “Instead” to show she changed her mind.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Hi everyone, welcome back to my channel! Today, I went to the city book fair and bought three new books to show you. First is “The Dark House”. I do not usually read mystery novels. However, the cover of this book was so beautiful that I had to buy it! Next, I got “Summer Days”. To be honest, this book was quite expensive. But I bought it because the author is very famous, and I love her other stories. Finally, I wanted to buy a romance book for myself. Instead, I saw this funny comic book and bought it for my little brother. I hope he likes it!
Listening 4
Listen to a podcaster telling a short story. Choose the correct answer A, B, or C.
1 What food did the rabbit want to find at first?
(A) An apple
(B) A carrot
(C) A bird
2 Why couldn’t the rabbit get the apple by himself?
(A) Because he didn’t like apples.
(B) Because a bird took it.
(C) Because he was too short.
3 What did the bird do when it flew down?
(A) It ate the apple.
(B) It pushed the apple to the ground.
(C) It flew away with the rabbit.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Answer: B
- Explanation : The podcaster says, “he wanted to find some carrots for breakfast.”
- Trap: Option A (An apple) is a trap because it is the food he actually found later, not what he wanted at first. Option C is a character, not food.
2 Answer: C
- Explanation : The story says, “He tried to jump and get it, but he was too short.”
- Trap: Option A is a trap because he wanted the apple (he tried to jump for it). Option B is a trap because the bird helped him, it didn’t take the apple away.
3 Answer: B
- Explanation : The podcaster explicitly says, “it pushed the apple to the ground for the rabbit.”
- Trap: Option A is a classic negative trap. The audio mentions the words “eat” and “apple”, but the podcaster says “The bird did not eat the apple.” If a student only listens for keywords, they will choose A.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Podcaster: Welcome back to the “Story Time” podcast! Today, I want to tell you a short story from a famous children’s book.
Once upon a time, there was a hungry little rabbit. One morning, he left his house because he wanted to find some carrots for breakfast. He looked everywhere in the forest. However, he didn’t find any carrots. Instead, he saw a big, red apple in a tall tree.
He tried to jump and get it, but he was too short. He felt very sad. Just then, a friendly bird flew down. The bird didn’t eat the apple. Instead, it pushed the apple to the ground for the rabbit. The rabbit was so happy and shared his breakfast with the bird.
Listening 5
Listen to an advertisement for a new e-reader. Choose the correct answer A, B, or C.
1 Why is the Smart-Read better than a normal tablet?
(A) It has a very bright screen.
(B) It does not make your eyes tired.
(C) It is much cheaper to buy.
2 Where can you keep the Smart-Read?
(A) In a thick novel.
(B) In a heavy bag.
(C) In your pocket.
3 What happens if you order the e-reader on the website today?
(A) You will get two thousand books for free.
(B) You will receive a free protective case.
(C) You have to go to the local bookstore.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Answer: B
- Explanation : The announcer says the screen “looks just like real paper, so your eyes are always comfortable.”
- Trap: Option A is a trap because a “bright screen” is what normal tablets have, which makes eyes tired. Option C is a logical guess but price is not mentioned in the audio.
2 Answer: C
- Explanation : The announcer says, “Instead, you can keep over two thousand books right in your pocket!”
- Trap: Option B (heavy bag) is a trap using negative instruction (“You do not need to put thick novels in your bag anymore”). Option A is just a mix of keywords from the audio.
3 Answer: B
- Explanation : The announcer clearly states, “if you order on our website today, you will get a free protective case.”
- Trap: Option A is a trap using the number “two thousand” (which is the number of books the device can hold, not a free gift). Option C is a trap because the bookstore is an alternative place to buy, but you only get the free gift if you buy on the website.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Announcer: Do you love reading but hate carrying heavy books? Then you need the new “Smart-Read” e-reader! Normal tablets have bright screens that make your eyes tired. However, the Smart-Read has a special screen that looks just like real paper, so your eyes are always comfortable. It is also extremely light. You do not need to put thick novels in your bag anymore. Instead, you can keep over two thousand books right in your pocket! You can buy it at your local bookstore. But, if you order on our website today, you will get a free protective case. Don’t wait, get yours now!