Special Hobbies – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (C) A car model

• Explanation: Sam says excitedly at the beginning: “Toby, look at my new car model!”
• Trap: Options A and B are other types of models/hobbies, but they are not mentioned in the audio.

2 (A) Sam spilled the glue.

• Explanation: Sam panics and says: “Oh no! I just spilled the glue! It’s everywhere on the desk!”
• Trap: Option B is a distractor. Sam mentions “put the doors on,” but nobody broke them. Option C is wrong because he dropped/spilled the glue, not the car itself.

3 (B) A wet towel

• Explanation: Sam tells Toby what he needs: “…get me a wet towel! Quickly!”
• Trap (The Twist): Option C (Paper tissues) is a strong trap. Toby offers to get paper tissues (“I will get some paper tissues for you”), but Sam rejects it and says “No, tissues won’t work.”

Sam: Toby, look at my new car model! I just need to put the doors on.

Toby: It looks great! But be careful with that glue, Sam.

Sam: Oh no! I just spilled the glue! It’s everywhere on the desk!

Toby: Don’t panic. I will get some paper tissues for you.

Sam: No, tissues won’t work. The glue is very sticky. Please run to the bathroom and get me a wet towel! Quickly!

Toby: Okay, I’m going! Keep your hands away from it!

1 (B) 500 pieces

• Explanation: The customer corrects the staff: “No, it’s the 500-piece set…”
• Trap (The Twist): Option C (1,000 pieces) is a strong distractor because the staff mentions it first, but the customer rejects it.

2 (C) A corner piece.

• Explanation: The customer confirms the exact missing part: “…but actually, it’s the bottom corner piece.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option B (A middle piece) is the trap. The customer says they thought it was a middle piece at first. Option A is a general detail (the picture is a forest) but doesn’t answer “which piece”.

3 (B) Get a new puzzle box.

• Explanation: After the staff offers two choices, the customer says: “I’ll take a new box, please.”
• Trap: Option A (Full refund) is mentioned as an option by the staff, but the customer does not choose it. Option C is not mentioned.

Staff: Hello! How can I help you today?

Customer: Hi. I bought this puzzle here last week, but I have a problem.

Staff: Oh, was it the large 1,000-piece one?

Customer: No, it’s the 500-piece set of a forest. I finished it last night, but it’s not complete.

Staff: What’s wrong with it?

Customer: One piece is missing! I checked everywhere under the table. I thought it was just a small middle piece, but actually, it’s the bottom corner piece.

Staff: I’m very sorry about that. Do you have the receipt?

Customer: Yes, here it is.

Staff: Thank you. You can have a new box for free or a full refund.

Customer: I really like the picture, so I’ll take a new box, please.

1 (B) Its leaves are turning yellow.

• Explanation: Anna states the problem clearly at the beginning: “Its leaves are turning yellow.”
• Trap: Options A and C are plausible problems for a plant, but they are not mentioned in the audio.

2 (B) Because she thought she gave it too much water.

• Explanation: Anna explains her reason: “I thought I gave it too much water, so I stopped watering it.”
• Trap: Option A is a distractor. Light is mentioned later as the real solution, not the reason she stopped watering. Option C is not mentioned.

3 (A) Move the plant to the window.

• Explanation: Ben tells her how to fix the problem: “You need to move it next to the window…”
• Trap (The Twist): Option B is the trap because the desk is where the plant is currently located (which is too dark). Option C (less water) is what Anna was doing, but Ben corrects her and says she needs to give it water today.

Anna: Hi Ben. You know about gardening, right? I need help.

Ben: Sure, Anna. What’s wrong?

Anna: My mini rose plant looks sick. Its leaves are turning yellow. I thought I gave it too much water, so I stopped watering it.

Ben: Hmm… let me see. Well, the soil is very dry now. Actually, water isn’t the problem. Mini roses need a lot of light. Where do you keep it?

Anna: On my desk. It’s quite dark there.

Ben: That’s the problem. You need to move it next to the window, and give it some water today!

Anna: Oh, I see! Thanks, Ben.

1 (B) A clay bowl

• Explanation: Leo states the problem clearly at the beginning: “I just dropped my clay bowl on the floor.”
• Trap: Option A (A small cup) is the trap. This is what he decides to make next, not what he dropped. Option C is what the teacher gives him later.

2 (C) Go home.

• Explanation: Leo says: “I guess I have to go home now.”
• Trap (The Twist): The teacher says “Actually, you don’t have to leave.” So going home was Leo’s wrong assumption. Options A and B are plausible actions when breaking something, but they are never mentioned in the audio.

3 (B) A small cup

• Explanation: At the end, Leo changes his plan: “I think I will make a small cup this time.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (A clay bowl) is a strong distractor. He made a bowl the first time, but for his second try, he chooses to make a cup because “It will be easier to hold!” Option C is not mentioned.

Leo: Mr. Evans, I am so sorry! I just dropped my clay bowl on the floor.

Mr. Evans: Oh no. Are you hurt, Leo?

Leo: I’m fine, but the bowl is broken. I spent a whole hour making it. I guess I have to go home now.

Mr. Evans: Actually, you don’t have to leave. The clay is still wet, so we can use it again.

Leo: Really? Can I make another one today?

Mr. Evans: Yes. Here is a new piece of clay. You can start again. The second time is always faster.

Leo: Thank you so much! I think I will make a small cup this time. It will be easier to hold!

1 (B) Keychains

• Explanation: Nick says clearly about his current hobby: “I collect keychains now.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (Old coins) is a strong trap. Emma asks if he lost a coin, but Nick says he doesn’t collect them anymore. Option C is a distractor related to the bus.

2 (C) A golden keychain

• Explanation: Nick describes the missing item: “I lost my favorite golden one!” (golden = made of gold / gold-colored).
• Trap: Option A is related to the old hobby. Option B is a plausible material for a keychain but is not mentioned in the audio.

3 (B) On the bus

• Explanation: Nick confirms exactly where it happened: “…actually, it fell out of my pocket on the bus.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (At the coffee shop) is the trap because Nick says he thought he left it there first. Option C (At the bus station) is where Emma suggests they should call, not where he lost it.

Emma: Hi Nick. You look sad. What’s wrong?

Nick: I lost something very important this morning. It’s from my collection.

Emma: Oh no. Did you lose one of your old coins?

Nick: No, I don’t collect coins anymore. I collect keychains now. I lost my favorite golden one!

Emma: That’s terrible. Where did you lose it?

Nick: Well, I thought I left it at the coffee shop. But actually, it fell out of my pocket on the bus.

Emma: Maybe we can call the bus station to ask.

Nick: Good idea. I’ll do that right now.