At the doctor’s – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between two friends. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is Tom calling Sarah?
(A) To ask her to buy him some medicine.
(B) To cancel their plans for this afternoon.
(C) To invite her to go to the doctor with him.
2 Where did Tom go this morning?
(A) To the doctor’s office.
(B) To a coffee shop.
(C) To the pharmacy.
3 What is Tom going to do the rest of the day?
(A) Stay at home and rest.
(B) Try to fix his car.
(C) Meet Sarah for dinner.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Tom says, “about our coffee date this afternoon… I don’t think I can make it.” This means he is canceling the plan.
- Trap A is wrong: Sarah offers to bring him something, but Tom says “Thanks, but I’m okay.”
- Trap C is wrong: Tom does not invite her to the doctor.
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Tom clearly states, “I just walked to the pharmacy to buy some medicine instead.”
- Trap A is wrong (The Twist): Tom says “I wanted to [go to the doctor], but my car wouldn’t start.” He thought about it, but didn’t go.
- Trap B is wrong: A coffee shop is where they planned to go in the afternoon, not where he went this morning.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: At the end of the conversation, Tom says, “I just need to stay home and get some rest.”
- Trap B is wrong: Tom mentions his car wouldn’t start, but he never says he is going to fix it today.
- Trap C is wrong: He wants to meet Sarah “next week,” not for dinner today.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sarah: Hello?
Tom: Hi, Sarah. It’s Tom. Listen, about our coffee date this afternoon… um, I don’t think I can make it.
Sarah: Oh, really? Is everything okay?
Tom: Well, I’m feeling pretty terrible. I woke up with a bad headache and a sore throat. I think I caught a cold.
Sarah: Oh, no! That’s too bad. Did you go to the doctor?
Tom: I wanted to, but my car wouldn’t start. So, I just walked to the pharmacy to buy some medicine instead.
Sarah: Do you need me to bring you some soup or anything?
Tom: Thanks, but I’m okay. I just need to stay home and get some rest. Let’s get together next week.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between a mother and her son. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why does Paul have a stomachache?
(A) He didn’t have lunch today.
(B) He ate a lot of chocolate ice cream.
(C) He drank too much cold water.
2 What did Paul first think about doing?
(A) Going to see a doctor.
(B) Drinking some ginger tea.
(C) Going out with his friends.
3 What is the mother’s advice?
(A) To eat more sweets to feel better.
(B) To go to the hospital immediately.
(C) To drink warm ginger tea and stop eating ice cream.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Paul says he had “three large bowls of chocolate ice cream after lunch,” which caused his stomachache.
- Trap A is wrong: He ate ice cream “after lunch,” so he did have lunch.
- Trap C is wrong: Cold water is not mentioned in the script.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: When the mother asks if he wants to see a doctor, Paul says, “I thought about it, but…” This indicates it was his first thought before deciding to just lie down.
- Trap B is wrong: Ginger tea is the mother’s suggestion, not Paul’s first thought.
- Trap C is wrong: This is not mentioned in the script.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The mother tells him, “don’t have any more ice cream” and “drink this cup of warm ginger tea instead.”
- Trap A is wrong: The mother says he should “stop eating sweets.”
- Trap B is wrong: Although the mother asks if he wants to go to the doctor, Paul rejects it, and they decide he will stay home.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Boy: Mom, my stomach really hurts. I feel pretty terrible.
Mother: Oh no, Paul! What did you eat?
Boy: Well, I had three large bowls of chocolate ice cream after lunch.
Mother: Three bowls? No wonder! You should definitely stop eating sweets for now. Do you want me to take you to the doctor?
Boy: I thought about it, but I think I just need to lie down for a while.
Mother: Alright. But don’t have any more ice cream. Here, drink this cup of warm ginger tea instead. It will make your stomach feel better.
Boy: Um, okay. I’ll try the tea. Thanks, Mom.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a husband and wife. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Which medicine does the husband need to take right now?
(A) One blue pill.
(B) Two white pills.
(C) Two blue pills.
2 When is the husband supposed to take the blue medicine?
(A) In the morning.
(B) After dinner.
(C) Before going to sleep.
3 What is the husband going to do next?
(A) Eat his dinner.
(B) Call his doctor.
(C) Watch some television.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The wife clearly tells him, “You need to take two white pills after dinner.”
- Trap A is wrong (The Twist): The husband initially says “I’ll just take one [blue pill] now”, but his wife stops him because that is the wrong medicine for the evening.
- Trap C is wrong: Two blue pills are never mentioned as a dosage in the conversation.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: The wife says, “The doctor said the blue ones are for the morning.”
- Trap B is wrong: “After dinner” is the correct time for the white pills, not the blue ones.
- Trap C is wrong: Taking medicine before sleep is a plausible idea, but it is not mentioned in the listening.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: At the beginning, the husband says he is going to “watch TV,” and at the end, he confirms he will take the pills and “then go watch the news” (news is a TV program).
- Trap A is wrong: He says “That was a really great dinner,” which means they have already finished eating.
- Trap B is wrong: The doctor is mentioned, but the husband does not say he will call him.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Husband: That was a really great dinner, honey. I’m going to the living room to watch TV now.
Wife: Wait a minute. Did you take your medicine?
Husband: Oh, right. The doctor gave me those blue pills. I’ll just take one now.
Wife: No, not the blue ones. The doctor said the blue ones are for the morning. You need to take two white pills after dinner.
Husband: Are you sure? I thought about taking just one because my stomach feels fine.
Wife: I’m sure. I read the label carefully. Two white pills, right now.
Husband: Okay, okay. I’ll take them with a glass of water, and then go watch the news.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between two roommates. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did Mark think he had before seeing the doctor?
(A) A mild flu.
(B) A throat infection.
(C) A bad headache.
2 What did the doctor tell Mark to do?
(A) Take some strong medicine.
(B) Sleep a lot and drink water.
(C) Go back to the clinic next week.
3 What is Mark going to do immediately after the conversation?
(A) Go to the pharmacy to buy antibiotics.
(B) Drink a large glass of warm water.
(C) Take a nap in his room.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Mark says, “I thought I had a terrible throat infection…”
- Trap A is wrong (The Twist): A “mild flu” is what the doctor told him he actually has, not what Mark thought he had at first.
- Trap C is wrong: A headache is not mentioned in the conversation.
2 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Mark explains the doctor’s advice: “He just told me to get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water.”
- Trap A is wrong: Mark clearly says, “I don’t need any strong medicine.” The option is mentioned but rejected.
- Trap C is wrong: Returning to the clinic is a plausible action for a sick person, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: At the very end of the conversation, Mark says, “I’m going to take a nap right now.”
- Trap A is wrong: Lisa asks about “antibiotics”, but Mark says the doctor didn’t give him any, so he doesn’t need to go to the pharmacy.
- Trap B is wrong: While the doctor advised him to drink water, Mark’s immediate next action is taking a nap.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Lisa: Hey Mark. You’re back from the clinic. How did it go at the doctor’s?
Mark: Well, I was really worried this morning. I thought I had a terrible throat infection because it hurt so much.
Lisa: Oh no. Did the doctor give you any antibiotics?
Mark: No, he didn’t. He checked my throat and said it’s just a mild flu. So, I don’t need any strong medicine.
Lisa: That’s a relief! What did he tell you to do?
Mark: He just told me to get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water. I’m going to take a nap right now.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between two friends. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 How did Alex hurt his ankle?
(A) He was playing a football match.
(B) He fell off a bench in the park.
(C) He stepped on a rock while jogging.
2 What do the two friends decide to do right now?
(A) Go straight to the hospital.
(B) Sit on a bench and rest.
(C) Keep jogging slowly.
3 What does Sam advise Alex to do later?
(A) Put some ice on his ankle.
(B) Take some pain medicine.
(C) Call a doctor from home.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Alex clearly says, “I was jogging, and I just stepped on a rock.”
- Trap A is wrong: Football is a sport, which is plausible, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
- Trap B is wrong: A “bench” is mentioned later when they decide to sit down, not how he got injured.
2 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Sam suggests, “Let’s sit on that bench over there and rest,” and Alex agrees (“Yeah, good idea.”).
- Trap A is wrong (The Twist): Sam asks if he wants a taxi to the hospital, and Alex says “I thought about going… but I don’t think it’s broken.” They decide not to go.
- Trap C is wrong: Sam says “we definitely need to stop running for today,” so they are not going to keep jogging.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Sam gives him advice for later: “When you get home, you should put some ice on your ankle immediately.”
- Trap B is wrong: Medicine is a logical thing for pain, but it is never mentioned in the conversation.
- Trap C is wrong: Sam offered the hospital earlier, but his advice for when Alex gets home is to use ice, not to call a doctor.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alex: Ouch!
Sam: Alex! Are you okay? What happened?
Alex: I think I hurt my ankle. I was jogging, and I just stepped on a rock. It hurts a lot.
Sam: Oh no. Can you still walk on it? Do you want me to call a taxi to the hospital?
Alex: I thought about going to the hospital, but I don’t think it’s broken. I can still move my foot.
Sam: That’s good. But we definitely need to stop running for today. Let’s sit on that bench over there and rest for a few minutes.
Alex: Yeah, good idea.
Sam: When you get home, you should put some ice on your ankle immediately. It will really help with the pain.
Alex: Thanks, Sam. I will do that.