At the doctor’s – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: B

• Explanation: The automated voice clearly states, “today we closed early at 5:00 PM for a national holiday.”
• Trap A is wrong (The Twist): The clinic is usually open until 8:00 PM, but today is an exception.
• Trap C is wrong: The weekend is a plausible reason for a clinic to be closed, but it is not mentioned in the audio (the audio actually mentions “weekdays”).

2 Correct Answer: C

• Explanation: The message says, “If you want to make or change a regular appointment, please call back tomorrow morning.”
• Trap A is wrong: Pressing 1 is to “leave a voice message,” not to speak directly to a doctor.
• Trap B is wrong: Going to the hospital is for a medical emergency, not for a regular appointment.

3 Correct Answer: B

• Explanation: For emergencies, the instruction is clear: “call 911 immediately, or go to the nearest hospital.”
• Trap A is wrong (Instruction Trap): The voice specifically warns, “if this is a medical emergency, please do not leave a message here.”
• Trap C is wrong: Waiting on the line is a common automated phone instruction, but it is not mentioned in this recording.

Automated Voice: Thank you for calling the City Health Clinic. We are currently closed. We usually stay open until 8:00 PM on weekdays, but today we closed early at 5:00 PM for a national holiday.

If you want to make or change a regular appointment, please call back tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM. You can also press 1 to leave a voice message, and our receptionist will call you back. However, if this is a medical emergency, please do not leave a message here. Hang up the phone and call 911 immediately, or go to the nearest hospital. Thank you.

1 Correct Answer: B

• Explanation: The announcer explicitly says, “This is an announcement for patient number 45, Mr. John Doe.”
• Trap A is wrong: Dr. Adams is the doctor he will meet, not the person being called.
• Trap C is wrong (Number Trap): Number 3 is the room number, not the patient’s ticket number.

2 Correct Answer: B

• Explanation: The announcer tells him to “walk down the hall and go into consulting room number 3.”
• Trap A is wrong (The Twist): The ticket says room 2, but the announcer says “please do not go to room 2” because of a computer problem.
• Trap C is wrong (Number Trap): 45 is his patient number, not a room.

3 Correct Answer: A

• Explanation: At the end, the announcer says, “please remember to have your ID card and medical records ready in your hand.”
• Trap B is wrong: A health insurance card is very common at a clinic, but it is not mentioned in this announcement.
• Trap C is wrong: Paying with a credit card is plausible later, but it is not what he needs to hold right now.

Announcer (Loudspeaker): Attention in the waiting area, please. This is an announcement for patient number 45, Mr. John Doe. Mr. John Doe, please listen carefully. Your appointment today is with Dr. Adams. I know your ticket says to go to consulting room number 2. However, we had a small problem with the computer in that room. So, please do not go to room 2. Instead, please walk down the hall and go into consulting room number 3. Dr. Adams is waiting for you there. Also, please remember to have your ID card and medical records ready in your hand before you go inside. Thank you.

1 Correct Answer: B

• Explanation: The host clearly says, “First, always wear warm clothes when you go outside.”
• Trap A is wrong: Eating healthy food is the third tip, not the first tip.
• Trap C is wrong: Staying inside all day is a plausible idea for winter, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: B

• Explanation: The host explicitly states that “simple soap and water is actually much better.”
• Trap A is wrong (The Twist): The host says, “I thought about suggesting hand sanitizer, but…”. Hand sanitizer is mentioned, but it is rejected because soap and water is better.
• Trap C is wrong: Gloves are related to winter and keeping hands warm, but not for cleaning them.

3 Correct Answer: A

• Explanation: The host advises the listeners to eat fruit and says, “You don’t need to buy expensive vitamins at the pharmacy.”
• Trap B is wrong: This is the exact opposite of what the host says. The host wants you to eat fresh fruit instead of buying vitamins.
• Trap C is wrong: A hospital is a medical place, but it is never mentioned in the broadcast.

Radio Host: Good morning, listeners! Welcome to City Radio. Winter is finally here, and unfortunately, a lot of people are catching a cold. But you don’t have to get sick! Here are three easy tips to stay healthy this season.

First, always wear warm clothes when you go outside. A heavy coat is very important. Second, remember to wash your hands often. I thought about suggesting hand sanitizer, but simple soap and water is actually much better. Finally, eat a lot of fresh fruit like oranges and apples. You don’t need to buy expensive vitamins at the pharmacy. Just eat healthy food! Stay warm, and have a great day!

1 Correct Answer: B

• Explanation: The announcer asks, “Do you have a terrible backache…?” and mentions “your shoulders hurt too much.” FastRelief is for this pain.
• Trap A is wrong: A stomachache is a different health problem not mentioned in the audio.
• Trap C is wrong: Fever and cold are common illnesses, but they are not mentioned in this advertisement.

2 Correct Answer: A

• Explanation: The announcer says, “I thought about buying a massage chair for my back, but it was too expensive.”
• Trap B is wrong: FastRelief is the “cheap” medicine, but the speaker didn’t think about buying a different cheap medicine before.
• Trap C is wrong: A new bed is a plausible idea for back pain, but it is never mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: C

• Explanation: The announcer explicitly states, “It is only available at your local pharmacy.”
• Trap A is wrong (Location Trap): The audio mentions the supermarket, but says “you cannot buy FastRelief at the supermarket.”
• Trap B is wrong: The announcer says “you don’t need a doctor’s prescription”, meaning you don’t have to go to the clinic to get a paper for it.

Announcer: Are you feeling tired today? Do you have a terrible backache after a long day at work? Maybe you want to play sports with your friends, but your shoulders hurt too much.

Don’t worry! Try “FastRelief”, the great new medicine for your body pain. I thought about buying a massage chair for my back, but it was too expensive. FastRelief is cheap and it works in just ten minutes. Best of all, you don’t need a doctor’s prescription to get it.

Please note, you cannot buy FastRelief at the supermarket. It is only available at your local pharmacy. Buy a box today and feel better immediately!

1 Correct Answer: A

• Explanation: The vlogger clearly says, “I originally went there just to clean my teeth.”
• Trap B is wrong (The Twist): Pulling out a bad tooth is what actually happened, but it was not her original plan.
• Trap C is wrong: Buying a toothbrush is a plausible action at a dentist, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: B

• Explanation: She says the dentist was careful and “It didn’t hurt at all!”
• Trap A is wrong (Expectation Trap): She says “I thought the injection would hurt a lot,” but in reality, it did not.
• Trap C is wrong: She says she hates needles and was scared, but she didn’t refuse the injection.

3 Correct Answer: C

• Explanation: The vlogger states her current condition: “Right now… my cheek is a little swollen.”
• Trap A is wrong: She explicitly says, “my mouth doesn’t hurt,” so she does not have a toothache.
• Trap B is wrong: She is not too scared to eat; she says she is “going to have some soft soup for dinner.”

Vlogger: Hi everyone, welcome back to my channel! So, I just came back from the dentist. I originally went there just to clean my teeth. But, unfortunately, the dentist found a really bad tooth, and he had to pull it out today! I was so scared because I hate needles. I thought the injection would hurt a lot. But you know what? The dentist was very friendly and careful. It didn’t hurt at all! Right now, my mouth doesn’t hurt, but my cheek is a little swollen. The dentist said I can’t eat hard food today, so I’m just going to have some soft soup for dinner. Thanks for watching!