Healthy lifestyle – 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 What is Mark’s main problem?
(A) He is putting on weight.
(B) He doesn’t have time to watch TV.
(C) He is too tired to cook.
2 What does Mark currently do that is unhealthy?
(A) He eats burgers for lunch every day.
(B) He eats pizza late in the evening.
(C) He cooks simple meals at home.
3 What did Mark originally plan to do to get healthy?
(A) Go to the gym.
(B) Buy new clothes.
(C) Change his diet.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) He is putting on weight.
- Explanation: Mark says he has “gained a lot of weight” and his jeans do not fit anymore. Option (A) is the correct answer using a synonym (“putting on weight” = “gaining weight”). Option (C) is a trap; he mentions being “too tired”, but that is for going to the gym, not cooking. Option (B) is not mentioned.
2 (B) He eats pizza late in the evening.
- Explanation: Mark admits that he orders a large pizza at night. Option (A) is a trap; the burger was mentioned, but Mark rejected it by saying he “stopped eating burgers last week”. Option (C) is also a trap; cooking at home is Sarah’s suggestion for the future, not what he is currently doing.
3 (A) Go to the gym.
- Explanation: Mark says, “I wanted to join a gym, but I’m always too tired.” Option (C) is a trap; changing his diet is his new decision after realizing the gym idea didn’t work out. Option (B) is plausible because his jeans don’t fit, but he never mentions planning to buy new clothes.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: Ugh, I think I’ve gained a lot of weight lately. None of my jeans fit me anymore.
Sarah: Well, you do eat a lot of fast food. Are you still having burgers for lunch?
Mark: No, actually, I stopped eating burgers last week. But, um… I usually order a large pizza at night while watching TV.
Sarah: That’s probably the problem! Eating heavy meals late at night is really bad for you.
Mark: I know. I wanted to join a gym, but I’m always too tired after work. So, I guess I need to change my diet.
Sarah: Why don’t you try cooking simple meals at home instead of ordering in?
Mark: Yeah, good idea. I’ll buy some fresh vegetables on my way home today.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between two roommates. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What time will the friends go jogging tomorrow?
(A) At 6:00 AM.
(B) At 6:30 AM.
(C) At 7:30 AM.
2 Why doesn’t Jamie want to go running in the evening?
(A) He has a video call with his parents.
(B) He is usually tired at that time.
(C) He wants to watch a movie after dinner.
3 Where are they planning to exercise?
(A) At a local gym.
(B) Inside their apartment.
(C) In the park.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) At 7:30 AM.
- Explanation: They finally agree to go at 7:30 AM. Option (A) is a trap; 6:00 AM was Alex’s first idea, but Jamie rejected it because of his schedule. Option (B) is also a trap; 6:30 AM is the time Jamie has a video call, not the time they run.
2 (B) He is usually tired at that time.
- Explanation: When Alex suggests going in the evening after dinner, Jamie refuses and says, “No, I’m always tired then.” Option (A) is a trap; the video call is his excuse for the morning, not the evening. Option (C) is plausible for an evening activity but was never mentioned in the audio.
3 (C) In the park.
- Explanation: At the beginning of the conversation, Alex clearly suggests, “we could go jogging in the park.” Option (A) and (B) are plausible places to exercise but are not mentioned in the dialogue.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alex: Hey Jamie, we really need to get more exercise. I was thinking we could go jogging in the park tomorrow.
Jamie: That’s a great idea, Alex. I feel so lazy lately. What time?
Alex: How about early? Let’s wake up at 6:00 AM.
Jamie: Oh, I wanted to go at 6:00, but I just remembered I have a video call with my parents at 6:30. So I can’t.
Alex: Oh, okay. Well, we could go in the evening instead, after dinner?
Jamie: No, I’m always tired then. Let’s just go at 7:30 AM, after my call finishes. Is that okay?
Alex: Perfect. 7:30 it is.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a mother and her son. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is Leo going to drink at the end of the conversation?
(A) Juice.
(B) Soda.
(C) Water.
2 Why did Leo take the soda at first?
(A) Because there was no juice.
(B) Because he doesn’t like plain water.
(C) Because his mother bought it for him.
3 Why does Mom want Leo to stop drinking soda?
(A) Because it makes him more thirsty.
(B) Because it has a lot of sugar.
(C) Because it is not cold enough.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) Water.
- Explanation: At the end, Leo agrees with his mom and says, “I will get a glass of water with ice.” Option (B) is a trap; he grabbed the soda first but his mom told him to put it back. Option (A) is also a trap; juice was his original plan, but they didn’t have any.
2 (A) Because there was no juice.
- Explanation: Leo clearly states, “I was going to drink some juice, but we didn’t have any in the fridge. So I grabbed a soda.” Option (B) is a plausible reason for a kid, but it is never mentioned. Option (C) is incorrect and not mentioned.
3 (B) Because it has a lot of sugar.
- Explanation: Mom tells him to put it back because “soda is full of sugar.” Option (A) is a plausible fact about sugary drinks but is not mentioned in the audio. Option (C) is a trap; they mention hot weather and ice, but the temperature of the soda is not the reason she stops him.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mom: Leo, what are you drinking? Is that soda again?
Leo: Yeah, mom. I was going to drink some juice, but we didn’t have any in the fridge. So I grabbed a soda. It’s so hot today!
Mom: I know it’s hot, but soda is full of sugar. You shouldn’t drink it every day.
Leo: But I’m really thirsty!
Mom: Please put the soda back. You need to drink a lot of plain water today because of the weather.
Leo: Okay, fine. I will get a glass of water with ice.
Mom: Good boy. It’s much better for your health.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between a sister and her brother. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did Ben originally plan to do at 10 PM?
(A) Study for his classes.
(B) Watch animal videos.
(C) Go to sleep.
2 What is Ben doing right now?
(A) He is studying.
(B) He is using his phone.
(C) He is fixing his alarm.
3 Where is Ben going to put his phone?
(A) On his bed.
(B) On the desk.
(C) In his bag.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) Go to sleep.
- Explanation: Ben says, “I wanted to go to sleep at 10 PM tonight, but…”. Option (A) is a trap; Emma asks if he is studying, but he says “No”. Option (B) is also a trap; he is watching videos now, but that was not his original plan for 10 PM.
2 (B) He is using his phone.
- Explanation: Ben admits he is awake because he is “watching funny animal videos on my phone”. Option (A) is the trap mentioned above. Option (C) is a trap; Emma mentions his alarm, but he is not fixing it.
3 (B) On the desk.
- Explanation: At the end of the conversation, Ben agrees and says, “I will leave my phone on the desk.” Option (A) is a trap; he is currently on his bed, but Emma tells him to put it away. Option (C) is a plausible place to put a phone, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Ben, it’s midnight! Why is your light still on? Are you studying?
Ben: No, I wanted to go to sleep at 10 PM tonight, but I started watching funny animal videos on my phone. So, I am still awake.
Emma: You really need to stop looking at your phone in bed. The light from the screen makes it hard to sleep.
Ben: I know, but I’m not even tired right now.
Emma: You will be exhausted tomorrow morning! Put the phone away, or you will sleep through your alarm again.
Ben: Alright, fine. I will leave my phone on the desk and try to sleep.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between a husband and wife. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did the husband originally want to eat for dinner?
(A) A chicken salad.
(B) Steak and french fries.
(C) Vegetable soup.
2 Why does the wife want to make a big salad?
(A) Because they need to eat healthier.
(B) Because they do not have any meat in the house.
(C) Because the husband loves eating green vegetables.
3 What are they going to eat tonight?
(A) Only green vegetables.
(B) Steak and salad.
(C) Chicken salad.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Steak and french fries.
- Explanation: At the beginning, the husband clearly says, “Let’s have steak and french fries for dinner tonight.” Option (A) is a trap; it is what they decide to eat at the end, not his original plan. Option (C) is a plausible hot and healthy meal, but it is not mentioned.
2 (A) Because they need to eat healthier.
- Explanation: The wife reminds him of the doctor’s advice, saying, “We need to eat healthier”. Option (B) is a trap; they do have a little bit of chicken in the fridge. Option (C) is also a trap; the husband didn’t want salad at first, he wanted meat.
3 (C) Chicken salad.
- Explanation: They compromise and decide to make a salad with the chicken from the fridge. Option (A) is a trap; the wife suggests a big salad with green vegetables first, but the husband asks to add meat. Option (B) is a trap; steak was his first idea, but it was rejected.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Husband: I’m so hungry. Let’s have steak and french fries for dinner tonight.
Wife: We had a lot of meat yesterday. Remember what the doctor said? We need to eat healthier and lose some weight.
Husband: I know, but I really wanted something hot. What should we eat then?
Wife: Let’s make a big salad with lots of green vegetables.
Husband: Just a salad? Can we at least add some meat to it?
Wife: Well, we have a little bit of chicken in the fridge. So, we will have a chicken salad.
Husband: Okay, that sounds good. I will go wash the tomatoes.