Animals & Habitats – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (C) The seal show.

• Explanation: The announcer clearly states, “The seal feeding show will start in exactly 15 minutes!” Option (A) is the trap; penguins are mentioned, but their show is “completely finished for today.” Option (B) is a distractor and not mentioned in the audio.

2 (B) At Pool number 2.

• Explanation: The announcer gives the final instruction: “please make your way to Pool number 2.” Option (C) is the trap; they originally planned to have it at the main pool, but it is being cleaned (The Twist). Option (A) is where people are waiting for the penguins.

3 (A) In 15 minutes.

• Explanation: The speaker repeats twice that the show is “in exactly 15 minutes” and “in 15 minutes.” Option (C) is the trap using the phrase “right now,” but that describes when the staff is cleaning, not when the show starts. Option (B) is not mentioned.

Announcer: Attention, zoo visitors! We have a quick update about our afternoon animal feeding shows. I know many of you are waiting at Pool number 1 to see the penguins. However, the penguin show is completely finished for today. Instead, we have another special event for you. The seal feeding show will start in exactly 15 minutes! We originally planned to have it at the main pool, but our staff is cleaning that area right now. So, please make your way to Pool number 2. Once again, the seal feeding is in 15 minutes at Pool number 2. Don’t miss it!

1 (A) Cute and fluffy.

• Explanation: The narrator says, “When you look at a polar bear on television, it often looks very cute and fluffy.” Option (B) is the trap; the narrator says they are dangerous in real life, but that is not how they look on TV. Option (C) is not mentioned.

2 (B) Walk around on the snow.

• Explanation: The narrator states, “many people think they just walk around on the snow all day.” Option (A) is the trap; swimming is what they actually do, not what people mistakenly think (The Twist). Option (C) is a plausible guess but is not in the audio.

3 (C) In the water.

• Explanation: At the end, the narrator says, “they actually spend a lot of their life in the water.” Option (B) is the trap; the narrator specifically says “not just on the ice.” Option (A) is incorrect and not mentioned.

Narrator: Welcome to the frozen world of the North Pole. Here, the polar bear is the king of the ice. When you look at a polar bear on television, it often looks very cute and fluffy. You might even want to hug it. However, you must be careful! Polar bears are actually very dangerous wild animals and strong hunters. Also, many people think they just walk around on the snow all day. But that’s not true. They are wonderful swimmers. They can swim in the freezing ocean for many hours to catch food. So, they actually spend a lot of their life in the water, not just on the ice.

1 (C) A lizard.

• Explanation: The podcaster says, “I bought a lizard instead!” Option (A) is the trap; he planned to get a dog at first, but changed his mind (The Twist). Option (B) is a distractor mentioned at the beginning as a normal pet.

2 (B) Because the apartment landlord did not allow dogs.

• Explanation: The podcaster clearly states, “my landlord said no dogs are allowed here.” Option (A) and (C) are plausible reasons in real life (and hair/noise are mentioned later in the audio), but they are not the reason why he couldn’t get a dog.

3 (B) They are incredibly quiet.

• Explanation: The podcaster explains that reptiles are “incredibly quiet.” Option (A) is the trap; he explicitly says, “they are not soft or cuddly.” Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio at all.

Podcaster: Welcome to ‘Unusual Pets’! When people think of pets, they usually think of fluffy cats or friendly dogs. I actually planned to get a dog for my small apartment last month. But my landlord said no dogs are allowed here. So, what did I do? I bought a lizard instead! Today, many people are choosing reptiles like snakes and lizards. Why? Well, I know they are not soft or cuddly, however, they are incredibly quiet. Also, you don’t have to clean up animal hair every day. They are the perfect pets for busy people.

1 (B) In the City Park.

• Explanation: The announcer says, “please look for him in the park area instead.” Option (A) is the trap; the owners originally thought he was near the school, but someone saw him at the park (The Twist). Option (C) is a distractor.

2 (C) Nothing.

• Explanation: The announcer clearly states that “he is not wearing one right now.” Option (A) is the trap; the cat usually wears a red collar, but he broke it yesterday. Option (B) uses the word “blue,” which is the color of the cat’s eyes, not a collar.

3 (C) Call the owner’s phone number.

• Explanation: The announcer gives the final instruction: “Just call his owner immediately at 555-8921.” Option (A) is the trap; the announcer explicitly says, “please do not try to catch him.” Option (B) is a good thing to do in real life, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

Announcer: Attention listeners. We have a lost pet announcement this morning. A local family is looking for their missing cat, Snowball. He is a beautiful white cat with bright blue eyes. The owners originally thought he was lost near the elementary school. However, a woman just called our station and said she saw a white cat running around the City Park an hour ago. So, please look for him in the park area instead. Also, Snowball usually wears a red collar around his neck. But unfortunately, he broke it yesterday, so he is not wearing one right now. If you see Snowball, please do not try to catch him because he is scared. Just call his owner immediately at 555-8921.

1 (B) Give the dolphins some bread.

• Explanation: The tour guide clearly says, “a passenger just asked me if she could give them some bread.” Option (A) is the trap; the guide tells everyone they can take photos at the end, but it is not what the passenger asked to do. Option (C) is a distractor and not mentioned.

2 (A) Because it will make the dolphins sick.

• Explanation: The guide explains that human food is dangerous and “will make the dolphins really sick.” Options (B) and (C) might be true in real life, but they are not mentioned in the audio.

3 (C) Keep them inside their bags.

• Explanation: The tour guide gives the final instruction: “So, please keep your snacks inside your bags.” Option (A) is the trap; it is exactly what the guide tells the tourists not to do. Option (B) is not mentioned.

Tour Guide: Attention, everyone on the boat! We are now entering the beautiful dolphin area. Look out at the water, and you might see them jumping. I know many tourists want to throw human food into the sea to attract the dolphins. Actually, a passenger just asked me if she could give them some bread. However, human food is very dangerous for these wild animals. It will make the dolphins really sick. So, please keep your snacks inside your bags and do not throw anything into the water. If you want to interact with them, just wave your hands and take lots of photos! Thank you.