Describing People/Things – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (C) A thin silk dress.

• Explanation: The customer clearly says, “It’s a dress. It’s made of very thin silk.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the staff asks, “A thick winter coat?”, but the customer says no. Option (B) is a common clothing item but is not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (B) Dark blue.

• Explanation: The customer uses the “Twist” technique: “It looks black in the dark, but actually, it’s dark blue.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the trap. The staff thinks the dress is black, and the customer agrees it looks black, but its real color is dark blue.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Medium.

• Explanation: The customer states her size clearly: “No, my dress is a size Medium.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the staff guesses “size Small”, but the customer corrects him. Option (C) is not mentioned.

Customer: Hello. I’m here to pick up my clothes, but I lost my ticket. I’m so sorry.

Staff: That’s okay, don’t worry. What did you bring in? A thick winter coat?

Customer: No, it’s not a coat. It’s a dress. It’s made of very thin silk.

Staff: Alright, a silk dress. Let me look… What color is it? Is it this black one here?

Customer: It looks black in the dark, but actually, it’s dark blue.

Staff: Oh, I see it now. Let me check the tag. Is it a size Small?

Customer: No, my dress is a size Medium.

Staff: Yes, here it is. A dark blue silk dress, size Medium. Here you go!

1 Correct Answer: (A) A small book.

• Explanation: The customer clearly says at the beginning, “I ordered a book online” and later describes it as “very small and light.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because the large box is what he received, not what he ordered. Option (C) is a trap because “car parts” were ordered by the neighbor.

2 Correct Answer: (B) It is huge and heavy.

• Explanation: The customer describes the wrong package by saying, “this is a huge, rectangular cardboard box. And it is incredibly heavy!”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the trap because “small and light” describes the book he wanted, not the box he received. Option (C) mixes the shape up (rectangular vs. round).

3 Correct Answer: (C) The customer’s neighbor.

• Explanation: The staff looks at the name on the box and says, “This is for your neighbor, Mr. Smith.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the postman gave it to the customer by mistake, so it is not really for him.

Customer: Excuse me. I think there is a mistake with my delivery. I ordered a book online, but the postman gave me this.

Staff: Let me see. Are you sure it’s not your book? Some books come in big packages.

Customer: I’m sure. The book I ordered is very small and light. But this is a huge, rectangular cardboard box. And it is incredibly heavy!

Staff: Hmm, let’s look at the name on the box. Oh, I see the problem. This is for your neighbor, Mr. Smith. He ordered some metal car parts.

Customer: Ah, that makes sense. Do you have my package, then?

Staff: Yes, here it is behind the counter. A small, light package. I am so sorry for the mistake!

1 Correct Answer: (B) Bright blonde.

• Explanation: Anna clearly says the actor has “bright blonde hair.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the “Twist”. Ben thought the actor had dark brown hair, but Anna explains that he changed his hair color for a new movie. Option (C) is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Huge black sunglasses.

• Explanation: Anna states, “he was wearing huge black sunglasses.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because Ben asks, “Was he wearing a face mask?”, but Anna immediately says “No.”

3 Correct Answer: (B) A grey coat.

• Explanation: Anna confirms the actor is “The one in the grey coat!”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because Ben guesses it is the guy in the “blue jacket”, but Anna says “No, not him.”

Anna: Oh my gosh! Ben, did you see that? That was Tom, the famous actor!

Ben: What? Where? I didn’t see him.

Anna: The guy who just walked past the coffee shop! He is really tall and has bright blonde hair.

Ben: Are you sure? I thought Tom had dark brown hair.

Anna: Yes, but he changed his hair color for a new movie!

Ben: Oh, I see. Was he wearing a face mask?

Anna: No, he didn’t have a mask. But he was wearing huge black sunglasses so people wouldn’t recognize him.

Ben: Wait, you mean the guy in the blue jacket?

Anna: No, not him. The one in the grey coat!

Ben: Wow, I think you are right! Let’s go say hi!

1 Correct Answer: (B) A small sports car.

• Explanation: The witness says, “It was a small sports car.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the “blue van” is the vehicle that got hit, not the one that drove away. Option (C) is a trap because the police officer asks if it was a “large black truck,” but the witness says no.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Bright red.

• Explanation: The witness uses the “Twist” technique: “I thought it was silver at first… but it was definitely bright red.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the trap because the witness thought it was silver at first due to the sun. Option (B) is a common car color but is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (B) The left taillight.

• Explanation: The witness explicitly states, “…but its left taillight is completely broken.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the “front window” is mentioned, but the witness says it is “fine” (not broken). Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.

Police Officer: Excuse me, did you see the accident?

Witness: Yes, I did! A car hit that blue van over there and drove away very fast.

Police Officer: I see. What did the car look like? Was it a large black truck?

Witness: No, not a truck. It was a small sports car.

Police Officer: Okay, a sports car. Do you remember the color? Was it silver?

Witness: Actually, I thought it was silver at first because of the sun, but it was definitely bright red.

Police Officer: A bright red sports car. Did you notice anything else?

Witness: Yes! The front window is fine, but its left taillight is completely broken.

Police Officer: The left taillight. Thank you, that is very helpful!

1 Correct Answer: B) She took his coat by mistake.

• Explanation: The man stops her at the beginning and says, “I think you have my coat.”
• Trap: Option C is a trap because the word “train” is mentioned later by the woman, but it wasn’t the man’s reason for stopping her. Option A is a common restaurant situation but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: C) It has a pocket on the chest.

• Explanation: The man describes his coat to prove it is his: “My coat has metal buttons. And it has a small pocket on the chest.”
• Trap: Option A is a trap because “plastic buttons” belong to the woman’s coat, not the man’s. Option B is incorrect because they explicitly agree that both coats are black (“mine is also black”).

3 Correct Answer: B) She was in a hurry to catch a train.

• Explanation: The woman explains her mistake by saying, “I grabbed it because I was in a hurry to catch my train.”
• Trap: Option A is a plausible reason for grabbing the wrong coat, but it is not mentioned in the audio. Option C is incorrect because she didn’t take it on purpose; it was an accident.

Man: Excuse me, miss! Please wait! I think you have my coat.

Woman: Oh? Really? But this is a black winter coat. I brought a black coat today.

Man: Yes, mine is also black. But look at the buttons. Your coat has plastic buttons. My coat has metal buttons. And it has a small pocket on the chest.

Woman: Oh, let me check… You are right! There is a chest pocket and metal buttons. I’m so sorry. I grabbed it because I was in a hurry to catch my train.

Man: That’s okay. They look very similar. Where is your coat?

Woman: It must be on the chair over there. Yes, here it is. Sorry again!