Health & Sickness – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a conversation between two roommates. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the sick roommate going to do tonight?
(A) Go to a movie with friends.
(B) Go to the pharmacy for medicine.
(C) Stay home and rest.
2 What advice does the healthy roommate give?
(A) Drink hot tea and sleep early.
(B) Take some cold medicine and sleep.
(C) Go to the kitchen to cook soup.
3 What will the healthy roommate do later?
(A) Buy some herbal tea at the store.
(B) Bring some soup for her friend.
(C) Stay home to watch the movie.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 C
- Explanation: The sick roommate says, “I’m just going to stay home.”
- The Trap: Option A is a trap. The script mentions “the movie,” but the sick roommate uses the word “but” to change her plan (“I really wanted to go, but…”). Option B is a plausible thing to do when sick, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
2 A
- Explanation: The healthy roommate says, “You should drink some hot tea” and “you should go to bed early tonight.”
- The Trap: Option B is a trap because medicine is never mentioned. Option C is a trap because the healthy roommate offers to bring soup, not telling the sick person to go to the kitchen to cook it.
3 B
- Explanation: The healthy roommate says, “I can bring you some soup later if you want.”
- The Trap: Option A is a trap. The sick roommate says she already has herbal tea in the kitchen, so nobody needs to buy it. Option C is incorrect because the healthy roommate is still going out, while the sick one stays home.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Roommate 1: Ugh, I feel awful today. My nose is running and I just can’t stop coughing.
Roommate 2: Oh no. You sound terrible. Are you still coming to the movie with us tonight?
Roommate 1: Well, I really wanted to go, but I think it’s a bad idea. I don’t want to make anyone else sick. So, I’m just going to stay home.
Roommate 2: That’s smart. You should drink some hot tea and get lots of water.
Roommate 1: Yeah, I have some herbal tea in the kitchen.
Roommate 2: Good. And you should go to bed early tonight. I can bring you some soup later if you want.
Roommate 1: Thanks, that would be great.
Listening 2
Listen to a phone conversation between two friends. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is Sarah calling Mark?
(A) To ask him to buy the movie tickets.
(B) To tell him she cannot go to the movie.
(C) To invite him to go to the hospital with her.
2 How does Sarah feel?
(A) She is very tired from working all day.
(B) She has a bad stomachache and feels cold.
(C) She has a terrible headache and a fever.
3 What does Sarah plan to do tonight?
(A) Go to the doctor.
(B) Take medicine and sleep.
(C) Watch a movie at home.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 B
- Explanation: Sarah calls Mark to say, “I’m so sorry, but I can’t make it” (meaning she cannot go to the movie).
- The Trap: Option A is a trap because Mark mentions tickets, but he says “I already bought the tickets.” Option C is not mentioned.
2 C
- Explanation: Sarah explicitly states her symptoms: “I woke up with a terrible headache… And now, I have a slight fever.”
- The Trap: Option A and Option B are plausible reasons for canceling plans in real life, but they are not mentioned in the audio.
3 B
- Explanation: Sarah says, “I’m going to take some medicine and sleep.”
- The Trap: Option A is the A2 “Twist” trap. Mark asks, “Are you going to see a doctor?” but Sarah rejects it by saying “No.” Option C is a trap because Mark says “We can watch a movie another time,” not tonight at home.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sarah: Hi, Mark. It’s Sarah. I’m calling about our movie plan for tonight.
Mark: Hey Sarah! Yeah, I already bought the tickets. Are we meeting at seven?
Sarah: I’m so sorry, but I can’t make it. I really wanted to go, but I woke up with a terrible headache this morning. And now, I have a slight fever, too.
Mark: Oh no, that’s too bad. Are you going to see a doctor?
Sarah: No, I don’t think it’s that serious. I just need to stay home. I’m going to take some medicine and sleep.
Mark: Okay, you should get some rest. We can watch a movie another time.
Sarah: Thanks, Mark. Have fun tonight.
Listening 3
Listen to a conversation between two brothers. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did Tom do yesterday?
(A) He went to his regular soccer practice.
(B) He fell down while playing a game in the park.
(C) He went to the hospital for his leg.
2 How did Tom get back to his house after the accident?
(A) He walked home.
(B) His brother helped him walk.
(C) He took a taxi home.
3 Why is Tom staying home today?
(A) Because he wants to put ice on his foot.
(B) Because it is raining and the grass is wet.
(C) Because his ankle is swollen and painful.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 B
- Explanation: Tom says, “I was playing a match in the park… I slipped on the wet grass and fell down.”
- The Trap: Option A is a trap. The younger brother asks about soccer practice today, but Tom did not go to practice yesterday; he played a match in the park. Option C is a plausible action for an injury, but it is not mentioned.
2 A
- Explanation: Tom explicitly states, “I even walked home by myself.”
- The Trap: Option B is a trap because he mentions “myself” (meaning nobody helped him). Option C is a plausible guess but is not in the audio.
3 C
- Explanation: Tom says his “ankle was huge” (swollen) and it “hurts a lot when I try to stand up” (painful).
- The Trap: Option A is a trap. The younger brother tells Tom he should put ice on it, but that is not the main reason he is staying home. Option B is a trap because the grass was wet yesterday, but that is not the reason he is staying home today.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Younger Brother: Hey Tom, are you ready to go to soccer practice today?
Older Brother: No, I can’t go. I had a little accident yesterday.
Younger Brother: Really? What happened?
Older Brother: Well, I was playing a match in the park. I ran fast to get the ball, but I slipped on the wet grass and fell down. At first, I thought I was fine. I even walked home by myself.
Younger Brother: So, what’s wrong now?
Older Brother: This morning, I woke up and my ankle was huge! It hurts a lot when I try to stand up. I think I just need to rest it for a few days.
Younger Brother: Ouch. That sounds painful. You should put some ice on it.
Listening 4
Listen to a conversation between a mother and her son. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What does the son want to do at the beginning of the conversation?
(A) Take some medicine.
(B) Drink warm water.
(C) Eat some chicken soup.
2 When exactly should the boy take the cough syrup?
(A) Right now.
(B) After he eats his dinner.
(C) When he wakes up in the night.
3 What is the mother doing right now?
(A) She is buying medicine.
(B) She is cooking dinner.
(C) She is going to sleep.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 A
- Explanation: At the beginning, the son asks, “Can I take some medicine right now?”
- The Trap: Option B is a trap. The mother suggests drinking warm water (“you can have a glass of warm water”), but it is not what the son wants to do first. Option C is a trap because they talk about soup later.
2 B
- Explanation: The mother clearly says, “You need to take one big spoonful after you finish your dinner.”
- The Trap: Option A is the A2 “Twist” trap. The son wants to take it right now, but the mother says no because he has an empty stomach. Option C is a trap because the mother mentions the night (“won’t cough so much during the night”), but not taking it in the night.
3 B
- Explanation: The mother says, “I’m making chicken soup. It will be ready in about twenty minutes.” Making soup means she is cooking dinner.
- The Trap: Option A is plausible in real life but is not mentioned in the audio. Option C is incorrect because they are talking about sleeping later tonight, not right now.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Son: Mom, my throat really hurts. Can I take some medicine right now?
Mother: Well, you can have a glass of warm water now. But you shouldn’t take the cough syrup on an empty stomach. It might make you feel sick.
Son: Oh, okay. So when do I take it?
Mother: You need to take one big spoonful after you finish your dinner. That way, you can sleep well and you won’t cough so much during the night.
Son: Got it. What’s for dinner, anyway? I’m getting pretty hungry.
Mother: I’m making chicken soup. It will be ready in about twenty minutes.
Son: Great. Thanks, Mom.
Listening 5
Listen to a conversation between a husband and a wife. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did the man do this afternoon?
(A) He slept for a few hours.
(B) He cooked some chicken soup.
(C) He watched television in bed.
2 How does the man feel right now?
(A) He feels completely better.
(B) His throat still hurts a lot.
(C) He has a terrible stomachache.
3 What is the man’s plan for tomorrow?
(A) He is going to go back to his office.
(B) He is going to visit the hospital.
(C) He is going to stay home from work.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 A
- Explanation: The husband says, “I slept for a few hours this afternoon.”
- The Trap: Option B is a trap. The wife made the chicken soup, not the husband. Option C is a plausible activity for someone sick in bed, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
2 B
- Explanation: The husband says, “my throat is still very sore.” Sore means it hurts.
- The Trap: Option A is a trap. The wife asks “Are you feeling any better?” but he only feels “a little bit” better, not completely. Option C is a trap because the audio mentions his throat, not his stomach.
3 C
- Explanation: The husband says, “I need to take another day off.” This means he will stay home from work again.
- The Trap: Option A is the typical A2 “Twist” trap. He says, “I wanted to go back to work tomorrow, but I don’t think I can.” He changed his plan. Option B is a plausible guess but is never mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Wife: Hi honey. I made you some hot chicken soup. Are you feeling any better?
Husband: A little bit. I slept for a few hours this afternoon, but my throat is still very sore.
Wife: Well, sit up and eat this soup while it’s hot. It will really help your throat.
Husband: Thanks. It smells great. You know, I wanted to go back to work tomorrow, but I don’t think I can. I need to take another day off.
Wife: That’s a good idea. So, just stay in bed and I will bring you some more water.
Husband: Okay.