Studying Abroad – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 (B) Because he boarded the incorrect public transportation.

• The Key (Correct): The local resident tells the student, “you’ve taken the wrong bus!” (Paraphrased: taken the wrong bus = boarded the incorrect public transportation).
• The Trap: Option (C) mentions the university, but the university is actually in the South, not the North.
• Not mentioned: Option (A) is a plausible reason for a student to be somewhere, but his dormitory is not mentioned in the dialogue.

2 (A) It requires far too much time to be a practical option.

• The Key (Correct): When the student asks if he can go “on foot” (walking), the local says “Definitely not” because it would “take you at least two hours.” (Paraphrased: take at least two hours = requires far too much time).
• The Trap: Option (C) mentions “traffic lights,” but the traffic lights are simply a landmark for finding the subway station, not a reason why walking to the campus is a bad idea.
• Not mentioned: Option (B) is the opposite of the truth. Walking is not quick in this situation.

3 (C) By riding the Red Line and passing through four stations.

• The Key (Correct): The local advises him to “Take the Red Line” and says “It’s only four stops away.” (Paraphrased: four stops = four stations).
• The Trap: Option (B) is incorrect because the local tells him to take the train “heading towards the city center,” not away from it.
• Not mentioned: Option (A) uses the location “Oak Street” (the name of the station), but transferring lines is never mentioned.

Student: Excuse me, sir. Um, I’m so sorry to bother you, but I think I’m completely lost. I just arrived yesterday, and I’m trying to find the City University campus. Here is the address.

Local: Let me see… Oh dear, you’ve taken the wrong bus! This is the North District. The university is all the way in the South.

Student: Oh no, really? I have my orientation in an hour. Is it possible to go there on foot?

Local: Definitely not. Walking would take you at least two hours from here. But don’t panic. You can easily catch the subway.

Student: Thank goodness. Where is the nearest station?

Local: Just walk straight down this road, past the large supermarket, and turn left at the traffic lights. It’s called Oak Street Station.

Student: Straight down, past the supermarket, and left at the lights. Got it. Which line should I take?

Local: Take the Red Line heading towards the city center. It’s only four stops away. You’ll be there in plenty of time.

Student: Thank you so much! You’re a lifesaver.

1 (A) On a form of public transportation.

• The Key (Correct): The student says, “I dropped my wallet on the commuter train.” (Paraphrased: commuter train = a form of public transportation).
• The Trap: Option (B) is incorrect. The officer mentions the “lost and found department,” but that is where the officer will check, not where the student lost the wallet.
• Not mentioned: Option (C) is a trap. The officer asks about “bank cards,” but a bank branch is never mentioned.

2 (B) She cannot easily get new identification papers.

• The Key (Correct): The student says her BRP and passport (identification papers) were inside, and that “it’s extremely difficult to replace those documents” (cannot easily get new ones).
• The Trap: Option (A) is incorrect. She says there was only “a little bit of cash, maybe twenty pounds”, not a large amount.
• Not mentioned: Option (C) is a plausible reason to panic about a passport, but flying is not mentioned in the dialogue.

3 (C) Her personal contact details and place of living.

• The Key (Correct): The officer asks her to write down her “phone number and your current address.” (Paraphrased: phone number = contact details; current address = place of living).
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap using the words “reference number.” The officer gives her a reference number for the police report at the very end; he does not ask for her visa reference number.
• Not mentioned: Option (A) is a trap. The item was “dropped,” not stolen, so there is no thief to describe.

Officer: Good afternoon, miss. You look quite distressed. How can I help you?

Student: Hello, officer. Um, I need to report a missing item. I think I dropped my wallet on the commuter train just a few minutes ago!

Officer: Alright, please take a deep breath and calm down. Can you describe what it looks like?

Student: Yes, it’s a small, dark brown leather pouch. It has a silver zipper.

Officer: And what exactly was inside it? Any cash or bank cards?

Student: There was a little bit of cash, maybe twenty pounds. But I’m really panicking because my Biometric Residence Permit and my passport were in there. I’m an international student, and it’s extremely difficult to replace those documents!

Officer: I understand. We will contact the train company to check the lost and found department. Could you write down your phone number and your current address?

Student: Of course. My number is 0-7-7-0-0-9-0-0-4-6-1. If anyone hands it in, please let me know immediately.

Officer: We will do our best. Here is a reference number for your report.

1 (B) One of the team members failed to attend the gathering.

• The Key (Correct): Minh explains that they didn’t finish because “Tom didn’t show up at all.” (Paraphrased: didn’t show up = failed to attend; meeting = gathering).
• The Trap: Option (A) is a very common reason for not finishing a project, but running out of time is not mentioned. Option (C) uses the word “frustrated” which is similar to “disappointed”, but they were upset about Tom, not the professor’s instructions.

2 (A) Feeling a strong sense of sadness or disappointment.

• The Key (Correct): Chloe explains that the word “gutted” means “being really disappointed or upset about a situation.” (Paraphrased: disappointed or upset = strong sense of sadness or disappointment).
• The Trap: Option (B) describes what Tom did (“he always bails on people”), but this is the definition of “bailing”, not “gutted”.
• Not mentioned: Option (C) is a common meaning for other English slang words (like “knackered” or “beat”), but it is not the definition discussed in this audio.

3 (C) Decrease her speaking pace during their conversations.

• The Key (Correct): Minh politely asks, “Could you please speak a bit slower next time?” (Paraphrased: speak a bit slower = decrease her speaking pace).
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap. Minh mentions “research” in the audio, but he says he had to do Tom’s share of the research, he does not ask Chloe to do it for him.
• Not mentioned: Option (A) is plausible for an international student wanting to learn, but Minh never asks her to teach him a new expression every day; he just wants her to slow down.

Chloe: Hey Minh, how was your group project meeting yesterday? Did you guys get everything done?

Minh: It was okay, but we didn’t finish everything. Um, Tom didn’t show up at all.

Chloe: Oh, typical Tom. He always bails on people. I bet you guys were totally gutted when he didn’t arrive.

Minh: I’m sorry, Chloe. I caught the first part, but I’m not familiar with that last word. What does “gutted” mean? Is it a bad thing?

Chloe: Oh, my bad! I speak way too fast sometimes. “Gutted” is just a local slang word for being really disappointed or upset about a situation.

Minh: Ah, I see! Yes, we were definitely disappointed because we had to do his share of the research. Could you please speak a bit slower next time? I’m still getting used to the everyday expressions here.

Chloe: Of course! Just stop me whenever I use a weird phrase. Honestly, your English is doing great.

1 (B) Her native classmates have left the university for the festive season.

• The Key (Correct): The student explains that her sadness is because “All my local friends have packed their bags and gone back to their families.” (Paraphrased: local friends = native classmates; gone back = left the university).
• The Trap: Option (C) is a trap. The audio mentions “local friends”, but the problem is that they have left, not that she is struggling to communicate with them.
• Not mentioned: Option (A) is a very common reason why international students stay on campus, but financial issues (cannot afford a ticket) are not mentioned in this dialogue.

2 (A) She becomes even more upset and isolates herself in her room.

• The Key (Correct): The student says that seeing her parents on a screen “makes me cry more” (becomes even more upset) and that she “just stay[s] in my room all day” (isolates herself).
• The Trap: Option (B) uses the phrase “mom’s cooking.” The student says she misses her mom’s cooking, but she does not say she tries to cook the meals herself.
• Not mentioned: Option (C) is the opposite of the truth, as the calls make her cry more, not feel better.

3 (C) Attend a shared cultural meal organized by an international group.

• The Key (Correct): The counselor suggests joining the “Global Student Network” (an international group) because they are hosting a “special holiday dinner” where everyone brings a dish to “share” (shared cultural meal).
• The Trap: Option (A) is incorrect. The student thought everything was closed, but the counselor does not tell her to wait; he tells her to attend the dinner.
• Not mentioned: Option (B) is a trap based on the context of mental health. The counselor suggests joining an existing network, not starting a “brand new social club.”

Counselor: Come in, Anna. Have a seat. How have you been feeling lately?

Student: Honestly, Dr. Evans, not very good. Um… with Christmas coming up, the campus is so empty. All my local friends have packed their bags and gone back to their families.

Counselor: It’s completely normal to feel lonely during the festive season. It is a tough time for many international learners. Have you tried calling your parents?

Student: I did, but seeing them on a screen just makes me cry more. I miss my mom’s cooking so much. Lately, I just stay in my room all day.

Counselor: I understand. But isolating yourself will only make the homesickness worse. What if you joined the Global Student Network? They are hosting a special holiday dinner this weekend for people staying on campus.

Student: Oh, I thought everything was closed. Do they serve traditional food?

Counselor: They actually ask everyone to bring a dish from their own culture to share. It’s a wonderful way to connect with others who are in the exact same situation as you.

Student: That actually sounds quite nice. I’ll check their website for the details. Thank you.

1 (B) Severe weather conditions caused her previous plane to be late.

• The Key (Correct): The student explains that her first flight was delayed “because of the heavy snow.” (Paraphrased: heavy snow = severe weather conditions; delayed = late).
• The Trap: Option (A) is a very common reason for missing a connecting flight in a large airport, but getting lost is never mentioned. Option (C) is also a trap based on the word “late”.

2 (C) There are no more trips to her final destination available today.

• The Key (Correct): The agent confirms the problem by saying, “the final flight to Vancouver for today has already departed.” (Paraphrased: final flight has departed = no more trips available today).
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap. The student asks to be put on the earliest flight tomorrow, but paying for a new ticket is not mentioned (the airline rebooks it for free).
• Not mentioned: Option (A) is plausible during transit delays, but lost luggage is never brought up in the conversation.

3 (A) They will provide a free room and food for the evening.

• The Key (Correct): The agent offers a “voucher for a complimentary stay at the airport hotel, plus some coupons for your dinner and breakfast.” (Paraphrased: complimentary stay = free room; dinner and breakfast = food).
• The Trap: Option (C) uses the word “cash” and “taxi”, but the airline provides a voucher for an airport hotel, meaning she doesn’t need cash or a taxi to get there.
• Not mentioned: Option (B) is a dream scenario for delayed passengers, but an upgrade is not offered.

Agent: Next in line, please. How can I assist you?

Student: Hi. Um, my first flight from Tokyo was delayed by three hours because of the heavy snow. By the time I landed, I completely missed my connecting flight to Vancouver. I’m an international student and my classes start very soon!

Agent: I’m so sorry to hear that. Let me check your booking. Yes, I see that your previous aircraft arrived late. The bad news is that the final flight to Vancouver for today has already departed.

Student: Oh no… What am I supposed to do now? Can you put me on the earliest one tomorrow?

Agent: Let’s see… Well, I can secure a seat for you on the 8:00 AM departure tomorrow morning.

Student: I’ll take it. But, ah, where should I sleep tonight? Since the delay wasn’t my fault, does the airline provide any accommodation?

Agent: Yes, absolutely. Because the delay was caused by our flight schedule, I will issue a voucher for a complimentary stay at the airport hotel, plus some coupons for your dinner and breakfast.

Student: Oh, that’s a huge relief. Thank you for sorting this out.