Study Skills – B1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between two roommates and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is Mark’s original plan for the night?
(A) To stay awake until morning to prepare for a test.
(B) To wake up very early at 6:00 AM to read three chapters.
(C) To drink lots of coffee so he can finish his essay.
2 According to Leo, what is the negative effect of skipping sleep?
(A) The student will get a severe headache the next day.
(B) The student will automatically fail the economics class.
(C) The brain cannot successfully keep the new information.
3 What alternative solution does Leo suggest to his roommate?
(A) To review the study materials after getting some rest.
(B) To simply give up and accept whatever grade he gets.
(C) To ask the professor for some extra time to study.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Mark says he is “planning to pull an all-nighter” for his exam. Option A perfectly paraphrases “pull an all-nighter” as “stay awake until morning.” Option B is a trap; waking up at 6:00 AM is Leo’s suggestion later in the conversation, not Mark’s original plan. Option C is plausible for someone staying up late, but coffee is never mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Leo explains that “your brain needs sleep to store information” and if you don’t rest, you will “forget everything you just read.” Option C paraphrases this accurately (cannot successfully keep the information). Option A is not mentioned. Option B is a trap; Mark mentions he doesn’t want to fail, but Leo does not state that lack of sleep guarantees a failing grade, only that it ruins memory and concentration.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Leo tells Mark to go to bed and “review the most important notes with a fresh mind in the morning.” Option A perfectly paraphrases this idea. Option B is a trap; Mark asks, “Just give up?” but Leo immediately rejects this idea by saying “No.” Option C is a logical solution in real life but is never mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Leo: Mark, it’s 1:00 AM. Are you still studying for the economics exam?
Mark: Yeah, I’m planning to pull an all-nighter. I still have three chapters to read, and I really don’t want to fail.
Leo: Honestly, that’s a terrible idea. Staying awake all night is just going to ruin your concentration tomorrow.
Mark: But if I go to sleep right now, I won’t know the answers to the essay questions. I have to keep reading.
Leo: Actually, science shows that your brain needs sleep to store information. If you don’t rest, you will likely forget everything you just read anyway.
Mark: So what should I do? Just give up?
Leo: No, just go to bed now and set your alarm for 6:00 AM. You can review the most important notes with a fresh mind in the morning. It’s much more effective than forcing yourself to stay awake when you’re exhausted.
Mark: Ugh, you’re probably right. I can barely keep my eyes open anyway. I’ll set my alarm.
Listening 2
Listen to a phone call between two classmates and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is Tom calling Lisa so late?
(A) He wants to invite her to get some food at the cafeteria.
(B) He misplaced his personal study materials for an upcoming test.
(C) He needs someone to help him clean out his messy backpack.
2 Where does Tom suspect he accidentally left his item?
(A) At the bottom of his backpack.
(B) In the history classroom.
(C) In the school dining area.
3 How do they agree to solve Tom’s problem?
(A) Tom will go to Lisa’s house and capture images of her notes.
(B) Tom will borrow Lisa’s notebook and take it to his own house.
(C) Lisa will read all the important timelines to Tom over the phone.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Tom says, “I can’t find my history notebook anywhere.” Option B perfectly paraphrases “can’t find” as “misplaced” and “notebook” as “study materials.” Option A is a trap; the word “cafeteria” is mentioned, but he left his book there, he isn’t inviting her to eat. Option C is a trap; he mentions emptying his bag, but he doesn’t need help cleaning it.
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Tom states, “I think I might have left it in the cafeteria after lunch.” Option C paraphrases “cafeteria” as “school dining area.” Option A is a trap; Lisa asks if he checked the bottom of his backpack, but Tom confirms it is “definitely gone” from there. Option B is plausible since it’s a history notebook, but it is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Tom asks to “take photos” and Lisa agrees that he can “come over and scan the pages with your phone.” Option A paraphrases this perfectly as going to her house and capturing images. Option B is a trap; Tom asks to borrow the notebook, but Lisa rejects this idea (“I actually need my notebook tonight… so I can’t lend it to you”). Option C is not mentioned at all.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Tom: Hi Lisa, sorry to call so late. Are you busy?
Lisa: Hey Tom, no, I’m just studying for the history final tomorrow. What’s wrong? You sound really stressed.
Tom: I am completely panicking. I can’t find my history notebook anywhere. I think I might have left it in the cafeteria after lunch.
Lisa: Oh no! Have you checked your backpack thoroughly? Sometimes things get pushed to the bottom.
Tom: Yeah, I’ve emptied my entire bag, and it’s definitely gone. All my notes from the last two months are in there. Look, could I possibly borrow yours just for tonight? Or maybe I could come over and take photos of the main chapters?
Lisa: Well, I actually need my notebook tonight to review the timelines, so I can’t lend it to you. But you can definitely come over and scan the pages with your phone. My handwriting is a bit messy, though.
Tom: That would save my life! I don’t mind the messy writing at all. I’ll just copy down the most important bullet points. I’ll be at your place in ten minutes.
Lisa: Alright, see you soon. Don’t worry, we’ll get it sorted.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a student and a cafe manager, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the main reason the student speaks to the manager?
(A) To complain that her latte tastes terrible today.
(B) To request that the audio volume be reduced.
(C) To ask for a different table in a quieter corner.
2 What is the student currently trying to do at the coffee shop?
(A) Read materials for an upcoming academic test.
(B) Listen to a newly released playlist on her laptop.
(C) Write an essay about the heavy bass music.
3 How does the manager react to the student’s request?
(A) He refuses because other customers enjoy the energetic environment.
(B) He offers to give her a free beverage to apologize for the inconvenience.
(C) He agrees to modify the settings on the audio equipment immediately.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Sarah says, “the background music is… incredibly loud” and asks, “Would it be possible to lower the volume…?” Option B perfectly paraphrases this. Option A is a trap; the manager asks if something is wrong with the coffee, but Sarah explicitly says, “Oh, no, the latte is delicious.” Option C is a logical solution in real life, but it is not mentioned in the conversation.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Sarah states she is trying to “review some dense chapters for my literature exam.” Option A paraphrases “review chapters” as “read materials” and “literature exam” as “academic test.” Option B is a trap; the manager mentions a “new playlist” and “laptops” are mentioned later, but Sarah is not listening to a playlist on her laptop. Option C is a trap; she mentions “heavy bass,” but she isn’t writing an essay about it.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: David says he completely understands and will “go adjust the sound system right now.” Option C perfectly paraphrases this as agreeing to “modify the settings on the audio equipment.” Option A is a trap; he mentions other customers, but says they also bring books, so he agrees to turn it down, not refuse. Option B is plausible for customer service but is never mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sarah: Excuse me, are you the manager here?
David: Yes, I am. How can I help you today? Is there something wrong with your coffee?
Sarah: Oh, no, the latte is delicious. It’s actually about the atmosphere. I come here often to study because I love the environment, but today the background music is, well, incredibly loud.
David: I apologize for that. We just changed to a new playlist this afternoon. Is it distracting you?
Sarah: Yes, quite a bit. I’m trying to review some dense chapters for my literature exam, and I just can’t seem to focus on the text. The bass is really heavy. Would it be possible to lower the volume just a fraction?
David: Of course. I completely understand. A lot of our customers bring their laptops and books here, so we definitely want to maintain a comfortable space for reading. I’ll go adjust the sound system right now.
Sarah: Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.
David: You’re very welcome. Let me know if it’s still bothering you in a few minutes.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between a student and a lecturer, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is Leo’s main problem with his assignment?
(A) He lost all his research data on his computer.
(B) He focused his writing on the wrong aspect of the topic.
(C) He needs extra time to finish his historical background.
2 What did Leo originally intend to do to fix his mistake tonight?
(A) Start the entire project over from the beginning.
(B) Request a later deadline from the university.
(C) Delete his introduction and write a new one.
3 What does Dr. Adams advise Leo to do now?
(A) Focus entirely on the monetary effects of the subject.
(B) Throw away his current draft and write faster.
(C) Ask the university library for more history books.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Leo says he “completely missed the point” and wrote about “history” instead of “financial consequences”. Option B perfectly paraphrases this idea. Option A is a plausible problem for a student, but it is not mentioned. Option C is a trap; an extension (extra time) is mentioned, but he does not want to finish the historical background, because that is the mistake he made.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Leo states, “I was going to rewrite the whole thing tonight.” Option A paraphrases “rewrite the whole thing” as “start the entire project over”. Option B is a trap; he asks about an extension, but the professor rejects it, and it wasn’t his original plan for tonight. Option C is a trap; the professor actually tells him to keep his history part as an introduction.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Dr. Adams tells him to research “economic impacts” and Leo confirms he should focus on the “money aspect”. Option A paraphrases this perfectly as “monetary effects”. Option B is a trap because the professor explicitly says, “don’t throw everything away.” Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Leo: Dr. Adams, do you have a minute? I’m really panicking about the final paper.
Dr. Adams: Take a deep breath, Leo. What’s going on? The deadline is on Friday, isn’t it?
Leo: Yes, exactly! Just two days left. Well, I was reviewing my draft this morning, and I realized I completely missed the point. The prompt asks us to analyze the financial consequences of renewable energy, but… um… I spent five pages writing about its history!
Dr. Adams: Ah, I see. Writing off-topic is a common mistake. But don’t throw everything away.
Leo: Really? Should I ask for an extension? I was going to rewrite the whole thing tonight.
Dr. Adams: There’s no need for that, and I don’t grant extensions for this assignment. Here is a faster strategy. Keep a small section of your historical background as an introduction. Then, spend today and tomorrow researching just three major economic impacts.
Leo: Oh, that makes sense. So, keep it brief at the start, and shift the focus to the money aspect?
Dr. Adams: Precisely. You still have enough time if you stay focused.
Leo: Thank you so much, Dr. Adams. I’ll get right on it.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between two classmates and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is Mia extremely upset at the beginning of the conversation?
(A) She is going to fail her sociology assignment because she missed the deadline.
(B) Her device shut down and she lost her unsaved academic paper.
(C) She accidentally spilled coffee on her laptop and broke the battery.
2 How does Ben suggest Mia can find her missing work?
(A) By clicking the main save button immediately after restarting the laptop.
(B) By looking for a hidden recovery folder on her computer’s desktop.
(C) By utilizing a built-in tool that automatically saves temporary copies.
3 What is Ben’s advice for Mia to prevent this issue from happening again?
(A) She should use an internet-based storage system for her future writing.
(B) She needs to buy a new charger to keep her laptop battery full.
(C) She ought to print out her essay every time she finishes a paragraph.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Mia says, “My laptop just completely died, and I hadn’t saved my sociology essay!” Option B perfectly paraphrases “laptop died” as “device shut down” and “sociology essay” as “academic paper.” Option A is a trap; she mentions she is “going to fail the assignment,” but the reason is the lost file, not a missed deadline. Option C is a plausible reason for a broken laptop, but coffee is never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Ben explains that the software has an “auto-recover feature” that “automatically backs up your work.” Option C paraphrases this accurately as a “built-in tool that automatically saves temporary copies.” Option A is a trap; the “save button” is mentioned, but Mia says she “didn’t click the save button even once.” Option B is a plausible technical step, but Ben tells her to look “on the left side of the screen” inside the program, not on the desktop.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Ben advises her to “write your papers on a cloud drive” so they are “saved online instantly.” Option A perfectly paraphrases this as using an “internet-based storage system.” Option B is a trap; Ben tells her to “plug in your charger” at the beginning to turn the computer on, but it is not his advice for the future. Option C is a plausible study habit but is not mentioned at all.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mia: Oh no, no, no! This can’t be happening!
Ben: Whoa, Mia, what’s going on? Are you okay?
Mia: My laptop just completely died, and I hadn’t saved my sociology essay! I spent three hours typing that, and now it’s all gone. I’m going to fail the assignment.
Ben: Okay, take a deep breath. First of all, plug in your charger and turn the computer back on.
Mia: It’s booting up now… but the document is definitely erased. I didn’t click the save button even once.
Ben: Actually, most writing software has an auto-recover feature. It automatically backs up your work every ten minutes. When you open the program again, look on the left side of the screen. It should ask if you want to restore the unsaved draft.
Mia: Wait, really? Let me check… Oh my gosh, you’re right! It’s here! I only lost the last paragraph.
Ben: See? You’re fine. But honestly, to avoid this in the future, you should write your papers on a cloud drive. That way, every single letter is saved online instantly.
Mia: Yeah, I’ve definitely learned my lesson. Thanks, Ben.