Culture & Customs – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 (B) She has been thoroughly cleaning her home.

• Explanation: Mai says she was “scrubbing and tidying up my apartment” which means thoroughly cleaning her home. Option A is a trap because Liam asks if she was working overtime, but she says “No, not work”. Option C is incorrect because she hasn’t cooked the meals yet.

2 (B) To wish younger people good luck and wealth.

• Explanation: Mai explains that the envelopes contain cash “to bring them good fortune” (good luck and wealth). Option A is a trap; Liam asks about “coins”, but Mai corrects him and says it is “cash”. Option C is never mentioned in the conversation.

3 (A) Her relatives are currently out of town.

• Explanation: Mai says she originally wanted to invite her cousins, but they are “travelling back to my hometown” (out of town), so she invites Liam instead. Option C is a trap because her cousins won’t be there. Option B is plausible but not mentioned in the audio.

Liam: Hey Mai, you look exhausted. Have you been working overtime?

Mai: Oh, hi Liam. No, not work. I’ve been spending the whole weekend scrubbing and tidying up my apartment. Lunar New Year is just around the corner, you know!

Liam: Oh, right! Tet, isn’t it? Is sweeping the floors part of the tradition?

Mai: Absolutely. We believe clearing out the dirt gets rid of last year’s bad luck. But the best part comes after. We gather with family and feast on special dishes, like those square sticky rice cakes.

Liam: Sounds delicious. I’ve read something about giving away coins too?

Mai: Well, almost. Adults give children small red envelopes with cash inside to bring them good fortune. Actually, I’m hosting a small gathering this Saturday to celebrate. I was going to invite my cousins, but they are travelling back to my hometown. So, would you like to drop by and try some of our traditional food?

Liam: I’d love to! Do I need to bring those red envelopes?

Mai: No, just bring your appetite!

1 (B) By keeping the lower stick stationary while moving the upper one.

• Explanation: Lan tells Mark to rest the “bottom stick” and “keep it still” (which means keeping the lower stick stationary), and to move the “top one” (the upper one). Option (A) is a trap: Mark asks if he should hold them like a “pencil”, but Lan says “not exactly”. Option (C) is incorrect because the ring finger is also used for the bottom stick.

2 (A) Because it reminds people of a ritual for the dead.

• Explanation: Lan explains that sticking chopsticks upright looks like the “incense we burn for the deceased at funerals” (a ritual for the dead). Option (C) is a trap: Mark mentions grabbing a “napkin” right before he makes the mistake, but it is not the reason Lan stops him. Option (B) is a plausible guess for a table manner rule, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

3 (C) He is surprised and wants to avoid causing any negative consequences.

• Explanation: Mark says “Oh my goodness, I had no idea!” (showing surprise) and “I certainly don’t want to bring any misfortune” (avoiding negative consequences / bad luck). Option (A) is wrong because he is thankful (“Thanks for the heads-up”), not annoyed. Option (B) is a trap: you hear a sound effect of the bowl, but he didn’t break it.

Lan: Come on in, Mark! Dinner is ready. We’re having roasted duck and rice tonight.

Mark: Wow, it smells amazing, Lan. Um, I have to admit, I’m still a bit clumsy with chopsticks. Do I just hold them like a pencil?

Lan: Well, not exactly. Rest the bottom stick on your ring finger and keep it still. Then, move the top one with your index and middle fingers to pinch the food. Like this.

Mark: Ah, I see. Let me try… Got it! Oh, wait, let me just rest them in my rice bowl for a second while I grab a napkin. 

Lan: Oh, wait! Please don’t stick them upright like that.

Mark: Really? Did I do something wrong?

Lan: It’s just a local custom. Leaving chopsticks sticking straight up resembles the incense we burn for the deceased at funerals. It’s considered a sign of bad luck. Just lay them flat across your bowl instead.

Mark: Oh my goodness, I had no idea! I certainly don’t want to bring any misfortune. Thanks for the heads-up.

1 (B) The host family might not consume alcoholic beverages.

• Explanation: Sarah says wine is risky because some families “don’t drink alcohol” (which means they might not consume alcoholic beverages). Option (A) is a plausible guess for a student, but it is not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; the family didn’t request anything.

2 (A) They are traditionally linked to death and mourning.

• Explanation: Sarah warns Ken that white lilies are “reserved for funerals”, which is a time of death and mourning. Option (B) is plausible for other types of flowers (like red roses) but not mentioned here. Option (C) is a trap: Ken actually says he “saw some beautiful white lilies at the florist”, meaning they are in stock.

3 (C) Some premium sweet treats.

• Explanation: Ken decides to buy “high-quality chocolates” and “artisan truffles”, which are premium sweet treats. Option (A) is a trap: Ken mentions going to the “bakery”, but he is buying truffles, not a cake. Option (B) is a trap because flowers were mentioned but completely rejected.

Ken: Hey Sarah, do you have a minute? My host family invited me to dinner this Friday, and I have no idea what to bring. I really want to make a good impression.

Sarah: Oh, that’s exciting! Well, you definitely shouldn’t show up empty-handed. A small token of appreciation is always a good idea.

Ken: I was thinking of getting a nice bottle of red wine, or maybe some flowers. What do you think?

Sarah: Um, wine can be a bit risky unless you know for sure that they drink alcohol. Some families strictly don’t.

Ken: Good point. How about flowers then? I saw some beautiful white lilies at the florist earlier today.

Sarah: Oh, definitely avoid white lilies! In our culture, those are usually reserved for funerals. It might send the wrong message to your hosts.

Ken: Wow, I had no idea! Thanks for the warning. So, what should I get?

Sarah: You really can’t go wrong with a box of high-quality chocolates. It’s a safe choice, and pretty much everyone has a sweet tooth.

Ken: Perfect! I’ll stop by the bakery and pick up some artisan truffles then. Thanks for saving me, Sarah!

1 (B) To see if it is still functioning properly.

• Explanation: Alex says he needs to “check if the mechanism is broken”, which means he wants to see if it is functioning properly. Option (A) is a trap; Alex mentions heading out into the storm (rain), but he hasn’t gone out yet, so he isn’t drying it. Option (C) is plausible but never mentioned.

2 (A) He is afraid it will attract misfortune into their living space.

• Explanation: Sam says it brings “terrible luck” and will “invite negative energy into your home” (attract misfortune). Option (B) is a trap; Sam mentions his “grandmother”, but only because she warned him about the superstition, not because she owns it. Option (C) is a logical fear for opening an umbrella indoors, but it is not the superstitious reason Sam gives.

3 (C) He actively goes out of his way to avoid doing it.

• Explanation: Sam says he will “step into the street rather than walk underneath a ladder”, meaning he actively avoids it. Option (B) is a trap; Alex is the one who thinks these things are “old wives’ tales” (silly stories), not Sam. Option (A) is a plausible real-world danger, but not mentioned in the audio.

Alex: Hey Sam, could you pass me that black umbrella? I need to check if the mechanism is broken before I head out into the storm. Let me just pop it open…

Sam: Whoa, stop! Don’t open that in here, Alex! Take it out to the balcony first.

Alex: Seriously? It’s just a regular umbrella. Why are you acting so panicked?

Sam: Well, call me crazy, but I firmly believe it brings terrible luck to open one inside the house. My grandmother always warned me about it. It’s supposed to invite negative energy into your home.

Alex: Oh, come on. That’s just an old wives’ tale, like being afraid of black cats.

Sam: Maybe, but I don’t want to risk it. It’s the exact same reason I will absolutely step into the street rather than walk underneath a ladder. I know it sounds a bit silly, but those little traditions just stick with you, you know?

Alex: Hmm, alright. I guess it doesn’t hurt to respect your boundaries. I’ll test it outside.

1 (B) He should stay away from colors linked to funerals.

• Explanation: Linh tells Mark to avoid all white or all black because they are “associated with mourning” (linked to funerals / sadness over a death). Option (C) is a trap; she mentions “entirely white” but says he should avoid it, not wear it. Option (A) is a plausible guess for a traditional wedding, but she explicitly says a regular “suit and tie” is fine.

2 (A) It assists the couple in paying for the wedding feast and their future.

• Explanation: Linh explains that cash helps the newlyweds “start their life together” (their future) and “cover the banquet costs” (pay for the wedding feast). Option (B) is a trap; Mark mentions a “blender” and “plates” (kitchen appliances), but Linh never says they already have them, she just says cash is preferred. Option (C) is never mentioned.

3 (B) He will place some money inside a colored paper packet.

• Explanation: Mark says he will “prepare a red envelope”, which implies putting cash inside a colored paper packet. Option (A) is a trap; he asked if he should buy plates, but decided against it after Linh’s explanation. Option (C) is a trap because he specifically noted “no all-black outfits”.

Mark: Hey Linh, thanks so much for the wedding invitation! I’m really looking forward to it. But, um, I’ve never attended a traditional Vietnamese wedding before. Are there any strict rules about what I should wear?

Linh: Oh, don’t worry too much about it, Mark! Just keep it elegant. A suit and tie is perfectly fine. The only thing you might want to avoid is wearing entirely white or all black, as those colors are usually associated with mourning.

Mark: Got it, no all-black outfits. And what about the wedding gift? Should I buy something for your new house, like a blender or some nice plates?

Linh: Well, I know in some Western cultures, buying physical items is common. But here, we generally prefer receiving cash in a small envelope. It’s considered a practical way to help the newlyweds start their life together and cover the banquet costs.

Mark: Ah, I see! That makes it much easier for me, actually. I’ll make sure to prepare a red envelope then.

Linh: Thank you, Mark. Honestly, we’re just happy to have you there to celebrate with us!