Culture & Customs – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 (A) Producing special ceramic goods.

• Explanation: David says the village was “originally famous for its unique pottery” (producing special ceramic goods). Option (B) is a trap; David specifically says the village is a living community and “not just a museum”. Option (C) is a trap; the village is named “Oakhaven”, but growing oak trees is not mentioned as what it was famous for.

2 (B) Request their approval beforehand.

• Explanation: The guide advises tourists to “kindly ask for their permission first” (request their approval beforehand) if they want to take a portrait of someone. Option (A) is never mentioned. Option (C) is a plausible friendly gesture in real life, but the guide’s rule is about getting permission before snapping the picture.

3 (C) By gesturing with their whole hand.

• Explanation: David says, “please use your entire hand” (gesturing with their whole hand) when pointing at something. Option (A) is a trap; the guide explicitly says to do this “rather than just your index finger,” because pointing with one finger is “considered quite rude.” Option (B) is not mentioned in the audio.

David (Tour Guide): Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Oakhaven! My name is David, and I’ll be your guide today. This beautiful village is over 400 years old and was originally famous for its unique pottery. Many of the families living here today are direct descendants of those early artists.

Before we begin our walk, I’d like to share a few quick tips about local customs so we can show respect to the residents. First, please remember that this is still a living community, not just a museum. If you want to take a portrait of someone, kindly ask for their permission first instead of just snapping a picture.

Secondly, if you are invited into a resident’s home, it is essential to leave your shoes at the front door. Finally, if you need to point at something, please use your entire hand rather than just your index finger, as pointing with one finger is considered quite rude here.

Alright, keep your cameras ready, and let’s head to the main square!

1 (B) They have to smash the food before tossing it.

• Explanation: The host says, “You actually have to crush them in your hands before throwing so no one gets hurt” (smash the food before tossing it). Option (A) is a trap; the host suggests swimming goggles at the very end as a helpful tip (“maybe bring some”), not a mandatory safety measure. Option (C) is a plausible safety rule for large vehicles, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (A) She initially felt stressed but soon enjoyed the liberating atmosphere.

• Explanation: The host admits she “felt a bit overwhelmed” at first (stressed), but then she “joined the madness” and found it “incredibly freeing” (enjoyed the liberating atmosphere). Option (B) is a trap using the word “messy”, but her feelings went from overwhelmed to happy, not excited to annoyed. Option (C) is a trap; she mentions “locals” but doesn’t say she was scared of them.

3 (C) Put on garments that you do not mind ruining.

• Explanation: The host’s biggest tip is to “wear old clothes” (garments that you do not mind ruining because they are already old). Option (A) is a trap; the trucks bring the tomatoes, tourists don’t need to buy them. Option (B) is a plausible piece of advice for a messy festival, but the host never mentions bringing a towel.

Host: Hey everyone, welcome back to the podcast! Today, I want to talk about one of the craziest days of my entire life.

I recently traveled to Spain to experience La Tomatina. Now, I thought I was prepared for a massive food fight, but wow… I was totally wrong. The moment the water cannons fired to signal the start, the streets turned into a sea of red. Huge trucks rolled in, and people just started throwing squashed tomatoes at each other. You actually have to crush them in your hands before throwing so no one gets hurt, which is a pretty neat rule.

I have to admit, at first, I felt a bit overwhelmed. I mean, getting hit in the face with flying vegetables isn’t exactly a normal Wednesday, you know? But after a few minutes, I just let go and joined the madness. It was incredibly freeing! Thousands of locals and tourists were laughing together, completely covered in red juice.

If you ever get the chance to participate in this messy tradition, my biggest tip is to wear old clothes—and maybe bring some swimming goggles!

1 (B) In the middle of the local municipality.

• Explanation: The announcer says the event will take place “right in the heart of our city” (in the middle of the local municipality). Option (A) is a trap; it is a street food festival at a square, not inside a restaurant. Option (C) is a trap; City FM is the name of the radio station broadcasting the news, not the event location.

2 (A) They will show visitors how to make their native meals.

• Explanation: The announcer states the chefs will “demonstrate their traditional cooking techniques” and show how dishes are “prepared from scratch” (show visitors how to make their native meals). Option (B) is a trap; “spicy curries” are mentioned as food being made, but the chefs aren’t teaching people how to eat them. Option (C) is a trap; “handmade tortillas” are mentioned, but they are not giving them away for free.

3 (B) They have to buy special vouchers to try the food.

• Explanation: The speaker says visitors need to “purchase food tokens” if they want to “sample the dishes” (buy special vouchers to try the food). Option (A) is a trap; the announcer explicitly says “the entrance to the square is completely free”, so there is no fee to pass through the gate. Option (C) is plausible for a street market, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

Radio Announcer: Good evening, listeners! You’re tuning in to City FM. If you don’t have any plans for this weekend, you are in for a real treat. The annual International Street Food Festival is back! This year, the event will take place right in the heart of our city, at the Central Square, starting from 10 AM this Saturday.

Now, this isn’t just about eating; it’s a fantastic cultural experience. We have master chefs flying in from Mexico, Thailand, and Greece. Instead of just serving up dishes, they will be setting up live stations to demonstrate their traditional cooking techniques. You’ll get to see exactly how authentic handmade tortillas and spicy curries are prepared from scratch.

One important detail, though: while the entrance to the square is completely free, you will need to purchase food tokens at the main gate if you want to sample the dishes. So, bring your appetite and your curiosity, and we’ll see you there!

1 (C) The wide belt is wrapped very firmly around her stomach.

• Explanation: The vlogger says the “obi” (a wide sash/belt) was “wrapped it so tightly” (firmly) and “heavily restricts my movement” so she can only take tiny steps. Option (A) is a trap; she mentions it’s a “hot summer day”, but the heat isn’t what stops her from walking. Option (B) is a plausible cultural detail, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (A) She feels very graceful despite the physical discomfort.

• Explanation: The vlogger states, “Even though it isn’t the most comfortable outfit… I feel incredibly elegant” (graceful despite physical discomfort). Option (B) is a trap; she mentions putting it on was “quite a process” (took a long time), but she is happy, not frustrated. Option (C) is the opposite of the truth; she clearly states it is uncomfortable for summer.

3 (B) She develops a strong respect for the preservation of this tradition.

• Explanation: She says the experience gave her a “deep appreciation” (strong respect) because it takes “true dedication to preserve these historical garments.” Option (A) is a trap; she appreciates the garments, but she didn’t learn to sew them herself. Option (C) is a trap; she explicitly jokes that she “cannot run to catch a bus in this.”

Vlogger: Hi guys, welcome back to my vlog! I’m currently in Kyoto, and as you can see, I am wearing an authentic silk kimono for the very first time. I have to admit, putting this on was quite a process. There are so many layers of fabric underneath! The most fascinating part was definitely the obi, the wide sash tied around my waist. The shop assistant wrapped it so tightly to give the dress its proper shape. Honestly, it heavily restricts my movement, so I can only take tiny steps when I walk. I definitely cannot run to catch a bus in this!

Even though it isn’t the most comfortable outfit for a hot summer day, I feel incredibly elegant. Learning about the precise folding and tying techniques really gave me a deep appreciation for this clothing culture. It takes true dedication to preserve these historical garments. If you ever visit Japan, I highly recommend renting one for a day. Anyway, let’s go explore some temples. See you in the next clip!

1 (B) To explain how physical actions carry different meanings globally.

• Explanation: The student says the presentation is about “non-verbal communication” and how “body language can be completely misunderstood across different borders” (physical actions carry different meanings globally). Option (A) is a trap; the student mentions “studying words” and “spoken vocabulary”, but points out that today’s topic is not about that. Option (C) is never mentioned.

2 (A) It is a physical way to express a negative response.

• Explanation: The speaker notes that in Bulgaria, this movement “actually translates to ‘no'” (a negative response). Option (B) is a trap; this is what the gesture means in “most Western countries,” not Bulgaria. Option (C) is a trap; the word “offensive” is used later, but it is to describe the thumbs-up sign, not nodding.

3 (C) They would feel deeply offended by the disrespectful action.

• Explanation: The student warns that in several Middle Eastern nations, the thumbs-up sign is “considered extremely insulting and rude” (deeply offended / disrespectful action). Option (A) is a trap; this is what the sign means in “places like the US or the UK”, not the Middle East. Option (B) is not mentioned in the audio.

Student: Hello everyone, and thank you for coming to my presentation today. As language students, we spend a lot of time studying words, but today I want to talk about non-verbal communication. Specifically, how body language can be completely misunderstood across different borders.

Let’s take a simple gesture: moving your head up and down. In most Western countries, this action indicates agreement or a clear “yes.” However, if you travel to parts of Eastern Europe, like Bulgaria, this exact same movement actually translates to “no.”

Another great example is the thumbs-up sign. In places like the US or the UK, showing your thumb is a positive way to say “great job” or “everything is fine.” But be careful! In several Middle Eastern nations, this specific hand sign is considered extremely insulting and rude.

So, the next time you plan a trip abroad, remember to research local gestures, not just the spoken vocabulary. Thank you for listening!