Ecotourism – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: B (Only on the designated routes)

• Explanation: The guide says it is crucial to “stay on the marked paths”. “Marked paths” is paraphrased as “designated routes”.
• Why traps are wrong: Option A is a Trap. The guide mentions “the wild” and “the soil”, but he explicitly says wandering off into the wild can damage the soil, so they should NOT do this. Option C is plausible, but the main entrance is just where the bus is arriving, not where they will walk for the whole tour.

2 Correct Answer: A (Guests are not allowed to collect them to keep)

• Explanation: The guide states that “taking souvenirs from the forest is strictly prohibited” and they “cannot pull up any colourful blossoms”. This means they are not allowed to collect them.
• Why traps are wrong: Option C is a Trap. The audio mentions “take leaves home”, but it says they cannot do this, whereas the option says they are encouraged to. Option B is plausible for a tourist site, but buying souvenirs is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: C (Because it negatively affects their health and behavior)

• Explanation: The guide explains that human food “makes them sick” (affects health) and “teaches them to be aggressive” (affects behavior).
• Why traps are wrong: Option A is a Trap. The guide mentions the word “snacks”, but refers to the tourists’ snacks, not the monkeys’ own food. Option B is a highly plausible real-world consequence of monkey behavior, but stealing bags is never mentioned in the script.

Mark: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Emerald Forest Reserve. I’m your guide, Mark. We’ll be arriving at the main entrance in about ten minutes.

Before we get off the bus, I need to go over a few essential rules to protect this beautiful environment. First, um, it’s absolutely crucial that you stay on the marked paths at all times. Wandering off into the wild can seriously damage delicate plants and the soil.

Speaking of plants, please remember that taking souvenirs from the forest is strictly prohibited. That means you cannot pull up any colourful blossoms or take leaves home with you. We must leave them exactly where they are for others to enjoy.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you will probably see our famous wild monkeys today. They look incredibly cute, but please do not offer them any of your snacks. Human food makes them sick, and it teaches them to be aggressive towards future visitors.

Alright, thanks for listening. Let’s grab our bags and get ready for a fantastic hike!

1 Correct Answer: B (To tell visitors that a specific location is not accessible)

• Explanation: The ranger announces that the path leading to Waterfall Number 3 is “currently closed to the public.” This is paraphrased as “a specific location is not accessible.”
• Why traps are wrong: Option A is a Trap. It is a common warning in national parks, but weather is not mentioned in this announcement. Option C is a Trap. The ranger talks about trails, but mentions a “temporary change to our trail map” regarding a closure, not a new path.

2 Correct Answer: A (To allow the natural environment to heal from visitor impact)

• Explanation: The ranger explains that “heavy crowds caused some damage” and they need the area closed so “plants can grow back and the local wildlife can recover.” “Grow back and recover” is paraphrased as “heal”, and “heavy crowds” is “visitor impact.”
• Why traps are wrong: Option B is a Trap. The audio mentions “swimming,” but does not say the water is dirty. Option C is a Trap. The audio mentions “heavy crowds,” but the park is letting nature recover, not building new facilities.

3 Correct Answer: C (They can hike to other water attractions in the area)

• Explanation: The ranger states that the trails to “Waterfall Number 1 and Waterfall Number 2 remain completely open and are safe for hiking.” “Waterfall Number 1 and 2” are paraphrased as “other water attractions.”
• Why traps are wrong: Option A is a Trap. The area is “closed to the public” entirely; there is no mention of going there with a guide. Option B is a Trap. The audio mentions “wildlife,” but explicitly says the animals need to recover “without human disturbance,” which means feeding them is definitely not allowed.

Ranger: Attention all visitors. Welcome to the Silver Mountain National Park. We hope you are having a wonderful morning.

I am making this announcement to inform you about a temporary change to our trail map. Please be advised that the path leading to Waterfall Number 3 is currently closed to the public. I know many of you were looking forward to swimming there, but, um, during the peak summer season, the heavy crowds caused some damage to the riverbanks. We need to close the area for a few months so the native plants can grow back and the local wildlife can recover without human disturbance.

However, please don’t worry. The trails to Waterfall Number 1 and Waterfall Number 2 remain completely open and are safe for hiking. They are just as beautiful.

We apologize for any disappointment this might cause. By staying away from the restricted zone, you are actively helping us preserve this beautiful ecosystem for the future. Thank you for your cooperation, and enjoy your hike!

1 Correct Answer: A (She gathered fresh ingredients from the garden)

• Explanation: Lily says she helped “pick the vegetables for our meal” and spent time “pulling carrots and cutting fresh tomatoes”. This is paraphrased as “gathered fresh ingredients”.
• Why traps are wrong: Option B is the Trap. She mentions that the farmers “didn’t just show me around”, which rejects the idea that she only walked around looking at things. Option C is plausible for a farm, but she was harvesting (pulling) carrots, not planting seeds.

2 Correct Answer: B (It was completely made of organic produce)

• Explanation: Lily explains that they didn’t use any “chemical fertilizers or artificial flavors”, which means the food was “organic produce”.
• Why traps are wrong: Option A is the Trap. The audio explicitly states “There was no meat”. Option C is plausible, but the dinner was prepared by the “host family”, not a famous chef.

3 Correct Answer: B (It helps you appreciate your food much more)

• Explanation: Lily recommends the trip because it “completely changes the way you think about what you put on your plate” (paraphrased as “appreciate your food much more”).
• Why traps are wrong: Option A is the Trap. She mentions “luxury hotels,” but she does not compare the prices. She only suggests this trip as an alternative experience. Option C is a Trap because she mentions “restaurants”, but she is talking about eating at them, not opening one.

Lily: Hi guys, welcome back to my channel! Today, I want to share my amazing “farm-to-table” experience at the Green Leaf Eco-Village.

When I arrived this morning, the local farmers didn’t just show me around. They actually gave me a basket and asked me to help them pick the vegetables for our meal. I spent about two hours pulling carrots and cutting fresh tomatoes. It was physically tiring, um, but honestly, working in the dirt made me feel really connected to nature.

Later in the evening, the host family prepared dinner using everything we had collected. There was no meat, but the dishes were absolutely delicious. They didn’t use any chemical fertilizers or artificial flavors, so you could really taste the natural sweetness of the food.

If you usually stay in luxury hotels and eat at fancy restaurants, I highly recommend trying this rural experience. It completely changes the way you think about what you put on your plate. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more eco-travel tips!

1 Correct Answer: B (To protect nature from the negative effects of too many tourists)

• Explanation: The reporter states that the “huge crowds have brought serious problems” like plastic waste and wildlife suffering (paraphrased as “the negative effects of too many tourists”), so the government is taking action to solve this issue.
• Why traps are wrong: Option A is a Trap. The script mentions that “local business owners are worried they might lose money,” so the rule is definitely not to help them make more profits. Option C is plausible for a tourism board, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: C (By reserving their spot on the internet before their trip)

• Explanation: The reporter says that visitors must “book your entry online weeks in advance.” This is paraphrased as “reserving their spot on the internet before their trip.”
• Why traps are wrong: Option A is a Trap. The reporter explicitly says, “You can no longer just buy a ticket when you arrive at the port,” which means this option is completely rejected. Option B is a plausible way to travel, but organized tour groups are never mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: A (They believe it is absolutely necessary to protect the area)

• Explanation: The audio states that environmental experts agree this policy is “the only way to save the island from being completely destroyed” (paraphrased as “absolutely necessary to protect the area”).
• Why traps are wrong: Option B is a Trap. The local business owners are the ones concerned about financial loss (losing money), not the environmental experts. Option C is a plausible expert opinion, but they do not complain about the number 500 in this report.

James: Good evening, listeners. You are tuning in to the Daily Eco-Report. Our top story today comes from the beautiful Coral Island.

For years, this destination has been incredibly popular. However, the huge crowds have brought serious problems. Um, we are seeing tons of plastic waste on the beaches, and the local wildlife is really suffering from the noise and pollution. To solve this issue, the local government has decided to take strong action.

Starting next month, they will introduce a strict daily limit on visitors. Only five hundred passes will be available each day. If you want to visit, you must book your entry online weeks in advance. You can no longer just buy a ticket when you arrive at the port.

Now, some local business owners are worried they might lose money because of fewer customers. But environmental experts agree that this new policy is the only way to save the island from being completely destroyed. That’s all for now, we will be back after a short commercial break.

1 Correct Answer: A (They use nature photos to deceive customers)

• Explanation: Mia says that these companies “trick you” and “use beautiful pictures of green leaves” on their advertisements. “Trick you” is paraphrased as “deceive customers”.
• Why traps are wrong: Option B is a Trap. Mia mentions they do this “to get your money,” but they don’t actually protect the environment. Option C is plausible for a green business, but selling products is never mentioned in the podcast.

2 Correct Answer: B (By checking if the business has formal eco-labels)

• Explanation: Mia states that a truly sustainable business will have “official environmental certifications.” This is paraphrased as “formal eco-labels.”
• Why traps are wrong: Option C is a Trap. Mia mentions “pictures of green leaves,” but she says this is what fake eco-tours do, not genuine ones. Option A is a Trap. She mentions they “don’t employ local people,” but she never tells listeners to ask locals for opinions.

3 Correct Answer: C (They provide morning meals in materials that cannot be recycled)

• Explanation: Mia gives an example of hotels that serve “breakfast in single-use plastic boxes.” “Breakfast” is paraphrased as “morning meals,” and “single-use plastic” is “materials that cannot be recycled.”
• Why traps are wrong: Option A is a Trap. The audio mentions they ask guests to “reuse their towels,” but this does not mean the hotel completely refuses to wash them. Option B is a highly plausible environmental issue, but building locations are never mentioned in the script.

Mia: Welcome back to the Green Life Podcast. I’m your host, Mia. Today, we need to talk about a huge problem in the travel industry: greenwashing.

So, what is greenwashing? Well, um, it’s when a hotel or tour company tricks you into thinking they are environmentally friendly just to get your money. They might use beautiful pictures of green leaves and write “100% natural” on their advertisements. But actually, they don’t do anything to protect nature.

How can you spot these fake eco-tours? First, look at the details. A truly sustainable business will have official environmental certifications. Fake ones just use clever marketing words.

Second, pay attention to their daily actions. For example, some hotels claim to be “green” simply because they ask guests to reuse their towels. But if you look closely, they still serve breakfast in single-use plastic boxes, and they don’t employ local people.

So, before you book your next holiday, do your research. Don’t just believe a beautiful logo. Look for real proof of their conservation work.