Travel Problems – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) The airplane needs some technical repairs.

• Explanation: The announcer says the delay is due to a “minor mechanical issue with the aircraft” and the team is “working hard to fix it.” Option (B) correctly paraphrases this situation.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the trap. The audio mentions the “engineering team,” but they are fixing the plane, not arriving late. Option (A) is a very common reason for flight delays (plausible), but bad weather is not mentioned in this announcement.

2 Answer: (B) Three hours.

• Explanation: The announcer explicitly states that it is a “three-hour delay from our original schedule.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The phrase “one hour” is mentioned at the end, but that is when they will give the next update, not the length of the delay. Option (C) is also a trap because the number “5” is mentioned for “Gate 5”.

3 Answer: (A) Go to Gate 5 to collect a free meal ticket.

• Explanation: Passengers are told to “make your way to Gate 5” to get “complimentary refreshment vouchers” (which means free food coupons/tickets).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The audio mentions the “departure lounge,” but the food is free; they don’t need to buy it. Option (C) is a trap because they need to see the “ground staff” for food coupons, not for a new flight ticket.

Announcer: Your attention, please. This is an important announcement for all passengers traveling on Global Airlines flight GA 204 to London. We regret to inform you that this flight has been delayed. The new estimated departure time is now 3:00 PM, which is a three-hour delay from our original schedule. This disruption is due to a minor mechanical issue with the aircraft, and our engineering team is currently working hard to fix it. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to your travel plans.

While you wait, the airline is offering complimentary refreshment vouchers to all ticketed passengers. Please make your way to Gate 5, where our ground staff will distribute the food coupons. You can use these at any of the cafes in the main departure lounge. We will provide another update in approximately one hour. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

1 Answer: (B) A work stoppage by train employees.

• Explanation: The reporter announces that “national railway workers have officially started their strike.” A “strike” means a work stoppage.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap. The audio mentions a “pay dispute” and “bus terminals”, but the news is not about bus drivers getting a pay increase. Option (A) is a common topic for travel news (plausible) but is not mentioned here.

2 Answer: (B) For two days.

• Explanation: The report states that trains have been cancelled for “the next 48 hours.” Forty-eight hours is exactly two days.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap because the audio mentions “8 AM,” but that is the current time of the news broadcast. Option (C) is also a trap; “noon” is when they will provide the next update, not when the trains will start running again.

3 Answer: (C) Hire a personal vehicle for long trips.

• Explanation: The reporter says that your best option is to “rent a car if you must travel long distances.” Hiring a personal vehicle means renting a car.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a strong trap. Buses are mentioned, but the reporter says they are “already extremely crowded”, so it is not the recommended choice. Option (A) is the main trap. The reporter explicitly warns listeners: “Please do not head to the train station” because the ticket offices are closed.

Reporter: Good morning, listeners. This is your 8 AM weekend travel update. If you are planning to travel by train today, you will need to make other arrangements immediately. The national railway workers have officially started their strike this morning over a pay dispute. Because of this, all intercity services and local commuter trains have been entirely cancelled for the next 48 hours. Station platforms are completely empty, and ticket offices are closed. Please do not head to the train station expecting to catch a ride.

We highly recommend finding alternative transportation right away. Public bus terminals are already extremely crowded with stranded passengers, so your best option is to rent a car if you must travel long distances today. We will provide another traffic update at noon. Stay safe on the roads!

1 Answer: (B) Visit the local authorities to get a specific document.

• Explanation: The host says the first step is to “go to the nearest local police station” to get an “official police report.” “Local authorities” is a synonym for the police.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions reporting the item and contacting the embassy, but you must go to the police first, not the embassy. Option (C) is a logical action in real life (plausible) but is never mentioned in the podcast.

2 Answer: (A) To receive a short-term paper that allows them to travel.

• Explanation: The host explains that the embassy will help you apply for an “emergency travel document” or a “temporary passport.” Option (A) uses synonyms (short-term paper) to describe this.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The host warns that you might need to “change your hotel bookings,” but the embassy staff will not do this for you. Option (C) is also a trap because the host explicitly says, “Don’t book a flight home yet.”

3 Answer: (C) It is necessary for getting your replacement ID.

• Explanation: The host states that you must “present the police report to the embassy staff” so they can help you apply for the emergency document (replacement ID).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the main trap. The police report is important, but you cannot cross the border or board an airplane with just the police report; you need the temporary passport for that. Option (A) is not mentioned in the audio.

Host: Welcome back to “Travel Smart,” the podcast where we help you navigate the globe safely. I’m your host, Alex. Today, we’re talking about every traveler’s worst nightmare: losing your passport in a foreign country. If this happens to you, don’t panic. Just follow these two essential steps.

First, you need to go to the nearest local police station immediately. You must report the item as lost or stolen. They will give you an official police report. This piece of paper is incredibly important, so do not lose it.

Second, once you have that document, you need to get in touch with your country’s embassy or consulate. Don’t book a flight home yet, because you cannot travel without an ID! Present the police report to the embassy staff, and they will help you apply for an emergency travel document. This temporary passport will allow you to cross the border and return home safely. The process might take a few days, so be prepared to change your hotel bookings. Stay safe out there, wanderers!

1 Answer: (B) To warn the group about people who steal things.

• Explanation: The guide warns the tourists about “pickpockets” and “thieves.” Option (B) uses the phrase “people who steal things” to paraphrase these words.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap. The guide mentions the “tourist police” at the end, but contacting them is not the main purpose of the speech; preventing theft is. Option (A) is a common topic for tour guides (plausible), but it is not the focus here.

2 Answer: (C) Carry them on the front of your body.

• Explanation: The guide tells the tourists to “wear it on your chest.” The chest is the front of your body, which matches option (C).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a very logical action in real life (plausible), but the guide does not tell them to leave their bags on the bus. Option (B) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (A) In a front pocket or a special belt.

• Explanation: The guide explicitly says, “Always keep your cash in a front pocket or a hidden money belt.” “Special belt” is a synonym for “money belt.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the exact opposite of what they should do (the guide says “do not keep your wallet… in your back pocket”). Option (C) is a trap; the guide talks about backpacks, but he doesn’t say to put money in them.

Tour Guide: Attention everyone, before we get off the coach, I need you to listen carefully. We are about to arrive at the Central Market. It is one of the most famous and crowded places in the city, which unfortunately means it is also very popular with pickpockets. To avoid losing your valuables, please follow these safety rules.

First, if you are carrying a backpack, take it off your back and wear it on your chest. It might look a bit silly, but it’s the best way to keep an eye on your belongings in a large crowd. Second, gentlemen, please do not keep your wallet or your phone in your back pocket. That is an extremely easy target for thieves. Always keep your cash in a front pocket or a hidden money belt.

If you do realize that something is missing, please let me know immediately so I can help you contact the tourist police. Alright, gather your things, stay close together, and let’s go enjoy the market!

1 Answer: (B) She paid too much money for her ride.

• Explanation: The vlogger says the taxi driver “charged me five times the normal price” and she “got scammed.” This means she paid too much money.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a common travel problem (plausible), but she didn’t lose her bags. Option (C) is a trap; she actually jumped into the “first taxi” she saw, so finding one was not the problem.

2 Answer: (A) The weather was extremely bad during her stay.

• Explanation: She mentions that a “massive storm hit the coast” and it “rained heavily non-stop.” Option (A) uses synonyms to describe this terrible weather.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the main trap. She mentions she was “super tired from the flight”, but that was the reason she took the bad taxi on the first day, not the reason she missed the beach. Option (B) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (C) She ate a dish with an ingredient her body reacts badly to.

• Explanation: She says the food “contained peanuts” and she is “severely allergic.” An allergy means your body reacts badly to a specific ingredient.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The audio mentions the “night market”, but she didn’t get physically injured; she had an allergic reaction. Option (A) is a plausible travel sickness, but it is not what happened to her.

Vlogger: Hey guys, welcome back to my channel! Today’s vlog is going to be a bit different. I’m going to tell you about the absolute worst trip of my life.

It all started right after I landed. I was super tired from the flight, so I just jumped into the first taxi I saw outside the airport. Big mistake! The driver refused to use the meter and charged me five times the normal price. I totally got scammed.

Then, I planned to spend the next three days relaxing on the beautiful beach. But, my bad luck continued. A massive storm hit the coast, and it rained heavily non-stop. I couldn’t even step outside my hotel room!

But wait, it gets worse. On my final night, I tried some local seafood at a night market. I didn’t know the sauce contained peanuts, and I am severely allergic! I ended up spending my last day in the emergency room with a terrible rash. So yeah, definitely a trip to remember… for all the wrong reasons! Don’t forget to subscribe, guys!