Climate Change – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) The unusually high temperatures.

• Explanation: The main topic is the extreme heat. They use words like “boiling,” “heatwave,” and “scorching weather.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. Mark worries about his energy bill, but it is just a detail, not the main topic. Option (C) is plausible but wrong because the news was about the heatwave, not air conditioners.

2 Answer: (C) By using natural ventilation and shade.

• Explanation: Lisa says she keeps the blinds closed (shade) and opens windows to let the breeze in (natural ventilation). Notice that the exact words “ventilation and shade” are not in the audio (Paraphrasing technique).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap because Mark does this, but Lisa stopped using her AC. Option (B) is also a trap because Mark thought about buying fans, not Lisa.

3 Answer: (B) Attempt Lisa’s cost-free cooling method.

• Explanation: Mark says, “I might have to try that,” referring to Lisa’s natural way of cooling the house because it is cheaper.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the trap. Mark says, “I was considering buying some electric fans, but your idea sounds much cheaper.” The word “but” shows he changed his mind and will not buy the fans. Option (A) is not mentioned.

Mark: Phew, Lisa! Is it just me, or is it absolutely boiling out here? I mean, it’s only May!

Lisa: Oh, it’s definitely not just you, Mark. I was watching the news, and they said this heatwave is the worst we’ve had in a decade. It’s really worrying… um, you know, with all the talk about global warming.

Mark: Tell me about it. Last summer was warm, but nothing like this scorching weather. I’ve been running my AC day and night, but well, I’m really dreading the energy bill next month.

Lisa: Ah, I actually stopped using my air conditioner completely. I read an article online about keeping the house cool naturally.

Mark: Really? How do you manage that without melting?

Lisa: Well, it’s pretty simple. I keep the blinds closed during the day to block the direct sunlight. And, at night, when the temperature drops, I open up all the windows to let the cross breeze in. It makes a huge difference.

Mark: Hmm, I might have to try that. I was considering buying some electric fans, but your idea sounds much cheaper.

Lisa: Exactly! You’ll save a lot of money.

1 Answer: (B) To lower their impact on the environment.

• Explanation: Alex talks about the environment and says they should be “cutting down on our carbon emissions.” (Paraphrasing technique: cutting down emissions = lower impact on the environment).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The audio mentions speed (“faster”), but it is Ben saying his motorbike is faster, not the bus. Option (C) is plausible but never mentioned.

2 Answer: (C) He thinks public transport wastes his time.

• Explanation: At first, Ben doesn’t want to take the bus because his motorbike is “faster” and he doesn’t want to “wait around.” (Paraphrasing: wastes time = waiting around / not fast).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The bus stop is mentioned, but Alex says it stops “right outside,” meaning it is very close, not far. Option (B) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (A) He realizes he can save money on fuel.

• Explanation: At the end, Alex explains that the bus is cheaper than spending money on gas. Ben says, “I hadn’t thought about the fuel costs… you convinced me.” (Paraphrasing: gas = fuel).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a very strong trap. Alex does mention climate change and global warming, and Ben agrees (“you have a point”). However, the thing that finally convinces him to go is the cost of fuel. Option (C) is a trap because “motorbike keys” are mentioned at the beginning, but he didn’t lose them.

Alex: Hey, Ben. Are you grabbing your motorbike keys? Heading to campus?

Ben: Yeah, I have a lecture in about thirty minutes. Why? Need a ride?

Alex: Actually, um, I was going to ask if you wanted to catch the bus with me. It stops right outside our apartment building now.

Ben: The bus? I don’t know, Alex. Riding my bike is just so much faster. Plus, I don’t have to wait around.

Alex: True, but think about the environment! If we both take the bus, we’re cutting down on our carbon emissions. You know, climate change is getting worse, and every little bit helps.

Ben: Well, I guess you have a point there. But the student bus pass is kind of expensive, isn’t it?

Alex: Not really. If you calculate how much you spend on gas for your motorbike every week, taking the bus actually works out cheaper.

Ben: Hmm, I hadn’t thought about the fuel costs. Alright, you convinced me. Let’s take the bus today and see how it goes.

1 Answer: (A) Because he was putting the trash in the wrong place.

• Explanation: Mom stops Leo because he is about to throw the pizza box into the “main bin” without sorting it (“We need to sort our rubbish properly”).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap. The “main bin” is mentioned in the audio, but there is no information saying that it is full. Option (B) is plausible in a real-life context but never mentioned.

2 Answer: (B) In the standard garbage bin.

• Explanation: Mom says that if the cardboard is too oily (greasy), “it has to go in the regular trash.” (Paraphrasing: regular trash = standard garbage bin).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a strong trap. Cardboard usually goes in the blue bin, but the mother specifically says not to put it there if it has grease on it. Option (C) is also a trap because the green bin is only for the pizza crust (food scraps).

3 Answer: (C) It decreases the volume of trash sent to dump sites.

• Explanation: Mom explains that sorting waste helps to “reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills.” (Paraphrasing: reduce the amount = decreases the volume; landfills = dump sites).
• Why the trap is wrong: Options (A) and (B) are both plausible benefits of recycling and cleaning, but neither of them is mentioned by the mother in the audio. The mother only focuses on the environment and landfills.

Mom: Leo, before you throw that pizza box away, wait! We need to sort our rubbish properly.

Leo: But Mom, it’s just one box. I usually just toss everything into the main bin. It’s faster.

Mom: I know it takes a little extra time, but mixing everything together is terrible for the environment. We have three separate bins now. The green one is for organic waste, like food scraps.

Leo: Okay, so the pizza crust goes in the green bin. What about the box itself? It’s paper, right?

Mom: Yes, cardboard goes into the blue bin for paper recycling. But make sure there’s no grease on it. If it’s too oily, it has to go in the regular trash.

Leo: Got it. And the yellow bin?

Mom: That’s for plastics and cans. By doing this, we reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills. It’s a simple step to help fight climate change.

Leo: Alright, I’ll pay more attention from now on. Here, let me wash this plastic bottle before I put it in the yellow bin.

1 Answer: (A) She feels highly anxious and stressed about the planet’s future.

• Explanation: Emma uses phrases like “overwhelmed,” “felt a knot in my stomach,” and “eco-anxiety” to describe her deep worry and stress. (Paraphrasing: highly anxious and stressed = eco-anxiety / overwhelmed).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The audio mentions the changing ocean levels, but Emma is not “confused” about it; she understands it and is worried about it. Option (C) is plausible but not mentioned at all.

2 Answer: (B) The extreme conditions occurring in the polar regions.

• Explanation: Tom says he didn’t realize the situation was “that severe up in the Arctic.” (Paraphrasing: extreme conditions = severe situation; polar regions = the Arctic).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Coastal cities are mentioned in the audio, but it was Emma who worried about them, not Tom’s main point of shock. Option (C) is a trap because “plastics” are mentioned later by Emma, not as a shocking fact from the documentary for Tom.

3 Answer: (C) To pay closer attention to her shopping habits.

• Explanation: Emma resolves to change her behavior by “examining what I purchase” and stopping her use of fast fashion and single-use plastics. (Paraphrasing: shopping habits = what I purchase / fast fashion / plastics).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. “Coastal cities” are mentioned as a place in danger, but Emma does not say she plans to move away from them. Option (B) is a good real-world action but is not mentioned in the dialogue.

Emma: I just can’t stop thinking about that documentary we watched, Tom. I feel so completely overwhelmed.

Tom: I know exactly what you mean, Emma. Seeing those huge chunks of ice falling into the water was terrifying. I honestly didn’t realize the situation was that severe up in the Arctic.

Emma: Right? And when the experts explained how the melting ice is causing the oceans to rise… it just makes you worry about the future of coastal cities. I actually felt a knot in my stomach. I think people call it eco-anxiety.

Tom: Yeah, it’s definitely scary. Um, but feeling helpless won’t fix anything. We need to focus on what we can control.

Emma: You’re right. I’m going to start by closely examining what I purchase. No more fast fashion or single-use plastics for me. I need to be much more mindful.

Tom: That’s a great idea. I’ll join you. If we all adjust our daily routines, it might actually make a difference.

1 Answer: (B) To organize an event without using any plastic items.

• Explanation: Chris says at the beginning that he wants to make the picnic a “plastic-free event.” (Paraphrasing: plastic-free = without using any plastic items).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. Sam mentions buying things from the “supermarket,” but finding the cheapest supermarket is not their main goal. Option (C) is a plausible green activity, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2 Answer: (A) Straws made from a natural material.

• Explanation: Maya says she bought a pack of “bamboo straws” for their drinks. Bamboo is a natural material.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a strong trap. Maya does mention “reusable glass containers,” but she uses them for the food (sandwiches and salad), not the drinks. Option (C) is a trap because Sam suggests “cheap plastic” items, but Maya immediately rejects the idea.

3 Answer: (C) Because the packaging creates too much harmful waste.

• Explanation: Chris does not want delivery food because restaurants use “styrofoam boxes” and “tons of plastic bags,” which is “terrible for the planet.” (Paraphrasing: styrofoam boxes and plastic bags = packaging / harmful waste).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. Sam mentions that cooking will “save us some cash” (save money), but this is Sam’s point at the end, not Chris’s reason for rejecting the delivery app. Option (B) is unmentioned.

Chris: Hey guys, for our picnic this weekend, I really want to make it a plastic-free event. We all need to do our part to help the environment.

Sam: Sounds good to me, Chris. But how are we going to eat? Should we just buy those cheap plastic plates and forks from the supermarket?

Maya: No, Sam, that defeats the whole purpose! Let’s get paper plates instead. And I actually bought a pack of bamboo straws we can use for our drinks.

Sam: Oh, right. Good idea. What about the food? I was thinking we could just order some fried chicken and pizza on a delivery app.

Chris: I’d rather not. Delivery places always pack everything in styrofoam boxes and give you tons of plastic bags. It’s terrible for the planet.

Maya: Chris is right. Why don’t we just cook something together? We can make sandwiches and a big salad. I’ll bring them in my reusable glass containers.

Sam: True. Cooking our own meals will also save us some cash. Alright, let’s do it!