Climate Change – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) An unusually violent weather event.

• Explanation: Sarah mentions that a “severe storm” knocked out the power grid, and David talks about “extreme weather events.” (Paraphrasing: violent weather event = severe storm / extreme weather).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a plausible guess for a power outage, but it is not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap because the “power grid” is mentioned, but it failed because of the storm, not because of planned maintenance.

2 Answer: (C) In the bedroom closet.

• Explanation: Sarah explicitly states, “I moved it to the bedroom closet yesterday.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a very strong trap. David says, “I think I left it in the kitchen drawer,” but Sarah corrects him (The Twist). Option (B) is also a trap; the table is where the candles are located, not the flashlight.

3 Answer: (B) Keeping the door closed to maintain the cold temperature.

• Explanation: Sarah says, “it’s better to keep the fridge door shut” so the food will “stay cold”. (Paraphrasing: maintain the cold temperature = stay cold; closed = shut).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. David asks if they should “eat the leftovers now before they go bad,” but Sarah rejects this idea (“No, it’s better to…”). Option (C) is a plausible action during a blackout but is never mentioned in the audio.

David: Whoa! Everything just went completely dark. Are you okay, Sarah?

Sarah: Yes, I’m fine, but that thunder was terrifying! I guess the severe storm finally knocked out the power grid. It’s pouring rain out there.

David: I knew this would happen. These extreme weather events are getting worse every year. Don’t move, um, I’ll try to find the emergency flashlight. I think I left it in the kitchen drawer.

Sarah: Actually, I moved it to the bedroom closet yesterday. Wait, I have some candles right here on the table. Let me light one.

David: Good idea. (Pause) There we go. What about the food in the refrigerator? Should we eat the leftovers now before they go bad?

Sarah: No, it’s better to keep the fridge door shut. If we leave it closed, the food will stay cold for at least a few hours. Let’s just have some dry snacks for now.

1 Answer: (A) To inform her that an outdoor activity is cancelled.

• Explanation: Mark says, “I’m calling to inform you that we have to call off the event.” (Paraphrasing: call off = cancel; event / race = outdoor activity).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. Sarah asks if the race didn’t get enough registrations, but Mark explicitly rejects this by saying, “actually, we had plenty of runners.” Option (C) is unmentioned.

2 Answer: (C) The level of air pollution is dangerously high.

• Explanation: Mark explains that the issue is the “severe smog” and the AQI has reached a “hazardous level.” (Paraphrasing: severe smog / AQI = air pollution; hazardous = dangerously high).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Sarah mentions that “a few people dropped out recently,” but Mark states that this is not the “real issue.” Option (A) is a plausible reason to cancel a race, but the audio specifically mentions smog and smoke, not a rainstorm.

3 Answer: (B) It will not happen at all this year.

• Explanation: Because the pollution will last a long time, Mark says, “we are completely canceling it this year.” (Paraphrasing: completely canceling it = will not happen at all).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a strong trap. Mark says they “thought about moving it to next Saturday” (delayed), but he uses the word “but” to reject the idea because the pollution will last for ten days. Option (C) is a trap; Mark advises people to “stay indoors,” but he doesn’t move the race indoors.

Mark: Hello, this is Mark from the City Charity Run organization. Am I speaking to Sarah?

Sarah: Yes, speaking. Is this about the race tomorrow morning?

Mark: Yes, unfortunately. I’m calling to inform you that we have to call off the event.

Sarah: Oh, no. That’s a shame. Did it not get enough registrations? I know a few people dropped out recently.

Mark: Well, actually, we had plenty of runners. The real issue is the severe smog. The Air Quality Index, or AQI, has reached a hazardous level today. It’s simply not safe for anyone to do heavy exercise outside.

Sarah: Ah, I did notice the thick gray smoke outside my window. It smells terrible. So, will the run be postponed to next weekend?

Mark: Um, we thought about moving it to next Saturday, but the weather forecast says the pollution will last for at least ten days. So, we are completely canceling it this year. We strongly advise everyone to keep their windows closed and stay indoors.

Sarah: I understand. Health comes first. Thanks for letting me know.

1 Answer: (B) Because she saw him throwing his rubbish into the water.

• Explanation: Emily stops the man because he “dropped your plastic cup into the lake.” (Paraphrasing: throwing his rubbish = dropped plastic cup; into the water = into the lake).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. She mentions the “park entrance” at the end of the conversation to tell him where the bin is, not because she needs directions. Option (C) uses words from the audio (“dropped”, “cup”), but it was the man’s cup, not hers.

2 Answer: (A) The animals living in the lake might eat it by accident.

• Explanation: Emily explains that the plastic breaks down and “the fish and ducks in this water often mistake those pieces for food.” (Paraphrasing: animals = fish and ducks; eat it by accident = mistake pieces for food).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Jason mentions the “park maintenance people” cleaning the water, but Emily says the real danger is the damage to the underwater ecosystem and animals. Option (C) is a plausible reason not to litter, but Emily focuses entirely on the wildlife and the environment.

3 Answer: (C) Retrieve his trash and dispose of it in the proper place.

• Explanation: Jason says, “Let me see if I can reach it… Okay, I got it. I’ll go put it in the correct bin now.” (Paraphrasing: retrieve his trash = reach it / I got it; dispose of it in the proper place = put it in the correct bin).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. He mentions the maintenance workers earlier, but he decides to take action himself rather than waiting for them. Option (A) is a great environmental action, but he never promises to stop bringing plastic to the park entirely.

Emily: Excuse me, sir? I think you just dropped your plastic cup into the lake.

Jason: Oh, yeah. I couldn’t find a trash can nearby, so I just tossed it. It’s no big deal, it’s just one cup.

Emily: Well, actually, it is a big deal. Plastic doesn’t just disappear. It breaks down into tiny pieces, and the fish and ducks in this water often mistake those pieces for food.

Jason: I didn’t really think about that. But the park maintenance people usually clean the water, right?

Emily: Sometimes, but a lot of the trash still ends up flowing into the local river and eventually the ocean. It’s causing terrible damage to underwater ecosystems. There’s actually a recycling bin just around the corner, near the park entrance.

Jason: You’re right, that was a selfish thing to do. I’m sorry. Let me see if I can reach it… Okay, I got it. I’ll go put it in the correct bin now. Thanks for pointing it out.

1 Answer: (B) Because a severe rainstorm is threatening John’s home.

• Explanation: John says the water level is “rising so fast” and getting “close to the front door” due to a “record-breaking rainstorm.” Mark is there to help him protect his house. (Paraphrasing: severe rainstorm = record-breaking rainstorm).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. They are moving furniture (the sofa), which might make someone think of moving to a new house, but they are just moving it upstairs to save it from the water. Option (C) is not mentioned.

2 Answer: (A) She relocated the electrical devices to a higher level.

• Explanation: John says, “My wife already moved the TV and computers upstairs.” (Paraphrasing: relocated = moved; electrical devices = TV and computers; higher level = upstairs).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap because carrying the sofa to the second floor is what John and Mark do, not the wife. Option (C) is also a trap because John mentions getting his waterproof boots, not his wife buying them.

3 Answer: (C) By building a barrier with heavy bags of sand.

• Explanation: Mark says he will get some “sandbags” and they can “stack them in front of your garage door to block the rain.” (Paraphrasing: barrier with heavy bags of sand = stack heavy sandbags to block the rain).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The “garage” is mentioned, which is where cars are kept, but they do not mention moving a car. Option (B) is unmentioned; they are handling the situation themselves.

John: Mark! Thank goodness you’re here. The water level in the street is rising so fast.

Mark: I know, John. They said on the news this is a record-breaking rainstorm. It’s definitely because of all these extreme climate changes lately. Is the water inside your house yet?

John: Not yet, but it’s getting dangerously close to the front door. I need to carry this heavy sofa up to the second floor. Could you give me a hand?

Mark: Of course. Grab the other end. (Sound of effort) Okay, that’s safe. What about your electronics?

John: My wife already moved the TV and computers upstairs. But I’m really worried about the water coming through the garage.

Mark: Don’t panic. I have some heavy sandbags in my backyard. I bought them after the last flash flood. I’ll go get them, and we can stack them in front of your garage door to block the rain.

John: That would be a lifesaver, Mark. I’ll get my waterproof boots and meet you outside.

1 Answer: (B) He believes it is simply a regular pattern of nature.

• Explanation: Paul says that climate change is “just a natural cycle” and that the earth has always had hot and cold periods. (Paraphrasing: regular pattern of nature = natural cycle).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Paul mentions it is “freezing outside,” but he uses this fact to mock or deny global warming (“So much for global warming, right?”), not to say that climate change causes the cold winter. Option (C) is a plausible opinion for some people, but it is the opposite of what Paul thinks.

2 Answer: (C) The fact that the warm season is lasting longer.

• Explanation: Karen argues that “Summer temperatures are staying high for much longer than they used to.” (Paraphrasing: warm season = Summer temperatures; lasting longer = staying high for much longer).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a very strong trap. The “heatwave back in the 90s” is mentioned in the audio, but it is Paul who brings it up to defend his point, and Karen says those events used to be “rare” (not frequent). Option (B) is unmentioned.

3 Answer: (A) Karen suggests viewing an educational film together.

• Explanation: At the end of the conversation, Karen says, “Maybe we can watch that new documentary together sometime.” (Paraphrasing: viewing an educational film = watch that new documentary).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Paul admits the melting ice is a concern, but he explicitly says, “it’s still hard to believe human activities are the main cause.” He does not completely agree. Option (C) is a plausible way to end an argument, but Karen does not give up; she invites him to watch a film instead.

Paul: Brrr, it’s freezing outside! So much for global warming, right, Karen? I honestly think this whole climate change thing is just a natural cycle. The earth has always had hot and cold periods.

Karen: I hear what you’re saying, Paul. It does get very cold in winter. But um, if you look at the long-term data, it’s not just a normal cycle. Summer temperatures are staying high for much longer than they used to.

Paul: Well, the weather has always changed. Remember that crazy heatwave back in the 90s?

Karen: Yes, but those were rare. Now, extreme events are happening almost every year. Plus, scientists are showing that the ice at the North Pole is disappearing rapidly. That never happened before we started producing so much pollution.

Paul: Hmm, I suppose the melting ice is a real concern. But it’s still hard to believe human activities are the main cause.

Karen: I know it’s hard to accept, but the facts are there. Maybe we can watch that new documentary together sometime. It explains the science really clearly.