Recycling & Waste – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) Employees are not separating their garbage properly.

• Explanation: Mark says that people throw everything in their bins “without sorting it.” Option (B) uses the paraphrase “not separating their garbage properly.” Option (A) is a trap; Susan asks if there is a problem with the “cleaning schedule,” but Mark says “Not exactly” (rejecting the idea). Option (C) is not mentioned as a problem.

2 Answer: (C) He wants to create a single shared area for waste disposal.

• Explanation: Mark suggests setting up “one large, centralized recycling station.” Option (C) paraphrases this as a “single shared area.” Option (A) is a trap; he mentions the word “desk,” but his plan is to remove the bins from the desks, not add more. Option (B) is a plausible office solution but is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Answer: (A) She worries that workers will be annoyed by the inconvenience.

• Explanation: Susan points out that “staff might complain about having to walk across the office” to throw things away. Option (A) paraphrases this feeling as being “annoyed by the inconvenience.” Option (C) is a trap; she herself suggests the “one-month trial” at the end of the conversation, so it is not the cause of her hesitation. Option (B) is a plausible concern for a manager but is not mentioned here.

Mark: Hi Susan, do you have a minute? I wanted to talk about our office waste.

Susan: Sure, Mark. Is there a problem with the cleaning schedule?

Mark: Not exactly. It’s just that I noticed everyone has a personal trash can under their desk. Because it’s so convenient, people just throw everything in there—paper, plastic bottles, leftover food—without sorting it.

Susan: That’s true. So, what do you suggest we do about it?

Mark: I was thinking we could remove all the individual bins. Instead, we could set up one large, centralized recycling station in the breakroom with clear labels for different materials.

Susan: Hmm… taking away their personal bins? Some staff might complain about having to walk across the office just to throw away a piece of paper.

Mark: They might at first. But studies show it really forces people to think before they toss things out. It greatly improves our recycling rates.

Susan: I suppose it’s worth a try. Let’s do a one-month trial on the second floor and see how it goes before we make a final decision.

1 Answer: (A) Employees should only print documents if it is completely necessary.

• Explanation: David says to only print “when it’s absolutely essential.” The phrase “completely necessary” is a paraphrase of “absolutely essential.” Option (B) is a trap; Chloe mentions “physical contracts,” but David says “That’s fair” (she is allowed to print them if needed, not forbidden). Option (C) is plausible because Chloe asks if there is a “limit,” but a fee is never mentioned.

2 Answer: (B) Ensure the text is printed on both sides of the paper.

• Explanation: David tells Chloe to make sure the machine is set to “print on both sides of the page.” This is also paraphrased by Chloe at the end as “double-sided.” Option (A) is a trap; the words “manager” and “contracts” are in the audio, but she doesn’t need his permission to print. Option (C) is a trap; “grey” is the color of the recycling container, not the paper.

3 Answer: (C) In a specific collection bin near the lifts.

• Explanation: David says the grey container is “right next to the elevators.” The word “lifts” is a British English synonym (paraphrase) for “elevators.” Option (A) is a trap; David explicitly tells her, “Don’t throw them in your desk bin.” Option (B) is a trap; the “printer” is mentioned earlier, but the recycling bin is by the elevators, not the printer.

David: Welcome to the team, Chloe. I see you’re getting set up with the printer. Just a quick heads-up about our company policy.

Chloe: Oh, hi David. Is there a limit on how much we can print?

David: Well, we’re trying to become a paperless office to reduce our environmental impact. So, we strongly encourage everyone to review documents on their monitors and only print hard copies when it’s absolutely essential.

Chloe: I understand. Sometimes I just find it easier to read physical contracts, though.

David: That’s fair. If you really have to print, please make sure the machine is set to print on both sides of the page. That cuts our paper usage in half.

Chloe: Good to know. What should I do with the pages if I make a printing mistake?

David: Don’t throw them in your desk bin. We collect all scrap paper to be recycled. You’ll find a large grey container right next to the elevators. Just drop them in there at the end of the day.

Chloe: Got it. I’ll change my printer settings to double-sided right now.

1 Answer: (A) A large quantity of it is discarded daily.

• Explanation: Ben states that they “throw away about fifty kilos… every single afternoon.” Option (A) paraphrases this as “A large quantity of it is discarded daily.” Option (B) is a trap; Chloe asks if the quality is bad, but Alex says “the taste is fine.” Option (C) is a trap; the price is mentioned later by Ben as a possible solution, not a discovery about the current situation.

2 Answer: (C) Because they are given too much food at once.

• Explanation: Alex explains that the real issue is the “serving size” and the staff “gives everyone way too much.” Option (C) is a paraphrase of this reason. Option (A) is a trap; “vegetables” are mentioned by Ben as part of the wasted food, but no one says they are cooked badly. Option (B) is plausible in real life but is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Answer: (B) Providing choices for smaller portions.

• Explanation: Chloe says, “I think we should suggest offering smaller meal options. Like, a regular size and a half-size.” Option (B) uses the synonym “portions” for “meal options / sizes”. Option (A) is a trap; Ben asks “Should they charge more?”, but Chloe immediately rejects this idea (“No, making it more expensive won’t solve…”). Option (C) is a trap using words from the audio; Alex says students “won’t be forced to take a huge plate”, meaning forcing them is not the goal.

Alex: Hey guys, let’s look at the data we collected from the cafeteria this week. The amount of leftover food is actually shocking.

Ben: Yeah, I couldn’t believe it either. According to my notes, they throw away about fifty kilos of cooked rice and vegetables every single afternoon.

Chloe: That’s terrible. Did we find out why students are leaving so much on their plates? Is the quality of the meals that bad?

Alex: I interviewed a few people, and most of them said the taste is fine. The real issue is the serving size. The kitchen staff just gives everyone way too much.

Ben: Exactly. So, for our presentation tomorrow, what should we recommend? Should they charge more for the food?

Chloe: No, making it more expensive won’t solve the waste problem. I think we should suggest offering smaller meal options. Like, a regular size and a half-size.

Alex: That’s a brilliant idea, Chloe. That way, students who aren’t very hungry won’t be forced to take a huge plate. I’ll start writing that down for our conclusion.

1 Answer: (B) He organized a system to trade second-hand educational materials and clothing.

• Explanation: Tom says he set up an “exchange program for used textbooks and winter coats.” Option (B) uses paraphrases (“trade” for “exchange”, “second-hand educational materials” for “used textbooks”, “clothing” for “winter coats”). Option (A) is a trap; he dealt with books, but didn’t buy new ones. Option (C) is plausible but he did this at a “school”, not for a “company”.

2 Answer: (A) It prevents usable goods from being thrown away.

• Explanation: Tom says it “stops perfectly good things from ending up in the trash.” Option (A) paraphrases this idea (“prevents” = “stops”, “usable goods” = “perfectly good things”, “being thrown away” = “ending up in the trash”). Option (B) is a trap; the goal of the event is to exchange used items, not to “buy” new products. Option (C) is a plausible real-world benefit but is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Answer: (C) Grouping the received items into different types.

• Explanation: Sarah says they need people to “categorize the donations,” and Tom agrees that “sorting through the boxes” won’t be an issue. Option (C) is a paraphrase of categorizing/sorting. Option (A) is a trap; “social media promotion” is mentioned, but Sarah says “We already have a team handling” it, so Tom won’t do it. Option (B) is not mentioned.

Sarah: Hi Tom, thanks for coming in. So, you’re applying to be a volunteer for our upcoming Community Swap Event. What made you interested?

Tom: Well, I’ve always been passionate about reducing waste. Actually, at my previous school, I helped set up a small exchange program for used textbooks and winter coats.

Sarah: That sounds exactly like what we need! How successful was it?

Tom: It went really well. We managed to collect over two hundred items. You know, it’s amazing how extending the lifespan of everyday products can make such a big difference. It stops perfectly good things from ending up in the trash.

Sarah: I totally agree. For this Saturday, we mainly need people to categorize the donations as they arrive. We already have a team handling the social media promotion. Are you comfortable with that?

Tom: Absolutely. I’m quite organized, so sorting through the boxes won’t be an issue at all. Just tell me what time I need to be there.

1 Answer: (A) Disposing of some outdated business documents.

• Explanation: Lisa says she is “getting rid of the financial records from five years ago.” Option (A) uses paraphrasing (“disposing of” = “getting rid of”, “outdated business documents” = “financial records from five years ago”). Option (B) is a trap; she is using the blue bags, not buying them. Option (C) is a trap; she is throwing them away, not reorganizing them for a new year.

2 Answer: (C) Because the pages contain private information that must be protected.

• Explanation: Mark mentions that they have a strict policy about “sensitive data” and that “Client details and bank account numbers” are on the pages, which poses “security risks”. Option (C) paraphrases this as “private information that must be protected.” Options (A) and (B) are plausible office situations but are never mentioned in the audio.

3 Answer: (A) Destroy them using a specific office device.

• Explanation: Mark tells her to “run everything through the paper shredder” so the documents are “cut into tiny pieces.” Option (A) is a paraphrase for using a shredder to destroy paper. Option (B) is a trap; the shredder is “next to the coffee maker,” but she cannot just leave the intact papers there. Option (C) is a trap; the word “client” is mentioned, but she is not giving the papers to them.

Mark: Hi Lisa, do you have a second? I noticed you’re clearing out the old filing cabinets.

Lisa: Yes, um, I’m getting rid of the financial records from five years ago. I’m just putting them all into these large blue recycling bags.

Mark: Well, that’s great for the environment, but we have a strict policy about sensitive data. You can’t just throw intact contracts away like that.

Lisa: Oh, really? Even if they are super old?

Mark: Yes. Client details and bank account numbers are still on those pages. Anyone could find them. You need to run everything through the paper shredder first.

Lisa: Ah, I see. I completely forgot about the security risks. Where is the machine?

Mark: It’s in the copy room, right next to the coffee maker. Once the documents are cut into tiny pieces, then you can put the scraps into the recycling bin.

Lisa: Makes sense. I’ll take this pile over there right now.