Natural Disasters – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) A part of the street collapsed following severe weather.

• Explanation: The driver explains that after a “massive thunderstorm” (severe weather), “a large section of the asphalt just caved in” (a part of the street collapsed).
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The dispatcher asks if he was in a “traffic collision” (accident), but the driver explicitly rejects this (“No, no crash”). Option (C) is a plausible consequence of a thunderstorm, but a fallen tree is never mentioned.

2 Answer: (A) He is physically unharmed but feels slightly frightened.

• Explanation: The man says, “I’m perfectly fine, just a bit shaken up.” “Physically unharmed” means perfectly fine, and “slightly frightened” is a paraphrase of a bit shaken up.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is a trap based on the dispatcher’s question (“Are you injured?”), but the driver confirms he is not. Option (C) is a trap; the thirty-minute wait is mentioned, but the driver does not express any anger about it.

3 Answer: (C) Exit his automobile and wait on the pedestrian path.

• Explanation: The dispatcher strongly suggests that he “step out of the car and stand on the sidewalk.” “Exit his automobile” means step out of the car, and “pedestrian path” is a synonym for the sidewalk.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The dispatcher does ask him to turn on his hazard lights, but she tells him to get out of the car, not to remain inside. Option (B) uses a location from the audio (“the old bridge”), but he is not instructed to walk there.

Dispatcher: Emergency Roadside Assistance. Sarah speaking. How can I help you?

Driver: Hello? Yes, um, I need a tow truck right away. My car is completely stuck.

Dispatcher: Okay, sir. Are you currently involved in a traffic collision?

Driver: No, no crash. I was driving down Route 9, near the old bridge. We had that massive thunderstorm last night, right? Well, a large section of the asphalt just caved in. It’s a huge sinkhole! My front tires dropped right into it.

Dispatcher: I see. Are you injured?

Driver: Ah, I’m perfectly fine, just a bit shaken up. But the vehicle isn’t moving anywhere.

Dispatcher: Understood. Please turn on your hazard lights. I will dispatch a recovery vehicle to your location immediately. It should take about thirty minutes. In the meantime, I strongly suggest you step out of the car and stand on the sidewalk, just in case the ground shifts again.

Driver: That’s a good point. I’ll wait by the bus stop across the street. Thank you.

1 Answer: (B) Dangerous materials from a mountain eruption are in the air.

• Explanation: The agent states there is a “massive cloud of volcanic ash in the atmosphere” which is hazardous. “Dangerous materials from a mountain eruption” is a paraphrase for volcanic ash, and “in the air” means in the atmosphere.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The agent mentions the word “engines” (the ash is hazardous for the engines), but they are not being repaired. Option (C) is a plausible reason for flight delays, but it is not mentioned at all.

2 Answer: (C) Later in the week, after lunch.

• Explanation: The agent says the earliest seats are on “Thursday afternoon”. “Later in the week” and “after lunch” are paraphrases for Thursday afternoon.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The passenger explicitly asks to fly “tomorrow morning”, but the agent rejects this because the sky won’t be clear yet. Option (B) is a plausible time, but Thursday is a weekday, not the weekend.

3 Answer: (A) Information about cheaper places to sleep in the area.

• Explanation: The agent offers “a list of nearby guesthouses that provide discounted rates”. “Cheaper places to sleep” is a paraphrase of guesthouses with discounted rates.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is a trap based on the passenger’s request. He asks the airline to cover his accommodation (a free stay), but the agent says they are “not legally required to pay for lodging”. Option (C) is a common compensation for delayed flights, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

David: Excuse me. I’ve been waiting for three hours. Can you give me an update on flight 714 to London?

Sarah: I apologize for the inconvenience, sir. Unfortunately, all departures heading to the UK have been suspended. Um, there is a massive cloud of volcanic ash in the atmosphere, making it extremely hazardous for the engines.

David: Oh, that’s terrible news. Well, is it possible to transfer my booking to tomorrow morning instead?

Sarah: I can certainly rebook you. However, the earliest available seats are on Thursday afternoon. The sky won’t be clear enough before then.

David: Thursday? Ah, I guess I have no choice. Since the airline canceled the trip, will you cover my accommodation for the next two nights?

Sarah: Actually, because this is considered an act of nature, we are not legally required to pay for lodging. But, I can offer you a list of nearby guesthouses that provide discounted rates for stranded travelers.

David: I see. Please give me that list, and go ahead and change my flight to Thursday.

1 Answer: (C) To inform them about a large plant obstructing the street.

• Explanation: Mark reports that a “massive oak tree” (a large plant) has “blown over” and is “totally blocking the traffic” (obstructing the street).
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions houses, but Mark explicitly says the tree “missed the houses”. Option (B) is a trap using the word “traffic”; there is a traffic block, but he is calling to report the emergency (the fallen tree), not just complaining about a regular traffic jam.

2 Answer: (A) It snapped power lines which are now resting on the ground.

• Explanation: Mark says the tree “brought down some electrical cables” and they are “lying on the pavement”. “Snapped power lines” is a paraphrase for bringing down electrical cables, and “resting on the ground” means lying on the pavement.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is a trap based on the word “pavement”. The cables are on the pavement, but Mark clearly states “no one was hurt” (no injuries). Option (C) is a plausible consequence of a falling tree, but cars are not mentioned in the audio.

3 Answer: (B) Keep a safe distance from the fallen electrical lines.

• Explanation: Officer Davis tells Mark, “Please stay away from the wires”. “Keep a safe distance” is a direct paraphrase of stay away, and “electrical lines” means wires.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The utility company is mentioned, but the officer says “I will… contact the utility company”, not the caller. Option (C) is a plausible action for clearing a road, but it is dangerous and the officer never suggests it.

Officer Davis: Local Police Department, Officer Davis speaking. How can I help you?

Mark: Yes, hello. Um, I’m calling to report a dangerous situation on Elm Street. We had some incredibly strong winds earlier, and a massive oak tree has completely blown over.

Officer Davis: Okay, Elm Street. Has the fallen tree caused any property damage or injured anyone?

Mark: Thankfully, no one was hurt. Ah, it missed the houses. However, it was completely uprooted and crashed right across the road. It’s totally blocking the traffic in both directions.

Officer Davis: I understand. We’ll send a team to clear the street.

Mark: Wait, there’s a more urgent problem. When the tree fell, it brought down some electrical cables with it. They are lying on the pavement right now.

Officer Davis: Oh, that’s highly hazardous. Please stay away from the wires, as they might still be live. I will dispatch the fire department and contact the utility company immediately to shut off the power.

Mark: Will do. Thanks for your help.

1 Answer: (B) Because her mobile app predicts a massive snow slide.

• Explanation: Sam says she checked the “mountain safety app on my phone” and there is an “avalanche warning”. A “massive snow slide” is a direct paraphrase of an avalanche.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap. Alex mentions they will “set up our tent” later, so they didn’t forget it. Option (C) is also a trap. Alex clearly states, “There hasn’t been a snowstorm all week.”

2 Answer: (A) The weather has recently become much warmer.

• Explanation: Sam explains that the “temperature has increased rapidly” which is melting the snow. “Become much warmer” is a paraphrase of the temperature increasing rapidly.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The audio mentions “chunks of ice”, but does not say strong winds are blowing them. Option (C) is a trap because the cliffs are unstable due to “melting snow”, not heavy rain.

3 Answer: (C) To return to the bottom of the mountain immediately.

• Explanation: Sam suggests they need to “hike back down to the base camp right now”, and Alex agrees (“Let’s head back”). “Return to the bottom… immediately” is a paraphrase of hiking back down right now.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Alex initially asks if they should “find a wooden cabin,” but Sam rejects this idea (“I wouldn’t risk it”). Option (B) was Alex’s original plan before hearing the warning, which they have now abandoned.

Alex: Wow, the view from this trail is incredible. We should reach the summit by noon. Then we can set up our tent and just relax.

Sam: Um, Alex, I don’t think we’re going to make it to the top. I just checked the mountain safety app on my phone. They’ve issued an emergency avalanche warning for the upper slopes.

Alex: Really? But the sky is so clear today. There hasn’t been a snowstorm all week.

Sam: Yes, but the temperature has increased rapidly. The melting snow makes the cliffs very unstable. Huge chunks of ice could slide down at any minute.

Alex: Ah, that’s incredibly dangerous. Well, what should we do? Should we find a wooden cabin to spend the night instead?

Sam: I wouldn’t risk it. The warning says to avoid the area completely. We need to pack up our gear and hike back down to the base camp right now.

Alex: You’re absolutely right. It’s disappointing, but our safety comes first. Let’s head back to the car.

1 Answer: (B) An unusually large chunk of frozen rain.

• Explanation: Greg says his window was smashed by “a piece of ice” from a “hailstorm”. “Frozen rain” is a paraphrase of hail/ice.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The wind is blowing rain into the house, but it didn’t cause the initial damage (breaking the window). Option (C) is a trap using a literal word from the audio; the ice was the “size of a tennis ball,” but it wasn’t an actual tennis ball.

2 Answer: (A) To ask for physical assistance to seal the broken glass.

• Explanation: Greg has a wooden board but says he “can’t hold it up and hammer the nails in by myself.” Fiona understands he needs “an extra pair of hands” (physical assistance) to seal the window.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (B) is a trap. He mentions a hammer and nails, but he already has them and is fixing a window, not a roof. Option (C) is a trap; Fiona asks Greg if his family got cut by the glass, not the other way around.

3 Answer: (C) A large cover to protect the indoor belongings.

• Explanation: Greg asks for a “heavy-duty plastic sheet” to “cover the furniture”. Fiona agrees to bring a “large tarp” (a large cover). “Indoor belongings” is a paraphrase of furniture.
• Why traps are wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The “wood” is in Greg’s garage, not Fiona’s basement (her tarp is in the basement). Option (B) is a trap. Fiona grabs her waterproof coat for herself to go outside, not to give to his family.

Fiona: Oh, hi Greg. Come on in. The weather out there is absolutely frightful, isn’t it?

Greg: Hi Fiona. Sorry to bother you so late. Um, we just had a massive hailstorm, and a piece of ice the size of a tennis ball smashed right through my living room window.

Fiona: Oh no! Is your family alright? Did anyone get cut by the flying glass?

Greg: Fortunately, everyone was in the kitchen, so we’re all safe. But the wind is blowing heavy rain into the house. I found a thick wooden board in my garage to cover the hole, but I can’t hold it up and hammer the nails in by myself.

Fiona: I completely understand. You need an extra pair of hands. Let me grab my waterproof coat.

Greg: Thanks so much. Ah, by any chance, do you have a heavy-duty plastic sheet? We might need to cover the furniture first before we start fixing the window.

Fiona: Sure, I have a large tarp in the basement. I’ll get it right now and meet you next door.