Social Media – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) Make the natural colors stand out more.

• Explanation: Mark suggests using the ‘vivid nature’ filter to “make the colors really pop” (which means to make them stand out), and Sophie agrees (“Let’s do that instead”). Option (A) is a trap; Sophie considers black-and-white first, but changes her mind. Option (C) is plausible but never mentioned.

2 Answer: (C) It makes a joke about a minor annoyance during their trip.

• Explanation: Sophie wants a “hilarious” (funny/joking) caption. Mark suggests writing about “bug bites” (mosquitoes), which were an annoyance on the trip. Option (A) is a trap; Sophie explicitly says she does not want to write “Great weekend”. Option (B) is incorrect because they do not mention the weather.

3 Answer: (A) Include Mark’s profile in her post.

• Explanation: At the very end, Sophie says, “I’ll tag you in it right now.” In social media terms, tagging someone means including their profile in your post. Option (B) is a trap; she mentions her arms are itchy, but doesn’t say she will get medicine. Option (C) is not mentioned.

Sophie: Hey Mark, take a look at these pictures from our hiking trip on Saturday. I really want to put one on my feed, but I’m torn.

Mark: Hmm… well, I really like the one where we’re standing at the top of the waterfall. You should definitely go with that one.

Sophie: Yeah, it’s a great shot. But the lighting is a bit dark. Do you think I should use the black-and-white filter? It usually makes things look pretty dramatic.

Mark: Actually, since we’re surrounded by all those green trees and the blue sky, the ‘vivid nature’ filter would make the colors really pop.

Sophie: Oh, you’re completely right. Let’s do that instead. Now, the hard part… what should I write underneath it? I want something hilarious, not just a boring “Great weekend.”

Mark: How about… “Surviving the wild, one bug bite at a time”? Remember how many mosquitoes were out there?

Sophie: Oh my gosh, yes! My arms are still so itchy today. That text is brilliant. I’ll tag you in it right now.

1 Answer: (B) He has wasted too much time looking at his screen.

• Explanation: Sam notices that Leo has been “staring at your phone for the last two hours”, which means looking at his screen. Leo agrees this is the problem. Option (C) is a trap; the audio mentions “exams” and “Monday”, but the exams are next Monday, so he hasn’t failed them yet. Option (A) is not mentioned.

2 Answer: (C) He will uninstall specific programs for a week.

• Explanation: Leo says he is going to “remove all of them [the apps] from my phone for the next seven days”, which means uninstalling programs for a week. Option (A) is a trap; Sam suggests turning off notifications (silencing alerts), but Leo says he already tried that and it “didn’t work”. Option (B) is incorrect because he will still use his phone for calls.

3 Answer: (B) By speaking to him over the phone.

• Explanation: Leo tells Sam to “ring my number directly” and that a “voice call” is the only way to reach him. Option (A) is a trap; Leo explicitly says “Don’t send me direct messages” because he won’t see them. Option (C) is a trap; dinner is mentioned as a topic they need to coordinate, but leaving a note is not mentioned.

Leo: Ugh, I can’t believe it’s already 10 PM. I haven’t finished reading a single chapter.

Sam: You’ve been staring at your phone for the last two hours, man. What’s so interesting?

Leo: Nothing! That’s the problem. I keep scrolling through videos and posts without even thinking. My final exams are next Monday, and I’m feeling completely unprepared.

Sam: Yeah, it’s easy to waste time online. Maybe you should turn off your notifications?

Leo: I tried that, but it didn’t work. I still open the apps automatically out of habit. So, I’ve made a decision. I’m going to remove all of them from my phone for the next seven days.

Sam: Wow, a complete digital detox? That’s a big step. How will we coordinate dinner or grocery shopping?

Leo: Just ring my number directly. Don’t send me direct messages on those platforms because I won’t see them at all. If it’s something urgent, a voice call is the only way to reach me.

Sam: Got it. Good luck with the studying!

1 Answer: (B) Her cooking methods are easy for novices to follow.

• Explanation: Emma says that the creator’s videos are “super beginner-friendly”, which means they are easy for novices (beginners) to follow. Option (A) is a trap; Emma explicitly says the creator “doesn’t use any fancy equipment.” Option (C) is a trap; she makes desserts like cheesecake, not just main courses.

2 Answer: (A) A popular sweet treat.

• Explanation: Emma suggests making the “dessert” (a sweet treat) which is a cheesecake that is “blowing up” (popular/viral). Option (B) is a trap; Jake mentions the “spicy pasta” (hot noodle dish), and Emma wanted to make it at first, but they changed their mind because they don’t have chili powder. Option (C) is plausible but never mentioned in the audio.

3 Answer: (C) He is a bit reluctant because he lacks energy.

• Explanation: Jake hesitates and says “Ah, I’m kind of exhausted right now” (which means he lacks energy and is reluctant), but he finally agrees to help mix the batter. Option (A) is a trap; he mentions posting a picture later, but he is not eager at first. Option (B) is incorrect because he does not completely refuse; he agrees to help.

Emma: Jake, come here! Look at this. I just discovered this amazing new content creator on TikTok. Her name is Chef Mia.

Jake: Um, another food vlogger? We follow way too many of those already. What makes her so special?

Emma: Well, she doesn’t use any fancy equipment. Everything is super beginner-friendly. Anyway, she posted a video yesterday that is completely blowing up online. It’s a three-ingredient cheesecake.

Jake: Oh, I think I saw that on my feed too! Wait, didn’t she also make that crazy spicy pasta last week?

Emma: Yeah, she did. I wanted to make that at first, but we don’t have enough chili powder in the cupboard. Let’s try the dessert instead! We actually have all the stuff for it.

Jake: Ah, I’m kind of exhausted right now… but I guess I can help you mix the batter. We can snap a picture of our result and post it online later!

Emma: Awesome. Let’s get started.

1 Answer: (C) A funny movie to make them laugh.

• Explanation: Ben points out that after Sarah’s recent vote, the “comedy” (a funny movie) has the highest score. Option (B) is a trap; Tom thought the action movie won, but he was wrong. Option (A) is also a trap; Tom personally wanted to see a horror film (frightening movie), but he was outvoted.

2 Answer: (A) Finding a place to leave their cars is extremely difficult.

• Explanation: Lisa says that at the downtown cinema, “parking there is a nightmare,” which means finding a place to leave their cars is very difficult. Options (B) and (C) are plausible reasons to avoid a cinema, but they are never mentioned in the conversation.

3 Answer: (B) Purchase their seats for the movie on the internet.

• Explanation: Ben says, “I’ll buy the tickets online right now,” which means purchasing seats on the internet. Option (A) is a trap; Lisa is the one who says she will “update the group chat” (write a message). Option (C) is a trap; parking was discussed earlier, but Ben is not driving there early.

Lisa: Hey guys, did you look at the poll I sent in our group chat this morning? We need to finalize our movie plans for Saturday.

Tom: Yeah, I just checked it. It looks like the action movie got the most votes. I really wanted to see that new horror film, but I guess I’m outvoted.

Ben: Actually, Tom, look again. Sarah just voted five minutes ago, and now the comedy has the highest score. It won by a single vote!

Tom: Oh, you’re right. My bad. A comedy sounds fun anyway. So, where are we meeting? The cinema downtown?

Lisa: Um, the downtown one is great, but parking there is a nightmare on weekends. Why don’t we go to the theater at the Starlight Mall instead? It’s much easier to get to.

Ben: Sounds good to me. Let’s aim for the 7 PM show. I’ll buy the tickets online right now so we don’t have to wait in line.

Lisa: Perfect. I’ll update the group chat so everyone else knows the final plan.

1 Answer: (B) Through an automatic recommendation list on the site.

• Explanation: Anna says she saw her friend on the “People You May Know” list, which is an automatic recommendation list (friend suggestions). Option (A) is not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; Mark mentions that the list usually shows “people from work” (coworkers), but Anna didn’t find her friend through her coworkers.

2 Answer: (C) She wrote a public reaction on a specific picture.

• Explanation: Anna says she “left a comment on that photo,” which means she wrote a public reaction on a picture. Option (A) is a trap; Mark asks if she sent a message, but she says she did this “instead of messaging her directly.” Option (B) is a trap; she “almost closed the app,” but she didn’t actually do it.

3 Answer: (B) She is extremely excited to meet her soon.

• Explanation: Anna says they are planning to get coffee and she is “so thrilled,” which means extremely excited. Option (A) is a trap; she was anxious at first (“I thought she might not remember me”), but her feeling at the end is happy. Option (C) is a trap; she mentions getting coffee, but she is not disappointed about it at all.

Anna: Hey Mark, you won’t believe what happened to me last night while I was browsing online.

Mark: Did you buy another pair of shoes you don’t need?

Anna: Very funny. No! I was looking at my social media account, and you know that “People You May Know” list that pops up?

Mark: Yeah, the friend suggestions. Usually, it’s just strangers or people from work.

Anna: Exactly! But this time, I saw a familiar face. It was Chloe! We used to sit next to each other in elementary school. I hadn’t seen her for at least fifteen years.

Mark: Wow, that’s crazy! Did you send her a message?

Anna: Well, I hesitated at first because I thought she might not remember me. I actually almost closed the app. But then I noticed she had posted a picture of our old school playground. So, I left a comment on that photo instead of messaging her directly.

Mark: And? Did she reply?

Anna: Yes! She replied immediately and we are planning to get coffee this weekend to catch up. I’m so thrilled!