Internet Safety – B1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between Leo and his mother, then choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why did Leo tap the link in the text message?
(A) He was looking for a website to buy a new smartwatch.
(B) He wanted to see if the prize announcement was real.
(C) He needed to download a new application for his phone.
2 How does Leo feel about his current situation?
(A) He is extremely scared because of his mistake.
(B) He is annoyed because his smartphone is too slow.
(C) He is angry that his mother wants to reset his device.
3 What is the mother’s immediate instruction to solve the problem?
(A) To delete the unknown application right away.
(B) To change all of his internet passwords immediately.
(C) To cut off the phone’s internet connection.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Leo says he got a message saying he “won a brand new smartwatch” and he “was just curious” so he tapped the link. This matches option B (wanting to see if the prize was real).
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is not mentioned; he didn’t want to buy one, he was told he won one. Option C is a trap because an application did download, but it was an accident, not his original intention.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Leo says “I think I messed up” and “I’m really freaking out right now.” “Freaking out” is a synonym for being extremely scared or panicked.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is a trap; the screen is “freezing” (stuck), but his main emotion is panic, not just annoyance over a slow phone. Option C is plausible but incorrect; he is not angry at his mom.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The mother clearly states, “The very first thing we need to do is disconnect it from the Wi-Fi immediately.” This means cutting off the internet connection (Option C).
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is plausible, but the mother doesn’t tell him to delete the app first (the phone is frozen anyway). Option B is a trap because Leo asks about his “passwords,” but changing them is not the immediate action the mother suggests.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mom: What’s wrong, Leo? You look really pale.
Leo: Mom, um… I think I messed up. You know my smartphone? It’s doing something completely weird.
Mom: What do you mean? Let me see. Why is the screen freezing like that?
Leo: Well, I got this text message earlier. It said I won a brand new smartwatch in a lucky draw. I know you warned me to ignore those things, but… I was just curious. So, I tapped the link to check it out.
Mom: Oh, Leo! We’ve talked about internet safety. That’s a classic phishing scam. What happened next?
Leo: At first, nothing. But then, it redirected me to a strange website, and suddenly, an unknown application started downloading by itself. I tried to cancel it, but I couldn’t! I’m really freaking out right now.
Mom: Okay, don’t panic. Take a deep breath. The very first thing we need to do is disconnect it from the Wi-Fi immediately so it can’t send out any of your personal data.
Leo: Right, I’m turning on airplane mode now. Do you think they stole my passwords?
Mom: Let’s hope not. We’ll run a security scan next, and then we might have to reset the whole device to factory settings.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between two roommates and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the main problem Alex is facing?
(A) Someone used his card to make a large international purchase.
(B) He lost his physical credit card while traveling in another country.
(C) His banking application is broken and he cannot check his balance.
2 Why doesn’t Alex want to call the bank immediately?
(A) Because the bank office is already closed for the weekend.
(B) Because he dislikes staying on the phone waiting for someone to answer.
(C) Because Ben offered to call the bank manager for him.
3 How does Ben suggest solving the immediate danger?
(A) By transferring the remaining money to Ben’s account.
(B) By reporting the missing money to the police department.
(C) By temporarily blocking the card through the mobile application.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Alex mentions there is a “charge of 500 dollars from some online store in another country.” This means someone used his card for an international purchase.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is a trap; the audio mentions “another country,” but Alex didn’t lose his physical card while traveling. Option C is plausible, but his app works perfectly fine (he can see the balance).
2 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Alex says, “Honestly, I hate waiting on hold.” “Waiting on hold” means waiting on the phone line for someone to answer, which matches option B.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is plausible but never mentioned in the audio. Option C is a trap; Ben is helping him, but Ben does not offer to make the phone call for him.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Ben tells Alex to find the “Freeze Card” button on his banking app and “tap that immediately.” Freezing a card means temporarily blocking it.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is not mentioned at all. Option B is a trap; Ben tells Alex to “report… as fraud” to the bank later, not to the police as the immediate solution.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alex: Hey, are you busy? I really need your help with something. I’m looking at my banking app, and I’m totally shocked.
Ben: What’s wrong? You look really stressed out.
Alex: My account balance is way too low. There is a charge of 500 dollars from some online store in another country, but I haven’t bought anything all week!
Ben: Oh no, that sounds like someone stole your credit card details. Have you called the bank yet?
Alex: No, I haven’t. Honestly, I hate waiting on hold. Is there a faster way to stop this?
Ben: Yes, you don’t need to call them right now. Just open your banking app. Go to the settings and find the “Cards” menu. Do you see that button that says “Freeze Card”? Tap that immediately.
Alex: Okay, um… found it! I just tapped it. So, is my money safe now?
Ben: Well, no one can make new purchases now. But as a next step, you still need to report that 500-dollar transaction as fraud to get your money back.
Listening 3
Listen to the telephone conversation between Sam and his grandfather. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What caused the grandfather to panic?
(A) He dropped his laptop and broke the screen.
(B) He heard a loud noise and saw a threat on his screen.
(C) He received a scary phone call from a stranger.
2 How does Sam know the virus warning is fake?
(A) Because the grandfather’s computer is not connected to the internet.
(B) Because he knows the grandfather does not have any money to pay.
(C) Because genuine technology businesses do not act like that.
3 What is Sam’s instruction to solve the problem?
(A) To shut down the internet program or the device.
(B) To call the support team using his mobile phone.
(C) To pay a small fee to the company to remove the virus.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The grandfather says, “the screen turned completely red. There’s this loud alarm sound playing, and a message says my computer is infected.” This perfectly matches hearing a “loud noise” and seeing a “threat”.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is incorrect because the grandfather asks “Are you sure my laptop isn’t broken?”, but he didn’t physically drop it. Option C is a trap; the message told him to call a number, but nobody called him on the phone.
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Sam says, “Real technology companies never use loud alarms or ask you to call them to fix a virus.” “Genuine technology businesses” is a paraphrase of “Real technology companies”, and “do not act like that” summarizes their behavior.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is wrong because the grandfather was “reading the news online” (he had internet). Option B is not mentioned; Sam only says the scammers “want to scare you into paying them money.”
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Sam tells his grandfather to “force your web browser to close” or “turn off the computer completely.” This means shutting down the internet program (browser) or the device (computer).
- Why the traps are wrong: Options B and C are exactly what the scammers want the grandfather to do, and Sam explicitly tells him NOT to do these things (“definitely do not call that number”, “they want to scare you into paying”).
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sam: Hello, Grandpa?
Grandpa: Sam! Thank goodness you answered. I really need your help with my laptop. Something terrible just happened.
Sam: Calm down, Grandpa. What’s going on?
Grandpa: I was just reading the news online, and suddenly, the screen turned completely red. There’s this loud alarm sound playing, and a message says my computer is infected with a dangerous virus. It’s telling me to call a support number immediately. Should I call them?
Sam: No, Grandpa, definitely do not call that number! Please don’t click on anything either.
Grandpa: But it looks official! Are you sure my laptop isn’t broken?
Sam: I’m absolutely sure. That is a common internet scam. Real technology companies never use loud alarms or ask you to call them to fix a virus. They just want to scare you into paying them money.
Grandpa: Oh, dear. That is quite frightening. How do I make it stop?
Sam: Just force your web browser to close. If you can’t do that, simply hold down the power button to turn off the computer completely.
Grandpa: Alright, I’m doing it now… Okay, the noise stopped. Thank you, Sam.
Listening 4
Listen to the phone conversation between a user and a technical support agent. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the woman’s main problem?
(A) She wants to update the phone number on her account.
(B) She cannot remember the password for her extra email address.
(C) She needs help setting up new security questions.
2 Why is the woman unable to answer the security questions?
(A) She set up the profile a long time ago and cannot recall the details.
(B) She never chose any security questions when she made the account.
(C) She gave the account to her parents five years ago.
3 How will David help the woman get her account back?
(A) By sending a special login code via text message.
(B) By calling her parents to confirm her personal information.
(C) By emailing a recovery link to her main email address.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The woman says, “I’m trying to log into my backup email account, but I completely forgot my password.” “Extra email address” is a paraphrase of “backup email”, and “cannot remember” means “forgot”.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is plausible since phone numbers are discussed later, but it is not her main problem. Option C is a trap; she talks about security questions with the agent, but she didn’t call to set up new ones; she called because she was locked out.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: She says, “I created this account five years ago! … Look, I really don’t remember the answers I typed back then.” “Five years ago” matches “a long time ago,” and “cannot recall” means she doesn’t remember.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is incorrect because she did type answers back then, she just forgot them. Option C is a trap; it uses the words “parents” and “five years ago” from the audio, but the meaning is completely wrong.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: David asks if she has the “mobile phone number ending in 4-8-2” and says he will send a “temporary recovery code to that device”. This means he is sending a text message with a code.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is a trap because the audio mentions “parents” (in a security question), but David is not going to call them. Option C is a very plausible technical support solution, but it is not the method David uses in the audio (he uses her phone, not an email).
AUDIO SCRIPT
David: Welcome to Tech Solutions customer service. My name is David. How can I assist you today?
Woman: Hi David. I’m trying to log into my backup email account, but I completely forgot my password. I haven’t used it in months.
David: I can certainly help you regain access. However, to verify your identity, I need to ask you two security questions. First, what was the name of your first pet?
Woman: Oh no… I created this account five years ago! I think it was Fluffy? No, maybe Max? Honestly, I have no idea.
David: That’s incorrect, I’m afraid. Let’s try the second one: What city did your parents meet in?
Woman: I never even asked them that! Look, I really don’t remember the answers I typed back then. Is there any other way to prove who I am?
David: Don’t worry, this happens quite often. Do you still have the mobile phone number ending in 4-8-2 connected to this profile?
Woman: Yes, I do! I have my smartphone right here with me.
David: Great. I will send a temporary recovery code to that device in just a moment.
Listening 5
Listen to the telephone conversation between a job applicant and a police officer. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is the caller feeling so anxious?
(A) She lost her physical wallet on her way to an interview.
(B) She accidentally transferred money to a fake recruiter.
(C) She shared her private documents with a scammer.
2 How did the applicant realize she was tricked?
(A) The person who posted the job disappeared from the internet.
(B) The employer asked for her banking passwords.
(C) The police called to warn her about the social media post.
3 What is the SECOND piece of advice the officer gives?
(A) To temporarily lock all of her credit cards.
(B) To get a formal written record of the incident from the authorities.
(C) To apply for a brand new identification card immediately.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The applicant says she provided “pictures of both sides of my national ID card” to a company that “wasn’t real.” This matches option C: sharing private documents with a scammer.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is plausible but never mentioned (she didn’t lose her wallet, she sent photos). Option B is a trap because the audio mentions a “fake” situation (company wasn’t real), but she didn’t send them any money, only her ID.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: She realized it was a fake job because “their account was completely deleted, and their email doesn’t work.” This means the person disappeared from the internet.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is a trap; the officer mentions the “bank” later, but the scammer never asked for her bank passwords. Option C is incorrect because she called the police, the police didn’t call her.
3 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The officer’s first advice is to call the bank. His second advice (“Next…”) is to “go to your local police office to make an official statement.” Option B is a perfect paraphrase of getting a formal written record (official statement) from the authorities (police).
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap; calling the bank is the first step, not the second. Option C is a logical real-world action, but the officer in the audio never tells her to apply for a new ID card.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Officer: Cybercrime Helpline, Officer Davis speaking. How can I help you?
Applicant: Hello. I’m calling because I think I made a terrible mistake. I’m so anxious that someone is going to steal my identity.
Officer: Please stay calm. Tell me exactly what happened.
Applicant: Well, I saw a job advertisement on social media yesterday. The recruiter offered a high salary and asked for my resume. Then, they told me they needed pictures of both sides of my national ID card to process my application.
Officer: And you provided those pictures?
Applicant: Yes. But this morning, their account was completely deleted, and their email doesn’t work. I realize now the company wasn’t real.
Officer: I understand. That is a well-known trick to collect personal data. Here is what you need to do immediately. First, call your bank and tell them your information is exposed, so they can watch for any unusual activity.
Applicant: Okay, I will do that right now.
Officer: Next, go to your local police office to make an official statement. This paper will protect you legally if the criminals attempt to borrow money under your name.
Applicant: Thank you. I’ll head there right away.