Future Tech – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: B

• Explanation: Chloe says the strap is “too tight… around the back of my head”. “The band is slightly uncomfortable” is a paraphrase of this.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option A is a trap. She says “it’s completely dark”, but that is because the game is loading, not because the screen is broken. Option C is not mentioned.

2 Answer: C

• Explanation: Chloe says her “legs are actually shaking”, she is “overwhelmed”, and her “heart is racing”. Option C (thrilled and nervous) perfectly summarizes these feelings.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option A is a trap. Mark asks if she feels dizzy or has “motion sickness” (ill), but she clearly replies “No, not sick”.

3 Answer: B

• Explanation: Chloe says “I think I need to sit down… for a minute”. Option B uses synonyms (“take a short rest”) to express this idea.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option A is a trap. Mark tells her to “walk forward” (move closer), but she refuses by saying “No way! I feel like I’m going to fall over.”

Mark: Okay, Chloe, put the headset on. Wait, let me adjust the strap. Is it too tight?

Chloe: Um, a little bit… right around the back of my head. There, that’s better. Wow, it’s completely dark right now.

Mark: Just give it a second to load. Alright, I’m starting the simulation now. You should see a futuristic cityscape.

Chloe: Oh my gosh… whoa! This is incredible! I’m standing on the edge of a massive skyscraper. Ah, my legs are actually shaking.

Mark: Try to walk forward a little bit. Use the controllers in your hands to grab things if you need balance.

Chloe: No way! I feel like I’m going to fall over. The depth perception is so realistic. I can see flying cars zooming past me.

Mark: Do you feel dizzy at all? Some people get motion sickness when they first try it.

Chloe: No, not sick, just… overwhelmed. It’s totally immersive. But honestly, I think I need to sit down on the couch for a minute, my heart is racing.

Mark: No problem, let’s take a quick break.

1 Correct Answer: (B) They felt the other option was unnatural.

• Explanation: In the audio, Mark says they didn’t use “Computer” because it sounded “too robotic” (which means unnatural).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap. Mark did not forget the old name (Sarah was the one who asked about it), and they actively chose to change it, not because of a memory issue. Option (A) is plausible but never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (B) The roommates have to close them manually.

• Explanation: Mark says they will have to “pull them by hand tonight,” which is a paraphrase of closing them manually.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap because Sarah asked the assistant to close the curtains, but it made an error buzz. Option (C) is also a trap because Mark says he will connect the motors tomorrow afternoon, not tonight.

3 Correct Answer: (A) He decides to go to sleep.

• Explanation: After the jazz music plays, Mark says, “I’m going to head to bed” (which means to go to sleep).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap because fixing the window motors is a plan for tomorrow. Option (C) is a trap because the lighting was adjusted before they played the music, not after.

Mark: Okay, Sarah, I think the new virtual assistant is finally set up. Let’s test it out before we go to sleep.

Sarah: Awesome. Um, what’s her wake word again? Is it “Computer”?

Mark: No, we changed it to “Nova” because “Computer” sounded a bit too robotic.

Sarah: Right, I remember. Hey Nova, lower the illumination in the living room.

Sarah: Wow, the brightness actually dropped. That’s pretty cool. Now, let’s try the windows. I want those heavy drapes pulled shut. Nova, close the curtains.

Mark: Ah, wait. I forgot. I didn’t link the window motors to the network yet. I’ll probably do that tomorrow afternoon. We’ll just have to pull them by hand tonight.

Sarah: Well, that’s slightly annoying, but fine. How about some background tunes? Nova, put on some relaxing jazz.

Mark: Perfect. The audio is working great. Alright, I’m going to head to bed. See you in the morning!

1 Correct Answer: (B) It does not take up a lot of physical space.

• Explanation: In the audio, Leo says the robot dog “requires very little room to move around,” which means it does not need a lot of space.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The mother mentions the price (“They cost a fortune”), meaning it is very expensive, not affordable. Option (C) is plausible for a robot, but it is never mentioned in the conversation.

2 Correct Answer: (A) It lacks a true emotional connection.

• Explanation: The mother says the machine “can’t show genuine affection or truly comfort you.” This matches the idea of lacking a true emotional connection.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. Maintenance is mentioned, but the mother says the lack of maintenance is a good thing (“a plus”). Option (C) is also a trap; Leo mentions that a living dog might chew shoes or make messes on the carpet, not the robot.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Move to a larger property and get a real animal.

• Explanation: The mother clearly states she wants to wait until they have “a place with a big yard” (a larger property) to adopt a “living rescue dog” (a real animal).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. She mentions the high cost earlier, but she never says she wants to buy it later. Option (B) is a trap. “Your cousin’s puppy” is mentioned as a past experience, not a future plan.

Leo: Mom, have you seen the new Robo-Pup 5000? It’s absolutely incredible! Can we get one?

Mom: A robot dog? Well, I don’t know, Leo. They cost a fortune, and we already agreed our current apartment is way too cramped for pets.

Leo: But that’s the best part! It requires very little room to move around. Plus, you won’t ever have to buy kibble or, um, clean up any messy accidents on the carpet. It just charges itself!

Mom: Hmm, I suppose the lack of daily maintenance is a plus. I remember how much work your cousin’s puppy was. But… a machine just isn’t the same. It can’t show genuine affection or truly comfort you when you’re feeling down.

Leo: Actually, it has built-in sensors to detect your mood! It can nuzzle your hand if you’re sad.

Mom: Ah, simulating emotions isn’t the same as actually feeling them. I’d rather wait until we have a place with a big yard, and then we can adopt a living rescue dog.

Leo: Fine. But a living dog is definitely going to chew up your favorite shoes!

1 Correct Answer: (B) In the grass area in front of her home.

• Explanation: Lisa says she set up a landing pad on her “front lawn,” which means the grass area in front of her house.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Tom asks if it will land on her “roof” (the top of her house), but Lisa clearly rejects this idea by saying “Ah, no.” Option (C) is where the food was ordered from, not the drop-off location.

2 Correct Answer: (A) The machine almost goes to Tom’s property.

• Explanation: Tom notices the drone is heading toward his “backyard instead,” meaning it was temporarily flying toward his property.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Lisa mentions that the “wind is pretty strong,” but there is no mention of the box being damaged. Option (C) is plausible in real life, but in the audio, the app works perfectly fine and tells her the drone is adjusting its path.

3 Correct Answer: (B) She is worried about the temperature of her dinner.

• Explanation: At the end, Lisa says she hopes the food is still “piping hot.” This shows she is thinking about the temperature of her meal.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The quietness of the drone (“makes almost no noise”) is mentioned by Tom, not Lisa. Option (C) is plausible but never mentioned in the conversation.

Tom: Hey Lisa, what are you doing standing out here in the cold?

Lisa: Oh, hey Tom. Um, I’m just waiting for my dinner. I ordered from that new Italian place downtown, and they use automated flying vehicles for delivery.

Tom: Wait, you mean a drone? That’s wild. Is it going to land on your roof?

Lisa: Ah, no. I had to set up a small landing pad on my front lawn. The tracking application says it should drop the package right there. Oh, look! Is that it?

Tom: Wow, yeah, I see a blinking light over the trees. But… well, it looks like it’s heading toward my backyard instead.

Lisa: Oh no! The wind is pretty strong tonight. Let me check the app. Okay, phew, it says it’s adjusting its flight path. It’s hovering over our street now.

Tom: Look at it lower down. It makes almost no noise. And there goes your meal, safely on the target.

Lisa: Perfect. Now I just hope the food is still piping hot!

1 Correct Answer: (A) It uses automated equipment to prepare the dishes.

• Explanation: Alex mentions that the restaurant uses a “3D printer” (which is automated equipment) to make all their meals.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The speakers mention “homemade flavor” and the “traditional way of cooking,” but they say the printed food would lack this, not specialize in it. Option (C) is plausible for a modern restaurant but is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (B) Crushed and liquid-form ingredients.

• Explanation: Alex explains that they load the machine with “pureed ingredients” like “mashed vegetables” and “liquid dough,” which means crushed and liquid-form foods.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Jamie asks if they put “special paper” inside, but Alex clearly rejects this idea by saying, “No, not paper.” Option (C) is a plausible idea for fast food, but it is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (B) She doubts it will have the same quality as regular cooking.

• Explanation: Jamie says she is “skeptical” and feels the food would “lack that real, homemade flavor.” This means she doubts its quality compared to regular cooking.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Jamie mentions a dessert, but she says she would be worried the machine might “break down in the middle of printing” it; she is not eager to try it. Option (C) is plausible (new tech is often expensive), but price is not discussed.

Alex: This sandwich is pretty good, but listen to this article I’m reading. There’s a new restaurant downtown that doesn’t have a kitchen staff. They use a 3D printer to make all their meals!

Jamie: Wait, seriously? A machine that prints out food? Um, how does that even work? Do they put special paper inside?

Alex: Ha! No, not paper. The article says they load the equipment with pureed ingredients—like mashed vegetables, liquid dough, and sauces. Then, it builds the dish layer by layer.

Jamie: Wow… I mean, I guess it’s fascinating technology, but I’m a bit skeptical. Can a printed pizza actually taste authentic? I feel like it would lack that real, homemade flavor.

Alex: Well, the review here claims the texture is surprisingly realistic. And it’s super fast. But yeah, I think I’d miss the traditional way of cooking, too.

Jamie: Exactly. Besides, I’d probably be worried the machine might break down in the middle of printing my dessert! Let’s just stick to our regular cafe for now.