Future Tech – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) The device played loud songs instead of brightening the room.

• Explanation: The user asks the machine to “turn on the living room lights” (brighten the room), but the device plays “upbeat rock music” (loud songs) instead.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The user mentions that he needs to “find my keys,” but he doesn’t ask the machine to find them; he asks for the lights so he can see. Option (C) is a common tech issue, but internet connection is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) It might cause the people living next door to get upset.

• Explanation: The user states, “My neighbors are probably going to complain.” “People living next door” is a paraphrase for neighbors, and “get upset/complain” means they are annoyed.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The user commands the machine to “mute the audio” (stop the music), but he is not worried about damaging the audio quality. Option (C) is a plausible distraction, but there is no mention of a baby in the house.

3 Correct Answer: (C) He chooses to operate the room’s lighting manually by hand.

• Explanation: Out of frustration, the user says, “I’ll just use the physical switch on the wall.” Pressing a physical switch is operating it manually by hand.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The smart speaker incorrectly says, “Setting an alarm for noon” (a reminder), but the user did not ask for this and tells it to “forget it.” Option (B) is a plausible reaction when a device doesn’t work, but he doesn’t say he will return it.

User: Okay, I’m finally home. Wow, it’s completely dark in here. Hey Echo… turn on the living room lights, please. I need to find my keys.

User: What? No, no, no! Echo, stop! I didn’t ask for a playlist! Ugh, why does this always happen? Let’s try this again. Echo, mute the audio!

User: Phew, that’s better. My neighbors are probably going to complain about that noise. Seriously, this machine is supposed to be intelligent, but half the time it doesn’t understand my pronunciation. Let’s speak very, very clearly this time. Echo… activate the illumination in the lounge!

User: Oh, for goodness sake! Forget it. I’ll just use the physical switch on the wall like we did ten years ago. This automated system is driving me crazy!

1 Correct Answer: (B) On top of his house next to the chimney.

• Explanation: The customer says the device dropped the bags on his “roof” and they are stuck near the “chimney.” “On top of his house” is a paraphrase for the roof.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The man mentions he went out to his “front yard,” but says there was “nothing there.” Option (C) is also a trap. The agent asks if he checked the “porch,” but the food was not there.

2 Correct Answer: (A) The weather conditions interfered with the equipment.

• Explanation: The agent explains that the “strong wind must have confused the machine’s landing sensors.” Wind is a weather condition, and confusing the sensors means it interfered with the equipment.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The wind confused the sensors, but the agent never says the vehicle was “broken” by it (in fact, it flew away). Option (C) is a plausible reason for a lost package, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Wait safely for a company worker to arrive.

• Explanation: The agent tells him she will “dispatch a human technician to your location right away.” This means he just needs to wait for the worker to arrive.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The customer mentions a ladder, but the agent strictly tells him, “Please don’t try to climb up there yourself… It’s too dangerous.” Option (B) is a trap because the customer mentions hoping his eggs aren’t broken, but he cannot check them because they are on the roof.

Agent: Hello, you’ve reached SpeedyDrop customer support. My name is Kelly. How can I help you today?

Customer: Hi, Kelly. Well, um, I have a bit of a strange problem. I just received a text notification that my groceries were delivered. I went out to my front yard, but there was absolutely nothing there.

Agent: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Did you check around the porch?

Customer: Yes, but then I heard a noise above me. Your automated flying device actually dropped my bags on my roof!

Agent: Oh no! I apologize for the inconvenience. The strong wind must have confused the machine’s landing sensors. Is the package secure up there?

Customer: It’s completely stuck near the chimney. And the drone just zipped away immediately. I don’t own a ladder tall enough to reach it.

Agent: Please don’t try to climb up there yourself, sir. It’s too dangerous. Let me dispatch a human technician to your location right away. He will bring the proper equipment to retrieve your items safely.

Customer: Ah, thank you. I appreciate it. I just hope the eggs aren’t broken!

1 Correct Answer: (C) The user’s fingers are covered in water.

• Explanation: Ben says that his hands are “completely soaked from the rain,” which means his fingers are covered in water, causing the scanner to fail.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The sensor “keeps flashing red” because it cannot read a wet thumb, but the machine itself is not broken. Option (B) is a plausible tech issue, but they talk about Ben’s phone battery dying, not the lock’s battery.

2 Correct Answer: (A) It was left indoors before they went out.

• Explanation: Ben admits that he “left it on the kitchen counter inside.” “Indoors” is a paraphrase for being inside the house on the kitchen counter.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The weather is rainy, but they did not drop or lose the key in the rain; they simply forgot to bring it. Option (C) is a common way people hide spare keys, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (B) By entering a specific set of numbers on the device.

• Explanation: Ben decides to try “typing the passcode on the keypad” and enters the numbers 8-2-4-5 to open the door.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Mark suggests using the “mobile app” on the smartphone, but Ben says his phone battery died, so he cannot use this method. Option (C) is a trap because Ben’s jacket was wet, so he couldn’t dry his hands to use the thumb scanner.

Mark: Hurry up, Ben! Open the door! It’s absolutely pouring out here.

Ben: I’m trying! But the biometric scanner isn’t reading my thumb. My hands are completely soaked from the rain.

Mark: Well, just dry your fingers on your jacket and try again.

Ben: My jacket is wet too, man. The sensor just keeps flashing red. It won’t accept my print.

Mark: Ugh, this smart lock is so frustrating sometimes. Did you bring the traditional metal key just in case?

Ben: No, I left it on the kitchen counter inside. I thought we wouldn’t need it today.

Mark: Great. What about the mobile app? Can’t you unlock it with your smartphone?

Ben: Ah, my phone battery died an hour ago. Wait, let me try typing the passcode on the keypad instead.

Mark: Um, didn’t we change the security numbers last week?

Ben: Oh, right… Let me think. I’m pretty sure it’s 8-2-4-5. Let’s see…

Ben: Phew! It worked. We are saved! Let’s get inside.

1 Correct Answer: (B) In the parking area of a grocery store.

• Explanation: Tom says he just finished shopping at the “supermarket,” which is a synonym for a grocery store.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. He mentions that his “frozen food” is going to melt, but he is not at his house yet. Option (C) is a trap because he mentions buying coffee at the end, but he is currently at the store, not a coffee shop by the highway.

2 Correct Answer: (A) The system must install an essential safety fix.

• Explanation: Nina explains that the manufacturer released an “important security patch” that requires the car to update. “Essential safety fix” is a paraphrase of this.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. Tom says the steering wheel is “completely frozen” (locked), but it is not physically damaged or broken. Option (C) is a trap because the update prevents the car from being hacked; it hasn’t actually been hacked yet.

3 Correct Answer: (C) He will return to the supermarket to get a warm drink.

• Explanation: At the end of the conversation, Tom says, “I’ll go back inside the store and buy a coffee.” Getting a warm drink is a paraphrase for buying a coffee.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. Nina explicitly tells him to “leave the engine off,” so he cannot keep it running. Option (B) is a trap because he asked if he could “skip this” (cancel the download) earlier, but Nina said no, and he accepted it.

Nina: Thank you for calling AutoDrive Support. This is Nina. How can I assist you today?

Tom: Hi, Nina. Um, I have a big problem. I just finished shopping at the supermarket, and my car won’t start. The steering wheel is completely frozen.

Nina: I see. Are there any warning messages on your dashboard screen?

Tom: Yes, it says “Critical Software Update Required.” And it claims I have to wait half an hour before I can go anywhere! I have frozen food in my trunk; it’s going to melt! Can’t I just skip this and do it at home?

Nina: I’m really sorry, sir, but no. For safety reasons, the manufacturer locks the vehicle when an important security patch is released. It prevents the car from being hacked on the road.

Tom: Oh, wow. Hacked? Ah, I guess that is dangerous. So, do I just sit here?

Nina: Yes, please leave the engine off and let the download finish. It usually takes less than the estimated 30 minutes.

Tom: Well, okay. I suppose I’ll go back inside the store and buy a coffee then.

1 Correct Answer: (B) His body reacted badly to the digital driving experience.

• Explanation: Sam says his “stomach is completely turning upside down” and he has “severe motion sickness” from playing the “virtual reality racing simulator.” Option (B) is a strong paraphrase of this situation.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions a “car crashed,” but it was inside the video game, not a real physical accident. Option (C) is a plausible real-world cause for stomach issues, but food is never mentioned in the conversation.

2 Correct Answer: (A) On the couch where they are currently located.

• Explanation: Alex tells Sam to “Just sit right here on the sofa.” “The couch where they are currently located” is a direct paraphrase of sitting right here on the sofa.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Sam asks, “Should I go lay down on the bed?” (in the bedroom upstairs), but Alex explicitly rejects this idea by saying “no” because walking upstairs might make him feel worse. Option (C) is a trap because Sam asks for “fresh air,” but he wants Alex to open the window, not to go outside.

3 Correct Answer: (C) A cold beverage to drink.

• Explanation: Alex says, “I’ll go to the kitchen and get you a glass of ice water.” A glass of ice water is a cold beverage.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Alex mentions playing a “traditional board game,” but says they will do that “next time,” not right now. Option (B) is a plausible item to get for a sick person, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

Sam: Whoa, I need to stop. My stomach is completely turning upside down.

Alex: Are you okay? You look incredibly pale. You’ve been playing that virtual reality racing simulator for almost two hours straight.

Sam: Yeah, well… the graphics were so realistic. But every time the car crashed, my brain got super confused. I think I have severe motion sickness. Ugh, the room is spinning.

Alex: Take that heavy headset off immediately. You shouldn’t push yourself like that. Just close your eyes for a minute.

Sam: Should I go lay down on the bed?

Alex: Um, no, walking upstairs might make you feel worse right now. Just sit right here on the sofa and keep your head still. I’ll go to the kitchen and get you a glass of ice water.

Sam: Ah, thanks. Maybe a little fresh air would help, too. Could you open the window?

Alex: Sure thing. Just relax. We’re definitely playing a traditional board game next time instead of doing these extreme digital sports.