Mental Health – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Chloe says she has been “pulling all-nighters” (staying awake all night to study), which matches “studying without enough sleep”.
• The Trap (C): Economics is mentioned in the audio, but it was Liam who was panicking about the Economics paper, not Chloe.
• The Trap (A): Plausible, but incorrect. She is afraid she will fail if she stops reading, but she hasn’t failed yet.

2 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Liam suggests taking a “walk outside” and “stepping away from your desk”. This is paraphrased as “Spend some time outdoors”.
• The Trap (A): Looking at her phone is what Chloe currently does, and Liam explicitly advises against it (“staring at another screen doesn’t help”).
• The Trap (C): 45 minutes is mentioned, but it is the amount of time Liam spends doing “deep work”, not sleeping.

3 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: At the end, Chloe says “you might be right” and “Maybe I’ll try a quick walk this afternoon”. This shows she is willing to try his advice.
• The Trap (C): Chloe initially says “I don’t think I have time for that” (the twist/change of mind), but she changes her opinion by the end of the conversation.
• The Trap (A): She does not refuse; she accepts the advice because her “eyes are killing” her.

Liam: Hey, Chloe. You look exhausted. Everything alright?

Chloe: Um, not really. I’ve been pulling all-nighters for the finals. I just feel completely overwhelmed, you know? My chest is tight all the time.

Liam: I hear you. The pressure this semester is intense. I was actually panicking about the Economics paper yesterday. But staying up all night is just going to burn you out.

Chloe: I know, but I feel like if I stop reading, I’ll fail. Did you finish your paper?

Liam: Almost. Well, I decided to change my routine. Instead of cramming for hours, I do 45-minute blocks of deep work, then take a 15-minute walk outside. It really clears my head.

Chloe: A walk? I don’t think I have time for that. I usually just scroll through my phone during breaks.

Liam: Trust me, staring at another screen doesn’t help your brain rest. You should try stepping away from your desk. It honestly lowers the anxiety.

Chloe: Ah, you might be right. My eyes are killing me anyway. Maybe I’ll try a quick walk this afternoon.

1 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Sarah says she feels a “constant, low-level anxiety” because she feels like she is “always missing out on something”. This matches option B.
• The Trap (A): The manager and the new project are mentioned, but this is just Sarah’s excuse for needing her phone (“What if my manager emails me?”), not the actual cause of her current anxiety.
• The Trap (C): Watching a TV series on Netflix is what she planned to do, not a source of pressure or anxiety.

2 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: Mark suggests a “digital detox” which means “no smartphones or laptops” for the day. This is paraphrased as “completely avoid using electronic devices”.
• The Trap (C): Watching Netflix is mentioned, but it was Sarah’s original plan, not Mark’s suggestion.
• Plausible Trap (B): Mark mentions they can “read actual books”, but he never suggests that they need to buy new ones.

3 Correct Answer: C

• The Key: Sarah says “Ugh, fine. I guess one day won’t kill me.” This shows she is agreeing, but not very happily (reluctantly).
• The Trap (A): She brings up her job earlier as a concern, but she does not reject the idea at the end.
• The Trap (B): Hiking is mentioned by Mark as an activity they could do, but Sarah never expresses excitement about it; she is mostly worried about getting bored.

Mark: Hey, Sarah. You look exhausted. Rough night?

Sarah: Yeah, Mark. I don’t know what’s wrong. I toss and turn for hours, and lately, I just feel this constant, low-level anxiety, you know? Like I’m always missing out on something.

Mark: Well, honestly, I think it’s that thing in your hand. You’re always staring at your phone, even right before bed. It really messes with your brain.

Sarah: Maybe. But I need to stay updated. What if my manager emails me about the new project?

Mark: It’s the weekend! Look, why don’t we try a digital detox? Just this Saturday, no smartphones or laptops. We can go hiking or just read actual books.

Sarah: A whole day with no screens? That sounds extreme. I was planning to binge-watch that new series on Netflix.

Mark: Just give it a shot. I read that disconnecting drastically improves your sleep quality and lowers stress. If there’s an absolute emergency, people can call the landline.

Sarah: Ugh, fine. I guess one day won’t kill me. But if I get bored, I’m blaming you.

1 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Emma says she has been feeling “incredibly drained” and has “zero energy to socialize”, which is paraphrased as “lacked the mental energy to interact with others”.
• The Trap (A): Tom asks if she has been working too much, but Emma explicitly rejects this (“No, it’s not work. My job is fine”).
• The Trap (C): Plausible reason to miss a dinner, but sickness/a cold is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: Emma mentions that she “tried going to the gym to shake it off”, which is paraphrased as “attempted to do some physical exercise”.
• The Trap (B): “Hobbies” are mentioned, but Emma says she has zero energy to do them (mentioned but rejected).
• The Trap (C): Seeing a therapist is a plausible action for mental health issues, but it is not mentioned in the conversation.

3 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Emma suggests getting a “quiet coffee” with “no big crowds”, and Tom agrees. This is paraphrased as meeting in a “peaceful and calm environment”.
• The Trap (A): “Big crowds” are mentioned, but Emma explicitly states she wants no big crowds (mentioned but rejected).
• The Trap (C): Going for a walk is a plausible low-pressure activity, but it is not mentioned by either speaker.

Tom: Hey Emma, do you have a minute? I’ve been a bit worried about you lately. You’ve been… well, really quiet, and you didn’t come to the group dinner on Friday. Are you doing okay?

Emma: Um, honestly, Tom… not really. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve just been feeling incredibly drained. Like, I have zero energy to socialize or even do my hobbies.

Tom: I’m really sorry to hear that. Have you been working too much? Or is it something else?

Emma: No, it’s not work. My job is fine, actually. I just feel this heavy cloud over me. I tried going to the gym to shake it off, but I just ended up going back to bed. I guess I just want to hide from the world right now.

Tom: It sounds like you’re going through a tough time, and that’s completely valid. You know you don’t have to face it alone, right? Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m here.

Emma: Thanks, Tom. I appreciate that a lot. Ah… maybe we could just get a quiet coffee tomorrow? No big crowds.

Tom: That sounds perfect. No pressure, just us.

1 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: Alex says his “brain won’t shut off” and he keeps “overthinking everything” (grades, rent, future). This is paraphrased as “cannot stop worrying about various things”.
• The Trap (B): “Grades” and “studied” are mentioned in the audio, but he is not staying up to study; he is staying up because he is overthinking.
• Plausible Trap (C): Coffee is a common cause of insomnia, but it is never mentioned in the conversation.

2 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Alex says he’d “rather not rely on pills” because he doesn’t want to “feel groggy and tired the next morning”. This matches “negative aftereffects”.
• The Trap (C): He rejects the idea of using medication, but he never says he actually tried it before (mentioned but wrong context).
• Plausible Trap (A): The cost of medication is a realistic concern, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Ben suggests “instrumental music” (something “without lyrics”), and Alex says “I’ll give it a shot tonight”. This is paraphrased as “relaxing tracks with no singing”.
• The Trap (A): Chamomile tea (herbal tea) is explicitly mentioned by Ben, but Alex rejects it because he hates the taste (mentioned but rejected).
• Plausible Trap (C): Reading a book is a common sleep remedy, but it is not mentioned by either speaker.

Ben: Hey, Alex. You’re up early. Didn’t you go to bed at, like, 3 AM?

Alex: Yeah, well, I tried. I’ve been dealing with this mild insomnia lately. I just lie there in the dark, and my brain won’t shut off. I keep overthinking everything—my grades, the rent, my future… it’s exhausting.

Ben: Man, that sounds rough. Have you thought about getting some sleep medication from the pharmacy?

Alex: Um, I’d rather not rely on pills, honestly. I don’t want to feel groggy and tired the next morning.

Ben: Fair enough. You know, when I feel anxious at night, I usually try some natural remedies. Maybe you could brew a cup of chamomile tea before hitting the sack? It has a really calming effect.

Alex: I hate the taste of chamomile, to be honest.

Ben: Ah, okay. Well, what about putting on some instrumental music? Like, soft piano or acoustic guitar. Just something without lyrics to focus your mind on.

Alex: Hmm, that’s actually not a bad idea. I used to listen to classical stuff when I studied. I’ll give it a shot tonight. Thanks, Ben.

1 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Maya says “staring at a screen won’t really recharge us”. This is paraphrased in option B as “looking at devices will not help them regain energy”.
• The Trap (A): The word “chores” is mentioned in the audio, but Maya explicitly says they will have a day with “no chores” (mentioned but rejected).
• The Trap (C): Saving money is a logical reason to not order takeout, but it is never mentioned in the conversation (plausible but not mentioned).

2 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: Maya describes chopping vegetables and cooking as “really therapeutic”. “Therapeutic” means having a good, calming effect on the mind, which matches option A.
• The Trap (C): The word “vegetables” is mentioned, but Maya chops them because she enjoys it, not to force Ryan to eat them (mentioned but wrong context).
• The Trap (B): Food delivery (takeout) is mentioned earlier, but speed is not the reason she wants to cook (plausible but not mentioned).

3 Correct Answer: C

• The Key: Maya says the rule is “zero work communication” and tells Ryan to “turn off your notifications”. This means he must ignore his professional messages.
• The Trap (A): Ryan wants to reply to his boss’s email in the afternoon, but Maya strictly forbids it. Option A says he must reply, which is the exact opposite of the rule.
• The Trap (B): Maya mentions “following a recipe” as part of the fun, so she definitely allows using recipes (mentioned but wrong context).

Ryan: Phew, what a week. My brain feels like it’s running on empty. I seriously need a break this weekend, Maya.

Maya: Tell me about it. Why don’t we dedicate this Sunday completely to unwinding? A proper mental health day. No chores, no stress.

Ryan: That sounds amazing. What did you have in mind? We could just order some takeout and binge-watch movies all day.

Maya: Hmm, I feel like staring at a screen won’t really recharge us. How about we spend the morning outside? We could take a long walk around the botanical garden. Being around nature always helps clear my mind.

Ryan: You’re right, getting some fresh air is a better idea. And for dinner?

Maya: Let’s prepare a meal together. Chopping vegetables and following a recipe is actually really therapeutic for me.

Ryan: Deal. Oh, but I do need to quickly reply to my boss’s email in the afternoon…

Maya: Nope, absolutely not! The rule for Sunday is zero work communication. You have to turn off your notifications.

Ryan: Ah, alright, alright. Complete disconnection it is.