News & Media – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) It highlights the positive effects on mental health and home life.

• Explanation: Maya says the article focuses on how the policy “reduces employee stress and improves family relationships”. Option B paraphrases this perfectly (mental health = reduce stress; home life = family relationships). Option A is the Trap: Leo mentions “economics and business profits”, but Maya corrects him, saying that’s not the main focus. Option C is plausible for an international news story but is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (C) He believes other classmates will probably talk about similar technology issues.

• Explanation: Leo states that he feels “everyone else will choose something related to social media”. Option C uses synonyms to express this exact concern. Option A is not mentioned. Option B is the Trap: The word “link” (website address) is mentioned at the very end of the audio, but it is for Maya’s article, not because Leo lost anything.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Message the article’s web address to his partner.

• Explanation: Maya asks Leo to send her the link, and he replies, “I’ll text it to you right now.” Option B paraphrases this action (text = message; link = web address). Option A is the Trap: Maya is the one who will “start making the slides” (design the presentation), not Leo. Option C is a logical step in a university setting, but it is not mentioned in the dialogue.

Leo: Hey Maya, have you thought about our Sociology presentation next Tuesday? We need to pick an international news story today.

Maya: Um, yeah. I was reading a fascinating article this morning about a new policy in Scandinavia. You know, where companies are testing a four-day workweek?

Leo: Oh, I saw a headline about that! But isn’t it mostly about economics and business profits? Our professor wants us to focus on human behavior and society.

Maya: Well, the article actually focuses on how the extra day off drastically reduces employee stress and improves family relationships. It’s definitely relevant to our class.

Leo: Ah, I see. That does sound perfect. I was originally going to suggest a piece on teenagers and smartphone addiction, but honestly, I feel like everyone else will choose something related to social media.

Maya: Exactly my thought. Let’s go with the workplace study then. Can you send me the link so I can start making the slides?

Leo: Sure, I’ll text it to you right now.

1 Correct Answer: (A) They are extremely happy but physically tired.

• Explanation: David says they are “absolutely exhausted” (physically tired) but also “on cloud nine” (extremely happy). Option B is the Trap: The phrase “hasn’t fully sunk in” is used in the audio, but they are not disappointed about it. Option C is a plausible student problem, but it is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (B) They started reviewing recorded footage of the other teams.

• Explanation: David mentions that they spent hours “watching videos of our opponents” and analyzing their previous games. Option B paraphrases this perfectly (videos = recorded footage; opponents = other teams). Option A is the Trap: “Physical strength” is mentioned, but David explicitly says they did not just focus on that (“Instead of just focusing on…”). Option C is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) To return to training shortly for the next level of competition.

• Explanation: David says they will only rest for a couple of days and then “start preparing for the national qualifiers next week”. Option C uses synonyms to express this (start preparing = return to training; national qualifiers = next level of competition). Option A is the Trap: The reporter asks if they are taking a “well-deserved break” (vacation), but David clarifies it is only for a few days, not a long one. Option B is plausible but never mentioned.

Chloe: Hi David! Thanks for sitting down with me for the Campus Daily. First of all, huge congratulations on winning the regional championship! How is the team feeling right now?

David: Thanks, Chloe. Um, honestly, we are absolutely exhausted, but at the same time, we’re on cloud nine. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, you know?

Chloe: I can imagine! Our readers would love to know what your preparation looked like. Was it just the usual practice routine?

David: Not at all. Well, we actually completely changed our schedule about a month before the tournament. Instead of just focusing on physical strength, our coach made us spend hours watching videos of our opponents.

Chloe: Really? Analyzing their previous games?

David: Exactly. We studied their weaknesses. It was pretty boring sometimes, but it clearly paid off on the field.

Chloe: That’s a fascinating angle for my article. So, are you guys taking a well-deserved break now?

David: Just for a couple of days. We start preparing for the national qualifiers next week!

1 Correct Answer: (B) How the economy is changing what customers buy.

• Explanation: The manager says the article covers the “shift in consumer spending habits” and how people are “cutting back on luxury items”. Option B paraphrases this idea. Option A is the Trap: Sarah asks if it is about the “new software update” (computer system), but the manager replies, “No, not this time.” Option C is plausible in an office but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) They are reducing the cost of their products.

• Explanation: The manager explicitly states that “competitors have already started lowering their prices”. Option A uses synonyms to express this (rival companies = competitors; reducing the cost = lowering prices). Option B is the Trap: “Luxury items” are mentioned in the audio, but the article says people are cutting back on them, not that competitors are launching them. Option C is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Study the complete document before the next day.

• Explanation: The manager tells Sarah: “I need you to read the full report carefully by tomorrow”. Option C paraphrases this instruction perfectly (study = read carefully; complete document = full report; before the next day = by tomorrow). Option A is the Trap: Sarah offers to summarize it, but the manager rejects it saying, “I’ve already prepared a brief summary”. Option B is incorrect because he will send her a “digital copy” to her email, not a printed one.

Manager: Morning, Sarah. Do you have a minute? Before we start the team meeting, I want to bring your attention to an article published in this month’s issue of Global Trade Weekly. It’s an essential read for all of us.

Sarah: Sure, Mr. Davis. Is it about the new software update?

Manager: No, not this time. It actually covers the recent shift in consumer spending habits. Apparently, due to inflation, people are cutting back on luxury items and focusing heavily on everyday essentials. The author points out that our competitors have already started lowering their prices to adapt to this change.

Sarah: Oh, that sounds serious. Do you want me to summarize it for the team?

Manager: I’ve already prepared a brief summary for the presentation later. But I need you to read the full report carefully by tomorrow. We will use those statistics to redesign our upcoming marketing campaign. I’ll forward the digital copy to your email right now.

Sarah: Understood. I’ll get on it right away.

1 Correct Answer: (A) Entertaining stories about celebrities and gossip.

• Explanation: The teacher says tabloids are for reading about “what a famous pop singer wore” or “who an actor is dating”, and their goal is to “entertain”. Option A paraphrases this perfectly. Option B is the Trap: The “global economy” (financial market) is mentioned, but that is the focus of a broadsheet, not a tabloid. Option C is a plausible guess for a school setting but is not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (B) They contain a significantly higher amount of written words.

• Explanation: The teacher states that in a broadsheet, “there is far more text”. Option B uses synonyms (significantly higher amount of written words = far more text) to express this fact. Option A is the Trap: “Massive, colorful photographs” are mentioned in the audio, but they are a feature of tabloids, not broadsheets. Option C is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) To gain a comprehensive view of international news.

• Explanation: The teacher concludes that a broadsheet is what you need for a “detailed understanding of current world events”. Option C perfectly paraphrases this (comprehensive view = detailed understanding; international news = world events). Option A is the Trap: The teacher mentions getting a “quick laugh on your morning commute” (traveling to work), but that is what a tabloid gives you. Option B uses the word “shocking” from the text, but it is applied incorrectly here.

Teacher: Good morning, class. Welcome to Introduction to Media Studies. Today, we’re going to look at the two main types of printed newspapers you often see at the local shop: tabloids and broadsheets.

Now, if you want to read about what a famous pop singer wore to a party or who an actor is dating, you’d pick up a tabloid. These papers are physically smaller. They rely heavily on massive, colorful photographs and extremely catchy, sometimes shocking, headlines. Their main goal is often to entertain rather than to educate.

On the other hand, we have broadsheets. Historically, these were printed on much larger sheets of paper. If you open one, you’ll immediately notice that there is far more text and much fewer pictures. Broadsheets focus on serious, in-depth reporting. They cover international politics, the global economy, and major social issues. The language they use is also much more formal.

So, while a tabloid might give you a quick laugh on your morning commute, a broadsheet is what you need if you want a detailed understanding of current world events.

1 Correct Answer: (B) To distribute a regular email summarizing company news.

• Explanation: Sarah suggests sending out a “digital newsletter… every Friday” (regular email) that summarizes “project milestones, upcoming events” (company news). Option A is the Trap: Mr. Henderson asks if she wants to organize another “town hall meeting”, but she says “Actually, no.” Option C is plausible in a media department but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) He thinks the employee might have to work extra hours.

• Explanation: Mr. Henderson asks if it will take up too much time and says, “I don’t want you working overtime.” Option A paraphrases “working overtime” as “work extra hours”. Option C is the Trap: Sarah mentions testing “templates”, but they are not talking about the cost. Option B is a realistic concern for managers, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Show him a preliminary version before sharing it with everyone.

• Explanation: Mr. Henderson tells Sarah to “send me a draft… before you distribute it”. Option C perfectly paraphrases this (draft = preliminary version; distribute it to the whole company = share it with everyone). Option B is the Trap: “Friday” and “distribute” are mentioned in the audio, but the newsletter will be distributed “next week”, not this Friday afternoon. Option A is not mentioned.

Sarah: Hi Mr. Henderson. Do you have a moment? I wanted to run an idea by you regarding our internal communications.

Mr. Henderson: Sure, Sarah. What’s on your mind? Are we looking at organizing another town hall meeting?

Sarah: Actually, no. I was thinking we should start sending out a digital newsletter to all staff every Friday. Just a brief email summarizing recent project milestones, upcoming events, and recognizing employee achievements.

Mr. Henderson: Hmm, a weekly email. I like the sound of that, but won’t it take up too much of your time to write? I don’t want you working overtime just for this.

Sarah: Not at all! I’ve already tested a few formatting templates. It should only take me about an hour to put together. Plus, it will really boost team morale to see their hard work publicly acknowledged.

Mr. Henderson: That’s a fair point. Alright, let’s give it a try. Just make sure to send me a draft of the first edition before you distribute it to the whole company next week.

Sarah: Will do. Thanks!