Money Management – B1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a conversation between two roommates and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What kind of food do the roommates agree to purchase together?
(A) Specific personal treats.
(B) Everyday essential items.
(C) Expensive restaurant meals.
2 What was Jake’s initial suggestion for handling the utility payments?
(A) Splitting the final total amount in half.
(B) Asking the landlord to pay for them.
(C) Being responsible for different individual invoices.
3 What will Jake do to help manage their shared finances?
(A) He will create a financial spreadsheet on his computer.
(B) He will use a mobile program to record their spending.
(C) He will keep all the physical receipts in a special folder.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Everyday essential items.
- Explanation: Emma suggests buying “basic groceries together, like milk, eggs,” which are everyday essential items.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Emma mentions “special snacks” (personal treats), but she explicitly says, “you pay for those yourself,” meaning they will not purchase them together. Option (C) is a plausible food expense but is never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: (C) Being responsible for different individual invoices.
- Explanation: Jake asks, “Should we each take specific bills? Like, I pay for power, and you pay for water?” “Individual invoices” is a paraphrase for specific bills.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Splitting the total cost in half (“fifty-fifty”) is Emma’s idea and their final decision, not Jake’s initial suggestion. Option (B) is a plausible renting situation, but the landlord is only mentioned implicitly regarding rent, not for paying utilities.
3 Correct Answer: (B) He will use a mobile program to record their spending.
- Explanation: At the end, Jake says, “I’ll download an app so we can track the receipts.” A “mobile program” is a synonym for an app, and “record their spending” means tracking receipts.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The audio mentions putting everything on a “spreadsheet,” but that was Emma’s suggestion for calculating the total, not the specific action Jake promises to do. Option (C) is a plausible way to track expenses, but Jake specifically mentions downloading an app, not keeping physical receipts in a folder.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Hey Jake, do you have a minute? We need to figure out how we’re going to share the living costs for this apartment.
Jake: Oh, right. Um, I was thinking about that too. What are our main shared expenses?
Emma: Well, obviously the rent is already handled. But we still have the utilities—you know, electricity and water. Plus, there’s the broadband internet connection.
Jake: Don’t forget about household supplies and food. Are we buying our own groceries, or sharing?
Emma: I think it makes sense to buy basic groceries together, like milk, eggs, and cleaning stuff. If you want special snacks, you pay for those yourself.
Jake: Sounds fair. So, how do we divide the payments? Should we each take specific bills? Like, I pay for power, and you pay for water?
Emma: Actually, I think it’s easier if we just put everything on one spreadsheet at the end of the month and split the total cost right down the middle.
Jake: Ah, I see. Yeah, paying fifty-fifty keeps things perfectly equal. I’ll download an app so we can track the receipts.
Emma: Perfect!
Listening 2
Listen to a conversation between two friends and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is Ryan concerned at the beginning of the conversation?
(A) The plane tickets cost a lot more than he expected.
(B) Their summer hotel reservation was unexpectedly canceled.
(C) He lost his credit card at a local coffee shop.
2 What is one of the specific expenses the couple decides to reduce?
(A) Purchasing groceries from the supermarket.
(B) Going out to watch films at the theater.
(C) Buying expensive clothes for the upcoming trip.
3 When do they expect to reach their financial goal for the flights?
(A) In exactly three weeks from today.
(B) Sometime during the latter part of May.
(C) Tomorrow morning before they go to work.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A) The plane tickets cost a lot more than he expected.
- Explanation: Ryan says the flights to Spain are “much more expensive than I thought.” Option (A) is a direct paraphrase of this statement.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap. The audio mentions a “coffee shop” later in the conversation, but Ryan talks about cutting down on visits to save money, not losing his credit card. Option (B) is a plausible travel issue, but hotels are not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (B) Going out to watch films at the theater.
- Explanation: Chloe suggests, “What if we stop going to the cinema for a while?” “Going to the cinema” is a synonym for watching films at the theater.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. They mention cooking dinner together at home instead of ordering takeout, which means they will continue or increase purchasing groceries, not reduce them. Option (C) is plausible for trip preparation, but clothing is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: (B) Sometime during the latter part of May.
- Explanation: Ryan states that they should have enough cash for the airfare “by late May.” “The latter part of May” is a paraphrase for late May.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. Chloe mentions they have “three months” before they leave, not three weeks. Option (C) is also a trap. Chloe says, “Let’s start this new saving routine tomorrow,” meaning the plan starts tomorrow, not that they will reach the goal tomorrow.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Ryan: Hey Chloe, I was looking at the flights for our summer trip to Spain. They are much more expensive than I thought.
Chloe: Really? Um, how much are we talking about?
Ryan: About eight hundred dollars each. We definitely don’t have enough in our travel fund right now.
Chloe: Wow. Well, we still have three months before we leave. We just need to adjust our weekly budget. What if we stop going to the cinema for a while?
Ryan: That’s a good idea. Movie tickets and popcorn add up quickly. And, ah, maybe I should cut down on my daily coffee shop visits, too.
Chloe: Exactly. We can just brew our own coffee here. Also, instead of ordering takeout on Friday nights, we could cook dinner together at home.
Ryan: I like that plan. It’ll be healthier, too. If we stick to this, we should have enough cash for the airfare by late May.
Chloe: Perfect. Let’s start this new saving routine tomorrow!
Listening 3
Listen to a conversation between two friends and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why does Alex ask Jamie for money?
(A) To pay for his university tuition fees.
(B) To purchase a new electronic device.
(C) To buy a special gift for the holidays.
2 What is the main reason Jamie refuses to lend the money?
(A) She hasn’t received her paycheck for her summer job yet.
(B) She thinks the amount Alex is asking for is too small.
(C) She needs her savings to pay for her educational expenses.
3 What does Jamie suggest Alex should do?
(A) Delay his purchase until the prices drop.
(B) Borrow a smaller amount, like two hundred dollars.
(C) Find a full-time job during the summer.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) To purchase a new electronic device.
- Explanation: Alex says he wants to buy the “latest smartphone.” “A new electronic device” is a paraphrase for a new smartphone.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The “university tuition fees” are Jamie’s expenses, not Alex’s reason for needing money. Option (C) is a trap because Jamie mentions “holiday sales” later, but Alex is not buying a holiday gift.
2 Correct Answer: (C) She needs her savings to pay for her educational expenses.
- Explanation: Jamie explains that her “university tuition is due next week” and she needs to cover her “educational expenses.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Alex mentions she has been working all summer, and Jamie says she can’t spare anything “until my next paycheck,” but she does have savings right now—she just needs them for tuition. Option (B) is a trap because she actually thinks $500 is a “huge amount,” not too small.
3 Correct Answer: (A) Delay his purchase until the prices drop.
- Explanation: Jamie advises Alex to “wait for the holiday sales” because the phone will be “much cheaper then.” This means delaying the purchase until prices drop.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Borrowing “two hundred” was Alex’s second suggestion, which Jamie also rejected. Option (C) is a trap because working a full-time summer job is what Jamie did, not what she suggests Alex do.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alex: Hey Jamie, I really need a favor. I want to buy the latest smartphone that just came out, but I’m short on cash. Could you possibly lend me five hundred dollars? I promise I’ll pay you back next month.
Jamie: Wow, five hundred? That’s a huge amount, Alex. Um, I’d really love to help you out, but I simply can’t right now.
Alex: Oh, come on! You’ve been working full-time all summer. Surely you have some savings in your bank account?
Jamie: Well, yes, I do have some money saved up. But my university tuition is due next week. If I lend you that cash, I won’t have enough to cover my own educational expenses.
Alex: Ah, I didn’t realize your fees had to be paid so soon. What if I only borrow two hundred?
Jamie: Honestly, my budget is incredibly tight this month. I can’t spare anything until my next paycheck. Why don’t you wait for the holiday sales? The phone will be much cheaper then.
Alex: I guess you’re right. It’s not an emergency anyway.
Listening 4
Listen to a conversation between a brother and sister, then choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where did Maya purchase her new item?
(A) At a popular clothing shop near her college.
(B) At an open-air market close to the transportation stop.
(C) From an online seller who was asking for a discount.
2 What strategy did Maya use to lower the price of the jacket?
(A) She pointed out a minor physical defect on the clothing.
(B) She complained that the material was way too heavy.
(C) She promised to buy her college books from the same seller.
3 How much money did Maya actually pay for the jacket?
(A) Eighty dollars.
(B) Fifty dollars.
(C) Forty dollars.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) At an open-air market close to the transportation stop.
- Explanation: Maya says she went to an “outdoor flea market near the station.” “Open-air market” is a paraphrase for outdoor flea market, and “transportation stop” is a paraphrase for the station.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Lucas mentions her “college,” but that is regarding the textbooks she is saving money for, not where she bought the jacket. Option (C) is a plausible shopping method, but the internet is never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: (A) She pointed out a minor physical defect on the clothing.
- Explanation: Maya mentions that she “noticed a tiny scratch on the sleeve” to get a discount. A “minor physical defect” is a paraphrase for a tiny scratch.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Lucas says the jacket “looks pretty heavy,” but Maya did not complain about its weight to lower the price. Option (C) is also a trap because college books are what she is saving her money for, completely unrelated to the seller at the flea market.
3 Correct Answer: (C) Forty dollars.
- Explanation: Maya proudly states that she convinced the seller to give it to her for “just forty dollars.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Eighty dollars is what the seller “originally asked for,” not what she actually paid. Option (B) is another trap based on the number “fifty” (“fifty percent off”), which is the discount rate, not the final price in dollars.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Lucas: Hey Maya, where have you been all morning?
Maya: I went to that huge outdoor flea market near the station. And, um, look what I got!
Lucas: Wow, a leather jacket. It looks pretty heavy. Was it expensive? I know you’re trying to save money for your college textbooks.
Maya: Well, that’s the best part! The seller originally asked for eighty dollars. But I noticed a tiny scratch on the sleeve.
Lucas: Ah, so you pointed that out to get a discount?
Maya: Exactly! We negotiated for about ten minutes, and I finally convinced him to give it to me for just forty dollars. It’s exactly fifty percent off!
Lucas: That is a brilliant bargain. Does it fit you well?
Maya: Yes, perfectly. I just need to wash it carefully, and it’ll look absolutely brand new.
Listening 5
Listen to a conversation between two colleagues and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why does Sarah decide to skip the café visit?
(A) She wants to decrease her personal financial spending.
(B) She is currently experiencing some health issues.
(C) She is too busy with a difficult project at work.
2 What is Sarah’s alternative plan for getting her daily coffee?
(A) She will consume the drinks provided in the workplace.
(B) She will make it at her house and transport it to work.
(C) She will completely stop drinking caffeinated beverages.
3 What will Mark do immediately after their conversation?
(A) He will visit the grocery store to purchase coffee beans.
(B) He will head to the café without his coworker.
(C) He will borrow Sarah’s thermal flask for his drink.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A) She wants to decrease her personal financial spending.
- Explanation: Sarah says that spending a hundred dollars a month is “draining my wallet” and she wants to stop. “Decrease personal financial spending” is a paraphrase of saving money.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Mark asks, “Are you feeling okay?” because he thinks she might be sick, but Sarah explicitly rejects this by saying, “I’m completely fine!” Option (C) is a plausible office situation, but it is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (B) She will make it at her house and transport it to work.
- Explanation: Sarah explains that she will “prepare my own drink at home every morning and carry it here.” This directly matches making it at her house and transporting it.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Mark asks if she will drink from the “office vending machine” (drinks provided in the workplace), but Sarah quickly rejects this, saying, “Ah, definitely not.” Option (C) is a plausible health choice, but she is still drinking coffee, just making it herself.
3 Correct Answer: (B) He will head to the café without his coworker.
- Explanation: Mark says, “I guess I’ll go to the coffee shop by myself then.” Heading to the café “without his coworker” is a paraphrase of going by himself.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The audio mentions going to the “supermarket” to buy “roasted beans,” but that is what Sarah did yesterday, not what Mark is going to do now. Option (C) is a trap because the thermal flask belongs to Sarah and Mark never asks to borrow it.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: Hey Sarah, are you ready? Let’s head down to the café for our afternoon latte.
Sarah: Actually, Mark, I’m skipping it today. And, um, probably tomorrow too.
Mark: Really? Are you feeling okay? You usually drink two cups a day.
Sarah: I’m completely fine! But I was looking at my bank statement last night. I realized I’m spending almost a hundred dollars a month just on beverages. It’s completely draining my wallet.
Mark: Wow, that does add up quickly. So, what’s your plan? Are you just going to drink the terrible stuff from the office vending machine?
Sarah: Ah, definitely not. I went to the supermarket yesterday and bought some high-quality roasted beans. I’ve decided to prepare my own drink at home every morning and carry it here in a thermal flask.
Mark: That’s a really smart move. You’ll save a fortune. Well, I guess I’ll go to the coffee shop by myself then.
Sarah: Good luck! Try not to spend too much!