Housing – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (A) Because he needs to wake up early for his job.

• Explanation: Alex states that his “shift starts early” (needs to wake up early for his job), so he prefers it to be “quiet at night” (peaceful in the evening). Option B is the Trap: Alex mentions a “study group” later, but he explicitly says they “never stay up late”, so he doesn’t study late into the night. Option C is also a Trap: Sam is the one who works at a “bank”, not Alex.

2 Correct Answer: (B) He stopped the habit a couple of years ago.

• Explanation: Sam says, “I actually quit smoking two years ago”. Option B paraphrases this perfectly (stopped the habit = quit smoking; a couple of years ago = two years ago). Option A is a plausible compromise for roommates, but it is not what Sam said. Option C is the Trap: The word “asthma” is used in the audio, but Alex is the one who has asthma, not Sam.

3 Correct Answer: (C) He sometimes has classmates over but they don’t stay late.

• Explanation: Alex mentions that he will “occasionally invite my study group over… but we never stay up late”. Option C uses synonyms to express this (sometimes = occasionally; classmates = study group). Option A is the Trap: Alex does invite people over on weekends, so it is not true that nobody is allowed. Option B is also a Trap: “Socializing outside” is what Sam prefers to do, not Alex.

Alex: Hi Sam, thanks for coming over to check out the spare room. Before I show you the rest of the apartment, I’d like to ask a few questions about your daily routine, just to make sure we’re a good match.

Sam: Of course, Alex. Go ahead.

Alex: Great. First, what are your working hours? I usually go to bed around 10:30 PM because my shift starts early, so I prefer it to be quiet at night.

Sam: That works perfectly for me. I work at a bank from nine to five, so I am not a night owl at all.

Alex: Awesome. Second thing: I have asthma, so I really can’t be around cigarette smoke.

Sam: Don’t worry, I actually quit smoking two years ago.

Alex: Glad to hear it. Lastly, how do you feel about having visitors? I occasionally invite my study group over on weekends, but we never stay up late.

Sam: I don’t mind that. I prefer socializing outside anyway, so I rarely bring guests home.

Alex: Sounds like we’re on the same page! Let me show you the bedroom.

1 Correct Answer: (C) To ask if he is allowed to keep an animal in his home.

• Explanation: Leo says he wants to “get your permission” (ask if he is allowed) to adopt a “small dog” (keep an animal). Option A is the Trap: Mrs. Higgins asks if he needs something “repaired” and mentions “damage to the furniture”, but Leo says “No, the place is great”. Option B is also a Trap: “Noise” and “barks” are mentioned, but he is not complaining about a neighbor’s dog.

2 Correct Answer: (B) It is an adult dog that already knows how to act indoors.

• Explanation: Leo describes the dog as “three years old” (adult) and “fully house-trained” (knows how to act indoors). Option A is the opposite of the truth; it is not a young puppy. Option C is the Trap: The word “barks” is in the audio, but Leo explicitly says the dog “rarely barks”.

3 Correct Answer: (A) He must pay an extra sum of money as a guarantee.

• Explanation: Mrs. Higgins states that they will add a “two-hundred-dollar pet deposit” to his account. Option A paraphrases this (extra sum of money as a guarantee = pet deposit / additional security fee). Option B is the Trap: Leo mentions the “lease agreement” (rental contract) and the dog is “three years” old, but he doesn’t have to sign a 3-year contract. Option C is not mentioned.

Leo: Hi Mrs. Higgins. Do you have a minute to chat about my apartment?

Mrs. Higgins: Hello, Leo. Is everything alright? Do you need something repaired?

Leo: No, the place is great. Actually, I wanted to ask about the lease agreement. I’m thinking of adopting a small dog, and I wanted to get your permission first.

Mrs. Higgins: Well, the contract usually says “no pets” because I worry about noise and damage to the furniture.

Leo: I completely understand. But the dog I’m looking at is already three years old and fully house-trained. He rarely barks and doesn’t chew on things. I promise to be a responsible owner.

Mrs. Higgins: Hmm, you have been an excellent tenant so far. I suppose I can make an exception for a small, well-behaved dog.

Leo: Thank you so much! Will I need to pay an additional security fee?

Mrs. Higgins: Yes, we will need to add a two-hundred-dollar pet deposit to your account, just in case.

Leo: That seems perfectly fair. I’ll drop by your office tomorrow to sign the paperwork.

1 Correct Answer: (B) Because the bedroom does not receive a lot of natural light.

• Explanation: Sarah says she originally wanted blue, but “since that room doesn’t get much sunlight during the day, I think we need something warmer.” Option B paraphrases this perfectly (does not receive a lot of natural light = doesn’t get much sunlight). Option A is not mentioned. Option C is the Trap: Sarah mentions her daughter “loves nature” (which might relate to green), but her actual reason for changing from blue is the lack of light.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Soft yellow.

• Explanation: After discussing the options, Sarah says, “I think the soft yellow will really help brighten up the dark space. Let’s go with that one.” Option C is the final decision. Option A (Light blue) is the Trap: It was her original idea, which she rejected. Option B (Light green) is another Trap: It was one of Mike’s suggestions, but Sarah didn’t choose it.

3 Correct Answer: (B) By Thursday afternoon.

• Explanation: Mike explicitly states, “I should be completely finished by Thursday afternoon.” Option B matches this exactly. Option A is the Trap: “Tuesday morning” is when Mike will start the job, not finish it. Option C is also a Trap: The “weekend” is when the kids can sleep in the room again, which happens after the job is done.

Mike: Good morning, Mrs. Davis. I’ve brought the color samples for the kids’ bedroom like we discussed.

Sarah: Thanks, Mike. Originally, I was thinking about painting it light blue. But since that room doesn’t get much sunlight during the day, I think we need something warmer.

Mike: I agree with you. Blue might make it feel a bit too cold in there. How about a soft yellow or maybe a light green? Both are very bright and cheerful.

Sarah: Hmm, my daughter loves nature, but I think the soft yellow will really help brighten up the dark space. Let’s go with that one.

Mike: Great choice. It will look fantastic.

Sarah: Perfect. So, how long do you estimate the entire job will take?

Mike: Well, I need to prep the walls first and then apply two coats of paint. I’ll start early on Tuesday morning, and I should be completely finished by Thursday afternoon.

Sarah: That’s very fast! That means the kids can sleep in there again this weekend.

1 Correct Answer: (B) He wants to spend less money on his accommodation.

• Explanation: Tom says, “I think I’ll choose the shared option to save some money.” Option B paraphrases this accurately (spend less money = save some money; accommodation = shared option/room). Option A is the Trap: “Privacy for studying” is the benefit of the single room, which Tom does not choose. Option C is also a Trap: Linda mentions making a friend as a benefit, but Tom’s stated reason is the cost.

2 Correct Answer: (C) The bedroom, electricity, and daily meals.

• Explanation: Linda explains that the package covers “the room, all your utility bills, and a full meal plan”. Option C uses synonyms to list these items (bedroom = room; electricity = utility bills; daily meals = full meal plan). Option A is the Trap: She says “Not if you select our all-inclusive package” in response to him asking if he has to pay separately for food. Option B is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (A) No later than the first of August.

• Explanation: Linda states clearly that the “housing form must be completed and submitted by August 1st”. Option A matches this perfectly. Option B is the Trap: “September 15th” is mentioned, but that is when the “autumn semester officially begins”, not the application deadline. Option C is a Trap: Tom might fill it out tonight in real life, but the official deadline from the university is August 1st.

Tom: Excuse me, I’m a first-year student and I have a few questions about living on campus. I can’t decide whether to apply for a single or a double room.

Linda: Welcome to the university! Well, a single room offers more privacy for studying, but it is quite expensive. A double means you share the living space with a roommate. It’s a great way to make a new friend, and it costs a lot less.

Tom: That makes sense. I think I’ll choose the shared option to save some money. What about the fees? Do I have to pay separately for food?

Linda: Not if you select our all-inclusive package. For eight hundred dollars a month, you get the room, all your utility bills, and a full meal plan at the student cafeteria.

Tom: That sounds very convenient. When is the absolute deadline to hand in the paperwork?

Linda: The autumn semester officially begins on September 15th. However, your housing form must be completed and submitted by August 1st. Otherwise, you’ll be put on a waiting list.

Tom: Got it. Thank you for your help!

1 Correct Answer: (B) Putting cameras in the entrance hall and using keycards for the main door.

• Explanation: Mr. Harris mentions installing cameras in the “main lobby” (entrance hall) and replacing the lock with an “electronic keycard system”. Option B paraphrases this exactly. Option A is not mentioned. Option C is the Trap: They are replacing the lock for the “front door” of the building, not the doors of individual apartments.

2 Correct Answer: (C) By using funds that the building has already saved up.

• Explanation: Mr. Harris reassures Mrs. Clark by saying they have “enough money saved in the building’s reserve fund”. Option C expresses this meaning using synonyms (saved in reserve fund = funds already saved up). Option A is not mentioned. Option B is the Trap: Mrs. Clark asks if it will increase the “monthly maintenance fee”, but Mr. Harris explicitly says “No, it won’t.”

3 Correct Answer: (B) Improve the brightness of the area where people leave their cars.

• Explanation: David complains that the underground parking garage is “dark” and asks to “upgrade the lighting system”. Option B paraphrases this perfectly (improve the brightness = upgrade the lighting; area where people leave their cars = parking garage). Option A is the Trap: David mentions the parking garage, but he wants lighting, not cameras installed. Option C is also a trap: “Friday” is the deadline for submitting comments (drop a note), not the next meeting date.

Mr. Harris (Manager): Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining this month’s residents’ meeting. The main item on tonight’s agenda is the plan to upgrade our building’s security system. We want to install new digital cameras in the main lobby and replace the old front door lock with an electronic keycard system.

Mrs. Clark (Resident 1): Excuse me, Mr. Harris. This sounds like a great idea, but I have a question. Will this project increase our monthly maintenance fee?

Mr. Harris: Good question, Mrs. Clark. No, it won’t. We have enough money saved in the building’s reserve fund to cover all the installation costs for this year.

David (Resident 2): Hi, David from apartment 4B here. The lobby cameras are fine, but what about the underground parking garage? It’s quite dark down there at night. Could we upgrade the lighting system there as well?

Mr. Harris: That’s an excellent point, David. I’ll add the garage lighting to our proposal. If anyone else has further suggestions, please drop a note in the office box by Friday.