Housing – B1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a phone conversation between a customer and a locksmith. Then, read the questions and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 How did the customer lose access to her apartment?
(A) She accidentally dropped her keys in the trash.
(B) The door shut automatically when she went outside.
(C) She locked the door from the outside by mistake.
2 Why is the customer in a hurry to get back inside?
(A) She left a cooking appliance running.
(B) She needs to contact her sister immediately.
(C) She left her mobile phone in the kitchen.
3 How long will the customer have to wait for the technician?
(A) Approximately one hour.
(B) Exactly 90 minutes.
(C) Less than half an hour.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (The door shut automatically when she went outside)
- Explanation: The customer says, “I just stepped out… and the door closed behind me.” This means the door shut on its own.
- Trap A: Incorrect. The audio mentions “take out the garbage,” but she didn’t drop her keys in it. Her keys are on the kitchen counter.
- Trap C: Incorrect. This is a plausible situation, but she didn’t lock it with a key from the outside.
2 Correct Answer: A (She left a cooking appliance running)
- Explanation: The customer states, “I left the stove on!” A stove is a type of cooking appliance.
- Trap B: Incorrect. The audio mentions her sister, but only to explain that her sister has the spare key and is “out of town.” She doesn’t need to call her.
- Trap C: Incorrect. She mentions the “kitchen counter,” but that is where her keys are, not her phone (she is currently using a phone to make the call).
3 Correct Answer: C (Less than half an hour)
- Explanation: The locksmith promises the technician will be there in “about 20 minutes.” Twenty minutes is less than half an hour (30 minutes).
- Trap A: Incorrect. The locksmith mentions that their “usual wait time is about an hour,” but because this is an emergency, they are coming much faster.
- Trap B: Incorrect. The number “90” is mentioned, but it refers to the total cost in dollars ($90), not the wait time.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Locksmith: “Hello, City Quick Locks. How can I help you today?”
Customer: “Hi, um, I have a bit of an emergency. I just stepped out of my apartment to take out the garbage, and, ah, the door closed behind me. My keys are still inside on the kitchen counter.”
Locksmith: “I see. Are you completely locked out, or do you have a spare key hidden somewhere?”
Customer: “Well, I gave a spare to my sister, but she’s out of town for the weekend. I really need to get back in quickly because I left the stove on!”
Locksmith: “Oh, that is urgent. Okay, don’t panic. Where are you located?”
Customer: “I’m at the Greenbriar Apartments on West Avenue.”
Locksmith: “Right. Our usual wait time is about an hour, but since it’s an emergency, I can send a technician over right away. He should be there in about 20 minutes.”
Customer: “Oh, thank goodness! How much will this cost?”
Locksmith: “There’s a standard $50 call-out fee, plus the labor for unlocking the door. It usually comes to around $90 total.”
Customer: “That’s fine, just please hurry!”
Listening 2
Listen to three roommates talking during a power outage. Then, read the questions and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 How do the roommates know the power outage is only in their apartment?
(A) Their neighbors came over to tell them.
(B) The streetlights outside are still working.
(C) The television in the living room is still playing.
2 What most likely caused the blackout in their apartment?
(A) A severe thunderstorm hitting the city.
(B) A broken electrical cable in the hallway.
(C) Using too many appliances at the same time.
3 What is Sam asked to do at the end of the conversation?
(A) Wait in the room and watch the door.
(B) Use his phone to provide some light.
(C) Go to the hallway to inspect the fuse box.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (The streetlights outside are still working)
- Explanation: Sam says, “Look out the window… the streetlights are still on.” This helps them realize the problem is only in their apartment.
- Trap A: Incorrect. This is a plausible guess in real life, but neighbors are never mentioned in the audio.
- Trap C: Incorrect. The TV turned off at the very beginning when the power went out (“Did the TV just break?”).
2 Correct Answer: C (Using too many appliances at the same time)
- Explanation: Alex mentions they were running “the air conditioner, the microwave, and the washing machine all at the same time.” Sam then confirms they might have “overloaded the system.” This is a paraphrase of using too many electrical appliances.
- Trap A: Incorrect. A storm is a common cause of blackouts, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
- Trap B: Incorrect. They mention the “hallway” because that is where the fuse box is, not because there is a broken cable there.
3 Correct Answer: A (Wait in the room and watch the door)
- Explanation: Jamie tells Sam, “you stay here in the living room and make sure the front door is closed.”
- Trap B: Incorrect. Jamie is the one using her smartphone to provide light.
- Trap C: Incorrect. Alex is the one who says “I need to go out to the hallway and check the fuse box.” (Students must listen carefully to distinguish who does what task).
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alex: “Whoa! What just happened? Did the TV just break?”
Jamie: “No, the power just went out. Everything is pitch black in here.”
Sam: “Don’t panic, guys. It’s probably just a temporary blackout. Stay where you are for a second so you don’t trip over the coffee table.”
Alex: “Has anyone got a flashlight? Or, um, maybe a candle?”
Jamie: “Wait, let me check my pocket… Yeah, I’ve got my smartphone. Let me turn on the flashlight app. Okay, that’s a bit better.”
Sam: “Right. Look out the window… the streetlights are still on. It must be just our apartment.”
Alex: “Well, we were running the air conditioner, the microwave, and the washing machine all at the same time.”
Sam: “Ah, you mean we might have overloaded the system?”
Alex: “Exactly. Jamie, can you come with me and hold your phone up? I need to go out to the hallway and check the fuse box.”
Jamie: “Sure. Sam, you stay here in the living room and make sure the front door is closed.”
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between two neighbors carefully. Then, choose the best answer (A, B, or C) for each question below.
1 What is the main problem the man is facing?
(A) His neighbor is making too much noise.
(B) He cannot drive his car to the office.
(C) He cannot find a parking space on the street.
2 Why is the car blocking the driveway?
(A) The neighbor’s visitors parked in the wrong place.
(B) The man’s family is visiting his house.
(C) A delivery truck broke down on the street.
3 What will Mrs. Choi do next?
(A) She will drive the man to his important meeting.
(B) She will show the man a new parking spot.
(C) She will request her guests to relocate their vehicles.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Kyle says, “I really need to go downtown for work, but I can’t get my car out.” This means he cannot drive to his office. Option A is a trap because Mrs. Choi asks if they are making too much noise, but Kyle clearly says, “No, it’s not the noise.” Option C is incorrect because Kyle is trying to leave his house, not find a parking space.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Kyle tells Mrs. Choi that “some of your guests have parked in front of my house” and are “blocking my driveway.” This matches option A (visitors parked in the wrong place). Option B is a trap; the script mentions family visiting, but it is Mrs. Choi’s family, not Kyle’s. Option C is not mentioned at all.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: At the end of the conversation, Mrs. Choi says, “I’ll ask them to move their cars right away.” Option C paraphrases this perfectly using the words “request” and “relocate their vehicles.” Option A uses the keywords “drive” and “meeting” to trick the listener, but she never offers to drive him.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mrs. Choi: Hello? Oh, Kyle from down the street! What a surprise.
Kyle: Good morning, Mrs. Choi. I apologize for bothering you so early, but I have a bit of an issue.
Mrs. Choi: Oh? What is it? Are we making too much noise?
Kyle: No, it’s not the noise. I noticed you are having a get-together this morning. The thing is, some of your guests have parked in front of my house.
Mrs. Choi: Yes, my family is visiting. Is there a problem with the street parking?
Kyle: Well, one of their cars is actually blocking my driveway. I really need to go downtown for work, but I can’t get my car out.
Mrs. Choi: Oh my goodness, I had no idea! I am so sorry about that. Parking is always so difficult in our neighborhood.
Kyle: I know it is. But I have an important meeting in 30 minutes, so I need to leave right now.
Mrs. Choi: I completely understand. I’ll ask them to move their cars right away.
Kyle: Thank you, Mrs. Choi. I really appreciate your help.
Listening 4
Listen to the telephone conversation between a tenant and her landlord. Then, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is the tenant contacting her landlord?
(A) To complain about a broken heating system in the apartment.
(B) To report a dangerous fungal growth in the washroom.
(C) To ask for someone to repair a broken window after a storm.
2 What is the tenant’s main concern about the situation?
(A) It could cause medical issues for the person living with her.
(B) It is too difficult to clean with normal household chemicals.
(C) It will permanently damage the paint inside the bathroom.
3 What will Mr. Davis do tomorrow morning?
(A) Bring some bleach to wipe down the dirty walls.
(B) Send a professional plumber to fix the leaking pipes.
(C) Inspect the damage himself before calling for repairs.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Sarah is calling to report that “there’s a lot of dark mold spreading near the shower”. Option B uses paraphrasing (fungal growth = mold; washroom = bathroom). Option A is the trap: Mr. Davis asks if it is the “heating system,” but Sarah rejects this by saying, “No, the heater is fine.” Option C is plausible after a storm but is never mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Sarah says, “my roommate has asthma, and breathing in these spores is really bad for her health.” Option A paraphrases this perfectly (medical issues = bad for her health; person living with her = roommate). Option B is a trap: they discuss cleaning with bleach, but she already did it and that is not her main concern (health is). Option C is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: At the end, Mr. Davis says, “I’ll come over tomorrow morning to look at it first.” This matches Option C (inspect the damage himself). Option A is a trap using the keyword “bleach,” which was a rejected idea earlier. Option B is a trap: he will call a plumber, but tomorrow morning he is coming to “look at it first.”
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mr. Davis: Hello, Davis speaking.
Sarah: Hi Mr. Davis, it’s Sarah from apartment 4B. Um, I’m calling because we have a pretty urgent issue here.
Mr. Davis: Oh, hi Sarah. What’s going on? Is it the heating system again?
Sarah: No, the heater is fine. Actually, it’s the bathroom. After those heavy storms last week, the wall started getting damp. And, well, now there’s a lot of dark mold spreading near the shower.
Mr. Davis: Mold? Hmm. Have you tried cleaning it with bleach? Sometimes it’s just surface dirt.
Sarah: I did, but it came right back. I’m getting quite worried because my roommate has asthma, and breathing in these spores is really bad for her health. We need a permanent solution, not just a quick wipe. I think there might be a leak inside the wall.
Mr. Davis: I see. That does sound serious. I’ll call a plumber to check the pipes, and then we’ll probably need a specialist to treat the wall. I’ll come over tomorrow morning to look at it first.
Sarah: Thank you. We’d really appreciate it if this gets fixed as soon as possible.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between a former tenant and her landlord. Then, choose the best answer (A, B, or C) for each question below.
1 Why does the landlord want to keep some of the deposit money?
(A) The tenant left the kitchen and bathroom very dirty.
(B) There is a visible mark on the wooden floor.
(C) The tenant left an old sofa in the living room.
2 How does the tenant defend herself regarding the issue?
(A) She claims it was a complete accident while moving out.
(B) She says the previous renter made the mistake.
(C) She argues it is a natural result of living there for several years.
3 What is the final agreement between the two speakers?
(A) The landlord will ask an expert about the price of fixing it.
(B) The tenant will hire someone to polish the floor herself.
(C) The landlord will return the full deposit amount immediately.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The landlord says he noticed a “large scratch on the hardwood floor.” Option B uses paraphrasing (visible mark = large scratch; wooden floor = hardwood floor). Option A is the trap: the kitchen and bathroom are mentioned, but the landlord explicitly says they “are fine.” Option C is incorrect; the sofa is mentioned to describe the location of the scratch (“where your sofa used to be”), but she didn’t leave it behind.
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Emma says the mark is just “normal wear and tear from daily living” after staying there for three years. Option C paraphrases this idea perfectly. Option A is a trap using the context of moving, but she insists it was from “daily living,” not a sudden accident while moving. Option B is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: At the end, Mr. Henderson says, “Let me get a professional opinion on the repair cost first.” Option A matches this (expert = professional opinion; price of fixing it = repair cost). Option B is a trap using the keyword “polish,” but the tenant is not the one who will do it or pay for it yet. Option C is plausible but incorrect because he needs to check the cost first.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mr. Henderson: Well, Emma, the apartment looks mostly clean. You’ve done a good job clearing out your things. However, we need to discuss your security deposit.
Emma: Oh? Is there a problem? I spent all weekend scrubbing the place!
Mr. Henderson: Yes, the kitchen and bathroom are fine. But I noticed a large scratch on the hardwood floor in the living room, right where your sofa used to be. I’m afraid I’ll have to keep a portion of your deposit to fix it.
Emma: Wait, really? Um, I understand your concern, but I’ve lived here for three years. A minor mark like that is just normal wear and tear from daily living. It’s not intentional damage.
Mr. Henderson: I see your point, but it will still cost me money to polish it before the next person moves in.
Emma: But when I moved in, the floor wasn’t perfectly new either. You can’t expect it to look untouched after three years of renting.
Mr. Henderson: Hmm… Okay, tell you what. Let me get a professional opinion on the repair cost first. If it’s just a surface polish, I won’t charge you for it.
Emma: That sounds fair. Thank you, Mr. Henderson.