Crime & Punishment – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) To discuss a problem with his recent assignment.

• The Key: The professor says she has “serious concerns about your final history paper.” Having serious concerns about a paper means there is a problem with his recent assignment.
• The Trap (C): The professor mentions using a “checking software”, but she used it to scan his paper, not to help him install it.
• Plausible but not mentioned (A): Teachers often call students in to praise them, but in this case, Kevin did something wrong.

2 Answer: (C) He was feeling anxious because of a time limit.

• The Key: Kevin says, “I was incredibly stressed about the deadline last week.” Being stressed about a deadline means feeling anxious because of a time limit.
• The Trap (A): The professor mentions that Kevin didn’t use “quotation marks,” but Kevin doesn’t say he didn’t know how to use them; his excuse was stress.
• Plausible but not mentioned (B): Losing notes could cause a student to panic and cheat, but Kevin does not say he lost anything.

3 Answer: (B) She tells him to do the work again for a lower grade.

• The Key: The professor says, “I want you to rewrite the whole assignment… However, the highest score you can get is a C.” “Rewrite” means do it again, and a “C” is a lower grade.
• The Trap (A): The professor says that plagiarism usually means you “automatically fail the entire course.” However, she decides to give him a “second chance,” so she does not fail him this time.
• Plausible but not mentioned (C): Reporting to a committee is a real punishment for plagiarism at universities, but the professor decides to handle it directly with Kevin instead.

Professor: Come in, Kevin. Have a seat. Um, I asked to see you today because I have some serious concerns about your final history paper.

Kevin: Oh? Is there something wrong with it, Professor Smith?

Professor: Well, yes. I ran it through our checking software, and it seems a large part of your essay was taken directly from a published article. You didn’t include any quotation marks or mention the original author.

Kevin: Ah… I… I’m so sorry. I was incredibly stressed about the deadline last week, and I panicked. I know it was a terrible mistake.

Professor: I understand being under pressure, Kevin, but this is plagiarism. It is a major academic offense. In most cases, stealing another person’s intellectual property means you automatically fail the entire course.

Kevin: Please, Professor. Is there anything I can do?

Professor: Since this is your first time, I am going to give you a second chance. I want you to rewrite the whole assignment from scratch by this Friday. However, the highest score you can get is a C.

Kevin: Thank you so much. I promise it won’t happen again.

1 Answer: (B) Her electronic device is missing from her workplace.

• The Key: Sarah says, “someone stole my tablet. I left it right on my desk”. A tablet is an electronic device, and her desk is her workplace.
• The Trap (A): Mr. Davis asks if she left it in the “meeting room”, and Sarah mentions reading “documents”, but she did not lose her documents. She lost her tablet.
• Plausible but not mentioned (C): She mentions going to the “cafeteria” for lunch, but she never says she lost a wallet there.

2 Answer: (A) Review the video recordings in the corridor.

• The Key: Sarah asks, “can we check the security cameras in the hallway?” Checking cameras means reviewing video recordings, and a hallway is a corridor.
• The Trap (B): Sarah’s tablet was taken from her “office”, but she does not ask Mr. Davis to go in there and search for it. She specifically asks to check the cameras.
• Plausible but not mentioned (C): Calling the police is a normal action when something is stolen, but Sarah does not ask him to do this in the conversation.

3 Answer: (C) They do not film the inside of the work rooms.

• The Key: Mr. Davis explains that the cameras “only point at the doors and the elevator, not directly inside the offices.” This means they do not film the inside of the work rooms.
• The Trap (A): The theft happened during the “lunch break”, but Mr. Davis says the cameras “record 24/7” (all day and night), so they do not stop working.
• The Trap (B): Mr. Davis says he will “review the footage from the last hour”, but he doesn’t say the cameras only save videos for one hour.

Sarah: Excuse me, Mr. Davis. Do you have a minute? I have a serious problem.

Mr. Davis: Of course, Sarah. What’s wrong? You look quite worried.

Sarah: Well, I think someone stole my tablet. I left it right on my desk before I went to the cafeteria for my lunch break at 12:30. But when I came back just now, it was completely gone.

Mr. Davis: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Are you absolutely sure you didn’t leave it in the meeting room this morning?

Sarah: Yes, I’m positive. I was reading some documents on it right before lunch. Um, is there any way we can check the security cameras in the hallway?

Mr. Davis: We can definitely do that. The cameras record 24/7. However, they only point at the doors and the elevator, not directly inside the offices.

Sarah: That’s okay. If someone walked out of my office with a tablet, the camera would still catch them, right?

Mr. Davis: Exactly. Let me open the video system and review the footage from the last hour. Please fill out this incident report form while we wait.

Sarah: Alright, thank you.

1 Answer: (B) To inform the staff about a strict safety rule.

• The Key: The manager says, “management has decided to implement a stricter safety policy.” A safety policy is a safety rule.
• The Trap (A): The manager mentions “security guards” who will check the badges, but she is not introducing new guards to the staff.
• Plausible but not mentioned (C): The “front gates” are mentioned, but there are no instructions on how to use them.

2 Answer: (C) They will be denied entry to the workplace.

• The Key: The manager warns that “the security guards will not allow you to pass the front gates.” Not being allowed to pass means being denied entry.
• The Trap (A): The manager mentions a “fee” at the end, but she specifically says “We will not charge a fee”, meaning there is no financial penalty.
• Plausible but not mentioned (B): Waiting for a manager’s approval is a common procedure in some companies, but it is not mentioned here. The rule is that they “have to go back home to get it.”

3 Answer: (A) Ask the HR department for a new one before the weekend.

• The Key: The manager says, “if you have lost your badge, please contact my office by this Friday so we can print a replacement.” “By this Friday” means before the weekend, and a replacement is a new badge.
• The Trap (B): The manager mentions “bags or pockets,” but she is complaining about people hiding their badges there, not telling people to search there if they lose them.
• Plausible but not mentioned (C): Borrowing a temporary pass is a logical solution when you forget a badge, but the manager does not offer this option.

HR Manager: Good morning, everyone. Thanks for coming to this brief staff meeting. I have an important update regarding our office security.

Recently, we’ve had a few incidents of unauthorized individuals trying to enter the building. Because of this, management has decided to implement a stricter safety policy. Starting next Monday, every employee must wear their ID badge visibly at all times. If you do not have your badge with you, the security guards will not allow you to pass the front gates. You will simply have to go back home to get it.

I know some of you usually keep your badges hidden in your bags or pockets, but that is no longer acceptable. Also, if you have lost your badge, please contact my office by this Friday so we can print a replacement for you. We will not charge a fee for your first replacement. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our workplace safe.

1 Answer: (B) Methods to recognize dangerous messages at work.

• The Key: They are discussing a “cybersecurity training” on how to deal with “phishing emails” (dangerous messages) so they don’t give away passwords.
• The Trap (C): Sarah mentions they “can’t afford a data breach,” which means they want to prevent one from happening. A data breach hasn’t actually happened yet.
• Plausible but not mentioned (A): They talk about protecting “company passwords,” but they don’t discuss how to create stronger ones.

2 Answer: (C) Verify where the electronic mail originally came from.

• The Key: Mark says the first rule is to “double-check the sender’s email address.” This means you must verify where the email came from.
• The Trap (A): Mark mentions he decided to “call the tech support team” last month. However, this was a personal action he took, not the “first rule” taught in the training.
• Plausible but not mentioned (B): Installing security programs is a common cyber safety tip, but neither of them mentions doing this in the audio.

3 Answer: (A) To make the victim feel frightened and act quickly.

• The Key: Sarah says telling someone their account will be locked is a “classic trick to make people panic.” To panic means to feel very frightened and do things without thinking carefully.
• The Trap (B): The email says the account is locked, but Sarah points out this is just a “trick” (a lie). The company’s network is not actually broken.
• Plausible but not mentioned (C): Scammers want to steal passwords, not force the managers to change company rules.

Sarah: Hey Mark, did you finish the new cybersecurity training module yet?

Mark: Yeah, I just completed it. It’s crazy how sophisticated internet criminals are getting these days.

Sarah: Exactly. The section about phishing emails really caught my attention. I didn’t realize how easy it is to accidentally give away our company passwords.

Mark: Right? The trainer said the first rule is to always double-check the sender’s email address. Sometimes it looks like it’s from our IT department, but it’s actually a fake account.

Sarah: Yes, and we shouldn’t click on any strange links, even if the message says our account will be locked. That’s a classic trick to make people panic.

Mark: Um, I almost fell for one of those last month. Luckily, I decided to call the tech support team directly before typing in my login details.

Sarah: Good call! Better safe than sorry. We really can’t afford a data breach at this company.

Mark: Definitely. I’ll be much more careful from now on.

1 Answer: (A) To pay for his university education.

• The Key: Leo says, “I need to earn some extra money for my studies.” Earning money for his studies means paying for his university education.
• The Trap (B): Leo mentions he has a “flexible schedule,” but this is a condition that allows him to work, not the reason he wants the job.
• Plausible but not mentioned (C): Working as a security guard is good experience for a future police officer, but Leo never talks about his future career plans.

2 Answer: (B) Customers who frequently check where the cameras are.

• The Key: Leo says he would watch for people “who keep looking around at the cameras.” This means they frequently check where the cameras are.
• The Trap (A): The manager mentions a teenager putting a “chocolate bar” in his jacket, but buying a lot of chocolate is not described as a suspicious behavior.
• Plausible but not mentioned (C): Running fast in a store is dangerous and suspicious, but Leo does not mention this in the audio.

3 Answer: (C) He would speak to them calmly about the unpaid product.

• The Key: Leo says, “I would approach him quietly and ask if he forgot to pay for that item.” Approaching quietly and asking a question means speaking calmly.
• The Trap (A): The word “shout” is in the audio, but Leo clearly says, “I wouldn’t shout at him… That could cause a huge public scene.”
• Plausible but not mentioned (B): Locking the doors to trap a thief is something security might do in an emergency, but Leo does not suggest this action.

Mr. Evans: Have a seat, Leo. So, you’re a university student looking for a part-time job as a security guard here at our supermarket?

Leo: Yes, Mr. Evans. I need to earn some extra money for my studies, and I have a very flexible schedule this semester.

Mr. Evans: Good. Well, this job requires a lot of attention. How would you spot someone who might be stealing?

Leo: Um, I would watch for people who look extremely nervous, or those who keep looking around at the cameras. Also, customers who carry large, open bags can be suspicious.

Mr. Evans: Exactly. Now, imagine you see a teenager putting a chocolate bar into his jacket. What do you do?

Leo: Ah, I wouldn’t shout at him or grab his arm. That could cause a huge public scene. Instead, I would approach him quietly and ask if he forgot to pay for that item.

Mr. Evans: That’s a great answer. We want to prevent shoplifting, but we must treat everyone with respect. We don’t want to frighten our honest shoppers. I think you’ll be a good fit for this team.