Celebrities – B1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between two friends and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why didn’t Sarah watch the movie initially?
(A) She dislikes the actor’s usual movie genre.
(B) She is not a fan of action movies in general.
(C) She heard bad reviews about the film.
2 What impressed Mark about Ryan Sterling’s performance?
(A) He played a very romantic and charming character.
(B) He did his own dangerous action scenes.
(C) He co-directed the movie himself.
3 What is the final outcome of the conversation?
(A) Mark promises to buy a ticket for Sarah.
(B) Sarah agrees to give the movie a try.
(C) They decide to watch a comedy on Friday.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A)
- Explanation: Sarah says she finds his “romantic comedies a bit cheesy” (which matches “dislikes the actor’s usual movie genre”).
- Why the traps are wrong: (C) is a trap because she heard who the lead actor was, but she didn’t mention hearing bad reviews about the film itself. (B) is a plausible reason, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: Mark says the actor “performed all his own physical stunts” (which is a paraphrase for “did his own dangerous action scenes”).
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. The script mentions “charming guy who falls in love”, but this is what Sarah expected, and Mark immediately rejects it by saying “Not this time.” (C) is a plausible but unmentioned fact.
3 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: At the end, Sarah says “Alright, you convinced me. I’ll check the showtimes tonight,” which means she agrees to try watching the movie.
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. Mark says the movie is “worth the ticket price,” but he never offers to buy it for her. (C) is a trap because “romantic comedies” are mentioned earlier, but they are not making a plan to watch one.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: Hey Sarah, did you catch that new action flick, “Shadow Protocol”, over the weekend?
Sarah: Oh, hi Mark. Um, no, I actually skipped it. I heard Ryan Sterling is the lead, and well, you know I usually find his romantic comedies a bit… cheesy.
Mark: I thought the exact same thing! But seriously, you have to see it. He completely stepped out of his comfort zone. It’s not his usual stuff at all.
Sarah: Really? I just figured he’d be playing the typical charming guy who falls in love while explosions happen in the background.
Mark: Not this time. He actually performed all his own physical stunts, and his character is quite dark and mysterious. It’s a massive shift for him. I was honestly blown away by his performance.
Sarah: Wow, that does sound intriguing. I guess I shouldn’t judge him just based on his past roles.
Mark: Exactly. It’s definitely worth the ticket price. Grab some popcorn and go see it this Friday!
Sarah: Alright, you convinced me. I’ll check the showtimes tonight.
Listening 2
Listen to a conversation between two fans and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 How does Chloe feel when she first hears the news?
(A) She is angry because she wanted him to prioritize his tour.
(B) She is very surprised because she thought his main focus was his career.
(C) She is disappointed because she doesn’t like his new girlfriend.
2 Who is Leo’s new partner?
(A) A well-known movie actress.
(B) A regular person with an artistic job.
(C) A photographer he worked with on his tour.
3 What is Chloe’s attitude toward the angry fans?
(A) She thinks they should calm down and support his personal life.
(B) She completely agrees with them and feels betrayed by Leo.
(C) She believes they will eventually stop listening to his music.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: Chloe says “No way! […] I thought he was completely focused on his upcoming world tour.” This shows she is surprised because she believed his career was his priority.
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. The “tour” is mentioned, but Chloe is shocked, not angry. (C) is a plausible negative reaction, but Chloe actually thinks the relationship “makes sense”.
2 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: Emma says the girl is “not famous at all” and is a “graphic designer” (which paraphrases to a “regular person with an artistic job”).
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. Chloe asks “Is she an actress?”, but Emma immediately rejects this by saying she is not famous. (C) is plausible but not mentioned in the audio.
3 Correct Answer: (A)
- Explanation: Chloe says “people need to chill out” (calm down) and “If he’s happy, we should be happy for him” (support his personal life).
- Why the traps are wrong: (B) is a trap. Angry fans are mentioned, but Chloe explicitly disagrees with them. (C) is a plausible guess about the future, but Chloe never mentions fans stopping listening to his music.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Oh my goodness, Chloe! Are you seeing this on Twitter right now?
Chloe: No, I’m just finishing my homework. Wait, let me check. What’s trending?
Emma: It’s about Leo Vance! Someone posted a picture of him holding hands with someone outside a coffee shop in London. They are officially a couple!
Chloe: No way! Leo? I thought he was completely focused on his upcoming world tour. Who is the girl? Is she an actress?
Emma: Well, that’s the surprising part. She’s actually not famous at all. Apparently, she’s a graphic designer he met at a charity event last year.
Chloe: Wow, I’m honestly a bit shocked. But, you know, it kind of makes sense. He always said in interviews that he wanted a normal, quiet life away from the cameras.
Emma: Exactly! And she looks really sweet in the photos. Some fans are pretty upset, though, leaving angry comments.
Chloe: Ugh, people need to chill out. If he’s happy, we should be happy for him. I mean, he’s given us so much great music.
Emma: True. I just hope the media doesn’t bother them too much.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between two friends and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is Taylor initially hesitant to go to the concert?
(A) She is currently saving up to buy a computer for her studies.
(B) She thinks the band’s live performances are usually disappointing.
(C) She has already spent too much money on coffee this month.
2 What is Alex’s main argument to persuade Taylor?
(A) The front row seats are currently on a special discount.
(B) Seeing the band perform in person will be an unforgettable experience.
(C) Alex promises to pay for Taylor’s ticket as a reward for her hard work.
3 What do they finally agree to do?
(A) They will wait a few weeks to see if the ticket prices drop.
(B) They will use Taylor’s savings to buy the most expensive VIP passes.
(C) They will purchase the standard entry tickets immediately.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A)
- Explanation: Taylor says she is “trying to put away some cash for that new laptop I need for college.” (“Put away some cash” is a paraphrase for “saving up”, and “laptop” is a type of “computer”).
- Why the traps are wrong: (C) is a trap. The word “coffee” is mentioned at the end, but it’s Alex’s suggestion for future savings, not a reason why Taylor has no money now. (B) is a plausible reason, but it’s not mentioned. In fact, Alex says their live energy is great.
2 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: Alex argues that “experiencing their energy live is completely different” and they will “make some incredible memories” (which paraphrases to “an unforgettable experience”).
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. Alex mentions “front row seats,” but says they are “pricey” (expensive), not on discount. (C) is a trap. Alex tells Taylor to think of the concert as a “reward,” but Alex never offers to pay for Taylor’s ticket.
3 Correct Answer: (C)
- Explanation: They decide to get “general admission tickets” (standard entry tickets), and Taylor says “Let’s book them before they sell out!” (meaning they will buy them immediately).
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. They want to buy them before they sell out, not wait. (B) is a trap because they explicitly avoid the “pricey front row seats” and choose the $60 tickets instead.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alex: Hey Taylor! Did you hear the news? The Starbursts are finally coming to our city next month!
Taylor: Really? That’s awesome. But let me guess, you want us to go together?
Alex: Of course! We’ve been listening to their music since high school. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Taylor: I know, I know. But tickets are probably super expensive, right? I’m trying to put away some cash for that new laptop I need for college.
Alex: Well, the front row seats are definitely pricey, yeah. But if we just get the general admission tickets, it’s only 60 bucks. Plus, experiencing their energy live is completely different from streaming their tracks at home. We could make some incredible memories!
Taylor: Um, 60 bucks isn’t too bad, I suppose. But I still feel a bit guilty dipping into my savings.
Alex: Think of it as a reward for all your hard work lately. You can just skip buying expensive coffee for a couple of weeks to make up for it.
Taylor: Oh, alright! You always know how to talk me into things. Let’s book them before they sell out!
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between two friends and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why does Riley initially doubt that the woman is Isabella Vance?
(A) Because the woman is wearing oversized sunglasses that hide her face.
(B) Because she thinks a celebrity wouldn’t visit their local area.
(C) Because she knows Isabella Vance is currently traveling abroad.
2 Why does Riley think it is a bad idea to approach the model?
(A) Because Isabella Vance is known to dislike taking photos with fans.
(B) Because the cafe has strict rules about bothering its customers.
(C) Because the model appears to be busy and enjoying her private time.
3 What do the friends ultimately decide to do?
(A) They decide to leave the celebrity alone and respect her personal space.
(B) They plan to wait for her to finish her coffee before asking for a picture.
(C) Sam decides to quickly run over and take a photo in ten seconds.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: Riley says, “Why would someone that famous be hanging out in our quiet neighborhood?” This implies she doesn’t believe a big celebrity would visit their specific, quiet local area.
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. The “oversized sunglasses” are mentioned by Sam to prove it is her (her fashion style), not by Riley to doubt her identity. (C) is a plausible reason, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: (C)
- Explanation: Riley notes that Isabella looks like she is “reading a script” and it would be rude to “interrupt her downtime” (which paraphrases to being busy and enjoying private time).
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. Riley mentions an actor who got angry at fans last month, but she doesn’t say Isabella herself dislikes taking photos. (B) is completely unmentioned in the dialogue.
3 Correct Answer: (A)
- Explanation: At the end of the conversation, Sam agrees with Riley and says, “Let’s just admire her from a distance,” meaning they will not approach her (respecting her personal space).
- Why the traps are wrong: (C) is a trap. Sam initially suggests taking only ten seconds (“I won’t take more than ten seconds”), but later changes his mind. (B) is a plausible alternative, but they don’t discuss waiting for her to finish.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sam: Oh my gosh, Riley, look over there at that corner café! Isn’t that Isabella Vance?
Riley: The supermodel? No way. Why would someone that famous be hanging out in our quiet neighborhood?
Sam: I’m positive it’s her. Look at those oversized sunglasses and that designer coat. She’s just having an espresso. We have to go over there and ask for a selfie!
Riley: I don’t know, Sam. She looks like she’s reading a script or something important. It seems pretty rude to interrupt her downtime.
Sam: But this is a rare opportunity! What if I just quietly walk up and tell her I’m a huge fan? I promise I won’t take more than ten seconds.
Riley: Well, you know how much public figures value their privacy. Remember when that actor got really angry at fans last month for doing the exact same thing?
Sam: Yeah, you make a fair point. I guess I would hate it if strangers bothered me while I was trying to relax. Let’s just admire her from a distance.
Riley: Good call.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between a brother and sister and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What does Liam like most about the vlogger?
(A) She teaches him how to make healthy green juices at home.
(B) Her videos encourage him to improve his own daily routine.
(C) She provides professional advice on mental health issues.
2 Why does Maya criticize the vlogger?
(A) She believes the vlogger’s lifestyle is fake and made for advertising.
(B) She thinks the vlogger complains too much about her personal struggles.
(C) She feels the videos are usually too long and boring to watch.
3 What kind of content creators does Maya prefer to watch?
(A) Creators who focus on reviewing affordable health products.
(B) Vloggers who create funny and entertaining comedy sketches.
(C) People who share their genuine and unpolished everyday experiences.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B)
- Explanation: Liam says the vlogger “motivates me to build better habits” (which is a paraphrase for “encourage him to improve his own daily routine”).
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. A “green juice brand” is mentioned, but she promotes an expensive brand, she doesn’t teach him how to make it. (C) is a trap. Liam mentions she talks about her “struggles with mental health”, but he never says she gives professional advice on it.
2 Correct Answer: (A)
- Explanation: Maya says the vlogger creates an “illusion to sell products” and does it for “sponsorships” (which paraphrases to “fake and made for advertising”).
- Why the traps are wrong: (B) is a trap. “Struggles” are mentioned by Liam as a positive point, but Maya does not criticize her for complaining. (C) is plausible because Maya clearly dislikes the videos, but she never mentions the length or them being boring.
3 Correct Answer: (C)
- Explanation: At the end, Maya states she prefers creators who show their “messy, real lives” (which paraphrases to “genuine and unpolished everyday experiences”).
- Why the traps are wrong: (A) is a trap. “Products” are mentioned earlier, but Maya dislikes the fact that the vlogger promotes them. (B) is a plausible type of content, but it is never mentioned in the conversation.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Maya: Hey Liam, are you watching Sunny’s new vlog again? I don’t get why you’re so obsessed with her videos.
Liam: Actually, yes. She’s really inspiring, Maya. She wakes up at 5 AM, does yoga, and eats super healthy. It motivates me to build better habits.
Maya: Oh, come on. You do realize most of that is probably staged, right? Nobody is that perfect every single day.
Liam: I disagree. She seems very authentic. She even talks openly about her struggles with mental health.
Maya: Well, I think she just creates this ‘perfect life’ illusion to sell products. Didn’t you notice she spent five minutes promoting that expensive green juice brand in the middle of the video? She’s just doing it for the sponsorships.
Liam: Okay, she has to make a living somehow. But I still think her overall message is positive.
Maya: Maybe. I just prefer content creators who show their messy, real lives instead of a heavily edited commercial.