Animals & Habitats – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a pet shop assistant, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What flavor of food did the customer want to buy at first?
(A) Chicken.
(B) Beef.
(C) Salmon.
2 Why couldn’t the customer buy the salmon food?
(A) Because it was too expensive.
(B) Because the shop only had it for adult cats.
(C) Because the kitten is allergic to fish.
3 What does the customer finally decide to buy?
(A) The chicken flavor.
(B) The beef flavor.
(C) The salmon flavor for adult cats.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) Salmon.
- Explanation: At the beginning, the customer asks, “Do you have the salmon flavor?”. Option (A) is the trap because it is what she buys at the end, not what she wanted at first. Option (B) is also mentioned but was not her first choice.
2 (B) Because the shop only had it for adult cats.
- Explanation: The assistant explains that they have salmon food, “but that is only for adult cats,” and they are “completely sold out” for kittens. Option (A) and (C) are plausible reasons in real life but are not mentioned in the audio.
3 (A) The chicken flavor.
- Explanation: The customer makes her final decision by saying, “So, I will take a bag of the chicken flavor, please.” Option (B) is the trap; she thought about getting beef, but her kitten didn’t like it last time. Option (C) is a distractor.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Customer: Hi, I’m looking for some dry food for my new kitten. Do you have the salmon flavor?
Assistant: Let me check. We have a lot of salmon food, but that is only for adult cats. For kittens, we are completely sold out of the salmon flavor today.
Customer: Oh, that’s too bad. What flavors do you have left for kittens?
Assistant: We have chicken and beef. The chicken flavor is very popular.
Customer: Well, I thought about getting beef, however, my kitten didn’t like it last time. So, I will take a bag of the chicken flavor, please. How much is it?
Assistant: That will be 15 dollars.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between a visitor and a park guide, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What animal is the visitor trying to find?
(A) Monkeys.
(B) Crocodiles.
(C) Elephants.
2 Why can’t the visitor take the short walk?
(A) Because the map is wrong.
(B) Because the bridge is closed.
(C) Because it is raining today.
3 How long will it actually take the visitor to reach the lake today?
(A) 10 minutes.
(B) 20 minutes.
(C) 30 minutes.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Crocodiles.
- Explanation: The visitor clearly states, “I really want to see the crocodiles.” Option (A) is the trap; the guide mentions the “monkey forest” as part of the new route, but the visitor is not looking for monkeys. Option (C) is not mentioned.
2 (B) Because the bridge is closed.
- Explanation: The guide explains that the short way requires crossing the bridge, “But unfortunately, the bridge is closed for repairs today.” Options (A) and (C) are plausible in real life but are not mentioned in the audio.
3 (C) 30 minutes.
- Explanation: The guide gives the final information: “it will take about 30 minutes on foot.” Option (A) is the trap; 10 minutes was the visitor’s guess at the beginning before they knew the bridge was closed (The Twist). Option (B) is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Visitor: Excuse me. I am looking at the park map, and I really want to see the crocodiles. It looks like a short walk from here. Will it take about 10 minutes?
Guide: Well, usually it is very fast. You just cross the old wooden bridge. But unfortunately, the bridge is closed for repairs today.
Visitor: Oh no. So, how do I get to the crocodile lake now?
Guide: You have to walk around the monkey forest instead. It is a longer way, so it will take about 30 minutes on foot.
Visitor: I see. 30 minutes is a bit long, however, I really want to see them. Thank you for your help!
Guide: You’re welcome. Have a safe walk!
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a visitor and an animal shelter worker, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why does the visitor need a small dog?
(A) Because she lives in a small apartment.
(B) Because she already has a big cat.
(C) Because small dogs are cheaper to feed.
2 Why does the visitor decide NOT to get a puppy?
(A) Because the shelter doesn’t have any puppies.
(B) Because puppies have too much energy.
(C) Because she wants a large guard dog instead.
3 What does the worker say about Max?
(A) He is a very energetic puppy.
(B) He loves to play outside all day.
(C) He is a gentle, two-year-old dog.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) Because she lives in a small apartment.
- Explanation: The visitor states clearly at the beginning: “I live in a small apartment, so I need a small dog.” Options (B) and (C) might be true in real life but are not mentioned in the audio.
2 (B) Because puppies have too much energy.
- Explanation: The visitor says, “I thought about getting a puppy, but they have too much energy.” Option (A) is the trap; the worker actually asks if she wants a puppy, meaning they likely have them, but the visitor changes her mind (The Twist). Option (C) is incorrect because she still wants a small dog, just an older one.
3 (C) He is a gentle, two-year-old dog.
- Explanation: The worker describes Max as “a small, two-year-old dog” and says he is “incredibly gentle.” Option (A) is the trap using the word “puppy,” which was mentioned earlier but rejected. Option (B) is a distractor; the worker actually says Max “loves to sleep on the sofa.”
AUDIO SCRIPT
Visitor: Hello. I would like to adopt a dog. I live in a small apartment, so I need a small dog.
Worker: Welcome! We have many wonderful dogs here. Were you looking for a little puppy?
Visitor: Well, I thought about getting a puppy, but they have too much energy. So, I prefer an older dog that is quiet.
Worker: I understand. Then let me introduce you to Max. He is a small, two-year-old dog. He is incredibly gentle and loves to sleep on the sofa.
Visitor: He sounds perfect for me! Can I meet him right now?
Worker: Of course. Please follow me this way.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a call center agent, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What did the children want to do at the farm?
(A) Feed the baby sheep.
(B) Milk the cows.
(C) Ride the horses.
2 Why can’t the children milk the cows this Saturday?
(A) Because the cows are very sick.
(B) Because the farm doesn’t have any cows.
(C) Because the cows need to rest.
3 What does the customer decide to do at the end?
(A) She decides to book the farm tour tickets.
(B) She decides to take her kids to the zoo.
(C) She decides to call a different farm.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Milk the cows.
- Explanation: The customer clearly asks, “Can they milk the cows?”. Option (A) is the trap; feeding the baby sheep is the alternative activity they will do later. Option (C) is a distractor; the agent mentions they can brush the horses, not ride them.
2 (C) Because the cows need to rest.
- Explanation: The agent explains that the cows “just had babies, so they need to rest.” Option (A) is a plausible reason in real life, but it is not mentioned. Option (B) is incorrect.
3 (A) She decides to book the farm tour tickets.
- Explanation: The customer says, “I will book four tickets, please.” Option (B) is the trap; she says she thought about taking them to the zoo, but changed her mind because the farm tour is better (The Twist). Option (C) is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Agent: Hello, Happy Valley Farm. How can I help you?
Customer: Hi, I’d like to book a family tour for this Saturday. My kids really want to touch the animals. Can they milk the cows?
Agent: Well, usually on weekends, visitors are allowed to milk the cows. But this week, our cows just had babies, so they need to rest.
Customer: Oh, that’s a pity. What else can the kids do?
Agent: They can feed the baby sheep and brush the horses.
Customer: That sounds fun too! I thought about taking them to the zoo, however, a farm tour is much better. I will book four tickets, please.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a shop assistant, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What did the customer want to buy at first?
(A) A medium blue collar.
(B) A medium red collar.
(C) A large red collar.
2 Why couldn’t the customer buy the red collar?
(A) Because it was too expensive.
(B) Because the shop didn’t have the right size.
(C) Because it didn’t look good on her dog.
3 Which collar does the customer finally choose?
(A) The black collar.
(B) The red collar.
(C) The blue collar.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) A medium red collar.
- Explanation: The customer clearly says at the beginning, “I am looking for a red collar in a medium size.” Option (A) is the trap; this is the collar she buys at the end, not what she wanted at first. Option (C) is a distractor because the shop has large red collars, but the customer didn’t want a large one.
2 (B) Because the shop didn’t have the right size.
- Explanation: The assistant explains that they only have red collars “in small and large” and are “completely sold out of medium.” Option (A) and (C) are plausible reasons in real life, but they are not mentioned in the audio.
3 (C) The blue collar.
- Explanation: The customer makes her final decision: “So, I will take the blue collar instead.” Option (A) is the trap; she says she thought about getting black, but changed her mind because it would make her dog look too dark (The Twist). Option (B) is the trap of her original plan.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Customer: Hello. I need a new collar for my dog. He is a Poodle. I am looking for a red collar in a medium size.
Assistant: Let me check. We have a lot of red collars, but unfortunately, we only have them in small and large. We are completely sold out of medium red collars today.
Customer: Oh, that’s a pity. Red is my favorite color. What other colors do you have in medium?
Assistant: For medium-sized dogs, we have black and blue. The blue one looks really nice on Poodles.
Customer: Well, I thought about getting black, however, it might make him look too dark. So, I will take the blue collar instead.
Assistant: Great choice! That will be 12 dollars.