Appearance – A1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (A) S-A-R-A-H

• Explanation: The customer spells her name out loud: “S-A-R-A-H.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) S-E-R-A-H is a phonetic trap because the letter “A” in English is pronounced /eɪ/, which A1 learners often confuse with the letter “E”. Option (C) Z-A-R-A-H is a similar-sounding name but starts with a Z.

2 Correct Answer: (B) Cut it short

• Explanation: The customer clearly says, “I want short hair today. Very short.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) Keep it long is a trap. The hairdresser mentions that her hair is currently “very long”, but the customer wants to change it. Option (C) Wash it is a normal activity at a salon but is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Brown

• Explanation: The customer says, “I want brown hair.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) Black is a trap because it is her current hair color. Option (B) Blond is also a trap; the hairdresser asks if she wants blond hair, but she says “No, not blond.”

Hairdresser: Hello! Welcome to the salon. What is your name, please?

Customer: My name is Sarah. That is S-A-R-A-H.

Hairdresser: Thank you, Sarah. What do you want to do today? Your hair is very long and black.

Customer: Yes, it is very long. I want short hair today. Very short.

Hairdresser: Okay. Short hair. Do you want to change the color? To blond?

Customer: No, not blond. I want brown hair.

Hairdresser: Perfect. Short, brown hair. Let’s start!

1 Correct Answer: (B) A small face

• Explanation: The shop assistant says, “You have a small face. A very small face.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) A round face is a trap because the word “round” is mentioned in the audio, but it describes the glasses, not her face. Option (A) A big face is the opposite of the truth.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Round

• Explanation: The shop assistant suggests, “These round glasses are perfect for you.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) Small is a trap because “small” is used to describe the customer’s face, not the shape of the glasses. Option (B) Square is a common shape for glasses but is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Red

• Explanation: The assistant says, “We have them in red,” and the customer agrees to buy “Round, red glasses.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) Black is a trap. The customer asks, “Do you have them in black?”, but the assistant says “No”. Option (B) Brown is not mentioned at all.

Shop Assistant: Hello. Do you need help today?

Customer: Yes, please. I want some new glasses.

Shop Assistant: Let’s see. You have a small face. A very small face.

Customer: Yes, I do. What glasses are good for me?

Shop Assistant: These round glasses are perfect for you.

Customer: The round glasses? I like them. Do you have them in black?

Shop Assistant: No, we do not have black. We have them in red. Red is beautiful on you.

Customer: Okay. Round, red glasses. I will take them.

1 Correct Answer: (A) Yellow

• Explanation: The clerk clearly says, “She is wearing a yellow hat today.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) Red and Option (C) Blue are traps because they are mentioned in the audio, but they are colors of the umbrella, not the hat.

2 Correct Answer: (B) A big backpack

• Explanation: The clerk says, “No, she has a big backpack.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) A small bag is a trap. The tourist asks about a small bag, but the clerk says “No”. Option (C) Big glasses is not mentioned at all.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Red

• Explanation: The clerk tells the tourist, “She has a red umbrella.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) Blue is a trap because the tourist asks, “does she have a blue umbrella?”, but the clerk says “No, not blue.” Option (A) Yellow is the color of the hat.

Tourist: Excuse me. I am looking for my tour guide, Anna. What does she look like?

Clerk: Anna? Okay. She is at the meeting point. She is wearing a yellow hat today.

Tourist: A yellow hat. Okay. Does she have a small bag?

Clerk: No, she has a big backpack. A very big backpack.

Tourist: I see. And does she have a blue umbrella?

Clerk: No, not blue. She has a red umbrella. Look, over there!

Tourist: Oh, with the red umbrella. Thank you!

1 Correct Answer: (B) P-A-U-L

• Explanation: The customer spells his name clearly: “P-A-U-L.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) P-O-L is a phonetic trap because the letter “O” and “AU” can sound similar to beginners. Option (C) P-A-L is missing letters.

2 Correct Answer: (B) He is very tall.

• Explanation: The tailor says: “Wow, you are very tall!” and the customer confirms his height.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) He is short is the opposite of what is said. Option (C) He is thin is a plausible description for a tall person but is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (A) Long sleeves

• Explanation: The tailor says twice that he needs “long sleeves” because of the customer’s “long arms.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) Short sleeves is a trap. The customer asks “Not short sleeves?”, but the tailor says “No, not short.”

Tailor: Hello. Welcome to the tailor shop. What is your name, please?

Customer: My name is Paul. That is P-A-U-L.

Tailor: Okay, Paul. Let me measure you… Wow, you are very tall!

Customer: Yes, I am. I am one meter ninety.

Tailor: And your arms… they are very long. I need to make long sleeves for your shirt.

Customer: Long sleeves? Not short sleeves?

Tailor: No, not short. Your arms are very long, so you need long sleeves.

Customer: Okay, long sleeves. Thank you.

1 Correct Answer: (B) E-M-M-A

• Explanation: The dispatcher spells the name clearly: “E-M-M-A.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) A-M-M-A is a phonetic trap because A1 learners often confuse the English pronunciation of “E” and “A”. Option (C) E-N-N-A uses “N” instead of “M”.

2 Correct Answer: (A) A long dress

• Explanation: The dispatcher corrects the driver and says: “No, a long dress. She is wearing a long dress.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) A short dress is a trap. The driver asks, “A short dress?”, but the dispatcher says “No”. Option (C) A pink shirt mixes the color of the suitcase with a clothing item not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) A pink suitcase

• Explanation: The dispatcher clearly states: “And she has a pink suitcase.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) A black bag and Option (B) A red suitcase are plausible luggage items, but they are not mentioned in the audio.

Driver: Hello. I am at the airport. I am looking for my passenger.

Dispatcher: Okay. The passenger’s name is Emma. That is E-M-M-A.

Driver: E-M-M-A. Okay. What does she look like? Is she an older woman?

Dispatcher: No, she is a young woman. And she is wearing a dress today.

Driver: A short dress?

Dispatcher: No, a long dress. She is wearing a long dress. And she has a pink suitcase.

Driver: Okay. A young woman, a long dress, and a pink suitcase. I see her! Thank you.