Arranging appointments – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (A) 8:00 AM

• Explanation: The staff says, “Your appointment is at 8:00 AM.” Option (C) is a trap because 5:00 PM is the deadline to call the clinic if he wants to change the time. Option (B) is a trap because the audio mentions “ten minutes,” which might confuse students listening for numbers.

2 (C) He must not eat any food.

• Explanation: The voicemail strictly says, “please do not eat any food”. Option (A) is the exact opposite of the instruction. Option (B) is a trap because the word “milk” is mentioned, but the instruction is “do not… drink any milk”.

3 (B) Call the clinic today.

• Explanation: The staff says, “If you need to change your time, please call us today before 5:00 PM.” Options (A) and (C) are traps because arriving early and filling out forms are things he must do for the check-up itself, not for changing the time.

Clinic Staff (Voicemail): Hello, this is a message for Mr. John Smith from the City Health Clinic. We are calling to remind you of your appointment for a general health check-up tomorrow morning. Your appointment is at 8:00 AM. Please arrive ten minutes early to fill out some forms. Also, because this is a health check-up, please do not eat any food or drink any milk for breakfast. You can only drink water before the appointment. If you need to change your time, please call us today before 5:00 PM. Thank you, and we will see you tomorrow.

1 (B) Tuesday and Friday

• Explanation: This week, the professor is in his office on Tuesday (his usual day) and Friday (the new day). Option (A) is a trap because Tuesday and Thursday are his usual days, but not this week. Option (C) is a trap because he is busy on Thursday.

2 (C) He has a teachers’ meeting.

• Explanation: The professor says, “I have a big teachers’ meeting this Thursday afternoon.” Option (A) is a plausible reason for a professor, but it is not mentioned. Option (B) is not mentioned in the audio.

3 (A) 10:00 AM

• Explanation: The professor says his office hours on Friday are “from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.” Option (C) is a trap because 2:00 PM is the start time for his usual office hours. Option (B) is a trap because 12:00 PM is the time he finishes on Friday, not the time to start coming.

Professor: Okay everyone, before we finish today’s class, I want to talk about my office hours. Usually, I am in my office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. You can come and ask me questions about your homework then. However, this week is a little different. I have a big teachers’ meeting this Thursday afternoon, so I will not be in my office. Instead, I will have my office hours on Friday morning from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. So, remember, if you need help this week, please come on Tuesday afternoon or Friday morning. See you next time!

1 (B) A broken toilet

• Explanation: The plumber says, “I am calling about the broken toilet in your bathroom.” Option (A) is a trap because he mentions his truck broke down, but that is his own problem, not what he needs to fix for the customer. Option (C) is a plausible bathroom problem, but it is not mentioned.

2 (B) He has to take his truck to the garage.

• Explanation: The plumber says, “my truck broke down this morning, so I have to take it to the garage.” Option (A) is a trap because having another job is the reason he will come between 9 and 11 tomorrow, not the reason he cancels today. Option (C) is a plausible reason for a cancellation but is never mentioned.

3 (C) Tomorrow between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM

• Explanation: He clearly states, “I will arrive at your house between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.” Option (A) is a trap because 2:00 PM today was his original plan before the truck broke down. Option (B) is a trap because he has another job early in the morning before 9:00 AM.

Plumber (Voicemail): Hello, Mr. Brown. This is David, the plumber. I am calling about the broken toilet in your bathroom. I planned to come to your house this afternoon at 2:00 PM. However, my truck broke down this morning, so I have to take it to the garage right now. Because of this, I can’t come today. I will come to your house tomorrow morning instead. I have another job early in the morning, so I will arrive at your house between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Please call me back if that time is not okay for you. Thank you, and sorry for the change!

1 (B) It is a special holiday.

• Explanation: The voice says, “However, this weekend we are closed for a special public holiday.” Option (A) is a trap because the center “usually open from Monday to Saturday” (so they are normally open on weekends). Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (B) Monday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM

• Explanation: The message clearly states, “please call us back on Monday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.” Option (A) is a trap because the office is closed this Saturday for the holiday. Option (C) is a trap because 5:00 PM is when the office closes.

3 (A) Call a different phone number.

• Explanation: The voice says, “If you have a medical emergency… Call our emergency doctor at 555-0199.” Option (B) and Option (C) are traps because the message specifically says “please do not wait” for emergencies.

Automated Voice: Thank you for calling City Medical Center. Our office is currently closed. We usually open from Monday to Saturday. However, this weekend we are closed for a special public holiday. Our normal business hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you want to schedule a new appointment, please call us back on Monday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. If you have a medical emergency right now, please do not wait. Call our emergency doctor at 555-0199. Thank you for calling, and have a good evening.

1 (A) Go shopping

• Explanation: Jessica says, “I’m calling about our plan to go shopping this afternoon.” Option (B) is a trap because she mentions eating bad lunch, not planning to eat lunch together. Option (C) is a trap because staying home is what she has to do now, not the original plan.

2 (B) She is feeling sick.

• Explanation: Jessica says she feels terrible because “my stomach hurts a lot right now.” A stomachache means she is sick. Option (A) is a plausible reason for a student, but it is not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap because she asks her friend to send a text message, but that is not why she is staying home.

3 (B) Tomorrow at 10:00 AM

• Explanation: Jessica asks, “Are you free tomorrow morning? Maybe we can go around 10:00 AM instead?” Option (A) is a trap because 3:00 PM today was their first plan before she got sick. Option (C) is a trap because she changes the plan from afternoon to morning.

Jessica (Voicemail): Hey! It’s me, Jessica. I’m calling about our plan to go shopping this afternoon. I really wanted to go, but I feel terrible today. I think I ate something bad for lunch, so my stomach hurts a lot right now. Because of this, I can’t come to the mall at 3:00 PM. I need to stay home and rest. However, I still want to buy that new dress! Are you free tomorrow morning? Maybe we can go around 10:00 AM instead? Please send me a text message and let me know. I am so sorry for the change. Talk to you later!