Biography – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a conversation between a police officer and a man who lost his wallet. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the man’s last name?
(A) Barker
(B) Baker
(C) Becker
2 What year was the man born?
(A) In 1995.
(B) In 1998.
(C) In 1999.
3 What city is written on the man’s ID?
(A) Chicago.
(B) Seattle.
(C) Boston.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (Baker)
- Explanation: Kevin clearly spells his last name: “B-A-K-E-R.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Options A and C are phonetic distractors. They sound very similar to “Baker,” testing the student’s ability to listen to specific English spelling.
2 Correct Answer: B (In 1998.)
- Explanation: Kevin corrects the officer about his birth year: “…but I was actually born in 1998.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Speaker Confusion/Twist” trap. The officer asks about 1995, and Kevin says his brother was born then, not him. Option C is a plausible date but is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: B (Seattle.)
- Explanation: Kevin confirms the city on his identification: “So, my ID says Seattle.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the “Twist Trap”. The officer asks if he lives in Chicago, and Kevin confirms he lives there now, but his ID still shows Seattle where he grew up. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Officer: Good afternoon. Can I help you?
Kevin: Hi. I lost my wallet yesterday. I hope someone brought it here to the police station.
Officer: We have a few lost wallets. What is your last name?
Kevin: It’s Baker. B-A-K-E-R.
Officer: Okay, Mr. Baker. And your year of birth? Were you born in 1995?
Kevin: Well, my brother was born in 1995, but I was actually born in 1998.
Officer: 1998, got it. And what city is on your ID? Do you live in Chicago?
Kevin: I live in Chicago now, but I grew up in Seattle. So, my ID says Seattle.
Officer: Let me check… Yes! A brown wallet with a Seattle ID. Here you go.
Kevin: Oh, thank you so much!
Listening 2
Listen to a student talking to an office staff member. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What year was Leo born?
(A) In 2002.
(B) In 2004.
(C) In 2006.
2 Who was born in 2002?
(A) Leo.
(B) Leo’s older sister.
(C) Leo’s brother.
3 Which high school did Leo actually go to?
(A) Lincoln High School.
(B) Washington High School.
(C) Jefferson High School.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (In 2004.)
- Explanation: Leo corrects the staff member by saying, “…but I was actually born in 2004.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. The system says 2002, but that is wrong (it’s his sister’s birth year). Option C is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: B (Leo’s older sister.)
- Explanation: Leo explicitly states, “My older sister was born in 2002…”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap because 2002 was on Leo’s profile, but it was a mistake. Option C is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: B (Washington High School.)
- Explanation: Leo tells the staff his real school: “…but I actually graduated from Washington High School.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the trap. The computer system showed Lincoln High School, but that information was incorrect. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Staff: Good morning. How can I help you today?
Leo: Hi. I am looking at my student profile on the computer, and some information is wrong.
Staff: Oh, let me check that for you. What is your name?
Leo: It’s Leo Martin.
Staff: Okay, Leo. I see your profile here. It says you were born in 2002. Is that right?
Leo: No. My older sister was born in 2002, but I was actually born in 2004.
Staff: I’m sorry about that. I will change it to 2004. What else is wrong?
Leo: My high school. The system says I went to Lincoln High School, but I actually graduated from Washington High School.
Staff: Washington High School. Let me type that… Okay, everything is updated now.
Leo: Great, thank you so much!
Listening 3
Listen to a conversation between two strangers at a train station. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the second man’s real name?
(A) Mark.
(B) Peter.
(C) London.
2 Where did Peter live in 1990?
(A) In London.
(B) In Manchester.
(C) In New York.
3 What did Peter study at university?
(A) Engineering.
(B) Math.
(C) History.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (Peter.)
- Explanation: Man B clearly states his name: “My name is Peter.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Speaker Confusion” trap. Mark is the old friend that Man A is looking for, not the person he is talking to. Option C is a city, not a name.
2 Correct Answer: B (In Manchester.)
- Explanation: Peter explains where he was: “…but I actually lived in Manchester.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the “Twist Trap”. Man A studied in London and thinks Peter did too. Peter confirms he lived in England at that time, but in a different city. Option C is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: C (History.)
- Explanation: Peter explains his final choice: “So, I studied history instead.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. He wanted to study engineering (and Man A’s friend actually studied it), but he didn’t. Option B is a trap because he mentions math, but he says he was “terrible at math,” which is why he didn’t choose engineering.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Man A: Excuse me. Are you Mark? Mark from London High School?
Man B: Oh, um, no. I think you have the wrong person. My name is Peter.
Man A: Really? You look just like my old friend. We studied together in London in 1990.
Man B: Well, I lived in England in 1990, but I actually lived in Manchester. So, I didn’t go to school in London.
Man A: Oh, I’m so sorry. Did you study engineering? My friend was an engineering student.
Man B: I wanted to study engineering, but I was terrible at math. So, I studied history instead.
Man A: Ah, my mistake. Have a good trip!
Listening 4
Listen to a conversation between a worried mother and a security guard at a supermarket. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 How old is the lost boy, Leo?
(A) Four years old.
(B) Five years old.
(C) Seven years old.
2 What color shirt is Leo wearing?
(A) Red.
(B) Yellow.
(C) Blue.
3 Where did the mother last see Leo?
(A) In the toy aisle.
(B) Near the fruit section.
(C) At the checkout counter.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (Five years old.)
- Explanation: The mother corrects the guard about his age: “…but Leo is actually five years old.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option C is a “Speaker Confusion/Twist” trap. The guard guesses seven, but the mother says that is her daughter’s age, not Leo’s. Option A is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: B (Yellow.)
- Explanation: The mother states exactly what he is wearing now: “So, he is wearing a yellow shirt…”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a “Twist Trap”. He wanted to wear a red shirt, but he couldn’t because it was dirty. Option C is a trap because “blue” is the color of his jeans, not his shirt.
3 Correct Answer: B (Near the fruit section.)
- Explanation: The mother clarifies where he got lost: “…but I actually lost him near the fruit section.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the “Twist Trap”. The guard asks if she lost him in the toy aisle, and she says they were there earlier, but that is not where she lost him. Option C is a plausible supermarket location, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Guard: Excuse me, ma’am. Are you okay? Do you need help?
Mother: Yes, please! I can’t find my son. His name is Leo.
Guard: Okay, please don’t worry. We will find him. How old is Leo? Is he seven?
Mother: My daughter is seven, but Leo is actually five years old.
Guard: Five years old, got it. What is he wearing? A red shirt?
Mother: He wanted to wear a red shirt today, but it was dirty. So, he is wearing a yellow shirt and blue jeans.
Guard: Yellow shirt. And where did you see him last? In the toy aisle?
Mother: We were there earlier, but I actually lost him near the fruit section.
Guard: Okay, I will make an announcement right now.
Listening 5
Listen to two colleagues, Alex and Maria, talking about some office rumors. For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where was Maria born?
(A) In Paris.
(B) In Madrid.
(C) In Rome.
2 What was Maria’s job in Madrid?
(A) She worked at a big bank.
(B) She worked at a small hotel.
(C) She was a French teacher.
3 Why did Maria move to her current city?
(A) To get a new job.
(B) To study at a university.
(C) To be close to her sister.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (In Madrid.)
- Explanation: Maria corrects the rumor by saying: “…but I wasn’t born in Paris. I was born in Madrid.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the “Twist Trap” (The Rumor). Alex heard she was born in Paris because she speaks French, but that information is false. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: B (She worked at a small hotel.)
- Explanation: Maria explains her real job: “So, I worked at a small hotel for two years.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the trap. She wanted to work in a bank (and the office rumor said she did), but she couldn’t find a job there. Option C is a distractor based on her ability to speak French.
3 Correct Answer: C (To be close to her sister.)
- Explanation: Maria clarifies her real reason for moving: “…but I actually moved here to be close to my sister.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is the “Twist Trap”. Alex asks if she moved for the job, and she says she likes the job, but it wasn’t the reason she moved. Option B is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alex: Hey Maria. Everyone in the office is talking about your past.
Maria: Really? What are they saying?
Alex: Well, they say you were born in Paris, and you speak perfect French.
Maria: That’s funny! I actually speak French, but I wasn’t born in Paris. I was born in Madrid.
Alex: Oh, Madrid! Someone also said you worked at a big bank there.
Maria: No, I wanted to work in a bank, but I couldn’t find a job. So, I worked at a small hotel for two years.
Alex: Wow, people really love making up stories. Did you move here for this job?
Maria: I like this job, but I actually moved here to be close to my sister.