Childhood memories – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) A superhero movie

• Explanation: Alex clearly says, “I really wanted to see a new superhero movie.” Option (A) is a trap; a comedy is what they actually watched, not what he wanted at first. Option (C) is a plausible movie for an 8-year-old, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (B) The tickets were all sold out.

• Explanation: Alex explains the situation by saying, “…the tickets were completely sold out.” Option (A) is a trap; they watched the comedy, but not because the dad wanted to—it was because of the tickets. Option (C) is a plausible reason for a child, but it is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) He thought it was funny.

• Explanation: Alex says about the comedy, “…but it was actually really funny.” Option (A) is a trap; he was upset earlier because the superhero movie was sold out, but he enjoyed the comedy. Option (B) is a trap; he didn’t want to watch it “at first”, but he didn’t think it was boring.

Welcome back to ‘Time Machine’. I’m your host, Alex. Today, we are talking about cinemas. You know, um, I still remember my very first trip to a movie theater. I was eight years old. My dad took me, and I really wanted to see a new superhero movie. But when we got to the cinema, the tickets were completely sold out. I was so upset! So, we watched a comedy about a talking dog instead. At first, I didn’t want to watch it, but it was actually really funny. Cinemas have changed a lot since then. Today, let’s talk about…

1 Correct Answer: (B) She thought it was dangerous.

• Explanation: The vlogger clearly says, “But, my grandmother always said no because it was too dangerous.” Option (A) is a trap; the grandmother did go to sleep later, but that was not her reason for saying no. Option (C) is a plausible reason for not sharing food, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (A) They climbed the tree to get fruit.

• Explanation: The vlogger says, “…we usually waited until she went to sleep. Then, we quietly climbed up and ate the fruit!” Option (B) is a trap; the word “sleep” is mentioned, but only the grandmother slept, not the children. Option (C) is a plausible childhood activity, but it is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (B) He fell out of the tree and broke his arm.

• Explanation: The vlogger states, “One day, I fell down and broke my arm.” Option (A) is a trap; he ate the fruit, but he didn’t get sick from it. Option (C) is a plausible accident for a child playing outside, but it is never mentioned in the story.

Hi guys, welcome back to my vlog! Today, I am standing in front of my old house in my hometown. Look at that big mango tree in the yard! When I was a kid, I loved that tree. Every afternoon, my friends and I wanted to climb it to pick the sweet mangoes. But, my grandmother always said no because it was too dangerous. So, what did we do? Well, um, we usually waited until she went to sleep. Then, we quietly climbed up and ate the fruit! One day, I fell down and broke my arm. However, it is still my favorite childhood memory.

1 Correct Answer: (B) Sleep late

• Explanation: The DJ reads, “When I was a little girl, I really wanted to sleep late on weekends.” Option (A) is a trap; waking up at 7 AM is what her mother made her do, not what she wanted. Option (C) is a trap; the radio is mentioned later, but she didn’t listen to it in bed.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Pancakes

• Explanation: The letter says, “…we usually cooked pancakes instead.” Option (B) is a trap; Sarah wanted to fry eggs, but they didn’t do it. Option (C) is a plausible breakfast food, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (C) A fun pop song

• Explanation: Sarah explains her twist by saying, “However, we always listened to a fun pop song… Because of that music, those mornings became my favorite childhood memory.” Option (A) is a trap; they cooked food, but the music is what made her love the mornings. Option (B) is a plausible memory, but her mother’s stories are not mentioned.

Good morning, listeners! I have a sweet message here from a listener named Sarah. She writes: ‘When I was a little girl, I really wanted to sleep late on weekends. But my mother always woke me up at 7 AM to help her make breakfast. I wanted to fry some eggs, but we usually cooked pancakes instead. At first, I hated waking up so early. However, we always listened to a fun pop song on the radio while cooking. Because of that music, those mornings became my favorite childhood memory. Now, I live far away from my mom. So, please play Sunshine for her!’ Here is your song, Sarah!

1 Correct Answer: (A) He wanted to look at a toy.

• Explanation: The host clearly says, “I saw a huge toy robot, so I walked away to look at it.” Option (B) is a trap; ice cream is mentioned later in the story, but it was not the reason he walked away. Option (C) is a plausible reason for a child to run off, but friends are never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (C) A security guard

• Explanation: The host says, “…but a nice security guard found me instead.” Option (A) is a plausible person to help a lost child, but a police officer is not mentioned. Option (B) is a trap; he was looking for his mom, but the security guard is the one who actually found him and helped him.

3 Correct Answer: (B) He ate some ice cream.

• Explanation: The host states, “He gave me a free ice cream while we waited for my mom.” Option (A) is a trap; he says “I thought about crying,” but he didn’t actually cry because the guard found him. Option (C) is a trap; the robot is what he wanted to see, but he didn’t play with it while waiting.

Hello, everyone! Welcome to ‘Story Time’! Today, I want to tell you a funny story about when I was little. I was seven, and I went to the supermarket with my mom. She told me to stay close. But, I saw a huge toy robot, so I walked away to look at it. Suddenly, I couldn’t find my mom! I was a little scared. I thought about crying, but a nice security guard found me instead. He gave me a free ice cream while we waited for my mom. In the end, she wasn’t angry, but she held my hand very tightly all the way home!

1 Correct Answer: (B) Short trousers

• Explanation: The audio guide clearly says, “…boys wore short trousers”. Option (A) is a trap; the guide mentions “jeans and T-shirts”, but says children didn’t wear them back then. Option (C) is a plausible item of clothing, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (A) In small village schools

• Explanation: The guide states, “…but most of them went to small village schools with only one room.” Option (B) is a trap; the children wanted to study in big, modern classrooms, but that was not reality. Option (C) is a plausible historical fact for some children, but it is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) They listened to the radio.

• Explanation: The guide explains the twist by saying, “So, they usually sat together and listened to stories on the radio.” Option (A) is a trap; the audio mentions television, but says families didn’t watch it because they didn’t have one. Option (B) is a plausible evening activity, but reading books is never mentioned.

Welcome to Room 4 of the City Museum. Today, we are looking at childhood memories from fifty years ago. Life was very different then. Children didn’t wear jeans and T-shirts. Instead, boys wore short trousers, and girls wore simple cotton dresses. What about school? Well, children wanted to study in big, modern classrooms, but most of them went to small village schools with only one room. In the evening, families didn’t watch television because they didn’t have one! So, they usually sat together and listened to stories on the radio. Please move to the next room to see some old toys.