Comparing products – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (B) It is completely sold out.

• Explanation: The salesperson clearly states that “we are completely sold out of the light blue one.” Option A is a plausible problem when shopping for clothes, but it is not mentioned. Option C is a trap because being “longer” is a feature of the dark blue jacket, not the light blue one.

2 (A) It is a little longer and darker.

• Explanation: The salesperson suggests the alternative jacket and says, “It is a little longer and a darker color.” Option B is a trap because short and light are the features of the jacket the customer originally wanted. Option C is a plausible guess for a sales pitch, but the price is never mentioned.

3 (B) The dark blue jacket, because it will keep her warmer.

• Explanation: This question uses the “Twist” technique. The customer originally wants the short, light blue jacket and hesitates to try the long one. However, she changes her mind when she realizes the longer jacket “will keep me warmer in the snow.” She decides to buy the dark blue one. Option A is the main trap (her original plan). Option C is incorrect.

Customer: Excuse me, do you have this light blue jacket in a size medium?

Salesperson: Let me check. Um, unfortunately, we are completely sold out of the light blue one.

Customer: Oh, no. I really wanted it because it is short and a nice light color.

Salesperson: I’m sorry. But we do have this dark blue jacket. It is a little longer and a darker color.

Customer: Hmm. I don’t usually wear long jackets.

Salesperson: It is very warm, though. And the dark color is great for the winter.

Customer: You know what? You’re right. A longer jacket will keep me warmer in the snow. Actually, I will buy this dark one instead.

Salesperson: Great choice! I’ll put it in a bag for you.

1 (C) It is very small and light.

• Explanation: The customer complains that the table she got “is very small and light brown.” Option A is a trap because “big and dark” is how the table looked in the picture, not in reality. Option B is a plausible problem for online shopping, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (A) The customer ordered the “Mini Coffee Table”.

• Explanation: The agent checks the order and explains, “you ordered the ‘Mini Coffee Table’. It is designed to be small.” Option B is a trap because people often receive the wrong item when shopping online, but here, she received exactly what she ordered. Option C is not mentioned.

3 (B) She decides to keep the table.

• Explanation: This question uses the “Twist” technique. The customer originally wanted to return the table because it didn’t look like the picture. However, after putting it next to her sofa, she realizes it fits perfectly. She changes her mind and says, “I think I will just keep it.” Option A is the main trap (what she wanted to do at first). Option C uses the word “sofa” to trick the listener, but she is not buying a sofa.

Customer: Hello. I bought a table from your website last week, and it arrived today.

Agent: Okay. Is there a problem with it?

Customer: Yes. In the picture, the table looked big and dark brown. But this one is very small and light brown.

Agent: I’m sorry. Let me check… Ah, you ordered the “Mini Coffee Table”. It is designed to be small. And sometimes our online pictures look a little darker. Do you want to return it?

Customer: I wanted to return it, but… I just put it next to my sofa, and it actually fits perfectly. The small size is quite nice. I think I will just keep it.

Agent: Great! Thank you for letting us know.

1 (B) Forty dollars.

• Explanation: Tom clearly states, “I paid forty dollars for it.” Option A is a trap because twenty dollars is the cheaper price he saw later at Store B. Option C is just a plausible number but is never mentioned.

2 (B) They had the same hat for less money.

• Explanation: Tom says that Store B had “The exact same hat, but it was only twenty dollars” (half the price). Option A is a trap because the hat wasn’t nicer, it was exactly the same. Option C is incorrect because they are talking about hats, not shoes.

3 (C) He keeps the hat because he lost the receipt.

• Explanation: This uses the “Twist” technique. Tom wanted to return the hat to get his money back, but he couldn’t because he lost the receipt, so he has to keep it. Option A is the main trap (what he wanted to do, but failed to do). Option B is a plausible guess for a shopping story, but he didn’t buy a second hat.

Tom: Hey, Lisa! Look at my new hat. I got it at Store A yesterday.

Lisa: It looks great, Tom! Was it expensive?

Tom: Well, I paid forty dollars for it. I really liked it, so I bought it right away.

Lisa: Forty dollars? That’s a bit high for a hat.

Tom: I know! And the worst part is, after I bought it, I walked past Store B.

Lisa: Don’t tell me… did they have the same one?

Tom: Yes! The exact same hat, but it was only twenty dollars. Half the price!

Lisa: Oh no! Did you return it to Store A?

Tom: I wanted to return it and get my money back, but I lost the receipt. I have to keep it, but I’m so annoyed!

1 (B) It is thin and worn out.

• Explanation: The mechanic checks the bike and says, “your old gear is very thin and worn out.” Option A is a trap because being “thick” is a feature of the new gear. Option C is a plausible guess for bike parts but is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (B) It is much thicker and stronger.

• Explanation: The mechanic introduces the new type of gear and says, “It is much thicker and stronger.” Option A is a trap because the thin/old gear is the cheap one. Option C is also a trap; the mechanic says the old type of gear will break very soon, not the new one.

3 (B) The new, thicker gear, so it won’t break again.

• Explanation: This question uses the “Twist” technique. The customer initially wants to buy the cheap, thin gear because he wants to save money. However, he changes his mind because he doesn’t want his bike to break again on his way to work. He chooses the thicker gear. Option A is the main trap (his original plan). Option C is incorrect.

Customer: Hi, my bike chain keeps falling off. Can you fix it?

Mechanic: Let me look. Ah, your old gear is very thin and worn out. You need a new one.

Customer: Oh. Can you just put the same type of gear on? The thin one is very cheap, right?

Mechanic: Yes, it is cheap. But it will break again very soon. I have a new type of gear here. It is much thicker and stronger.

Customer: I see. Does it cost a lot more?

Mechanic: Only a little bit. But it will last for years.

Customer: Well, I really wanted to save money today, but I don’t want my bike to break again on my way to work. Okay, let’s use the new, thicker gear.

Mechanic: Good choice. It will be ready in ten minutes.

1 (B) It is two kilos too heavy.

• Explanation: The agent says the suitcase is 22 kilos, which is “two kilos heavier than the limit.” Option A is a trap using the word “small” (which describes the backpack, not the suitcase). Option C is a plausible problem with luggage, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (A) It is very light.

• Explanation: The agent tells the passenger, “your small backpack is very light.” Option B is a trap because the suitcase is the heavy item, not the backpack. Option C is a trap using the word “expensive,” which refers to paying the extra fee, not the backpack.

3 (B) Move heavy books to the backpack.

• Explanation: This uses the “Twist” technique. The passenger initially thinks about paying the extra money (and was going to pay the fee), but changes his mind when he realizes it is expensive. He decides to move his heavy books into the backpack instead. Option A is the main trap (his original thought). Option C is incorrect.

Agent: Hello. Please put your suitcase on the scale.

Passenger: Sure. I hope it’s not too heavy.

Agent: Let’s see… I’m sorry, but your suitcase is twenty-two kilos. The limit is twenty kilos. It is two kilos heavier than the limit.

Passenger: Oh no! Do I have to pay extra money?

Agent: You can pay, but it is very expensive. However, your small backpack is very light. You can move some things from the suitcase into your backpack.

Passenger: Oh, good idea. I was going to pay the fee, but I don’t want to spend more money. I have some heavy books in here. I will put them in my backpack right now.

Agent: Perfect. Take your time.