Days & Dates – A1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Two colleagues, Sarah and Mark, are trying to find a day for their team meeting next week. Listen to the conversation between two colleagues. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What day is the team meeting?
(A) Monday
(B) Tuesday
(C) Wednesday
2 What is the date of the meeting?
(A) The 2nd
(B) The 12th
(C) The 22nd
3 When is the meeting on Wednesday?
(A) In the morning
(B) In the afternoon
(C) In the evening
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: C (Wednesday)
- Explanation: Sarah suggested Monday (Answer A), but Mark was busy. They discussed Tuesday (Answer B), but their availability didn’t match. Finally, they settled on Wednesday.
2 Correct Answer: C (The 22nd)
- Explanation: Sarah says “Wednesday is the 22nd” and repeats “Two-two” to confirm. Answer B (12th) is a sound-similar trap (Twelve and Twenty-two). Answer A (2nd) is a single-number trap.
3 Correct Answer: A (In the morning)
- Explanation: Mark says “Morning is perfect for me” and Sarah confirms “Wednesday morning it is”. Answer B (Afternoon) is a trap because Sarah mentions she’s free on Tuesday afternoon, but that’s not when the meeting is taking place.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sarah: Mark, we need a team meeting next week. Is Monday good for you?
Mark: No, I am busy on Monday. How about Tuesday?
Sarah: I am free on Tuesday, but only in the afternoon.
Mark: Oh, I have a meeting on Tuesday afternoon. What about Wednesday?
Sarah: Wednesday is the 22nd. Two-two.
Mark: Yes, Wednesday the 22nd. Morning is perfect for me.
Sarah: Great! Wednesday morning it is.
Mark: See you then!
Listening 2
A teacher is announcing the date of the final test to the class. Listen to the teacher talking to the class. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What test is the teacher talking about?
(A) The English test
(B) The Math test
(C) The Science test
2 What month is the test?
(A) September
(B) October
(C) November
3 What is the date of the test?
(A) The 4th
(B) The 14th
(C) The 40th
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (The Math test)
- Explanation: The student asks if it is the English test (Option A is the trap). The teacher says, “No, it is not the English test. It is the Math test.” Option C (Science test) is never mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: C (November)
- Explanation: The student asks, “Is it in October?” (Option B is the trap). The teacher explicitly says, “No, the test is not in October. It is in November.” Option A (September) is a plausible month but is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: B (The 14th)
- Explanation: The teacher states clearly, “It is on the 14th of November,” and repeats “One-four.” Option C (The 40th) is a phonetic trap, and the teacher even jokes “Not the 40th” to help students distinguish the sound. Option A (The 4th) is a single-digit trap.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Teacher: Good morning, class. Please listen carefully. We have a final test next month.
Student: Is it the English test, Mr. Brown?
Teacher: No, it is not the English test. It is the Math test.
Student: Okay. What is the date, please? Is it in October?
Teacher: No, the test is not in October. It is in November.
Teacher: It is on the 14th of November. One-four. Please write it down: November 14th. Not the 40th.
Teacher: Good luck with your study!
Listening 3
An HR manager is calling a new employee to confirm his start date. Listen to the phone call between Lisa and David. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the good news for David?
(A) He has a new car.
(B) He has the job.
(C) He has a holiday.
2 What month does David start his new job?
(A) June
(B) July
(C) January
3 What is the date of his first day?
(A) The 1st
(B) The 3rd
(C) The 13th
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (He has the job)
- Explanation: Lisa clearly says, “I have good news. You have the job!” Option A (a new car) and Option C (a holiday) are just plausible “good news” traps but are never mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: B (July)
- Explanation: David asks, “Is it in June?” (Option A is the trap). Lisa corrects him: “No, not June. You start in July”. Option C (January) is a phonetic trap as it also starts with the letter J.
3 Correct Answer: A (The 1st)
- Explanation: David asks if the date is “the 3rd” (Option B is the trap). Lisa says, “No, it is the 1st of July,” and confirms with “Number one.” Option C (The 13th) is a phonetic trap for the number 3.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Lisa: Hello. Is this David?
David: Yes, this is David.
Lisa: Hi David, this is Lisa from the HR office. I have good news. You have the job!
David: Oh, thank you very much!
Lisa: You are welcome. Your first day is next month.
David: Next month. Is it in June?
Lisa: No, not June. You start in July.
David: July. Okay. What is the date? Is it the 3rd of July?
Lisa: No, it is the 1st of July. Number one.
David: The 1st of July. Great! I am very happy.
Listening 4
A student is asking his teacher about the homework deadline. Listen to the conversation between a student and a teacher. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What are they talking about?
(A) A test
(B) A book
(C) A project
2 What day is the deadline?
(A) Thursday
(B) Friday
(C) Monday
3 What time must the student finish it?
(A) Before 5 o’clock
(B) Before 15 o’clock
(C) Before 4 o’clock
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: C (A project)
- Explanation: The student asks, “When is our big project due?” Option A (A test) and Option B (A book) are common school items, but they are not mentioned in this conversation.
2 Correct Answer: B (Friday)
- Explanation: The teacher says clearly, “It is due this Friday”. Option C (Monday) is the main trap because the student asks, “Can I give it to you next Monday?”, but the teacher explicitly says, “No… Monday is too late.” Option A (Thursday) is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: A (Before 5 o’clock)
- Explanation: The teacher says the deadline is “Before 5 o’clock” and confirms with “Number five.” Option B (15 o’clock) is a phonetic trap, and the teacher even warns, “Not 15,” to help A1 learners distinguish the sounds. Option C (4 o’clock) is a plausible time but is never mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Student: Excuse me, Mr. Smith. When is our big project due?
Teacher: The project? It is due this Friday.
Student: Friday? Can I give it to you next Monday?
Teacher: No, you cannot. Monday is too late. You must finish it on Friday.
Student: Okay, Friday. What time on Friday, please?
Teacher: Before 5 o’clock. Number five. Not 15. Please do not be late.
Student: I understand. Friday before 5 o’clock. Thank you, Mr. Smith.
Listening 5
A parent is calling the school secretary to ask about the winter holiday. Listen to the phone call between a parent and a school secretary. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What month is the winter holiday?
(A) November
(B) December
(C) January
2 What date does the holiday start?
(A) The 13th
(B) The 20th
(C) The 30th
3 When do the children go back to school?
(A) January 5th
(B) January 15th
(C) January 20th
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B (December)
- Explanation: The parent asks, “Is it in November?” (Option A is the trap). The secretary answers, “No, the winter holiday is not in November. It is in December”. Option C (January) is the month the children return, not the month the holiday starts.
2 Correct Answer: B (The 20th)
- Explanation: The parent asks if it starts on “the 13th” (Option A is the trap). The secretary says, “No, not the 13th. It starts on the 20th of December,” and repeats “Two-zero” to confirm. Option C (The 30th) is a phonetic trap because 13 and 30, as well as 20 and 30, can be confusing for beginners.
3 Correct Answer: A (January 5th)
- Explanation: The secretary clearly states, “They go back on the 5th of January,” and reinforces it by saying “Number five. Not 15.” Option B (January 15th) is the main phonetic trap explicitly denied by the secretary. Option C (January 20th) is a trap using the start date’s number.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Secretary: Hello, Spring School. Can I help you?
Parent: Hello. I am a parent. When is the winter holiday, please? Is it in November?
Secretary: No, the winter holiday is not in November. It is in December.
Parent: December. Great. What date does it start? Does it start on the 13th?
Secretary: No, not the 13th. It starts on the 20th of December. Two-zero.
Parent: The 20th of December. And when do the children go back to school?
Secretary: They go back on the 5th of January. Number five. Not 15.
Parent: The 5th of January. Thank you very much!
Secretary: You are welcome.