Department stores – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
A customer is asking the information desk staff for directions to the children’s toy section. Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where is the toy section NOW?
(A) On the second floor.
(B) On the third floor.
(C) On the fourth floor.
2 What is the toy section next to?
(A) The children’s clothes.
(B) The coffee shop.
(C) The bookstore.
3 What should the customer do to go up?
(A) Take the elevator.
(B) Take the escalator.
(C) Walk up the stairs.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A) On the second floor.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. The staff says the toys are usually on the 3rd floor, but they moved them today. “They are now on the second floor.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The 3rd floor is the old location. Option (C) is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (C) The bookstore.
- Explanation: The staff clearly says the toys are “right next to the bookstore” on the second floor.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap because it was the old location on the 3rd floor. Option (B) is also a trap; the coffee shop is where the customer needs to walk past, not the shop next to the toys.
3 Correct Answer: (B) Take the escalator.
- Explanation: At the end, the staff gives directions: “You will see the escalator. Take it up one floor.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The customer asks about the elevator first, but the staff gives different directions later. Option (C) is a plausible way to go up, but it is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Customer: Excuse me. Can you help me? I’m looking for the children’s toy section.
Staff: Of course. The toys are usually on the third floor, next to the children’s clothes.
Customer: Oh, so I just take the elevator up to the third floor?
Staff: Actually, wait. We moved the toys this morning for a special holiday event. They are now on the second floor, right next to the bookstore.
Customer: The second floor? Okay. How do I get there?
Staff: Just walk past the coffee shop and turn left. You will see the escalator. Take it up one floor.
Customer: Thank you very much!
Listening 2
A customer is paying for his items at the department store’s cash register. Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What was the first price the cashier mentioned?
(A) Sixty-eight dollars.
(B) Eighty-five dollars.
(C) Fifty dollars.
2 How much does the customer have to pay in the end?
(A) $85
(B) $68
(C) $20
3 Why didn’t the customer use his membership card?
(A) Because he doesn’t have one.
(B) Because he forgot it.
(C) Because it is broken.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Eighty-five dollars.
- Explanation: The cashier starts the conversation by saying, “That will be eighty-five dollars in total…”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the final price after the discount. Option (C) is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (B) $68
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. After checking the discount, the cashier says, “The new total is sixty-eight dollars.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the price before the discount. A2 learners must listen to the correction to get the final answer.
3 Correct Answer: (B) Because he forgot it.
- Explanation: When asked about the card, the customer says, “I have one, but I left it at home today.” This means he forgot to bring it.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is wrong because he says “I have one.” Option (C) is a plausible reason for a card not working but is not mentioned in the dialogue.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Cashier: Hello. That will be eighty-five dollars in total for the jeans and the shirt, sir.
Customer: Wait, eighty-five? I thought the jeans were on sale today.
Cashier: Oh, let me check the computer. Ah, you’re right. There is a discount. The new total is sixty-eight dollars.
Customer: That’s better! Can I pay by credit card?
Cashier: Yes, of course. Do you have a store membership card?
Customer: Um, I have one, but I left it at home today.
Cashier: That’s fine. Please sign here. Thank you!
Listening 3
A customer is talking to a sales assistant because the pants he is trying on are not the right size and color. Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the problem with the pants the customer has right now?
(A) They are too small.
(B) They are too big.
(C) They are too expensive.
2 What does the customer ask the assistant to find?
(A) Medium grey pants.
(B) Large black pants.
(C) Small black pants.
3 What will the customer buy in the end?
(A) Large black pants.
(B) Large dark blue pants.
(C) Small dark blue pants.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A) They are too small.
- Explanation: In the first line, the customer says, “this medium size is a little too small for me.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the opposite of the truth. Option (C) is a plausible reason to not buy something, but they never talk about the price.
2 Correct Answer: (B) Large black pants.
- Explanation: The customer needs a bigger size (large) and says, “Actually, I want them in black, please.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap because medium grey is what the customer is holding right now, not what he wants to find. Option (C) is the size the store has in stock, not what the customer asked for.
3 Correct Answer: (B) Large dark blue pants.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. The store doesn’t have large black pants, so the assistant offers dark blue. The customer agrees: “I will take the large dark blue ones.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The customer wanted them, but the store didn’t have them in the back room. Option (C) is a mixed trap using the small size mentioned earlier.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Customer: Excuse me. I really like these pants. But this medium size is a little too small for me.
Assistant: I can find a large size for you. Do you want the same grey color?
Customer: Actually, I want them in black, please.
Assistant: Let me check the back room. … I’m sorry. We don’t have a large in black. We only have black in a small size. But we do have a large in dark blue.
Customer: Oh, that’s a shame. Well, dark blue is fine. I will take the large dark blue ones.
Assistant: Great. I’ll take them to the cash register for you.
Listening 4
A customer is calling a department store to ask about their opening hours for the weekend and an upcoming holiday. Listen to the telephone conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What time does the department store open on Sundays?
(A) At 9:00 AM.
(B) At 10:00 AM.
(C) At 6:00 PM.
2 What is happening next Monday?
(A) The store is closed all day.
(B) There is a big weekend sale.
(C) It is a public holiday.
3 What time does the store close on the public holiday?
(A) At 6:00 PM.
(B) At 9:00 AM.
(C) At 9:00 PM.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) At 10:00 AM.
- Explanation: The operator says, “But on Sundays, we open a bit later, at 10:00 AM.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. 9:00 AM is the opening time for normal days (Monday to Saturday), not Sunday. Option (C) is a closing time mentioned later.
2 Correct Answer: (C) It is a public holiday.
- Explanation: The customer asks, “And next Monday is a public holiday. Are you open then?”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap because many places close on holidays, but the operator says “Yes, we are open.” Option (B) is plausible for a department store but is never mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: (A) At 6:00 PM.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. The operator explains the holiday hours: “we will close early. We will close at 6:00 PM…”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the trap. 9:00 PM is the normal closing time (“instead of 9:00 PM”). Option (B) is the normal morning opening time.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Customer: Hello, I want to visit your department store this Sunday. What time do you open?
Operator: Hello. We usually open at 9:00 AM from Monday to Saturday. But on Sundays, we open a bit later, at 10:00 AM.
Customer: 10:00 AM. Got it. And next Monday is a public holiday. Are you open then?
Operator: Yes, we are open on the holiday, but we will close early. We will close at 6:00 PM instead of 9:00 PM.
Customer: Okay, so 10:00 AM on Sunday, and close early on Monday. Thank you for your help!
Listening 5
A customer wants to get a gift wrapped at the customer service desk in a department store. Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did the customer buy?
(A) A watch.
(B) A silver ring.
(C) A blue ribbon.
2 Why can’t the customer get the blue wrapping paper?
(A) Because it costs extra money.
(B) Because the store doesn’t have any left.
(C) Because it is only for children.
3 What will the final gift look like?
(A) Blue paper with a silver ribbon.
(B) Red paper with a gold ribbon.
(C) Silver paper with a blue ribbon.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A) A watch.
- Explanation: In the first line, the customer says, “I just bought this watch.”
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap because a “blue ribbon” is mentioned later, but it is for decoration, not the item he bought. Option (B) uses the word “silver”, which is also mentioned, but he didn’t buy a ring.
2 Correct Answer: (B) Because the store doesn’t have any left.
- Explanation: The staff apologizes and says, “we just used the last piece of blue paper.” This means it is out of stock.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap because the staff says “We have free gift wrapping today,” so money is not the problem. Option (C) is not mentioned.
3 Correct Answer: (C) Silver paper with a blue ribbon.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. The customer wanted blue paper, but the store ran out. He agrees to use “silver” paper and asks for a “blue ribbon” on it.
- Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap because it mixes up the colors (the paper is silver, the ribbon is blue). Option (B) uses the colors the staff offered at the beginning (red and gold), but the customer didn’t choose them.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Customer: Hi, I just bought this watch. Can you wrap it as a gift, please?
Staff: Yes, of course. We have free gift wrapping today. What color paper would you like? We have red, gold, and blue.
Customer: It’s for my brother’s birthday, so I’d like the blue paper, please.
Staff: Oh, let me check… I’m sorry, we just used the last piece of blue paper. But we have a really nice silver paper with stars on it.
Customer: Hmm, silver is fine. But could you put a blue ribbon on it?
Staff: Yes, I can do that. It will be ready in five minutes.