Describing People/Things – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What does Lucas look like?
(A) He is short and wears glasses.
(B) He is very tall and wears glasses.
(C) He is tall but doesn’t wear glasses.
2 What is Lucas’s personality?
(A) He is serious and shy.
(B) He is quiet and hardworking.
(C) He is funny and talks a lot.
3 What will Lucas probably do after school?
(A) Go to the library.
(B) Play basketball with Sam.
(C) Join an English club.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) He is very tall and wears glasses.
- Explanation: Sam says Lucas is “incredibly tall and wears these big, dark glasses.”
- The Trap: Option (C) mentions he is tall but tries to trick those who missed the second half of the sentence about his glasses.
2 Correct Answer: (C) He is funny and talks a lot.
- Explanation: Sam uses the “Twist” technique: He says he thought Lucas was serious at first, but “actually, he’s the funniest person… and so talkative.”
- The Trap: Option (A) is what Sam thought at first, and what the Mom guessed, but it is not Lucas’s real personality.
3 Correct Answer: (A) Go to the library.
- Explanation: Sam says Lucas said “no” to basketball and “prefers spending his free time in the library.”
- The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because the basketball team is mentioned as an invitation, but Lucas rejected it.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mom: So, Sam, how was your first day of English class? Did you make any friends?
Sam: Yeah, I met a guy named Lucas. He’s really easy to see in a crowd because he’s incredibly tall and wears these big, dark glasses.
Mom: Oh! He sounds like a very serious student. Is he quite shy?
Sam: That’s what I thought when I first saw him! But actually, he’s the funniest person in class and he’s so talkative. He didn’t stop talking even when the teacher was looking at us!
Mom: Well, he sounds like a lot of fun. Is he going to join your basketball team?
Sam: I invited him, but he said no. He prefers spending his free time in the library reading books.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What does the jewelry box look like?
(A) It is large and round.
(B) It is small and square.
(C) It is small and round.
2 What is the jewelry box made of?
(A) Metal.
(B) Plastic.
(C) Wood.
3 Where did Emma finally find the jewelry box?
(A) On the coffee table.
(B) On the bookshelf.
(C) In the kitchen.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) It is small and square.
- Explanation: Emma clearly describes it: “My jewelry box is small and square.”
- The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because Jack mentions a “large, round” box first, but that was a cookie tin.
2 Correct Answer: (C) Wood.
- Explanation: Emma says it is made of “dark brown wood.”
- The Trap: Option (A) “Metal” refers to the cookie tin. The “wooden cutting board” in the kitchen also uses the word “wood” to distract the listener.
3 Correct Answer: (B) On the bookshelf.
- Explanation: At the end, Emma finds it “behind the dictionary” on the bookshelf.
- The Trap: Option (C) is a trap because Jack thought it was in the kitchen, but it wasn’t. Option (A) is where the cookie tin was located.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Jack, have you seen my jewelry box? I’ve been looking for it for twenty minutes!
Jack: Is it that large, round metal box on the coffee table?
Emma: No, that’s just a cookie tin. My jewelry box is small and square. It’s made of dark brown wood.
Jack: Oh, I remember now. I thought I saw it in the kitchen earlier, next to the sink.
Emma: I already checked there, but that was just a wooden cutting board.
Jack: Hmm… wait! I moved some things on the bookshelf this morning to clean. Is it behind those tall books?
Emma: Let me see… Oh, yes! Here it is, hidden behind the dictionary. Thanks, Jack!
Listening 3
Listen to the telephone conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where is Mark sitting?
(A) In his car.
(B) Near the window.
(C) Near the door.
2 What is Mark wearing right now?
(A) A blue jacket.
(B) A black sweater.
(C) A white shirt.
3 What is Mark doing when Chloe finally sees him?
(A) He is reading a book.
(B) He is standing up.
(C) He is drinking coffee.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Near the window.
- Explanation: Mark clearly states, “I’m sitting inside, near the big window.”
- The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the word “car” is mentioned later when he explains where he left his jacket. Option (C) is plausible because Chloe “just walked into the cafe”, but it is not where Mark is sitting.
2 Correct Answer: (C) A white shirt.
- Explanation: Mark uses the “Twist” here. He says, “I’m just wearing a white shirt now.”
- The Trap: Option (A) “A blue jacket” is what he promised to wear and what Chloe is looking for at first, but he left it in the car.
3 Correct Answer: (A) He is reading a book.
- Explanation: Chloe asks, “You’re reading a book, right?” and Mark confirms, “Yes, that’s me!”
- The Trap: Option (B) “standing up” is a trap. He says “I’ll stand up right now” which means he will do it after she sees him, not while she is looking for him.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Chloe: Hi Mark! It’s Chloe. I just walked into the cafe, but it’s really crowded. Where are you?
Mark: Hi Chloe! I’m sitting inside, near the big window. I told you yesterday I would wear a blue jacket, right?
Chloe: Yes, I see a guy in a blue jacket by the window… wait, he has blonde hair. That’s not you.
Mark: Oh, I’m sorry! I actually left my jacket in the car because it was too warm. I’m just wearing a white shirt now.
Chloe: Oh, I see you! You’re reading a book, right?
Mark: Yes, that’s me! I’ll stand up right now so you can see me better.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Who is the baby in the photograph?
(A) Tom.
(B) Tom’s brother.
(C) Tom’s father.
2 What kind of hair does Leo have NOW?
(A) Straight blonde hair.
(B) Curly dark hair.
(C) Short gray hair.
3 What color are Leo’s eyes in reality?
(A) Blue.
(B) Green.
(C) Brown.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Tom’s brother.
- Explanation: Tom says, “…actually that’s my younger brother, Leo.”
- The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because Lisa asks “Is this a picture of you?” at the beginning, but Tom says no. Option (C) is a trap because the father is mentioned later, but he is not the baby.
2 Correct Answer: (B) Curly dark hair.
- Explanation: Tom says that now Leo has “curly dark hair, just like our dad.”
- The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. He had straight blonde hair in the old photo, but the question asks about what his hair looks like now.
3 Correct Answer: (C) Brown.
- Explanation: Tom clarifies that Leo’s eyes are “actually big and brown.”
- The Trap: Option (A) is what Lisa guessed and what the eyes look like in the photo due to bad lighting, but it is not their real color.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Lisa: Wow, look at this old photo album! Is this a picture of you when you were a baby?
Tom: Let me see… Oh, no, actually that’s my younger brother, Leo.
Lisa: Really? He looks so cute! He has straight blonde hair here.
Tom: Yeah, but that changed quickly. Now he has curly dark hair, just like our dad.
Lisa: Oh, I see. But his eyes are beautiful. Are they blue?
Tom: Well, in this photo they look a bit blue because of the bad lighting, but they are actually big and brown.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Which sofa is Tom selling?
(A) The brown sofa from his living room.
(B) The gray sofa from his bedroom.
(C) A small black sofa.
2 How does Lisa describe the sofa?
(A) She says it is very heavy.
(B) She says it looks comfortable.
(C) She says it looks quite old.
3 Why does Tom want to sell the sofa?
(A) Because it is broken.
(B) Because it is not soft.
(C) Because it is too heavy.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) The gray sofa from his bedroom.
- Explanation: Tom says, “This is the gray sofa from my bedroom.”
- The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. Lisa asks if it is the brown sofa, but Tom says “Actually, no. I’m keeping the brown one.” Option (C) is not mentioned at all.
2 Correct Answer: (B) She says it looks comfortable.
- Explanation: Lisa looks at the sofa and says, “It looks really comfortable.”
- The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because “heavy” is mentioned in the audio, but that is Tom’s opinion, not Lisa’s description.
3 Correct Answer: (C) Because it is too heavy.
- Explanation: Tom clearly states the reason: “But it’s just too heavy to move around by myself.”
- The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because Lisa asks “Is it broken?”, but Tom immediately rejects it by saying “Not at all.” Option (B) is also wrong because he says it is “super soft.”
AUDIO SCRIPT
Lisa: Hi Tom! Are you getting ready for the garage sale this weekend?
Tom: Hey Lisa! Yes, I am. I really want to sell this old sofa.
Lisa: Oh, is it that big brown one from your living room?
Tom: Actually, no. I’m keeping the brown one. This is the gray sofa from my bedroom.
Lisa: It looks really comfortable. Why are you selling it? Is it broken?
Tom: Not at all, it’s still super soft. But it’s just too heavy to move around by myself. I want to buy something much lighter.
Lisa: I see. Well, good luck with the sale!