Describing People/Things – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) It is long with two pigtails.

• Explanation: The dad explicitly says, “her hair is long. She has it tied in two pigtails today.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the security guard asks, “Does she have short hair?”, but the dad says “No.”

2 Correct Answer: (A) A bright yellow T-shirt.

• Explanation: The dad corrects himself and says, “She is just wearing a bright yellow T-shirt…”
• The Trap: Option (B) is the “Twist”. The dad mentions the “red jacket” first, but then remembers she took it off. Option (C) mixes the color “blue” from her jeans to confuse the listener.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Tell the other security guards.

• Explanation: At the end of the conversation, the guard says, “I will tell the other guards right away.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a plausible action in a missing child situation, but it is not mentioned in the audio. Option (B) mentions “toy”, which was where the girl got lost, but it’s not the guard’s next action.

Dad: Excuse me! Please help me. I can’t find my little girl!

Security Guard: Please stay calm, sir. We will find her. How old is your daughter?

Dad: She’s five years old. We were looking at toys, and suddenly she was gone.

Security Guard: Okay. What does she look like? Does she have short hair?

Dad: No, her hair is long. She has it tied in two pigtails today.

Security Guard: And what is she wearing right now?

Dad: Let me think… um, she was wearing a red jacket. But wait, no, she took it off earlier. She is just wearing a bright yellow T-shirt and blue jeans.

Security Guard: Yellow T-shirt, blue jeans, and pigtails. Understood. I will tell the other guards right away.

1 Correct Answer: (A) Hard plastic.

• Explanation: The passenger says, “It’s a very large case made of hard plastic.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because the staff asks “Is it a small soft bag?”, but the passenger says no.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Dark pink.

• Explanation: The passenger uses the “Twist” here: “So I got a dark pink one instead.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The passenger wanted a black one, but it was sold out. Option (B) “Yellow” is the color of the sticker, not the whole suitcase.

3 Correct Answer: (B) A yellow star sticker.

• Explanation: The passenger clearly states, “there is a big yellow star sticker on the front.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the staff asks about a “name tag”, but the passenger replies, “It doesn’t have a name tag.”

Staff: Good afternoon. How can I help you?

Passenger: Hi, my suitcase didn’t come out on the baggage belt.

Staff: I’m sorry about that. Let’s find it. Is it a small soft bag or a hard case?

Passenger: It’s a very large case made of hard plastic.

Staff: Okay. And what color is it? Is it the standard black?

Passenger: Well, I wanted to buy a black one, but they were sold out. So I got a dark pink one instead.

Staff: A dark pink, hard plastic case. Does it have any name tags or special marks?

Passenger: It doesn’t have a name tag, unfortunately. But there is a big yellow star sticker on the front.

Staff: Great. I will check the system for you right now.

1 Correct Answer: (A) Around 20 years old.

• Explanation: The witness says the pickpocket was “Maybe around twenty years old.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because the police officer asks, “Around thirty?”, but the witness replies, “No, younger than that.” Option (C) is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (C) He is tall and very thin.

• Explanation: The witness describes him by saying, “he was quite tall, but actually he was very thin.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because the police officer asks, “Was he heavy?”, but the witness corrects this assumption. Option (A) is completely wrong based on the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (B) A white T-shirt and a black cap.

• Explanation: The witness corrects their memory and states, “he was just wearing a white T-shirt and a black baseball cap.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the “Twist.” The witness initially thought he had a blue jacket on but then said, “But wait, no…” Option (C) mixes the colors up to confuse the listener.

Police Officer: Excuse me, did you see the pickpocket?

Witness: Yes, I saw him! He ran right past me. He was quite young.

Police Officer: How old was he? Around thirty?

Witness: No, younger than that. Maybe around twenty years old.

Police Officer: Okay. What did he look like? Was he heavy?

Witness: Well, he was quite tall, but actually he was very thin.

Police Officer: Did you notice his clothes?

Witness: Hmm… I thought he had a blue jacket on. But wait, no, he was just wearing a white T-shirt and a black baseball cap.

Police Officer: A white T-shirt and a black cap. Thank you, that helps a lot.

1 Correct Answer: (A) He is tall with blonde hair.

• Explanation: Alex clearly describes his cousin: “He’s really tall and has curly blonde hair.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because Ben guesses that Leo is “short with dark hair” like Alex, but Alex immediately says “Actually, no.” Option (C) is plausible but “glasses” are never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (B) A grey T-shirt.

• Explanation: Alex uses a “Twist” here. He says Leo is “just wearing a grey T-shirt” because the weather is hot.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because Leo planned to wear a red sweater, but he changed his mind. Option (C) mixes the color “green” from the backpack to confuse the listener.

3 Correct Answer: (A) A big green backpack.

• Explanation: Alex says, “He’s carrying a huge green hiking backpack.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because the word “suitcase” is mentioned, but Alex explicitly says, “He doesn’t have a suitcase.” Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.

Alex: Hey Ben, I’m stuck at work. Can you pick up my cousin, Leo, from the train station?

Ben: Sure. I’ve never met him though. What does he look like? Is he short with dark hair like you?

Alex: Actually, no. He’s really tall and has curly blonde hair.

Ben: Okay, tall with blonde hair. What is he wearing?

Alex: He planned to wear his red sweater. But it’s very hot today, so he is just wearing a grey T-shirt.

Ben: Got it. Does he have a lot of luggage?

Alex: He doesn’t have a suitcase. He’s carrying a huge green hiking backpack. You can’t miss him!

Ben: Alright, a big green backpack. I’ll go right now.

1 Correct Answer: (B) Clear glass.

• Explanation: The customer clearly states, “It is made of clear glass.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the clerk asks if she wants a “short ceramic one,” but the customer immediately rejects it by saying, “No, not ceramic.” Option (C) is a common material but is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Small blue flowers.

• Explanation: The customer corrects the clerk by saying, “Actually, no. It has a pattern of small blue flowers.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is the “Twist”. The clerk guesses it has “large red roses”, which might trick students who only listen for keywords without understanding who is speaking.

3 Correct Answer: (B) To the back room.

• Explanation: At the end of the conversation, the clerk says, “Let me go get it from the back room for you.”
• The Trap: Option (C) is a trap because the word “website” is mentioned at the very beginning of the audio (where the customer saw the picture), but it is not where the physical vase is right now.

Customer: Excuse me. I’m looking for a vase I saw on your store’s website yesterday.

Clerk: Sure, I can help with that. We have many vases. Are you looking for a short ceramic one?

Customer: No, not ceramic. It is made of clear glass. And it has a very tall neck.

Clerk: Oh, I think I know which one you mean. Does it have large red roses painted on it?

Customer: Actually, no. It has a pattern of small blue flowers.

Clerk: Ah, yes! I remember now. We still have that one in stock. Let me go get it from the back room for you.

Customer: Thank you so much!