Detailed Directions – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (B) Because the traffic is very heavy.

• The Key: The GPS voice explains the “Twist” clearly: “Recalculating route. Traffic is very heavy on Main Street.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a very common reason for changing routes in A2 listening tests (and was used in our previous exercises), but it is not mentioned here. Option (C) is a plausible real-life situation, but the audio does not say the driver made a mistake.

2 (C) Take the second exit.

• The Key: The direct instruction is: “…enter the roundabout and take the second exit.”
• The Trap: Option (A) “Turn left” was the original instruction before the GPS recalculated the route. Listeners who stop paying attention after the first sentence will fall into this trap. Option (B) is just a plausible incorrect direction.

3 (A) On the left, next to the supermarket.

• The Key: The GPS gives the exact location: “Your destination will be on your left, right next to the supermarket.”
• The Trap: Option (B) mentions the “park,” but the park is only a landmark the driver must “go past.” Option (C) uses “Main Street”, which is the street they were told to avoid entirely.

GPS Voice: Welcome to Maps. Drive straight on this road for 500 meters. Then, turn left onto Main Street.

GPS Voice: Recalculating route. Traffic is very heavy on Main Street. Please do not turn left. Instead, continue straight for one more kilometer. Then, enter the roundabout and take the second exit. Go past the city park. Your destination will be on your left, right next to the supermarket. You have arrived.

1 (B) Because it is closed for a music festival.

• The Key: The audio guide explicitly states the reason: “…but the park is closed today for a music festival.”
• The Trap: Options (A) and (C) are plausible real-life reasons for a park to be closed or avoided, but they are completely unmentioned in the audio.

2 (C) Turn right.

• The Key: The guide gives the updated direction clearly: “So, please turn right instead.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the classic “Twist” trap. The guide was going to tell them to turn left, but changed the instruction because of the festival.

3 (A) Along the river.

• The Key: The guide says, “Yes, turn right and walk along the river.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is the old, canceled route. Option (C) is where the visitors just came from, not where they are going.

Audio Guide Voice: Welcome to the end of the museum tour. Now, please walk out of the museum through the main doors. We are going to the City Square. Usually, I ask visitors to turn left and walk through the park, but the park is closed today for a music festival. So, please turn right instead. Yes, turn right and walk along the river. It is a beautiful and quiet walk. Keep walking until you see a large fountain. The City Square is right behind the fountain. Enjoy the rest of your tour!

1 (B) Bus number 42.

• The Key: Sarah explicitly gives the new instruction: “So, please take bus number 42 instead.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the “Twist” trap. She was going to suggest bus 14, but changed her mind because it’s always late. Option (C) is a distractor using the number “twenty,” which is the time spent on the bus, not the bus number.

2 (C) At the park station.

• The Key: The direct instruction is: “Keep going and get off at the park station.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is explicitly warned against: “don’t get off at the library station.” Option (B) is where the listener catches the bus, not where they get off.

3 (A) It is white with a big tree.

• The Key: Sarah describes her house at the end: “My house is the white one with a big tree in the front yard.”
• The Trap: Options (B) and (C) use landmarks mentioned earlier in the audio to confuse listeners who try to guess the answer without listening to the final sentence.

Friend: Hey, it’s Sarah! I’m just leaving a message to give you directions to my party tonight. Well, I was going to tell you to take bus number 14, but it is always late on weekends. So, please take bus number 42 instead. You can catch it across from the supermarket. Stay on the bus for about twenty minutes. Now, listen carefully: don’t get off at the library station. Keep going and get off at the park station. When you get off the bus, just walk across the street. My house is the white one with a big tree in the front yard. See you tonight!

1 (C) Turn left onto the small dirt path.

• The Key: The vlogger gives the explicit instruction: “Instead, turn left onto the small dirt path.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the classic “Twist” trap. The vlogger mentions the paved road but warns listeners: “So, don’t take the paved road.” Option (B) is a random, incorrect direction.

2 (B) Because it goes to the crowded main beach.

• The Key: The vlogger explains the reason for the twist: “…but that road goes to the main beach, which is very crowded today.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a common reason used in previous listening exercises (repairs), but it is not mentioned here. Option (C) is a plausible guess but incorrect according to the audio.

3 (A) An old wooden bridge.

• The Key: The vlogger says, “You will go past an old wooden bridge.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is the starting point of the journey, not a landmark on the dirt path. Option (C) is the landmark they already passed before turning left.

Vlogger: Hey guys, welcome back to my travel vlog! Today, I will show you how to find the beautiful secret beach. Start at the parking lot and walk straight. Soon, you will see a very big tree. Now, listen carefully. I usually tell people to follow the wide paved road, but that road goes to the main beach, which is very crowded today. So, don’t take the paved road. Instead, turn left onto the small dirt path. Yes, the small path on your left. Walk for about ten minutes. You will go past an old wooden bridge. Keep walking, and the secret beach is right in front of you. It’s amazing!

1 (B) Because there is a terrible traffic jam.

• The Key: The announcer explains the twist clearly: “…but there is a terrible traffic jam near the bridge today.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a very common reason for traffic changes in listening tests, but it is not mentioned here. Option (C) mentions “bridge”, which is a keyword in the audio, but the bridge is not new; it’s just the location of the traffic jam.

2 (C) Exit 10.

• The Key: The announcer gives a direct instruction: “Please leave the highway at Exit 10.”
• The Trap: Option (A) uses the number “8”, which is the time of the radio report (8 AM). Option (B) uses the number “15”, which is the number of minutes it will take to reach the city center later.

3 (B) Turn right.

• The Key: The instruction is: “Turn right and drive through the small town instead.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the classic trap. The announcer says “left” but in a negative sentence (“don’t turn left”). Option (C) is what drivers usually do on the highway before the plan was changed.

Announcer: Good morning, listeners! This is your 8 AM traffic report. If you are driving on the North Highway right now, please listen carefully. I know you usually drive straight to the city center, but there is a terrible traffic jam near the bridge today. So, you need to change your route. Please leave the highway at Exit 10. When you get off the highway, don’t turn left. Turn right and drive through the small town instead. Keep going straight past the supermarket, and you will reach the city center in about fifteen minutes. Drive safely!