Feelings & Emotions – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 (A) He was incredibly frightened and anxious about his situation.

• The Key: Tom says he has been “absolutely panicking” and that his “heart just sank” when he realized the wallet was missing. “Frightened and anxious” is a good paraphrase for panicking.
• The Plausible (B): He lost his credit cards, which is why he is upset, but there is no mention of a thief stealing them; he simply “left” the wallet on the train.
• The Trap (C): He says he was worried he would have to cancel his bank cards, meaning he hasn’t done it yet. He is definitely not relaxed.

2 (B) A railway worker discovered it on the train and brought it over.

• The Key: Maria says a “cleaner found it on a seat… and handed it in.” A cleaner working on a train is a railway worker.
• The Trap (A): The audio mentions the train was “from London,” but a cleaner found the wallet, not another passenger.
• The Plausible (C): People often drop things on the platform, but Maria explicitly states it was found “on a seat in car number 4,” which means inside the train.

3 (B) Because he is experiencing extreme comfort and relief.

• The Key: Tom explicitly says, “You have no idea how relieved I am.” The idiom “a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders” means feeling extreme relief from anxiety.
• The Trap (A): The idiom uses the word “weight” and “shoulders,” which might make students think about heavy physical luggage, but this is a metaphorical expression about stress.
• The Plausible (C): Sometimes Lost and Found services charge a small fee, but this is never mentioned in the audio.

Maria: Good afternoon. Lost and Found desk. How can I help you?

Tom: Oh, thank goodness you’re open. I’m hoping you can help me. I left my wallet on the 10:15 train from London, and I’ve been absolutely panicking for the last hour.

Maria: Try to stay calm, sir. We receive turned-in items all the time. Can you describe the wallet for me?

Tom: It’s made of dark brown leather, and it has my driver’s license inside. My name is Thomas Wright. I realized it was missing right after I stepped off the carriage, and my heart just sank. All my credit cards are in there.

Maria: Let me check the system. Hmm… a brown leather wallet… Thomas Wright. Yes! A cleaner found it on a seat in car number 4 and handed it in just ten minutes ago. Here it is.

Tom: Oh, I can’t believe it! You have no idea how relieved I am. I feel like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I was so worried I’d have to cancel all my bank cards today. Thank you so much!

Maria: You’re very welcome. Just sign this form here, please.

1 (A) He is completely exhausted from waiting at the airport all day.

• The Key: The passenger says, “I’ve been sitting in this terminal since lunchtime, and I am absolutely exhausted.” Option A is a direct paraphrase of this statement.
• The Trap (B): Madrid is his destination, but his flight is only “delayed” (pushed back), not canceled.
• The Trap (C): He mentions he wants to “get to my hotel,” but he never says he lost his reservation.

2 (B) She shows sympathy and understands his tiredness.

• The Key: The agent says, “I completely understand your frustration… It is incredibly tiring to wait around.” This means she is sympathetic to his situation.
• The Trap (A): The agent mentions “severe weather conditions” as the reason for the delay, not as an excuse to blame the passenger’s attitude.
• The Plausible (C): It is common for passengers to shout and agents to get annoyed, but in this audio, the passenger says “I know it’s not your fault,” and the agent remains very polite.

3 (C) A free ticket to buy food and beverages at the airport.

• The Key: The agent offers a “complimentary voucher” (a free ticket) to get “a hot meal or some coffee” (food and beverages) in the “departure lounge” (at the airport).
• The Trap (A): The word “hotel” is mentioned by the passenger earlier, but the agent does not offer him a free hotel room.
• The Plausible (B): A full refund is a common request during a delay, but the airline only offers a meal voucher in this conversation.

Passenger: Excuse me, could you give me an update on flight 402 to Madrid? The screen says it’s delayed again.

Agent: I’m so sorry, sir. Yes, due to severe weather conditions, the departure time has been pushed back another two hours. It will now leave at 6 PM.

Passenger: You’ve got to be kidding me! That makes it a four-hour delay in total. I’ve been sitting in this terminal since lunchtime, and I am absolutely exhausted. I just want to get to my hotel and sleep.

Agent: I completely understand your frustration, sir. It is incredibly tiring to wait around the airport all day. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused you.

Passenger: I know it’s not your fault, but it’s just so annoying. Is there anything the airline can do?

Agent: As a small apology, I would like to offer you a complimentary voucher. You can use it to get a hot meal or some coffee at any of the restaurants in the departure lounge.

Passenger: Well, that’s better than nothing, I suppose. Thank you. A coffee might help me stay awake.

1 (B) He was asked to pay for food and drinks he did not consume.

• The Key: The customer says he is “being charged for two slices of chocolate cake and a bottle of sparkling water” but they “only had the roast chicken”. This means he is being asked to pay for things he didn’t eat (consume).
• The Trap (A): He mentions the bill is “forty dollars more than I expected,” but this is because of the extra items, not because the restaurant’s general prices are too high.
• The Trap (C): He clearly states the bill is forty dollars more, which means he can read the numbers perfectly fine.

2 (C) A meal of roasted meat and tap water.

• The Key: The customer says, “my wife and I only had the roast chicken and some regular tap water.” “Roast chicken” is paraphrased as “roasted meat.”
• The Trap (A) & (B): Both the chocolate cake and sparkling water are mentioned in the audio, but these were the items he was wrongly charged for, not what he actually ate.

3 (A) The staff made an error regarding the table numbers.

• The Key: The cashier explains that “the waiter accidentally added the desserts from table 14 to your order.” This means the staff mixed up the table numbers.
• The Plausible (B): The cashier says “let me check the system,” but she never says the system is broken; she uses it to find the staff’s mistake.
• The Trap (C): The customer did sit by the window at Table 12, but this was the correct table, not the wrong one.

Customer: Excuse me, miss. I was just looking at my receipt, and I’m a bit confused. Could you help me clarify something?

Cashier: Of course, sir. Is there a problem with the total amount?

Customer: Well, I think there might be a mistake. It says here that I’m being charged for two slices of chocolate cake and a bottle of sparkling water. But my wife and I only had the roast chicken and some regular tap water.

Cashier: Oh, let me check the system. I apologize, let me see your table number. Ah, you were at table 12, right?

Customer: Yes, that’s correct. We sat right by the window. I was scratching my head because the bill is nearly forty dollars more than I expected.

Cashier: I completely understand why you’re puzzled. It looks like the waiter accidentally added the desserts from table 14 to your order. I am so sorry for the mix-up.

Customer: Oh, I see. That makes sense now. I was worried I had lost my mind! I’m glad we caught it.

Cashier: Absolutely. Let me remove those items and print a new, corrected receipt for you right away.

1 (C) He feels extremely shy and awkward about what just happened.

• The Key: Mark says, “I am so incredibly embarrassed right now,” and his face is “bright red.” He also says, “I feel so foolish.” Option C is a perfect paraphrase of these feelings.
• The Trap (A): The audio mentions that his “pride is hurt,” but he explicitly states, “I’m completely fine, though.” He is not physically injured.
• The Plausible (B): The machine’s control panel is described as “confusing,” which might make someone angry, but Mark blames himself, not the staff.

2 (A) The equipment began moving much faster than he expected.

• The Key: Mark explains that he pressed a button and “it suddenly sped up.” This means it moved much faster than he thought it would.
• The Trap (B): The trainer mentions the “safety key” and tells him to clip it to his shirt, but this is her advice for the future. It was not the cause of his fall.
• The Plausible (C): Wearing bad shoes is a common reason for slipping at the gym, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

3 (B) She points out that many new members make the exact same mistake.

• The Key: Sarah tells him, “It happens much more often than you think” and “You aren’t the first person to slip.” This means many other beginners do the same thing.
• The Trap (A): She introduces herself as “one of the trainers” and asks if it is his “first day,” but she never offers him a free training session.
• The Plausible (C): If a machine suddenly speeds up, it might be broken, but Sarah explains that the panels are just “confusing for beginners,” not broken.

Sarah: Oh my goodness! Are you okay there? That looked like a bit of a rough landing.

Mark: Oh, man… I am so incredibly embarrassed right now. My face must be bright red. I’m completely fine, though. Just my pride is hurt.

Sarah: Don’t worry about it at all. I’m Sarah, one of the trainers here. Is it your first day at the gym?

Mark: Yeah, I just joined this morning. I thought I could figure out this running machine by myself. I pressed the ‘quick start’ button, but it suddenly sped up, and I lost my balance. I feel so foolish.

Sarah: Please don’t be so hard on yourself. It happens much more often than you think! Those control panels can be really confusing for beginners. You aren’t the first person to slip, and you certainly won’t be the last.

Mark: Well, that makes me feel a little better. I guess I need some instructions. Could you show me the proper way to operate this thing?

Sarah: Of course! The trick is to clip this safety key to your shirt first. If you trip, it automatically stops the belt. Now, let’s start with a slow walking pace…

1 (A) She is feeling extremely enthusiastic about attending a musical event.

• The Key: The customer says, “I am so incredibly eager to get tickets for the ‘Neon Dreams’ concert.” “Enthusiastic” is a synonym for eager, and a “concert” is a musical event.
• The Trap (B): She says “My heart is beating so fast” (which shows nervousness), but she didn’t lose her tickets; she is trying to buy them.
• The Trap (C): She mentions she has been “waiting for months,” but she was waiting for the tour to happen, not physically standing in line for months. She is also eager, not annoyed.

2 (B) Another customer decided not to keep their previous reservation.

• The Key: The agent explains that the tickets became available because “someone canceled their booking.” Canceling a booking is paraphrased as “decided not to keep their previous reservation.”
• The Plausible (A): Venues sometimes add extra seats, but this is not mentioned in the audio.
• The Trap (C): The audio mentions “VIP floor,” but the agent says those seats are “all gone.” The agent didn’t save the balcony seats for VIPs.

3 (C) Share the fantastic news with a close companion.

• The Key: The customer says, “My best friend is going to scream when I tell her.” Telling her best friend is a paraphrase for sharing the news with a close companion.
• The Trap (A): She wants to secure the tickets, but she says, “Here’s my credit card,” meaning she is not paying with cash.
• The Trap (B): She is “absolutely thrilled” to get the balcony tickets. There is no mention of her wanting to upgrade to VIP, especially since VIP is already sold out.

Agent: Next in line, please! Hi, how can I help you today?

Customer: Hi! I am so incredibly eager to get tickets for the “Neon Dreams” concert this Saturday. I’ve been waiting for months for this tour! Please tell me you still have some left.

Agent: Oh, let me check the system for you. Hmm… well, I have some bad news and some good news.

Customer: Oh no. Please don’t tell me they’re completely sold out. My heart is beating so fast!

Agent: Well, the VIP floor seats are all gone. But, the good news is, I have exactly two tickets left in the balcony section. They just became available because someone canceled their booking ten minutes ago.

Customer: Are you serious? I’ll take them! Both of them! I can’t believe my luck. I am absolutely thrilled! My best friend is going to scream when I tell her.

Agent: You definitely got very lucky today. That will be one hundred and twenty dollars in total, please.

Customer: Here’s my credit card. Wow, I’ve never been this excited for a weekend in my entire life!