Food & Drink – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between two colleagues and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is Sarah going to eat?
(A) A chicken sandwich
(B) A beef salad
(C) A hamburger
2 What drink does Sarah order?
(A) Apple juice
(B) Mineral water
(C) Coffee
3 Where is Paul right now?
(A) At the restaurant
(B) In the meeting
(C) At the bank
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) A chicken sandwich
- Explanation: Sarah clearly tells David, “I’ll have a chicken sandwich, please.” Option (B) is a trap; a beef salad is mentioned, but that is Paul’s order, not Sarah’s. Option (C) is a common lunch food but is never mentioned.
2 (B) Mineral water
- Explanation: Sarah says, “Just a bottle of mineral water for me, please.” Option (A) is a trap; David suggests apple juice, but Sarah rejects it because she already had it for breakfast. Option (C) is not mentioned.
3 (C) At the bank
- Explanation: When David asks about Paul, Sarah answers, “he is at the bank right now.” Option (B) is a trap; the lunch is for the “team meeting,” but Paul is not there yet. Option (A) is plausible because they are talking about food, but it is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
David: Hey Sarah, I’m ordering lunch for the team meeting. What do you want?
Sarah: Oh, great. Let’s see… I’ll have a chicken sandwich, please.
David: Got it. And what about a drink? Do you want some apple juice?
Sarah: Um, actually, I had apple juice for breakfast. Just a bottle of mineral water for me, please.
David: Okay, one chicken sandwich and a mineral water. What about Paul? Is he eating with us?
Sarah: Yes, but he is at the bank right now. He told me to order a beef salad for him.
David: Perfect. I’ll place the order now.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between a director and a client, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where are they going to eat dinner?
(A) A steakhouse
(B) An Italian restaurant
(C) A seafood restaurant
2 Why can’t Ms. Taylor eat at the first restaurant Mr. Davis suggests?
(A) She doesn’t eat meat.
(B) She is allergic to seafood.
(C) It is too far from her hotel.
3 What will Ms. Taylor probably NOT eat tonight?
(A) Pasta
(B) Salad
(C) Dessert
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) An Italian restaurant
- Explanation: They agree to go to an Italian restaurant because it has vegetarian options. Option (A) is the trap; Mr. Davis suggests a steakhouse first, but they change the plan. Option (C) is a plausible type of restaurant but is never mentioned.
2 (A) She doesn’t eat meat.
- Explanation: When Mr. Davis suggests a steakhouse, Ms. Taylor says, “I am a vegetarian. I don’t eat meat at all.” Option (B) is a trap; it is a common food allergy, but it is not mentioned here. Option (C) is also a trap; the steakhouse is actually “near” her hotel, not far from it.
3 (C) Dessert
- Explanation: Ms. Taylor says, “I’m trying to eat less sugar these days, so I will probably just skip dessert.” Options (A) and (B) are traps because pasta and salads are the foods she will likely eat at the Italian restaurant.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mr. Davis: Welcome to our city, Ms. Taylor. I would like to invite you to dinner tonight to celebrate our new business partnership.
Ms. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Davis. I would love to join you.
Mr. Davis: Great. There is a fantastic steakhouse near your hotel. Do you like steak?
Ms. Taylor: Oh, actually, I am a vegetarian. I don’t eat meat at all.
Mr. Davis: I’m glad I asked! Well, in that case, there is a wonderful Italian restaurant downtown. They serve great vegetarian pasta and salads. How does that sound?
Ms. Taylor: That sounds perfect. But I’m trying to eat less sugar these days, so I will probably just skip dessert.
Mr. Davis: No problem at all. Let’s meet in the hotel lobby at 7:00 PM.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between an HR worker and a new employee, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 When does the canteen finish serving lunch?
(A) At 12:00 PM
(B) At 1:30 PM
(C) At 2:00 PM
2 What does Sarah ask Mark to do if he uses the microwave?
(A) Clean it after using it.
(B) Pay two dollars.
(C) Bring his own plate.
3 Where can Mark get free drinks?
(A) From the espresso machine.
(B) By the window.
(C) Next to the microwaves.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) At 1:30 PM
- Explanation: Sarah clearly states that they serve lunch “from 12:00 to 1:30 PM,” so it finishes at 1:30 PM. Option (A) is the trap; 12:00 PM is when lunch starts, not finishes. Option (C) is a plausible time but is never mentioned in the audio.
2 (A) Clean it after using it.
- Explanation: When Mark asks about the microwaves, Sarah says, “please remember to clean them after use.” Option (B) is a trap; paying two dollars is the rule for the espresso machine, not the microwave. Option (C) is a logical idea for eating, but it is not mentioned.
3 (B) By the window.
- Explanation: Sarah explains that “the regular coffee and tea by the window are completely free.” Option (A) is a trap; drinks from the espresso machine are mentioned, but they cost two dollars. Option (C) is a trap using a location mentioned earlier (where the microwaves are), but not where the free drinks are.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sarah: So, this is the company canteen. We serve lunch every day from 12:00 to 1:30 PM.
Mark: Um, what if I bring my own food? Can I heat it up here?
Sarah: Yes, of course. We have two microwaves right over there. But please remember to clean them after use.
Mark: Got it. Ah, do I have to pay for the drinks?
Sarah: Well, the espresso from the machine costs two dollars. However, the regular coffee and tea by the window are completely free.
Mark: Oh, that’s great! I’ll definitely have some tea later. Thanks, Sarah.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between an event organizer and a restaurant manager, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What kind of food did the woman originally want for the seminar?
(A) Sandwiches and pastries
(B) A hot food buffet
(C) A seafood dinner
2 Why does the woman change her mind about the food?
(A) The restaurant cannot make hot dishes.
(B) A hot buffet is too expensive for her.
(C) The lunch break is too short.
3 What extra item does the woman ask the manager to add to the final order?
(A) Hot coffee
(B) Roast beef
(C) Mineral water
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) A hot food buffet
- Explanation: At the beginning, Emma clearly states, “I was thinking of a hot food buffet.” Option (A) is the trap; sandwiches and pastries are what she chooses at the end, not what she originally wanted. Option (C) is a plausible event dinner but is never mentioned.
2 (C) The lunch break is too short.
- Explanation: David says serving hot food takes an hour, and Emma replies, “We only have a 30-minute break. That won’t work.” Option (A) is a trap; David actually says, “We can certainly do that,” meaning the restaurant can make it. Option (B) is a common reason to change an order, but money is not discussed.
3 (A) Hot coffee
- Explanation: After agreeing to the pastries and cold drinks, Emma says, “But please add some hot coffee, too.” Option (B) is a trap; roast beef was mentioned earlier as part of the rejected hot buffet. Option (C) is a plausible drink but is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Hello, I’m organizing a seminar next Friday. I need to order lunch for 50 people. I was thinking of a hot food buffet.
David: We can certainly do that. We have great hot dishes like roast beef and pasta. But it usually takes about an hour for everyone to get their food.
Emma: Oh, really? We only have a 30-minute break. That won’t work.
David: In that case, how about some sandwiches, pastries, and cold drinks? People can just grab them and eat quickly.
Emma: That sounds much better. Let’s go with the sandwiches and pastries. But please add some hot coffee, too.
David: Perfect. I’ll write that down for you right now.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between two colleagues and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is Greg making to drink right now?
(A) Coffee
(B) Green tea
(C) Soda
2 Why did Greg stop drinking soda?
(A) Because he wants to lose weight.
(B) Because it is too expensive.
(C) Because he doesn’t like sweet drinks anymore.
3 What does Mia think about her own habits at the end of the conversation?
(A) She needs to lose weight.
(B) She wants to start drinking soda.
(C) She should drink less coffee.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Green tea
- Explanation: Greg clearly says, “I’m making some green tea today.” Option (A) is a trap; Mia asks if he is making coffee, but he says no. Option (C) is also a trap; soda is what he used to drink in the afternoon.
2 (A) Because he wants to lose weight.
- Explanation: Greg explains his reason: “But I’m trying to lose some weight before my summer vacation.” Option (B) is a logical reason to stop buying something, but it is never mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; he says green tea is not very sweet, but he doesn’t say he dislikes sweet things.
3 (C) She should drink less coffee.
- Explanation: In her last line, Mia says, “I should probably drink less coffee, too.” Option (A) is a trap; Greg is the one who wants to lose weight, not Mia. Option (B) is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mia: Hi Greg. Are you making some coffee?
Greg: Hey Mia. Actually, no. I’m making some green tea today.
Mia: Oh? You usually drink soda around this time.
Greg: I know. I used to drink two cans of soda every afternoon. But I’m trying to lose some weight before my summer vacation. So, I completely stopped buying it.
Mia: That’s a great idea. Is the green tea good?
Greg: It’s okay. It doesn’t taste very sweet, but it is much healthier. I feel better already.
Mia: Good for you! I should probably drink less coffee, too.