Future Tech – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) By making a reservation on the internet beforehand.

• Explanation: The lab assistant says he has to “book at least 48 hours in advance online.” “Book in advance online” is a paraphrase of “making a reservation on the internet beforehand.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Liam thought he could “just walk in” (show up in person), but Chloe explicitly says “no” to this idea. Option (C) is a trap because the bookstore is mentioned later for buying materials, not for scheduling.

2 Correct Answer: (A) The standard white plastic is provided without charge.

• Explanation: Chloe states that “The basic white material is completely free.” “Provided without charge” is a synonym for “completely free.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. Students only have to buy special colors or resin at the bookstore, not all plastics. Option (C) is also a trap because the resin and special colors are not free.

3 Correct Answer: (C) He will use the free material and add color to it on his own.

• Explanation: Liam says “the standard white is totally fine” and that he “can just paint the model myself later.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Chloe offers the option of special colors, but Liam rejects it because he can paint the standard one. Option (B) is a plausible distraction, but he never mentions changing his design, he just says he will book a time right away.

Liam: Excuse me, are you the lab assistant? I need to use the 3D printer for my final architecture project.

Chloe: Yes, I am. You want to make a building model, right? Well, the machines are pretty booked up right now. Have you reserved a time slot on the university portal?

Liam: Um, not yet. I thought I could just walk in and use them today.

Chloe: Ah, no. During finals week, you have to book at least 48 hours in advance online. Otherwise, you won’t get a turn.

Liam: Okay, I’ll do that right away. Also, do I need to pay for the plastic filament?

Chloe: The basic white material is completely free for all engineering and design students. But, if you want special colors or stronger materials like resin, you have to buy them at the campus bookstore.

Liam: Oh, the standard white is totally fine. I can just paint the model myself later. Thanks for the help!

Chloe: No problem. Just remember to check your email for the confirmation link after you book!

1 Correct Answer: (B) To create a written record of spoken discussions.

• Explanation: The manager says the AI will “transcribe the conversation and… generate a short summary.” “Create a written record” is a paraphrase of this capability.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap. The manager mentions “private text chats,” but explicitly states that the AI “completely ignores” them, rather than monitoring them. Option (A) is a plausible office software feature, but it is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (B) They are entirely disregarded by the AI system.

• Explanation: The speaker states that the system “completely ignores” direct messages. “Entirely disregarded” is a direct synonym for “completely ignores.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The AI generates a “summary of the action items,” but this is based on the audio feed, not the text messages. Option (C) is a plausible privacy concern, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (A) The organizer must manually activate the feature.

• Explanation: The manager explains that “the meeting host actually has to click the ‘enable’ button.” This means the organizer has to activate it manually.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The manager specifically warns that the tool “doesn’t just turn on by itself,” which means it does not start automatically. Option (C) is a plausible real-world requirement for recording, but it is not stated in the monologue.

Project Manager: Alright, team, could I have your attention, please? I want to quickly introduce a new tool we’re rolling out this week. It’s an AI meeting assistant. I know, I know, another piece of software to learn, right? But I promise this one is actually helpful. Basically, during our online video calls, you won’t need to frantically write down what everyone is saying anymore. This AI will automatically transcribe the conversation and, um, generate a short summary of the action items right after we hang up.

Now, a few of you asked about privacy earlier. Please don’t worry. The system is designed to only capture the main audio feed. It completely ignores any direct messages or private text chats you send to each other during the call.

One important thing to remember, though… it doesn’t just turn on by itself. The meeting host actually has to click the ‘enable’ button at the start of the session, otherwise, it won’t record anything. So, please try it out in your team huddles tomorrow and let me know how it goes.

1 Correct Answer: (A) They follow a set schedule regardless of the traffic situation.

• Explanation: The speaker says current lights “operate on fixed timers” and follow a “strict schedule,” even when “there are absolutely no other cars around.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a trap. The speaker mentions “traffic jams” and “volume of vehicles,” but never says the lights break down. Option (C) is plausible but not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (B) They will adjust their colors based on the number of cars present.

• Explanation: The speaker explains the system will “analyze the actual volume of vehicles” and “keep the light green longer” if an avenue is packed. This means adjusting colors based on car numbers.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The speaker mentions a situation where there are “no other cars around” to highlight the flaw of current lights, not to say the new lights will turn off. Option (C) is a trap because “cameras” are mentioned, but they are used to analyze traffic volume, not to catch speeding drivers.

3 Correct Answer: (C) It will decrease the amount of harmful emissions in the air.

• Explanation: The speaker concludes that the technology will “cut down on air pollution from idling engines.” “Decrease harmful emissions” is a direct paraphrase of cutting down air pollution.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The speaker mentions “daily commutes” (going to work/school), but does not talk about the cost of public transportation. Option (B) is highly plausible for a traffic system, but it is never mentioned in the presentation.

Student: Good morning, everyone. Today, I’d like to share a concept for our future smart cities, specifically focusing on transportation.

Currently, most of our street signals operate on fixed timers. You know, you sit at a red light for two minutes, even if, um, there are absolutely no other cars around. It’s frustrating and causes massive traffic jams during rush hour. But imagine a system where traffic lights use built-in sensors and cameras. Instead of following a strict schedule, these smart lights would analyze the actual volume of vehicles on the road in real-time. So, if a major avenue is completely packed with cars, the system will keep the light green longer to keep things moving.

By adapting to the live situation, this technology wouldn’t just save us a lot of time on our daily commutes; it would also significantly cut down on air pollution from idling engines. Thank you for listening to my presentation.

1 Correct Answer: (A) She arranged a multi-day event using virtual reality.

• Explanation: Emily states that she helped “coordinate a three-day virtual conference” using “VR headsets.” This matches arranging a multi-day event in virtual reality.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. She did focus on “social media campaigns” at her last job, but this is not the experience that proves she can work in a digital world/simulated environment (like the Metaverse) which the interviewer asked about. Option (C) is plausible but never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (B) To monitor the staff’s daily duties and output.

• Explanation: The interviewer explains that the platform “tracks tasks and employee productivity.” “Monitor duties and output” is a direct paraphrase of this function.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The interviewer mentions it “takes some time to learn” the software, but the platform is not used to train workers on the Metaverse. Option (C) is plausible since this is an interview, but the software’s purpose is not for interviewing.

3 Correct Answer: (C) She successfully dealt with system changes in the past.

• Explanation: Emily mentions that her previous company “switched our scheduling system twice” and she “figured it out quickly.” This shows she has dealt with system changes before.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Emily mentions she “read the manuals” to learn her old scheduling system, not a book about AI management. Option (B) is a plausible reason for being good with software, but she never mentions taking a programming course.

Interviewer: Welcome, Emily. Thanks for coming in. Looking at your resume, you have solid marketing experience. But for this role, we need someone who can handle our new virtual office in the Metaverse. Have you ever organized events in a digital world?

Candidate: Well, um, in my last job, I mainly focused on social media campaigns. However, I did help coordinate a three-day virtual conference last year. We used VR headsets to interact with clients. So, yes, I’m quite comfortable in simulated environments.

Interviewer: That’s great to hear. Now, our company uses a very specific AI-driven management platform. It tracks tasks and employee productivity. It takes some time to learn. How do you feel about adapting to new software?

Candidate: I’m actually a fast learner. At my previous company, they switched our scheduling system twice in one year! It was, ah, pretty chaotic at first, but I read the manuals and figured it out quickly. I don’t think your platform will be an issue.

Interviewer: Excellent. Flexibility is exactly what we’re looking for.

1 Correct Answer: (B) There is not enough free space on the desks.

• Explanation: Mark mentions that their desks are “incredibly cluttered,” which means they are full of things and lack free space.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Sarah asks if the computers are “too slow,” but Mark immediately rejects this by saying, “No, the speed is fine.” Option (C) is plausible in an office setting but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) They might not be suitable for extensive writing tasks.

• Explanation: Sarah points out that the virtual keyboards can be “uncomfortable for typing long reports,” which is a paraphrase of “extensive writing tasks.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The audio mentions wires, but Mark says the new keyboards mean they wouldn’t have to deal with “tangled wires” (cables). Option (C) is a highly plausible real-world issue, but it is not discussed in the conversation.

3 Correct Answer: (B) They cost too much money for the company at this time.

• Explanation: Sarah states that the see-through screens are “way over our budget right now,” meaning they are too expensive.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. Sarah explicitly rejects replacing the equipment immediately by saying, “Let’s just stick with our standard equipment for a little while longer.” Option (C) is plausible but is never mentioned in the audio.

Mark: Hey Sarah, do you have a minute? I wanted to talk about our desk setups.

Sarah: Sure, Mark. What’s on your mind? Are the current computers too slow?

Mark: No, the speed is fine. But our desks are incredibly cluttered. I was reading about some new tech, and I think we should upgrade to transparent monitors or maybe those laser-projected keyboards.

Sarah: Hmm. A laser keyboard that projects onto the table? That sounds like something from a sci-fi movie. Would it really help?

Mark: Definitely! It takes up zero physical space when you turn it off. Plus, we wouldn’t have to deal with tangled wires everywhere.

Sarah: I see the appeal for saving space. However, I read some reviews saying those virtual keyboards can be uncomfortable for typing long reports. They just don’t have that satisfying click, you know?

Mark: Ah, I didn’t think about that. What about the see-through screens, then?

Sarah: They look amazing, but unfortunately, they are way over our budget right now. Let’s just stick with our standard equipment for a little while longer.