Health & Sickness – A2 English Listening Exercise

1  B

• Explanation: The speaker says, “You might think you need to buy expensive vitamins… But actually, you can protect your body easily at home” and later says “save your money”. This means you don’t need to buy them.
• The Trap: Option A is a trap because the speaker does want you to get apples and oranges, not avoid buying them. Option C is a plausible guess for exercising, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2  C

• Explanation: The expert clearly says, “First, you should eat a lot of fresh fruit every day.”
• The Trap: Option B is a trap because “pharmacy” is mentioned, but the speaker tells listeners they don’t need to buy things there. Option A is a good food when sick, but it is never mentioned in the broadcast.

3  A

• Explanation: The speaker explicitly says, “Just thirty minutes of simple exercise… is enough to make you strong.”
• The Trap: Option B is the A2 “Twist” trap. The speaker mentions “two hours”, but uses a negative sentence: “You don’t have to go to a sports club and lift weights for two hours.” Option C is not mentioned.

Speaker: Good morning, listeners! You are listening to ‘Healthy Living’ on Radio 99. Now, winter is coming, and a lot of people are getting sick. You might think you need to buy expensive vitamins at the pharmacy to stay safe. But actually, you can protect your body easily at home.

First, you should eat a lot of fresh fruit every day. Apples and oranges are really great choices because they help your body fight illness. Second, you need to move your body. You don’t have to go to a sports club and lift weights for two hours. Just thirty minutes of simple exercise, like walking in the park, is enough to make you strong. So, save your money, eat well, and go for a walk today!

1  B

• Explanation: The assistant says, “I am calling to remind you about your appointment… You are coming in for a blood test.”
• The Trap: Option A is a trap. The assistant says “If you need to cancel, please call us back”, meaning the patient can cancel, but the assistant is not calling to cancel it. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.

2  A

• Explanation: The assistant clearly states, “you must not eat anything in the morning. Please do not have breakfast.”
• The Trap: Option B is the A2 “Twist” trap. The assistant mentions “eat a good breakfast”, but she is explaining what they usually tell patients, not what Mr. Smith should do this time. Option C is a trap because 8:00 AM is mentioned, not 7:00 AM.

3  C

• Explanation: The assistant tells him, “you can bring a small snack with you to eat after the test is finished.” A snack is some food to eat later.
• The Trap: Options A and B are plausible things to bring to a clinic in real life, but they are never mentioned in the voicemail.

Assistant: Hello, this is a message for Mr. John Smith. This is Mary from the City Health Clinic. I am calling to remind you about your appointment tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM. You are coming in for a blood test. Now, usually, we tell our patients to eat a good breakfast before they visit. But for this specific test, you must not eat anything in the morning. Please do not have breakfast before you arrive. However, you can bring a small snack with you to eat after the test is finished. If you need to cancel, please call us back today. Thank you.

1  A

• Explanation: The vlogger says, “A lot of people only wear a warm sweater, but that is really not enough.” This means it cannot keep you warm by itself.
• The Trap: Option B is a trap because the vlogger mentions a sweater, but says it is not enough (not the best). Option C is a plausible guess in real life, but the audio never mentions the sweater being heavy.

2  B

• Explanation: The vlogger says, “a scarf is actually much better” and “I never leave my house without one.”
• The Trap: Option A is the A2 “Twist” trap. The vlogger mentions “I sometimes wear a winter hat, but…” and then chooses the scarf instead. Option C is a great way to stay warm in real life, but it is not mentioned in the video.

3  B

• Explanation: The vlogger clearly gives the advice: “Just use normal soap and warm water.”
• The Trap: Option A is a trap. The vlogger mentions “expensive hand sanitizers,” but uses a negative structure: “You don’t need to buy…” Option C is a plausible item for cleaning, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

Vlogger: Hi everyone! Welcome back to my channel. Winter is here, and it is very cold outside. Today, I want to share three simple tips to stop you from catching a cold.

First, you should always wear a thick coat. A lot of people only wear a warm sweater, but that is really not enough. Second, you must keep your neck warm. I sometimes wear a winter hat, but a scarf is actually much better. I never leave my house without one. Third, and this is very important, wash your hands often! You don’t need to buy expensive hand sanitizers. Just use normal soap and warm water. Stay warm and see you next week!

1  B

• Explanation: The speaker introduces himself at the very beginning: “this is Principal Harris.”
• The Trap: Option A is a trap. The students are in the cafeteria and about to eat lunch, but the person speaking is the principal, not a cafeteria worker. Option C is a trap because he talks about teeth, but he is not a dentist.

2  A

• Explanation: The principal says, “I know many of you want to buy chocolate cakes and sweet sodas today.” This means they want to buy sweet food.
• The Trap: Option B is the A2 “Twist” trap. The principal tells them they should choose salads and milk instead, but it is not what they originally want to buy. Option C is a plausible lunch food but is never mentioned.

3  C

• Explanation: The principal clearly instructs the students: “And remember to drink milk or water with your meal…”
• The Trap: Option B is a trap because the principal specifically says “not soda” right after mentioning milk and water. Option A is not mentioned in the audio.

Principal: Attention all students, this is Principal Harris. I am making a quick announcement before you start your lunch.

I know many of you want to buy chocolate cakes and sweet sodas today. They taste great, but they are very bad for your teeth and your overall health. So, instead of buying those sugary snacks, you should make a healthier choice. We have some delicious fresh salads at the food counter right now. And remember to drink milk or water with your meal, not soda.

Let’s all eat well and stay strong. Enjoy your lunch, everyone!

1  B

• Explanation: The speaker says, “I stayed up late to play video games.”
• The Trap: Option C is a trap. The speaker mentions “eight hours of sleep,” but that is what we need to do, not what he used to do in the past. Option A is a plausible activity for a student, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2  A

• Explanation: The speaker says, “But I always felt terrible the next day. My head hurt…”
• The Trap: Option C is the A2 “Twist” trap. The speaker says the brain “gets ready for the new day”, but that only happens when you sleep for eight hours, not five hours. Option B is a trap because the teacher is mentioned (“I couldn’t listen to the teacher”), but he wasn’t angry.

3  A

• Explanation: At the end of the presentation, the speaker clearly says: “put your phone away and go to bed early!”
• The Trap: Option B is the exact opposite of what he advises (he says to put the phone away, not use it). Option C is good advice in real life, but the speaker never mentions homework.

Student: Good morning, class. Today, I want to talk about sleep. Many students think it is okay to sleep for only five hours. I used to do that, too. I stayed up late to play video games. But I always felt terrible the next day. My head hurt, and I couldn’t listen to the teacher.

Our bodies actually need eight hours of sleep every night. When we sleep, our brain rests and gets ready for the new day. If you don’t sleep enough, your brain gets too tired. So, tonight, put your phone away and go to bed early! Thank you for listening.