Housing – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) A piece of furniture for the center of the room.

• Explanation: Mark says he is still waiting for the “coffee table” to arrive. Option B is a paraphrase of a coffee table (a piece of furniture usually placed in the center of a living room). Option A is the Trap: He already bought the “L-shaped sofa” (large seating arrangement), he is not waiting for it. Option C is plausible for a room with “fantastic natural light”, but it is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) He is very pleased because the cooking equipment is modern.

• Explanation: Mark says he is “thrilled” (very pleased) because the kitchen has “brand-new appliances” (modern cooking equipment). Option B is the Trap: He admits the kitchen is “not enormous” (not very big), but he is definitely not disappointed. Option C is also a Trap: The landlord replaced the oven, not refused to fix it.

3 Correct Answer: (C) It is situated in a quiet area despite being near downtown.

• Explanation: Mark says the best part is that “even though it’s very close to the city center, there’s hardly any traffic noise”. Option C paraphrases this perfectly (close to city center = near downtown; hardly any traffic noise = quiet area). Option A is the Trap: Sophie says it is bigger than his “old studio”, not bigger than his friends’ homes. Option B is not mentioned in the audio.

Sophie: Wow, Mark! This place is amazing. It’s much bigger than your old studio.

Mark: Thanks, Sophie! Come on in. Yeah, I finally have a proper living room. As you can see, I just bought this comfortable L-shaped sofa, but I’m still waiting for the coffee table to arrive from the store.

Sophie: The natural light in here is fantastic. And what about the kitchen? You love cooking.

Mark: It’s right through here. It’s not enormous, but it has completely brand-new appliances. The landlord actually replaced the oven right before I moved in, so I’m thrilled about that.

Sophie: That’s a huge plus. Is that a balcony over there?

Mark: Yeah, attached to the bedroom. It’s quite peaceful. Honestly, the best part about this flat is the location. Even though it’s very close to the city center, there’s hardly any traffic noise at all.

Sophie: I’m really happy for you. It feels so cozy already.

Mark: Let’s sit down. Can I get you a cup of tea or maybe some juice?

1 Correct Answer: (B) The shared living space is becoming too dirty.

• Explanation: Liam says the apartment is “getting a bit messy” and Chloe is tired of seeing “dust everywhere”. Option B paraphrases this situation (dirty = messy / dust everywhere). Option A is the Trap: The “weekend” is mentioned, but they are not having a party; they are just cleaning. Option C is not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Cleaning the apartment floors.

• Explanation: Liam says, “How about I clean the floors instead”, which is his way of taking over the vacuuming. Option C is the correct match. Option A is the Trap: Chloe initially asks Liam to take care of the bathroom, but he refuses because it is his “least favorite thing in the world”. Option B is also a Trap: They agree to “take turns” (chia nhau làm) wiping the kitchen counters, so it is not just Liam’s task.

3 Correct Answer: (A) Liam will dispose of it before his daily workout.

• Explanation: Liam says he will take the trash out “every evening on my way to the gym”. Option A uses synonyms to express this (dispose of it = take the trash out; before his daily workout = on my way to the gym). Option B is the Trap: “Saturday morning” is when Chloe will clean the bathroom, not when the garbage is taken out. Option C is a Trap: They take turns wiping the counters, not taking out the garbage.

Liam: Hey Chloe, the apartment is getting a bit messy. I think we really need to set up a proper chore schedule for the weekend.

Chloe: You’re totally right, Liam. I’m getting tired of seeing dust everywhere. Why don’t we split the tasks? I don’t mind doing the vacuuming if you take care of the bathroom.

Liam: Ugh, scrubbing the shower is my least favorite thing in the world. How about I clean the floors instead, and you handle the washroom?

Chloe: Fair enough. I’ll deal with the bathroom on Saturday morning then. What about the kitchen garbage? It’s overflowing again.

Liam: Oh, I can easily take the trash out every evening on my way to the gym.

Chloe: Perfect. And maybe we can take turns wiping the kitchen counters after dinner?

Liam: Sounds like a great plan. Let’s write this list down and put it on the fridge so neither of us forgets.

1 Correct Answer: (C) Get a pre-owned item to reduce their expenses.

• Explanation: David suggests getting a “used one” (pre-owned item) because it “saved him a lot of cash” (reduce expenses), and Emma agrees it’s a “smart idea”. Option A is the Trap: Emma was looking at a brand-new leather sofa online, but she rejected it because it was “over our budget”. Option B is also a Trap: David mentions his “brother”, but his brother bought a couch; he isn’t giving them one.

2 Correct Answer: (B) Because she believes it will make the area seem more spacious.

• Explanation: Emma wants light gray curtains because it will make the space “look much bigger” (seem more spacious). Option A is the Trap: Matching the “floor rug” is the reason David wanted the dark blue curtains, not Emma’s reason for the gray ones. Option C is a plausible real-world reason to choose a color, but price was not mentioned when discussing the curtains.

3 Correct Answer: (A) To go to a store that sells used household goods.

• Explanation: David suggests they drive downtown to visit a “pre-owned furniture shop” (a store that sells used household goods). Option B is the Trap: They are talking about the color of the “curtains” (light gray), not painting the walls. Option C is incorrect because they are driving downtown, not staying home to look online.

David: So, the living room is still pretty empty. We definitely need somewhere to sit.

Emma: I know. I was looking at a brand-new leather sofa online, but it’s way over our budget right now.

David: What if we get a used one instead? My brother bought a great second-hand couch last year, and it saved him a lot of cash.

Emma: Hmm, that’s a smart idea. If we spend less on the seating, we’ll have enough money left over to buy some nice curtains. What color are you thinking?

David: I really like dark blue. I think it would match the floor rug perfectly.

Emma: But dark curtains might make the room feel a bit tiny. Let’s go with light gray instead. It will make the space look much bigger and brighter.

David: You make a good point. Light gray it is. Why don’t we drive downtown this afternoon and visit that pre-owned furniture shop?

Emma: Sounds like a plan!

1 Correct Answer: (B) She has an important professional task the next day.

• Explanation: Jenny says, “I have a huge presentation at work tomorrow”. Option B paraphrases this (professional task = presentation at work). Option A is not mentioned. Option C is the Trap: Tom is the one who mentions “terrible music”, not Jenny, and her main reason for being upset is her work presentation.

2 Correct Answer: (A) The apartment located directly above them.

• Explanation: Tom says the noise is coming from “the guy upstairs”. Option A paraphrases this (located directly above them = upstairs). Option B is not mentioned. Option C is the Trap: The “building manager” is mentioned as someone they could call, but he is not the one making the noise.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Visit the neighbor in person to request a quieter environment.

• Explanation: Tom finally agrees saying, “let’s just go up there together and politely talk to him”. Option C perfectly matches this action. Option A is the Trap: Jenny mentions the “police”, but she rejects the idea because it is “too extreme”. Option B is also a Trap: They will complain to the “landlord in the morning” ONLY IF the neighbor refuses to turn the music down. Their immediate decision is to go upstairs.

Tom: What time is it, Jenny? I can’t believe they are still playing that terrible music.

Jenny: It’s almost 1:00 AM. I have a huge presentation at work tomorrow, and I haven’t slept a wink. My head is pounding.

Tom: Mine too. This is the third time this week the guy upstairs has thrown a loud party. It’s completely unacceptable.

Jenny: Should we go upstairs and ask him to turn the volume down?

Tom: I don’t know… I’m a bit nervous about doing that. Some people get really angry when you interrupt their parties. Maybe we should just call the building manager instead?

Jenny: The manager’s office is closed right now. We could call the police, but that seems a bit too extreme for a noise complaint.

Tom: You’re right. Okay, let’s just go up there together and politely talk to him. If he refuses to lower the music, we can formally complain to the landlord in the morning.

Jenny: Alright, let’s put our shoes on.

1 Correct Answer: (B) To visit his relatives in a rural area.

• Explanation: Mark says he is “visiting my parents in the countryside”. Option B paraphrases this (relatives = parents; rural area = countryside). Option A is the Trap: Anna asks if he is going to the beach, but Mark replies “Actually, I’m visiting my parents…”. Option C is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Spend the night at his apartment.

• Explanation: Anna asks “Do you need me to stay over?” and Mark replies “Oh, no, you don’t have to sleep there.” Option A paraphrases “sleep there” as “spend the night”. Options B and C are Traps: Mark explicitly asks Anna to feed Whiskers (the cat) and bring the letters (mail) inside, so these are things she must do.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Hidden beneath the mat by the entrance.

• Explanation: Anna tells Mark to leave his “spare key under the doormat” so she can enter the apartment. Option B paraphrases this perfectly (beneath the mat by the entrance = under the doormat). Option A is the Trap: The “kitchen cabinet” is where the cat food is kept, not the key. Option C is also a Trap: The “mailbox” is where she needs to collect the letters from, not where the key is hidden.

Mark: Hey Anna, are you going to be around this weekend? I’m heading out of town for a three-day holiday.

Anna: Yeah, I’ll be here. Are you finally going to the beach?

Mark: Actually, I’m visiting my parents in the countryside. But I was wondering if you could do me a huge favor while I’m gone. Could you keep an eye on my apartment?

Anna: Sure, no problem. Do you need me to stay over?

Mark: Oh, no, you don’t have to sleep there. Just drop by maybe once a day. The main thing is feeding Whiskers. Her food is in the kitchen cabinet.

Anna: Got it. Feed the cat. Anything else?

Mark: Could you also pour a little water on the indoor plants? And if you see any letters in the mailbox, just bring them inside so they don’t pile up.

Anna: Water the plants and grab the mail. Sounds easy enough! Just leave your spare key under the doormat.

Mark: You’re a lifesaver, Anna. I owe you dinner when I get back!