Internet Safety – B1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the IT Manager giving a short presentation to new employees, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the mandatory rule when an employee leaves their desk?
(A) They must shut down their computer completely to save power.
(B) They are required to secure their display so others cannot access it.
(C) They should ask a nearby coworker to watch their equipment.
2 Why might employees find it difficult to manage their passwords, according to the speaker?
(A) Because the passwords must be complicated and changed frequently.
(B) Because the IT department assigns random words they cannot choose.
(C) Because they are not allowed to use the same password on different websites.
3 What does the manager recommend for handling passwords?
(A) Keep them hidden safely underneath the computer keyboard.
(B) Write them down on small pieces of paper to memorize them.
(C) Utilize a specific piece of software provided by the company.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The manager says, “you must lock your computer screen.” Option B uses the synonyms “secure their display” to paraphrase this rule.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap; the manager says to lock the screen, not shut down (turn off) the computer. Option C is a plausible office behavior, but it is never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: The manager states that the system requires “complex passwords that have to be updated every single month.” Option A is a direct paraphrase of this statement.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B and Option C are both very common internet security rules, but the speaker does not mention them in this specific monologue.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The manager tells the staff to “use the digital password manager application” that is already installed on their laptops. Option C paraphrases this as a “specific piece of software provided by the company.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A and Option B are traps. The manager mentions putting notes on monitors or hiding paper under the keyboard as things the employees must never do (“under no circumstances”).
AUDIO SCRIPT
IT Manager: Alright everyone, welcome to the team. I’m the head of IT, and um, before you start working, I need to go over a few essential security rules.
First, whenever you step away from your workspace, even if it’s just for a quick coffee break or a trip to the restroom, you must lock your computer screen. This is a strict company policy. If you leave your device open, anyone walking by could potentially view sensitive client data or even send emails pretending to be you.
Secondly, let’s talk about passwords. I know our system requires complex passwords that have to be updated every single month. Obviously, that can be pretty difficult to remember. However, under no circumstances should you write your login details on a sticky note and put it on your monitor, or hide a piece of paper under your keyboard. That completely ruins the point of having a secure password in the first place!
Instead, please use the digital password manager application. We have already installed it on all of your laptops. Well, that’s it from me. Let me know if you need any help setting it up.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between two colleagues at the office, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why did Emma feel anxious about the email initially?
(A) She was late for a mandatory meeting with the director.
(B) The message requested immediate action from her.
(C) The sender’s email address looked very strange to her.
2 How does Ryan prove that the message is fake?
(A) By pointing out that the sender’s email domain is incorrect.
(B) By checking the schedule and confirming Mr. Davis is not in a meeting.
(C) By reminding her that the company never gives gifts to clients.
3 What is Ryan’s final advice regarding the fake email?
(A) Reply to the sender and refuse to purchase the items.
(B) Report the message to the technology team and remove it.
(C) Warn the director that someone is stealing his identity.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Emma says she “panicked because the subject line said ‘urgent’.” Option B uses the synonym phrase “requested immediate action” to mean “urgent.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap; the email mentions a meeting, but Emma is not late for it. Option C is a trap because the email address is strange, but Emma admits she “didn’t even notice that,” so it was not the reason she was anxious.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Ryan tells Emma to look at the address because the domain is “@https://www.google.com/search?q=free-mail-service.com” and “not our actual company network.” Option A paraphrases this.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is a plausible way to check, but Ryan never checks the director’s actual schedule in the audio. Option C is a trap; Ryan mentions “gifts,” but he says the director wouldn’t ask them to use their “own personal money,” not that they never give gifts.
3 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Ryan tells Emma to “forward it to the IT department… and then delete it.” Option B paraphrases this as “Report the message to the technology team and remove it.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap because Emma asks if she should reply, but Ryan explicitly says, “Definitely not.” Option C is a logical action, but it is not the advice Ryan gives in this conversation.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Hey Ryan, do you have a minute? I just got a really weird email from our director, Mr. Davis.
Ryan: Oh? What does it say?
Emma: Well, it says he is in a very important meeting and needs me to buy ten digital gift cards for our clients immediately. He wants me to send the codes to his email address right away.
Ryan: Wait, let me look at that. Um… Emma, look closely at the sender’s address. It says “Mr. Davis,” but the domain is “@https://www.google.com/search?q=free-mail-service.com”, not our actual company network.
Emma: Oh, wow. I didn’t even notice that! I just saw his name and panicked because the subject line said “urgent”.
Ryan: Yeah, this is a classic phishing scam. They try to create a sense of panic so you act quickly without checking the details. The director would never ask us to buy company gifts with our own personal money.
Emma: You’re completely right. Should I reply and tell them I know it’s a scam?
Ryan: Definitely not. If you reply, they will know your email account is active. Just forward it to the IT department so they can warn everyone else, and then delete it.
Emma: Will do. Thanks for catching that, Ryan!
Listening 3
Listen to the IT teacher giving instructions to the class, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 According to the teacher, what is the real danger of searching for free textbooks online?
(A) The information inside the books is usually of very low quality.
(B) Some of the websites are actually dangerous fakes.
(C) Students might accidentally break the school’s copyright rules.
2 How can students confirm that a website is safe to use?
(A) By checking that the web address is simply HTTP.
(B) By asking the school librarian to verify the website link.
(C) By looking for a specific letter and a security icon at the top.
3 What should a student do if a website lacks these security features?
(A) Leave the webpage right away without clicking anything.
(B) Download the document but use an antivirus scanner afterward.
(C) Call the teacher over to inspect the computer screen.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The teacher states that there are “a lot of malicious sites out there disguised as normal libraries.” Option B paraphrases this as “dangerous fakes.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap; the teacher mentions “low-quality books” but explicitly says that is not the biggest issue. Option C is a plausible concern for schools, but copyright is never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The teacher tells the students to look for a “padlock symbol” (security icon) and the letter ‘S’ in HTTPS. Option C summarizes these instructions.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap because the teacher explicitly warns them not to use a site if it is “just HTTP.” Option B is a logical guess, but the librarian is not mentioned in this speech.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: The teacher instructs the students to “close the page immediately.” Option A uses the synonym phrase “Leave the webpage right away.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is a trap; the teacher mentions scanning for viruses later, but strongly rejects this idea (“Do not download the file and think you can just scan it…”). Option C is a plausible classroom action, but the teacher never tells them to ask for help in this situation.
AUDIO SCRIPT
IT Teacher: Alright class, settle down please. Today we are going to talk about finding digital resources online for your final science project.
I know it’s very tempting to just type “free textbooks” into a search engine and click on the very first link that appears. You might assume the biggest issue with these sites is just low-quality books. But actually, it is much worse. There are a lot of malicious sites out there disguised as normal libraries.
Before you even think about hitting that download button for a PDF, you must check the website’s address bar at the top of your browser. First, look for a small padlock symbol. Next, make sure the web address begins with H-T-T-P-S, not just H-T-T-P. That extra ‘S’ stands for ‘secure’, meaning your connection is encrypted.
If you do not see those two things, close the page immediately. Do not download the file and think you can just scan it for viruses later, because by then, the harmful software might already be on your computer. Well, let’s practice this together. Open your laptops, please.
Listening 4
Listen to the student giving a short presentation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What does the speaker say about photos or comments that you delete?
(A) They are quickly replaced by your new search history.
(B) They can frequently still be found stored on the internet.
(C) They are completely erased from your digital footprint.
2 According to the presentation, why do companies research applicants online?
(A) To check if the person has strong computer and typing skills.
(B) To see if the candidate has uploaded their resume correctly.
(C) To get a better idea of the applicant’s true personality.
3 What final advice does the student give to the audience?
(A) Consider how a potential employer might view your internet activity.
(B) Delete all of your old and embarrassing photos immediately.
(C) Ask your current manager to review your social media profiles.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: The speaker says that even if you delete a picture or post, “it might still exist on a server somewhere.” Option B paraphrases this as “found stored on the internet.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap because the audio mentions “search” and “history”, but it never says new searches replace old deleted items. Option C is incorrect because the speaker explicitly states that deleted content “never truly goes away.”
2 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: The speaker mentions that companies look up candidates because your online history “paints a picture of who you are.” Option C uses the synonym phrase “get a better idea of the applicant’s true personality.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A and Option B are traps. They are plausible reasons a company might use the internet, but the speaker never mentions testing computer skills or checking resumes in this presentation.
3 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: At the end, the student advises the audience to ask themselves, “Would I want my future boss to see this?” before sharing. Option A paraphrases this advice.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is a trap; the speaker talks about silly pictures, but he already explained that deleting them doesn’t really work. His advice is about thinking before you post. Option C is a trap because it uses the word “manager/boss”, but the advice is to ask yourself, not to ask your current manager to check your profile.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Student: Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about our “digital footprint.” What exactly is that? Well, it is the trail of data we leave behind whenever we use the internet.
Every single time you search for a video, leave a comment on a blog, or upload a photo, a permanent record is created. Even if you think you deleted a silly picture or an angry post from years ago, it might still exist on a server somewhere. It never truly goes away.
You might wonder why this matters. The truth is, your online history paints a picture of who you are. Nowadays, many managers and HR departments look up candidates online before inviting them for a job interview. If they find something offensive or unprofessional on your social media, they will likely hire someone else.
Therefore, you need to think carefully before you share anything. Always ask yourself: “Would I want my future boss to see this?” Thank you for listening.
Listening 5
Listen to the phone conversation between an employee and the IT Support desk, and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is Sarah calling the IT department?
(A) She accidentally deleted an important client email.
(B) She misplaced her work mobile while commuting.
(C) She forgot the password to unlock her device.
2 What is Sarah’s main concern about the situation?
(A) Someone might read confidential customer information.
(B) She will have to pay for a very expensive replacement.
(C) A stranger could use the device to call her coworkers.
3 How does the IT worker, Kevin, resolve the problem?
(A) He tracks the exact location of the bus for her.
(B) He temporarily locks her email account from his computer.
(C) He deletes everything on the phone from a distance.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B
- Explanation: Sarah explains that she “left my company phone on the bus on my way to work.” Option B uses the synonyms “misplaced her work mobile” and “while commuting” to express this.
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a trap because the words “email” and “client” are in the script, but she didn’t delete an email. Option C is incorrect because she did not forget her password; she confirms she has a strong passcode.
2 Correct Answer: A
- Explanation: Sarah is stressed because she has “sensitive client data” on the phone and wants to make sure “no one can access those customer files.” Option A uses the synonym “confidential customer information.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option B is a trap because she does mention buying a replacement, but that is not her main worry (she offers to do it willingly), and Kevin tells her the company will provide one. Option C is a plausible danger of losing a phone, but it is not mentioned in the dialogue.
3 Correct Answer: C
- Explanation: Kevin agrees to perform a “remote wipe” and says he can “erase all the data right now from our main system.” Option C paraphrases this as deleting everything “from a distance.”
- Why the traps are wrong: Option A is a logical tech support action, but Kevin does not track the phone’s location. Option B is a trap because he doesn’t just lock the email account; he completely clears the entire phone.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Kevin: IT Helpdesk, this is Kevin. How can I help you today?
Sarah: Hi Kevin, it’s Sarah from the Sales team. I’m calling because, um, I have a bit of an emergency. I’m pretty sure I left my company phone on the bus on my way to work this morning.
Kevin: Oh, I see. Are you absolutely certain? Have you thoroughly checked your laptop bag and your desk?
Sarah: Yes, I’ve looked everywhere. I’m really stressed out because my email application is still logged in, and I have a lot of sensitive client data stored on that device.
Kevin: Okay, try not to panic. Did you have a strong passcode to unlock the screen?
Sarah: Well, yes, I do. But I still want to be completely safe. Is there any way you can perform a remote wipe? I need to make sure no one can access those customer files.
Kevin: Absolutely. I can erase all the data right now from our main system. It will completely clear the phone.
Sarah: Please do that immediately. I’ll go buy a replacement phone after work.
Kevin: Done. The device is wiped. And don’t worry about buying a new one, Sarah. Just stop by the IT department tomorrow morning, and we will issue you a replacement.