Inventions – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) Through a software program on his mobile phone.

• Explanation: Mark says, “I usually just use my smartphone to schedule it.” Option (B) is a paraphrase of this sentence. Option (A) is a trap; he says “you can, but I rarely do.” Option (C) is also a trap; he uses the smart speaker occasionally when he drops food, but the app is his primary (“usually”) and “more reliable” method.

2 Correct Answer: (A) He found the setup process quite frustrating.

• Explanation: Mark mentions that setting up the voice recognition was “a bit of a nightmare.” Option (A) correctly paraphrases “a nightmare” as “frustrating.” Option (B) is not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; he actually says the exact opposite—the mobile app is more reliable.

3 Correct Answer: (C) It cleans the area with stronger force.

• Explanation: Mark explains that the vacuum “increases its suction power when it detects a rug.” Option (C) uses synonyms (“stronger force”) to replace “increases its suction power.” Options (A) and (B) sound plausible for smart devices but are completely absent from the audio.

Lisa: Wow, Mark! Your living room looks spotless. Did you spend all morning cleaning?

Mark: Well, actually… no. I finally bought that automated floor cleaner I was telling you about last week.

Lisa: Oh, you mean a robot vacuum? That’s awesome! How does it work? Do you just press a button on the machine?

Mark: Um, you can, but I rarely do. It’s connected to my Wi-Fi. I usually just use my smartphone to schedule it while I’m at the office.

Lisa: That’s pretty convenient. I heard some of the newer models can be controlled with smart speakers.

Mark: Yeah, mine has that feature too. If I drop some food in the kitchen, I just tell the smart speaker to send the vacuum there. It’s super handy. But, to be honest, setting up the voice recognition was a bit of a nightmare. The mobile application is much more reliable for daily use.

Lisa: Still, it sounds like a brilliant invention. Does it do a good job on carpets?

Mark: Surprisingly, yes. It automatically increases its suction power when it detects a rug. I’m really happy with it.

1 Correct Answer: (B) It prevents the user from opening certain apps for a period.

• Explanation: Sam says the app “restricts access to your social media” and “you can’t open them.” Option (B) is a paraphrase of this. Option (A) is a trap because many apps track time, but that’s not what this one does. Option (C) is plausible but not mentioned in the script.

2 Correct Answer: (C) It permits calls from a pre-selected list of contacts.

• Explanation: Sam explains that you can “customize a white list” which “allows calls from specific people.” This is a direct paraphrase of option (C). Option (A) and (B) are incorrect because the timer doesn’t end and it’s not limited to emergency services.

3 Correct Answer: (C) He is now able to get more work done than before.

• Explanation: Sam states, “my productivity has doubled.” Option (C) paraphrases “productivity doubled” as “get more work done.” Option (A) is a trap because Sam says he felt “restless” at first (it wasn’t easy). Option (B) is wrong because he says the app is “more reliable than willpower.”

Alex: Ugh, I’m never going to finish this history assignment, Sam. Every time I write a sentence, I end up scrolling through my phone for twenty minutes!

Sam: I know that feeling. I used to be the same until I started using this new app called “FocusGuard.”

Alex: Another app? Won’t that just be another distraction on your screen?

Sam: Well, actually, it’s the opposite. It’s a “digital detox” tool. You set a study timer—let’s say for an hour—and the app literally restricts access to your social media. You can’t open them even if you try.

Alex: That sounds a bit intense. What if my parents need to reach me in an emergency?

Sam: Oh, don’t worry about that. You can customize a “white list.” It allows calls from specific people to come through, but everything else is locked.

Alex: Hmm. Was it difficult to adjust to?

Sam: Honestly, I felt a bit restless during the first few days. I kept reaching for my phone instinctively. But now, my productivity has doubled because I’m not constantly interrupted. It’s much more reliable than just relying on willpower!

Alex: True. My willpower is non-existent right now. I’ll download it.

1 Correct Answer: (B) It warms up meals extremely fast.

• Explanation: Tom says, “I can have a hot dinner in two minutes. It’s the ultimate time-saver.” Option (B) is a paraphrase of this idea. Option (A) is a trap; the word “stove” is mentioned in the audio, but they never talk about the price. Option (C) is plausible but not mentioned (he mentions “snack habits” but never says the food is “healthier”).

2 Correct Answer: (C) It significantly reduced hard manual work.

• Explanation: Sarah explains that the washing machine “freed up so much physical labor.” Option (C) paraphrases “physical labor” as “manual work.” Option (A) is not mentioned. Option (B) is a trap because the “laundromat” is mentioned later by Tom, not by Sarah as a reason for the invention’s importance.

3 Correct Answer: (B) He would take his clothes to a public washing facility.

• Explanation: Tom states, “If the washer breaks, I just take my stuff to the laundromat down the street.” Option (B) uses synonyms (“public washing facility”) for “laundromat”. Option (A) is a trap; “by hand” is mentioned by Sarah when talking about the past, not Tom’s current plan. Option (C) is a trap; Tom says he would “panic” if the microwave breaks, not the washer.

Tom: What are you reading, Sarah?

Sarah: An article about the greatest household inventions. It says the microwave is the best thing ever created.

Tom: Well, I totally agree! Think about it. Before the microwave, heating up leftovers took forever on the stove. Now, I can have a hot dinner in two minutes. It’s the ultimate time-saver for hungry people like me.

Sarah: Seriously, Tom? I mean, it’s convenient, but it didn’t change history. The washing machine is definitely more revolutionary.

Tom: How so? You just throw clothes in.

Sarah: Exactly! Hundreds of years ago, people spent an entire day scrubbing garments by hand in rivers. The washing machine freed up so much physical labor, especially for women back then. It actually transformed society, not just your late-night snack habits.

Tom: Hmm, fair point about the physical work. But if my microwave breaks down, I panic. If the washer breaks, I just take my stuff to the laundromat down the street.

Sarah: You’re impossible! Let’s just agree that we’re both lucky we don’t live in the nineteenth century.

1 Correct Answer: (B) By moving her finger upwards across the screen.

• Explanation: Leo tells his grandmother to “gently slide your finger up the glass to unlock the device.” Option (B) is a direct paraphrase of this action. Option (A) is a trap; she presses the round button to “wake it up”, not to unlock it. Option (C) is plausible for technology but is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Tap on the green icon that shows a camera.

• Explanation: Leo says, “look for the green symbol with a white camera picture on it. When you spot it, just tap it once.” Option (A) uses synonyms (“icon” instead of “symbol”, “shows” instead of “picture on it”). Option (B) is a trap; she finds the name after opening the app. Option (C) is a trap because the camera picture is on the screen, not a physical button on the back.

3 Correct Answer: (C) The device will automatically start a visual conversation.

• Explanation: Leo explains that “The camera will turn on automatically, and you’ll be able to chat with her face-to-face.” Option (C) paraphrases “chat face-to-face” as “visual conversation.” Option (A) is the exact opposite of what is said (the camera turns on automatically, not manually). Option (B) sounds plausible but is not mentioned in the conversation.

Grandma: Leo, could you help me with this tablet your parents bought me? I really want to see your Aunt Mary, but I have absolutely no idea how to operate this thing.

Leo: Sure, Grandma! It’s a wonderful invention once you get the hang of it. First, we need to wake it up. Just press the small round button at the bottom.

Grandma: Like this? Oh, the screen lit up!

Leo: Great. Now, instead of pushing anything, just gently slide your finger up the glass to unlock the device. We call that “swiping”.

Grandma: Swiping… okay. Look, there are so many little colorful squares!

Leo: Those are applications, or “apps.” To make your video call, you need to look for the green symbol with a white camera picture on it. When you spot it, just tap it once with your finger.

Grandma: Ah, here it is. I tapped it. Now I see a list of names.

Leo: Perfect. That’s your contact list. Scroll down until you see “Mary”, then touch her name. The camera will turn on automatically, and you’ll be able to chat with her face-to-face.

Grandma: That sounds manageable. Let me give it a try.

1 Correct Answer: (B) Their digital map is losing its internet connection.

• Explanation: Sophie says, “the navigation app… the signal is dropping” and Mark mentions “If we lose the connection”. Option (B) paraphrases this situation perfectly. Option (A) is a plausible car problem but not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; a “paper map” is mentioned, but it was what Sophie’s dad used in the past, not what they are using now.

2 Correct Answer: (A) He now needs electronic guidance for very familiar, short trips.

• Explanation: Mark states, “Now, I use the satellite navigation just to go to the supermarket across town!” Option (A) summarizes this idea using synonyms (“electronic guidance” for satellite navigation, “familiar, short trips” for going to the supermarket). Option (B) is a trap; Sophie’s dad drove across the country, not Mark. Option (C) is a trap; Mark used to memorize routes ten years ago, not currently.

3 Correct Answer: (B) It causes people to observe less and forget things easily.

• Explanation: Sophie says, “We’ve stopped paying attention to our surroundings” and Mark adds that it is “making our memories lazier.” Option (B) paraphrases “stopped paying attention” to “observe less” and “memories lazier” to “forget things easily.” Option (A) is a trap; they mention following “voice instructions”, but they never say the instructions are incorrect. Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.

Mark: Um, Sophie? Are you sure we need to take this exit? Nothing looks familiar to me.

Sophie: Well, the navigation app says we should turn left in two miles. But wait… the signal is dropping.

Mark: Oh, great. If we lose the connection, we’re completely lost. It’s crazy how much we rely on this invention nowadays.

Sophie: I know, right? My dad used to drive across the country with just a paper map in the glove box. He memorized all the major highways.

Mark: Yeah, ten years ago, I could easily remember the route to a new restaurant after going there only once. Now, I use the satellite navigation just to go to the supermarket across town!

Sophie: It’s true. We’ve stopped paying attention to our surroundings. Our brains just follow the voice instructions blindly.

Mark: Exactly. It’s a fantastic tool, but it’s definitely making our memories lazier.

Sophie: Okay, the signal is back. Take the next right, Mark.