Inventions – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) Because heavy air currents pushed it in the wrong direction.

• Explanation: Ben says, “The wind is just too strong right now. It blew the machine right off its course.” Option (B) correctly paraphrases this (“heavy air currents” for “strong wind”, “wrong direction” for “off its course”). Option (A) is a common drone problem but is not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; the drone is in the branches, but Sam didn’t purposefully try to fly it over them.

2 Correct Answer: (C) To use a tall piece of wood to move it down.

• Explanation: Ben suggests using a “long wooden pole” to “gently push it out of the tree.” Option (C) uses synonyms (“tall piece of wood” for “long wooden pole”). Option (A) is a trap; Sam says, “It’s too high for us to jump and grab it,” meaning they cannot do this. Option (B) is a trap; they see the pole near a “maintenance shed,” but they do not look for a worker.

3 Correct Answer: (A) The delicate parts that lift the machine in the air.

• Explanation: Sam warns Ben to be careful because “The plastic propellers are very fragile,” and if they break, “it will never fly again.” Option (A) paraphrases “propellers” as “parts that lift the machine” and “fragile” as “delicate.” Option (B) is a trap; many drones have cameras, but it is not mentioned here. Option (C) is a trap; Sam worries that rain might ruin the electronics, not the rescue attempt with the pole.

Sam: Oh no, Ben! Look up there. My new drone is completely stuck in the branches of that oak tree.

Ben: I told you it was a bad idea to test this invention today. The wind is just too strong right now. It blew the machine right off its course.

Sam: I know, you were right. But how are we going to get it back? It’s too high for us to jump and grab it. If I leave it here, it might rain later and ruin the electronics.

Ben: Let me think… Hey, look over there by the maintenance shed. There’s a long wooden pole on the grass. We could use that to gently push it out of the tree.

Sam: That could work. But you have to be extremely careful. The plastic propellers are very fragile. If you hit those spinning blades too hard, they will snap in half, and it will never fly again.

Ben: Don’t worry, I’ll just tap the main body of the drone. Let’s go get that stick.

1 Correct Answer: (A) She broke a device containing an essential work assignment.

• Explanation: Sarah says she “dropped my external hard drive” and her “entire marketing presentation is on there.” Option (A) paraphrases this perfectly (“broke a device” for dropping the hard drive, “essential work assignment” for marketing presentation). Option (B) is a trap; a “flash drive” is mentioned by the technician as the place he will copy the recovered files to, not what she lost. Option (C) is a trap; her laptop won’t read the drive, but the laptop itself isn’t broken.

2 Correct Answer: (B) By opening the equipment in a completely clean environment.

• Explanation: Mark explains that his first step is to “open the plastic casing inside our special dust-free room.” Option (B) uses synonyms (“equipment” for casing/device, “completely clean environment” for dust-free room). Option (A) is a trap; using the software program is the second step (if the disks aren’t scratched). Option (C) sounds plausible for a repair, but he never says he will replace the arm, only that it gets stuck.

3 Correct Answer: (C) In approximately two days from now.

• Explanation: Mark states the process requires “about forty-eight hours” and she will have it back by “Thursday afternoon” (since today is Tuesday). Option (C) correctly paraphrases 48 hours as “two days.” Option (A) is a trap; Friday is the deadline for her presentation, not when she gets the data back. Option (B) is a trap; Tuesday is today, the scan takes 48 hours so it won’t be ready by Tuesday evening.

Sarah: Please tell me you can fix this! I accidentally dropped my external hard drive on the floor this morning, and now my laptop won’t read it. My entire marketing presentation is on there!

Mark: Okay, please take a deep breath. It’s a common issue with these older mechanical storage devices. When they hit the ground, the internal reading arm often gets stuck.

Sarah: So, is all my data gone forever?

Mark: Not necessarily. First, I will need to open the plastic casing inside our special dust-free room. If the magnetic disks aren’t badly scratched, I can use a specialized software program to extract your files and copy them onto a brand new flash drive.

Sarah: How long will that process take? I have to present this project to my boss by Friday.

Mark: It usually requires about forty-eight hours to complete a deep scan. Since today is Tuesday, you should have everything back by Thursday afternoon.

Sarah: Oh, thank goodness. Please do whatever it takes.

1 Correct Answer: (B) He has experienced a feeling of physical sickness.

• Explanation: Liam says his “stomach feels awful” and he is “getting really dizzy and a bit nauseous.” Option (B) correctly paraphrases these symptoms as “physical sickness.” Option (A) is a trap; he stops because he feels sick, not to change the game. Option (C) is a trap; “ten minutes” is mentioned, but he didn’t finish his session (Maya says she “paused” it).

2 Correct Answer: (A) There is a conflict between what the mind sees and what the body does.

• Explanation: Maya explains that “your brain thinks you’re moving fast, but your physical body is standing completely still.” Option (A) paraphrases this perfectly (“conflict” for the difference, “mind sees” for “brain thinks”, “what the body does” for “body standing still”). Option (B) is a trap; the player’s body is standing still, not moving quickly. Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Turn a little knob on the device to bring the screen into focus.

• Explanation: Maya instructs him to “use this small dial on top to adjust the lenses until the picture is crystal clear.” Option (C) uses synonyms (“knob” for “dial”, “bring the screen into focus” for “picture is crystal clear”). Option (A) is a trap; “lenses” are mentioned, but Maya never tells him to clean them. Option (B) is the exact opposite of the instruction; Maya tells him to “tighten” the straps, not make them “loose”.

Liam: Excuse me, miss? Could you pause the system for a moment? I need to take this headset off.

Maya: Of course! I’ve just paused your session. Is everything okay?

Liam: Not really. I’ve only been playing for about ten minutes, but my stomach feels awful. I’m getting really dizzy and a bit nauseous.

Maya: I completely understand. That’s actually a common side effect with this virtual reality technology, especially for beginners. It’s called motion sickness. Basically, your brain thinks you’re moving fast, but your physical body is standing completely still.

Liam: Yeah, the feeling is pretty intense. Also, the images are quite blurry. It’s really hurting my eyes.

Maya: Ah, that might be part of the problem. If the screen isn’t perfectly focused, it can definitely make the dizziness much worse. Let me help you. First, you need to tighten these side straps so the device sits firmly against your face. Then, use this small dial on top to adjust the lenses until the picture is crystal clear.

Liam: Okay, let me turn the dial. Oh, that looks much better. I’ll take a short break before I resume.

1 Correct Answer: (B) Because a piece of equipment is making an annoying noise.

• Explanation: Mark complains that his “smart smoke detector is malfunctioning” and has been “ringing non-stop.” Option (B) correctly paraphrases this situation (“piece of equipment” = “smoke detector”, “annoying noise” = “ringing non-stop/giving a headache”). Option (A) is a trap; he explicitly says, “there is absolutely no fire in my house.” Option (C) is a trap; “high humidity” is mentioned by Lisa as a reason for the false alarm, not something that broke his phone.

2 Correct Answer: (C) The software program on his smartphone stopped responding.

• Explanation: Mark says, “I opened the app, but the screen just froze.” Option (C) uses synonyms (“software program” for “app”, “stopped responding” for “froze”). Option (A) is a trap; a ladder is needed later for the manual override, but it wasn’t the reason he couldn’t fix it initially. Option (B) sounds like a common tech problem but is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Rotate the machine in a specific direction to remove it.

• Explanation: Lisa’s final instruction to cut the power is to “twist the whole machine counter-clockwise, and it will detach.” Option (B) paraphrases this perfectly (“Rotate” for “twist”, “specific direction” for “counter-clockwise”, “remove it” for “detach”). Option (A) is a trap; pressing the button is the first step of the override, not the final step. Option (C) is a trap; the light changes from green to red, not red to green.

Mark: Hello? Is this SafeHome Tech Support? You have to help me. My new smart smoke detector is malfunctioning. It’s been ringing non-stop for twenty minutes and giving me a terrible headache! I promise you, there is absolutely no fire in my house.

Lisa: I’m so sorry to hear that, sir. Sometimes heavy dust or high humidity can trigger the sensors by mistake. Have you tried silencing the alarm using our mobile application?

Mark: Yes, I opened the app, but the screen just froze. I can’t control it from my phone right now. Is there a physical way to shut this thing down?

Lisa: Absolutely. We can do a manual override. You will need a chair or a step ladder. Look at the side of the device, you should see a small square button.

Mark: Okay, I’m up here. I see it.

Lisa: Press and hold that button for exactly ten seconds. The green light will turn red. Once it flashes red, twist the whole machine counter-clockwise, and it will detach from the ceiling. That cuts the power completely.

Mark: Holding… twisting… Ah, finally! Blessed silence. Thank you!

1 Correct Answer: (B) There is a temporary loss of power in their area.

• Explanation: Lisa notices the kitchen lights are off and says, “the entire neighborhood just lost electricity.” Option (B) correctly paraphrases this situation (“loss of power” for “lost electricity”, “area” for “neighborhood”). Option (A) is a trap; Mark says the app says “connecting,” but the root cause is the power outage, not a broken app. Option (C) is a plausible real-world problem but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Stressed because he might miss an important professional event.

• Explanation: Mark complains, “I have a huge presentation at work in thirty minutes! … I’m going to be late.” Option (A) uses synonyms (“professional event” for “presentation at work”, “might miss” for “going to be late”). Option (B) is a trap; he is upset, but not at his wife. Option (C) is the exact opposite of how he feels.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Manually push the heavy door upwards by himself.

• Explanation: Lisa’s final instruction is to “grab the handle at the bottom and lift the metal gate using your own strength.” Option (C) paraphrases this action (“Manually push… upwards” for “lift”, “by himself” for “using your own strength”). Option (A) is a trap; pulling the cord is the first step she mentions to disconnect the motor, not the final step to open the door. Option (B) sounds like a normal way to open a door, but she mentions a handle, not a key.

Mark: Ugh, come on! Why isn’t the garage door opening? I’m pressing the button on the smart app, but the screen just says “connecting.”

Lisa: Um, Mark? Did you notice the lights in the kitchen are off, too? I think the entire neighborhood just lost electricity.

Mark: Oh, great. Just what I need. I have a huge presentation at work in thirty minutes! If I can’t get my car out of here, I’m going to be late. Is there any way to bypass the electronic system?

Lisa: Hold on, let me check the instruction manual in the drawer. … Okay, here it is. It says that in an emergency, we can use the mechanical release.

Mark: How does that work?

Lisa: You need to look up at the motor on the ceiling. There should be a short red cord hanging down. If you pull it hard, it disconnects the door from the machine.

Mark: Ah, I see it! Got it.

Lisa: Now, just grab the handle at the bottom and lift the metal gate using your own strength.

Mark: It’s heavy, but it’s moving! Thanks, Lisa.