Job description – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between two friends and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did Mia want to do when she applied for the job?
(A) Take orders
(B) Make coffee
(C) Wash glasses
2 What is Mia’s job at the cafe right now?
(A) Barista
(B) Manager
(C) Waitress
3 What does Mia do at the end of the day?
(A) She washes the glasses.
(B) She wipes the tables.
(C) She learns to make coffee.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Make coffee
- Explanation: Leo asks if she wanted to make coffee, and Mia says “Yeah, I did! When I applied, I wanted to be a barista.” Options (A) and (C) are things she actually does now, not what she wanted to do at first.
2 Correct Answer: (C) Waitress
- Explanation: Mia says “…right now, I’m just a waitress.” Option (A) is the trap: she wanted to be a barista, but they already have two. Option (B) is a trap: the manager is mentioned at the end, but Mia is not the manager.
3 Correct Answer: (A) She washes the glasses.
- Explanation: Mia explicitly states: “And at the end of the day, I spend about an hour washing all the dirty glasses.” Option (B) is a trap: she wipes the tables during the day, not specifically at the end. Option (C) is a trap: she will learn to make coffee “next month”, not at the end of the day.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Leo: Hey Mia! How is the new job at the cafe?
Mia: Oh, hi Leo. Well, it’s okay, but it’s really tiring.
Leo: Really? I thought you just wanted to make coffee all day.
Mia: Yeah, I did! When I applied, I wanted to be a barista. But they already have two baristas. So right now, I’m just a waitress.
Leo: Oh, I see. So what do you actually do?
Mia: Um, mostly I take orders and wipe the tables. And at the end of the day, I spend about an hour washing all the dirty glasses.
Leo: That sounds like hard work.
Mia: It is. But the manager said I can learn to make coffee next month!
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation and circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where does Ben work?
(A) In a hospital
(B) In a bank
(C) At a music club
2 What is Sarah’s job?
(A) She is a doctor.
(B) She is an office worker.
(C) She is a nurse.
3 When does Sarah work these days?
(A) In the morning
(B) During the day
(C) At night
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) In a bank
- Explanation: Ben says, “I work in an office for a bank.” Option (A) is a trap because he mentions the hospital where he saw Sarah. Option (C) is a trap because Sarah mentions the “music” at the party.
2 Correct Answer: (C) She is a nurse.
- Explanation: Ben asks if she is a doctor (Trap), but Sarah corrects him: “Oh, no. I’m a nurse there.” Option (B) is Ben’s job.
3 Correct Answer: (C) At night
- Explanation: Sarah mentions she “used to work during the day” (Trap), but because the hospital is short of staff, she says “lately, I have to work the night shift.” She also has to leave the party at 9 PM to go to work.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Ben: Hi there! I’m Ben. It’s a great party, isn’t it?
Sarah: Hi Ben, I’m Sarah. Yes, the music is excellent! So, what do you do?
Ben: I work in an office for a bank. It’s a bit boring, to be honest. How about you? I saw you near the City Hospital yesterday. Are you a doctor?
Sarah: Oh, no. I’m a nurse there. I really love caring for sick people and helping them get better.
Ben: That sounds like a wonderful job. Is it difficult?
Sarah: Well, it’s very tiring. I used to work during the day, but the hospital is short of staff now. So lately, I have to work the night shift.
Ben: The night shift? Wow.
Sarah: Yeah. In fact, I have to leave the party at 9 PM to start my work!
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a brother and sister. Circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What did Anna expect to do at the supermarket today?
(A) Carry heavy boxes
(B) Work at the cash register
(C) Clean the back room
2 Why did Anna’s job change today?
(A) Because she wanted to work in the back room.
(B) Because there were already enough cashiers.
(C) Because she dropped some boxes of fruit.
3 What is Anna complaining about?
(A) She had to stand all day and carry boxes.
(B) She had to deal with angry customers.
(C) She had to stand at the cash register.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Work at the cash register
- Explanation: Tom says, “I thought you were working at the cash register,” and Anna replies, “Yeah, I thought so too!” Option (A) is the trap: it is what she actually did, not what she expected to do. Option (C) is a trap using the words “back room,” but she didn’t clean it.
2 Correct Answer: (B) Because there were already enough cashiers.
- Explanation: Anna clearly states, “But the manager said they already had enough cashiers today.” Option (A) is incorrect because she didn’t want to do it (“it was terrible”). Option (C) is a plausible guess using the word “boxes,” but it is not mentioned in the audio.
3 Correct Answer: (A) She had to stand all day and carry boxes.
- Explanation: Anna says, “I had to stand all day and carry heavy boxes of fruit.” Option (B) is a logical guess for a supermarket job, but it is not mentioned. Option (C) is the trap: “cash register” is mentioned, but she didn’t work there.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Tom: You look exhausted, Anna. How was your first day at the supermarket?
Anna: Oh, it was terrible, Tom. My feet hurt so much.
Tom: Why? I thought you were working at the cash register.
Anna: Yeah, I thought so too! But the manager said they already had enough cashiers today. So, I had to work in the back room instead.
Tom: Oh no. What did you have to do?
Anna: I had to stand all day and carry heavy boxes of fruit. I didn’t even get a proper break!
Tom: Wow, no wonder you are so tired.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between a father and his daughter. Circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the dad’s job now?
(A) A firefighter
(B) A truck driver
(C) A teacher
2 Why didn’t the dad become a firefighter?
(A) He didn’t like red trucks.
(B) He is afraid of climbing high.
(C) He doesn’t like rescuing cats.
3 What does Lily want to do when she grows up?
(A) Save cats from trees
(B) Climb high ladders
(C) Drive a red truck
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (C) A teacher
- Explanation: The dad says, “…so I became a teacher instead.” Option (A) is the trap because he wanted to be a firefighter when he was little. Option (B) is a trap because “drive the truck” is mentioned, but it’s not his job.
2 Correct Answer: (B) He is afraid of climbing high.
- Explanation: The dad says, “But firefighters also have to climb very high ladders. I am afraid of heights…” Option (A) is wrong because he actually thought driving the trucks “would be fun”. Option (C) is a plausible guess, but rescuing cats is what Lily wants to do, not the dad’s reason.
3 Correct Answer: (A) Save cats from trees
- Explanation: At the end, Lily says, “I want to be a firefighter and rescue cats from trees!” Option (B) is a trap using the dad’s fear (high ladders). Option (C) is a plausible activity for a firefighter, but Lily specifically mentions rescuing cats.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Lily: Daddy, what exactly does a firefighter do?
Dad: Well, sweetie, firefighters are very brave. They put out fires and save people who are in danger.
Lily: Do they always drive those big red trucks?
Dad: Usually, yes. Actually, I wanted to be a firefighter when I was your age.
Lily: Wow! Why didn’t you?
Dad: I thought it would be fun to drive the truck fast. But firefighters also have to climb very high ladders. I am afraid of heights, so I became a teacher instead.
Lily: That’s okay, Daddy. I want to be a firefighter and rescue cats from trees!
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between two high school students. Circle the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is Lisa’s dream job now?
(A) Tour guide
(B) Pilot
(C) Computer programmer
2 Why does Lisa want to do this job?
(A) Because she wants to learn languages.
(B) Because she wants to travel and fly big planes.
(C) Because she is scared of heights.
3 Why did Mark change his mind about being a pilot?
(A) His eyesight is very bad.
(B) He doesn’t like flying.
(C) He wants to be a tour guide instead.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Pilot
- Explanation: Lisa clearly states, “I really want to be a pilot…” Option (A) is the trap: she used to want to be a tour guide, but changed her mind. Option (C) is a trap because it is Mark’s future job, not Lisa’s.
2 Correct Answer: (B) Because she wants to travel and fly big planes.
- Explanation: Lisa says, “I love traveling and I want to fly big planes!” Option (A) is a trap: she loves languages, but that was her reason for wanting to be a tour guide. Option (C) is incorrect because she explicitly says she is not scared of heights.
3 Correct Answer: (A) His eyesight is very bad.
- Explanation: Mark says, “But my eyesight is terrible. So, I think I will just be a computer programmer.” Option (B) is not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap using Lisa’s old dream job.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: What do you want to be after high school, Lisa?
Lisa: I really want to be a pilot, Mark. I love traveling and I want to fly big planes!
Mark: Wow, a pilot? That’s cool. I thought you wanted to be a tour guide.
Lisa: Yeah, I did. I love learning languages. But tour guides don’t get to fly the planes. So, I’m studying hard for flight school now.
Mark: That’s amazing. Are you scared of heights?
Lisa: No, not at all! What about you?
Mark: Well, I wanted to be a pilot too. But my eyesight is terrible. So, I think I will just be a computer programmer.