Mental Health – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: James says he has been dealing with “prolonged stress from work”. This is paraphrased as “continuous pressure from his job”.
• The Trap (B): He mentions that the stress is affecting his “sleep”, but he does not ask for a prescription or sleeping pills (Mentioned but wrong context).
• Plausible Trap (C): A workplace injury is a valid reason to see a doctor, but James specifically needs to “talk to someone” about stress, not a physical injury (Not mentioned).

2 Correct Answer: C

• The Key: Sarah says Dr. Miller “had a cancellation on Thursday at 3:00 PM”, which means there is one open space. This matches option C.
• The Trap (A): The phrase “fully booked” is used in the audio, but Dr. Miller is fully booked on Wednesday, not Thursday (Mentioned but rejected).
• Plausible Trap (B): Sarah asks if James is a “new patient”, making regular/new patients a topic, but she never says Dr. Miller only sees regular patients on Thursdays (Mentioned but wrong context).

3 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: James says he cannot make it on Thursday afternoon because he has a “mandatory team meeting”. This is paraphrased as attending a “professional gathering”.
• The Trap (A): A “form” is mentioned at the end of the conversation, but he has to fill it out before his Friday appointment. It is not the reason he rejected Thursday (Mentioned but wrong context).
• Plausible Trap (C): Distance from the office is a common reason to miss a 3:00 PM appointment, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

Sarah: Good morning, Oak Tree Counseling Center. Sarah speaking. How can I help you today?

James: Hi Sarah. I’d like to book an appointment with Dr. Miller, please. Are there any openings this week?

Sarah: Let me check his schedule. Are you a new patient?

James: Yes, I am. My name is James. I’ve been dealing with some prolonged stress from work, and it’s starting to affect my sleep and daily life. I really need to talk to someone.

Sarah: I completely understand, James. It’s very good that you’re reaching out for support. Dr. Miller is fully booked on Wednesday, but he just had a cancellation on Thursday at 3:00 PM. Would that work for you?

James: Oh, Thursday afternoon is difficult because I have a mandatory team meeting. Do you have anything on Friday morning?

Sarah: Let’s see… Yes, he has a 10:00 AM slot available on Friday.

James: That’s perfect. I’ll take the Friday morning appointment.

Sarah: Great. I’ve put you down for Friday at 10. We will email you a quick form to fill out before you arrive.

James: Thank you so much for your help.

1 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Mark says his “body clock is just a bit off” because he “recently traveled”. This is paraphrased in option B as “took a trip recently which affected his natural rhythm”.
• The Trap (A): Nancy asks if he has been under “stress at work” (high pressure at workplace), but Mark explicitly says “No, not really” (Mentioned but rejected).
• The Trap (C): Nancy also suggests “drinking coffee late in the day” (consuming caffeine), but Mark rejects this reason as well (Mentioned but rejected).

2 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: Mark says he doesn’t want prescription pills because he feels “too groggy and slow the next day”. “Groggy and slow” is paraphrased as feeling “exhausted and unfocused”.
• Plausible Trap (B): Fear of addiction is a very common and logical reason to avoid sleeping pills, but Mark never mentions this in the audio (Plausible but not mentioned).
• Plausible Trap (C): The cost of medicine is a realistic concern, but it is not mentioned in the conversation.

3 Correct Answer: C

• The Key: Mark chooses the “herbal supplement” because he likes the idea of “something plant-based”. This perfectly matches “A natural item extracted from a plant”.
• The Trap (A): Melatonin gummies (sweet candies) are suggested by Nancy, but Mark decides against them, choosing the herbal option instead (Mentioned but rejected).
• The Trap (B): “Daily vitamins” are mentioned at the very end of the audio, but only as a location (“right next to the daily vitamins”) to help Mark find his herbal supplement. He is not buying them.

Nancy: Good afternoon. Can I help you find something today?

Mark: Hi, yes. Um, I’ve been having some trouble getting a good night’s rest lately. I just toss and turn for hours. Do you have anything that might help?

Nancy: I’m sorry to hear that. Have you been under a lot of stress at work, or perhaps drinking coffee late in the day?

Mark: No, not really. I think my body clock is just a bit off because I recently traveled. But I definitely don’t want any heavy, prescription sleeping pills. I always feel too groggy and slow the next day.

Nancy: I completely understand. Well, we have a few natural alternatives over the counter. Many people find success with melatonin gummies; they help reset your sleep cycle. Or, if you prefer, we have an herbal supplement made from Valerian root. It’s very gentle and promotes relaxation.

Mark: Hmm, I’ve heard of melatonin before. But let’s go with the herbal supplement, actually. I like the idea of trying something plant-based first.

Nancy: Great choice. Take one capsule about 30 minutes before bed. You’ll find them in aisle 4, right next to the daily vitamins.

1 Correct Answer: C

• The Key: Chloe says the class is for “absolute beginners” and focuses on “basic stretches and deep breathing to help you unwind”. This is paraphrased as “simple movements and relaxation for new learners”.
• The Trap (A): The word “flexible” is mentioned, but Chloe explicitly tells Dan that he does not need to be super flexible (Mentioned but rejected).
• Plausible Trap (B): Having a famous expert teach the class is a plausible reason for it to be good, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: Dan needs a class “after 6:00 PM”. Chloe suggests “Tuesdays at 7:00 PM” (the Tuesday evening slot). This is paraphrased as “late in the day on Tuesday”.
• The Trap (B): A “Thursday morning” class is mentioned by Chloe, but it does not match Dan’s schedule because he works during the day (Mentioned but wrong context).
• The Trap (C): The time “6:00 PM” is mentioned in the audio, but it is just Dan’s boundary for when he finishes work. There is no weekend class mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: Dan says, “I’ll just try one session first to see if I actually like it”. This perfectly matches the statement that he “pays for exactly one class to test it out”.
• The Trap (B): The receptionist offers him a “monthly pass” which is “$50 for four classes”, but Dan politely rejects this option for now (Mentioned but rejected).
• The Trap (C): He hands her a “credit card” to pay, not cash (Mentioned but wrong context).

Dan: Hi there. I’m looking for a way to manage my stress, and I saw a flyer outside for your “Mindful Yoga” class. I’ve never done yoga before. Is it suitable for me?

Chloe: Hello! Yes, absolutely. That class is designed for absolute beginners. We focus on basic stretches and deep breathing to help you unwind, so you don’t need to be super flexible.

Dan: That sounds perfect. My job is pretty demanding right now, so I can’t attend anything during the day. Do you have any sessions after 6:00 PM?

Chloe: We do. We have a session on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, and another one on Thursday mornings. But since you work late, the Tuesday evening slot would be the best fit for your schedule.

Dan: Great. Put me down for Tuesday, please. How much does it cost?

Chloe: A single drop-in session is $15. However, if you buy a monthly pass, it’s $50 for four classes, which saves you some money.

Dan: I think I’ll just try one session first to see if I actually like it. Here is my credit card.

1 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Mark says “the fees are just too high for me right now”. This is paraphrased as “could not afford the cost”.
• The Trap (A): Mark mentions he is “not in a crisis right now”, but this is not his reason for avoiding therapy. Cost is the real reason (Mentioned but wrong context).
• Plausible Trap (C): Not finding a local therapist is a common problem, but Mark never says this in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: Sarah recommends the “smaller, guided group that meets online on Thursday afternoons” because Mark has social anxiety. Mark agrees that a “virtual session” is better for him.
• The Trap (B): The library group on Tuesdays is explicitly mentioned, but Sarah suggests the Thursday one instead, and Mark prefers the Thursday one because it is online (Mentioned but rejected).
• The Trap (C): The word “crisis” is mentioned at the beginning, but there is no daily group for people in crisis mentioned in the options.

3 Correct Answer: C

• The Key: Sarah says “I can email you the link to join”. This matches option C perfectly.
• The Trap (A): Mark asks if he needs to “pay to register”, but Sarah explicitly says “Not at all. All our community groups are completely free” (Mentioned but rejected).
• Plausible Trap (B): The library is mentioned earlier as a location for a different group, but Mark does not need to go there to fill out any forms (Mentioned but wrong context).

Sarah: Hello, Community Mental Health Helpline, Sarah speaking. How can I support you today?

Mark: Um, hi Sarah. I’m… well, I’m not in a crisis right now, but I’ve been struggling a lot with, ah, social anxiety lately. It’s getting really hard to even leave the house.

Sarah: I hear you, and it takes courage to reach out. Are you currently seeing a professional therapist for this?

Mark: No, actually. I looked into private therapy, but the fees are just too high for me right now. So, I was wondering if there are any local support groups I could join?

Sarah: Absolutely. We have a few options. There is a general anxiety group that meets on Tuesday evenings at the public library. But, considering you mentioned social anxiety specifically, we have a smaller, guided group that meets online on Thursday afternoons.

Mark: Oh, a virtual session sounds much less intimidating for me right now. Do I need to pay to register for it?

Sarah: Not at all. All our community groups are completely free of charge. I can email you the link to join the Thursday session if you’d like.

Mark: Yes, please. That would be wonderful.

1 Correct Answer: B

• The Key: Alex says he has been “struggling to control my negative emotions when things go wrong at the office”. This is paraphrased as wanting to “manage his feelings better at his job”.
• The Trap (A): The word “academic” is mentioned, but Alex explicitly says he wants a book that is “nothing too academic” (Mentioned but rejected).
• Plausible Trap (C): Buying a book for a stressed family member is a very realistic scenario, but Alex is buying it for himself (Not mentioned).

2 Correct Answer: A

• The Key: Emma says they are “completely sold out of that one until next week”, which means “no copies currently available in the store”.
• The Trap (B): A book being too complicated/scientific is discussed in the audio, but that refers to a different book, “The Science of Joy” (Mentioned but wrong context).
• Plausible Trap (C): Moving books to different sections is a common bookstore issue, but the self-help section (aisle three) is the correct place, and this excuse is never given.

3 Correct Answer: C

• The Key: Emma tells Alex, “Let me go fetch a copy from the back storage room for you”. This perfectly matches “Get the chosen book from a different room”.
• The Trap (A): “Aisle three” is mentioned at the very beginning of the audio as the location of the self-help section, but Emma tells him to “wait right here at the counter” instead of walking there (Mentioned but wrong context/rejected).
• Plausible Trap (B): Processing payment is what usually happens at the “counter”, but Emma needs to get the book from the storage room before she can ring him up.

Alex: Excuse me, hi. I’m trying to find the self-help section. Specifically, I’m looking for something related to positive thinking.

Emma: Sure! Our self-help books are located in aisle three. Are you searching for a specific author or title?

Alex: Not really, no. I’m a complete beginner at this. To be honest, I’ve been struggling to control my negative emotions when things go wrong at the office. I just want a practical, easy-to-read guide. Nothing too academic or heavy.

Emma: I understand perfectly. Well, there’s a very popular book right now called “The Calm Mind”. It focuses on building daily habits to reduce stress. Unfortunately, we are completely sold out of that one until next week.

Alex: Oh, that’s a shame. It sounds exactly like what I need.

Emma: Don’t worry, I have another great suggestion. I highly recommend “Mastering Your Moods”. It’s written specifically for beginners and has wonderful exercises for emotional balance. We also carry “The Science of Joy”, but that one uses a lot of complex psychological terms.

Alex: Yeah, “The Science of Joy” sounds a bit too complicated for my taste. I’ll take “Mastering Your Moods”. Where can I find it?

Emma: Let me go fetch a copy from the back storage room for you. Just wait right here at the counter.