Nutrition – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) She has a physical condition that prevents her from digesting dairy.

• Explanation: The diner explains, “I am lactose intolerant, which means I get very sick if I eat dairy.” This describes a physical condition preventing the digestion of dairy. Option (A) is a trap; she is asking for health reasons, not weight loss. Option (C) is a trap; it is not about the “taste”, it is about getting “very sick.”

2 Answer: (C) By using a liquid extracted from a tropical fruit.

• Explanation: The waiter states that they use “coconut milk” to make it creamy. A coconut is a tropical fruit, making its milk a liquid extracted from it. Options (A) and (B) are traps that mention common dairy products used in soups, which is exactly what the customer is trying to avoid.

3 Answer: (B) The side dish normally served with the soup contains a milk product.

• Explanation: The waiter warns her that the soup is served with “garlic bread” (a side dish) that is brushed with “real butter” (a milk product). Option (A) is not mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; the diner asks for crackers and the waiter says “Absolutely,” meaning they are available.

Waiter: Good evening, are you ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes?

Diner: I think I’m ready. I’m really interested in the roasted pumpkin soup, but I need to check something first. I am lactose intolerant, which means I get very sick if I eat dairy. Does the chef use any cow’s milk or butter in this soup?

Waiter: Let me check the menu notes. Ah, you’re in luck! Our pumpkin soup is completely dairy-free. We use coconut milk to make it thick and creamy.

Diner: Oh, that’s wonderful news. I’ll have a large bowl of that, please.

Waiter: Excellent choice. However, I should warn you that the soup is usually served with a slice of warm garlic bread, and that bread is brushed with real butter.

Diner: Good catch! I definitely can’t eat that. Can I just have some plain crackers instead?

Waiter: Absolutely. I will make a special note for the kitchen right now.

1 Answer: (B) He wants to protect his health as the temperature drops.

• Explanation: The customer says, “The weather is getting much colder… I really want to boost my immune system.” This means he wants to protect his health as the temperature drops. Option (A) is a trap; he says “everyone in my office is catching a cold,” but he is not sick himself yet. Option (C) is a trap; he is buying the vitamins for himself to prevent getting sick, not for his coworkers.

2 Answer: (C) A product that contains several different health ingredients.

• Explanation: The pharmacist recommends a “combined supplement” that contains Vitamin C, Zinc, and a plant extract (several different ingredients). Option (A) is a trap; the customer originally asked for pure Vitamin C, but the pharmacist advised against taking it “alone.” Option (B) is a trap; a plant extract is included, but it is not the only ingredient (exclusively).

3 Answer: (C) By mixing a solid tablet with a drinkable liquid.

• Explanation: The pharmacist explains that he should “drop one solid tablet into a glass of water, let it dissolve, and drink it.” This describes mixing a solid tablet with a drinkable liquid. Option (A) is a trap; the customer explicitly states, “I hate swallowing large capsules.” Option (B) is a trap; it has an “orange flavor,” but it is a drink, not a chewy candy.

Customer: Excuse me. I’m looking for some vitamins. The weather is getting much colder, and everyone in my office is catching a cold. I really want to boost my immune system. Do you have any strong Vitamin C pills?

Pharmacist: We certainly do. However, if you want maximum protection during the winter, I highly recommend a combined supplement rather than just taking Vitamin C alone.

Customer: Oh, really? What else should I take?

Pharmacist: This specific multivitamin is very popular right now. It contains Vitamin C, but also Zinc and a plant extract called Echinacea. Together, they do a much better job of defending your body against winter viruses.

Customer: That sounds perfect. But honestly, I hate swallowing large capsules. Do they come in a different form?

Pharmacist: Yes, we have them as effervescent tablets. You just drop one solid tablet into a glass of water, let it dissolve, and drink it like a regular fruit juice. It has a nice orange flavor too.

Customer: Excellent. That is much easier. I’ll take two tubes of those, please.

1 Answer: (B) Plant foods grown without harmful chemicals.

• Explanation: The customer asks for “vegetables grown without any chemical pesticides,” which means plant foods grown without harmful chemicals. Option (A) is a trap; the bakery is mentioned as a landmark, but the customer is not looking for bread. Option (C) is a trap; “dairy fridges” are mentioned as a location marker, but the customer is not buying milk.

2 Answer: (C) Just beyond the bread area, beside the milk coolers.

• Explanation: The employee tells the customer to go “past the bakery” (beyond the bread area) and it’s “right next to the dairy fridges” (beside the milk coolers). Option (A) is a trap; the employee explicitly says it is “not in the main vegetable aisle.” Option (B) is a trap; the customer must walk past the bakery, not inside it.

3 Answer: (A) By finding a coloured label featuring a plant part.

• Explanation: The employee states that organic items have a “small green sticker with a leaf logo” (a coloured label featuring a plant part). Option (B) is a trap; the employee mentions a “black and white barcode,” but explains that this is for conventionally grown (regular) food, not organic. Option (C) is not mentioned.

Customer: Excuse me. Can you help me find the fresh produce section? Specifically, I’m looking for vegetables grown without any chemical pesticides.

Employee: Oh, you mean our organic section! Yes, it’s actually not in the main vegetable aisle. You need to go straight past the bakery, and it will be on your left, right next to the dairy fridges.

Customer: Straight past the bakery, on the left. Got it. But I always get confused when I’m picking things up. How do I know for sure it’s the right kind and not just regular farming?

Employee: That’s a great question. All of our certified organic items have a small green sticker with a leaf logo on them. If the packaging only has a standard black and white barcode, it’s just conventionally grown.

Customer: A green leaf sticker. That makes it much easier to spot. Thank you for your help!

Employee: You’re very welcome. Let me know if you need anything else.

1 Answer: (B) At the beginning of the weekend.

• Explanation: Alex says he will go with the “weekend option” because weekdays are impossible. Mia earlier stated this class is on “Saturday mornings” (the beginning of the weekend). Option (A) is a trap; it is an available option, but Alex rejects it because of his office job. Option (C) is never mentioned.

2 Answer: (C) Whether it covers the cost of the healthy food supplies.

• Explanation: Alex asks, “does that price include all the organic vegetables and lean meats we will use?” (which means asking if it covers the cost of healthy food supplies). Options (A) and (B) are plausible financial questions, but Alex does not ask them in the audio.

3 Answer: (A) Something to store the unconsumed food in.

• Explanation: Mia tells Alex to bring “plastic or glass containers” to take the “leftover meals home” (meaning something to store unconsumed food). Option (B) is a trap; Alex explicitly says he does not want to go grocery shopping, and Mia confirms the center provides the ingredients. Option (C) is a trap; the center provides the “cooking equipment”, and aprons are not mentioned.

Mia: Welcome to the Green Kitchen Culinary Center. How can I help you today?

Alex: Hi there. I’m very interested in joining your “Eat Clean” cooking course. I need to improve my daily diet. What are the schedule options?

Mia: That’s a great choice! We currently have two classes available. You can either choose Monday and Wednesday evenings, or just one longer session on Saturday mornings.

Alex: Weekdays are impossible for me because of my office job. I’ll definitely go with the weekend option. How much is the tuition?

Mia: It is $150 for the entire four-week program.

Alex: That’s not bad. But does that price include all the organic vegetables and lean meats we will use? Honestly, I don’t want to go grocery shopping before every class.

Mia: Yes, absolutely. The center provides one hundred percent of the fresh ingredients and cooking equipment. However, we do ask all students to bring their own plastic or glass containers if they want to take the leftover meals home.

Alex: Oh, that makes perfect sense. I have plenty of those in my kitchen. Let’s get me signed up!

1 Answer: (B) She experiences strong feelings of hunger between her main meals.

• Explanation: Sarah states, “I get extremely hungry around 10 AM and 3 PM,” which means she experiences strong feelings of hunger during the day (between meals). Option (A) is a trap; she says the main meals are “great”, not too large. Option (C) is a trap; she mentions eating chips and cookies, but she never says they make her feel physically sick.

2 Answer: (A) It should contain a high amount of protein to keep her full.

• Explanation: Dr. Evans advises that she needs a snack that keeps her full and is “rich in protein” (high amount of protein). Option (B) is a trap; Sarah explicitly says, “I really don’t want to spend time cooking snacks.” Option (C) is a trap; Dr. Evans says “without adding too many calories,” not completely free of all calories.

3 Answer: (C) She thinks the yogurt is a much cleaner and easier food for her workplace.

• Explanation: Sarah rejects the eggs because they are “a bit messy to peel and eat at the office,” meaning yogurt is cleaner and easier for her workplace. Option (A) is not mentioned; she just thinks eggs are messy, not that she is allergic. Option (B) is a trap; Dr. Evans specifically warns her to “avoid the fruit-flavored yogurts” because of added sugar.

Dr. Evans: Welcome back, Sarah. How have you been feeling since we adjusted your main meals?

Sarah: The main meals are great, Dr. Evans. But I have a small problem. I get extremely hungry around 10 AM and 3 PM. I usually grab a bag of potato chips or a cookie from the vending machine, but I know that’s a bad habit.

Dr. Evans: It is actually very normal to experience a dip in energy between meals. The key is to choose snacks that keep you full without adding too many calories. You need something rich in protein.

Sarah: Exactly. Do you have any quick suggestions? I really don’t want to spend time cooking snacks at home.

Dr. Evans: Well, instead of chips, try a small cup of plain Greek yogurt. It has double the protein of regular yogurt. Or, you could prepare a couple of hard-boiled eggs in advance.

Sarah: Eggs are a bit messy to peel and eat at the office. But the yogurt sounds perfect. I can just keep it in the staff fridge.

Dr. Evans: Good idea. You can add a few almonds on top for some extra crunch. Just make sure you avoid the fruit-flavored yogurts at the supermarket, as they are full of added sugar.

Sarah: Understood. Plain yogurt with almonds it is!