Personal Info – A1 English Listening Exercise

1 (B) E-M-M-A

• Explanation: The child clearly spells her mother’s name as “E-M-M-A”. Option (A) “E-N-N-A” is a phonetic trap because the letters ‘M’ and ‘N’ sound very similar. Option (C) starts with an ‘A’, which tests the common confusion between the English vowels ‘E’ and ‘A’.

2 (A) 555-3882

• Explanation: Both the child and the security guard say the number “5-5-5, 3-8-8-2”. Option (B) is a trap that puts the “double” sound on the wrong number (double 2 instead of double 8). Option (C) mixes up the order of the numbers 3 and 8.

3 (C) Her mother

• Explanation: The security guard asks, “What is your mother’s name?” and the child says, “Please call my mom.” Options (A) and (B) are plausible family members but are not mentioned in the conversation.

Security Guard: Hello, little girl. Are you lost? Don’t cry. I can help you. What is your name?

Child: (sniffling) My name is Lily. L-I-L-Y.

Security Guard: Okay, Lily. Don’t worry. What is your mother’s name?

Child: Her name is Emma. E-M-M-A.

Security Guard: E-M-M-A. Good. Do you know your mother’s phone number?

Child: Yes… It is 5-5-5… 3-8-8-2.

Security Guard: Let me repeat that. 5-5-5… 3-8-8-2. Is that right?

Child: Yes. Please call my mom.

1 (C) C-A-R-T-E-R

• Explanation: The citizen clearly spells the last name as “C-A-R-T-E-R”. Option (A) is a phonetic trap because the letter ‘T’ and ‘D’ can sound similar in spoken English (especially in American English). Option (B) uses ‘G’ instead of ‘C’.

2 (B) 40

• Explanation: The citizen says, “He is forty years old,” and clarifies with “four-zero.” Option (A) “14” (fourteen) is the classic trap for the “-teen” and “-ty” sounds. Option (C) “44” is not mentioned.

3 (B) 16 Park Street

• Explanation: The citizen says the address is “16 Park Street” and repeats “One-six”. Option (A) “60” is a phonetic trap for “16”. Option (C) “Dark Street” tests the listener’s ability to hear the first letter correctly (‘P’ vs ‘D’).

Citizen: Hello, officer. I found this wallet on the street.

Police Officer: Thank you. Let’s look inside. There is an ID card. What is the name on it?

Citizen: The name is Brian… Brian Carter. That is C-A-R-T-E-R.

Police Officer: C-A-R-T-E-R. Okay. How old is he?

Citizen: He is forty years old. Yes, four-zero.

Police Officer: Forty. And what is his address?

Citizen: It says 16 Park Street. One-six Park Street.

Police Officer: 16 Park Street? I will call him. Thank you for your help.

1 (C) The name is wrong.

• Explanation: The passenger says in the first sentence, “My name is wrong on this plane ticket.” Option (A) is a trap because the flight number is mentioned later, but it is not the problem. Option (B) is never mentioned.

2 (C) B-O-W-E-N

• Explanation: The passenger clearly spells his name as “B-O-W-E-N”. Option (A) is the trap because the staff guesses “B-O-W-A-N”, but the passenger rejects it by saying, “The letter E, not A.” Option (B) is a phonetic trap testing the difference between the ‘B’ and ‘V’ sounds.

3 (B) 14

• Explanation: The passenger says, “It is flight fourteen,” and repeats “One-four” to be clear. Option (C) “40” (forty) is the classic trap for the “-teen” vs “-ty” sound. Option (A) “4” (four) sounds similar but is incorrect.

Passenger: Excuse me. My name is wrong on this plane ticket.

Airline Staff: Oh, I am sorry. What is your name, sir?

Passenger: My name is David Bowen.

Airline Staff: Bowen. Is that B-O-W-A-N?

Passenger: No, it is B-O-W-E-N. The letter E, not A.

Airline Staff: Okay, B-O-W-E-N. And what is your flight number?

Passenger: It is flight fourteen. One-four.

Airline Staff: Flight fourteen. Thank you, Mr. Bowen. Here is your new ticket.

1 (B) His password.

• Explanation: The student clearly says, “I forgot my password for the school website.” Option (A) is a trap; the IT staff asks for his student ID later, but he didn’t forget it. Option (C) is where he needs to log in, not what he forgot.

2 (A) 89-225

• Explanation: Both the student and the IT staff say the number “8-9, 2-2-5”. Option (B) “89-255” is a trap that puts the “double” sound on the number 5 instead of the number 2. Option (C) mixes up the first two numbers.

3 (C) August 14th

• Explanation: The student says his date of birth is “August 14th”. Option (A) “August 4th” is the trap; the IT staff guesses this, but the student rejects it and clarifies, “No, August 14th. One-four.” Option (B) is a different month not mentioned in the audio.

IT Staff: Hello, School IT Support. How can I help you?

Student: Hi. I forgot my password for the school website.

IT Staff: No problem. What is your student ID number?

Student: It is 8-9… 2-2-5.

IT Staff: Let me check. 8-9… 2-2-5. Okay, I see it. And what is your date of birth?

Student: It is August 14th.

IT Staff: August 4th?

Student: No, August 14th. One-four.

IT Staff: Oh, sorry. August 14th. Okay, your new password is ready.

1 (B) M-A-P-L-E

• Explanation: The customer spells the street name clearly: “M-A-P-L-E”. Option (A) is a phonetic trap because the letter ‘P’ and ‘B’ can sound similar. Option (C) mixes up the order of the last two letters.

2 (B) 50

• Explanation: The driver asks if the house is “number 15” (which is the trap), but the customer corrects him and says, “No, my house number is 50. Five-zero.” Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 (C) A blue house with a white door.

• Explanation: The customer explicitly states, “It is a blue house with a white door.” Option (A) is a very common trap that swaps the colors of the house and the door. Option (B) uses a color (“black”) that was never mentioned.

Delivery Driver: Hello, is this Mr. Thomas? This is the delivery driver. I am on your street, but I cannot find your house.

Customer: Oh, hello. Are you on Maple Street? That is M-A-P-L-E.

Delivery Driver: Yes, I am on Maple Street. Are you at number 15?

Customer: No, my house number is 50. Five-zero.

Delivery Driver: Oh, number 50. I see. What color is your house?

Customer: It is a blue house with a white door.

Delivery Driver: A blue house with a white door… Ah, I see it now! Thank you.