Personality & Behaviour – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 B (Having short conversations with service workers.)

• Explanation: The host advises listeners to try “making small talk with a shop assistant or a barista.” The phrase “service workers” is a B1-level paraphrase for shop assistants and baristas, and “short conversations” means “small talk.”
• Trap Alert: Option A is a trap. The host mentions “massive parties” (large events), but specifically says not to force yourself to attend them immediately. Option C is a common real-life tip but is never mentioned in the audio.

2 A (They are too concerned about how they look and sound.)

• Explanation: The host states that shy people usually “worry about our own appearance or fear saying the wrong thing.” Option A is a perfect paraphrase of this sentence.
• Trap Alert: Option B is a trap. Asking “open-ended questions” is the solution the host suggests to fix the problem, not the reason people feel shy. Option C is not mentioned.

3 B (Accept that making social errors is completely normal.)

• Explanation: The host says, “perfection doesn’t exist” and if you make an awkward comment, you shouldn’t punish yourself. This means it is normal to make social errors (mistakes).
• Trap Alert: Option A is a trap because the host says you should “laugh it off,” not apologize immediately. Option C is a trap using the word “mistake,” but the host actually advises the opposite: “not letting those mistakes stop you from trying again.”

Host: Welcome back to Mind Matters, the podcast where we talk about personal growth. Today, we’re discussing a personality trait that affects many of us: shyness. If you often feel nervous in social situations, you’re not alone. But how can you change your behavior to become more outgoing?

My first tip is to start small. Don’t force yourself to attend massive parties immediately. Instead, try making small talk with a shop assistant or a barista. Just a simple ‘how is your day?’ can build your confidence over time.

Secondly, shift your focus. When we feel shy, we usually worry about our own appearance or fear saying the wrong thing. To stop this, focus completely on the other person. Ask them open-ended questions and listen actively. People love talking about themselves, and this takes the pressure off you.

Finally, remember that perfection doesn’t exist. If you make an awkward comment, don’t punish yourself. Just laugh it off. True confidence isn’t about never making mistakes; it’s about not letting those mistakes stop you from trying again.

1 B (They are dependable and plan things well.)

• Explanation: The speaker says Early Birds are “highly organized, proactive, and reliable.” The word “dependable” is a synonym for reliable, and “plan things well” means being organized.
• Trap Alert: Option A is a trap because this describes Night Owls later in the presentation. Option C is a logical guess but is not mentioned in the audio.

2 C (Sometime before the middle of the day.)

• Explanation: The speaker mentions that Early Birds prefer to tackle their most difficult assignments “before lunchtime.” The middle of the day is a paraphrase for lunchtime.
• Trap Alert: Option A is a trap. It uses the concept of lunch (midday meal), but suggests doing work after it, which is incorrect. Option B is a trap because that is when Night Owls work.

3 A (They find it easier to produce original ideas in a peaceful environment.)

• Explanation: The speaker states that artists feel “significantly more creative and relaxed when their surroundings are quiet and dark.” Producing original ideas is a paraphrase for being “creative”, and a peaceful environment means “quiet and dark” surroundings.
• Trap Alert: Option B is a trap because the speaker explicitly says that struggling to get out of bed “certainly doesn’t mean they are lazy.” Option C is a plausible real-life reason for musicians, but the speaker does not mention concerts.

Student Speaker: Hello everyone, and thank you for coming to my short presentation. Today, I’m going to discuss two opposite personality types based on when they prefer to sleep and work: “Early Birds” and “Night Owls”.

Let’s start with Early Birds. These individuals naturally wake up feeling refreshed and full of energy. In terms of personality, they are often seen as highly organized, proactive, and reliable. Because they start their routine before most of the world wakes up, they experience their highest level of concentration in the morning. They usually prefer to tackle their most difficult assignments before lunchtime.

On the other hand, we have Night Owls. These people often struggle to get out of bed early. However, this certainly doesn’t mean they are lazy. Their peak focus simply arrives much later in the evening. In fact, many successful artists and musicians fall into this category because they feel significantly more creative and relaxed when their surroundings are quiet and dark.

Ultimately, neither lifestyle is superior. The key to success is simply understanding your own biological clock and organizing your daily tasks around your natural energy levels. Thank you for listening.

1 A (To be a dependable person who follows rules.)

• Explanation: The announcer says the first requirement is to be “highly reliable” and that “following safety rules is absolutely essential.” The word “dependable” is a B1-level synonym for reliable.
• Trap Alert: Option B is a trap because the speaker mentions “assignments”, but only as a negative example (“If you often forget your school assignments, this role might not be a good fit…”). Option C is a trap; parents are mentioned (“Parents are trusting us”), but volunteers don’t need experience communicating with them.

2 B (Because the camp involves a lot of physical activities.)

• Explanation: The speaker says volunteers need “a lot of stamina” because there are “outdoor sports, swimming, and hiking planned every single day.” These are all physical activities.
• Trap Alert: Option A is a trap because “sports” are mentioned, but they are not teaching advanced classes. Option C is a logical real-life guess for a camp, but the audio says they need to be active “from morning until evening,” not late at night.

3 C (Having a tolerant and kind attitude is the most valuable trait.)

• Explanation: The announcer states that “being patient and caring is much more important than having previous teaching experience.” The words “tolerant and kind” paraphrase “patient and caring.”
• Trap Alert: Option A is the exact opposite of what the speaker says (teaching experience is less important). Option B is a trap because the audio mentions “minor arguments” and “homesick campers,” which does not mean they are highly aggressive or difficult.

School Radio Announcer: Good morning, students! This is your campus radio station with an exciting announcement for the upcoming summer break. We are currently looking for dedicated volunteers to help run our annual Children’s Summer Camp in July.

Now, what kind of people are we looking for? First and foremost, you need to be highly reliable. Parents are trusting us with their kids, so showing up on time and following safety rules is absolutely essential. If you often forget your school assignments, this role might not be a good fit for you.

Secondly, you must have a lot of stamina. We have outdoor sports, swimming, and hiking planned every single day, so we need people who are active and enthusiastic from morning until evening.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you need a genuine passion for working with youngsters. You will be dealing with homesick campers and minor arguments, so being patient and caring is much more important than having previous teaching experience.

If you think you have what it takes, please pick up an application form from the main office before Friday!

1 B (The small habits they repeat on a daily basis.)

• Explanation: The vlogger says that our character is shaped by “the tiny things we do every single day.” The phrase “small habits they repeat on a daily basis” is a perfect paraphrase of this idea.
• Trap Alert: Option A is a trap. The vlogger mentions that a lot of people believe personality is fixed from birth, but the book “completely disagrees” with this idea. Option C is a plausible real-life idea, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

2 B (Starting with very brief and simple activities.)

• Explanation: The book suggests starting with “incredibly short, two-minute routines.” The phrase “very brief and simple activities” is a synonym for short, two-minute routines.
• Trap Alert: Option A is the exact opposite of the book’s advice; changing your lifestyle in one day “usually leads to failure.” Option C is a trap because the audio mentions spending “ten minutes reading” as an example, not two hours.

3 A (People who want to get rid of their bad habits.)

• Explanation: At the end, the vlogger says the book is great “Whether you want to stop a negative habit…” To “get rid of bad habits” is the exact same meaning as “stop a negative habit.”
• Trap Alert: Option B is a trap because the word “book” is the main topic, but the vlogger never suggests writing one. Option C is a trap using the word “organized”, but the book is for people who want to change, not those who are already perfect.

Vlogger: Hey everyone, welcome back to my channel! Today, I’m reviewing a fascinating new book called The Power of Small Actions. Have you ever wondered why some people are naturally disciplined while others are always disorganized?

A lot of us believe that our personality is permanently fixed from birth. However, this book completely disagrees. The author explains that our character is actually shaped by the tiny things we do every single day. For example, if you spend ten minutes reading every night, you are slowly building the identity of a ‘reader’ and a ‘patient person’.

The best part is that the book doesn’t tell you to change your entire lifestyle in one day. Doing that usually leads to failure because it’s too exhausting. Instead, it suggests starting with incredibly short, two-minute routines. Over time, these tiny actions add up and transform your behavior permanently.

Whether you want to stop a negative habit or become a more reliable friend, this book offers some incredibly practical advice. I highly recommend picking up a copy!

1 A (Purchasing items without thinking carefully first.)

• Explanation: The reporter defines impulsive buying as buying something “just because it was on sale, even if you didn’t need it” and acting “on emotion rather than logic.” This means purchasing without thinking carefully.
• Trap Alert: Option B is a trap because they do buy things, but the audio focuses on the lack of thought, not the brand or the high price. Option C is not mentioned at all.

2 C (They are influenced by online celebrities and special offers.)

• Explanation: The reporter says young people feel pressured to buy when they see “favorite influencers promoting a product” (online celebrities) or when a “‘limited time only’ discount pops up” (special offers).
• Trap Alert: Option A is the opposite of the truth; the audio says they “waste their monthly budget,” meaning they don’t have endless extra money. Option B is a trap because the audio mentions influencers making videos, but the young shoppers are watching them, not making the videos themselves.

3 B (To delay their purchasing decision for one whole day.)

• Explanation: The expert advice is the “24-hour rule,” which means you should “wait a full day before paying.” To delay a decision means to wait before making it.
• Trap Alert: Option A is a trap. Social media is mentioned as the cause of the problem, but deleting the apps is not the suggested solution. Option C is a trap using the word “sensible”, but the goal is for you to become a sensible shopper, not to ask a friend.

Reporter: Welcome to today’s Consumer Insight. I’m your host, Mark, and today we’re looking at a growing trend among teenagers and young adults: impulsive online shopping. Have you ever bought something just because it was on sale, even if you didn’t need it? That is exactly what we call impulsive buying.

According to our latest survey, many young people struggle to control their spending on the internet. Social media apps are largely responsible for this. When young shoppers see their favorite influencers promoting a product, or when a ‘limited time only’ discount pops up, they feel pressured to buy it immediately. They act on emotion rather than logic.

Unfortunately, the result is almost always the same. A few days later, when the package arrives, many of these young consumers experience a strong sense of regret. They realize they have wasted their monthly budget on useless items.

So, how can we fix this behavior? Experts suggest a simple ’24-hour rule’. If you see something you want online, put it in your shopping cart, but wait a full day before paying. This small pause can help you become a much more sensible and careful shopper.