Practice English Listening A2 Exercises – Encounters

A

1 a bank: Dan   b a hotel: Nicola   c the airport: Dan

2 a Dan   b Dan   c Nicola

B

1   F – She came 15 years ago.

2   T – The Park Inn

3   F – He goes to get some papers.

4   T – He’s got business meetings in Calgary.

5   T – It costs $35.75.

1

NICOLA   Hi. Er, how much is it to the city centre?

TONY   Er, that depends on the traffic. It’s usually about thirty, thirty-five dollars.

N   OK. Can I put my case in the back?

T   I’ll do that for you. So, where are we headed?

N   Erm, can you take me to the Park Inn?

T   The Park Inn on Broadway, right?

N   Um, yes, that’s the one.

T   All right … So, is this your first time in Canada?

N   Well, no. I came here with my parents, like, fifteen years ago but I don’t remember much.

T   Right, so what brings you back here?

T   Here we are. The Park Inn.

N   Thanks. Er, how much is it?

T   Thirty-one fifty, please.

N   Just make it thirty-five dollars.

T   Thanks very much … And here’s your change, fifteen dollars.

N   OK. Thanks.

T   Now, let’s get your case.

2

DAN   Hello. The Royal Bank on Howe Street, please.

TONY   OK.

T   OK, that’ll be eight dollars and fifty cents.

D   Actually, could you wait her for five minutes? I just have to get some papers.

T   Well, OK, but can you pay me first?

D   Of course … here’s ten. I’ll be back in five minutes.

T   OK.

D   Thanks for waiting. OK, I’d like to go to the airport, please.

T   OK. Which terminal?

D   Domestic, please.

T   All right, the domestic terminal … So you’re going somewhere on business, right?

D   Yeah, I’ve got some meetings in Calgary.

T   So do you work for the bank?

T   OK, that’s thirty-five dollars and 75 cents.

D   And can I have a receipt, please?

T   Sure … here you are. Have a safe trip now.

D   Thanks, bye.

1 a OB   b AL

2 a OB   b AL

3 a AL   b OB

4 a AL   b OB

5 a OB   b AL

OSMAN   Well, er, I was travelling to the USA on business and, uh, I got a plane from Germany, from Frankfurt. Anyway I was just reading the airline magazine and relaxing, when suddenly some late passengers arrived. A few of them came into Business Class, where I was sitting. One of them was this really big guy with a huge beard and sunglasses. He was wearing a black biker jacket, black leather trousers and he had a lot of tattoos. He looked kind of scary, actually. Anyway, he sat down next to me and before I could pretend to fall asleep, he introduced himself and we had a good chat. He was a nice guy. Interesting. His name was Bernd, I think, but it was a long time ago. Then, recently, I was in Germany again and, er, I turned on the television and there he was, on a news programme. He’s a top manager for the Harley-Davidson clothing company in Germany, and he was speaking at some big conference. And he was still wearing his biker clothes, so I recognised him immediately.

ANNIE   I went to Montpellier, er, one or two years ago. I was looking for a little restaurant to eat on my own. It was in February but in Montpellier it was really nice weather so you could eat outside. So I sat at a table for two. At one point a man arrived and there was only one table for five available, so he asked me if he could sit at my table, erm, and we started having a chat. He was a really nice person. He was from Switzerland and he was studying, er, French, erm, in Montpellier, so I started teaching him a bit. We met several times when I was there and, erm, next to Montpellier there is a nice town, next to the sea, erm, so we, we had a day trip there and, and that’s it really. We became pen friends but of course I have my boyfriend at home so, erm, that’s it.

A

Astrid: B   Tom: D   Masha: A, C, E

B

Possible answers:

1   Astrid – read children’s books

2   Tom – changed the language on his computer games

3   Masha – watches DVDs, uses a dictionary, changed the menu on her mobile phone

ASTRID   When I was learning French, once I knew a few basic words, I liked reading children’s books. I found it very useful, because the sentences are very simple.

TOM   When I was learning German, I used to change the language on my computer games to German. Then I could pretend to my parents that I was learning, instead of playing. But it really did help me learn.

MASHA   When I learn a foreign language, I like watching DVDs in that language, er, with subtitles on so I can, er, pause and look in a dictionary what the word means and see how it’s spelt. And also when I was in Germany learning German I changed the menu of my mobile phone into German, so that helped.

1   She’s visiting friends from university.

2   She owns restaurants in Montreal.

VALÉRIE   Good morning, can you take me to the Holiday Inn, please?

TONY   Sure. Which one?

V   Er, the one on Broadway, please.

T   So, what brings you to Vancouver?

V   I have some old friends here. Actually, we were at university together.

T   So it’s not your first time here?

V   Oh, no. I visit every three or four months.

T   Right. So you like it here?

V   Yes. In fact, I’d really like to live here.

T   Oh, yeah? Where do you live?

V   In Montreal. Well, actually, I’ve got a small business there.

T   Really? What do you do?

V   I own a couple of restaurants.