Practice English Listening A2 Exercises – Listening for opinions

Carol checks online and finds out the Sandra Bullock movie isn’t playing anymore. They decide to watch TV instead.

Transcripts

CAROL:   Yeah. Her last movie was amazing. It’s probably one of my all-time favorite movies.

ROGER:   Actually, I didn’t see it, but I heard it was just OK.

CAROL:   Well, I’ll check the theater’s website and see what time the movie starts. Maybe we can go to a show after dinner … Oh, no!

ROGER:   What’s wrong?

CAROL:   You won’t believe this. It’s not showing anymore. It was showing just last weekend, but I guess the schedule has already changed. We’re back where we started!

ROGER:   Why don’t we just see what’s on TV tonight?

CAROL:   That’s fine with me.

The Internet is down so Gina and Danny decide to go to the movies and see a comedy.

Transcripts

Gina:   OK. I’ll go make the popcorn. You get the show set up.

Danny:   Sure. . . . Ugh. Hey, Gina?

Gina:   Yeah? What happened?

Danny: The Internet is down.

Gina:  I can’t believe it. It’s the second time this month.

Danny:   I guess we are going to have to go out.

Gina:   All right. But if we go out in this heat, I think I want to see something light and fun.

Danny:   How about a comedy, then?

Gina:   Sounds good. Should we check what’s in the theaters?

Danny:   No, let’s just go! Whatever you like best is ‑ ne . . . but I’m in charge of snacks!

A

1 yes   2 no   3 yes   4 no

B

1 fascinating   2 boring   3 terrific   4 ridiculous

Transcripts

1

MAN:   What do you think of Sue Grafton’s books?

WOMAN:   I love those mysteries! When I started to read A Is for Alibi, I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up till 4:00 in the morning to finish it!

MAN:   Wow! Have you read any of the other books in the series?

WOMAN:   Oh, yeah. B Is for Burglar, C is for Corpse, … I’m already up to K Is for Killer. Using the alphabet to build a mystery series is such a clever idea. I can’t wait to read all 26 books! I wonder what Z will be!

2

WOMAN:   How did you like the movie?

MAN:   Well, I walked out after half an hour.

WOMAN:   You did?

MAN:   Yeah, it was so dull that I started falling asleep! And I’ve never seen such bad acting! I think I’m going to start reading movie reviews online so I don’t waste my money.

3

MAN 1:   Did you see that documentary on TV last night, the one about Australia?

MAN 2:   I did. I learned so much! I didn’t know they had so many different kinds of animals there. And the photography!

MAN 1:   Yeah, it was something, wasn’t it?

MAN 2:   Uh-huh, it was pretty amazing. It made me really want to go there and see it for myself.

4

WOMAN 1:   Are you reading that book, too? It seems everyone’s reading it now. When did UFOs become so popular anyway?

WOMAN 2:   Actually, I just finished it. What a waste of time! Just the same silly stuff about visitors to Earth from other planets.

WOMAN 1:   I know. It said absolutely nothing new.

WOMAN 2:   You know, I’m sick of hearing stories about little green creatures. If they’re real, how come no one can ever take a picture of them?

A

B

Pauline: 2 stars

Colin: 4 stars

Transcripts

A

PAULINE:   Welcome to A Night at the Movies! I’m Pauline Kaplan….

COLIN:   And I’m Colin Hale. Good evening!

PAULINE:   Tonight we’re going to review the new James Bond film. Well, I really liked this new James Bond actor very, very much!

COLIN:   Mm-hmm.

PAULINE:   He’s the best actor that’s ever had the role – warm, human, even funny. A totally believable character.

COLIN:   I have to agree, a perfect 007 type. Pauline, what did you think of the story?

PAULINE:   It was a standard story for a Bond movie … uh, the usual beautiful women, the usual evil villain – nothing new.

COLIN:   Well, I’m surprised. I have to say that I thought the story was unusually good. The race car scenes were exciting, and the surprise ending was great.

PAULINE:   Well, I can’t agree with you there.

COLIN:   Really? What did you think about the music?

PAULINE:   I wasn’t impressed at all by the music. I love the James Bond theme, but what they did with it was awful. Too modern for me.

COLIN:   I can’t believe you! I haven’t heard such interesting music in a movie in a long time. It really added to the action scenes.

PAULINE:   Now that brings up another weakness in the film: the special effects. Again, it’s just the same old stuff … the car that flies, the pen that’s really a gun. You get tired of that kind of thing.

COLIN:   I’d hardly believe you and I saw the same movie, Pauline. I have to say that the special effects were the best ever in a Bond film. For example, the scene where –

PAULINE:   Excuse me, Colin. We’re going to have to break for a commercial.

COLIN:   You’re right, Pauline. We’ll be right back with our ratings.

B

PAULINE:   So, Colin, how do you rate the new James Bond movie that we’ve reviewed this week?

COLIN:   Well, Pauline, I’d have to say that I’m proud to give this movie my highest rating … four stars … and I would like to encourage everyone to go and see it! How about you, Pauline? You did like the new actor who plays James Bond.

PAULINE:   That part’s true, Colin; however, I have to give the movie only two stars … a rating of ‘fair.”

COLIN:   Hmm. Well, that’s all from us tonight. See you next week.