Practice English Listening A2 Exercises – The soundtrack of our lives

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a Sophie   b Bill   c Sophie   d Mandy

e Mandy   f Bill   g Mandy

2

Sophie:   She likes a romantic song that they used to play on the radio when she was at school, the last summer.

Bill:   He can’t remember any particular song or occasion.

Mandy:   The song ‘Mandy’ because a boy she liked at school, Jerry, used to sing it in a band.

SOPHIE:   Oh, listen, Mandy, listen! I love this song!

MANDY:   Really? I didn’t know you liked romantic songs, Sophie.

SOPHIE:   I don’t, usually, but this one is special. They used to play it on the radio all the time when I was at school, that last summer. It brings back really good memories. It’s funny, isn’t it, how a song can remind you of things? Some songs are like the soundtrack of our lives, like the soundtrack of a movie!

BILL:   Ugh! How soppy!

MANDY:   No, no. You’re right, Sophie. I always think of Jerry when I hear the song ‘Mandy’.

BILL:   Jerry? Who’s Jerry?

MANDY:   He was this guy at school I used to like. He used to sing in a band and ‘Mandy’ was their special song. I used to think he was singing it just for me!

SOPHIE:   Ooooh, Jerry! What happened, then?

MANDY:   Nothing happened, but every time I hear the song I can remember that summer as if it was yesterday. It was such good fun.

BILL:   Listen to you! You sound like old people talking about old times!

SOPHIE:   Come on! I bet you have a song that brings back memories.

BILL:   Well, no, actually. I can’t think of any song that reminds me of anything important.

MANDY:   What?! You can’t remember the song they were playing when we met?

SOPHIE:   Oh, here we go. You two! You’re like … so married.

BILL:   No, well yes, that is … wait a minute … I can remember … it was … er … Well I can remember the tune but I can’t think of the name.

MANDY:   I don’t believe you. Go on, prove it!

BILL:   (sings)

MANDY & SOPHIE:   OK, we believe you!

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Suggested answer: What is one of the most important memories in your life?

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A 2   B 4   C 3   D 1

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a   Speaker 2, referring to the sand / sea / beach.

b   Speaker 3, referring to his teacher, Mrs Taylor.

c   Speaker 1, referring to the fact that she had had a baby.

d   Speaker 4, referring to James, the boy she liked.

1

My most important memory is the day I had my first child. I’ll never forget it! I felt so proud! I just remember looking at this little creature and thinking, Wow! So this is him! This is ‘the baby’ we’ve been talking about all this time, buying things for, planning his room … and here he is!

2

Mmm, one of my most important memories? I remember the first time I went to the beach. My parents had rented a holiday home at the seaside and I’d never seen the sea before. I remember standing on this sand and feeling it between my toes. I remember the feeling so clearly, how nice it felt under my feet. I’d never seen anything so amazing before!

3

One of my earliest important memories is my first teacher. She was so nice. Her name was Mrs Taylor. I thought she was really really beautiful. I remember telling my mother that, and wondering why she looked a bit disappointed! Mrs Taylor was my hero. I remember once, when my family was planning to go to Morocco for a holiday, she told me to come back and tell her about the money there. Was it dirhams or lire? I couldn’t believe she didn’t know. I always thought Mrs Taylor knew everything?

4

I remember my first date. His name was James Bellamy, and he was 15. I had liked him for a whole year, but he never knew. He was really popular. All the girls fancied him. I didn’t think he would ever go out with me. Then one day he asked me if I wanted to go and have a Coke with him after school. That was our first date! I remember going home afterwards, thinking, I’ve got a boyfriend! But sadly, that was it. We didn’t have another date, ever.

I wonder what he’s doing now…