Practice English Listening A2 Exercises – What are you doing tonight?

1   not well known

2   made an album

3   the U.K.

4   drums and piano

A

Lucas:   Hey, Mandy! It’s good to see you.

Mandy:   It’s nice to see you, too! I heard you were coming to the office.

Lucas:   Yeah, it’s great to be here. So, what are you listening to?

Mandy:   This? It’s one of my favorite songs.

Lucas:   Oh, yeah? Who sings it?

Mandy:   You probably haven’t heard of them. They’re a Canadian rock band. They’re called Talking Hearts.

Lucas:   You’re kidding! They’re a great band.

Mandy:   You know them? They’re not very famous. How did you hear about them?

Lucas:   I have a friend in Vancouver. She loves them. She sent me some of their music.

Mandy:   Cool! Hey, did you know they’re on their first world tour?

Lucas:   No, I didn’t.

Mandy:   And they just released a new album.

Lucas:   Oh, yeah? What’s it called?

Mandy:   “Dreaming.” Here. listen.

Lucas:   This is a cool song. That guitar solo is great. Who’s the guitarist again?

Mandy:   His name is Joe Ramos. He’s amazing. So, what other bands do you like?

Lucas:   Well, I listen to a lot of British bands, too, like The Clouds.

Mandy:   How cool! I like their drummer, Emma Taylor.

Lucas:   I do, too. She’s so talented. She plays the bass and the piano, too.

Mandy:   If she learns to play the guitar, she could be a one-woman band!

Lucas:   Yeah, she could!

B

Lucas:   What are you listening to?

Mandy:   A band called Talking Hearts. Here. Listen.

Lucas:   Cool. I like this song. I love the guitar solo.

Mandy:   Yeah. Me, too. It’s amazing.

Lucas:   Who’s the guitarist?

Mandy:   His name is Joe Ramos.

1 Saturday   2 easy to get

3 buy the tickets   4 a game

A

Lucas:   You know, I’d love to go to a Talking Hearts show.

Mandy:   So would I. I think they’re going to be in New York soon. Let me just check. Cool! There are a few shows this week. Will you be in town all week?

Lucas:   Yes! I decided to stay until Saturday because of our late meeting on Friday.

Mandy:   Great. Are you free on Wednesday night?

Lucas:   Oh, no. I’m sorry. I’m afraid I’m busy that night. I’m meeting some friends.

Mandy:   Oh, OK. What about Thursday night?

Lucas:   Thursday night works for me.

Mandy:   Great! They just added this show, so I’m sure we can still get tickets. Oh, that reminds me. My boyfriend loves them too, so he’ll probably want to come with us.

Lucas:   Sure. I’d love to meet him.

Mandy:   Let me see. The show starts at 8:00, so we should have dinner before we go.

Lucas:   OK.

Mandy:   I know! Let’s eat at Pasha Café because it’s near the club. Oh, do you like Turkish food?

Lucas:   Sure.

Mandy:   We can meet there at 6:30.

Lucas:   OK. Do you mind buying the tickets? I’ll pay you later.

Mandy:   No problem.

Lucas:   This is turning out to be a busy week. Guess what I’m doing on Friday night?

Mandy:   I have no idea. What?

Lucas:   I’m going to a basketball game. The Knicks are playing the Golden State Warriors. I can’t wait!

Mandy:   No way! I’ll be there, too.

Lucas:   How funny! Maybe I’ll see you there.

B

Mandy:   Do you want to see a show on Wednesday?

Lucas:   I’d love to, but I can’t because I’m meeting some friends.

Mandy:   Oh, OK. There’s another one on Thursday night. Are you free?

Lucas:   Yes, I am.

Mandy:   Great. They just added this show, so I’m sure we can still get tickets.

Lucas:   Sounds good. I’m in.

A

b

B

1 a, b   2 a, c   3 a, c   4 a, b   5 b, c

C

1 30 minutes   2 relax   3 care for others   4 limit

A:   Hello, everyone. I’m David Duran. Today on Wellness Weekly, I’m speaking with Anika Rai, a psychologist who studies the effects of too much screen time. She’s going to tell us about some of the negative effects and give us some tips for reducing our screen time and adding healthy habits to our routines.

B:   Thanks for having me, David.

A:   Anika, why is it important for people to put down their devices?

B:   The average adult in the U.S. spends more than ten hours a day using electronic devices. That’s over 60 hours a week! This can cause real health problems.

A:   Wow. Can you tell us more about some of these problems?

B:   Sure. Take sleep, for example. In my opinion, one of the most serious problems is that people aren’t getting enough sleep. Let me explain. People are going to bed with their devices instead of just relaxing or reading a book.

A:   OK.

B:   The light that comes out of our devices keeps us awake, so the longer we use them, the harder it is to fall asleep. That’s why it’s important to stop using phones, tablets, and computers at least 30 minutes before bed-time so you can start to relax.

A:   Interesting . . .

B:   Another issue that we’re seeing is that too much screen time can change a part of the brain that helps people care for others. However, this is especially true for kids, because their brains haven’t finished developing yet. For instance, kids who spend a lot of time on devices may not be learning how to have good relationships with other people. Parents should limit kids’ screen time, depending on their age. Even adults need to be careful about this. Many people have plenty of friends online, but not enough in real life.

A:   But kids these days don’t want to put down their phones or tablets.

B:   Yes, that’s right. And actually, parents are often on their phones as well, and this sends a message to children that it’s OK. Parents have to remember to limit their time, too.

A:   So, what can we do to help both ourselves and our children avoid too much screen time?

B:   Well, here are a few small ideas that will change your life in a big way. Instead of picking up your phone or tablet, think about something new that you’d like to try. For example, you could start a new hobby or take a course.

A:   Uh-huh. OK.

B:   Another idea is to spend more time with family and friends. It doesn’t have to be anything special. Catching up around the dinner table every day is a great way to build stronger relationships. In fact, the more you spend time with other people, the more you remember how important it is to socialize . . . just basic things like laughing, seeing people’s faces, and hearing about people’s lives.

A:   Right. That makes sense.

B:   And finally, do something for yourself—meditate, get outdoors, go for a swim, or just find some quiet time every day. In general, it’s always a good idea to focus on yourself for part of the day.

A:   Thanks so much for being here Anika. This is all very interesting and helpful information. Until next week, everyone. Be well!

A

a

B

1 c   2 a   3 b   4 a

The Power of Music

We all know that music affects our moods. It can make us feel great joy or make us think of our saddest moments. Soft music can calm an upset baby. And singing along to loud music can help someone get rid of stress or anger. But why? Why does music have this powerful effect?

Scientists have learned that music affects both our bodies and brains. Our hearts beat at the same speed as the rhythms we hear. For example, fast music makes our hearts beat faster and slow music makes our hearts beat more slowly. Our brains translate these different heart rates into emotions. So, a loud, fast rock song can make us feel like we have more energy, and a slow, classical violin piece can make us feel calmer and less stressed.

Music also affects the hormones in our bodies. Studies have shown that when we listen to slow, quiet music, our bodies produce fewer stress hormones and more of the hormones that make us feel happy. But it’s not only calm, quiet music that makes us feel good. Loud, fast music can move a small part of the ear which then tells the brain to release endorphins. Endorphins can make us feel positive and happy. More endorphins are released at higher volume levels. The louder the music, the higher the level of endorphins.

Other studies have shown that listening to almost any kind of music can help people who suffer from short-term pain, such as a large cut or burn, or from a long-term illness, such as heart disease. Music can help in two ways: It can trigger the release of endorphins which, in addition to making us feel happy, can also reduce our pain levels. And, more simply, it can help us to think about something other than the pain we are feeling. However, scientists do believe that we have to like the music in order for it to have a positive effect.

So, the next time you’re sad and you want to feel happy, or you’re in pain and you want to feel better, listen to your favorite song. Music really can help you feel better. Now that’s music to your ears!

A

Possible answer: She talks about her healthy habits, and the things she does to relax and stay healthy.

B

Possible answers:

1   She exercises (goes running), spends time with friends (goes to an art gallery), and relaxes (plays guitar).

2   She runs three times a week. She goes to an art gallery once a month. She plays guitar every evening.

3   runs/exercises: likes to spend time outdoors; spends time with friends/goes to art gallery: lowers her stress level; plays guitar: it relaxes her

Hi! It’s Rina. I’m really busy, but I want to stay healthy, too. So, I always make sure to exercise, spend time with friends, and relax. This is a park near my home. Because I like to spend time outdoors, I go for a run in the park three times a week. It’s a great way to get some exercise. On the first Friday of every month, I go to an art gallery with friends, so we can walk, talk, and look at all of the art together. These are my friends. I always feel less stressed after getting together with them. Last, every evening before I go to bed, I play my guitar for a little while to relax.

1 a   2 a   3 b   4 b   5 a   6 a   7 b

1 A:   We’re both really busy this weekend, but we should get tickets to the baseball game. It’s the last game of the season.

   B:   You’re right. Let’s not miss it. We won’t be able to go to another game until next spring.

2 A:   Why do you want to go to the art gallery tonight? Didn’t we go there last weekend?

   B:   Yes, but there’s a new art show tonight. It looks interesting.

3 A:   Do we have to go to a musical? I really don’t like musicals very much.

   B:   No, we can do something else. Why don’t we go to a movie or the comedy club instead?

4 A:   I have an extra ticket to the ballet. Would you like to go?

   B:   Sure! I’ve never been to the ballet.

5 A:   Are we going to the opera this weekend?

   B:   No, we can’t. Tickets sold out weeks ago.

6 A:   Did you enjoy the movie?

   B:   No, not really. The actors were great, but the movie was too scary for me.

7 A:   We got stuck in traffic and missed the first half of the show.

   B:   Oh, that’s too bad! It was an awesome show. At least you didn’t miss the whole thing.

1   three days a week

2   five days a week

3   on weekends

4   every night

5   daily

6   daily, once in a while

1 A:   Alex, it seems like you live at the gym! How often do you work out?

   B:   I work out every day, but I only go to the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

2 A:   You look different. Have you lost weight?

   B:   I hope so! I joined a new exercise group. We run from 5:00 to 6:00 in the morning, Monday through Friday.

3 A:   Did you do anything fun last weekend?

   B:   Yes, I went hiking with some friends. I work all week, so I try to spend time outdoors on Saturdays or Sundays.

4 A:   Did you get my message last night?

   B:   I saw it this morning. I always turn off my phone at night because I don’t want to look at a screen 24 hours a day.

5 A:   I’m trying a new diet. I eat only fruits and vegetables during the week. On weekends, I eat whatever I want.

   B:   That sounds unhealthy! You should follow a balanced diet every day.

6 A:   You meditate every morning, right?

   B:   No, not anymore. I used to meditate regularly, but now only a couple times a month.