Predictions – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Read the questions below. Listen to the conversation between two friends and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What did the weather app predict this morning?
(A) It would be sunny.
(B) It would be rainy.
(C) It would be windy.
2 Why do they decide NOT to use umbrellas?
(A) They don’t have any umbrellas with them.
(B) Sitting outside in the rain is not enjoyable.
(C) The umbrellas are too small for both of them.
3 What do they finally decide to do?
(A) Go on the picnic with umbrellas.
(B) Cancel their lunch completely.
(C) Eat their food indoors.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A) It would be sunny.
- Explanation: Mark clearly says the app “said it would be sunny all day”.
- Trap: Option (B) is a trap because the weather is currently becoming rainy, but the question asks about the app’s prediction this morning. Option (C) is plausible but not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (B) Sitting outside in the rain is not enjoyable.
- Explanation: Sarah says, “We could bring our umbrellas, but sitting outside in the wet grass isn’t very fun.”
- Trap: Option (A) is a trap. They do not say they lack umbrellas; they actually suggest bringing them but reject the idea. Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.
3 Correct Answer: (C) Eat their food indoors.
- Explanation: Mark suggests, “How about we just eat the sandwiches inside my apartment instead?” and Sarah agrees.
- Trap: Option (A) is the classic A2 “Twist” trap. They talked about umbrellas, but decided against it. Option (B) is also a trap because Mark explicitly asks “Should we just cancel?”, but Sarah immediately rejects it by saying “I don’t really want to cancel.”
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: Are we ready for the picnic, Sarah? I packed the sandwiches.
Sarah: Yeah, but, um… look at those dark clouds over there. It looks like it’s going to rain heavily.
Mark: Oh no! I checked the weather app this morning and it said it would be sunny all day. Should we just cancel?
Sarah: Well, I don’t really want to cancel. We could bring our umbrellas, but sitting outside in the wet grass isn’t very fun.
Mark: That’s true. How about we just eat the sandwiches inside my apartment instead?
Sarah: Good idea. Oh, I felt a drop! It’s starting to rain already! Let’s go inside.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between a father and his child and choose the best answer (A, B, or C).
1 Who does the son think will score the next goal at first?
(A) The Red Team.
(B) The Blue Team.
(C) Neither team.
2 What is the son’s prediction for the final score?
(A) 2 – 1.
(B) 1 – 2.
(C) 2 – 2.
3 What happens at the end of the conversation?
(A) The Blue Team scores a goal.
(B) The Red Team gets a penalty.
(C) The referee ends the match.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) The Blue Team.
- Explanation: The son says, “I still think the Blue Team will score next” after seeing the goalkeeper’s performance.
- Trap: Option (A) is the father’s opinion (“I think the Red Team will score soon”). Option (C) is not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (C) 2 – 2.
- Explanation: The son explicitly predicts a draw: “I predict it will be a draw, 2-2.”
- Trap: Option (A) 2-1 is the father’s prediction. A2 students often confuse the speakers’ opinions, so this is a “Person Trap”.
3 Correct Answer: (B) The Red Team gets a penalty.
- Explanation: At the very end, the father shouts, “He’s giving a penalty to the Red Team!”
- Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the son says they “are going to score”, but it hasn’t happened yet. The immediate event is the penalty.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Son: Wow, Dad! The Blue Team is playing so well today. I’m sure they will score the next goal very soon.
Father: Well, I’m not so sure, son. They look a bit tired now. Look! The Red Team has the ball and they are moving very fast.
Son: You’re right. Oh, but wait! The Blue Team’s goalkeeper is amazing. He just saved the ball! So, I still think the Blue Team will score next.
Father: Hmm, maybe. But what about the final score? I think the Blue Team will win 2-1.
Son: Really? I don’t think so. The Red Team is very strong in the second half. I predict it will be a draw, 2-2.
Father: Oh! Look at the referee! He’s giving a penalty to the Red Team!
Son: Oh no! You were right, Dad. The Red Team is definitely going to score now.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between two sisters and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 How does Emma think their mother will react to the surprise?
(A) She will cry.
(B) She will laugh.
(C) She will get angry.
2 What did the girls actually wrap in the paper?
(A) A necklace.
(B) An empty box.
(C) A new dress.
3 What are they going to do next?
(A) Open the box again.
(B) Give the box to their mom.
(C) Buy a different gift.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) She will laugh.
- Explanation: Emma says, “She usually laughs when she gets a big surprise.”
- Trap: Option (A) is a “Person Trap”. Lily asks if the mother will cry, but Emma rejects this idea (“I don’t think so”). Option (C) is plausible but not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (B) An empty box.
- Explanation: Lily realizes the mistake and says, “We just wrapped an empty box!”
- Trap: Option (A) is the classic A2 “Twist” trap. They bought a necklace and planned to wrap it, but they forgot to put it inside.
3 Correct Answer: (A) Open the box again.
- Explanation: At the end, Emma says, “Quick, open it again!” so they can put the necklace inside.
- Trap: Option (B) is what they originally planned to do, but the twist changes their immediate action. Option (C) is incorrect because they already have a gift (the necklace).
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Pass me the tape, please. This wrapping paper is so pretty. Mom is going to love her birthday gift!
Lily: Yeah! I can’t wait. Do you think she will cry when she opens the box?
Emma: Hmm, I don’t think so. She usually laughs when she gets a big surprise.
Lily: You’re right. But wait… did you put the necklace inside?
Emma: Oh no! I thought you put it in.
Lily: No, I didn’t! We just wrapped an empty box! So, I predict she will be very surprised, but not in a good way!
Emma: Quick, open it again! We need to put the necklace inside before she comes home.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between a husband and wife in a car. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why does the wife think they will be late?
(A) Because of a car accident.
(B) Because of a problem with the bridge.
(C) Because of the heavy rain.
2 What was their original plan for dinner?
(A) To eat at an Italian restaurant.
(B) To cook pasta at home.
(C) To go to a sandwich shop.
3 What is their final decision?
(A) To wait in traffic for two hours.
(B) To cancel their dinner and go home hungry.
(C) To eat at a shop near the next exit.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (B) Because of a problem with the bridge.
- Explanation: The wife says, “I think there’s a problem with the bridge.”
- Trap: Option (A) is a common reason for traffic, but it is not mentioned in this script. Option (C) is also not mentioned.
2 Correct Answer: (A) To eat at an Italian restaurant.
- Explanation: The husband mentions missing their “dinner reservation at the Italian restaurant.”
- Trap: Option (C) is a trap because the sandwich shop is their new plan, not the original one. Option (B) is a trap because the wife mentions “pasta”, but she means the pasta at the restaurant.
3 Correct Answer: (C) To eat at a shop near the next exit.
- Explanation: At the end, the husband suggests the sandwich shop at the next exit and the wife says, “Good idea.”
- Trap: Option (A) is a distractor; they predict being stuck for one hour, not two. Option (B) is a trap because they do cancel the reservation, but they don’t stay hungry.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Husband: Oh no! Look at the long line of cars ahead, honey. It goes on forever!
Wife: Well, um… I think there’s a problem with the bridge. We’re definitely going to be late getting home.
Husband: I agree. I predict we’ll be stuck here for at least an hour. We’re going to miss our dinner reservation at the Italian restaurant.
Wife: That’s too bad. I was really looking forward to their pasta. Should we call them and cancel?
Husband: Yes, let’s do that. But hey, look! There’s a small sandwich shop at the next exit. Maybe we can eat there instead?
Wife: Good idea. It won’t be a fancy dinner, but at least we won’t be hungry!
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between a grandfather and a grandmother. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What does the grandmother ask about Leo’s future at first?
(A) Will he be a pilot?
(B) Will he be an engineer?
(C) Will he be a doctor?
2 Why does the grandfather predict Leo will be an engineer?
(A) Because Leo likes flying his toy airplane around the room.
(B) Because Leo is taking the toy apart and putting it back together.
(C) Because Leo is eating the plastic wheel.
3 What happens at the end of the conversation?
(A) Leo breaks his toy airplane.
(B) Leo successfully builds a new toy.
(C) Leo puts a piece of the toy in his mouth.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: (A) Will he be a pilot?
- Explanation: The grandmother asks, “Do you think he will be a pilot when he grows up?”
- Trap: Option (B) is the final prediction made by the grandfather, not the grandmother’s first question. Option (C) is a plausible job but is never mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: (B) Because Leo is taking the toy apart and putting it back together.
- Explanation: The grandfather notices that Leo is not playing normally, but instead “taking it apart and putting the pieces back together”, which is what an engineer does.
- Trap: Option (A) is a trap because he has an airplane, but the grandfather specifically says “He isn’t flying the plane.” Option (C) is an action that happens later, but it is not the reason he will be an engineer.
3 Correct Answer: (C) Leo puts a piece of the toy in his mouth.
- Explanation: At the end, the grandmother panics and says, “Now he is trying to eat the plastic wheel!”
- Trap: Option (A) is a classic “Twist” trap. He is taking the toy apart, but he isn’t breaking it (he is putting it back together). Option (B) is what they expect him to do, but the immediate funny twist at the end is him trying to eat the toy.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Grandpa: Look at little Leo. He is playing so quietly with his toy airplane.
Grandma: Yes, he loves that plane. Do you think he will be a pilot when he grows up?
Grandpa: Well, I thought about that. But look closely! He isn’t flying the plane. He is taking it apart and putting the pieces back together.
Grandma: Oh, you’re right! He is always fixing and building things. So, what is your prediction?
Grandpa: I predict he is going to be a great engineer. He is very smart.
Grandma: I agree with you. But oh, wait! Now he is trying to eat the plastic wheel!
Grandpa: Oh no, Leo! Put that down!