Recycling & Waste – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) In the blue recycling bin.

• Explanation: The script mentions that “cardboard and plastic” (which are Alex’s packaging materials) must go into the “blue container”. Option A is a trap because the green bin is mentioned, but it is rejected (it is only for garden waste). Option C is also a trap; the black bin is for “general household waste”, not recycling.

2 Answer: (B) He has to make them completely flat.

• Explanation: Sarah tells Alex to “flatten those boxes first”. “Make them completely flat” is a synonym (paraphrase) for “flatten”. Option C is a trap because washing is required for plastic containers, not cardboard boxes. Option A is plausible in real life but is never mentioned in the audio.

3 Answer: (C) Because they still have food oil on them.

• Explanation: Sarah says they won’t collect the plastics “if they’re covered in grease”. “Food oil” is a paraphrase for “grease”. Option A is a trap because taking up “too much space” is the reason for flattening boxes, not the reason for refusing plastic items. Option B is just a detail about where the blue bin is located.

Sarah: Hey Alex, welcome to the apartment! Are you still unpacking?

Alex: Yeah, thanks Sarah. Um, I have a bunch of empty cardboard boxes and plastic wrap from my new furniture. Where should I put them?

Sarah: Oh, glad you asked. Our building has strict rules about waste disposal. We can’t just throw everything in one place.

Alex: Right. I saw two bins downstairs earlier, a large green one and a small black one. Do I put the boxes in the green one?

Sarah: Actually, the green bin is for garden waste, which the landlord handles. For recyclables, like your cardboard and plastic, you need to use the blue container. It’s kept behind the garage.

Alex: Ah, got it. Blue container for recycling. And what about leftover food or regular trash?

Sarah: All general household waste goes into the black bin next to the back door. But listen, make sure you flatten those boxes first, otherwise, they take up too much space.

Alex: Will do. Oh, should I wash the plastic containers before recycling them?

Sarah: Yes, please. The workers won’t collect them if they’re covered in grease.

1 Answer: (B) To put them in the garbage.

• Explanation: Mark says, “I was originally going to throw all these old jeans in the trash.” The phrase “put them in the garbage” is a paraphrase of “throw in the trash.” Option (A) is a trap because turning them into bags is his current project, not his initial plan. Option (C) is a plausible idea for old clothes but is never mentioned.

2 Answer: (A) They still have places to store small items.

• Explanation: Mark mentions that he “kept the original pockets… so you can easily put your phone or keys in there.” “Places to store small items” is a paraphrase for “pockets for phone or keys.” Option (B) is a trap; the topic is about recycling, but he is using denim/jeans, not plastic. Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Answer: (C) Meet up to do some crafting together.

• Explanation: Mark invites Emma to “come over and try making one” this Saturday, and Emma accepts (“I’d love to!”). “Do some crafting together” is a paraphrase of making bags together. Option (A) is a trap; they mention the words “clothes” and “fashionable” earlier, but they are not going shopping. Option (B) is also a trap; Mark watched a video by himself earlier, but they aren’t planning to watch one together.

Emma: Hey Mark! What are you doing with that huge pile of old denim?

Mark: Oh, hi Emma. Well, I was originally going to throw all these old jeans in the trash, but then I watched a video about upcycling online.

Emma: Upcycling? You mean like recycling them?

Mark: Sort of, but better! Instead of just breaking the material down, I’m transforming them into fashionable tote bags. Look, I even kept the original pockets on the outside so you can easily put your phone or keys in there.

Emma: Wow, that’s incredibly clever! It definitely saves them from ending up in a landfill. Is it difficult to sew?

Mark: Not at all. It just takes a bit of patience. Actually, I’m planning to make a few more this Saturday afternoon. I have plenty of spare fabric. Do you want to come over and try making one for yourself?

Emma: I’d love to! I actually have a couple of ripped jackets I could bring, too.

Mark: Perfect! See you on Saturday, then.

1 Answer: (B) Place them in the household recycling container.

• Explanation: Leo says, “I was just going to put them in the blue recycling bin outside.” Option (B) uses synonyms (“place” for “put”, “household recycling container” for “blue recycling bin”). Option (A) is a trap; keeping them in his drawer is a question he asks later in the conversation, not his initial plan. Option (C) is plausible in real life but is never mentioned.

2 Answer: (A) Because it contains toxic materials that can harm the environment.

• Explanation: Maya explains that the electronics contain “hazardous chemicals” (toxic materials) and can “damage the soil and water” (harm the environment). Option (C) is a trap because the “drawer” is mentioned by Leo, but Maya immediately rejects this idea by saying “No, don’t hoard them.” Option (B) is a trap because the computer is “completely dead,” and no one mentions repairing it.

3 Answer: (C) They will take the items to a specific disposal facility.

• Explanation: Maya suggests going to a “specialized drop-off center… that safely processes old devices.” Option (C) paraphrases this as a “specific disposal facility.” Option (B) is a trap; the “shopping mall” is mentioned as a location near the center, and “chargers” are mentioned earlier, but they are not going shopping. Option (A) is plausible but not mentioned in the audio.

Leo: Hey Maya, can you pass me that trash bag? I’m finally clearing out my desk.

Maya: Sure… Wait, Leo, what are you doing with that broken laptop and those tangled cords? You can’t just toss them in the regular garbage!

Leo: Why not? The computer is completely dead, and these cables belong to chargers I don’t even own anymore. They’re useless. I was just going to put them in the blue recycling bin outside.

Maya: You can’t put electronic waste in the standard recycling bin either. They contain hazardous chemicals like lead and mercury. If they end up in a normal landfill, they can seriously damage the soil and water.

Leo: Oh, I had no idea. Should I just keep them in my drawer then?

Maya: No, don’t hoard them. There’s a specialized drop-off center near the shopping mall that safely processes old devices. We can drive there on Saturday morning to get rid of them properly.

Leo: Okay, sounds like a plan. I’ll leave them in this box until the weekend.

1 Answer: (B) Paying for paper ones at the store.

• Explanation: David says, “I can just buy a couple of paper bags at the checkout.” Option (B) uses synonyms (“paying for” instead of “buy”, “at the store” instead of “at the checkout”). Option (A) is a trap; Sarah mentions the “kitchen drawer,” but that is where they have too many plastic bags, not what David suggests taking. Option (C) is plausible but never mentioned.

2 Answer: (A) Inside the vehicle.

• Explanation: Sarah says she put the bags “in the trunk of your car”. Later David says he will grab them from the “back of the car”. Option (A) uses the synonym “vehicle” for “car”. Option (B) is a trap; David says he “was looking for them in the hallway closet,” but they are not there anymore. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (C) He left his bags in the car.

• Explanation: Sarah reminds him: “Last time, you left them in the parking lot and had to carry all the groceries out by hand.” (Leaving them in the car at the parking lot). Option (A) is a trap; the “shopping list” is mentioned at the very beginning of the audio, but it wasn’t his mistake. Option (B) is a trap; he had to “carry all the groceries out by hand”, but he didn’t drop them.

David: Alright, I’ve got the shopping list and my wallet. I’m heading to the grocery store now.

Sarah: Wait a second, David! Did you grab the reusable bags? We have way too many plastic ones stuffed in the kitchen drawer.

David: Oh, right. I completely forgot again. I can just buy a couple of paper bags at the checkout. They’re better for the environment, right?

Sarah: Well, yes, but it’s still a waste of money and resources. We already own plenty of them. I actually put three heavy-duty cloth bags in the trunk of your car yesterday.

David: Ah, I see. I was looking for them in the hallway closet earlier.

Sarah: No, I moved them so you wouldn’t forget. Please make sure to bring them inside the supermarket with you. Last time, you left them in the parking lot and had to carry all the groceries out by hand.

David: Fair enough! I’ll grab them from the back of the car as soon as I park. See you in an hour!

1 Answer: (A) She wants to save the kitchen scraps to help their plants grow.

• Explanation: The mother says they can use the food waste to “feed our vegetable garden” and make “natural fertilizer”. Option (A) is a paraphrase of this idea. Option (B) is a plausible reason in real life but is never mentioned. Option (C) is a trap; she says “feed our vegetable garden”, not pets. She also mentions “pests” (insects/rats), which might sound similar to “pets” to confuse the listener.

2 Answer: (B) Animal products such as meat and milk.

• Explanation: The mother clearly states, “But no meat or dairy, okay?” Milk is a dairy product. Option (A) is a trap; “used coffee grounds” are explicitly mentioned as something they can add, not something forbidden. Option (C) is plausible for general recycling rules, but it is not mentioned in this conversation at all.

3 Answer: (C) Collect some dry plant material from outside.

• Explanation: The mother asks Leo to “go to the backyard and gather some dead leaves.” Option (C) uses synonyms (“collect” for “gather”, “dry plant material” for “dead leaves”, “outside” for “backyard”). Option (A) is a trap; “tomatoes” are mentioned as the plants that will benefit in the future (“in a few months”), but he is not picking them now. Option (B) is a trap using the word “garbage/trash” mentioned at the beginning.

Mom: Leo, wait! Don’t throw those banana peels and apple cores in the regular trash can.

Leo: Why not, Mom? They’re just food waste.

Mom: Exactly, which means we can use them to feed our vegetable garden. I just bought a compost bin. We’re going to start making our own natural fertilizer.

Leo: Compost? You mean we just keep rotting food in a box? Won’t that smell terrible?

Mom: Not if we do it right. We need a good mix. Along with fruit and vegetable scraps, we can also add used coffee grounds. But no meat or dairy, okay? Those will attract pests.

Leo: Got it. Is that all we need? Just kitchen leftovers?

Mom: Actually, we have to balance it out with dry stuff. So, I need you to go to the backyard and gather some dead leaves to put on top. In a few months, this mixture will turn into rich, dark soil for our tomatoes.

Leo: Okay, that sounds pretty cool. I’ll grab a rake and get those leaves right now.