Relationships – B1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a conversation between a new resident and a community center staff member. Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why did Mark visit the community center?
(A) To borrow some novels from the local library.
(B) To find opportunities to make new friends.
(C) To apply for a job as a staff member.
2 Which activity does Mark decide to join?
(A) The Saturday morning sports team.
(B) A weekly book reading club.
(C) A weekend outdoor photography class.
3 What does Sarah ask Mark to do in order to register?
(A) Pay a small membership fee for the club.
(B) Provide his personal information on a document.
(C) Send a formal email to the group leader.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) To find opportunities to make new friends.
- Explanation: Mark says he is looking for ways to “get to know people around here.” Paraphrasing: get to know people = make new friends.
- Trap: Option A is a trap. The “library” and “novels” are mentioned later when talking about the location of the reading group, but borrowing books is not his main purpose. Option C is not mentioned.
2 (B) A weekly book reading club.
- Explanation: Mark is interested in a “literature group” and agrees to join the “novel discussion group” that meets every Thursday. Paraphrasing: novel discussion group = book reading club.
- Trap: Option A is incorrect. Sarah offers the “morning jogging team on Saturdays” (sports team), but Mark rejects it because it is “a bit too early.” Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
3 (B) Provide his personal information on a document.
- Explanation: Sarah asks Mark to “fill out this registration form with your contact details.” Paraphrasing: contact details = personal information; form = document.
- Trap: Option A is wrong because Sarah explicitly states that “It’s completely free.” Option C is a distractor; she mentions a “mailing list”, but she is the one who will add him to it, he doesn’t need to send an email.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mark: Hi there. I just moved into the neighborhood last week, and, um, I’m looking for ways to get to know people around here.
Sarah: Welcome to the area! You’ve come to the right place. We organize several group activities. Are you interested in sports or more relaxed hobbies?
Mark: Well, I’m not incredibly athletic, but I do enjoy a light jog. Actually, I was hoping you had a literature group? I really love reading.
Sarah: We certainly do. Our novel discussion group meets every Thursday evening at the local library. It’s a fantastic way to socialize with your neighbors. We also have a morning jogging team on Saturdays if you want to get some fresh air.
Mark: The weekend run sounds a bit too early for me, to be honest. But the Thursday evening session sounds absolutely perfect. How do I sign up?
Sarah: It’s completely free. Just fill out this registration form with your contact details, and I’ll add you to our mailing list.
Mark: Great, let me do that right now. Thanks for your help!
Listening 2
Listen to a conversation between a customer and a florist. Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the primary message the customer wants the flowers to convey?
(A) His apology for a recent disagreement.
(B) His excitement for a new romantic journey.
(C) His commitment and long-lasting affection.
2 What flower arrangement does the man finally choose?
(A) A bouquet containing only traditional red roses.
(B) A mixture of red and white flowers.
(C) A collection of yellow daffodils.
3 How does the florist assist the man with the greeting card?
(A) She suggests a thoughtful sentence for him to use.
(B) She prints a standard “Happy Anniversary” label.
(C) She offers to deliver the card to his house.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) His commitment and long-lasting affection.
- Explanation: The customer states he wants a bouquet that symbolizes “a strong, enduring relationship.” The florist also mentions “lasting devotion.” Paraphrasing: long-lasting affection = enduring relationship / lasting devotion.
- Trap: Option A is plausible in real life but not mentioned. Option B is a trap; he is celebrating a “tenth wedding anniversary” (a decade together), not starting a new romantic journey.
2 (B) A mixture of red and white flowers.
- Explanation: The customer decides to go with “a mix of red roses and white lilies.” Paraphrasing: red roses and white lilies = red and white flowers.
- Trap: Option A is a trap because the florist mentions “red roses are traditional,” but the customer doesn’t want only roses. Option C is a distractor; yellow daffodils were suggested by the florist, but the customer didn’t choose them.
3 (A) She suggests a thoughtful sentence for him to use.
- Explanation: The customer asks for suggestions, and the florist provides a personal sentence (“Thank you for ten years of wonderful memories…”). The customer loves it and asks her to write it down.
- Trap: Option B is the exact opposite of what she does; she advises against just writing a basic “Happy Anniversary.” Option C is not mentioned in the audio.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Florist: Good morning! Welcome to Daisy’s Floral Shop. How can I help you today?
Customer: Hi. Tomorrow is my tenth wedding anniversary, and I want to surprise my wife. I’m looking for a bouquet that symbolizes a strong, enduring relationship.
Florist: Congratulations on a decade together! Red roses are traditional for romance, of course. But if you want to represent lasting devotion and strength, I highly recommend adding some yellow daffodils or white lilies to the arrangement.
Customer: That sounds beautiful. Let’s go with a mix of red roses and white lilies, please. Oh, and I also need to include a greeting card, but I’m terrible with words. Do you have any suggestions?
Florist: Certainly. Instead of just writing a basic “Happy Anniversary,” you could say something more personal, like, “Thank you for ten years of wonderful memories, and I look forward to the rest of our lives together.”
Customer: I love that. It’s simple but very meaningful. Could you please write that down on the card for me while I pay?
Florist: Of course. Let’s get your payment sorted, and I’ll have the arrangement ready in about fifteen minutes.
Listening 3
Listen to a phone conversation between a client and a clinic receptionist. Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is the client calling the counseling center?
(A) To get help with frequent arguments and communication issues.
(B) To reschedule an existing daytime therapy appointment.
(C) To ask for advice on how to balance his full-time job and family.
2 When will the couple most likely attend their therapy session?
(A) During regular office hours.
(B) On a weekend morning.
(C) On a weekday night.
3 How does the clinic handle payments regarding health insurance?
(A) The clinic sends the bill directly to the insurance company.
(B) The clinic provides free evaluation sessions for uninsured patients.
(C) Patients pay the clinic first and request money back from their insurance later.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) To get help with frequent arguments and communication issues.
- Explanation: The client mentions that he and his wife are having “a lot of misunderstandings” and need to “work on our communication.” This is paraphrased as “arguments and communication issues.”
- Trap: Option B is a trap because the audio mentions “daytime appointments,” but the client says they are “completely impossible”; he is booking a new appointment, not rescheduling an old one. Option C is a distractor; he mentions working full-time, but that’s the reason for his scheduling issue, not the reason for therapy.
2 (C) On a weekday night.
- Explanation: The client says “Thursday evening would be ideal for us” and decides to book “that Thursday slot.” Thursday evening is a paraphrase for “a weekday night.”
- Trap: Option A is incorrect because daytime appointments are impossible. Option B is a trap because the receptionist offers “Saturday morning” (a weekend morning), but the client does not choose it.
3 (C) Patients pay the clinic first and request money back from their insurance later.
- Explanation: The receptionist explains that they give a “detailed receipt” which the patient can submit to their provider “to get a partial refund.” This means the patient pays first, then gets money back.
- Trap: Option A is exactly what the clinic does not do (the receptionist says “We don’t bill insurance companies directly”). Option B is plausible for some clinics but is not mentioned in this conversation.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Good morning, Harmony Counseling Center. How may I assist you today?
Client: Hi, I’d like some information about your couples therapy services. My wife and I have been having a lot of misunderstandings lately, and we really need to work on our communication.
Receptionist: I understand. Taking that first step is very positive. Typically, our process starts with a 90-minute joint evaluation, followed by weekly 60-minute sessions.
Client: Okay, that makes sense. What does your schedule look like? We both work full-time, so daytime appointments are completely impossible for us.
Receptionist: We do have some availability outside of regular business hours. I can offer you a session next Thursday at 7:00 PM, or Saturday morning at 9:00 AM.
Client: Thursday evening would be ideal for us. One more thing, how much does a session cost? Does my health insurance cover it?
Receptionist: The standard fee is $120 per session. We don’t bill insurance companies directly, but we can give you a detailed receipt. You can submit that document to your provider to get a partial refund.
Client: That works for me. Let’s go ahead and book that Thursday slot.
Listening 4
Listen to a conversation between a customer and a shop assistant. Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is the customer’s partner angry with him?
(A) He bought her the wrong piece of jewelry.
(B) He failed to remember her special day.
(C) He arrived late for their anniversary dinner.
2 Why does the man decide NOT to buy chocolates?
(A) He believes it shows a lack of effort.
(B) His girlfriend is on a strict healthy diet.
(C) They are too expensive for his current budget.
3 What item does the customer finally purchase?
(A) A silver necklace with a heart shape.
(B) A premium box of sweet treats.
(C) A silver ornament worn around the wrist.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) He failed to remember her special day.
- Explanation: The customer states that he “forgot my girlfriend’s birthday yesterday.” Paraphrasing: forgot = failed to remember; birthday = special day.
- Trap: Option A is a distractor because jewelry is what he buys after making her angry. Option C is a trap because the assistant mentions “anniversary” as a future event, not the reason she is currently mad.
2 (A) He believes it shows a lack of effort.
- Explanation: The man says buying chocolates “feels a bit lazy” and he wants “something more personal.” Paraphrasing: lazy = a lack of effort.
- Trap: Options B and C are plausible reasons in real life, but they are not mentioned in the audio script.
3 (C) A silver ornament worn around the wrist.
- Explanation: The customer decides to buy the “silver charm bracelet” because his girlfriend prefers bracelets. An ornament worn around the wrist is a paraphrase for a bracelet.
- Trap: Option A is a trap. The assistant suggested the necklace first, but the customer rejected it. Option B is his original idea (chocolates) which he decided against.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Customer: Excuse me, I desperately need some help. I, um, forgot my girlfriend’s birthday yesterday, and she’s incredibly upset with me.
Assistant: Oh no, that is a tough situation! Are you looking for something special to apologize and make it up to her?
Customer: Exactly. I was originally thinking of just getting a big box of chocolates, but honestly, that feels a bit lazy. I want something more personal.
Assistant: I completely agree. How about a piece of jewelry? We have this beautiful silver necklace with a small heart pendant. It’s very elegant and shows you put thought into it.
Customer: That looks really nice. But… she actually prefers wearing bracelets. Do you have anything similar in a bracelet design?
Assistant: Yes, we do! We have a silver charm bracelet right here. You can even add a special charm to it later for your anniversary.
Customer: That’s perfect. I’ll take it. Hopefully, this, along with a sincere apology, will calm her down. Could you gift-wrap it for me?
Assistant: Of course. I’ll use our premium wrapping paper. Good luck!
Listening 5
Listen to a phone conversation between a customer and a restaurant manager. Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why does the man want to reserve a specific table?
(A) He wants to be close to the kitchen for faster service.
(B) He wishes to have a peaceful area with a nice scenery.
(C) He needs a large space to accommodate his family members.
2 How does the man want to present the engagement ring?
(A) By hiding it inside a sweet dish at the end of the meal.
(B) By putting it at the bottom of his girlfriend’s wine glass.
(C) By having a staff member deliver it within some flowers.
3 What is the man’s plan for Saturday afternoon?
(A) To bring the necessary items to the restaurant in advance.
(B) To have a formal meeting with the restaurant manager.
(C) To pick up his girlfriend from her workplace.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) He wishes to have a peaceful area with a nice scenery.
- Explanation: The customer requests a “private spot” (peaceful area) because he wants to “avoid the noisy areas”. He also mentions his girlfriend loves the “city view” (nice scenery).
- Trap: Option A is a trap because the “kitchen” is mentioned, but he explicitly wants to avoid being near it. Option C is incorrect because he is booking a table “for two”, not for a family.
2 (C) By having a staff member deliver it within some flowers.
- Explanation: The customer asks if a “waiter” (staff member) could bring the ring “hidden inside a bouquet of red roses” (within some flowers).
- Trap: Option A is the classic trap. He mentions “bringing it out with the dessert,” but he explicitly rejects this idea (“Instead of… which is a bit predictable”). Option B is a common movie trope but is not mentioned in the audio.
3 (A) To bring the necessary items to the restaurant in advance.
- Explanation: The manager tells him to “drop off the flowers and the ring earlier in the afternoon,” and the customer agrees to “come by around 3:00 PM.” Paraphrasing: drop off = bring in advance; flowers and ring = necessary items.
- Trap: Option B is a distractor; he is coming to drop things off, not to have a formal meeting. Option C is plausible for a date but not mentioned in the script.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Manager: Good evening, Le Petit Bistro. This is Sarah speaking. How can I help you?
Customer: Hi Sarah, I’d like to make a reservation for two this Saturday at 7:00 PM. But it’s not just a regular dinner. I’m actually planning to propose to my girlfriend that night.
Manager: Oh, congratulations! We’d be honored to host such a special event. What kind of seating arrangement are you looking for?
Customer: I really need a private spot. Could we get that corner table by the window? She absolutely loves the city view, and I want to avoid the noisy areas near the kitchen or the entrance.
Manager: Absolutely, I will block off the window booth for you. It’s very quiet there. Do you need any assistance with the ring?
Customer: Yes, please! Instead of bringing it out with the dessert, which is a bit predictable, could a waiter bring it hidden inside a bouquet of red roses right after we finish our main course?
Manager: That sounds incredibly romantic. We can definitely arrange that. Just drop off the flowers and the ring earlier in the afternoon so we can prepare.
Customer: Perfect. I’ll come by around 3:00 PM on Saturday. Thank you so much!