Relationships – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 (B) To set up a regular online face-to-face meeting.

• Explanation: The host says to “establish a routine” and “organize a monthly video chat.” Paraphrasing: regular = routine; online face-to-face meeting = video chat.
• Trap: Option A is a trap because the host explicitly says to avoid relying only on “random text messages.” Option C is a distractor; he mentions “monthly,” but it is for a video call, not traveling to visit each other.

2 (A) Normal, everyday activities.

• Explanation: The host states that the secret to closeness is “sharing ordinary, daily experiences,” like a photo of morning coffee. Paraphrasing: normal, everyday activities = ordinary, daily experiences.
• Trap: Option B is the exact opposite of the advice; the host says, “don’t wait for major life events.” Option C is plausible for a podcast listener, but the host does not tell friends to share articles with each other.

3 (C) It demands some commitment but is rewarding.

• Explanation: In the conclusion, Alex says keeping the friendship alive “requires a bit of dedication, but those meaningful connections are absolutely worth the effort.” Paraphrasing: demands some commitment = requires dedication; rewarding = worth the effort.
• Trap: Option A is incorrect because it does require effort and dedication. Option B is a distractor; busy people are mentioned in real life, but the host doesn’t say it’s impossible.

Alex (Podcast Host): Welcome back to ‘Connections’, the podcast where we talk about all things relationships. I’m your host, Alex. Today, we’re discussing a challenge many of us face: maintaining long-distance friendships. When your best friend moves to another city, it’s easy to lose touch. So, how do we keep the bond strong?

First, avoid relying only on random text messages. Instead, I highly recommend establishing a routine. Try to organize a monthly video chat. Treat it like a real appointment that you cannot cancel.

Secondly, don’t wait for major life events to reach out. The secret to closeness is sharing ordinary, daily experiences. Send them a quick photo of your morning coffee or a funny meme you found online. You can use various social media platforms to stay updated on each other’s daily lives without feeling overwhelmed.

Remember, keeping a friendship alive across the miles requires a bit of dedication, but those meaningful connections are absolutely worth the effort. Thanks for tuning in!

1 (B) To help people get to know their neighbors better.

• Explanation: The speaker says the event is an opportunity to “build stronger bonds” because people currently “barely know the people living next door.” He also mentions wanting to “put names to faces.” All of this means getting to know neighbors better.
• Trap: Option A is not mentioned. Option C is a trap because the speaker mentions the “main road”, but it will be closed to vehicles, not newly opened.

2 (C) Something sweet that they cooked themselves.

• Explanation: The speaker encourages people who enjoy baking to bring their “favorite homemade dessert.” Paraphrasing: homemade = cooked themselves; dessert = something sweet.
• Trap: Option A is a distractor. The organizers are having a “barbecue,” but they don’t ask attendees to bring the meat. Option B is a trap because “activities for the kids” are mentioned, but residents are not asked to bring toys or games.

3 (A) Sign up online so the organizers can plan the meals.

• Explanation: The speaker asks residents to “visit our community website to register in advance so we know exactly how much food to prepare.” Paraphrasing: visit website to register = sign up online; know how much food to prepare = plan the meals.
• Trap: Option B is the exact opposite of the instruction; the main road will be closed to vehicles, so they shouldn’t move cars there. Option C is a trap because “radio station” and “music” are mentioned in the audio, but not combined as an instruction for the residents.

Mark Tyler: Good morning, Oakwood residents! This is your community representative, Mark Tyler, with an exciting announcement on our local station.

Lately, we’ve noticed that everyone is so busy with their daily routines that we barely know the people living next door. We want to change that! That’s why we are organizing a massive street festival—a traditional block party—next Saturday afternoon. It’s a wonderful opportunity to build stronger bonds and create a true sense of belonging in our area.

We’ll have a barbecue, live music, and plenty of activities for the kids. If you enjoy baking, we highly encourage you to bring your favorite homemade dessert to share with everyone.

Please note that the main road will be closed to vehicles from 1 PM to 6 PM for safety reasons. Also, please visit our community website to register in advance so we know exactly how much food to prepare. We can’t wait to see you all there and finally put names to faces!

1 (B) The group will not be successful despite their talents.

• Explanation: The speaker states that “even the most talented group will fail if they constantly doubt each other.” Paraphrasing: talented group = despite their talents; fail = not be successful.
• Trap: Option A is a distractor; highly skilled workers are mentioned, but the audio doesn’t say they will leave. Option C is not mentioned.

2 (A) It allows the group to modify their timeline.

• Explanation: The speaker says that telling your teammates about a delay allows the group to “adjust the schedule.” Paraphrasing: adjust the schedule = modify their timeline.
• Trap: Option B is a plausible benefit in real life but is not mentioned in the audio. Option C is a trap because the audio mentions working “faster” at the end, but not as a benefit of reporting a delay.

3 (C) By valuing clear and truthful behavior from their workers.

• Explanation: The speaker advises leaders to “encourage honesty and show appreciation for transparency.” Paraphrasing: honesty and transparency = clear and truthful behavior; show appreciation = valuing.
• Trap: Option A is a trap. The speaker mentions that a trusting team “doesn’t just work faster,” but she never says leaders should reward the fastest workers. Option B is a good idea in reality, but it is not mentioned in the presentation.

Speaker: Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about the foundation of any successful project: trust within your team. When you are working with others, relying on your colleagues is absolutely essential.

Many people think that a good team just needs skilled individuals. However, even the most talented group will fail if they constantly doubt each other. When trust exists, members feel safe to share crazy ideas or admit their mistakes without fear of being judged. This kind of open communication leads to faster problem-solving.

For instance, if you encounter a delay in your tasks, telling your teammates immediately allows the whole group to adjust the schedule. If you hide the issue, it creates a much bigger crisis later on.

To build this environment, leaders should encourage honesty and show appreciation for transparency. Remember, a team that trusts each other doesn’t just work faster; they also experience much less stress and actually enjoy their time at the office.

1 (A) She did not win an important art contest.

• Explanation: The vlogger says she entered a “huge regional art competition” but “didn’t even make it to the finals,” which made her want to throw away her brushes. Paraphrasing: didn’t make it to the finals = did not win; competition = contest.
• Trap: Option B is a trap. Her parents gently “suggested” focusing on science, but they did not “force” her, and this was not the reason she wanted to quit. Option C is incorrect; she intentionally decided to throw her brushes away, she didn’t lose them.

2 (B) By purchasing new painting materials for her.

• Explanation: The grandfather gave her “a brand-new set of professional watercolors.” Paraphrasing: watercolors = painting materials; gave a brand-new set = purchasing new materials.
• Trap: Option A is the exact opposite of what happened. The vlogger explicitly says, “He didn’t give me a long lecture” (lecture = long speech). Option C is a distractor because the word “masterpiece” is in the audio, but he just said a quote about it; he didn’t help her draw one.

3 (B) Making mistakes is a necessary part of achieving success.

• Explanation: The grandfather taught her that “failure isn’t the end of the road; it’s just a lesson.” This means failing (making mistakes) helps you learn and succeed later.
• Trap: Option A is a distractor. He bought her a gift, but that is not the life lesson of the story. Option C is a trap because “science” and “art” are mentioned, but the vlogger never compares their importance.

Vlogger: Hi everyone, welcome back to my channel! Today, I want to talk about the most influential person in my life: my grandfather.

When I was a teenager, I was absolutely obsessed with painting. I entered a huge regional art competition, pouring my heart into a portrait. But… I didn’t even make it to the finals. I was completely devastated and actually decided to throw away all my brushes. I thought I simply wasn’t talented enough.

While my parents gently suggested that I should focus more on my science subjects, my grandfather did the exact opposite. The next morning, he gave me a brand-new set of professional watercolors. He didn’t give me a long lecture. He just smiled and said, “A masterpiece takes more than one try.”

That unconditional support changed everything. He taught me that failure isn’t the end of the road; it’s just a lesson. Even though he passed away last year, his belief in me is the reason I am a professional illustrator today. Thanks for watching, and let me know in the comments who inspires you!

1 (A) The family can reduce their monthly living costs.

• Explanation: The reporter states that sharing household expenses like electricity and groceries can “save everyone a lot of money.” Paraphrasing: save money / sharing expenses = reduce living costs.
• Trap: Option B is a trap because the audio mentions parents being “at work,” not quitting their jobs (the grandparents are the ones providing childcare so the parents can work). Option C is not mentioned.

2 (B) They disagree on how to bring up the children.

• Explanation: The report mentions that different generations have different views on “discipline and raising kids,” which leads to frequent arguments. Paraphrasing: raising kids = bring up the children; different views = disagree.
• Trap: Option A is the exact opposite of the truth; living together actually helps them save money on groceries. Option C is a distractor because “complaint” is mentioned, but it’s about a “lack of personal space,” not noise from the street.

3 (C) Having set rules and an understanding attitude.

• Explanation: In the conclusion, experts say it requires “patience and clear boundaries.” Paraphrasing: patience = an understanding attitude; clear boundaries = set rules.
• Trap: Option B is a logical real-world solution to the “lack of personal space,” but the experts in the audio specifically advise patience and boundaries, not buying a bigger house. Option A is not mentioned in the report.

Reporter: Good evening, I’m Sarah Jenkins with your local social news. Today, we are looking at a growing trend: multi-generational living. More and more families are choosing to have grandparents, parents, and children all living under the exact same roof.

There are several major advantages to this lifestyle. The most obvious one is financial. Sharing household expenses like electricity bills and groceries can save everyone a lot of money. Additionally, grandparents can provide reliable childcare while parents are at work. This helps build a very close emotional bond between the oldest and youngest family members.

However, this living arrangement is not without its difficulties. The biggest complaint we hear is a lack of personal space. Also, different generations often have completely different views on discipline and raising kids. This generation gap can lead to frequent arguments if families do not communicate openly.

In conclusion, sharing a home with your extended family can be a wonderful experience, but experts say it absolutely requires patience and clear boundaries to keep the relationships healthy.