Relationships – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 (A) He was overwhelmed with his professional duties.

• Explanation: Sam explains that his boss gave him a “massive project” and he was “working overtime every single night.” Paraphrasing: massive project and working overtime = professional duties; brain was fried = overwhelmed.
• Trap: Option B is a plausible real-life excuse but is not mentioned in the audio. Option C is a trap because he “missed” the day, but that was due to being busy, not because he didn’t know the date.

2 (C) She was offended by her friend’s silence.

• Explanation: Riley says she “waited all day for a text… but nothing” and that it “hurt my feelings.” Paraphrasing: hurt feelings = offended; waiting for a text but getting nothing = friend’s silence.
• Trap: Option A is the opposite of the truth; she wanted him to text her. Option B is a distractor; Sam mentions his “brain was fried” (mental exhaustion), but Riley wasn’t worried about his health; she was just upset.

3 (B) To pay for a meal out together this weekend.

• Explanation: Sam offers to “take you out this weekend” to a “new Italian restaurant” and says “my treat” (which means he will pay for it). Paraphrasing: take you out / my treat = pay for a meal out.
• Trap: Option A is a trap. An “Italian” dinner is mentioned, but it will be at a restaurant downtown, not cooked at his apartment. Option C is not mentioned at all.

Sam: Hey Riley… do you have a minute?

Riley: Oh, hi Sam. What is it? I’m actually a bit busy right now.

Sam: Look, I am so incredibly sorry. I completely missed your birthday on Tuesday. I feel terrible about it.

Riley: Well, yeah. I waited all day for a text from you, but nothing. It really hurt my feelings, to be honest.

Sam: I know, and I don’t want to make excuses, but my boss gave me a massive project with a strict deadline. I’ve been, um, working overtime every single night. My brain was just fried.

Riley: I get that your job is demanding, but a simple message only takes ten seconds.

Sam: You’re absolutely right. I messed up. To make it up to you, I’d love to take you out this weekend. We can go to that new Italian restaurant downtown, my treat.

Riley: Hmm… the new Italian place? I’ve actually been wanting to try their seafood pasta.

Sam: Exactly! It’s all on me. Please let me celebrate you properly.

Riley: Alright, fine. You are forgiven. But you’re buying dessert afterwards!

Sam: Deal!

1 (B) She works for herself as an artist.

• Explanation: Maya says she is “working independently as a freelance illustrator.” Working for herself is a paraphrase for “working independently/freelance”, and an artist is a synonym for an “illustrator”.
• Trap: Option A is a trap. Dan asks if she still works at the “advertising agency”, but she explicitly says “Actually, no. I quit that position.” Option C is incorrect; she already has a flexible job, she isn’t looking for one.

2 (A) He still resides in his previous home.

• Explanation: When asked if he is still living in the city center, Dan replies, “Yeah, same old apartment.” Residing in his previous home perfectly paraphrases staying in the same old apartment.
• Trap: Option B is a trap because he has lived in the city center for a while; he didn’t “recently move” there. Option C is a distractor (not mentioned in the audio).

3 (C) He needs to attend an upcoming work meeting.

• Explanation: Dan says he has to leave because his “morning briefing starts in fifteen minutes.” A morning briefing is a type of work meeting.
• Trap: Option A might be true in his head (it’s an awkward encounter), but it is not the excuse he gives. Option B is a trap because he mentions “heading to the office,” but he doesn’t mention catching a bus.

Dan: Maya? Wow, I didn’t expect to run into you here.

Maya: Dan! Hi. Yeah, um, it’s been quite a while. How have you been?

Dan: I’m doing alright. Just grabbing a quick coffee before heading to the office. Are you still working at that advertising agency?

Maya: Actually, no. I quit that position a few months ago. I’m working independently as a freelance illustrator now. It’s much less stressful, to be honest.

Dan: Oh, that’s great to hear. You always wanted more flexibility in your schedule.

Maya: Thanks. And how about you? Are you still living in the city center?

Dan: Yeah, same old apartment. Listen, it was really nice catching up, but my morning briefing starts in fifteen minutes, so I should probably get going. I don’t want to be late.

Maya: Of course, don’t let me keep you. Good luck with your work!

Dan: Thanks, Maya. Take care of yourself.

1 (B) Chloe wants to change her current working department.

• Explanation: Mark says he accidentally mentioned Chloe’s plan to “transfer to the marketing team.” Paraphrasing: transfer to the marketing team = change her current working department.
• Trap: Option A is a distractor because she wants to move to another team within the same company, not a “different company.” Option C is a trap because “HR” is mentioned, but she isn’t complaining about them.

2 (A) Her supervisor might hear the news from another person.

• Explanation: Chloe states that her current manager doesn’t know yet, and if she “finds out from someone else,” it will look unprofessional. Paraphrasing: manager = supervisor; find out = hear the news.
• Trap: Option B is a trap. The word “rumors” is used by Chloe, but she never says Sarah is famous for spreading them (in fact, Mark says Sarah promised to keep it confidential). Option C is plausible in reality but is not mentioned in the audio.

3 (C) Have a direct conversation with her boss today.

• Explanation: Chloe decides to “schedule a meeting with my manager this afternoon to tell her myself.” Paraphrasing: schedule a meeting to tell her myself = have a direct conversation; manager = boss; this afternoon = today.
• Trap: Option A is a trap because Mark offers to buy her lunch, but she says “Lunch won’t fix it” and doesn’t state this as her plan. Option B is incorrect because Mark already talked to Sarah about keeping it confidential.

Mark: Chloe, do you have a second? I need to tell you something, and you’re probably going to be really mad at me.

Chloe: Oh no, that doesn’t sound good. What happened, Mark?

Mark: Well, um… I was having coffee with Sarah from HR this morning, and I accidentally mentioned your plan to transfer to the marketing team. It just slipped out! I am so incredibly sorry.

Chloe: You what?! Mark, I specifically asked you to keep that quiet! My current manager doesn’t know yet. If she finds out from someone else, it’s going to look terribly unprofessional.

Mark: I know, I completely messed up. I wasn’t thinking at all. I promise Sarah said she would keep it confidential, but I shouldn’t have said anything in the first place.

Chloe: (Sighs) I guess I need to schedule a meeting with my manager this afternoon to tell her myself, before rumors start spreading around the office.

Mark: Let me buy you lunch for the rest of the week to make up for it. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust back.

Chloe: Lunch won’t fix it, Mark, but… I appreciate the apology. Just please, be much more careful next time.

1 (A) His marriage is officially coming to an end.

• Explanation: David states that he and his wife are “getting a divorce.” Paraphrasing: getting a divorce = marriage is officially coming to an end.
• Trap: Option B is a trap because the “sales report” is mentioned, but he can’t focus on it because of his divorce; the report itself isn’t the main cause of his stress. Option C is a distractor; he was “worried the boss would be upset,” but the boss isn’t actually angry yet.

2 (B) Handling legal matters and trying to find a new place to live.

• Explanation: David explains that “dealing with lawyers and looking for a new apartment” is taking all his energy. Paraphrasing: dealing with lawyers = handling legal matters; looking for a new apartment = trying to find a new place to live.
• Trap: Option A is a trap. “Packing boxes” is mentioned at the very end when Lisa offers to help him, but it is not what David says is currently stressing him out. Option C is incorrect; he plans to speak to HR later, but it’s not the cause of his stress.

3 (C) Use his paid leave to get away from work and recover.

• Explanation: Lisa asks, “Have you considered taking a few days off?” and mentions he has “unused vacation time.” She tells him to “step back, rest, and process everything.” Paraphrasing: taking days off / unused vacation time = use his paid leave; rest = recover.
• Trap: Option A is a trap. Lisa offers to grab a coffee and let him vent, but her main advice/recommendation for his situation is to take time off. Option B is not mentioned; she says “work can wait,” not to ask for an extension.

Lisa: David, you’ve been staring at your screen for ten minutes without typing a single word. Are you okay? You look absolutely exhausted.

David: Honestly, Lisa, I’m barely holding it together. Sarah and I are getting a divorce. It’s finally happening, and it’s just a nightmare right now.

Lisa: Oh, David. I am so terribly sorry to hear that. I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for you.

David: Thanks. The emotional strain is heavy, but the logistics are even worse. Dealing with lawyers and looking for a new apartment is taking all my energy. I can’t even focus on this sales report.

Lisa: Listen, work can wait. Have you considered taking a few days off? You have plenty of unused vacation time. You need to step back, rest, and process everything without the pressure of office deadlines.

David: I was worried the boss would be upset, but you’re right. I’m not doing anyone any favors by sitting here completely distracted. I’ll go speak to human resources this afternoon.

Lisa: Good. And if you need help packing boxes or just want to grab a coffee and vent, I’m always here for you.

1 (B) To apologize for delivering a text to the wrong place.

• Explanation: Mark is calling to say “I am so, so sorry” because he sent a message to the team chat but “meant to send that to my friend.” Paraphrasing: send to the wrong place = delivering a text to the wrong place.
• Trap: Option A is a trap. The content of the message was a complaint, but the reason for his phone call is to apologize for sending it. Option C is plausible for a stressed employee but is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (A) He should communicate work problems to her rather than outsiders.

• Explanation: Sarah tells Mark that he “should have come to me directly instead of venting to a friend.” Paraphrasing: come to me directly = communicate work problems to her; friend = outsiders.
• Trap: Option B is a distractor. Mark says he will post a public apology, but Sarah never tells him to delete the original message. Option C is not mentioned; Mark actually says he can manage the workload now.

3 (C) Write a message to say sorry to the company staff.

• Explanation: Mark says, “I’ll post a public apology in the group right away.” Paraphrasing: post a public apology = write a message to say sorry; the group = the company staff.
• Trap: Option A is a trap. He is posting a “public apology” in the group chat, not having a “private meeting.” Option B is a distractor because his friend was the intended recipient of the original text, but he doesn’t need to call them to fix this specific work problem.

Sarah: Hello, Sarah speaking.

Mark: Hi Sarah, it’s Mark. Do you have a minute? I really need to talk to you about the message I just sent to the main project group.

Sarah: Ah, yes. The one saying the new project schedule is “completely ridiculous and impossible”? I was actually just reading that.

Mark: I am so, so sorry. That was a huge mistake. I meant to send that to my friend outside of work because I was feeling a bit overwhelmed this morning. It was absolutely not meant for the team chat.

Sarah: Well, it certainly created some confusion. But Mark, if you’re feeling that stressed about the timeline, you should have come to me directly instead of venting to a friend.

Mark: You’re completely right. I was just frustrated earlier, but I actually reviewed the files again, and I can manage the workload. I just reacted without thinking. I’ll post a public apology in the group right away to clear things up.

Sarah: I appreciate your honesty, Mark. Yes, please explain it to the team. Next time you have concerns, let’s just have a professional conversation about it in my office.

Mark: I promise I will. Thank you for understanding.