Reviews – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) It lacked pace.

• Explanation: The woman (Sarah) says the story was “quite slow” and the man agrees that the plot “dragged on”. This means it lacked pace (speed).
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The woman mentions the word “thrilling” (exciting), but she is talking about the trailer, not the actual movie. Option (C) is plausible for a sci-fi movie but was never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (B) He lacked facial expressions.

• Explanation: The man (Mark) describes the lead actor as “wooden” and says he showed “almost no emotion”. This paraphrases to lacking facial expressions.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The woman mentions “award-winning”, but that was what “everyone online was saying”, not the man’s actual opinion. Option (C) is incorrect because Mark states the supporting actress was actually more convincing.

3 Correct Answer: (A) It was a waste of their money.

• Explanation: When asked if the movie was worth the twenty dollars, the man says “Not really” and wishes he had waited to watch it at home. This implies spending the money at the cinema was a waste.
• The Trap: Option (B) contains the exact words from the audio (“worth the twenty dollars”), but the man rejects this idea. Option (C) mentions the streaming platform, but they don’t discuss its price.

Mark: Well, that was… something. What did you think of Galactic Horizons, Sarah?

Sarah: Honestly, I’m a bit let down. The trailer made it look incredibly thrilling. But, um, the actual story was quite slow, wasn’t it?

Mark: Yeah, I agree. I mean, the visual effects were stunning. The alien planets looked so lifelike. But the plot just dragged on. I almost dozed off in the middle.

Sarah: Exactly! And what about the lead actor? Everyone online was saying his performance was going to be award-winning.

Mark: Ah, he was just okay. He seemed a bit wooden to me, showing almost no emotion when his spaceship crashed. The supporting actress was much more convincing.

Sarah: Totally. So, the big question: do you think it was worth the twenty dollars we paid for the tickets?

Mark: Not really. I wish I had waited for it to come out on a streaming platform. It definitely didn’t live up to the hype.

Sarah: Ah well, at least the popcorn was good! Let’s grab some coffee.

1 Correct Answer: (B) The customer service is highly rated.

• Explanation: Mark mentions that the restaurant got “five stars for the staff’s attitude.” In B1 level, “staff’s attitude” is a paraphrase for “customer service.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because Mark mentions a “street in Rome,” but that was to describe the atmosphere, not the actual location. Option (C) mentions Rome, but the staff aren’t necessarily from there.

2 Correct Answer: (A) They are lower than the bistro they recently went to.

• Explanation: Mark says it is “more affordable than that French bistro we visited.” “More affordable” means “lower prices/cheaper.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is mentioned (Joe’s Diner), but Mark says Joe’s is “boring” and doesn’t compare the prices. Option (C) uses the word “expensive,” which Mark denies by saying the prices are “fair.”

3 Correct Answer: (C) By arriving at the restaurant early.

• Explanation: Mark explicitly states “they don’t take any bookings” (meaning no reservations) and suggests they “head out now” to “beat the dinner crowd” (arrive early).
• The Trap: Option (A) and (B) are traps because Sarah suggests calling to book, but Mark corrects her, saying it’s not possible.

Mark: Hey Sarah, are you hungry? I’m looking at the reviews for that new Italian place, Bella Vita, and they are incredible!

Sarah: Oh, I’ve heard of it. But isn’t it usually better to stick to our regular spot, Joe’s Diner?

Mark: Well, listen to this! One reviewer said the lasagna is “out of this world” and the atmosphere feels just like a cozy street in Rome. Um, they even gave it a full five stars for the staff’s attitude.

Sarah: Five stars? That’s impressive. But you know I’m on a tight budget this month. Is it going to cost us a fortune?

Mark: That’s the best part! Most people mentioned the prices are quite fair considering how large the portions are. It’s certainly more affordable than that French bistro we visited for your birthday.

Sarah: Okay, you’ve convinced me. The food at Joe’s is getting a bit boring anyway. Should I call them to reserve a spot?

Mark: Actually, the latest review says they don’t take any bookings. We just have to show up and hope for the best. But if we head out now, we’ll probably beat the main dinner crowd.

Sarah: Good thinking. Give me five minutes to get ready!

1 Correct Answer: (B) The way the application looks.

• Explanation: Lily says the design is “absolutely stunning” and “the most visually appealing app” she has used. This is a paraphrase of “the way it looks.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is mentioned (Spanish verbs), but that is what she studies, not what she likes most about the app itself.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Frequent commercial breaks.

• Explanation: Lily complains that “advertisements are just everywhere” and they pop up after every exercise. “Commercial breaks” is a synonym for “advertisements.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because James mentions apps “made in the nineties,” but Lily actually describes WordFlow as modern.

3 Correct Answer: (A) To stop using the app.

• Explanation: Lily states she is “considering removing it from my phone tonight” because the ads are so frustrating. “Removing an app” means she will stop using it.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a common real-world solution, but Lily never mentions paying for a premium version. Option (C) is wrong because her review is mostly negative regarding the user experience.

James: Hey Lily, I saw you using a new app during the break. Is that for our Spanish vocab test next week?

Lily: Yeah, it’s called WordFlow. I’ve been testing it out for about a month now to help me memorize all those tricky verbs.

James: And? Would you recommend it? I really need something to make studying less boring.

Lily: Well, let’s see. The first thing you’ll notice is the design. It’s absolutely stunning—very modern and colorful. To be honest, it’s the most visually appealing app I’ve ever used. Navigation is a breeze, too.

James: That sounds perfect for me. I hate apps that look like they were made in the nineties!

Lily: I thought so, too. But, um, there is a massive downside. The advertisements are just everywhere. Every time I complete a short exercise, a long video ad pops up that I can’t skip.

James: Oh, that’s annoying. It must really break your focus.

Lily: Exactly! It’s so frustrating when you’re “in the zone.” Even though the content is top-notch, I’m actually considering removing it from my phone tonight.

James: Maybe I’ll just stick to my old flashcards then.

1 Correct Answer: (B) It was extremely clean.

• Explanation: Tom says the sand was “spotless” and there wasn’t “a single piece of trash.” This is a B1-level paraphrase for being “extremely clean.”
• The Trap: Option (C) is a trap. Emma mentions the public pool, but that was where they went last year, not a feature of the beach itself. Option (A) is plausible for a beach review but was not mentioned in the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Taking a taxi was very expensive.

• Explanation: Tom complains that the “cab fares were absolutely ridiculous” and cost them “almost forty bucks” for a short ride. “Cab fares” is a synonym for “taking a taxi,” and “ridiculous/forty bucks” implies it was expensive.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because Emma mentions “rent a car,” but she suggests it as a solution for future tourists, not as the complaint.

3 Correct Answer: (A) Because she had mixed feelings about the vacation.

• Explanation: Emma says the rating is fair because “the scenery was breathtaking, but feeling ripped off… left a bad taste in my mouth.” She experienced both very good and very bad things, which means she had “mixed feelings.”
• The Trap: Option (C) uses the word “scenery,” which is in the audio, but the option says it was “disappointing.” Emma actually said the scenery was “breathtaking” (beautiful). Option (B) is a logical guess for a travel issue but is never mentioned.

Emma: So, I’m filling out the review for our trip to Sunville Bay on TravelAdvisor. What do you think I should include, Tom?

Tom: Well, we definitely have to mention the coastline. The water was crystal clear, and I couldn’t believe how spotless the sand was. There wasn’t a single piece of trash anywhere.

Emma: Good point, I’ll write that down. It was definitely much better than the crowded public pool we went to last year. But, um, we can’t ignore the transportation issue.

Tom: Ugh, don’t remind me. The cab fares were absolutely ridiculous! A ten-minute ride to the seafood market cost us almost forty bucks.

Emma: I know, right? I felt like they were charging tourists double. Should we tell people to rent a car instead?

Tom: Yeah, that’s a great idea. So, overall, what rating are you going to give the whole experience?

Emma: I think three out of five stars is fair. The scenery was breathtaking, but feeling ripped off every time we traveled really left a bad taste in my mouth.

1 Correct Answer: (A) It lacks excitement.

• Explanation: Mark says that “the first few chapters are a bit slow.” In this context, “slow” means it lacks action or excitement.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap. Mark uses the word “gripping” (exciting), but he uses it to describe the middle of the book, not the beginning. Option (C) is plausible for a mystery novel but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (B) She acts like a normal human being.

• Explanation: Mark says the detective “makes a lot of mistakes” which makes her “feel very real.” This is a paraphrase of acting like a normal, imperfect human being.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. Mark mentions “perfect heroes,” but he specifically says the detective is not like them. Option (C) is a common trait of detectives in stories, but it is not mentioned here.

3 Correct Answer: (C) He wants the woman to experience the surprise herself.

• Explanation: Mark says he doesn’t want to “ruin it” for her and mentions a “final twist” that will catch her off guard. This means he wants her to be surprised when she reads it.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because reading a book is the main topic, but Mark explicitly states at the very beginning: “I just finished it last night.” Option (B) is incorrect because he understood the twist perfectly well; it just surprised him.

Mark: Here’s the novel I was telling you about, Lisa. I just finished it last night.

Lisa: Oh, awesome! The Silent Echo. You said it was a mystery, right? How was it?

Mark: Well, to be honest, the first few chapters are a bit slow. But once you get past that, it’s absolutely gripping. The author does a fantastic job building the tension.

Lisa: Nice. I love a good thriller. Are the characters interesting?

Mark: Very. The main detective is incredibly well-written. She makes a lot of mistakes, which makes her feel very real, you know? Not like those perfect heroes in other stories.

Lisa: That sounds right up my alley. Did you guess who the criminal was?

Mark: Ah! I can’t say! I really don’t want to ruin it for you. But, um, I will say that the final twist caught me completely off guard. You definitely won’t see it coming.

Lisa: Now I’m really curious. I’ll start reading it on my train ride home today.