Reviews – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) To confirm a detail he read on the internet.

• Explanation: Mark says he is calling to “check something” because he was “reading some recent reviews… on the internet”. This paraphrases to confirming a detail he read online.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. Mark explicitly states: “I was actually thinking about canceling my booking,” but he is not doing it now; it was just a thought he had before making the call. Option (C) is a plausible reason to call a hotel but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (B) The shower water was not warm enough.

• Explanation: Mark mentions that the previous guest had to take “freezing showers” because the “heating system was completely broken”. “Freezing” means extremely cold, so the water was not warm enough.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the word “freezing” is in the audio, but it describes the showers, not the bedroom. Option (C) is a trap because “plumbing” (pipes) is mentioned by the receptionist, but there is no mention of noise.

3 Correct Answer: (A) Relieved.

• Explanation: When Mark finds out the problem is fixed, he says, “Oh, that’s a massive relief” and thanks the receptionist for “clearing that up”.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap. The word “anxious” is used in the audio, but that was how Mark felt before he called, when he first read the bad review. Option (C) is incorrect because Mark understands the situation clearly at the end.

Lisa: Good afternoon, Oceanview Hotel. Lisa speaking. How can I help you today?

Mark: Hi Lisa. My name is Mark. I have a reservation for next weekend. But, um, I’m actually calling to check something before I arrive.

Lisa: Of course, Mark. What would you like to know?

Mark: Well, I was reading some recent reviews of your hotel on the internet, and one guest from last month was quite upset. They mentioned that they had to take freezing showers because the heating system was completely broken. To be honest, that made me a bit anxious.

Lisa: Ah, I understand your concern. We did have an unexpected plumbing issue in the east wing of the building a few weeks ago. However, I can assure you that the entire boiler system was replaced shortly after that. You won’t have any trouble with the temperature of your water.

Mark: Oh, that’s a massive relief. I was actually thinking about canceling my booking if the problem wasn’t resolved. My wife absolutely hates cold water. Thanks for clearing that up!

Lisa: You’re very welcome. We look forward to welcoming you both next week.

1 Correct Answer: (B) It has a high price but poor customer feedback.

• Explanation: Alex notes that the X-Pro “costs four hundred dollars more” (high price) but “only has a three-star rating” (poor customer feedback).
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because he mentions the price, but he says it costs more, not cheaper. Option (C) is a trap because the “website” is mentioned, but he says he “checked your website”, meaning the laptop is definitely there.

2 Correct Answer: (A) It runs out of power very quickly.

• Explanation: Rachel explains that the X-Pro’s battery “drains incredibly fast” and only lasts about four hours. “Runs out of power very quickly” is a B1 paraphrase for “battery drains incredibly fast”.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap. Rachel mentions “video editing”, but she says the laptop is “designed for professional video editing”, not that it cannot run it. Option (C) uses words from the audio (“heavy”, “students”), but the LiteBook is for students, and the LiteBook cannot handle “heavy software”, which has nothing to do with physical weight.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Purchase the computer that is better for students.

• Explanation: Alex decides to “buy the LiteBook” because it suits his needs. Earlier, Rachel mentioned that the LiteBook is a “basic model for students”.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because Alex mentions reading reviews on the internet at the beginning of the conversation, but he has already made his final decision now. Option (A) is plausible in a store setting, but Alex never asks for a discount.

Alex: Excuse me, could you help me for a second? I’m comparing these two laptops, the X-Pro and the LiteBook.

Rachel: Of course! Both are excellent devices. What seems to be the issue?

Alex: Well, I checked your website, and I’m a bit confused. The X-Pro costs four hundred dollars more, but it only has a three-star rating. Meanwhile, the cheaper LiteBook has almost five full stars. Why is that?

Rachel: Ah, I get that question a lot. Um, the X-Pro is actually a much more powerful machine, specifically designed for professional video editing. However, customers gave it negative feedback because its battery drains incredibly fast. It only lasts about four hours without being plugged in.

Alex: Oh, I see. And what about the LiteBook?

Rachel: The LiteBook is a basic model for students. It’s highly rated because it is very lightweight and the power lasts all day, even though it can’t handle heavy software.

Alex: That makes perfect sense. Since I only need to type reports and browse the internet, having a long-lasting battery is much more important to me than processing power. I think I’ll buy the LiteBook.

1 Correct Answer: (B) She saw an article about it on the internet.

• Explanation: Emily says she was reading a “local food blog” and people were “raving about” the dish online. A food blog is a type of article on the internet.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. Although people were recommending it (“raving about”), she read it from a blog, not from a personal friend. Option (C) is a trap because the waiter only confirms what it is after she shows him the picture.

2 Correct Answer: (A) The standard meal includes a mild sauce.

• Explanation: The waiter, Carlos, explicitly states that “the standard dish usually comes with a mild cream sauce.”
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap because Carlos says the spicy dip is an “extra add-on, which costs two dollars more,” meaning it is not free. Option (C) is false because he highly recommends the chili dip, so they definitely still serve it.

3 Correct Answer: (C) The roasted potatoes.

• Explanation: At the end of the conversation, Emily makes her final decision: “I’ll take the steak bites with the roasted potatoes.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The “fresh garden salad” is mentioned by the waiter as one of the choices, but Emily does not choose it. Option (B) is a plausible restaurant item but is never mentioned in the audio.

Carlos: Good evening, welcome to The Rustic Spoon. Are you ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes with the menu?

Emily: Actually, I think I know what I want. I was reading a local food blog earlier today, and people were raving about a specific dish. The reviews said it’s an absolute must-try. Could you tell me what this is? (tiếng chìa màn hình điện thoại ra)

Carlos: Ah, yes. That’s our signature Garlic Butter Steak Bites. It’s definitely our most popular item right now. It comes with your choice of a side dish: either roasted potatoes or a fresh garden salad.

Emily: It looks delicious! Um, the reviewer also mentioned something about a fantastic spicy dipping sauce. Is that included in the meal?

Carlos: Well, the standard dish usually comes with a mild cream sauce. The spicy chili dip is an extra add-on, which costs two dollars more. But it is highly recommended if you enjoy a bit of heat.

Emily: That sounds perfect. I’ll take the steak bites with the roasted potatoes, and please include that spicy dip as well.

Carlos: Excellent choice, ma’am. I’ll put that order in for you right away.

1 Correct Answer: (B) To ask about a highly-rated service.

• Explanation: Mary says she saw a package with “hundreds of five-star reviews” on their website. “Five-star reviews” is a B1 paraphrase for “highly-rated”.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The word “review” might make students think of complaints, but Mary is calling about good reviews, not a bad experience. Option (C) is completely unmentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) It is too soft to treat severe physical pain.

• Explanation: Leo says the relaxation package uses “very gentle pressure” and recommends a different one for her “persistent muscle pain” (chronic back aches). “Gentle pressure” means the massage is “too soft” for her specific problem.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap. The facial treatment is mentioned in the audio, but it is missing from the Therapeutic package, not the Deep Relaxation one. Option (C) is a logical real-world reason but is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (C) It costs less money than the popular package.

• Explanation: Leo states that the therapeutic massage is “ten dollars cheaper than the relaxation package.” “Cheaper” is a direct synonym for “costs less money.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is the exact opposite of what is said (The Trap of Contradiction). Leo explicitly says it “does not include” the facial treatment. Option (B) is a trap because Mary books it for “this Saturday” (the weekend), but Leo never says it is only available on weekends.

Leo: Hello, Lotus Wellness Spa, Leo speaking. How can I help you today?

Mary: Hi Leo. I was just browsing your website and saw that your ‘Deep Relaxation Package’ has hundreds of five-star reviews. People are calling it pure magic.

Leo: Yes, ma’am! It is definitely our most requested service. It’s wonderful for melting away daily stress and anxiety.

Mary: That sounds lovely, but, um, I have a specific issue. I suffer from chronic back aches, mostly from sitting at my desk all day. Would that popular package be suitable for me?

Leo: To be completely honest, probably not. The Deep Relaxation package uses very gentle pressure. For persistent muscle pain, I highly recommend our ‘Therapeutic Tissue Massage’ instead. It specifically targets those deep knots in your lower back.

Mary: Oh, I see. I’m glad I asked before booking. Does the therapeutic one cost the same?

Leo: It’s actually ten dollars cheaper than the relaxation package, but it does not include the facial treatment.

Mary: That’s perfectly fine, I only care about fixing my back anyway. Let’s go ahead and schedule that one for this Saturday.

1 Correct Answer: (B) The shoes are smaller than the standard size.

• Explanation: Tom mentions that the online reviews said the shoes “run a bit small”. “Smaller than the standard size” is a B1 paraphrase for “run small”.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The clerk mentions the shoes provide “extra support for your ankles,” so they do provide enough support. Option (C) uses the phrase “after a short run” from the audio, but the reviewers complained about their toes feeling crushed, not the shoes falling apart.

2 Correct Answer: (A) Because they are made of a material that does not stretch.

• Explanation: Sarah explains that the shoes are made from a “very stiff material” and the fabric “doesn’t stretch much”.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a logical guess for sports shoes, but heavy soles are never mentioned. Option (C) is incorrect because the tightness is a design feature, not a mistake made by the store.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Try on a size ten and a half.

• Explanation: Sarah advises going “half a size bigger”. Since Tom’s normal size is a ten, half a size bigger is a “ten and a half,” which Tom confirms and Sarah agrees to fetch.
• The Trap: Option (A) is the exact opposite of the audio (The Trap of Contradiction); Sarah specifically notes that the fabric doesn’t stretch much. Option (B) is a common alternative in real life, but the clerk simply gets him a larger size of the same model.

Sarah: Hi there! Let me know if you need any help finding your size.

Tom: Actually, I do. I’m really interested in the Aero-Sprint running shoes, but I’m a bit unsure about the fit. I was reading some customer reviews online this morning.

Sarah: Okay, what did the feedback say?

Tom: A lot of people complained that the shoes run a bit small. Some even said their toes felt completely crushed after a short run. I usually wear a size ten, so I don’t know what to choose.

Sarah: Ah, yes. Those reviews are quite accurate, actually. The Aero-Sprint is made from a very stiff material to provide extra support for your ankles, so the fabric doesn’t stretch much over time. For this specific model, we always advise our customers to go half a size bigger than their usual fit.

Tom: I see. So I should probably try on a ten and a half, then?

Sarah: Exactly. Let me go to the stockroom and grab a pair for you to try on. I’ll be right back!