Reviews – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) They can eliminate outside noise.

• Explanation: The vlogger says the earbuds “completely block out all the background sounds”. This is a B1-level paraphrase for “eliminate outside noise.”
• The Trap: Option (C) is a trap. The vlogger mentions “podcasts,” but he is talking about listening to his favorite podcasts for two days, not that they are given for free. Option (A) is a plausible tech feature but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) They stay securely in his ears.

• Explanation: The vlogger mentions that during his “heavy workouts” (at the gym), the earbuds “fit perfectly and never fall out.” This means they stay securely in his ears.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap of contradiction; he actually says they are “surprisingly comfortable.” Option (C) is a common problem with wireless headphones but is not mentioned in this review.

3 Correct Answer: (B) They have a very high price tag.

• Explanation: The vlogger says the major downside is the “cost,” noting they will “empty your wallet” and are “significantly more expensive.” This means they have a very high price tag.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The vlogger mentions “competitors”, but he is comparing the price with competitors, not the audio quality (he actually calls the audio “top-tier”). Option (C) is plausible but unmentioned.

Alex: Hey everyone, welcome back to my channel. Today, I’m finally reviewing the highly anticipated Sonic Pro wireless earbuds. I’ve been testing them out for a week, and honestly, there is a lot to love here.

First off, the active noise cancellation is absolutely incredible. Once you put them in, they completely block out all the background sounds, which is perfect for my noisy train commute. Secondly, the battery performance is outstanding. I can listen to my favorite podcasts for almost two days without needing to plug them in. And third, they are surprisingly comfortable. Um, they fit perfectly and never fall out, even during my heavy workouts.

However, there is one major downside, and that is the cost. These will definitely empty your wallet. At two hundred and fifty dollars, they are significantly more expensive than most of their competitors on the market.

So, are they worth it? Well, if you have the budget and want top-tier audio, yes. But if you’re a student, you might want to look for cheaper alternatives. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more tech reviews!

1 Correct Answer: (B) To share and appreciate a listener’s message.

• Explanation: Sarah reads a “lovely review” (shares a message) and says “Thank you so much for those kind words” (appreciates it).
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The word “grammar” is mentioned in the review, but Sarah is not teaching grammar right now. Option (C) is a trap because the listener’s username is ‘CoffeeLover99’, but she is not advertising coffee.

2 Correct Answer: (B) During their journey to work.

• Explanation: The listener wrote that they listen on their “morning commute,” and Sarah later mentions helping them stay motivated “while you travel to work.” A commute is a journey to work.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap because the word “morning” is in the audio, but a commute is not just a walk. Option (C) is a trap trying to trick the listener using the username ‘CoffeeLover99’.

3 Correct Answer: (C) Write an evaluation to help the show grow.

• Explanation: Sarah asks the audience to consider “leaving a short rating or comment” (an evaluation) because it “helps new people discover us” (helps the show grow).
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. Sarah mentions “travel tips” as the topic of today’s episode, but she doesn’t ask the audience to send travel stories. Option (B) is a plausible request for a podcaster in real life, but it is never mentioned in the audio.

Sarah: Welcome back to Everyday English! I’m your host, Sarah. Before we dive into today’s main topic about travel tips, I want to take a moment to read a lovely review we received on our website earlier this week. It’s from a listener named ‘CoffeeLover99’. They gave us a five-star rating and wrote: “I used to find studying grammar really boring. But, um, listening to Sarah’s stories on my morning commute has completely changed my daily routine. She makes learning actually enjoyable!” Wow. Thank you so much for those kind words! Knowing that we are helping you stay motivated while you travel to work really makes my day. It’s honest feedback like this that keeps our whole production team going. If you enjoy the show, please consider leaving a short rating or comment—it really helps new people discover us. Alright, let’s get started with today’s episode!

1 Correct Answer: (C) It was very crispy.

• Explanation: The critic describes the texture as “incredibly flaky and crispy on the outside.”
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The words “soft and warm” are in the audio, but the critic uses them to describe the inside of the croissant, not the outside. Option (B) is a plausible negative description for old bread but contradicts the audio.

2 Correct Answer: (A) It contained too much sugar.

• Explanation: The critic states that the filling was “a little too sugary” for her taste and wishes they “reduced the sweetness”. “Too sugary” is a B1 paraphrase for containing too much sugar.
• The Trap: Option (B) is the Trap of Contradiction. The critic actually praises the butter, stating you can tell they use “high-quality butter.” Option (C) mentions the “almond filling,” but the issue was its sweetness, not the amount of it.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Drink some strong coffee with it.

• Explanation: At the end of the review, the critic says, “I highly recommend pairing it with a strong, black coffee to balance out the flavors.” To “pair” something with food means to eat or drink them together.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. She mentions that “if they reduced the sweetness… it would be a masterpiece,” but this is her feedback to the bakery, not a suggestion for the listener to ask the baker on the spot. Option (C) is a trap because she gave it an eight out of ten; she did not tell the listeners to rate it.

Olivia: Welcome back to Bite Size, your weekly food radio show. I’m your host, Olivia. This morning, I finally visited The Golden Crust, that new bakery everyone has been talking about on Main Street. I decided to try their famous almond croissant. Visually, it looked perfect. And the texture? Absolutely wonderful. It was incredibly flaky and crispy on the outside, but very soft and warm on the inside. You can definitely tell they use high-quality butter. However, um, I do have one small complaint. The almond filling was just a little too sugary for my personal taste. If they reduced the sweetness by about half, it would be a true masterpiece. So, taking everything into consideration, I’m giving this pastry a solid eight out of ten. It’s definitely worth the trip, but I highly recommend pairing it with a strong, black coffee to balance out the flavors. Next up on the show, we’ll be discussing…

1 Correct Answer: (C) They were very pleased with the products and staff.

• Explanation: The manager says that 85% of the feedback was “highly positive” because clients are “enjoying the new product designs” and praised the “friendly support team” (staff).
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap. The audio mentions the number “eighty-five percent,” but it was the percentage of positive feedback, not a discount. Option (A) is a plausible customer complaint but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (A) The items were not delivered on time.

• Explanation: The manager states that the negative comments were about the “shipping process” and that packages “arrived much later than promised”. This is a B1 paraphrase for items not being delivered on time.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap of contradiction. The audio mentions the “support team”, but the customers actually praised them for being friendly, so they were not unfriendly. Option (C) is a common business problem but is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Have a meeting with the delivery team.

• Explanation: The manager says, “we really need to sit down with the logistics department next week.” To “sit down with” someone means to have a meeting with them, and the “logistics department” is the delivery team.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The manager says “we should definitely celebrate our high score,” but that is a general statement. The specific action planned for next week is meeting the logistics team. Option (C) is a logical real-world solution to customer complaints but is not mentioned in the text.

Alex: Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining this meeting. I’m here to present the results of our customer satisfaction survey for the last quarter. Overall, we have some fantastic news. I’m happy to announce that eighty-five percent of the feedback we received was highly positive. Our clients are really enjoying the new product designs, and they also praised our friendly support team.

However, um, there is one area where we are falling behind. When we looked closely at the negative comments, almost all of them were about the shipping process. Customers complained that their packages arrived much later than promised, and in a few cases, the boxes were slightly damaged.

So, while we should definitely celebrate our high score, we really need to sit down with the logistics department next week. We have to figure out a way to make sure our goods reach the buyers on time and in perfect condition. Thank you, and let’s keep up the hard work.

1 Correct Answer: (A) He did not want to exercise with a lot of other people.

• Explanation: Mark says he used to think getting fit meant spending hours at a “crowded gym,” which he “absolutely hated.” A crowded place is a place with a lot of other people.
• The Trap: Option (C) is a trap. The audio mentions “ten-minute,” but Mark says the new app gives him a ten-minute workout. It was not his excuse in the past. Option (B) is a plausible reason for avoiding fitness, but money is not mentioned by Mark.

2 Correct Answer: (C) The daily morning notifications.

• Explanation: Mark says “The best part” is that the app sends him “friendly reminders every morning.” A “reminder” sent by an app is paraphrased as a “notification” in B1 vocabulary.
• The Trap: Option (B) is a trap. Mark mentions that he has “lost five kilos” (losing weight), but he never mentions using a meal plan; he only talks about working out. Option (A) is a common fitness app feature but is not mentioned in the audio.

3 Correct Answer: (B) Seven days of using the app without paying.

• Explanation: The narrator tells the audience to download the app today and “get your first week for free.” “A week” equals seven days, and “for free” means without paying.
• The Trap: Option (A) is a trap. The narrator talks about getting something for free, but he does not offer a discount on a yearly membership. Option (C) mentions the “living room,” which Mark talks about, but the narrator does not give away free equipment.

Narrator: Are you struggling to stay active? You are not alone. Thousands of people have transformed their lives with the ActiveStep application. But don’t just take our word for it. Listen to this five-star review from one of our users, Mark.

Mark: Before I downloaded ActiveStep, I was a total couch potato. I used to think that getting fit meant spending hours at a crowded gym, which I absolutely hated. But, um, this application is completely different. It creates a personalized ten-minute workout that I can do right in my living room. The best part? It sends me friendly reminders every morning so I never forget to exercise. In just two months, I’ve lost five kilos and I have so much more energy. It really changed my daily routine.

Narrator: Are you ready to start your own fitness journey? Download ActiveStep today and get your first week for free!