Shopping & Clothes – A2 English Listening Exercise

1  (B) A suit and a tie.

• Explanation: Mr. Davis clearly says, “from Monday to Thursday, all men must wear a suit and a tie.” Option (A) is the trap; these are casual clothes mentioned for Friday, not Monday to Thursday. Option (C) is plausible for some jobs, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

2  (B) Jeans and a collared shirt.

• Explanation: This question uses the “Twist” technique. Alex asks if he can wear “blue jeans and a T-shirt” (Option A). However, Mr. Davis changes the rule slightly: jeans are okay, “BUT you must wear a collared shirt, not a T-shirt.” Option (C) is not mentioned.

3  (A) They are never allowed in the office.

• Explanation: Mr. Davis clearly states, “Shorts are never allowed in the office.” Option (C) is a trap; Alex asks if shorts are okay “since it’s summer,” but the manager says no. Option (B) is also a trap because Fridays are casual, but shorts are still not allowed.

Alex: Um, Mr. Davis, could I ask you about the dress code? What should I wear to the office?

Mr. Davis: Well, from Monday to Thursday, all men must wear a suit and a tie.

Alex: A suit and tie? Oh, I see. But what about Fridays? Can I wear my blue jeans and a T-shirt?

Mr. Davis: Ah, on Fridays we have a casual dress code. You can wear jeans, but you must wear a collared shirt, not a T-shirt.

Alex: Great! And since it’s summer, are shorts okay on Fridays?

Mr. Davis: No, I’m afraid not. Shorts are never allowed in the office, even on a casual day.

Alex: Got it. Thank you, Mr. Davis.

1  (B) Ordering team T-shirts.

• Explanation: Chloe says, “I’m filling out the form for our class sports team T-shirts.” Option (A) is a trap; Tom mentions playing “basketball,” but they are not buying basketballs. Option (C) is plausible in a school context but is not mentioned in the audio.

2  (B) Medium.

• Explanation: Tom clearly states, “usually I wear a Medium.” Option (C) is a trap; Large is the size he chooses later, not the size he usually wears. Option (A) is mentioned by Chloe (“these new T-shirts are actually quite small”) but is not Tom’s size.

3  (C) Large.

• Explanation: This question uses the “Twist” technique. Tom originally wants a Medium but changes his mind because the shirts are small. He finally says, “Can you put me down for a Large, please?” Option (B) is the trap (the rejected option). Option (A) is not the size he chose.

Chloe: Hey Tom, I’m filling out the form for our class sports team T-shirts. What size do you wear? Small, Medium, or Large?

Tom: Hmm, usually I wear a Medium. I don’t like my clothes to be too big when I play basketball.

Chloe: Well, the sports teacher said these new T-shirts are actually quite small. A Medium might be too tight for you.

Tom: Oh, really? In that case, I better not get a Medium. Can you put me down for a Large, please?

Chloe: Sure, no problem. One Large T-shirt for Tom.

1  (B) A black winter jacket.

• Explanation: Leo clearly describes his item: “Mine is a winter jacket. It’s black…” Option (A) is the trap; Mrs. Higgins asks if the blue sports jacket is his, but he says “No.” Option (C) is a plausible type of clothing but is not mentioned in the audio.

2  (C) A hood.

• Explanation: When describing the jacket, Leo says, “It’s black, and it has a hood.” Options (A) and (B) are plausible details for a jacket, but they are not mentioned in the conversation.

3  (A) His house keys are in the pocket.

• Explanation: This question uses the “Twist” technique. Mrs. Higgins finds a black jacket first, but it is empty. Then she finds a second one and says, “yes, there are keys in here!” Leo confirms it is his. Options (B) and (C) are common ways to identify lost items, but they are not mentioned.

Leo: Excuse me, I lost my jacket yesterday. Did anyone bring it to the Lost and Found?

Mrs. Higgins: Let’s see. We have a few jackets here. What does it look like? Is it this blue sports jacket?

Leo: No, that’s not mine. Mine is a winter jacket. It’s black, and it has a hood.

Mrs. Higgins: A black winter jacket… Oh, what about this one?

Leo: Yes, that looks like it! But let me check. I left my house keys in the pocket.

Mrs. Higgins: Hmm, there is nothing in this pocket. Wait, here is another black one. Let’s see… yes, there are keys in here!

Leo: Oh, thank goodness! That’s it. Thank you so much!

1  (A) A part-time job.

• Explanation: Daniel clearly says, “I really need a part-time job for the summer.” Option (B) is incorrect because he doesn’t want full-time work. Option (C) is plausible for students but is not mentioned in the audio.

2  (B) He stacked the shelves.

• Explanation: This question uses the “Twist” technique regarding his past experience. Ms. Green asks if he used a cash register (Option A), and Daniel says he worked at a supermarket, “BUT I only stacked the shelves. I didn’t use the cash register.” Option (C) is a plausible retail task but is not mentioned as his duty.

3  (C) Helping people choose colors.

• Explanation: Daniel says, “I am very good at helping people pick the right colors.” Option (A) is a trap; the cash register is mentioned earlier, but he doesn’t know how to use it, let alone fix it. Option (B) is a trap connecting his past job (stacking shelves) with clothes, but it’s not what he claims as his special skill here.

Ms. Green: Hello, Daniel. Thanks for coming in. I see you want to work here at our clothing store.

Daniel: Yes, Ms. Green. I love fashion, and I really need a part-time job for the summer.

Ms. Green: Great. Do you have any retail experience? Have you ever used a cash register?

Daniel: Well, I worked in a supermarket last year, but I only stacked the shelves. I didn’t use the cash register.

Ms. Green: That’s okay, we can teach you how to use it. What about helping customers? Are you good at that?

Daniel: Oh, yes! My friends always ask me to go shopping with them. I am very good at helping people pick the right colors.

Ms. Green: Excellent! We always need staff who can give good advice.

1  (B) A small logo on the front.

• Explanation: At the beginning, Mia says, “I put our small logo here on the front.” Option (A) and (C) are suggestions made later in the conversation.

2  (C) Because it costs too much money.

• Explanation: Mia explains that “Printing on both sides is too expensive for our budget.” “Too expensive” means it costs too much money. Options (A) and (B) are not mentioned as reasons.

3  (A) Large text on the front.

• Explanation: This is “The Twist.” They debated between a front logo and back text, then considered both. Finally, Leo suggests “large text on the front” and Mia agrees, saying “Let’s do that.” Option (B) was Mia’s first idea (rejected) and Option (C) was Leo’s first idea (rejected).

Mia: Hey Leo, I finished the sketch for our club T-shirts. Look! I put our small logo here on the front. It looks very professional.

Leo: Hmm, I don’t know, Mia. It’s a bit too small. People won’t see it from far away. I think we should have large text with the club name across the back instead.

Mia: But large text on the back makes it look like a sports jersey. I want it to look cool and modern.

Leo: Well, how about we put the logo on the front and the text on the back?

Mia: We can’t. Printing on both sides is too expensive for our budget.

Leo: Oh, I see. Well, okay… let’s just put the large text on the front then. No logo.

Mia: Actually, that’s a great idea! It’s simple and everyone can read it. Let’s do that.