Shopping & Clothes – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a shop assistant. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the problem with the jeans Emily is trying on?
(A) They are too long.
(B) They are too tight.
(C) They are too expensive.
2 What color are the larger jeans that Tom finds?
(A) Blue
(B) Black
(C) White
3 What does Emily decide to try on at the end?
(A) The black jeans.
(B) A blue dress.
(C) A blue skirt.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) They are too tight.
- Explanation: Emily says, “they are a bit too tight around the waist.” Option (A) and (C) are plausible problems when shopping for clothes, but they are not mentioned in the audio.
2 (B) Black
- Explanation: Tom says they have a larger size, “but unfortunately, we only have them in black, not blue.” Option (A) is the color Emily wants and currently has, but it is not available in the larger size.
3 (C) A blue skirt.
- Explanation: This question uses the “Twist” technique. Tom offers the black jeans (Option A), but Emily rejects them (“I don’t really want black jeans”). Instead, she changes her plan and asks to try the “blue skirt” over there. Option (B) is a trap using the correct color but the wrong clothing item.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emily: Excuse me? Are you working here?
Tom: Yes, I am. How can I help you? Are those jeans okay?
Emily: Well, I really love the color, but they are a bit too tight around the waist. Do you have these in a larger size?
Tom: Let me check. You have a size 28 right now. We have a size 30, but unfortunately, we only have them in black, not blue.
Emily: Oh, I see. Hmm… I don’t really want black jeans. What about that blue skirt over there?
Tom: Yes, we have that skirt in a medium.
Emily: Perfect. I’ll try the skirt instead.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a cashier. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 How much does the customer have to pay?
(A) $50
(B) $85
(C) $100
2 How does the customer finally pay for his clothes?
(A) With cash.
(B) With a mobile phone.
(C) With a credit card.
3 Where does the customer want to put his receipt?
(A) In his wallet.
(B) In the shopping bag.
(C) In his jacket pocket.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) $85
- Explanation: Sarah the cashier says, “The total comes to eighty-five dollars.” Option (A) is the trap; $50 is the amount of money David has in his wallet, not the total price. Option (C) is a plausible number but is not mentioned in the audio.
2 (C) With a credit card.
- Explanation: This question uses the “Twist” technique. David initially says he will pay with cash (Option A). However, he doesn’t have enough money, so he changes his mind: “I’ll have to use my credit card instead.” Option (B) is a common payment method but is not mentioned.
3 (A) In his wallet.
- Explanation: David says, “I’ll keep it in my wallet…” Option (B) is the trap; the cashier asks if he wants the receipt in the bag, but he says “No.” Option (C) is a trap using the word “jacket” which he bought, but he doesn’t put the receipt there.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sarah: Did you find everything okay today, sir?
David: Yes, thanks. I’ll take these two shirts and this jacket.
Sarah: Okay. The total comes to eighty-five dollars. How would you like to pay?
David: I’ll pay with cash. Let me see… oh wait. I only have fifty dollars in my wallet. I’ll have to use my credit card instead.
Sarah: That’s no problem. Please insert your card here. … Thank you. Would you like your receipt in the bag?
David: No, I’ll keep it in my wallet, just in case I need to return the jacket.
Sarah: Great. Have a nice day!
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a customer service assistant. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why is the man returning the shirt?
(A) It is too small.
(B) It has a broken button.
(C) It is the wrong color.
2 What does the assistant offer to do first?
(A) Give him his money back.
(B) Exchange it for a new shirt.
(C) Fix the broken button for him.
3 What does the man finally decide to do?
(A) Get a refund.
(B) Take a new shirt.
(C) Buy a different item.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) It has a broken button.
- Explanation: Mark clearly states his problem: “I saw that a button is broken.” Option (A) is a trap; Jessica asks if it is too small, but Mark says, “No, the size is fine.” Option (C) is a plausible reason for returning clothes, but it is not mentioned.
2 (B) Exchange it for a new shirt.
- Explanation: When Jessica sees the broken button, her first solution is: “We can easily exchange it for a new one.” Option (A) is what happens at the end. Option (C) is a plausible service in some stores, but it is not mentioned here.
3 (A) Get a refund.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist.” Jessica offers an exchange (Option B – trap), but Mark rejects it by saying, “Actually, I don’t really want a new shirt anymore.” Instead, he asks, “Can I just get a refund, please?” A refund means getting your money back. Option (C) is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Jessica: Hello, how can I help you today?
Mark: Hi. Um, I bought this shirt yesterday, but I need to return it.
Jessica: I’m sorry to hear that. Is there a problem with it? Is it too small?
Mark: No, the size is fine. But when I got home, I saw that a button is broken. Look, right here.
Jessica: Oh, I apologize for that. We can easily exchange it for a new one.
Mark: Actually, I don’t really want a new shirt anymore. Can I just get a refund, please?
Jessica: Of course. Do you have your receipt?
Mark: Yes, here it is.
Jessica: Great. I will put the money back on your credit card.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation between a shopper and a security guard. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Where is the children’s clothes department located now?
(A) On the ground floor.
(B) On the first floor.
(C) On the second floor.
2 What else is the woman looking for?
(A) Men’s leather shoes.
(B) Women’s leather bags.
(C) Children’s toys.
3 Where can the woman find the men’s leather shoes?
(A) On the first floor.
(B) On the second floor.
(C) On the third floor.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) On the second floor.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. The guard says the children’s department used to be on the first floor (Option B – the trap), “but we moved it last month. It is on the second floor now.” Option (A) is also a trap because it is where they are standing right now, not where the clothes are.
2 (A) Men’s leather shoes.
- Explanation: Mary asks, “And what about men’s leather shoes?” Option (C) uses the word “children’s”, and Option (B) uses the word “leather”, but these specific items are not what Mary wants to find.
3 (B) On the second floor.
- Explanation: Mary asks if the shoes are on the third floor (Option C – the trap). The guard corrects her: “Actually, no. They are also on the second floor…” Option (A) is not mentioned for the shoes.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mary: Excuse me, could you help me? I’m looking for the children’s clothes department. Is it on this floor?
Security Guard: No, ma’am. We are on the ground floor right now. The children’s department used to be on the first floor, but we moved it last month.
Mary: Oh, really? Where is it now?
Security Guard: It is on the second floor now. You can take the escalator over there.
Mary: Thank you. And what about men’s leather shoes? Are they on the third floor?
Security Guard: Actually, no. They are also on the second floor, right next to the children’s clothes.
Mary: Oh, that’s very convenient! I’ll go to the second floor then. Thanks for your help!
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between a customer and a shop assistant. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why doesn’t the black bag get a 30% discount?
(A) Because it is a new arrival.
(B) Because it is from the summer collection.
(C) Because it is broken.
2 Which bags are on sale right now?
(A) All the bags in the store.
(B) The black bags only.
(C) The red and yellow bags.
3 What does the customer decide to buy at the end?
(A) The black bag.
(B) The red bag.
(C) She doesn’t buy anything.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) Because it is a new arrival.
- Explanation: Brian says, “This black bag is a new arrival, so it is full price.” Option (B) is the trap; the summer collection does get the discount, but the black bag is not from that collection. Option (C) is a plausible reason for a discount in some stores, but it is not mentioned here.
2 (C) The red and yellow bags.
- Explanation: Brian clearly states, “the red and yellow bags over there are from the summer collection. They are thirty percent off.” Option (A) is incorrect because the new arrivals are full price. Option (B) is the trap because the customer asked about it first, but it is not on sale.
3 (B) The red bag.
- Explanation: This is “The Twist”. Alice originally wanted the black bag (Option A – the trap). She says she usually wears dark colors, “BUT the red one is actually very beautiful… I’ll take the red bag, please.” Option (C) is incorrect because she makes a purchase at the end.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alice: Excuse me, I saw the sign outside. It says thirty percent off. Is this black handbag on sale?
Brian: Let me check that for you. Ah, I’m sorry. The thirty percent discount is only for the summer collection. This black bag is a new arrival, so it is full price.
Alice: Oh, I see. That’s a pity. Are there any bags on sale?
Brian: Yes, the red and yellow bags over there are from the summer collection. They are thirty percent off.
Alice: Hmm… I usually wear dark colors, but the red one is actually very beautiful. And it’s a great price. I’ll take the red bag, please.