Space Exploration – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Correct Answer: (B) Creating a large artwork showing the planets.

• Explanation: Emma says she will “design the large visual display with all the planets.” (visual display = artwork / poster). Option (A) is The Trap: Ben is doing the speaking part, and Emma explicitly says “I’d rather not do the speaking part.” Option (C) is plausible for a group project but is never mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (B) Because he feels comfortable talking in front of others.

• Explanation: Ben says, “I actually don’t mind talking,” which means he is comfortable doing it. Option (A) is The Trap: He mentions his English pronunciation, but he says he needs help to practice it, meaning it is not perfect yet. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (A) The central star of our planetary system.

• Explanation: Alex says he will gather facts about the “giant star at the center of our system,” which is a paraphrase for the Sun. Option (B) is The Trap: The planets are mentioned, but that is Emma’s job to draw them, not Alex’s job to research them. Option (C) is not mentioned.

Alex: Alright guys, our science project on the Solar System is due next Friday. We need to split the work. Who wants to do what?

Emma: Well, um, I’m not very good at standing in front of the class, so I’d rather not do the speaking part. But I love art. I can design the large visual display with all the planets. I have some great markers at home.

Ben: Awesome, Emma. That artwork will look great. I actually don’t mind talking, so I can take care of the oral report. I just need you guys to help me practice my pronunciation since it has to be entirely in English.

Alex: Perfect. That leaves me with the research. I’ll gather all the facts and figures about the giant star at the center of our system. Is that okay?

Ben: Sounds like a plan. Just make sure to send me your notes by Wednesday so I can organize my speech.

Emma: Yeah, and let me know if you find any cool details to add to the drawing!

1 Correct Answer: (A) The construction of vehicles used for space travel.

• Explanation: Sarah says she is “obsessed with spacecraft design” and the idea of “machines carrying humans.” This paraphrases to the construction of vehicles. Option (B) is Plausible but not mentioned. Option (C) is The Trap: She mentions being interested in space travel “since I was a little kid,” but she never talks about the history of early missions.

2 Correct Answer: (B) How they manage their everyday lives and tasks.

• Explanation: Sarah wants to understand the “daily routines” of astronauts, such as “how they eat, sleep, and conduct scientific experiments.” Option (A) is not mentioned. Option (C) is The Trap: She mentions reading books (“I’ve read several books about it”), but she doesn’t want to learn how astronauts write books.

3 Correct Answer: (B) She is confident because she regularly does sports at school.

• Explanation: Sarah says “Absolutely,” meaning she is prepared, because she is on her “high school’s track team” (regularly does sports). Option (A) is The Trap: Mr. Davis is the one who mentions that the training can be “exhausting,” but Sarah is not worried about it at all. Option (C) is incorrect because she does not want to avoid the physical training.

Mr. Davis: Welcome, Sarah. Thanks for coming in. So, tell me, why do you want to join our summer program this year?

Sarah: Well, um, to be honest, I’ve been fascinated by space travel since I was a little kid. I’m especially obsessed with spacecraft design. The idea of complex machines carrying humans safely beyond our atmosphere is just incredible to me.

Mr. Davis: That’s great to hear. We do have a short module on rocket engineering. But our main focus is actually on human survival in space.

Sarah: That’s exactly what I’m hoping for! I really want to understand the daily routines of space professionals. You know, how they eat, sleep, and conduct scientific experiments in zero gravity. I’ve read several books about it, but I want hands-on experience.

Mr. Davis: I see. Ah, you should know that some students find the physical training part of the camp quite exhausting. Are you prepared for that?

Sarah: Absolutely. I’m on my high school’s track team, so I’m used to pushing my physical limits. I’m completely ready for whatever challenges the camp throws at me.

1 Correct Answer: (B) At the end of the school week.

• Explanation: The teacher says they are “officially going this Friday morning.” Friday is the end of the school week. Option (A) is The Trap: “One day before Friday” is Thursday, which was the original plan, but the teacher changed it due to the weather. Option (C) is plausible but is not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (C) Materials for taking notes.

• Explanation: The teacher tells the students to “bring a notepad and a couple of pens” to “jot down some facts.” This is a paraphrase for note-taking materials. Option (A) is The Trap: The teacher mentions “heavy science textbooks” but explicitly tells them to “leave [them] at home.” Option (B) is also a trap: The student asks about lunch, but the teacher says they don’t need to pack it because the school will provide sandwiches.

3 Correct Answer: (A) They must submit a document approved by a family member.

• Explanation: The teacher states they cannot board the bus without a “signed consent form from your parents” (document approved by a family member). Option (B) is The Trap: The teacher says “returned to me by tomorrow,” but he is talking about returning the signed forms, not books. Option (C) is not mentioned.

Mr. Harrison: Alright everyone, please take your seats so we can get started. I have a very exciting announcement regarding our astronomy unit. This week, we won’t be staying in the classroom. Instead, we are going on a field trip to the National Observatory! Now, I originally planned this for Thursday, but due to the weather forecast, we are officially going this Friday morning.

Mr. Harrison: Settle down, please. Let’s talk about preparation. You can leave your heavy science textbooks at home. However, it is essential that you bring a notepad and a couple of pens. You’ll need to jot down some facts during the guided tour of the massive telescopes.

Student (Jimmy): Mr. Harrison, do we need to pack our own lunch?

Mr. Harrison: Good question, Jimmy. No, the school cafeteria will provide sandwiches for everyone. But remember the most crucial detail: you absolutely cannot board the bus without a signed consent form from your parents. I handed them out yesterday, so please make sure they are returned to me by tomorrow. No signature, no trip!

1 Correct Answer: (A) Discussing the rings around a specific planet.

• Explanation: Sarah suggests doing another session on the “rings of Saturn” (a specific planet). Option (B) is The Trap: Mike is the one who suggests calculating body mass, not Sarah. Option (C) is plausible because she mentions “telescope viewing”, but she never suggests building one.

2 Correct Answer: (B) The natural force that pulls objects toward the ground.

• Explanation: Mike proposes looking into “the invisible force that keeps our feet on the ground” and “gravity.” This is a paraphrase for the natural force that pulls objects down. Option (A) is The Trap: David mentions watching old videos of astronauts, but that is to support Mike’s idea about gravity, not the main focus of the proposal itself. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 Correct Answer: (B) To focus the session on how weight changes in space.

• Explanation: The club decides to go with Mike’s idea about gravity and how “body mass would feel like on the lunar surface” (how weight changes in space). Option (A) is The Trap: Sarah says the topic sounds like a “physics class,” but they do not decide to invite a teacher. Option (C) is incorrect because they rejected the idea about Saturn.

David: Okay everyone, thanks for coming. Let’s figure out the main theme for our next club gathering. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Sarah: Well, um, we could do another session on the rings of Saturn. People really enjoyed the telescope viewing last time.

Mike: True, but I think we should try something different. How about we look into the invisible force that keeps our feet on the ground? You know, the physics behind why objects fall.

Sarah: Oh, you mean gravity? That sounds a bit too much like a physics class, doesn’t it?

Mike: Not if we make it fun! We could calculate what everyone’s body mass would feel like on the lunar surface. It’s fascinating how much lighter you become up there compared to Earth.

David: Actually, Mike has a great point. Watching old videos of astronauts bouncing around is always entertaining. Let’s make that our official topic for next month. Sarah, can you help me prepare the presentation slides?

Sarah: Sure thing. I’ll start looking up some facts about it.

1 Correct Answer: (B) He finds the scientific articles too hard to read.

• Explanation: The student says the “academic journals… are just too difficult for me to understand” (academic journals = scientific articles; difficult = hard to read). Option (A) is The Trap: He mentions “complex math,” but as something he wants to avoid reading about, not something he needs help solving. Option (C) is plausible but not mentioned.

2 Correct Answer: (C) A visual program like a documentary or show.

• Explanation: The student says he is hoping for “something more visual, like a film or a television series” (which paraphrases to a visual program/documentary). Option (A) is The Trap: The professor asks if he wants a textbook, but the student rejects the idea (“Well, actually…”). Option (B) is also a trap: The professor suggests a biography (First Man), but that is a backup option, not what the student primarily asked for.

3 Correct Answer: (A) By watching it on the internet.

• Explanation: The professor tells him, “you can easily stream it online” (stream online = watch on the internet). Option (B) is The Trap: The student asks if it’s in the university library, but the professor says no because “someone borrowed the DVD yesterday.” Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.

Student (Mark): Professor Davis, do you have a minute? I’m doing my final project on the Apollo 11 mission, but the academic journals I found are just too difficult for me to understand.

Professor Davis: Ah, I see. The technical language can be quite overwhelming for beginners. Are you looking for a textbook, then?

Student (Mark): Well, um, actually, I was hoping for something more visual, like a film or a television series. Or maybe a beginner-friendly book that tells the story without too much complex math.

Professor Davis: Hmm. There’s a fantastic six-part video series called From the Earth to the Moon. It covers the entire history of the lunar missions perfectly. I highly recommend it.

Student (Mark): That sounds exactly like what I need! Is it available in the university library?

Professor Davis: Let me check… No, unfortunately, someone borrowed the DVD yesterday. But you can easily stream it online. I’ll email you the link. Also, if you change your mind about reading, First Man is a great biography of Neil Armstrong.

Student (Mark): Thank you so much, Professor! I’ll definitely watch that series this weekend.