Special Hobbies – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (B) Yellow

• Explanation: Tommy says, “…so I used yellow paper instead.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (Blue) is the trap. He says he wanted to make a blue crane because it is his favorite color, but he didn’t have any blue paper. Option C is not mentioned.

2 (A) A square piece of paper.

• Explanation: When explaining how to make it, Tommy clearly states: “You start with a square piece of paper.”
• Trap: Option B and C are plausible guesses for paper crafts, but they are not mentioned in the audio.

3 (A) Ten minutes.

• Explanation: Tommy confirms his actual time by saying: “…but actually, I finished it in just ten minutes!”
• Trap: Option C (One hour) is a distractor because Tommy says he thought it would take an hour, but that was just his guess before starting.

Mrs. Green: Next, we have Tommy for ‘Show and Tell’. What did you bring today?

Tommy: Hi everyone. My hobby is Origami, the art of paper folding. Today, I brought a paper crane. I wanted to make a blue crane because it’s my favorite color. But I didn’t have any blue paper, so I used yellow paper instead.

Emma: Is it hard to make, Tommy?

Tommy: Not really. You start with a square piece of paper. You fold it in half, then you fold the corners. I thought it would take an hour, but actually, I finished it in just ten minutes!

Mrs. Green: Excellent job, Tommy!

1 (B) Because it rained heavily.

• Explanation: Alex explains his change of plans clearly: “…but it rained heavily on Saturday. So, I just stayed home.”
• Trap: Option C is a distractor. He did bake a cake, but that was the result of staying home, not the reason he canceled the beach trip. Option A is not mentioned.

2 (B) He baked a chocolate cake.

• Explanation: Alex says directly, “I tried a new hobby. I baked a chocolate cake!”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (Watched TV all day) is the trap. Sarah asks if he watched TV, but Alex responds “Actually, no” before stating what he really did.

3 (A) Taste the cake he made.

• Explanation: Alex offers the cake he brought to work by asking: “Do you want to try a piece?”
• Trap: Option B and C use vocabulary from the audio (“bake a cake”, “beach”) but misrepresent the current situation in the office.

Sarah: Hi Alex. How was your weekend? Did you go to the beach as planned?

Alex: Hey Sarah. No, I didn’t. I really wanted to go to the beach, but it rained heavily on Saturday. So, I just stayed home.

Sarah: Oh, that’s too bad. Did you watch TV all day?

Alex: Actually, no. I tried a new hobby. I baked a chocolate cake! It took me about three hours.

Sarah: Wow, baking! That sounds fun. Was it difficult?

Alex: A little bit at first, but it was very relaxing. Look, I brought some for lunch today. Do you want to try a piece?

Sarah: I’d love to! Thank you.

1 (B) Birds

• Explanation: Ms. Davis clearly states: “…now, our main focus is bird photography.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (Flowers) is a distractor. Liam mentions flowers, and Ms. Davis says they “used to do that last year”, which means it is no longer their main focus. Option C is not mentioned.

2 (B) Sunday morning

• Explanation: Ms. Davis says: “We go to the city park every Sunday morning at 6:00 AM.”
• Trap: Option A (Saturday morning) is mentioned by Liam because he is free at that time, but Ms. Davis rejects it (“we don’t meet on Saturdays”).

3 (C) The city park

• Explanation: Ms. Davis gives the location when she says: “We go to the city park every Sunday morning…”
• Trap: Options A and B are plausible places for nature photography, but they are never mentioned in the audio.

Liam: Excuse me, are you the leader of the Nature Photography Club?

Ms. Davis: Yes, I am. I’m Ms. Davis. Are you interested in joining us?

Liam: Yes, I am. I heard you take photos of beautiful flowers in the park.

Ms. Davis: Well, we used to do that last year. But now, our main focus is bird photography.

Liam: That sounds wonderful. I love birds! When do you meet? I am free on Saturday mornings.

Ms. Davis: Oh, we don’t meet on Saturdays. We go to the city park every Sunday morning at 6:00 AM. The birds are very active then.

Liam: 6:00 AM is early, but I will be there!

1 (B) A nice pen

• Explanation: Mark clearly suggests his idea at the beginning: “How about a nice pen?”
• Trap: Option A (A big bowl) is mentioned later by Linda, not Mark. Option C is a plausible guess for a boss, but it is not mentioned.

2 (A) A coffee mug

• Explanation: Chloe decides to make a mug because “He drinks coffee every morning.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option B (A big bowl) is a trap. Linda asks Chloe to make a bowl, but Chloe rejects it (“A bowl is nice, but actually, a coffee mug is better”). Option C is not mentioned.

3 (C) By Wednesday

• Explanation: Chloe says it takes four days and confirms: “It will be ready by Wednesday.”
• Trap: Option A (Next Friday) is a distractor. Next Friday is the boss’s birthday, but the gift will be ready earlier (by Wednesday).

Linda: Mr. Harris’s birthday is next Friday. What should we get for him?

Mark: How about a nice pen? He writes a lot.

Chloe: Wait, I have a better idea. You know my hobby is pottery, right? I can make him something special.

Linda: That’s a great idea, Chloe! Can you make a big bowl for his office?

Chloe: A bowl is nice, but actually, a coffee mug is better. He drinks coffee every morning.

Mark: Perfect! How long will it take you to make it?

Chloe: I just need about four days. It will be ready by Wednesday.

1 (A) He played tennis.

• Explanation: David says clearly: “Well, I used to play tennis after work.” (“used to” indicates the past).
• Trap: Option B (Scrapbooking) is his current hobby, not his past hobby. Option C is a distractor because he mentions “movie tickets”, but not watching movies to relax.

2 (B) Photos and tickets.

• Explanation: David explains what he uses: “I mostly use photos, stickers, and old movie tickets.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (A lot of writing) is the trap. Ms. Taylor asks if he writes a lot, but David immediately says “Not really.”

3 (B) Only on the weekends.

• Explanation: David states his schedule at the end: “I only have time to do it on the weekends.”
• Trap: Option A (Every day after work) is a distractor. The manager asks if he does it every day, but David answers “Actually, no.”

Ms. Taylor: Welcome to the interview, David. We care about work-life balance here. What do you do after work to relax?

David: Thank you, Ms. Taylor. Well, I used to play tennis after work. But I was often too tired. So now, I do scrapbooking instead.

Ms. Taylor: Scrapbooking? That’s interesting. Do you write a lot in it?

David: Not really. I mostly use photos, stickers, and old movie tickets. It’s like a visual diary. It really helps me reduce stress.

Ms. Taylor: That sounds very relaxing. Do you do it every day?

David: Actually, no. I only have time to do it on the weekends.