Special Hobbies – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a conversation between a customer and a shop assistant. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What does the man want to paint?
(A) Animals
(B) Landscapes
(C) People
2 What kind of paint is the man looking for?
(A) Watercolors
(B) Oil paints
(C) Wall paints
3 Which brush set does the man finally buy?
(A) A small brush set
(B) A medium brush set
(C) A large brush set
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Landscapes
- Explanation: Leo states his goal clearly at the beginning: “I want to start painting landscapes.”
- Trap: Options A and C are plausible things to paint, but they are never mentioned in the audio.
2 (A) Watercolors
- Explanation: When Emma asks what kind of paint he wants, Leo answers: “I am looking for a watercolor box.”
- Trap: Options B and C are distractors. They are types of paint but are not mentioned by the speakers.
3 (B) A medium brush set
- Explanation: Leo agrees to buy what Emma suggests: “Okay, I will take the watercolors and the medium brushes then.”
- Trap (The Twist): Option A (A small brush set) is the trap. Leo thinks he needs a small brush set first, but Emma corrects him and says a medium one is better for landscapes, so he changes his mind. Option C is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Leo: Excuse me. I want to start painting landscapes. Can you help me find some supplies?
Emma: Of course! You will need some paint and brushes. What kind of paint do you want?
Leo: I am looking for a watercolor box.
Emma: We have this nice 12-color box right here. And for the brushes?
Leo: I think I need a small brush set.
Emma: Well, small brushes are good for details. But for landscapes, a medium brush set is actually much better.
Leo: Oh, I didn’t know that. Okay, I will take the watercolors and the medium brushes then. Thank you!
Listening 2
Listen to a conversation between a stamp collector and a postal worker. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What kind of stamps does the man want to buy at first?
(A) Bird stamps
(B) Flower stamps
(C) Mountain stamps
2 Why can’t the man buy his first choice?
(A) The post office sold all of them.
(B) They are too expensive for him.
(C) They will be released next week.
3 What does the man finally buy?
(A) One set of bird stamps.
(B) Two sets of flower stamps.
(C) Two sets of mountain stamps.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Flower stamps
- Explanation: At the beginning, Mr. Harris asks: “Do you have the special flower stamps?”
- Trap: Options A and C are distractors. He mentions bird stamps later, and finally buys mountain stamps, but flower stamps are his first choice.
2 (A) The post office sold all of them.
- Explanation: The clerk explains why he can’t buy them: “We sold the last flower stamp set yesterday morning.”
- Trap: Option B is not mentioned. Option C is a trap because the man says the stamps were released “this week”, not next week.
3 (C) Two sets of mountain stamps.
- Explanation: Mr. Harris agrees to the clerk’s suggestion and says: “I will take two sets of the mountain stamps, please.”
- Trap (The Twist): Option A (Bird stamps) is the trap. The man asks about the bird stamps, but the clerk shows him the new mountain stamps instead, and he changes his mind.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mr. Harris: Hello. I am a stamp collector. Do you have the special flower stamps? The ones released this week.
Clerk: Let me check. Hmm… I’m sorry, sir. We sold the last flower stamp set yesterday morning. They are very popular.
Mr. Harris: Oh no, that’s a pity. What about the bird stamps? Do you have any?
Clerk: We do have those. But wait… actually, we just got a new set of mountain stamps today. They look really beautiful.
Mr. Harris: Mountains? That sounds great. I will take two sets of the mountain stamps, please.
Listening 3
Listen to a conversation between a customer and an art center receptionist. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What will Tom learn to make in the beginner class?
(A) Tall vases
(B) Bowls and plates
(C) Small cups
2 When will Tom take the pottery class?
(A) Saturday morning
(B) Sunday morning
(C) Sunday afternoon
3 How much does the class cost for one month?
(A) $14
(B) $40
(C) $50
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Bowls and plates
- Explanation: Lisa explicitly says: “Our beginner class teaches you how to make simple bowls and plates.”
- Trap: Option A (Tall vases) is the trap. Tom asks if he can make a vase, but Lisa says “no” because vases are for the advanced class. Option C is not mentioned.
2 (C) Sunday afternoon
- Explanation: Lisa offers a different time and Tom agrees: “Sunday afternoon is fine.”
- Trap (The Twist): Option A (Saturday morning) is a strong distractor. Tom wants to join on Saturday morning, but Lisa says that class is “full” (hết chỗ). Option B uses the correct day but the wrong time.
3 (B) $40
- Explanation: Lisa clearly states the price: “It’s forty dollars for one month.”
- Trap: Option C ($50) is a distractor because Tom says he thought it would be fifty dollars, but that was just his guess. Option A ($14 – fourteen) is a phonetic trap often used in A1/A2 listening tests to confuse with “forty”.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Tom: Hello. I want to learn pottery. Do you have classes for beginners?
Lisa: Yes, we do! Our beginner class teaches you how to make simple bowls and plates.
Tom: Great! Can I make a tall vase, too?
Lisa: Well, no. Vases are for the advanced class.
Tom: Oh, I see. When is the beginner class? I want to join on Saturday morning.
Lisa: Um, let me check… I’m sorry, the Saturday class is full. But we have a few seats left on Sunday afternoon.
Tom: Sunday afternoon is fine. How much is it?
Lisa: It’s forty dollars for one month.
Tom: Oh, I thought it would be fifty dollars. That’s a good price. I’ll sign up!
Listening 4
Listen to a conversation between a customer and a shop assistant. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What kind of flower seeds did Mary want to buy at first?
(A) Rose seeds
(B) Violet seeds
(C) Sunflower seeds
2 What is the problem with Mary’s bedroom?
(A) It is too cold for flowers.
(B) It does not have much sunlight.
(C) It does not have a window.
3 Why does John suggest growing violets?
(A) Because they are very cheap.
(B) Because they don’t need much sun.
(C) Because they need a big pot.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) Sunflower seeds
- Explanation: Mary asks at the very beginning: “Do you have sunflower seeds?”
- Trap (The Twist): Option B (Violet seeds) is the trap. Mary buys violet seeds at the end, but sunflower seeds were her first choice. Option A is not mentioned.
2 (B) It does not have much sunlight.
- Explanation: Mary says her room “only has a small window” and “It’s quite dark.” This means it doesn’t have much sunlight.
- Trap: Option C is a distractor. The room does have a window, but it is just small. Option A (too cold) is a plausible guess but is never mentioned.
3 (B) Because they don’t need much sun.
- Explanation: John suggests violets because they are “easy to grow, and they don’t need much sun.”
- Trap: Option C is wrong because John specifically says they love small spaces (small pots), whereas sunflowers need a big pot. Option A (cheap) is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mary: Hello. I want to grow some flowers in my bedroom. Do you have sunflower seeds?
John: Yes, we do. But sunflowers need a lot of sunlight and a very big pot. Is your bedroom sunny?
Mary: No, it only has a small window. It’s quite dark.
John: Ah, I see. Then sunflowers are not a good idea. How about violets? They are beautiful, easy to grow, and they don’t need much sun.
Mary: That sounds perfect! Can I grow them in a small pot?
John: Yes, definitely. They love small spaces.
Mary: Great. I’ll take a packet of violet seeds, please.
Listening 5
Listen to a conversation between a customer and a shop assistant. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why does the woman need more yarn?
(A) To start a new project.
(B) To finish her sweater.
(C) To make a winter hat.
2 How much yellow yarn does the shop have left?
(A) Two rolls.
(B) One roll.
(C) None.
3 What does the woman decide to buy in the end?
(A) Two rolls of yellow yarn.
(B) Two rolls of white yarn.
(C) One yellow and one white roll.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) To finish her sweater.
- Explanation: Emma says clearly: “One roll is not enough to finish my sweater.”
- Trap: Option A is a distractor because she is not starting a new project; she is working on an old one (“bought this yellow yarn here last month”). Option C is not mentioned.
2 (B) One roll.
- Explanation: Tom checks the stock and says: “We only have one roll of that yellow yarn left.”
- Trap (The Twist): Option A (Two rolls) is the trap. Emma wants to buy two more rolls, but the reality is that the shop only has one left.
3 (C) One yellow and one white roll.
- Explanation: Emma agrees with Tom’s idea and says: “I will take the yellow roll and one white roll, please.”
- Trap: Option A is her original plan, but she can’t do it because of the stock. Option B is a distractor because Tom only suggests using white yarn for the sleeves, not replacing everything with white.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Emma: Excuse me. I am knitting a sweater. I bought this yellow yarn here last month. Do you have two more rolls exactly like this?
Tom: Let me check. Hmm… I’m sorry. We only have one roll of that yellow yarn left.
Emma: Oh no. One roll is not enough to finish my sweater. What should I do?
Tom: We have this nice white yarn. It is the same material. You can use it for the sleeves.
Emma: That’s a good idea! A yellow and white sweater sounds really nice. I will take the yellow roll and one white roll, please.