Special Hobbies – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (B) At Central Park

• Explanation: The host clearly states the new location: “…this year, the weather is so beautiful, so it will be at Central Park!”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (At the Town Hall) is a trap. The host mentions the Town Hall, but says that is where they usually hold the event, not this year. Option C is not mentioned.

2 (A) Fabric bags and handmade soap

• Explanation: The host explicitly says: “Instead, you can buy beautiful fabric bags and lovely handmade soap.”
• Trap: Option B (Plastic toys and electronics) is a distractor. The host mentions them but specifically says “there are no plastic toys or electronics here.” Option C is a plausible guess for a fair, but it is not mentioned.

3 (B) Saturday morning

• Explanation: The host announces the time: “The fair opens at 9:00 AM this Saturday.” (9:00 AM is in the morning).
• Trap: Option A and C are distractors. They use different days or times of day that are not in the announcement.

Radio Host: Good morning, listeners! Are you looking for something fun to do this weekend? Then come to our local Handmade Craft Fair. Usually, we hold this event inside the Town Hall. But this year, the weather is so beautiful, so it will be at Central Park! You can find many special things made by local artists. Remember, there are no plastic toys or electronics here. Instead, you can buy beautiful fabric bags and lovely handmade soap. The fair opens at 9:00 AM this Saturday. Bring your friends and family!

1 (A) 10 cards

• Explanation: The vlogger clearly states: “You only need 10 cards.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option C (52 cards) is a very strong trap. The vlogger mentions 52 cards (a standard deck), but then immediately changes the subject: “Well, for this trick, you don’t need 52 cards.”

2 (C) The number

• Explanation: The vlogger instructs: “…they just need to remember the number.”
• Trap: Option B (The color) is a trap. The vlogger mentions the word “color” in the rhetorical question “Do they need to tell you the color?”, but immediately answers it himself with “No”. Option A is not mentioned.

3 (B) In your pocket

• Explanation: The vlogger explains the next step: “Then, you secretly put it in your pocket.”
• Trap: Options A and C are familiar positions in card games but are completely absent from the listening exercise.

Vlogger: Hello everyone, welcome back to my channel! Today, I want to share my favorite hobby with you: magic. I am going to teach you a very simple card trick. You usually need a full deck of 52 cards for magic, right? Well, for this trick, you don’t need 52 cards. You only need 10 cards. First, ask your friend to choose one card. Do they need to tell you the color? No, they just need to remember the number. Then, you secretly put it in your pocket. It’s very easy and fun to do at parties!

1 (B) Old typewriters

• Explanation: The podcaster clearly states his real hobby: “…actually, his favorite hobby is collecting old typewriters!”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (Fast cars) is a strong trap. The audio mentions fast cars, but that is what people think he collects, not what he actually collects.

2 (C) In his office

• Explanation: The podcaster explains the final location: “…so he put them in his office instead.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (In his bedroom) is the trap. He wanted to keep them in his bedroom at first, but changed his mind because they are big and noisy. Option B is not mentioned.

3 (A) He uses it to write letters.

• Explanation: The audio confirms his daily activity: “He uses a different typewriter every day to write letters to his friends.”
• Trap: Option B (puts it on a shelf for decoration) is what he doesn’t do (“he doesn’t just put them on a shelf for decoration”). Option C is a distractor because he writes letters to his friends, he doesn’t give the typewriters to them.

Podcaster: Welcome back to my podcast! Today, let’s talk about a famous movie actor. Because he is rich, people think he collects fast cars. But actually, his favorite hobby is collecting old typewriters! He has over two hundred of them. At first, he wanted to keep all of them in his bedroom. However, they are very big and noisy, so he put them in his office instead. Also, he doesn’t just put them on a shelf for decoration. He uses a different typewriter every day to write letters to his friends. Isn’t that a cool hobby?

1 (B) The planets

• Explanation: The student says clearly: “At first, I wanted to use it to see planets, like Mars.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (The moon) is the trap. The student looks at the moon now, but at first, they wanted to see the planets. Option C is not mentioned and is dangerous to do with a telescope!

2 (C) Because there is too much light in the city.

• Explanation: The student explains the problem: “But I live in a big city, and there is too much light at night.”
• Trap: Option A is a distractor. The student mentions having a “small telescope”, but the reason they can’t see the planets is the city light. Option B is a plausible guess for stargazing, but it is never mentioned.

3 (A) At 8:00 PM

• Explanation: The student confirms the actual time: “Actually, I can see it very well at 8 PM.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option B (At midnight) is the trap. The student says they thought they had to stay up until midnight, but that was a wrong assumption. Option C is not mentioned.

Student: Hello everyone. Today, I want to talk about my special hobby: stargazing. Last month, my parents gave me a small telescope for my birthday. At first, I wanted to use it to see planets, like Mars. But I live in a big city, and there is too much light at night. So, I can’t see the planets clearly. Instead, I use my telescope to look at the moon. It is so big and beautiful! I thought I had to stay up until midnight to see it. Actually, I can see it very well at 8 PM. It’s a great hobby because it makes me feel relaxed before bed. Thank you for listening.

1 (B) People flying kites

• Explanation: The announcer explicitly calls for this group: “For everyone who loves flying kites, please listen carefully.”
• Trap: Option A (People walking) is a distractor because they are mentioned as the reason for the change, but the announcement is directing the kite flyers. Option C is a distractor related to the West field.

2 (C) To the East field

• Explanation: The announcer gives the new direction clearly: “…please move to the East field.”
• Trap (The Twist): Option A (Near the main fountain) is where they usually go, but not today. Option B (The West field) is a strong trap, but it is currently “closed” (đóng cửa).

3 (A) Because it is not safe for people walking.

• Explanation: The reason given is: “…there are too many people walking there. It is not safe…”
• Trap: Option B (planting new trees) is the reason the West field is closed, not the reason the kite flyers have to move away from the fountain. Option C is a plausible guess for kite flying, but the audio says it is a “beautiful Sunday”.

Announcer: Attention, park visitors. We hope you are enjoying this beautiful Sunday. For everyone who loves flying kites, please listen carefully. Usually, you can fly your kites near the main fountain. But today, there are too many people walking there. It is not safe, and your strings might catch someone. So, we ask all kite flyers to please move to the East field. The West field is closed for planting new trees. The East field is wide and perfect for flying kites safely. Thank you, and have a great day!