Thanking & Apologizing – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why did Tom drop the glass?
(A) The glass was too hot to hold.
(B) He was trying to carry too many things.
(C) Someone bumped into him.
2 What does Tom offer to do?
(A) Buy a new glass for Lisa.
(B) Go to the supermarket.
(C) Cook some new food.
3 What is Lisa going to do next?
(A) Stand back from the glass.
(B) Throw away Tom’s plate of food.
(C) Clean the floor with a brush.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) He was trying to carry too many things.
- Key: Tom explains, “I was trying to hold my plate of food and the drink at the same time.”
- Trap: Options (A) and (C) are common reasons for dropping things at a party, but they are not mentioned in the audio.
2 (A) Buy a new glass for Lisa.
- Key: Tom says, “I will buy you a new one tomorrow.”
- Trap: Option (B) is a trap because the word “supermarket” is mentioned by Lisa (where she bought the glass), but Tom does not offer to go there. Option (C) uses the word “food,” which was on his plate, but he didn’t drop the food.
3 (C) Clean the floor with a brush.
- Key: Lisa says, “I’ll get a brush and clean it up right now.”
- Trap: Option (A) is a trap. Standing back is what Lisa tells Tom to do (“stand back so you don’t cut your feet”), not what she is going to do.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Tom: Oh no! Lisa, I am so, so sorry. I just dropped your glass on the floor.
Lisa: Oh, don’t worry about it, Tom. Are you hurt?
Tom: No, I’m fine. I was trying to hold my plate of food and the drink at the same time, and it just slipped. Let me clean this up. I will buy you a new one tomorrow.
Lisa: Please don’t do that. It was just a cheap glass from the supermarket. I have lots of them. Just stand back so you don’t cut your feet. I’ll get a brush and clean it up right now.
Tom: I feel terrible. Thank you for being so nice about it.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What did the man initially think the woman wanted?
(A) To give him his wallet.
(B) To ask for directions.
(C) To buy him a coffee.
2 Where did the man think he left his wallet?
(A) Inside the coffee shop.
(B) On the sidewalk.
(C) In his jacket pocket.
3 What is the man most happy to get back?
(A) His cash.
(B) His jacket.
(C) His ID and credit cards.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) To ask for directions.
- Key: When the woman calls him, the man asks, “Do you need directions?”
- Trap: Option (A) is what the woman actually wanted, but not what the man initially thought. Option (C) is a trap because the word “coffee” is mentioned later, but she didn’t want to buy him one.
2 (A) Inside the coffee shop.
- Key: The man explains his “Twist” thought: “I actually thought I left it on the table inside the coffee shop.”
- Trap: Option (B) is where the wallet actually was (the reality). Option (C) is where the wallet fell from.
3 (C) His ID and credit cards.
- Key: The man says, “I am just so happy that my ID card and credit cards are safe. That is the most important thing.”
- Trap: Option (A) is a trap. He mentions that his money is there, but he says the ID and cards are “honestly… the most important thing”. Option (B) is just the piece of clothing he was wearing.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Woman: Excuse me! Sir! Wait a minute!
Man: Oh, hi. Are you talking to me? Do you need directions?
Woman: No, you dropped this wallet back there on the sidewalk.
Man: My wallet? Oh my goodness! I actually thought I left it on the table inside the coffee shop. I was just about to go back and look for it.
Woman: Well, it fell out of your jacket pocket when you walked out the door. I saw it and ran after you.
Man: Thank you so, so much! Let me check… Wow, my money is still here. But honestly, I am just so happy that my ID card and credit cards are safe. That is the most important thing.
Woman: I understand. Have a great day and be careful!
Man: I will. Thanks again, you are a lifesaver!
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Who is the man trying to call?
(A) His manager.
(B) John Smith.
(C) The woman.
2 Why did the man call the wrong number?
(A) He called his friend’s old phone number.
(B) He forgot his coworker’s name.
(C) He read the phone number too fast.
3 What is the woman’s actual phone number?
(A) 555-0198.
(B) 555-0189.
(C) 555-1089.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) John Smith.
- Key: The man says, “I originally planned to call my coworker, John Smith.”
- Trap: Option (A) is a trap because he mentions “coworker”, not a manager. Option (C) is who he is actually talking to, but not who he is trying to call.
2 (C) He read the phone number too fast.
- Key: The man admits his mistake by saying, “I was reading the number too quickly.”
- Trap: Option (A) is a plausible reason for a wrong number, but it is not mentioned in the audio. Option (B) is wrong because he remembers the name John Smith clearly.
3 (B) 555-0189.
- Key: The woman says, “No, actually, this is 555-0189.”
- Trap: Option (A) is the classic “Twist/Expectation” trap. 555-0198 is the number the man wanted to call, not the woman’s real number. Option (C) is a random distractor with similar numbers.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Woman: Hello?
Man: Hi, is John there, please?
Woman: John? I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong number. There is no one named John here.
Man: Oh, really? I originally planned to call my coworker, John Smith. Is this 555-0198?
Woman: No, actually, this is 555-0189. You mixed up the last two numbers.
Man: Oh my goodness, you’re right. I was reading the number too quickly. I am so sorry for disturbing you!
Woman: That’s alright. No problem at all. Have a nice day!
Man: You too. Bye.
Listening 4
Listen to the conversation and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why does Paul have Mary’s package?
(A) Because he bought it for her.
(B) Because the delivery guy left it with him.
(C) Because Mary asked him to go to the post office.
2 Why wasn’t Mary at home this morning?
(A) She had to go to the office.
(B) She was working from home.
(C) She went to the supermarket.
3 What does Paul offer to do for Mary?
(A) Open the package for her.
(B) Call the delivery guy.
(C) Carry the package to her house.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Because the delivery guy left it with him.
- Key: Paul says, “The delivery guy left it with me this morning.”
- Trap: Option (A) and (C) are plausible situations involving a neighbor or a package, but they are not mentioned in the audio.
2 (A) She had to go to the office.
- Key: Mary explains, “but my boss called me into the office at the last minute.”
- Trap: Option (B) is the classic “Twist/Expectation” trap. Working from home is what Mary originally planned to do, not what actually happened. Option (C) is a common reason to leave the house but is not mentioned.
3 (C) Carry the package to her house.
- Key: Paul notices the package is heavy and says, “Let me help you carry it to your house.”
- Trap: Option (A) uses the word “package,” and Option (B) uses “delivery guy,” both of which are words heard in the conversation, but Paul does not offer to do these actions.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mary: Hi, Paul. I saw a note on my door. Do you have my package?
Paul: Oh, hi Mary! Yes, here it is. The delivery guy left it with me this morning.
Mary: Thank you so much for keeping it all day. I originally planned to work from home today so I could receive it, but my boss called me into the office at the last minute.
Paul: No problem at all. It’s quite heavy, though. Let me help you carry it to your house.
Mary: Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can manage. But I really appreciate your help today, Paul.
Paul: Anytime, Mary. Have a good evening!
Listening 5
Listen to a conversation in a park. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What did the dog do?
(A) It bit the man’s hand.
(B) It made the man’s pants dirty.
(C) It ran away from its owner.
2 Where does the man have to go now? (The Twist)
(A) To a cafe.
(B) To a friend’s house.
(C) Back home.
3 What does the dog owner offer to do?
(A) Buy the man some new clothes.
(B) Give the man money for cleaning.
(C) Take the man to a coffee shop.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 Correct Answer: B) It made the man’s pants dirty.
- Explanation: The walker clearly complains about the dog’s action: “Look at my pants. They are completely dirty now.”
- Trap: Option C is a trap because the dog jumped (“get down”), but it didn’t run away. Option A is a plausible problem with dogs, but it is not mentioned in the audio.
2 Correct Answer: C) Back home.
- Explanation: This is the Twist. The walker changes his plan because of the accident. He says, “…now, I have to go back home and change my clothes.”
- Trap: Option A is what he planned to do at first (“I was walking to a cafe”), but he cannot go there now. Option B is a trap because he wanted to “meet a friend” at the cafe, not at their house.
3 Correct Answer: B) Give the man money for cleaning.
- Explanation: The owner tries to fix the problem by saying, “Please, take this $20 for the laundry” (laundry = cleaning).
- Trap: Option A is a trap using the word “clothes” mentioned in the audio, but the owner offers to pay for cleaning, not for brand new clothes. Option C is a trap using the word “cafe,” which was the walker’s destination, not the owner’s offer.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Owner: Oh no! Buster, get down! I am so sorry, sir. He is just a puppy and he gets very excited.
Walker: Hey! Look at my pants. They are completely dirty now.
Owner: I know, I know. I am really sorry. Um, let me pay for the cleaning.
Walker: Well, I was walking to a cafe to meet a friend. But now, I have to go back home and change my clothes.
Owner: I feel terrible. Please, take this $20 for the laundry.
Walker: Ah, it’s okay. Keep your money. Just please hold his leash tighter next time.
Owner: I will. I promise. Have a better day!