Travel & Holidays – A2 English Listening Exercise

1 (A) To Tokyo.

• Explanation: The announcer says, “This is an announcement for flight 750 to Tokyo.” Option (B) is a trap; Gate 12 is a place in the airport, not the destination city. Option (C) is not mentioned.

2 (C) Gate 14.

• Explanation: This is The Twist. The announcer tells the passengers “we are boarding at Gate 14 today, not Gate 12.” Option (B) is the trap (the old gate). Option (A) is a trap using the number 7 from the flight number (750).

3 (B) Because he needs to get on the plane right now.

• Explanation: The announcer makes a “final call” for Mr. Brown and says “Your flight is leaving in ten minutes.” This means he must board immediately. Option (A) is a trap; the word “passport” was mentioned earlier for all passengers, not just Mr. Brown. Option (C) is a plausible real-life reason, but it is not mentioned in the audio.

Announcer: Good morning, passengers. This is an announcement for flight 750 to Tokyo. We are now ready to begin boarding. Please have your passport and boarding pass in your hand.

Attention, please note that we are boarding at Gate 14 today, not Gate 12. Please walk to Gate 14 now.

Also, this is a final call for passenger Mr. Thomas Brown. Mr. Brown, please come to Gate 14 immediately. Your flight is leaving in ten minutes, and the airplane doors will close soon. Thank you.

1 (B) Tokyo.

• Explanation: The vlogger says, “I just got off the bullet train from Tokyo.” Option (A) is a trap because Kyoto is where the vlogger is right now (the destination), not where he traveled from. Option (C) is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (B) Ramen.

• Explanation: This is The Twist. The vlogger mentions that other people want to eat sushi first, “But not me!… I am going to find a famous restaurant… to get a big bowl of hot ramen.” Option (A) is the trap (what other people do). Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 (C) Visit some old temples.

• Explanation: The vlogger clearly states his future plan: “After that, I will take a bus to visit the beautiful old temples.” Option (A) is a trap because taking the bullet train is an action he already completed in the past. Option (B) is a plausible real-life action but is not mentioned.

Vlogger: Hey guys, welcome back to my channel! I am so excited right now. I just got off the bullet train from Tokyo, and I am finally here in Kyoto! The weather is perfect today, it’s sunny but not too hot.

Usually, when people come to Japan, they want to eat sushi first. But not me! I am really hungry, so I am going to find a famous restaurant near the station to get a big bowl of hot ramen. After that, I will take a bus to visit the beautiful old temples. Let’s go!

1 (B) A tour guide.

• Explanation: The speaker says, “My name is Alex, and I am your guide today.” Option (A) is a trap; the driver is mentioned (“I just got a message from the driver”), but the driver is not the one speaking. Option (C) is a trap related to the word “shopping”.

2 (A) Because there are too many cars on the road.

• Explanation: The guide says there is “very heavy traffic near the castle right now.” Option (A) uses “too many cars” to paraphrase heavy traffic. Option (B) is a common real-life reason, but not mentioned here. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 (C) To the city center for shopping.

• Explanation: This is The Twist. The original plan was to visit the castle first, but because of the traffic, the guide says, “We will go shopping first.” Option (A) is the trap (the old plan). Option (B) is not mentioned.

Guide: Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our city tour. My name is Alex, and I am your guide today. Please sit down and make yourselves comfortable.

Our plan for this morning was to visit the old castle first, and then go shopping in the city center. However, I just got a message from the driver. There is very heavy traffic near the castle right now. Because of this, we are going to change our schedule.

We will go shopping first. You will have two hours to buy souvenirs and take photos in the city center. After that, we will drive to the castle when the traffic is better. Okay, let’s start our trip!

1 (C) It is snowing a lot.

• Explanation: The announcer says, “We are seeing very heavy snow right now.” Option (C) uses “snowing a lot” to paraphrase “heavy snow”. Option (A) is the trap; the weather was sunny yesterday, not today. Option (B) is not mentioned.

2 (A) People who are going skiing.

• Explanation: The announcer specifically talks to “all the tourists going skiing this weekend.” Options (B) and (C) are not mentioned in the audio.

3 (B) The old mountain road.

• Explanation: This is The Twist. Usually, people might take the highway, but the announcer says the main highway is “closed”, so they “must use the old mountain road instead.” Option (A) is the trap (the closed road). Option (C) is not mentioned.

Announcer: Good morning, listeners! This is your local radio weather report. If you are planning a trip to the mountains today, please listen carefully.

The weather is not sunny and warm like yesterday. We are seeing very heavy snow right now. For all the tourists going skiing this weekend, please be very careful on the way.

Also, we have an important update: the main highway is closed today because of the deep snow. You must use the old mountain road instead. Your trip will take more time, so please drive slowly and safely. Have a great weekend!

1 (B) In the autumn.

• Explanation: This is The Twist structure. The recording says that many people think the painting was painted in summer, “But actually, he painted it in autumn.” Answer (A) is a common-sense trap. Answer (C) is not mentioned.

2 (B) Take photographs.

• Explanation: The voiceover announces: “You are welcome to take photos of this painting…” Answer (A) is a trap because the recording forbids this (“do not touch”). Answer (C) is also a trap because the recording asks “turn off your flash.”

3 (A) Because it is bad for the old colors.

• Explanation: The recording explains the reason for forbidding flash: “Bright lights are very bad for the old colors.” Answers (B) and (C) are reasons that seem plausible in real life, but are not mentioned in the listening passage.

Audio Guide: Welcome to Room 4. Please stand in front of the large painting on the wall. This is called ‘The Sunflower Garden’. It is a very famous and beautiful picture.

The artist painted it in 1890. Because of the bright yellow colors, many people think he painted it in the summer. But actually, he painted it in the autumn.

You are welcome to take photos of this painting to show your friends and family. However, please turn off your flash. Bright lights are very bad for the old colors. Also, please stand back and do not touch the picture. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of the museum.