Travel & Holidays – A2 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to a conversation between a passenger and a lost luggage agent. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What does the passenger’s suitcase look like?
(A) It is large and black.
(B) It is blue with a yellow tag.
(C) It is yellow with a blue handle.
2 Where is the passenger’s suitcase right now?
(A) In Paris.
(B) On the baggage carousel.
(C) At his hotel.
3 When will the passenger get his suitcase back?
(A) Right now.
(B) Tonight.
(C) Tomorrow morning.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) It is blue with a yellow tag.
- Explanation: The passenger says, “Mine is a medium-sized blue suitcase. And it has a bright yellow tag.” Option (A) is the trap; the agent asks if it is the large black one, but the passenger says no. Option (C) is a trap that mixes up the colors.
2 (A) In Paris.
- Explanation: The agent checks the computer and says, “It is still in Paris.” Option (B) is a trap; the baggage carousel is where the passenger expected it to be, but it wasn’t there. Option (C) is where the suitcase will be sent later.
3 (C) Tomorrow morning.
- Explanation: This is The Twist. The agent says the suitcase will arrive at the airport “tonight”, but they will send it to the hotel “tomorrow morning.” Option (C) is the time the passenger actually gets it. Option (B) is the trap for when the flight arrives.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Passenger: Excuse me. I need some help, please. I can’t find my suitcase on the baggage carousel.
Agent: I’m sorry to hear that, sir. What flight were you on?
Passenger: Flight 402 from Paris.
Agent: Okay. Can you describe your suitcase? Is it the large black one over there?
Passenger: No, that’s not mine. Mine is a medium-sized blue suitcase. And it has a bright yellow tag on the handle.
Agent: A blue suitcase with a yellow tag… Let me check the computer system. Ah, here it is. Your bag didn’t make the flight. It is still in Paris.
Passenger: Oh no! What should I do? All my clothes are in there!
Agent: Don’t worry. It will arrive on the next flight tonight. We will send it to your hotel tomorrow morning.
Passenger: Phew, okay. Thank you for your help.
Listening 2
Listen to a phone conversation between a hotel guest and a receptionist. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 What is the problem with the man’s room?
(A) The room is too cold.
(B) The air conditioning is not working.
(C) There is a lot of noise outside.
2 What did the guest want to do at first?
(A) Call a repair engineer.
(B) Ask for a large fan.
(C) Move to a different room.
3 What will the receptionist do next?
(A) Bring a fan to room 314.
(B) Send an engineer to fix the air conditioning.
(C) Give the guest the keys to a new room.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) The air conditioning is not working.
- Explanation: The guest clearly states, “The air conditioning in my room is broken.” Option (B) uses “not working” to paraphrase “broken”. Option (A) is a trap; ACs usually make rooms cold, but since it’s broken, the room is “very hot.” Option (C) is a trap using the word “noise” (which the guest mentions later about the engineer).
2 (C) Move to a different room.
- Explanation: At the beginning of the call, the guest asks: “Can I move to a different room, please?” Option (A) and (B) are solutions offered by the receptionist later in the conversation, not the guest’s initial request.
3 (A) Bring a fan to room 314.
- Explanation: This is The Twist. The guest couldn’t change rooms and didn’t want the engineer, so the receptionist asked, “How about a large fan? I can bring it to your room…” and the guest agreed. Option (B) is the trap (the rejected offer). Option (C) is a trap (the original request that couldn’t be fulfilled because the hotel was full).
AUDIO SCRIPT
Receptionist: Hello, reception. How can I help you?
Guest: Hi. This is room 314. The air conditioning in my room is broken. It is very hot in here. Can I move to a different room, please?
Receptionist: I’m very sorry, sir. Let me check… Unfortunately, the hotel is completely full tonight. We don’t have any empty rooms. But I can send an engineer to fix it right now.
Guest: Oh, no. It’s midnight and I just want to sleep. I don’t want an engineer making noise in my room.
Receptionist: I understand. How about a large fan? I can bring it to your room right away to help you sleep.
Guest: Yes, a fan is fine for tonight. Thank you.
Listening 3
Listen to a conversation between a passenger and a ticket agent. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why is the passenger talking to the ticket agent?
(A) He wants to buy a discount ticket.
(B) He arrived too late for his train.
(C) He lost his ticket on the train.
2 What is the problem with the 11:00 train?
(A) It is completely full today.
(B) It takes too long to get to London.
(C) The passenger must pay for a new ticket.
3 What time will the passenger leave?
(A) At 10:00.
(B) At 11:00.
(C) At 11:30.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) He arrived too late for his train.
- Explanation: The passenger says, “I just missed the 10:00 train.” “Missed” means he arrived too late to get on it. Option (A) is a trap; he has a discount ticket, but he didn’t come to buy one. Option (C) is false because he still has his ticket to show the agent.
2 (C) The passenger must pay for a new ticket.
- Explanation: The agent explains that his discount ticket doesn’t work for the 11:00 train, so “You have to buy a new ticket for 40 dollars.” Option (A) is not mentioned. Option (B) is false because the 11:00 train is actually a “fast train.”
3 (C) At 11:30.
- Explanation: This is The Twist. The passenger first asks about the 11:00 train, but because it costs 40 dollars, he refuses it. He decides to take the 11:30 “slow train” because it is free with his old ticket. Option (A) is the trap (the train he missed). Option (B) is the trap (the rejected train).
AUDIO SCRIPT
Passenger: Excuse me! I need some help. I just missed the 10:00 train to London. The doors closed right in front of me!
Agent: I’m sorry to hear that, sir. Let me check the schedule for you. The next train to London leaves at 11:00.
Passenger: 11:00? Okay, I can wait an hour. Do I need to buy a new ticket?
Agent: Let me see your ticket… Ah, this is a special discount ticket. You cannot use it for the fast train at 11:00. You have to buy a new ticket for 40 dollars.
Passenger: Oh no, 40 dollars is too expensive! Are there any other trains?
Agent: Well, there is a slow train at 11:30. Because it is a slow train, you can use your old ticket. You don’t have to pay anything.
Passenger: Really? That’s great. I will take the 11:30 train then. Thank you so much!
Listening 4
Listen to a conversation between a tourist and a pharmacist. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Why does the tourist feel terrible?
(A) Because he has a bad headache.
(B) Because he went on a boat trip.
(C) Because he drove a car too fast.
2 Why doesn’t the tourist want the strong pills?
(A) Because they are too expensive.
(B) Because he needs to stay awake to drive.
(C) Because he doesn’t like swallowing pills.
3 What does the tourist finally buy?
(A) Some strong pills.
(B) A bottle of water.
(C) Some special chewing gum.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) Because he went on a boat trip.
- Explanation: The tourist says, “I went on a boat trip this morning and I got very seasick.” Option (A) is a trap; the pharmacist asks about a headache, but the tourist says “No”. Option (C) is a trap using the word “drive” from his future plans.
2 (B) Because he needs to stay awake to drive.
- Explanation: The pharmacist says the pills will make him “very sleepy”. The tourist refuses because “I am going to drive a rental car this afternoon.” Therefore, he needs to stay awake. Options (A) and (C) are not mentioned in the audio.
3 (C) Some special chewing gum.
- Explanation: This is The Twist. The pharmacist first offers “strong pills”, but the tourist cannot take them. Then, the pharmacist suggests “special chewing gum”, and the tourist agrees (“I will take the chewing gum”). Option (A) is the trap (the rejected medicine). Option (B) is not mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Pharmacist: Hello. How can I help you today?
Tourist: Hi. I feel really terrible. I went on a boat trip this morning and I got very seasick.
Pharmacist: Oh, I see. Do you have a headache, too?
Tourist: No, just a bad stomach. I need some medicine, please.
Pharmacist: Okay. I have these strong pills for seasickness. But you should know, they will make you very sleepy.
Tourist: Oh, I can’t take those. I am going to drive a rental car this afternoon to visit the national park.
Pharmacist: I understand. If you need to drive, you should buy this special chewing gum instead. It helps your stomach, and you won’t feel tired at all.
Tourist: Perfect. I will take the chewing gum. How much is it?
Listening 5
Listen to a conversation between a tourist and a police officer. Choose the correct answer (A, B, or C) for each question.
1 Where did the tourist actually lose the bag?
(A) At a seafood restaurant.
(B) In a taxi.
(C) At the police station.
2 What does the lost bag look like?
(A) It is a small brown bag.
(B) It is a large black bag.
(C) It is a small yellow bag.
3 How will the police officer try to help the tourist?
(A) By driving to the seafood restaurant.
(B) By giving the tourist some holiday money.
(C) By using a receipt to call the taxi company.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) In a taxi.
- Explanation: This is The Twist. Initially, the tourist thinks they left it at a seafood restaurant, but then remembers they paid the taxi driver. The police ask again: “You left it on the back seat of the taxi, right?” and the tourist confirms, “Yes, exactly!”. Answer (A) is the original intended trap. Answer (C) is where they are standing and talking.
2 (A) It is a small brown bag.
- Explanation: The tourist describes their bag as: “It’s a small brown leather bag.” Answer (A) is a perfect match. Answers (B) and (C) are incorrect colors and sizes (a basic A2 vocabulary trap).
3 (C) By using a receipt to call the taxi company.
- Explanation: The police ask if the tourist has a taxi receipt and say: “We can call the taxi company to find the driver.” (We can call a taxi company to find a driver.) Answer (A) is a trap because the restaurant is the wrong location. Answer (B) is not in the text (the police don’t give money).
AUDIO SCRIPT
Police Officer: Good morning. How can I help you?
Tourist: Hello, officer. I need to report a lost bag. I think I left it at a seafood restaurant about an hour ago.
Police Officer: Okay. Let me take some notes. What does the bag look like? And what is inside it?
Tourist: It’s a small brown leather bag. My passport and all my holiday money are inside. Oh, wait… I just remembered something!
Police Officer: What is it?
Tourist: I used my money to pay the taxi driver after we left the restaurant. So, I didn’t leave it at the restaurant.
Police Officer: I understand. You left it on the back seat of the taxi, right?
Tourist: Yes, exactly! I am so sorry for the confusion.
Police Officer: That’s alright. Do you have the taxi receipt? We can call the taxi company to find the driver.
Tourist: Yes! I have the receipt right here in my pocket.