Travel Problems – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) His luggage did not arrive at the baggage claim area.

• Explanation: The man says, “my suitcase isn’t on the carousel.” A carousel is the moving belt where you pick up your bags. This means his luggage is missing.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The staff asks for his “boarding pass,” but he hasn’t lost it (he says “here they are”). Option (C) is a trap because the audio mentions “Tokyo,” but he just arrived from there; he didn’t miss a flight.

2 Answer: (C) It is a hard, blue bag with a yellow tie on the handle.

• Explanation: The man describes his suitcase as “dark blue,” “made of hard plastic,” and having a “yellow strap tied around the handle.” Option (C) correctly paraphrases these details.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap because the man explicitly says his bag is “not fabric.” Option (B) is a trap because the bag is blue, not yellow. (Only the strap is yellow).

3 Answer: (B) It will be brought directly to where the passenger is staying.

• Explanation: The staff member tells him that a courier service will “deliver it straight to your hotel.” Option (B) uses synonyms to express this exact idea.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions money, but the delivery is “free of charge”, meaning he won’t pay a fee. Option (C) is the main trap. The passenger asks if he needs to “come back to the airport to pick it up,” but the staff clearly answers “No.”

Staff: Good afternoon. How can I help you?

Passenger: Hi, I just arrived on flight 402 from Tokyo, but my suitcase isn’t on the carousel. I’ve been waiting there for nearly an hour.

Staff: I’m sorry to hear that, sir. Let’s file a missing baggage report. Can I see your boarding pass and your baggage receipt, please?

Passenger: Yes, here they are.

Staff: Thank you. Now, could you describe the item for me?

Passenger: Well, it’s a large, dark blue suitcase. Oh, and it’s made of hard plastic, not fabric. It also has four wheels and a bright yellow strap tied around the handle.

Staff: Okay, a large, dark blue hard-shell case with a yellow strap. Got it. Now, I need you to fill out this form with your contact details and the address of where you’ll be staying.

Passenger: Will I have to come back to the airport to pick it up?

Staff: No. Once we locate it, our courier service will deliver it straight to your hotel, completely free of charge.

Passenger: That’s a relief. I’m staying at the Riverside Hotel downtown. Let me fill this out right now.

1 Answer: (B) His confirmed room is currently unavailable.

• Explanation: The receptionist tells him that the hotel is “completely overbooked” and they “don’t have any standard rooms available.” Option (B) uses synonyms to express this exact problem.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the trap. The audio mentions a “glitch in our booking software,” which means there was a computer error, but it did not say his personal details were lost. Option (A) is plausible but not mentioned.

2 Answer: (A) He is extremely tired from a long journey.

• Explanation: The man says, “I’ve been traveling all day and I’m exhausted.” “Exhausted” is a strong synonym for “extremely tired.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. He mentions the phrase “two months ago,” but that was when he made the reservation, not how long he waited for a refund. Option (C) is a trap because “breakfast” is mentioned later by the receptionist, not as something the man is demanding now.

3 Answer: (C) She gives him a better room at no additional cost.

• Explanation: The receptionist offers a “free upgrade to our executive suite” and promises he will “only pay the original price.” Option (C) perfectly paraphrases this action.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The audio mentions the “executive suite,” but he does not have to pay an extra fee (she says “Absolutely not” to hidden fees). Option (A) is a common solution in real life (plausible) but is not the solution used in this conversation.

Tourist: Hi, I have a reservation under the name David Miller. I booked a standard double room for three nights.

Receptionist: Good evening, Mr. Miller. Let me check the system. Um, I’m terribly sorry, but it seems there’s been a glitch in our booking software. We are completely overbooked tonight, and we don’t have any standard rooms available.

Tourist: You’ve got to be kidding me! I made this reservation two months ago. I’ve been traveling all day and I’m exhausted. What are you going to do about this? I expect a solution right now.

Receptionist: I completely understand your frustration, sir. I sincerely apologize. As a courtesy, we can offer you a free upgrade to our executive suite for your entire stay. It’s much larger and includes complimentary breakfast.

Tourist: Well… I suppose that’s acceptable. But I hope there are no extra hidden fees for this?

Receptionist: Absolutely not, sir. You will only pay the original price of the standard room. Let me get your room keys ready.

1 Answer: (B) The vehicle she rented stopped working.

• Explanation: The woman says her car “completely broke down” and “won’t turn on at all.” Option (B) uses synonyms to describe this situation.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a common car problem (plausible), but the audio says the engine was smoking, not a flat tire. Option (C) is a trap because she mentions the “national park,” but she is using it as a landmark, not because she is lost.

2 Answer: (A) She might miss her upcoming flight.

• Explanation: She explicitly states, “I’m really stressed because my flight leaves in four hours.” This matches option (A).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the trap. The audio mentions “Exit 12,” but she says she “just passed” it to describe her location, not because she made a mistake and missed her turn. Option (B) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (C) By giving her another car to continue her trip.

• Explanation: The representative says the tow truck driver will “bring a replacement car for you so you can drive to the airport.” “Replacement car” means giving her another car.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions the “engine”, but they are not fixing it there; they are towing it away. Option (B) is a strong trap. They mention the airport, but they are giving her the car to drive there, not driving her themselves.

Representative: Speedy Rentals roadside assistance, this is Mark. How can I help you?

Tourist: Hi Mark, I’m calling about a rental vehicle under the name Emily Davis. I’m having a huge problem. My car just completely broke down on Highway 47.

Representative: I’m so sorry to hear that, Emily. Are you in a safe location right now?

Tourist: Yes, I managed to pull over to the side of the road. The engine started making a terrible noise, and then it started smoking. Now it won’t turn on at all.

Representative: I see. Please stay safely inside the vehicle. Can you give me a landmark nearby so we can locate you?

Tourist: Um, I just passed Exit 12, right near the national park entrance. I’m really stressed because my flight leaves in four hours. Can you send help quickly?

Representative: Don’t worry. I am dispatching a tow truck right now. The driver will bring a replacement car for you so you can drive to the airport. They should arrive in about 30 minutes.

Tourist: Oh, thank goodness. I’ll keep my phone on.

1 Answer: (B) His previous flight did not arrive on time.

• Explanation: The man says his “first flight… was delayed by two hours.” “Delayed” means it did not arrive on time.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions “two hours,” but it was the flight that was late, not the passenger’s arrival at the airport. Option (C) is also a trap; “bad weather” is mentioned, but the flight was delayed, not cancelled.

2 Answer: (C) Put him on a later plane at no extra cost.

• Explanation: The agent promises to “rebook you on the next available flight for free.” Option (C) uses synonyms (“later plane”, “no extra cost”) to express this exact idea.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The agent mentions the “6:00 PM” flight, but she never offers a seat upgrade. Option (A) is plausible in real life but is not mentioned in the conversation.

3 Answer: (A) Free food and drinks.

• Explanation: The man asks if the airline will provide “compensation for meals.” Meals mean food and drinks. The agent agrees and gives him a dining voucher.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a strong trap. The audio mentions ” $20″ and “Terminal 3,” but the agent gives him a dining voucher (a coupon for food), not cash. Option (B) is a trap because he only has a “five-hour wait” in the afternoon, so he doesn’t need a hotel for the night.

Agent: Welcome to the customer service desk. How can I assist you today?

Passenger: Hi, I’m really frustrated. My first flight from London was delayed by two hours due to bad weather. Because of that, I completely missed my connecting flight to New York!

Agent: I am so sorry for the inconvenience, sir. Let me pull up your itinerary. Ah, yes, I see the delay. Don’t worry, since the disruption was our fault, we will rebook you on the next available flight for free.

Passenger: When does it leave? I have an important meeting tomorrow morning.

Agent: There is a flight departing at 6:00 PM this evening. I can secure a seat for you right now.

Passenger: 6:00 PM? That’s a five-hour wait! Since I have to stay at the airport all afternoon, will the airline provide any compensation for meals?

Agent: Absolutely. Here is your new boarding pass, along with a $20 dining voucher. You can use it at any restaurant in Terminal 3.

Passenger: Okay, I appreciate the help.

1 Answer: (B) The vehicle did not match the company’s advertisement.

• Explanation: The tourist says the “brochure clearly stated” they would have a luxury bus, but they got a “regular minibus.” This means the vehicle did not match the advertisement.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the trap. The audio mentions “an hour”, but the guide was late (didn’t show up on time), so the tour did not start early. Option (A) is plausible but not mentioned.

2 Answer: (A) It was extremely hot inside the vehicle.

• Explanation: The tourist says the bus did not have a “working cooling system” and it was “boiling inside.” “Boiling” is a strong synonym for “extremely hot.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a very strong trap. The manager mentions a “mechanical issue with our main coach”, but that was the reason they changed buses. The actual bus the passengers rode on did not break down. Option (B) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (B) Give him back some of the money he spent.

• Explanation: The tourist says, “I think a partial refund is entirely fair.” A partial refund means getting some money back, which matches option (B).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The tourist explicitly states, “I’m not asking for the full amount back.” Option (C) is an extreme action that the tourist does not request.

Tourist: Excuse me, are you the manager? I need to speak with someone about the city tour I took yesterday. It was a complete disaster.

Manager: Yes, I’m the manager. I’m very sorry to hear that. What exactly went wrong?

Tourist: First of all, we waited in the hot sun for nearly an hour because the guide didn’t show up on time. But the worst part was the transportation. Your brochure clearly stated we would travel in a luxury, air-conditioned bus.

Manager: Oh, dear. Did the vehicle not have a working cooling system?

Tourist: Exactly! It was just a regular minibus, and it was boiling inside. Several people were feeling dizzy. Honestly, I didn’t get what I paid for. I’m not asking for the full amount back, but I think a partial refund is entirely fair under these circumstances.

Manager: I completely understand your frustration. It seems there was a sudden mechanical issue with our main coach, so we had to use a backup vehicle. Let me get an incident form, and I will process a 30% discount back to your credit card right away.

Tourist: Thank you. I appreciate you handling this so quickly.