Travel Problems – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) She was watching an outdoor entertainment show.

• Explanation: The tourist says she was at the “main square” watching a “guy juggling fire” and the “show”. This is paraphrased as an “outdoor entertainment show.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions her “hotel,” but that is where her passport is, not where the crime happened. Option (C) is plausible, but she was watching a performance, not buying food.

2 Answer: (C) Her identification and bank cards.

• Explanation: The tourist lists the stolen items: a “driver’s license” (which is a form of identification) and “credit cards” (bank cards).
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the main trap. The word “passport” is clearly spoken, but she says it is “locked in the safe”, meaning it was NOT stolen. Option (B) is also a trap; she reached into her “bag”, but only the wallet inside it was taken.

3 Answer: (A) To help her claim money from her insurance.

• Explanation: The officer tells her he will give her an official copy to “send to your travel insurance company.” * Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is a strong trap. The audio mentions “cancel your bank cards” and the tourist says she will “call my bank”, but the document itself is for the insurance company, not the bank. Option (C) is plausible in real life but is not mentioned in the dialogue.

Officer: Good afternoon. How can I help you today?

Tourist: Hello. I need to report a crime. My wallet was stolen about an hour ago.

Officer: I see. Please sit down. Can you tell me exactly where this happened?

Tourist: I was at the main square. There was a guy juggling fire, and a huge crowd gathered around him. I was watching the show, and someone bumped into me. I didn’t think much of it, but um, when I reached into my bag later, my wallet was gone!

Officer: I’m sorry to hear that. Pickpockets often target distracted tourists in those busy areas. Do you know what was inside the wallet?

Tourist: Well, luckily my passport is locked in the safe at my hotel. But they took my driver’s license, two credit cards, and about 200 euros in cash.

Officer: Alright. I need you to fill out this incident report. Make sure to cancel your bank cards immediately. Once you finish the form, I’ll give you an official copy to send to your travel insurance company.

Tourist: Thank you so much. I will call my bank right now.

1 Answer: (B) To ask the bank to stop her card from being used.

• Explanation: The tourist asks the operator to “freeze my account right away.” “Freeze an account” means to stop the card from being used.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The audio mentions “unauthorized purchases”, but she is calling to prevent them before they happen, not to report one that already happened. Option (C) is also a trap; she mentions the “Eiffel Tower” and her “passport”, but she did not lose her passport.

2 Answer: (C) She will not have to pay for any illegal transactions from now on.

• Explanation: The operator says she “will not be held responsible for any unauthorized purchases.” This means she won’t have to pay if someone steals and uses her card.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions her “hotel” and “tomorrow”, but the operator never promises to deliver a new card there. Option (B) is incorrect because a frozen account cannot be used.

3 Answer: (A) The bank will send cash to an affiliated bank for her to collect.

• Explanation: The operator offers to “wire money to a partner bank in Paris” so she can “pick it up.” “Partner bank” is a synonym for “affiliated bank.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is the main trap. The tourist needs to pay the “hotel”, but the bank is sending the money to her (via a partner bank), not directly to the hotel manager. Option (B) is a plausible solution in real life but is never mentioned in the audio.

Operator: National Bank Customer Service, this is Daniel. How can I assist you today?

Tourist: Hi Daniel, I’m calling from Paris. Um, I need to report a missing credit card. I think I dropped it somewhere near the Eiffel Tower this morning. Can you please freeze my account right away? I’m terrified someone might use it!

Operator: I can certainly help you with that, ma’am. Let me just pull up your profile. Alright, I have successfully blocked the card ending in 4092. Don’t worry, you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized purchases made after this moment.

Tourist: Oh, that’s a huge relief. Thank you. But, well, now I have another problem. I don’t have any cash left to pay for my hotel, and I’m supposed to check out tomorrow.

Operator: I understand. We do offer an emergency cash service for travelers in your situation. We can wire money to a partner bank in Paris, and you can go there to pick it up using your passport.

Tourist: That sounds perfect! How do we set that up?

1 Answer: (B) He lost his balance and fell during a walk.

• Explanation: The tourist says he was “hiking” (a walk) and “slipped” (lost his balance) on some wet rocks.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a strong trap because the audio mentions “rocks” and the “beach”. However, he injured his elbow (not his leg), and he is going to the beach tomorrow, not when the accident happened. Option (A) is a plausible travel problem but is never mentioned.

2 Answer: (C) The wound getting worse from bacteria.

• Explanation: The tourist says, “I’m a bit worried about infection.” An infection happens when bacteria enter a wound and make it worse.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the main trap. The word “stitches” is in the audio, but the pharmacist explicitly says the cut is not deep so he “won’t need stitches.” Option (B) is a trap because he mentions “bottled water”, but he used it to clean the cut, not because he is running out of it.

3 Answer: (A) They will keep the injury dry when he goes to the sea.

• Explanation: The pharmacist gives him “waterproof” bandages because he is going to the “beach”, which means they will protect the cut in the water.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the trap. The audio mentions “antibiotic cream” (antiseptic ointment) and bandages, but they are two separate products. The medicine is not already inside the bandages. Option (C) is not mentioned.

Tourist: Hi, excuse me. Do you speak English? I need something for my arm.

Pharmacist: Yes, a little. What happened? Let me take a look.

Tourist: Well, um, I was hiking up the mountain this morning, and I slipped on some wet rocks. I scraped my elbow pretty badly. It’s quite red and sore.

Pharmacist: Ah, I see. Fortunately, the cut isn’t too deep, so you definitely won’t need stitches. Did you wash it with clean water?

Tourist: Yes, I rinsed it with my bottled water right away. But I’m a bit worried about infection. Do you have any antibiotic cream? And maybe some plasters?

Pharmacist: Certainly. I highly recommend this antiseptic ointment. Apply a thin layer twice a day. And here is a box of waterproof bandages. They are perfect if you plan to go swimming.

Tourist: Oh, great. I am actually going to the beach tomorrow. How much do I owe you for these?

Pharmacist: That will be eight euros, please.

1 Answer: (B) To question why his meal cost more than he calculated.

• Explanation: The tourist says the menu prices “make 22 euros,” but the receipt says “26 euros.” He is asking why it costs more than his calculation.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions “grilled salmon,” but he doesn’t complain about how it was cooked. Option (C) is a trap because he admits his “Italian isn’t very good,” but he doesn’t ask for an English menu.

2 Answer: (A) The tourist failed to read a specific detail about extra fees.

• Explanation: The waiter asks if he looked at the “bottom of the menu” where a note explains the “15% service charge,” and the tourist admits he “completely missed that.”
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (B) is the main trap. The tourist initially says, “I think there might be a mistake,” which makes listeners think there is a math error, but the math is actually correct with the added fee. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (B) The musicians and the restaurant employees.

• Explanation: The waiter explains that the charge covers the “live music and the evening staff.” “Musicians” means live music, and “employees” means staff.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is the trap. The tourist asks about a “tip,” and the waiter says it is included, but it is for the evening staff in general, not specifically the “kitchen chef.” Option (C) is a trap because the audio mentions “credit card,” but it is the tourist’s payment method, not the reason for the extra fee.

Tourist: Excuse me, could you explain this bill, please? I think there might be a mistake.

Waiter: Certainly, sir. What seems to be the problem?

Tourist: Well, I ordered the grilled salmon and a glass of sparkling water. On the menu, the salmon was 18 euros and the water was 4 euros. That makes 22 euros. But this receipt says I owe 26 euros. I don’t quite understand.

Waiter: Ah, I apologize for the confusion. Did you happen to look at the bottom of the menu?

Tourist: No, I didn’t. My Italian isn’t very good, to be honest. Did I miss something?

Waiter: Yes, there is a small note. It states that after 6:00 PM, a 15% service charge is automatically added to all tables. It covers the live music and the evening staff.

Tourist: Oh! I completely missed that. So, does that mean I don’t need to leave an extra tip on the table?

Waiter: Exactly. The tip is already included in that total price.

Tourist: I see. That makes sense now. Let me get my credit card.

1 Answer: (B) They noticed the landscape outside was incorrect.

• Explanation: Emma says the “scenery looks really strange” and mentions seeing “mountains.” Scenery is a synonym for landscape. They realized the mistake by looking outside.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. The audio mentions the “railway app,” but Emma uses it after they realize they are lost to find a solution. Option (C) is a trap because Emma asked a “woman sitting across from us,” not a ticket inspector/conductor.

2 Answer: (A) They might be late for their upcoming flight.

• Explanation: Liam is worried and says, “Our flight leaves in three hours!” This shows their main problem is that they are in a hurry to get to the airport.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (C) is a trap. The audio mentions the “highlands,” but that is where the train is going, not where they want to go. Option (B) is a plausible travel worry, but they never talk about money or buying new tickets.

3 Answer: (B) Exit the train soon and travel in the opposite direction.

• Explanation: Emma suggests they “get off there” (at the next stop) and “catch the express train going back the other way.” Going “back the other way” means traveling in the opposite direction.
• Why the trap is wrong: Option (A) is a trap. Emma already spoke to the woman earlier, she isn’t planning to ask her for more directions now. Option (C) is a trap because they want to go to the airport, not the mountains.

Emma: Liam, look out the window. This scenery looks really strange. Are there supposed to be mountains on the way to the airport?

Liam: I don’t think so. Let me check… Um, wait. The sign at the station we just passed said “Northbound”. The airport is south of the city!

Emma: Oh no. Did we get on the wrong train? I just asked the woman sitting across from us, and she said this line is heading up to the highlands!

Liam: You’ve got to be kidding me! We must have boarded at the wrong platform. Our flight leaves in three hours! What are we going to do?

Emma: Okay, don’t panic. Let me open the railway app on my phone. We need to find a quick solution.

Liam: What does it say? Can we turn around?

Emma: It says the next stop is Greenfield Station in about ten minutes. We can get off there, cross over to platform 2, and catch the express train going back the other way.

Liam: Thank goodness. Let’s grab our bags and stand by the doors. We cannot afford to miss that connection!