Work-life Balance – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 (B) He needs a way to relax because of heavy pressure at his job.

• Explanation: Mark says he has been feeling “really overwhelmed at work,” which means he is under heavy pressure. He also says he needs something to help him “unwind,” which is a synonym for relax.
• Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The receptionist mentions “meditation techniques,” but Mark wants to learn them to relax, not to teach them. Option (C) is plausible in a business context but is not mentioned in the audio.

2 (A) The session that takes place on Thursday night.

• Explanation: Mark works a “nine-to-five schedule” so he needs an evening class. He agrees that the “Thursday session [from] 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM” is great. “Thursday night” is a paraphrase of this time.
• Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. The receptionist mentions a “morning class on Tuesdays,” but Mark rejects it because he works during the day. Option (C) is plausible but is never mentioned.

3 (C) Because his house is located in the local area.

• Explanation: The receptionist says the price is discounted to $35 if he is a “resident of the Oakwood neighborhood.” Mark confirms he lives “just down the street.” “Located in the local area” is a paraphrase of being a neighborhood resident.
• Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. Mark mentions seeing a “flyer,” but the flyer said the price was $50, not that it had a discount coupon. Option (B) is a plausible reason for a discount but is not mentioned.

Receptionist: Good afternoon, Oakwood Community Center. This is Tina speaking. How can I help you today?

Mark: Hi Tina. Um, I’m calling because I’m interested in the new Stress Management course. I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed at work lately, so I need something to help me unwind.

Receptionist: I completely understand. That class is very popular right now. It focuses heavily on mindfulness and basic meditation techniques to help you clear your thoughts and relax your body.

Mark: That sounds perfect. But, ah, I work a typical nine-to-five schedule. Are there any sessions available in the evening?

Receptionist: Yes, absolutely. We have a morning class on Tuesdays, but our Thursday session runs from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Would that work for you?

Mark: Thursday evening is great. And how much does the course cost? I saw a flyer that said $50, but I want to be sure.

Receptionist: Well, the standard fee is $50, but if you are a resident of the Oakwood neighborhood, the price is discounted to $35.

Mark: Oh, excellent! I live just down the street. I’ll drop by tomorrow to register and pay the thirty-five dollars

1 (A) He frequently goes on business trips and lacks time for housework.

• Explanation: Mr. Evans states that his job “requires me to travel constantly,” which is a paraphrase for “frequently goes on business trips.” He also says he “can’t keep up with the household chores” (lacks time for housework).
• Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. Lisa mentions a “one-time deep clean,” but Mr. Evans immediately rejects it. He also mentions the “weekends,” but it’s for resting, not for a party. Option (C) is plausible but is never mentioned.

2 (B) A couple of days a week.

• Explanation: Mr. Evans requests the cleaner to come “twice a week” (Mondays and Thursdays). “A couple of days a week” is a direct paraphrase of this frequency.
• Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The word “weekends” is mentioned in the audio, but that is the time he wants to rest, not the days he wants to exclude from a daily cleaning schedule.

3 (C) Taking care of his laundry.

• Explanation: Lisa asks if he needs help “washing and folding your clothes,” and Mr. Evans excitedly agrees, saying it would be great if the cleaner could “handle my laundry.”
• Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. “Mopping the floors” is explicitly mentioned in the audio, but Lisa states it is part of the “basic package,” not the extra chore Mr. Evans asks to add to save time. Option (A) is a common house chore but is not mentioned at all.

Lisa: Good morning, Sparkle Home Services. This is Lisa. How can I assist you today?

Mr. Evans: Hi, Lisa. I’m calling to ask about your cleaning services. Um, my current job requires me to travel constantly, and I just can’t keep up with the household chores anymore. My apartment is an absolute disaster.

Lisa: I completely understand, sir. Many of our clients struggle to maintain their homes due to demanding careers. Are you looking for a one-time deep clean, or a regular maintenance schedule?

Mr. Evans: Definitely a regular schedule. I think having someone come in twice a week would be ideal. Maybe on Mondays and Thursdays?

Lisa: Monday and Thursday mornings are currently available. Our basic package includes dusting, vacuuming, and mopping the floors. Ah, do you also need help with washing and folding your clothes?

Mr. Evans: Oh, yes, please! If the cleaner could handle my laundry, that would save me so much time on the weekends. I really need those two days just to rest.

Lisa: Perfect. That falls under our premium package. Let me get your address, and we can set up the first appointment for next Monday.

1 (A) She wants to cure the physical discomfort caused by her computer work.

• Explanation: Emily says she has been “working crazy hours at my desk” and “staring at a computer monitor all day,” which makes her upper body “stiff” and gives her “tension headaches.” “Physical discomfort” is a paraphrase of stiffness and headaches.
• Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. The spa receptionist mentions the “standard full-body Swedish massage,” but Emily explicitly rejects it, saying “I don’t really need a full-body treatment.” Option (C) is plausible for a spa visit but is never mentioned.

2 (B) It concentrates exclusively on the upper sections of the body.

• Explanation: David explains that the package is “focused entirely on your upper back, neck, and shoulders.” “Concentrates exclusively on the upper sections” is a direct paraphrase of this description.
• Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The audio mentions a “full-body” massage earlier in the conversation, but the “Desk Relief” package is only for the upper body. Option (C) is a trap because the script mentions stones, but they are “warm stones,” not cold stones.

3 (C) $65, because she is scheduling her visit during the promotional weekend.

• Explanation: David says the price “drops down to $65 if you book for Saturday or Sunday” (the weekend). Emily agrees and schedules it for “Saturday afternoon.”
• Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The audio mentions “$80,” but that is the “normal” price, not the price Emily will pay on the weekend. Option (B) is a plausible price but is not mentioned in the dialogue.

David: Good afternoon, Serenity Spa. This is David speaking. How can I help you today?

Emily: Hi, David. Um, I’d like to book a treatment for this weekend. I’ve been working crazy hours at my desk lately, and my upper body is incredibly stiff. I’m looking for something to help me relax.

David: I see. Many office workers have that exact issue. Are you interested in our standard full-body Swedish massage? It’s very popular for general relaxation.

Emily: Well, I don’t really need a full-body treatment. Ah, I was hoping for something specifically designed for the neck and shoulders. Staring at a computer monitor all day has given me terrible tension headaches.

David: Ah, then I highly recommend our “Desk Relief” package. It’s a 60-minute deep tissue therapy focused entirely on your upper back, neck, and shoulders. It uses warm stones to melt away the muscle stiffness.

Emily: That sounds absolutely perfect! How much does that specific package cost?

David: It is normally $80, but we have a weekend promotion right now, so it drops down to $65 if you book for Saturday or Sunday.

Emily: Great! Let’s schedule it for Saturday afternoon, please.

1 (B) He needs a supervised place for his son to stay after normal classes.

• Explanation: Mr. Davis asks about the “after-school care program” because he cannot pick up his son when “regular classes end.”
• Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The phrase “whole week” is mentioned, but it is about how long Leo will attend the program, not that he will be absent. Option (C) is plausible in a school context but is not mentioned.

2 (A) His daily working hours were recently modified by his employer.

• Explanation: Mr. Davis explains that his “company recently changed my shift,” which means his working hours were modified.
• Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. Ms. Parker mentions that children “play sports,” but that is what they do in the program, not the reason Mr. Davis needs the service. Option (C) is a plausible work event but is never mentioned.

3 (C) Complete an application document on the internet.

• Explanation: Ms. Parker tells him to “fill out a digital enrollment form on the school’s website.” Completing an application document on the internet is a direct paraphrase of this action.
• Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. The audio mentions sending an “invoice,” but that happens after he submits the form, so it is not the first step. Option (A) is a trap because Mr. Davis says he will “get that done during my lunch break” (meaning he will fill out the online form), not that he will visit the school physically.

Ms. Parker: Good morning, Oakbridge Elementary School. This is Ms. Parker speaking. How can I help you?

Mr. Davis: Hi, yes. My name is Mark Davis. My son Leo is in the third grade. Um, I’m calling to ask about the after-school care program.

Ms. Parker: Certainly, Mr. Davis. Are you looking to enroll Leo for the whole week or just for specific days?

Mr. Davis: Probably the whole week. You see, my company recently changed my shift, and I don’t get off work until 5:30 PM now. So, there is absolutely no way I can pick him up at 3:00 PM when regular classes end.

Ms. Parker: I completely understand. A lot of working parents use our extended care. The program runs until 6:00 PM. During that time, the children do their homework and play sports in the gym.

Mr. Davis: That sounds perfect. Ah, what do I need to do to register him?

Ms. Parker: You just need to fill out a digital enrollment form on the school’s website. Once you submit that, we will send you an invoice for the monthly fee.

Mr. Davis: Excellent. I’ll get that done during my lunch break today. Thank you so much!

1 (B) He is struggling to get enough rest due to professional worries.

• Explanation: Mark says he has a “terrible time trying to fall asleep” (struggling to get enough rest) because his mind keeps thinking about his “job,” “emails,” and “deadlines” (professional worries).
• Trap Analysis: Option (C) is the trap. The words “terrible” and “pills” are in the audio, but Mark has trouble sleeping, not a “headache.” Option (A) is a plausible reason to visit a doctor, but it is not mentioned.

2 (A) To give him a prescription for medication.

• Explanation: Mark explicitly says, “I was hoping you could give me some strong sleeping pills.” “Prescription for medication” is a paraphrase for giving sleeping pills.
• Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. “Deadlines” are mentioned as the source of his stress, but the doctor cannot change his work schedule. Option (C) is a trap because reading a “physical book” is the doctor’s idea, not Mark’s original expectation.

3 (C) Staying away from digital displays a couple of hours before sleeping.

• Explanation: The doctor suggests that Mark should “stop looking at your phone or laptop at least two hours before bed.” “Digital displays” is a paraphrase of phones and laptops.
• Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The audio mentions “taking a warm bath,” but the doctor suggests doing it before bed to signal the workday is over, not “as soon as he leaves the office.” Option (B) is a common home remedy for insomnia but is never mentioned in the conversation.

Doctor: Good morning, Mark. What seems to be the problem today?

Mark: Well, doctor, I’ve been having a terrible time trying to fall asleep lately. I lie in bed for hours, but my mind just won’t stop racing.

Doctor: I see. Are you feeling stressed about anything in particular?

Mark: Um, yes. It’s my job. Even when I close my eyes, I keep thinking about the emails I need to send and the project deadlines for next week. I was hoping you could give me some strong sleeping pills.

Doctor: Ah, I understand. However, I prefer not to prescribe medication right away. Pills can be addictive and they don’t solve the root cause. Instead, we need to adjust your evening routine.

Mark: Adjust my routine? How so?

Doctor: You need to create a clear boundary between your office hours and your rest time. I highly suggest you stop looking at your phone or laptop at least two hours before bed. Try reading a physical book or taking a warm bath to signal to your brain that the workday is over.

Mark: Hmm… no screens before bed. That sounds difficult, but I guess I can try it for a few weeks.