Work-life Balance – B1 English Listening Exercise
Listening 1
Listen to the phone conversation between an employee (Alex) and his boss (Mr. Peterson), and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the main reason Mr. Peterson called Alex?
(A) To ask him to return to the office for an emergency.
(B) To discuss some confusing financial figures.
(C) To invite him and his family to a dinner party.
2 Why does Alex refuse to help his boss immediately?
(A) He is currently having a meal with his relatives.
(B) He needs to prepare for a presentation on Thursday.
(C) He does not know how to fix the marketing data.
3 What do the two men agree to do at the end of the call?
(A) Alex will explain the information at the start of the next workday.
(B) Mr. Peterson will finish the spreadsheet alone tonight.
(C) Alex will send a text message with the details after he finishes eating.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) To discuss some confusing financial figures.
- Explanation: Mr. Peterson says he is looking at the “budget spreadsheet” and can’t figure out the “marketing expenses.” “Financial figures” is a paraphrase of budget and expenses.
- Trap Analysis: Option (C) is the trap. The words “dinner” and “family” are in the script, but Mr. Peterson is interrupting Alex’s dinner, not inviting him to a party. Option (A) is a plausible work situation, but it is not mentioned.
2 (A) He is currently having a meal with his relatives.
- Explanation: Alex explains that he is “in the middle of dinner with my family.” “Having a meal with his relatives” is a direct paraphrase of this statement.
- Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. The script mentions a “presentation on Thursday,” but that is Mr. Peterson’s schedule, not Alex’s excuse. Option (C) is plausible, but Alex never says he doesn’t know how to do it; he just wants to do it tomorrow.
3 (A) Alex will explain the information at the start of the next workday.
- Explanation: Alex offers to call his boss back “first thing tomorrow morning” and “log in at 8 AM” to walk him through the details. “Start of the next workday” is a paraphrase of tomorrow morning at 8 AM.
- Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. Mr. Peterson originally wanted to “get it out of the way” tonight, but he agrees to wait until tomorrow, so he will not finish it alone tonight. Option (C) is a trap because sending a text message is never mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alex: Hello, Mr. Peterson.
Mr. Peterson: Hi Alex, sorry to bother you so late. I’m looking at the Q3 budget spreadsheet right now and I just can’t figure out the marketing expenses. Can we go over the numbers quickly?
Alex: Oh, um, I’d love to help, but I’m actually in the middle of dinner with my family right now. Is this a critical issue that needs to be fixed tonight?
Mr. Peterson: Well, not exactly. The presentation isn’t until Thursday. It’s just that I wanted to get it out of the way so I wouldn’t have to worry about it tomorrow.
Alex: Ah, I see. Since it isn’t an absolute emergency, would you mind if I call you back first thing tomorrow morning? I can log in at 8 AM and walk you through all the details.
Mr. Peterson: Fair enough. I shouldn’t be interrupting your personal time anyway. Enjoy your meal with your family, Alex. We’ll speak tomorrow.
Alex: Thank you for understanding, Mr. Peterson. Have a good evening.
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation between two colleagues (Sarah and Mark) and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why is Sarah concerned about Mark at the beginning of the conversation?
(A) She caught him taking a nap at his workstation.
(B) He was the very last person to arrive at the office.
(C) He forgot to send an urgent email to their manager.
2 Why is Mark refusing to stop working?
(A) He has to deliver a speech to the marketing team at noon.
(B) He is worried that the advertising project will be postponed.
(C) He is afraid the company will cancel his upcoming vacation.
3 What does Sarah offer to do to help Mark?
(A) She will handle the rest of his unfinished assignments.
(B) She will contact the marketing team to ask for more time.
(C) She will drive him to his house so he can sleep safely.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) She caught him taking a nap at his workstation.
- Explanation: Sarah wakes Mark up by saying, “You were fast asleep on your keyboard” and Mark admits he “dozed off.” “Taking a nap at his workstation” is a paraphrase of falling asleep on the keyboard.
- Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. The audio mentions “the last one to leave,” but the option says “last person to arrive,” which is incorrect (Sarah says he is the first one to arrive). Option (C) is a plausible workplace mistake but is never mentioned.
2 (B) He is worried that the advertising project will be postponed.
- Explanation: Mark says that if he doesn’t finish, “the whole campaign might be delayed.” “Advertising project” is a paraphrase of campaign, and “postponed” is a synonym for delayed.
- Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The script mentions “marketing team” and “noon,” but Mark is preparing “data analysis,” not delivering a speech. Option (C) is a plausible fear for a busy worker but is not mentioned in the audio.
3 (A) She will handle the rest of his unfinished assignments.
- Explanation: Sarah tells Mark to go home and says, “I’ll take over and complete the remaining calculations for you.” “Handle the rest of his unfinished assignments” is a direct paraphrase of this offer.
- Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. The “marketing team” is mentioned earlier as the group waiting for the work, but Sarah does not offer to call them; she offers to do the work herself. Option (C) is a plausible kind action for a tired friend, but driving him home is never mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Sarah: Mark? Mark, wake up! Are you okay? You were fast asleep on your keyboard.
Mark: Oh… what? Ah, I’m so sorry, Sarah. I must have dozed off for a minute. I was just trying to finish this data analysis for the marketing team.
Sarah: You look absolutely exhausted. You’ve been the first one to arrive and the last one to leave all week. This isn’t a healthy way to work.
Mark: I know, but, um, the deadline is tomorrow at noon. If I don’t get these numbers organized, the whole campaign might be delayed.
Sarah: Listen to me. You need to shut down your computer and go home right now. Getting some proper sleep is much more important than a spreadsheet.
Mark: But what about the analysis? It’s still missing the final section.
Sarah: Don’t worry about it. Just save the file on the shared drive. I’ll take over and complete the remaining calculations for you.
Mark: Are you sure? That’s really kind of you.
Sarah: Positive. Now pack your things and go get some rest.
Listening 3
Listen to the conversation between a parent (Mr. Harris) and a teacher (Ms. Miller), and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 Why did Mr. Harris miss his son’s performance?
(A) He had to travel out of town for a company business trip.
(B) He was delayed by an unexpectedly long meeting at work.
(C) He forgot the exact starting time of the afternoon event.
2 How does Mr. Harris feel at the beginning of the conversation?
(A) He feels extremely guilty about being absent.
(B) He feels angry because his manager gave him too much work.
(C) He feels disappointed in his son’s acting skills.
3 What does Ms. Miller promise to do for Mr. Harris?
(A) Ask another parent to share their personal recording.
(B) Allow Tommy to perform the play one more time for him.
(C) Send him an online video of the school show.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) He was delayed by an unexpectedly long meeting at work.
- Explanation: Mr. Harris says he was pulled into a “sudden client discussion” that “kept dragging on and on,” leaving him “stuck at the office.” “Unexpectedly long meeting” is a direct paraphrase of this situation.
- Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The phrase “out of town” is mentioned in the audio, but it is his wife who is traveling, not him. Option (C) is a plausible reason for missing an event, but it is not mentioned.
2 (A) He feels extremely guilty about being absent.
- Explanation: Mr. Harris says, “I just wanted to sincerely apologize” and “I feel absolutely terrible about it.” These phrases show that he is experiencing deep guilt about his absence.
- Trap Analysis: Option (C) is the trap. The word “disappointed” is in the audio, but Ms. Miller says Tommy was disappointed, not Mr. Harris. Option (B) is a plausible reaction, but Mr. Harris is focused on his own guilt, not anger towards his manager.
3 (C) Send him an online video of the school show.
- Explanation: Ms. Miller says the school hired a professional to record the event and she will “email you the digital link.” Sending an “online video” is a paraphrase of emailing a digital link.
- Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. Mr. Harris asks if “anyone happen to film the performance,” which might make you think of another parent, but Ms. Miller clarifies that a “professional” was hired by the school. Option (B) is incorrect and never mentioned.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Mr. Harris: Hi, Ms. Miller. Do you have a moment? I just wanted to sincerely apologize for missing Tommy’s school play this afternoon. I feel absolutely terrible about it.
Ms. Miller: Oh, hello Mr. Harris. Please don’t be too hard on yourself. Tommy was a bit disappointed, but he did a fantastic job on stage.
Mr. Harris: I’m so glad he did well. Well, um, I had every intention of being there, but my manager pulled me into a sudden client discussion at 2:00 PM. I thought it would only take twenty minutes, but it just kept dragging on and on. I was completely stuck at the office.
Ms. Miller: I understand. Balancing a demanding career and family time is always a huge challenge.
Mr. Harris: It really is. Ah, I wanted to ask… did anyone happen to film the performance? My wife is out of town, and we really don’t want to miss seeing him act.
Ms. Miller: Yes, actually! The school hired a professional to record the whole event. I’ll email you the digital link as soon as it is uploaded tomorrow.
Mr. Harris: Oh, that is a huge relief. Thank you so much, Ms. Miller.
Listening 4
Listen to the phone conversation between an employee (Tom) and an IT support staff member (Nina), and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the main problem Tom is calling about?
(A) He forgot his password to access the marketing system.
(B) His computer suddenly stopped functioning completely.
(C) He wants to borrow a new device for his weekend work.
2 Why can’t the technical team fix the issue immediately?
(A) They do not have the right tools to run a diagnostic.
(B) The manager told them to prioritize other departments.
(C) The staff are not working because it is the weekend.
3 How does Tom feel at the end of the conversation?
(A) Anxious because his manager will punish him on Monday.
(B) Glad that he has a good excuse to rest for a couple of days.
(C) Angry because the IT staff refused to help him solve the issue.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) His computer suddenly stopped functioning completely.
- Explanation: Tom says his laptop “crashed completely” and “won’t turn on.” “Stopped functioning completely” is a direct paraphrase of crashing and not turning on.
- Trap Analysis: Option (C) is the trap. Tom mentions he was planning to “work on it tomorrow” (weekend work), but he never asks to borrow a new device. Option (A) is a plausible IT problem but is not mentioned.
2 (C) The staff are not working because it is the weekend.
- Explanation: Nina explains that “since it’s Saturday” (the weekend), the team is “out of the office” (not working).
- Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The word “diagnostic” is mentioned in the audio, but the reason they cannot do it is because they are absent, not because they lack the right tools. Option (B) is never mentioned.
3 (B) Glad that he has a good excuse to rest for a couple of days.
- Explanation: Tom says, “I suppose I’ll just have to enjoy my weekend off!” and sounds very relieved. Getting an “official note” gives him a good excuse to rest.
- Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The words “manager” and “get in trouble” (punish) are in the script, but Nina promises to send a note so he won’t get in trouble, meaning he is not anxious at all. Option (C) is a plausible reaction for a broken laptop, but Tom is actually happy about it.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Nina: IT Helpdesk, this is Nina speaking. How can I assist you today?
Tom: Hi Nina, it’s Tom from the marketing department. Well, um, my company laptop just crashed completely. The screen went black and it won’t turn on no matter what I do. I have a huge report due next week, and I was planning to work on it tomorrow.
Nina: Ah, I’m sorry to hear that, Tom. Let me check the system… Unfortunately, since it’s Saturday, the main technical team is out of the office. We won’t be able to run a diagnostic or repair it until Monday morning.
Tom: Oh… really? Nothing can be done today?
Nina: I’m afraid not. You’ll just have to leave it until we return. I can send an official note to your manager explaining the hardware failure so you won’t get in trouble for the delay.
Tom: (Tone shifts to relief) Oh! Well, um, I guess I have no choice then. Thank you, Nina. An official note to my manager would be perfect. I suppose I’ll just have to enjoy my weekend off!
Nina: Exactly. Try to relax, Tom. See you on Monday.
Listening 5
Listen to the conversation between two colleagues and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).
1 What is the main problem the two colleagues are discussing?
(A) They have both been asked to work late during a holiday weekend.
(B) They both want the same vacation time but the team needs coverage.
(C) They both bought expensive tickets to the same outdoor music event.
2 Why is Ben hesitant to change his original vacation plan?
(A) He has already paid for his transportation to see his family.
(B) He has to attend an important client meeting early in the week.
(C) He is responsible for sending a project update to the manager.
3 How do they finally resolve their scheduling conflict?
(A) Ben decides to cancel his family trip to help finish the project.
(B) Alex agrees to take a shorter leave at the end of the workweek.
(C) They agree to ask the manager to hire someone to handle emails.
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (B) They both want the same vacation time but the team needs coverage.
- Explanation: Alex states that they both “requested time off” for the same week, but the manager said “only one of us can be away at a time to keep the project running.”
- Trap Analysis: Option (C) is the trap. The script mentions an “outdoor event” and “music festival,” but that is only Alex’s plan, not Ben’s plan. Option (A) is a plausible workplace issue but is never mentioned.
2 (A) He has already paid for his transportation to see his family.
- Explanation: Ben explains that he has already “booked train tickets” (paid for transportation) to “visit my parents” (see his family).
- Trap Analysis: Option (B) is the trap. The audio mentions “client emails,” but Ben plans to handle them when he returns on Thursday, not attend a meeting early in the week. Option (C) is a trap because sending an email to the manager is what Alex promises to do at the end.
3 (B) Alex agrees to take a shorter leave at the end of the workweek.
- Explanation: Alex decides to just “take Thursday and Friday off” so he can see the bands. Thursday and Friday are the end of the workweek.
- Trap Analysis: Option (A) is the trap. The “project” is mentioned in the beginning, but Ben does not cancel his trip; he still takes Monday to Wednesday off. Option (C) is plausible, but they solve the problem themselves without asking the manager to hire anyone.
AUDIO SCRIPT
Alex: Hey Ben. Did you see the manager’s email? We both requested time off for the Summer Festival week, but she said only one of us can be away at a time to keep the project running.
Ben: Yeah, I saw that. Ah, this is a bit of a problem. I’ve already booked train tickets to visit my parents that week. We are having a big family reunion.
Alex: Oh, I see. Well, um, I was hoping to go to the music festival with my friends. It’s an outdoor event that lasts the whole week.
Ben: Hmm. Is there any way we can split the week? I really need Monday to Wednesday to see my relatives.
Alex: Let me think. The best bands are actually performing on the weekend. So, if I just take Thursday and Friday off, I can still catch the main shows. Would that work for you?
Ben: That would be perfect, Alex! I’ll come back to the office on Thursday morning to handle our client emails so you can go.
Alex: Great. I’ll reply to the manager now and let her know we’ve reached a compromise.