Practice Listening English Exercises for A1 – Days to Remember

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Speaker 1:   Help! Help! Can anybody hear me? I’m trapped in the lift and I can’t get out! Please! Somebody help me! I can’t breathe properly!

Speaker 2:   I really don’t know how this happened. I locked the door before I left last night and put the key in the usual place. Now the key is where I left it, but the door is open. I don’t understand it!

Speaker 3:   I can’t believe it! I’ve passed my driving test! I was sure I had failed – but I didn’t, and now my parents are going to buy me a car! Isn’t it exciting?

Speaker 4:   I’ll miss old Shep, you know. He was such a sweet dog, and so gentle with children. Ah, yes, he was my best friend. I’ll never forget him …

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Up, Up and Away!

As soon as Fay woke up, she knew this birthday was going to be very special. It was a sunny morning and a gentle breeze was blowing in through the window. “A perfect day for a balloon ride!” Fay said excitedly to herself. Half an hour later, her friend Bob picked her up in his car. For her birthday present, Bob, a pilot, was taking Fay for a ride in a hot-air balloon.

Fay was thrilled when she saw the huge, bright yellow hot-air balloon. Bob made sure that everything was okay, then they climbed carefully into the basket. Moments later, the balloon began to rise slowly into the air. “This is fantastic!” she shouted cheerfully to Bob.

“Happy Birthday!” I’m glad you like your present!” he replied.

Suddenly, the smile disappeared from Bob’s face. Dark clouds were racing towards them and, before he could say anything, there was a loud rumble of thunder. The balloon shook violently from side to side. “Oh, no!” screamed Fay. “We’re going to die!” Just as Bob was reaching for the radio, there was a bright flash of lightning. Fay fell backwards and hit her head, and everything went black.

When Fay opened her eyes, she saw Bob’s worried face in front of her. “Are you alright?” he asked anxiously. “The balloon went down,” he explained, “but fortunately we’ve landed in a tree. I’ve already radioed for help.” Fay looked over the side of the basket and realised that they were hanging from a branch. “Don’t worry,” said Bob calmly. “It’ll hold us.”

At that moment a fire engine appeared. Its siren was wailing and its red lights were flashing brightly. Two firefighters jumped out and, five minutes later, Fay and Bob were standing safely on the ground. “We’re safe at last!” Fay cried.

“Fay, I’m sorry,” replied Bob. “It wasn’t quite what I had in mind, but I’m sure you won’t forget this birthday!”

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Narrator:   A cold wind was blowing, but there was a bright blue sky that morning when Dan and Mark pushed their canoe out onto the river. “Where’s the map?” asked Dan.

“I didn’t bring it,” replied Mark. “I know this river well.”

Two hours later, they stopped to have a cup of hot coffee on the river bank. They were talking about the river animals when they suddenly saw a kingfisher. “Wow!” cried Dan. “A kingfisher! Let’s follow it!” They quickly got back into the canoe and started following the tiny, colourful bird.

A short white later, the bird disappeared and the two men decided to turn around. “Oh, no! A waterfall!” Dan shouted. The canoe was quickly approaching the edge and Mark and Dan didn’t have the strength to stop it.

“Hold on!” yelled Mark. He knew they could not escape.

At that moment, they heard a shout from the riverbank. “Here! Catch!” Mark quickly caught the rope that was thrown to him. He looked up and saw two fishermen pulling their canoe to safety.

Two minutes later, Dan and Mark were sitting on the grassy river bank. They were tired, afraid and relieved, all at the same time. “I don’t know how to thank you,” Mark said to the fishermen.

“The important thing is that you’re safe,” one of them replied. “And besides,” he added with a grin, “my friends in town will never believe me when I tell them what we caught today.”