Practice Listening English Exercises for A1 – Journeys (2)

A

Hans travelled by train.

B

1 Russia   2 Samarkand, Tashkent, Almaty

3 no   4 $25,000

C

1 T   2 T

3 F (He says the train was very comfortable: Just like a hotel on wheels – it had everything I needed.)

4 T

Audioscript

KLARA   My mum said you went on a Silk Road trip.

HANS   Yes, it was a wonderful trip – really fantastic.

K   How did you travel?

H   By train of course. The only way to go.

K   Well, not the only way … I went there last year and I travelled by train, and by coach, and by bike!

H   By bike? Wow!

K   Yes, it was great. So where did you catch the train from – Turkey?

H   No, no, from Russia – Moscow.

K   Russia?

H   Yes, it’s the best place to catch the train.

K   But did you go through Central Asia?

H   Oh yes – all those wonderful cities: Samarkand, Tashkent, Almaty.

K   And did you change trains?

H   No – the same train all the way.

K   Was it comfortable?

H   Very. Just like a hotel on wheels – it had everything I needed.

K   Great! And how much did it cost?

H   I don’t remember exactly. Not too much for a trip like that. About $25,000.

K   $25,000?

H   Well … that was for everything. The train, the food, everything! It was a great trip. And no bikes!

A

B

Audioscript

ALEX   Hi, Svetlana. Sorry I’m late. It was the traffic. So how did you get here?

SVETLANA   On the metro, of course.

A   Really? Do you use the metro?

S   Yes, I love going on the metro, it’s so quick. It only took half an hour. Don’t you use the metro?

A   No, I don’t like using the metro, it’s so crowded. And it isn’t always very clean in the trains. And the stations, they’re terrible. So many people.

S   Oh, I love the stations. I think they’re beautiful. So did you come by car?

A   Yes, of course, I go everywhere by car. I like driving in Moscow.

S   You like it? But it’s always so slow. How long did it take you to get here?

A   About an hour, maybe. The traffic was bad.

S   But it’s always bad. I hate sitting in traffic, it’s so boring.

A   Oh, I don’t mind it, it’s not too bad. You can listen to the radio, you can chat to people.

S   Well, you must have a very nice car.

A   It is quite a nice car, yes, it’s very comfortable and big inside.

S   Ah.

A

1   Annie is at the train station.

2   She runs into the woman.

3   a   Annie says ‘I’m so sorry!’

      b   The woman says ‘Watch out!’

B

1   They are on a train.

2   Students’ own answers

3   b

C

1 Leo   2 Annie   3 Leo

D

1   F (Annie is on her way to Bristol and Leo is on his way to Reading.)

2   F (Annie is visiting her mum in Bristol.)

3   T

Audioscript

A

ANNOUNCEMENT   The train at platform 3 is the 11.50 for Bristol.

ANNIE   Oh no!

PASSENGER   Watch out!

A   I’m so sorry.

P   That’s all right.

B

LEO   Excuse me. Excuse me, please. … Excuse me, but I think this is my seat. I booked it online.

ANNIE   Oh. I’m very sorry.

L   Annie!

A   Leo! I’m sorry I took your seat. I just sat down. I didn’t check. I’m really sorry.

L   No problem!

A   Um. Your seat.

L   No, no, you have the seat.

A   But you booked it.

L   It doesn’t matter. It’s yours now.

A   Thank you.

L   I can sit here.

D

ANNIE   Are you on your way to Bristol?

LEO   No, Reading. I went to university there.

A   Really?

L   You?

A   Bristol. For the weekend.

L   To see … a friend?

A   A friend? No, no, my mum lives there. I go to see her every month.

L   Great!

A

1 e   2 c   3 b   4 a   5 d

B
Conversation 1

b   A   Excuse me, but I think that’s my coat.

c   B   Is it? I’m so sorry. I took the wrong one.

a   A   No problem. They all look the same.

Conversation 2

f   A   Excuse me, but I think this is my seat.

e   B   Oh dear. I’m very sorry. I thought this was number 35.

d   A   Don’t worry. The seat numbers are hard to read.

C

1 was   2 was   3 did (you) travel   4 cycled

5 took   6 travelled   7 did (you) visit   8 didn’t go

9 did (you) enjoy   10 were

A

No, he doesn’t.

B

2 ✓ likes watching sport

3 ✓ likes listening to music

6 ✓ wants to study hard

7 ✓ likes playing football

Audioscript

AHMED   So here are the photos and the profiles of the families I can choose from.

FINN   Hmm, OK. So two very different kinds of families.

A   Yes, it’s difficult to decide.

F   Well, both families look very friendly.

A   Yeah, they do.

F   And the Conways look very kind.

A   But maybe a bit quiet?

F   Mm, maybe. Look, the Philips like doing sport – swimming, surfing – that kind of thing.

A   Yeah, but I don’t like going to the beach much. I prefer playing football.

F   You mean soccer. In Australia we say soccer, not football.

A   Oh, of course, I forgot.

F   And, I have to say, in Australia soccer isn’t so popular. Everyone loves rugby.

A   But the Conways like watching any sport so maybe I can watch soccer with them. That’d be nice.

F   Yeah, that’s true. But you like listening to music, don’t you?

A   Yes, I do.

F   And the Philips like listening to music too.

A   I’m not sure about children.

F   Children are fun.

A   Yes, but maybe not so quiet …

F   No, not if you want to study.

A   And I really want to study a lot.

F   You also need to think about transport. It’s quite expensive in Sydney.

A   So I can save money if I stay at the Conways?

F   Yeah, you probably can. You can walk everywhere.

A   It really is hard to choose.

F   It sure is. But you’re the only person who can decide!