Getting Ready
When do you use these words? Write them in the correct lists. Then add your own words to each list.
|
not bad |
wonderful |
very disappointing |
so-so |
|
awful |
all right |
nothing special |
terrific |
|
fantastic |
really great |
pretty boring |
terrible |
|
Didn’t like it |
Liked it a little |
Liked it a lot |
|
|
|
fantastic
|
Answer
Didn’t like it: awful, pretty boring, very disappointing, nothing special, terrible
Liked it a little: all right, not bad, so-so
Liked it a lot: really great, fantastic, terrific, wonderful
Listening 1
These people didn’t have a good vacation. What did they do? Listen and circle the correct answer.
1 a went away
b stayed home
2 a went to Hawaii
b went to Okinawa
3 a went away
b stayed home
4 a invited relatives to stay
b visited relatives
5 a went to the beach
b went to the country
6 a went skiing
b stayed home
7 a went skiing
b stayed home
8 a went to Las Vegas
b went to Los Angeles
Answer & Transcript
1 b 2 a 3 b 4 b 5 b 6 a 7 b 8 a
Transcript
1
A: Did you have a good vacation?
B: Not bad. I decided not to go away. I just stayed home and watched TV.
A: You call that a vacation?
2
A: How was your vacation?
B: So-so
A: Where did you go?
B: I went to Hawaii.
A: And?
B: Well, I went for the sunshine, but it rained every day! So I couldn’t get a tan.
A: Hey. That’s tough!
3
A: How was your vacation?
B: Very disappointing.
A: Oh, what did you do?
B: Nothing. I stayed home and helped my father fix his car.
A: Oh, no!
4
A: Did you do anything interesting on your vacation?
B: Mmm. Well, I went out of town for a few days. I visited my brother and his family.
A: Did you have a nice time?
B: It was terrible. The kids were fighting all the time.
5
A: When did you get back from your trip?
B: Last week.
A: So did you go to the beach?
B: Not this time. I rented a house in the country. It was really quiet and peaceful. And really boring! And the birds woke me up at six o’clock every morning.
6
A: What did you do on your vacation? Did you stay home?
B: No, I went skiing.
A: Really. Did you have a good time?
B: It’s was great – until I broke my leg!
7
A: How was your vacation?
B: Vacation? Oh, that!
A: Did you go to the beach?
B: No, I had to stay home and study for my exam.
A: Sounds awful.
B: It was. And I failed the exam!
8
A: Did you go to California for your vacation?
B: No, I went to Nevada.
A: To Las Vegas?
B: Yeah, Las Vega.
A: That’s great. How was it?
B: It was all right until I spent all my money!
Listening 2
Task 1
Did the people enjoy their vacations? Listen and check (✓) the correct answer.
1 ◻ yes
◻ no
2 ◻ yes
◻ no
3 ◻ yes
◻ no
4 ◻ yes
◻ no
5 ◻ yes
◻ no
6 ◻ yes
◻ no
7 ◻ yes
◻ no
8 ◻ yes
◻ no
Answer
1 no 2 yes 3 no 4 no
5 yes 6 no 7 yes 8 yes
Task 2
Listen again. What word completes each statement? Write the correct letter.
|
1 The weather was …… 2 the people were …… 3 The ski trip was …… 4 Their trip to France was very …… 5 Her trip to the beach was …… 6 The hotel wasn’t …… 7 The shopping in Thailand was …… 8 His vacation was too …… |
a fantastic b terrible c disappointing d nice e clean f awful g short h terrific |
Answer & Transcript
1 b 2 d 3 f 4 c 5 h 6 e 7 a 8 g
Transcript
1
A: Did you have a nice vacation?
B: It was nothing special. The weather was terrible.
A: That’s too bad.
2
A: Did you enjoy your trip to Vancouver?
B: Yeah, it was fantastic. The people are so nice.
3
A: How was your ski trip?
B: Awful.
A: Why?
B: There was no snow!
4
A: So how was your trip to France?
B: Very disappointing. It was so crowded everywhere. We couldn’t even get a hotel room.
A: That’s too bad. You should never go in July.
B: Now you tell me!
5
A: When did you get back from the beach?
B: Last weekend. I had a terrific time. I swam every day and I learned how to windsurf.
A: Great!
6
A: Did you have a nice vacation?
B: It was terrible. The food was awful. And the hotel wasn’t clean at all.
A: Oh, that’s too bad.
7
A: So how was your trip to Thailand?
B: I had a wonderful time. The shopping was fantastic. And the people were great.
A: Sounds like you had fun.
B: I did.
8
A: Did you have a great vacation?
B: Really great! But it was too short.
A: Really. How long was it?
B: Only a month.
A: A month! You’re lucky!
Listening 3
Task 1
People are talking about their vacations. Listen and number the pictures.
Answer
A 6 B 4 C 3 D 1 E 2 F 5
Task 2
Listen again. Are the statements true or false? Check (✓) the correct answer.
|
|
True |
False |
|
1 He learned to water ski very slowly. |
◻ |
◻ |
|
2 It was cold at night. |
◻ |
◻ |
|
3 The museums were interesting. |
◻ |
◻ |
|
4 The weather wasn’t good. |
◻ |
◻ |
|
5 She went to France. |
◻ |
◻ |
|
6 They had a comfortable trip. |
◻ |
◻ |
Answer & Transcript
1 False 2 True 3 False
4 False 5 False 6 True
Transcript
1
A: Is this you?
B: Yes, it is.
A: Wow! It looks really fun, but hard. How do you stay on them?
B: In the beginning, you don’t. You fall off all the time. But you learn pretty quickly. I had a wonderful time.
2
A: What are you doing here?
B: My friends and I went camping. It was really great. But it got very cold at night. This is how we kept warm.
3
A: What did you do?
B: Oh, I went sightseeing and visited all the museums.
A: Oh, that sounds interesting.
B: Actually, it was pretty boring. I hate museums.
4
A: Oh, this must have been a wonderful vacation.
B: Yes, it was fantastic. The weather was perfect. And the water was so clear.
A: Wow. Look at you. You’re all red.
B: Yes, I got a terrible sunburn.
5
A: What are you doing here?
B: Oh, I took a cooking course in Italy.
A: Terrific. So what can you make now?
B: Spaghetti and meatballs!
6
A: Did you travel the whole way in this?
B: Yes, we did. It was really very comfortable to travel in. We slept in it, too.
Conversation Corner: Talking about vacations
Task 1
Listen to the conversation. Write the missing words.
A: How was your vacation, Julia?
B: It was great! I ……………… a ……………… with some friends at the beach.
A: That sounds like fun!
B: It was. I ……………… ……………… the beach every morning, and I learned to windsurf.
A: Nice. Did you stay at the beach the whole time?
B: No, we visited a cute town nearby. We ……………… ……………… souvenirs and ate ice cream.
A: Sounds wonderful.
B: It was. In fact, I’ve ……………… I ……………… to live near the beach!
Task 2
Practice the conversation with a partner. Be sure to pronounce the past -ed verb endings correctly.
Answer & Transcript
A: How was your vacation, Julia?
B: It was great! I rented a house with some friends at the beach.
A: That sounds like fun!
B: It was. I walked on the beach every morning, and I learned to windsurf.
A: Nice. Did you stay at the beach the whole time?
B: No, we visited a cute town nearby. We shopped for souvenirs and ate ice cream.
A: Sounds wonderful.
B: It was. In fact, I’ve decided I want to live near the beach!
Related Posts
- Listening Exercises A1 – Vacations
- Practice Listening English Exercises for A1 – Plans
- Practice Listening English Exercises for A1 – Shopping
- Practice Listening English Exercises for A1 – Places
- Practice Listening English Exercises for A1 – Past
- Practice Listening English Exercises for A1 – Journeys
