Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Fears

your own answers

A 4   B 3   C 1   D 6   E 5   F 2

Transcript

1

A:   Are you sure you don’t want me to drive? Look at the traffic!

B:   Hey, don’t worry. I’m fine. Whoops!

A:   Careful. Not so fast.

B:   Don’t worry. I’m fine. Now what’s this thing again?

A:   The brake! I said. “Brake!”

B:   Oh, yeah.

2

A:   I think there’s someone in the house.

B:   Are you sure?

A:   Yes, the lights were off when we left.

B:   That’s funny. Oh, I’m sure it’s okay.

A:   Be careful.

3

A:   Look – over there in the garden.

B:   Where?

A:   There. Oh, do something quick. Oh, I’m so frightened of those things.

B:   It’s okay. I’ve got it. Are you really frightened of this? It’s the garden hose.

4

A:   Quick! Look in the kitchen.

B:   Where?

A:   There, behind the door. Oh, I hate those things. Can you do something?

B:   It’s just a little mouse. Nothing to be afraid of.

A:   Oh, I can’t stand mice. Do something!

B:   Go get it, Fluffy.

5

A:   I’m sure I saw a big, black spider under the bed.

B:   A spider? Are you sure? Let me check.

A:   Did you get it?

B:   Ah, yes here it is. The missing button from my coat. I’ve been looking for it for days.

6

A:   Listen. I can hear someone downstairs.

B:   Are you sure?

A:   Yes, listen to that noise.

B:   Let me check.

A:   Be careful!

B:   Don’t worry. Everything is all right. We forgot to turn off the TV.

1 yes   2 no   3 yes   4 yes   5 no   6 yes

1 b   2 a   3 b   4 a   5 b   6 b

Transcript

1

I was so afraid of animals when I was younger – all kinds of animals – cats, horses, you name it. I didn’t like the way they felt when I touched them, and I was sure they were going to bite me. I even hated going to the zoo. That all changed when I turned 13, and my mom gave me a kitten for my birthday. He was so cute and friendly that I realized an animal can really be your best friend.

2

I was afraid of snakes when I was a kid. I remember going to the zoo and seeing them there, and I thought they were kind of cute. But once, when I was out hiking, I nearly stepped on one, and it tried to bite me. It was really ugly and I’m sure it was poisonous. Since then, I’ve been pretty terrified of them. I could never touch one now!

3

Some people hate spiders. They think they’re really creepy. I guess I felt like that when I was a kid. I used to scream if I saw a spider, on the wall. My friend had a pet spider and I couldn’t go near it. Then when I went to college, we had a spider collection in our biology lab. When we studied them, I decided they were interesting and intelligent, too. I kind of like them now.

4

I was always afraid of the water as a kid. I would never go into the pool or swim at the beach. I was sure I would drown. Then I took swimming lessons in high school. Once I learned how to swim, I felt different. Now I love the water and especially the beach. I feel totally safe because now I know how to take care of myself in the water.

5

I don’t really like driving on the freeway. I guess it’s because the traffic moves so fast. I didn’t use to be so nervous. I used to travel all over using the freeways. But one day, I was in a car accident and I lost all my confidence. So nowadays, I only use the freeway when it’s really necessary.

6

The first time I got on an airplane, I was terrified. I just couldn’t understand how a big, heavy thing like a plane could stay up in the air. After we were in the air for a while, I spoke to the man next to me. He was an airplane engineer and explained how airplanes stay in the air. That really helped because I understand how planes work. I was still a little nervous on the next few flights, but now I really love flying.

1 False, True     2 True, False

3 False, True     4 False, True

1 c   2 b   3 c   4 c

Transcript

1

When I was a kid, I got stuck in an elevator when the electricity went out, and since then, I’ve always been afraid of elevators. I was all alone, and there was no way to get out of the elevator. I hated that feeling. Now I almost never use elevators. I take the stairs instead. If I have to take an elevator – for example, if I’m in a really tall building – I make sure there’s someone else in the elevator with me. The only problem is, sometimes I have to wait a long time until another person comes along.

2

I don’t like swimming in the ocean because the waves are so dangerous. They always knock me over. I also hate the way that seaweed touches me when I swim in the ocean. I always think it’s some animal that’s going to bite me – you know, like a shark or a jellyfish. That’s why I only swim in the swimming pool. The only problem is that the pool in my neighborhood is always crowded.

3

Birds are the only animals I’m really afraid of. But not all birds. Just seagulls, like at the beach. I don’t mind most little birds because they leave you alone. But seagulls? That’s a different story. I’m sure it’s because of the time a bunch of seagulls chased me when I was a kid. They didn’t hurt me, but I’ve been really scared of them ever since. That’s a real problem, because a lot of my friends enjoy going to the beach, but I stay home to avoid the birds.

4

I don’t know why, but I’m really afraid of heights. I work in a tall building, and I can’t even stand to look out my office window. Right away, I get this feeling like I’m suddenly going to fall. I’m really afraid. Of course, airplanes are the worst. I’m really nervous when I have to fly. The biggest problem is that there are some fun things I can’t do with my kids. The other weekend, I took them to an amusement park. They were excited about going on the roller coasters, but I was too afraid to take them. My kids were really disappointed. I felt terrible about letting them down.

A:   Are you afraid of anything?

B:   Yes. I’m afraid of elevators. Once, when I was a kid, I got stuck in an elevator.

A:   So what do you do when you have to take an elevator?

B:   I try to take the stairs! How about you?

A:   I was afraid of insects when I was a kid.

B:   How did you stop being afraid of insects?

A:   When I was in college, I studied insects in a biology class. Now, I’m not afraid at all. In fact, I think insects are fascinating!