Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Life in the future

1   seat, bookcase, table, drawer

2   a 2   b 5   c 4   d 1   e 3

Audioscript

Jason:   Hello, and welcome to ‘Dream Home’. Today we’re talking to Professor Suzie Franks about homes of the future. Welcome to the programme, Professor Franks.

Suzie:   Thank you, Jason. I’m very pleased to be here. Please call me Suzie.

Jason:   OK, Suzie. So, what do you think our homes will be like in the future?

Suzie:   First of all, I think they’ll be very different from today’s homes. We already use technology a lot in our houses and we’ll use it more and more in the future.

Jason:   Can you give me an example?

Suzie:   Sure. Well, today in the house of Microsoft boss Bill Gates, the temperature, music and lights change when different visitors go into a room.

Jason:   That’s amazing. Will we all be able to do this in our homes soon?

Suzie:   Why not? We can already use our smartphones to turn washing machines on or off, but we’ll also be able to change channels on TV or control tablets without touching anything. You won’t have to use your hands to do it. And you’ll even know when your bins are full without looking!

Jason:   Will it work for the heating and the lights too?

Suzie:   Yes, it will. For example, lights will come on when you step on the stairs.

Jason:   Mmm, will furniture change very much, do you think?

Suzie:   No, I don’t think so. Seats, bookcases and things like that might not look very different. And you can’t use a smartphone to talk to a table! But you may have a table or chest of drawers with a computer inside it, so you can look at your photos or play games.

Jason:   So will our homes look more like ones we see in movies about the future?

Suzie:   Yes, some of them definitely will.

Jason:   And, finally, might our homes look different on the outside, too?

Suzie:   Oh yes. Perhaps that’ll be the biggest change. Some will be underwater, and some might even have grass on the roof. I’ll put some pictures of the houses I’m talking about on the programme website. One of them has got an amazing barbecue in the garden.

Jason:   Yes, sure. Er … excuse me, Suzie, but you can’t use a phone in the studio.

Suzie:   Oh sorry. I’m just looking in my fridge to see if I need to buy some food on the way home.

Jason:   By smartphone?

Suzie:   Yes. Of course.

1 A   2 A   3 B   4 A   5 B

Audioscript

1   You will hear two friends talking about technology. What do they think they will use in the future?

Boy:   I’ve got a new smartwatch – look how cool it is!

Girl:   Yes, but the screen is really small. What about smart glasses, have you heard of those?

Boy:   Yes, but I don’t think people use those very much.

Girl:   You’re right. I still like my smartphone best. I think that’s what people will use most in the future.

Boy:   Yes, I agree!

2   You will hear a teacher talking about an activity students are doing in class. What does she say?

Teacher:   Listen please. You’re still working on your projects and I know you would like to finish them for homework, but that isn’t always the best thing. I’d prefer you do it in class together with your friends. We have some time tomorrow to finish it. We won’t have the laptops, so you’ll have to write by hand.

3   You will hear a boy talking about his shopping trip. What did he buy?

Boy:   I tried on several pairs of trainers. I really liked the blue ones, but they didn’t have my size. On the way to a café I stopped at the supermarket and got myself a computer magazine and sat in the park. After that, it started to rain, so I went home to eat.

4   You will hear a daughter talking to her father about a new computer he is buying for her. What does she like best about the computer?

Dad:   What do you think about this laptop? It’s nice and small.

Girl:   That’s good – my old one was quite heavy to carry around. But it looks like an old model.

Dad:   It’s not – it’s the latest one, and it comes with all the software you need. But maybe you’d prefer one in a bright colour?

Girl:   Yes, I’m not keen on black.

5   You will hear a boy talking to his mother about the weather for his holiday. What will the weather be like tomorrow?

Boy:   Can you look up the weather on your phone for me? Will I need to pack sun cream?

Mum:   No, you won’t need that. But take some jumpers and a raincoat. It might rain a bit over the next few days.

Boy:   What about tomorrow?

Mum:   Let me see. It’ll be cloudy, but it’ll stay dry. No rain until the next day.

1 B   2 C   3 C   4 A   5 B

Audioscript

1   You will hear two friends talking on the way to school. What did the girl forget to do before she left home?

Girl:   Oh no! I forgot to do something before I came out.

Boy:   What? You’ve got all your school things – I saw you get them.

Girl:   I know but the air conditioning’s still on. I needed it while I washed the plates and cups from breakfast.

Boy:   Oh dear!

2   You will hear a girl talking about some train tickets. What is the explaining?

Girl:   When Mum and I were at Grandma’s, we needed train tickets to come home. Mum usually gets them online, but Grandma hasn’t got access to the internet at her cottage and I couldn’t use my phone there. Mum tried to use Grandma’s phone, but the train company number was always busy. So she went to the station and got them there.

3   You will hear a boy and his mother talking about tomorrow evening. Who does the boy need to talk to?

Mum:   Michael don’t forget it’s your brother Sam’s birthday tomorrow, so you can’t go to basketball practice in the evening.

Michael:   Oh. The other players think I’m playing. Are we going to Sam’s house?

Mum:   I told you yesterday – we’re going to the Castle Restaurant. We booked it weeks ago!

Michael:   All right, Mum, I’m still coming. I just need to phone one of my teammates this evening and make other arrangements.

4   You will hear a boy telling his friend about breaking something. What is he worried about?

Boy:   I broke my grandmother’s old wooden box yesterday, I’m really annoyed. I stood on it to get a book from a high shelf.

Girl:   Oh no. What did your mum say?

Boy:   She doesn’t know yet! She won’t be angry, but Grandma will be really sad about it. I don’t know how I’m going to tell her!

Girl:   Perhaps you can repair it.

Boy:   I don’t think so.

5   You will hear a woman talking about the weather. How will it change next week?

Woman:   The weather will change a lot next week. The good news is that there’ll be some rain for the first time in three weeks! And the wind we’re having this week will stop late this evening or early in the morning – I know a lot of you will be delighted about that. Temperatures will stay the same.

1   Yes

2   Yes

3   He asks her a question.

Audioscript

1

Jack:   So, how are we going to get to Ben’s house this afternoon?

Ollie:   Well, I don’t think we should walk. It’s very far. What do you think, Mara?

Mara:   There’s a bus at three o’clock. And you, Jack? Do you agree?

Jack:   Yes, the bus sounds good. OK Ollie?

Ollie:   That’s great. We’ll get the bus.

2

Lenny:   We have to think of a project for science. I think we should make a poster.

Karl:   Well, I think we should do a presentation; we can use pictures from the internet.

Lenny:   Maybe, or we could do both.

Poppy:   Excuse me, can I say something? We can make a model to show the class.

Karl:   Oh sorry, Poppy. We didn’t ask you. That’s a good idea, too!

3

Grandmother:   Hello Archie, how are you? How’s school? Are you getting good marks?

Archie:   Weeell …

Grandmother:   You must study hard. What do you want to study at university?

Archie:   Hmm, I’m not sure … er. How are you, Granny?

Grandmother:   Oh. Thank you for asking. I’m having problems with …

1   Russia, a doll

2   1 Brazil   2 It isn’t special   3 history   4 pizza   5 five

Audioscript

Teacher:   OK everyone, quiet please. Today we need to choose a country and an object for that country to put in a time capsule. I’d like you to get into groups and decide on one country and one object. Then we can compare ideas.

Josie:   Right. Mr Thompson wants us to choose a country. Let’s choose Brazil. It’s a very big country and I like their football team!

Sam:   Yes, we could put a football in the time capsule.

Dan:   Maybe, but a football is an object that’s important in lots of different countries. It’s not really special for only one country. Mmm. What about Russia? It’s a big country too.

Josie:   That’s a good idea. We studied some Russian history last term and it’s an important country.

Sam/Dan:   Yeah/OK.

Laura:   Excuse me! Can I say something? I think Italy is best.

Dan:   Why?

Laura:   It’s a beautiful country and it has delicious food.

Sam:   Oh, sorry Laura, we didn’t ask you. I like your idea. It’s good!

Laura:   Thanks Sam. What about you, Josie?

Josie:   Maybe. But what object can we choose from Italy? Dan, what’s your opinion?

Dan:   Italy is famous for pizza. We can put a pizza in the time capsule.

Josie/Laura:   Oh no!

Josie:   Imagine the pizza in two years’ time!

Sam/Laura:   Urgh/Yuk!

Dan:   OK, OK. So we need a country with a good object.

Sam:   Well, I like Dan’s idea about Russia. You know they have those dolls. You can open them and there is another one inside. That’s a good object.

Laura:   Yes, a Russian doll. I’ve got one in my bedroom we can use. It opens and there are five more dolls inside.

Dan:   That’s fantastic! So, do we all agree?

Sam/Laura:   OK/I do.

Laura:   And you, Josie?

Josie:   Yes, OK. Mr Thompson, we’re ready!

1 A   2 C   3 C   4 B   5 A

Audioscript

1   You will hear a teacher talking to students about a school trip. What do they need to bring?

Teacher:   OK class, it’s the school trip to Bowland Forest tomorrow. We’ll bring food and drink for lunch, but you may want to pack chocolate or crisps for the journey.

Girl:   What about torches, sir?

Teacher:   Don’t bother. We won’t be out in the dark. Wear comfortable trainers, and don’t forget that you’ll be carrying your backpacks. Please don’t put too much in them!

2   You will hear a girl talking about her history homework. What does she say about it?

Girl:   Well, history’s my favourite subject, as you know, Mum. It doesn’t usually take me long to do the homework, but I left my history textbook at school, so I had to look up all the information online. It took hours! But you’ll be pleased to hear that I did it all. I won’t make that mistake again!

3   You will hear a woman talking to her son. What is she most unhappy about?

Mum:   Paul, you really need to have more than fruit before school. Also, I know it’s good exercise to run for the bus, but one day you might not catch it! So from tomorrow you need to be out of bed earlier in the morning and then you’ll have enough time.

4   You will hear two friends talking about a visit to the sports centre. What did they do there?

Boy:   What a shame we couldn’t swim today. The pool at the sports centre is so nice.

Girl:   Yes, it’s a pity it was closed today. And then I didn’t have my tennis shoes!

Boy:   But you borrowed some and we had a good game!

Girl:   True! And it made me very hungry. Let’s go and have something to eat at my house.

5   You will hear a man talking to his daughter. What’s the weather like at the moment?

Dad:   Are you going hiking this afternoon?

Girl:   Yes, I hope the weather gets better by then. It’ll be awful if it carries on raining.

Dad:   Yes, but at least it’s not windy! It’s more fun when the sun is shining.

Girl:   True.