Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Thailand

1 b   2 b   3 a   4 b

Audioscripts in B below

1 false   2 true   3 false   4 true

Audioscripts

1

Woman:   Every year, people go to Thailand to visit the famous sites, the beautiful forests and beaches, and to learn about Thai culture. What do you know about Thai culture? ln Thailand, people use the wai greeting when they meet friends and family. To do the wai, put your hands together in front of you and bow your head. When you greet friends, put your hands in front of your chest. For people who are older or more important, like parents or teachers, put your hands a little higher, in front of your head. This shows respect.

2

Man:   Who lives in Thailand? Thailand is made up of people from several different countries. About seventy-five percent of the people are Thai. About eleven percent are Chinese. Many years ago, their families came from China. And a few people are Malay. Their families were originally from Malaysia. About three-point-five percent of people living in Thailand are Malay. So the Thais are a mix of different people.

3

Woman:   You can’t talk about Thai culture without talking about families. In the past, everyone in the family lived together, that is, with their grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins all in the same house. Today, more people live in smaller families. About fifty percent of Thais live just with their parents and brothers and sisters. But about thirty percent still live in bigger families.

4

Man:   Thais love food, and they love to talk about it. Food is always fresh. People usually buy fresh food every day, especially fruits and vegetables. And Thai food is quite spicy. Thais cook with a lot of different kinds of hot peppers. They don’t eat a lot of meat, but there is usually a little beef, chicken, or fish in every dish. And, of course, rice. Most Thais eat rice every day.

1   garlic, chicken, coconut milk, basil leaves, hot peppers

2   bean sprouts, peanuts, noodles, green onions, shrimp

Audioscripts in B below

1  a. Thai people eat curry with rice.

    b. The most popular Thai dish is spicy.

2  a. The woman prefers pad Thai in Thailand.

    b. Thai dishes are not always spicy.

Audioscripts

1   Thai green curry

Interviewer:   What are some of the most popular dishes in Thailand?

Woman:   Weil, one of the most popular dishes is definitely curry. Many Thais cat some kind of curry with rice every day. But actually, the most popular Thai dish is Thai green curry.

Interviewer:   I see. What do you put in Thai green curry?

Woman:   Well, let’s see. We usually put coconut milk in it. And we put in garlic … lots of garlic, if you like it spicy. And, um, cut-up slices of chicken, and some basil leaves, … and something that l don’t know the name of in English. They look like green beans, but they’re very, very spicy.

Interviewer:   Hot peppers?

Woman:   Yes, peppers, that’s it.

Interviewer:   Sounds delicious.

2   pad Thai

Interviewer:   So what’s your favorite dish?

Woman:   I love pad Thai. That’s a popular dish in Thailand and in the U.S., too.

Interviewer:   Yes, I’ve seen it on the menu at the Thai restaurant near my house. How do you make pad Thai?

Woman:   Well, it’s made with noodles and, um, it usually has some shrimp and bean sprouts. And some green onions and peanuts on top. But you know, the pad Thai in the U.S. is not the same as in “Thailand. In Thailand it’s sweet like it is here, but it’s also very spicy – much spicier than it is here in the U.S. That’s the way I like it – the real Thai way.

Interviewer:   Mmm. I didn’t know there was such a big difference. Are there any Thai dishes that aren’t so spicy?

Woman: Oh, sure! Not all Thai dishes are spicy, you know. We have a lot of different kinds of salads, vegetables, rice and noodle dishes …