Practice Listening English Exercises for B2 – Manners

1 woman standing at “Meeting Point” looking at watch (friend is late to meet her)

2 man next to stairs talking loudly on cell phone

3 man walking to left of kiosk, throwing paper on the floor

4 woman cutting in front of ticket line

5 man and woman on bench next to kiosk, not offering seat to older woman

Audioscripts in B below

1 “It drives me crazy!”

2 “It bothers me a little.”

3 “It drives me crazy!”

4 “It doesn’t bother me.”

5 “It bothers me a little.”

Audioscripts

1

Woman:   I really hate it when people are late. I have this friend – a good guy – but he’s late all the time. If he says we’re going to meet at seven, he might get there by seven-thirty. I get so mad, especially when I’m waiting by myself somewhere. Sometimes I just want to leave and let him stand there alone.

Man:   Hmm. Remind me not to be late to meet you.

2

Man:   How about people using cell phones? People use them everywhere now. I don’t really mind if people use them outside on the street. I think it’s OK in some public places. But I’m just not sure about restaurants and movie theaters. That seems kind of impolite to me.

Woman:   Yeah. I feel the same way.

3

Woman:   Speaking of public places, I just cannot stand it when people throw their trash on the ground. Littering is definitely my biggest pet peeve. I see people all the time eating candy or snacks, and then they just take the wrapper and drop it. It’s disgusting! I think they should have to pay a large fine.

Man:   Yeah. Maybe the police should make those people go out and pick up all the trash. That would stop them.

4

Man:   On my way to work this morning, I was waiting in line to buy a subway ticket. This woman came up and cut in front of everybody who was waiting in line. You should have seen how angry some people got. But I didn’t care. I mean, she was probably in a bigger hurry than me. I’m sure there was a reason. I guess I just don’t mind waiting. I’m a pretty patient person.

Woman:   I guess you are.

5

Woman:   I’m always a little surprised when I see an older person standing somewhere, and no one offers that person a place to sit. You’ll see young, healthy people just sit there. I don’t think it’s very nice. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me. I was raised to be polite to older people.

Man:   No, I think you’re right. We should be more polite to older people.

1 dating: Who pays for the date?

2 wedding gifts: Is it OK to give the gifts away?

3 tipping: How much of a tip should I leave?

4 neighbors: Should I ask my neighbors to be quiet?

Audioscripts in B below

1 The person who invites should pay.

2 Keep unwanted gifts.

3 Leave at least fifteen percent.

4 Ask noisy neighbors to be quiet.

Audioscripts

1

Host:   Good evening! Thanks for tuning in to the Good Manners show. Do you need advice about manners? Give us a call … OK. Let’s take the first caller. You’re on the air, Caller.

Caller 1:   Yes, I need some advice. Um, I just started dating. I went on a date last night. We went to dinner and had a nice time. But when I tried to pay for the meal, my date got really upset and said he should be the one to pay. But I just wasn’t sure. I guess my question is: Who pays for the date?

Host:   Well, did you invite him to go out, or did he invite you?

Caller 1:   He invited me.

Host:   Well, it was nice that you offered to pay. That is good manners. But if someone invites another person, that person should be prepared to pay for the meal. So your Good Manners tip is: The person who invites should pay.

Caller 1:   Got it. Thank you.

2

Host:   Yes. Next caller.

Caller 2:   Yes, hi. Um, I just got married.

Host:   Congratulations!

Caller 2:   Well, thanks. But actually, that’s the reason I’m calling. I need some advice. We got a lot of wedding gifts, and, well, some of the gifts are not our style. They’re things we’ll never use. We just don’t know what to do with these unwanted gifts. My questions is: Is it OK to give the gifts away? I was thinking maybe other people would like them, you know, as birthday gifts or something.

Host:   Oh, no, no. That’s not a good idea. What if the people found out you gave away their gifts? Their feelings would be hurt. My Good Manners tip for you is: Keep unwanted gifts. It’ll help you keep your friends.

3

Host:   Next caller. Go ahead.

Caller 3:   Hi. I just moved here from South Korea for my job, and, well, I’m pretty busy, so I eat out in restaurants a lot. I’m a little confused about tipping. In South Korea, the tip is always included in the price. Is there a rule here in the U.S.? My question is: How much of a tip should I leave?

Host:   Great question. It is considered rude not to leave any tip at all. In general, the tip amount should be between fifteen and twenty percent of the total price of your meal. My Good Manners tip for you is: Leave at least fifteen percent. You can leave a little more for great service.

4

Host:   Next caller.

Caller 4:   Yes, hi. I have a problem with my neighbors. They’re always playing loud music and making noise. I can’t sleep at night.

Host:   I see. So what exactly would you like advice about?

Caller 4:   Well, I guess my question is: Should I ask my neighbors to be quiet? I mean, I don’t want to cause any trouble.

Host:   Maybe they don’t know you have a problem. If you explain your feelings politely, I’m sure they’ll try to be a little quieter. My Good Manners tip is: “Ask noisy neighbors to be quiet.” But be sure to ask them in a nice way. Well, that’s all the time we have today. Thanks for listening, and remember: Good manners are always important.

Woman:   Oh, let me show you my new cell phone. I just got it. I haven’t even used it yet.

Man:   Mmm. That’s really nice.

Woman:   Yeah! I want to try it out right now. Let’s see, who can I call?

Man:   Uh, wait a minute. We’re at a restaurant. Can you wait until we’re finished? I think it’s kind of rude to use a cell phone in a restaurant, don’t you?

Woman:   Yeah. I guess you’re right.

Man:   I don’t think people should use them on the train either. That really drives me crazy.

Woman:   Hmm. I guess I have to think about good manners when I’m using a cell phone. I don’t want to bother other people. So, what else should I be careful of?

Man:   Well, I think you should definitely turn it off when you’re in class, and when you go to the movies, and when you’re shopping inside a store – any time there are other people around.

Woman:   Whoa! Wait a minute. I’ll have to turn it off all the time! So, where do you use your cell phone?

Man:   Me? I don’t have a cell phone. I can’t stand those things.

Audioscripts

1

Man:   A friend meets you for lunch fifteen minutes late.

It drives me crazy when people are late. Maybe because I’m always early! Do you think that’s rude?

2

Woman:   A friend sends a card for your birthday instead of a gift.

I always try to choose a nice birthday gift for my friends. If a friend sends me a card for my birthday instead of a gift, I think that’s rude. Do you think that’s rude?

3

Man:   You hear someone talking on a cell phone in the park.

Cell phones should definitely be turned off in movie theaters and on trains. But if you hear someone talking on a cell phone in the park, well, I think that’s OK. It’s just part of daily life now. What do you think? Is that rude?

4

Woman:   A neighbor plays loud music until nine P.M.

We live near the university, and some of the students are really loud. One of your neighbors plays loud music until nine P.M. That’s just not polite. Do you think that’s rude?

5

Man:   A person walking in front of you doesn’t hold the door.

Manners are important. It bothers me when a person walking in front of me doesn’t hold the door open. I always hold the door open for other people. It’s just good manners. What do you think? Is it rude, or not?

1 a   2 b   3 c   4 a   5 c

Audioscripts in B below

1 both   2 woman   3 man

4 both   5 man

Audioscripts

1

Man:   I wrote to Valerie last week, and she still hasn’t responded.

Woman:   Does she usually respond to your e-mails?

Man:   Hardly ever. It drives me crazy.

Woman:   You should call her. Maybe she’ll have better manners on the phone.

2

Woman:   That man just threw his trash on the floor!

Man:   Well, it’s a theater. Someone will clean it up later.

Woman:   You don’t think that’s rude?

Man:   It’s none of our business. It’s really no big deal.

Woman:   Well, I think it’s terrible.

3

Man:   I can’t believe the way people use cell phones everywhere. It’s so rude, especially on the train.

Woman:   But, cell phones can be very useful, especially in emergencies. I guess it doesn’t bother me.

Man:   Well, it bothers me.

4

Woman:   I went out to dinner with Nick last night. Everything was wonderful, but Nick didn’t leave the server a tip. I was so embarrassed.

Man:   Did you get bad service?

Woman:   No. I guess Nick just didn’t want to spend any more money.

Man:   That’s terrible.

Woman:   I know. I don’t think I’ll go out with him again.

5

Man:   Hey! Those kids are walking right up to the front of the line.

Woman:   Maybe they’re joining friends.

Man:   Well, they have to wait like the rest of us!

Woman:   Don’t worry. We’ll all get in.