Listening Intermediate
Natural English Conversations
On this page you will find many listening exercises designed for intermediate level English speakers. The listenings were made to simulate real life situations and conversations.
The best way to use this material:
1) Read the questions associated with the listening exercise.
2) listen to the audio.
3) Write down your answers on a piece of paper.
4) Check your answers using the answer key provided underneath the questions.
5) Play the listening again and follow along with the tapescript provided.
Intermediate Listening Exercises
1. About Mark
2. My holiday
5. My awful day
6. My bitcoin
8. At a shop
10. Wifi problems
11. Booking a room
Intermediate
LISTENING ONE
About Mark
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. Where does Mark live?
2. What's his job?
3. What's the problem with his job?
4. What does he sometimes do at the weekend?
Answers below
Answers
1. London
2. An investment banker
3. it's stressful and he works long hours
4. Sometimes he works
Tapescript
My name's Mark I was born in Oxford but now I live in London. I'm an investment banker. I like my job because I have a good salary. But there is a problem, my job is very stressful. I never have time to do things I work long hours and sometimes I work at the weekends from home.
Intermediate
LISTENING TWO
My Holiday
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. Did he enjoy his holiday?
2. How long was his flight delayed?
3. How did he feel on the plane?
4. What was the problem when he landed in Greece?
5. What happened to his wife on the second day?
6. Did they stay for 10 days?
Answers below
Answers
1. No, he didn't.
2. Two hours.
3. He felt sick.
4. The airline lost his luggage and he had to buy new clothes
5. She got food poisoning.
6. No they didn't.
Tapescript
My last holiday was a disaster. We planned to go to Greece for 10 days, but the problems started at the airport. First, the flight going was delayed two hours. Then I felt sick on the plane. When we got to Greece I didn't get my luggage back because the airline had lost it, so I had to buy new clothes. The hotel there was awful, there was a swimming pool but you couldn't use it. On the second day my wife got food poisoning. On the third day the waiter knocked my phone off the table and the screen cracked. By the fifth day we decided we had had enough and we booked a flight back home. Hopefully next year our holiday will be better.
Intermediate
LISTENING THREE
My Holiday
Buenos Aires
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. How long did she stay in Buenos Aires?
2. Where did she go almost every night?
3. What is there in the area Caminito?
4. What type of food did she eat in the Japanese Garden?
5. What did she see in Puerto Madeiro?
Answers below
Answers
1. 14 days.
2. She went to Tango nights.
3. Colourful houses and restaurants.
4. Asian food.
5. The sunset
Tapescript
My last holiday was amazing. We went to Buenos Aires for 14 days. I love the city I think it's beautiful. I enjoy dancing so I went to tango nights almost every night. The food there is great too, their steak is delicious. On the second day we went for a walk around caminito, which is a beautiful area with colourful houses and restaurants. We had a lot of fun. On the fifth day we went to Palermo to the Japanese garden, we walked around and ate Asian food in the restaurant there. On the tenth day we went to see the sunset in Puerto Madeiro, it was spectacular. I loved the city, I want to go back next year.
Intermediate
LISTENING FOUR
Where Were You?
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. Where was he?
2. What did he buy?
3. How much were the T-shirts?
4. Does she like the vest?
Answers below
Answers
1. He was shopping.
2. 2 T-shirts, a wallet and a vest.
3. £20 each
4. No, she doesn't
Tapescript
A- Hi, where were you? I tried to call you but I couldn't get through.
B- I went shopping, my phone was out of battery.
A- oh right, well, what did you get?
B- I just got a few things. I bought 2 t-shirts from Topman, a new wallet because I lost my old one and a vest.
A- Nice, can I see the T-shirts?
B- Yeah of course, here.
A- Wow they're great. How much were they?
B- 20 pounds each.
A- And the vest?
B- Here
A- Hmm I don't like the design. How much was it?
B - 40 pounds.
A- What that's so expensive. Maybe you should return it.
Intermediate
LISTENING FIVE
My Awful Day
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. What time did she wake up?
2. What time does she normally start work?
3. How long was her train delayed?
4. What time did she get to work today?
5. Why did she go to the hospital?
6. What happened to her phone?
Answers below
Answers
1. 8:30 am
2. 9 am
3. 30 minutes
4. 11 am
5. Because she had an allergic reaction
6. She lost it, she left it on the train.
Tapescript
A - Hey, what's wrong?
B- I've just had an awful day.
A- What happened?
B- First, I wake up every day at 7 but last night I forgot to set my alarm so I woke up at half 8. And I start work at 9.
A- Oh no.
B- Then my train to work was delayed 30 minutes. I got to work at 11.
A- That's terrible.
B - But the worst thing was, I had an allergic reaction while I was having my lunch and I had to go to hospital.
A - What caused it?
B - There were peanuts in my meal, and I'm allergic to peanuts.
A - Why didn't you call me?
B - I left my phone on the train to work.
Intermediate
LISTENING SIX
My Bitcoin
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. How much has Tom invested in bitcoin?
2. How much did 1 bitcoin cost when Tom bought his bitcoins?
3. How much is 1 bitcoin now?
4. How much money has Tom lost until now?
5. Why does Sarah want to buy bitcoins now?
6. Does Tom want to buy more bitcoins?
Answers below
Answers
1. He has invested 500 dollars into bitcoin
2. 18,000 dollars
3. 9,000 dollars
4. 250 dollars
5. Because the price is low
6. Yes he does
Tapescript
1- Hey Tom
2 - Hi Sarah
1- Tom have you seen all the news about bitcoin?
2- Yeah I have actually, why?
1- Well I'm thinking about buying some, do you think I should?
2- Well, I did
1- Really? how much did you buy?
2 - I bought 500 dollars worth of bitcoin, and when I bought it the price was 1 bitcoin for 18 thousand dollars, and now the price is 1 bitcoin for 9 thousand dollars, so I've lost half of my money, I'm 250 dollars down.
1- Oh no, what are you going to do?
2- I'm going to hold, I'm not going to sell, I'm sure the price will go back up soon.
1-Well you know what, maybe I should buy now because the price is so low.
2- That's not a bad idea, hmm I think I'll buy some more as well. Just another 200 dollars. Imagine if the price goes to 50 thousand dollars.
1- I'm so excited can you show me how to do it.
Intermediate
LISTENING SEVEN
Tom's Free Time
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. What does Tom enjoy?
2. When did he start?
3. How often does he do it?
4. Why does he like it?
5. Who told him to do an online course?
6. Does he think he is good at it?
Answers below
Answers
1. He enjoys painting.
2. He started a few months ago.
3. Every Sunday.
4. Because it's relaxing and it gives him a chance to be creative.
5. His daughter.
6. No he doesn't, but he thinks he's getting better.
Tapescript
Tom - Well I'm not very good but I enjoy painting. I only started a few months ago but now I love it. Every Sunday morning after breakfast I spend about 3 hours painting. I guess i like it because it's very relaxing and it gives me a chance to be creative. I had always wanted to do it you see but I didn't know how to paint, so my daughter told me to do an online course, so I did and now I can paint. Like I said I'm not very good but I'm getting better. I think I'll do a more advanced course soon.
Intermediate
LISTENING EIGHT
At a Shop
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. What does the man want to buy?
2. What is the man's shoe size?
3. Does the shop have the shoe the man likes in his size and colour?
4. What did the shop receive this morning?
5. Does the man buy any shoes?
Answer below
Answers
1. He wants to buy some shoes.
2. He is a size 10.
3. No they don't.
4. They received a new shoe model.
5. Yes he does, he buys the new model.
Tapescript
1- Hello, good afternoon can I help you?
2- Yes I'm looking for some shoes, have you got any?
1- Yes our shoes are over here, come this way. We have 4 different styles and they come in brown and black.
2- Ok great, I like this one, do you have this in a size 10 in black?
1- Let me check, I'll be back in a second.
1- So we don't have that one in a size 10 any more. But I
brought the other 3 models in a size 10 in black to see if you would like to try them on.
2 - Thanks but I didn't like the other styles
1 - That's OK, well, we received a new model this morning, here it is in a size 10 in black. What do you think?
2- It's nice, can I try them on?
1- Of course. There's a mirror over there.
2- OK thanks. They fit well. How much are they?
1- They're 40 pounds.
2 - OK perfect I'll take them.
1- Great just come with me to the checkout, are you paying by card or in cash?
2 - Cash, here you go.
1 - Perfect, here's your change and your receipt. Thank you.
2 - Thanks, bye
Intermediate
LISTENING NINE
Sarah's Free Time
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. What does she do in her free time?
2. When does she do this activity?
3. How long does she do it for?
4. Why does she do it at the weekend?
5. What would she like to start doing in the future?
Answers below
Answers
1. She goes cycling.
2. Every weekend.
3. 2 hours.
4. Because there is less traffic.
5. She would like to start doing races.
Tapescript
Sarah - I love cycling. Every weekend in the morning I go for a cycle, normally for about two hours. I leave around 9 and come back at about 11. It's fantastic. I cycle on the road so it's better when there's less traffic, that's why I go at the weekends. I enjoy going uphill and downhil. I'd like to start doing races, there's a race near where I live in a couple of months, I think I'll sign up for it.
Intermediate
LISTENING TEN
Wifi Problems
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. What problem is the man having?
2. Why can't he connect to it?
Answers below
Answers
1. He can't connect to the internet.
2. Because he left his caps lock on.
Tapescript
A - Hey Sarah could help me?
B - Sure, what's the problem?
A - I can't connect to the internet, is there a problem with the network, is your computer connected?
B - Yeah mine's working normally. Let me see your WiFi connection. WorkWifi and I'll just press connect. Hmm it's not working. Let me click forget and put the password in again. Hmm still not working. Let me try the other WiFi, WorkWifi 2, I'll just put in the password. M still nothing. Oh that's the problem Tom, you left your caps lock on.
A - Oh yeah, oops, let me put the password in again.
B - Did it connect?
A - Yes it's connected now. Thanks Sarah.
B - No problem.
Intermediate
LISTENING ELEVEN
Booking a Room
Read the questions and then play the listening.
1. What dates would he like to book?
2. Does he want a double room or a single?
3. How much is the delux suite per night?
4. How much is the economy suite per night?
5. How do you spell his last name?
Answers below
Tapescript
A - Good Afternoon Holiday Hotel, Julie speaking.
B - Good Afternoon, I'd like to book a room for the 7th and the 8th. Do you have a room available?
A - Let me just check, yes, we have availability. Would you like a double room or a single?
B- A double please.
A - And would you like the deluxe suite or the economy?
B - How much are they?
A - The delux is 50 pounds a night and the economy is 30 pounds a night.
B - I'd like the deluxe please.
A - No problem. Could I get your name please?
B - Yes it's Ben Hargreaves.
A - How do you spell your last name?
B - That's H A R G R E A V E S
A- OK, and how would you like to pay?
B - By credit card.
A - That's fine. You can check in any time after 2pm and check out is on the 9th at 12pm.
B - Ok that's great thank you very much. Bye
A - Bye bye
Answers
1. 7th and 8th.
2. A double room.
3. 50 pounds.
4. 30 pounds.
5. H-A-R-G-R-E-A-V-E-S