Practice Listening English Exercises for A2 – Mishaps

a 5   b 4   c 1   d 3   e 2   f 6

Transcript

1)

A: I just walked in and there’s water everywhere!

B: Calm down. What seems to be the problem?

A: I don’t know. I’ve been out all day, and now there’s water everywhere.

B: Did you leave the sink running?

A: No. Oh, wait a minute. I think it’s the dishwasher. It must be broken. I turned it on this morning before I left, and now the kitchen is flooded.

2)

A: Hello, A? It’s Mark.

B:  Hi, Mark! Are you on your way?

A: Yes, but I’m calling because I’m going to be late.

B:  Did you get lost?

A: No, but I missed the 6 o’clock train. I’ll have to catch the next one.

B:  That’s okay. Thanks for calling.

3)

A: Oh, no, the entire bathroom is flooded!

B:  Did you leave the water running or something?

A: No, I never do that, I don’t know what happened. Wait a minute__ do you feel that?

B:  Yes, there’s water dripping from the ceiling. Look!

A: I guess the upstairs neighbors left the water running in their bathroom. Now, ours is flooded! We better call the manager, quick!

4)

A:  Hey, can you help me? I’ve got a 10 o’clock appointment, and I think I’m going to be a little late.

B:  Did you get lost?

A:  I’m afraid so.

B:  Where are you?

A:  I’m just opposite the new train station. According to map, there’s a street that goes right through it!

B: Yes, there used to be. Now, you have to go down to Main Street and take a right, and then another right.

A: Oh, okay. Thanks. I’ll be there in a little while.

5)

A: Hello. This is Robert Baldwin.

B: Yes, Robert, what can I do for you?

A: I’m calling because I’m going to be late.

B: Did you get lost?

A: No. I’ve got a flat tire. I’m going to have to call a tow truck.

B: Well, why don’t we just reschedule the appointment?

A: Okay, I guess we’ll have to.

6)

A: Hi, Sue. This is Eric.

B: Hi Eric. What’s up?

A: I’m afraid I’m going to be a little late for work today.

B: Did you miss the train?

A: No. But I was sitting in a cafe this morning, having coffee. The server walked by with someone else’s coffee. She tripped and spilled it all over me! Now I have to go home and change shirt.

B: No problem. Thanks for calling.

1) False   2) False   3) True   4) False   5) True   6) True

Transcript

1)

A:  Uh-oh, I just spilled some tomato sauce on the rug.

B:  What? You spilled tomato juice on the floor?

A:  No. On the rug. Tomato sauce. Now there’s a stain.

B:  Oh, I have the best solution for that.

A:  Really?

B:  Just pour soda on it.

A:  Soda? That sounds crazy!

B:  I’m serious. Pour plain soda on it.

A:  Don’t you think plain water will work?

B:  Trust me. Soda is the best thing. I’ve seen it work.

A:  Okay. I’ll try it.

2)

A: I need your advice.

B: What’s the matter?

A: Lisa invited me over for tea yesterday. When we finished, I was carrying this heavy teapot on a tray and I slipped__

B: Oh, no! Did you spill tea on your clothes?

A: No. Worse. I dropped the tray, and Lisa’s teapot broke into little pieces. It was her favorite teapot, and it looked expensive.

. .

B: Well, if I were you, I would offer to buy her a new one.

A: You don’t think an apology is enough?

B: No, you should at least offer to buy her a new one.

A: You’re right. That’s the best thing to do.

3)

A: Oh, no. I’ve got a stain on new shirt. What should I do?

B: Is it a food stain?

A: No, unfortunately, it’s ink.

B: Ink? That’s very tricky.

A: Should I just put some water on it?

B: Hmm__ Let me look it up on the Internet. Here it is: For ink, use plain soda. It will lift the stain right out.

A: That doesn’t sound right to me.

B: I’m sure this is right. Let’s cry it.

A: No way! I’m not going to do an experiment on best shirt. I’m going to take it to the drycleaner.

4)

A: Remember that jacket aunt gave me for birthday?

B: Sure. The one you lost at the theater?

A: No, the one I spilled coffee all over.

B: Oh, yeah__ It was ruined__

A: Yes. Anyway, she’s invited me to dinner. I’m afraid if I don’t wear the jacket, her feelings will be hurt.

B: You should just buy a new one exactly like it.

A: Gee, I don’t know__ That sounds expensive.

B: But you don’t want to offend your aunt, do you?

A: No, but she’s very understanding. I’ll just show up without it. If she says anything, I’ll tell her the truth. The truth is always the best!

5)

A: Uh-oh.

B:  What happened?

A: I can’t find wallet. Whenever I sit in a theater, things fall out of pockets. Oh, wait a minute__ there it is. But keys are missing!

B:  Oh, great! How will we get back into the house?

A: Well, we could go back to the theater and try to find them.

B:  But the theater is closed. It’s past midnight!

A: Well, I guess we’ll have to call a locksmith.

B:  Is there such a thing as a 24-hour locksmith?

A: I’m sure there is. I’ll look one up on phone.

6)

A: Why are you stopping? Is there something wrong with the car?

B:  No, the car is fine, but we’re lost!

A: What should we do?

B:  I don’t know. I’ve got it. You wait here.

A: What are you doing?

B:  I’m going to ask someone for directions.

A: But there’s no one around here. It’s completely deserted. In fact, it looks kind of dangerous.

B:  Do you have a better idea?

A: Yes. Let’s just call the restaurant and ask them how to get there.

B:  That makes sense.

1) b   2) a   3) d   4) c

Transcript

1)

I had the worst thing happen to me this morning! I was running to catch the bus, and I was talking on cell phone at the same time. Anyway, it was raining hard, and just as I got to the bus stop, I dropped phone in a gigantic puddle! Some nice man helped me find it. It was completely soaked. The man told me to take the battery out and let all the parts dry out during the day. It sounded like a good idea, so I tried it. I put the battery back this afternoon and tried to make a call, but it doesn’t work at all. Now I’ll have to go to the phone store and get a new one.

2)

I had quite a mishap last night. I got home from office really late – about 11 p.m. I reached in pocket for keys. phone was there, but no keys! I was locked out of apartment. Then I remembered that I left keys on the checkout counter at the grocery store at lunchtime! But it was too late to go back there. apartment manager has an emergency number, but she charges a fee if you get locked out at night. I decided to call anyway. She came over and let me in. She was pretty nice about it, but as soon as I get key back, I’m going to make a copy and give it to a neighbor.

3)

I had a little problem this morning. I was in boss’s office. As I was heading back to own office, I accidentally knocked some things off her desk onto the floor. I was horrified! She had a picture of her kids on her desk. I was afraid that I broke it. Actually, the picture was fine, but I knocked her coffee cup over. There was coffee on her rug. She said not to worry about it. She was going to call someone to clean the rug at the end of the day. But I ran into the kitchen and got some plain soda. It worked perfectly! The stain is completely gone! Now boss doesn’t have to call a rug cleaner.

4)

I got some ink on new shirt at work yesterday. At first, I thought it was just some food I spilled at lunchtime, but then I realized it was ink from a leaky pen. I just bought that shirt last week. Anyway, I called friend, Lisa. She told me to put some plain soda on it, and then wash it in cold water. I thought I should take it to the drycleaner, but she said this would work. It sounded like a cheaper solution, too. So I poured some soda on it and threw it in the washing machine. When I took it out, the stain was still there. In fact, it looked worse! Now I’m going to have to buy a new shirt!

A: I heard you had a terrible mishapyesterday . What happened?

B: I slipped on the steps. I dropped phone and cup of coffee!

A: Wow! Did you break your phone?

B: Yes, but I got a new one.

A: What happened to the coffee? Did you spill it?

B: Yes. Now I have a stain on new pants.

A: Did you take them to the dry cleaners?

B: Yes. I hope thestain comes out!