ESL Listening Comprehension 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You hear: 'The store closes at nine, so we'd better hurry.' What does 'we'd better' mean?
- We prefer to
- We should in order to avoid a problem (Correct answer)
- We are allowed to
- We usually do
Correct answer: We should in order to avoid a problem
'We'd better' expresses urgency and implies a negative consequence if the action is not taken.
Question 2: A radio host says: 'Stay tuned for more music right after this short break.' What will happen next?
- The radio station will go off the air
- A commercial or pause will play, then music will resume (Correct answer)
- The host will take calls from listeners
- A news broadcast will begin
Correct answer: A commercial or pause will play, then music will resume
'Right after this short break' indicates a brief commercial interruption before music continues.
Question 3: You hear: 'I was under the impression that the meeting was on Friday.' What does the speaker mean?
- The speaker is certain the meeting is Friday
- The speaker believed it was Friday but may have been wrong (Correct answer)
- The speaker wants to change the meeting to Friday
- The speaker forgot about the meeting
Correct answer: The speaker believed it was Friday but may have been wrong
'Under the impression' suggests the speaker believed something that may not be accurate.
Question 4: A customer service representative says: 'Your order has been processed and will ship within three to five business days.' What does 'business days' mean?
- Any day of the week
- Only weekdays, not weekends or holidays (Correct answer)
- Days when the business is open 24 hours
- Holidays and special dates
Correct answer: Only weekdays, not weekends or holidays
Business days refer to standard working days—Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and public holidays.
Question 5: You overhear: 'He bit off more than he could chew with that project.' What does the speaker mean?
- He ate too much at the project lunch
- He took on more responsibility than he can handle (Correct answer)
- He chewed on a project document
- He refused to work on the project
Correct answer: He took on more responsibility than he can handle
This idiom means someone has taken on a task that is too difficult or too large for them to manage.
Question 6: A weather forecast states: 'Expect partly cloudy skies with a 40% chance of showers in the afternoon.' What is most likely true?
- It will definitely rain all afternoon
- It will not rain at all
- It might rain, but it is not certain (Correct answer)
- The morning will have heavy storms
Correct answer: It might rain, but it is not certain
A 40% chance means rain is possible but not certain—less than half the probability.
Question 7: You hear a teacher say: 'Don't hesitate to ask questions if anything is unclear.' What is the teacher encouraging students to do?
- Avoid asking questions during class
- Ask questions only after class
- Feel free to ask questions at any time (Correct answer)
- Write down questions to submit later
Correct answer: Feel free to ask questions at any time
'Don't hesitate' means there is no need to wait or feel reluctant—students should ask freely.
ESL Listening Comprehension 3
You hear: 'The store closes at nine, so we'd better hurry.' What does 'we'd better' mean?