Listening for Detail Flashcards

In a listening clip, a tour guide says: "Right, everyone, the coach leaves at quarter to eight tomorrow. Sorry, I've just been told it's been brought forward by half an hour, so please don't be late." What time does the coach leave?

Answer: 7:15

The first time given is quarter to eight (7:45), but the guide then corrects it: the departure has been 'brought forward' by half an hour. 'Brought forward' means earlier, so 7:45 minus 30 minutes is 7:15. 8:15 is the trap for anyone who reads 'brought forward' as 'later'.

A museum announcement says: "Entry is normally free on Tuesdays, but because of the special exhibition, that's suspended until the end of the month — with the exception of students, who can still come in without paying." Who can get in free on a Tuesday this month?

Answer: Only students

The general free-Tuesday policy is suspended, but the speaker adds an exception for students, who still get in without paying. 'Nobody' is the trap for listeners who stop paying attention after the word 'suspended'.

A project manager says: "The original estimate was fifteen thousand pounds, which we managed to cut by a third. Mind you, the supplier then added a two-thousand-pound delivery charge on top." What is the final cost?

Answer: £12,000

Cutting £15,000 by a third removes £5,000, which leaves £10,000. The £2,000 delivery charge is added 'on top', so the total is £12,000. £10,000 leaves out the extra charge, and £17,000 ignores the reduction.

A participant reviewing a training session says: "I wouldn't say the workshop was a waste of time exactly, but I'd have got a lot more out of it if the handouts had reached us beforehand rather than on the day." What is the speaker's main criticism?

Answer: The materials arrived too late

The speaker rejects the idea that the workshop was a waste of time ('I wouldn't say… exactly') and objects only to when the handouts arrived: on the day instead of beforehand. They say nothing negative about the handouts' quality or the session's length.

A hotel receptionist says on the phone: "We can't confirm your booking until the deposit clears, and that normally takes three working days. So if you pay on Thursday, don't expect to hear from us before then." What is the earliest day the caller can expect confirmation?

Answer: Tuesday

'Working days' leaves out weekends. Starting from Thursday, the three working days are Friday, Monday and Tuesday, so the earliest confirmation is Tuesday. Sunday is the trap for anyone who counts calendar days.

A colleague says: "Lisa told me Mark would be chairing Friday's meeting, but actually he's swapped with Helen. So Helen's chairing now and Mark's taking the minutes. Lisa's just sitting in as an observer." Who will take the minutes?

Answer: Mark

Lisa's version (Mark chairing) is out of date. After the swap, Helen chairs and Mark takes the minutes. Lisa only observes, and the speaker has no role in the meeting.