What kind of response does the first sentence call for?
“Where” usually asks for a place, “when” for a time, and “why” for a reason. But this first check is not enough for every exchange. “Could you check these figures?” is grammatically a question about ability; in a work situation, it is a request. “Certainly, I will do it now” is a more natural response than an abstract description of someone’s skills.
An indirect response may provide a way to get the information: the hours are on the website, the document was given to the assistant, or the finance department will know who approved the budget. It is relevant if it moves the exchange forward. Do not treat “indirect” as permission to choose any sentence loosely related to the topic.
A conflict can be a polite refusal. In response to a request to cover a shift on Friday, someone who mentions a medical appointment is explaining why they cannot help. The response does not need to include the word “no.”
How should you use the 25 exchanges?
These exercises also appear in our 200-question bank. If you have already worked through them here, the bank will not be an unfamiliar assessment.
Choose an answer before reading the explanation. Note whether your mistake concerns the type of information, the speech act, or a misheard word. The written options in the answer key make post-answer analysis easier; this section primarily tests listening. Do not treat these as the same activity.
Part 2 — 25 exchanges
The questions and three answer choices are recorded. Choose A, B, or C before opening the answer, which displays the written choices.
Read the transcript
A: Where should we leave the visitor badges? B: A. In the tray beside reception. B: B. At nine tomorrow. B: C. They visited last month.
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A: Has the supplier confirmed the delivery date? B: A. I am still waiting for an email. B: B. A supply cupboard. B: C. Please deliver the speech.
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A: Who is leading the safety workshop? B: A. The workshop is bright. B: B. Our new facilities manager. B: C. It leads to the station.
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A: Would you like me to reserve a larger room? B: A. Yes, that would help. B: B. We liked the meal. B: C. A room with blue walls.
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A: When does the early train depart? B: A. At a quarter past seven. B: B. From platform six. B: C. The journey was comfortable.
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A: Why was the outdoor concert postponed? B: A. It is a classical concert. B: B. On the concert poster. B: C. Heavy rain is expected.
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A: Could you check these figures before lunch? B: A. There were twelve guests. B: B. Certainly, I will do it now. B: C. The cafeteria is upstairs.
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A: Is the new branch open on Sundays? B: A. I opened the envelope. B: B. A branch of a tree. B: C. You can find its hours on the website.
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A: How many copies should I print? B: A. The printer is new. B: B. One for each of the eight participants. B: C. Yesterday afternoon.
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A: Would you prefer the window seat or the aisle seat? B: A. Yes, it is a seat. B: B. The aisle, please. B: C. The window was cleaned.
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A: The shipment has arrived earlier than expected. B: A. Then we can start packing today. B: B. I expect three guests tomorrow. B: C. A very long ship.
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A: Who approved the revised budget? B: A. You should ask the finance team. B: B. A very broad road. B: C. The revision took an hour.
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A: How can I reset my account password? B: A. There are two accounts. B: B. For three months. B: C. Use the link on the login page.
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A: Did you remember to attach the invoice? B: A. A wooden attachment. B: B. Let me check the sent message. B: C. It costs less than before.
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A: Why do we need another inspection? B: A. The first report was incomplete. B: B. Inspectors wear badges. B: C. Next to the elevator.
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A: Which entrance should the guests use? B: A. They arrived together. B: B. The one facing the garden. B: C. The guests enjoyed dinner.
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A: Can you cover my shift on Friday? B: A. I already have a medical appointment. B: B. Friday is printed in bold. B: C. The cover is green.
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A: How long will the installation take? B: A. The installer is here. B: B. About two hours. B: C. In the conference room.
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A: Should we order more name tags? B: A. The order was alphabetical. B: B. My name is on the list. B: C. There are enough for everyone.
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A: Where did you put the signed agreement? B: A. We all agreed yesterday. B: B. It is a good signature. B: C. I gave it to the legal assistant.
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A: The meeting room is unusually cold today. B: A. The room can seat ten people. B: B. I will adjust the thermostat. B: C. Today is Tuesday.
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A: Have the new uniforms been distributed? B: A. Only to the morning staff so far. B: B. A uniform colour. B: C. We have a staff entrance.
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A: When should I send the reminder? B: A. After the registration period closes. B: B. A friendly reminder. B: C. I sent a parcel.
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A: Could we discuss the design over lunch? B: A. The lunch menu is long. B: B. I am free at noon. B: C. It was designed last year.
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A: Do you know whether the tickets are refundable? B: A. I bought a return train ticket. B: B. The concert was wonderful. B: C. The conditions are printed on the back.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — In the tray beside reception.
The method in action
- “Where” asks for a place. The time and the response repeating “visitor” do not answer it.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — I am still waiting for an email.
The method in action
- Waiting for an email indirectly indicates that confirmation is missing; the other choices use similar-sounding words.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — Our new facilities manager.
The method in action
- “Who” asks about a person; “manager” answers that question.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — Yes, that would help.
The method in action
- This is an offer of help, accepted by the chosen response. The room’s color does not answer it.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — At a quarter past seven.
The method in action
- “When” asks about a time; the platform would answer “Where.”
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
C — Heavy rain is expected.
The method in action
- The rain explains why the event was postponed. The music genre and poster location are irrelevant.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — Certainly, I will do it now.
The method in action
- The question is a request, and the correct response agrees to do it. “Lunch” and “figures” alone do not support the other choices.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
C — You can find its hours on the website.
The method in action
- The correct response says where to check the requested information without making up the hours.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — One for each of the eight participants.
The method in action
- The response infers a quantity of eight; the other options do not provide a relevant number.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — The aisle, please.
The method in action
- A choice between two options calls for selecting one; a simple “yes” does not decide.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — Then we can start packing today.
The method in action
- The response draws a relevant conclusion from the shipment’s arrival. A direct question is not required.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — You should ask the finance team.
The method in action
- The response directs the speaker to someone who may know. The other choices do not name a responsible person.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
C — Use the link on the login page.
The method in action
- Here, “How” asks for a procedure, not a duration or quantity.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — Let me check the sent message.
The method in action
- The response helpfully offers to check; the absence of “yes” or “no” does not make it incorrect.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — The first report was incomplete.
The method in action
- An incomplete report explains the need for another inspection; no one asks where the elevator is.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — The one facing the garden.
The method in action
- “Which entrance” asks the speaker to identify an entrance. The other responses mention the guests without choosing one.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — I already have a medical appointment.
The method in action
- The response indirectly says the speaker is unavailable. “Cover” here means take someone’s shift, not a cover.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — About two hours.
The method in action
- “How long” asks for a duration; the correct response is the only duration offered.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
C — There are enough for everyone.
The method in action
- The response explains why another order is unnecessary; simply repeating “name” or “order” is not enough.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
C — I gave it to the legal assistant.
The method in action
- Giving it to someone helps locate the document. A location can be given indirectly.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — I will adjust the thermostat.
The method in action
- The response offers an action that addresses the room being cold, unlike the unrelated information.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — Only to the morning staff so far.
The method in action
- The response gives an accurate partial update on distribution; the word “staff” alone does not make the other option relevant.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
A — After the registration period closes.
The method in action
- The response gives a time reference. A date can be expressed as an event.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
B — I am free at noon.
The method in action
- Being available at noon implicitly accepts the invitation.
Listen to the question or statement and the three responses, then choose A, B, or C.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
C — The conditions are printed on the back.
The method in action
- The response says where to find the terms. A return ticket is not necessarily refundable.
The pitfall
Choosing an echo instead of a relevant response
A response may repeat “room,” “order,” or “installed” while saying something unrelated. Ask yourself: if a colleague said this to me, would I have received a useful answer? “The room is blue” does not respond to an offer to book a larger room.
Similar-sounding words can also distract you: “branch” can mean an office location or a tree limb. Identify the context before settling on a meaning. Once you understand the distractor, invent a question it would answer correctly; that will help you pinpoint the mismatch.
How should you work on exchanges you miss?
Restate the intent in French, then come up with two relevant responses in English, one direct and one indirect. For “Has the supplier confirmed?” you could compare “No, not yet” with “I am still waiting for an email.” Then compare an unrelated response to make the distinction clear.
When listening, also notice verb tense and negation. A response may fit the topic but reverse the sequence of events. After reviewing your answers, return to an excerpt without a transcript; count only passages you truly recognized, not ones you remember seeing in writing.
Key takeaways
- Identify the intent before matching repeated vocabulary.
- An indirect response can answer the question precisely.
- Categorize your mistakes to choose your next exercise.