Choosing a Birthday Gift
About this practice test
Practice A2 English listening with a conversation about choosing a birthday gift, comparing preferences, prices, places, and plans.
What you’ll practice
Understanding detail
Follow specific information and examples.
Interpreting ideas
Identify main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
5 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- A2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Single choice
How to approach this practice
Read the questions, then listen before opening the transcript. Notice names, numbers and any corrections the speaker makes.
A2 Listening: Choosing a Birthday Gift
Read the transcript
Sofia: We need a gift for our cousin Lily. Her birthday is on Saturday. Ethan: She likes painting, but she already has many brushes. Sofia: What about a sketchbook? The art shop has some beautiful ones. Ethan: She also said that she wants to learn photography. Sofia: A camera would be useful, but a good camera is too expensive for us. Ethan: Maybe we can buy a small photo album and a book about taking pictures. Sofia: That could help her with her school project too. Ethan: Let us compare prices. The blue album is twelve pounds, and the red one is fifteen. Sofia: Let us choose the blue album and add a birthday card. Ethan: Good. We can meet Lily at the cafe at four, before the cake is served.
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why do Sofia and Ethan decide not to buy brushes?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Lily already has many brushes.
- The art shop is closed.
- The brushes are too small.
- Lily does not like painting.
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Lily already has many brushes.
Ethan says that Lily already has many brushes.
Ethan: She likes painting, but she already has many brushes.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does Ethan suggest buying?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- A photo album and a photography book
- A camera and a painting
- A sketchbook and some brushes
- A school bag and a diary
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- A photo album and a photography book
Ethan suggests a small photo album and a book about taking pictures.
Ethan: Maybe we can buy a small photo album and a book about taking pictures.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
How much is the blue album?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Twelve pounds
- Ten pounds
- Fifteen pounds
- Twenty pounds
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Twelve pounds
Ethan says the blue album is twelve pounds.
The blue album is twelve pounds, and the red one is fifteen.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Where will they meet Lily?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- At the cafe
- At the art shop
- At school
- At the station
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- At the cafe
They plan to meet Lily at the cafe.
We can meet Lily at the cafe at four, before the cake is served.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
When will they give Lily the gift?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- Before the cake is served
- After the party ends
- Before school starts
- The following weekend
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- Before the cake is served
They will meet before the cake is served and give her the gift then.
We can meet Lily at the cafe at four, before the cake is served.
What to review next
Listen again to difficult sections, then open the transcript to check what you heard. Repeat a useful phrase aloud and try the recording once more without the text.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.
Before you practise: a worked example
Listen for the final information, especially when a speaker corrects or changes an earlier statement.
Example transcript: “Let’s meet at five — actually, half past five would be better.” What is the final suggested time?
The final suggested time is 5:30. Actually signals a correction; the first time is replaced by the later suggestion.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.