An Unexpected Visitor: A2 Past Continuous Listening

Listen for the scene and the event

You will hear two people describe the same visit. First, listen without reading the transcripts. Find who was doing what before the doorbell rang. Listen again for the visit and its result. Cooker means the appliance used to cook food; cupboard means a storage space with a door. Answer questions 1–6 about recording 1 and questions 7–12 about recording 2.

Listen and learn

Recording 1

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Read the transcript

Brother: At half past six, I was making soup in my kitchen. My sister, Rosa, was reading in the living room. It was raining outside, and we were not expecting anyone. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. I turned off the cooker and opened the door. Our neighbour, Mr Lee, was standing there with a wet dog. He was looking after the dog for a friend, but he could not find its towel. Rosa brought an old towel, and we helped him dry the dog.

Listen and learn

Recording 2

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Read the transcript

Rosa: I was reading a detective story when I heard the doorbell. My brother was cooking, so I thought he would answer it. Then I heard a dog. I put down my book and went to the door. Mr Lee was holding the dog while my brother was talking to him. The dog was shaking water onto the floor. I found a clean towel in the cupboard. After we dried the dog, Mr Lee thanked us and went home. Then I returned to my story.

Twelve practice questions

Choose an answer, then check the explanation. If you prefer, note your answers before revealing the key.

Answer key and explanations

1. Soup — He says he was making soup in the kitchen.

2. In the living room — The brother places Rosa in the living room.

3. The doorbell rang — They were not expecting anyone; suddenly the doorbell rang.

4. Turned off the cooker — He turned off the cooker and then opened the door.

5. A friend’s dog — He was looking after the dog for a friend.

6. The brother was making soup — Making soup was the background activity interrupted by the unexpected sound.

7. A detective story — Rosa calls it a detective story.

8. He was cooking — She says her brother was cooking, so she thought he would answer.

9. Put down her book — Rosa put down her book and went to the door.

10. Holding the dog and talking — Mr Lee was holding the dog while the brother was talking to him.

11. In the cupboard — She found a clean towel in the cupboard.

12. Rosa returned to her story — Rosa ends by saying she returned to her story.

Notice the grammar

Was making, was reading and was raining describe the scene. Rang, turned off and opened move the first account forward. Was holding and was talking describe two activities happening together. The event did not happen because a sentence contained when or while; the verb forms show how the speaker chooses to present the time relationship. Both accounts agree that Mr Lee arrived with a wet dog and received help drying the dog.

Retell in 50–70 words

Retell the visit from Rosa’s point of view. Give two background actions, the event that changed the evening, two later actions and a final result. Use the picture sequence for ideas, but check details against the recordings. You can combine or shorten information. Keep the events in a clear order.

Model retelling

I was reading while my brother was making soup. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Our neighbour was standing outside with a wet dog. I put down my book and went to help. While my brother was talking to Mr Lee, I found a clean towel. We dried the dog, and our neighbour thanked us. Then I continued reading.

Review your retelling

Check was/were + -ing for the scene and simple past forms for the main events. The model uses put, went and found, which are irregular. Other word choices are possible, but do not invent a reason for the visit that contradicts either account. Read the transcripts after your final listening attempt.

Recording 1: the brother’s account (read after listening)

At half past six, I was making soup in my kitchen. My sister, Rosa, was reading in the living room. It was raining outside, and we were not expecting anyone. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. I turned off the cooker and opened the door. Our neighbour, Mr Lee, was standing there with a wet dog. He was looking after the dog for a friend, but he could not find its towel. Rosa brought an old towel, and we helped him dry the dog.

Recording 2: Rosa’s account (read after listening)

I was reading a detective story when I heard the doorbell. My brother was cooking, so I thought he would answer it. Then I heard a dog. I put down my book and went to the door. Mr Lee was holding the dog while my brother was talking to him. The dog was shaking water onto the floor. I found a clean towel in the cupboard. After we dried the dog, Mr Lee thanked us and went home. Then I returned to my story.

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