Listening Exercise: Different Customs

1. In many countries, it is a custom to take off your shoes before entering someone’s home.

a) punishment
b) tradition
c) mistake

2. Please remove your bags from the aisle so people can walk through safely.

a) take away
b) fix
c) hide

3. Jenny and her friend have a play date every Friday after school. They usually go to the park or watch cartoons.

a) school test
b) time for children to have fun together
c) doctor appointment

4. The cake she made was delightful — everyone smiled after the first bite.

a) not cooked enough
b) boring and tasteless
c) pleasant and enjoyable

5. I’m sorry to interrupt, but there’s an urgent phone call for you.

a) begin a speech
b) stop someone from continuing
c) bring bad news

6. Don’t underestimate how difficult this exam will be — it’s harder than it looks.

a) think something is less than it is
b) agree completely
c) repeat something exactly

7. She was unprepared for living in a foreign country because she hadn’t thought through all the details.

a) ignored
b) considered carefully
c) forgot about

8. The hotel was praised for its cleanliness — the rooms and bathrooms were spotless.

a) safety
b) brightness
c) sanitary and tidy

1. Who is the guest being interviewed?

a) A Japanese teacher
b) A store manager
c) A travel agent
d) An author

2. What is the main theme of Rachel Asher’s book?

a) How to learn Japanese
b) How to travel cheaply
c) Raising children in different cultures
d) Working in the U.S.

3. What cultural custom does Rachel mention?

a) Eating with hands
b) Bowing when greeting
c) Removing shoes indoors
d) Drinking tea after dinner

4. Why did Rachel sit with the grandmother?

a) To eat dinner
b) To talk while the children played
c) To get language lessons
d) To watch a movie

5. Why did Rachel’s daughter think the floor was dirty?

a) She saw insects
b) She was told not to eat or sleep on the floor in the US
c) The floor was muddy
d) She dropped something on it

6. Why did the little girls argue?

a) They wanted different toys
b) They didn’t speak the same language
c) They were tired
d) They had different ideas about cleanliness

7. What role did the grandmother play?

a) She explained why Americans are foolish
b) She was angry at Rachel’s daughter
c) She helped the girls understand each other
d) She left the room

8. What lesson did Rachel learn from the experience?

a) Help children understand different points of view
b) Don’t let children visit friends
c) Teach children to ignore other customs
d) Japanese customs are better than American customs

9. What does Rachel suggest parents should do?

a) Keep children away from foreign cultures
b) Teach children only American traditions
c) Help children think openly and understand others
d) Make children follow foreign customs

10. What is a possible goal of Rachel’s book?

a) To explain Japanese culture
b) To promote travel
c) To describe her job
d) To teach parenting strategies abroad