Why is Tom calling the bike repair shop?

Tom is inquiring about the delay in his bike repair.

Tom wants to inquire about his repair bill.

Tom needs to cancel an upcoming bike repair appointment.

Tom is seeking advice on biking routes.

What is the main issue causing the delay in Tom's bike repair?

The supplier sent the wrong part twice.

The repair shop forgot to order the necessary part.

Tom's bike requires a part that is out of stock worldwide.

The repair shop is understaffed.

How does Lily feel about the situation?

Lily is frustrated but trying to resolve the issue.

Lily is convinced that Tom doesn't need the repair immediately.

Lily believes the delay is beneficial for Tom.

The delivery process has been unreliable recently.

Why can't Lily guarantee the repair will be done by Saturday?

The part delivery is beyond her control.

The repair shop has a strict no-guarantee policy.

The weekend staff cannot handle urgent repairs.

She is still waiting to confirm the delivery date.

What does Tom express when he says, 'I was really hoping this wouldn’t be a problem'?

His expectation that the repair would be completed on time.

His excitement about the upcoming ride.

His preference for a different repair shop.

His wish that he had been told about the delay earlier.

What offer does Lily make to Tom as a form of apology?

A discount on his next service.

A free rental bike for his ride.

A priority on all future repairs.

Resources
Exams
B2 First
Test 2

B2 First listening test 2

Bike repair delay

A conversation between two people, followed by six multiple-choice questions, in the format of the B2 First listening paper.

4:09 of audio · Speakers: Tom & Lily

How to do it

1.Listen to the whole thing once, without pausing and without reading the questions.
2.Read the questions and listen a second time. The real exam gives you two listenings.
3.Answer and submit. Don't open the transcript before you submit — that's the part that makes the test count.

Test audio

Questions

1.Why is Tom calling the bike repair shop?
Tom is inquiring about the delay in his bike repair.Tom wants to inquire about his repair bill.Tom needs to cancel an upcoming bike repair appointment.Tom is seeking advice on biking routes.
2.What is the main issue causing the delay in Tom's bike repair?
The repair shop forgot to order the necessary part.Tom's bike requires a part that is out of stock worldwide.The repair shop is understaffed.The supplier sent the wrong part twice.
3.How does Lily feel about the situation?
Lily is convinced that Tom doesn't need the repair immediately.Lily is frustrated but trying to resolve the issue.Lily believes the delay is beneficial for Tom.The delivery process has been unreliable recently.
4.Why can't Lily guarantee the repair will be done by Saturday?
The part delivery is beyond her control.The repair shop has a strict no-guarantee policy.The weekend staff cannot handle urgent repairs.She is still waiting to confirm the delivery date.
5.What does Tom express when he says, 'I was really hoping this wouldn’t be a problem'?
His excitement about the upcoming ride.His expectation that the repair would be completed on time.His preference for a different repair shop.His wish that he had been told about the delay earlier.
6.What offer does Lily make to Tom as a form of apology?
A free rental bike for his ride.A priority on all future repairs.A discount on his next service.A free bike repair next time.

Full transcript

Open it only after you've submitted.

Tom: Hi, this is Tom. I'm calling about my bike repair. It was supposed to be ready by Tuesday, and now it's Friday. I need it urgently because I’ve got a 60 km ride planned on Sunday. Could you tell me what's going on? I really wasn't expecting this delay.

Lily: Oh, Tom, I'm really sorry about that. We’ve had an issue with the part for your bike. The supplier sent the wrong part not once but twice, and it’s caused a backlog. It’s been a bit of a nightmare, honestly. I should’ve contacted you sooner, but I was trying to sort out the mess first before bringing you into its chaos.

Tom: Why wasn't I told?

Lily: I was going to call you yesterday, but I wanted to confirm a new delivery date first. It's been chaotic here. We’re expecting a new shipment tomorrow, and I’m hopeful that we can finally get the right part. I completely understand your frustration, especially with such an important ride coming up. Trust me, I’m doing everything I possibly can to resolve this.

Tom: I appreciate the explanation, but I need it by Saturday. Can you guarantee that?

Lily: I can't promise.

Tom: That’s disappointing. I was counting on that ride.

Lily: I understand, and it’s not ideal for either of us. I’ll prioritize your bike for tomorrow once the part arrives. However, since it's out of our hands until then, I'm being as honest as possible with you. I really wish I could offer more certainty, but I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep. This situation is far from what we want for our customers.

Tom: Not much comfort, really.

Lily: I know it’s not ideal. I wish I had better news. If I had any control over the shipping, I would’ve done something by now. It’s frustrating for me as well. I just really hope the part tomorrow is the correct one. I can only assure you we’re trying to expedite everything on our end.

Tom: I was really hoping this wouldn’t be a problem. I mean, it’s a major ride for me, and I’ve been preparing for weeks. If there's anything else that—

Lily: I'm truly sorry about the inconvenience.

Tom: Alright, I get it. It's not your fault entirely. But I’m still stuck without a bike. Maybe I can find a rental, but it’s not the same. I just wish I had more notice about this mix-up. Could you have at least let me know sooner, or maybe offered some alternatives?

Lily: Truly, I apologize. We don’t usually have these issues. This one’s been particularly tricky, and I should’ve looped you in sooner. In hindsight, a heads-up earlier might have helped. I’ll definitely take that into account in case something like this happens again.

Tom: Is there really nothing else you can do to speed it up?

Lily: I can only push your repair to priority one. Beyond that, it’s down to delivery. I’m really sorry. I’ll follow up with them again today and try to get any updates I can. But at this point, it’s all about when this part arrives. My hands are tied till then, but you're at the top of our list.

Tom: Okay, I understand the situation. Just keep me posted as soon as the part arrives, alright? I’ll see if I can make alternate plans.

Lily: Of course, I’ll call you the moment we get it in. I really hope you can manage for Sunday. I hate that you’re in this position because of us. If there’s anything else I can do to help with a rental or anything, let me know.

Tom: Thanks. I'll see what I can do. Wish me luck with the rental.

Lily: Good luck, Tom. Again, I’m really sorry for all this. I assure you, we're learning a lot from this ordeal. We don't want to let our customers experience this again.

Tom: Well, it is what it is. I'll figure something out. I just hope this doesn't happen again next time. I like supporting local shops, but reliability is essential.

Lily: I assure you, we’ll do our best to prevent it in the future. We value our local customers and your trust in us. Once we're past this, I’d like to offer you a discount on your next service as an apology.

Tom: Alright, take care. Let me know tomorrow.

Lily: Will do. Thanks for understanding, Tom. I genuinely hope everything works out for your ride.

More tests at this level

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Test 3 — Volunteering at a hostel in Lisbon4:48
Test 4 — Allowing a teenager to attend a music festival3:59

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