8. Preparing for a surprise birthday party
Instructions on How to Answer Objective Questions
In this listening activity, you will hear a conversation between two people discussing their plans for organizing a surprise birthday party. After listening to the conversation, you will answer 10 multiple-choice questions. Each question will have four options. Listen carefully to details about the party preparations, the roles they assign, and how they plan to keep the event a surprise.
You will hear the audio only once, so make sure to focus on key information. After listening, select the most appropriate answer for each question.
Objective Questions
- Where is the surprise birthday party going to be held?
a) At Alice’s house
b) At Jenna’s house
c) At a restaurant
d) At a park - What is the color theme for the decorations?
a) Red and gold
b) Blue and silver
c) Pink and white
d) Green and yellow - Who is helping Jenna with the decorations?
a) Alice
b) Tom
c) Her family
d) Her coworkers - What type of food will be served at the party?
a) Mexican food
b) Italian food
c) Chinese food
d) Indian food - What is the flavor of the birthday cake?
a) Vanilla
b) Strawberry
c) Chocolate
d) Lemon - How many people is Jenna inviting to the party?
a) 5
b) 10
c) 15
d) 20 - How will Jenna get Alice to her house for the party?
a) She will ask her to come over to hang out
b) She will take her out for dinner
c) She will tell her about the surprise
d) She will send her an invitation - What role does Tom take on for the party?
a) Baking the cake
b) Sending out the invitations
c) Cooking the food
d) Planning the games - How will the invitations be sent out?
a) By email
b) By text message
c) By phone calls
d) By paper invites - What is Jenna’s main concern about the party?
a) Keeping it a surprise for Alice
b) The food being delivered on time
c) The number of guests
d) The decorations not being ready
Script (Approximately 3 minutes)
[Person A: Jenna]
Hey, Tom! Thanks for helping me with the surprise birthday party for Alice. I’m really excited, but there’s a lot to organize.
[Person B: Tom]
No problem, Jenna! I’m glad to help. Have you thought about the location yet?
[Jenna]
Yeah, I’m thinking about hosting it at my place. It’s big enough for everyone, and I can decorate the living room with some birthday banners and balloons. Plus, Alice wouldn’t suspect anything if she came over.
[Tom]
That’s perfect! Do you need help with the decorations?
[Jenna]
Yes, I’ll need help setting them up. I’m planning to keep it simple but festive—maybe a color theme of blue and silver since those are her favorite colors.
[Tom]
Great idea! I can come over early and help you set everything up. What about the food? Are you cooking, or are we ordering something?
[Jenna]
I was thinking of ordering some food. Alice loves Italian, so I’m going to get some pizza, pasta, and garlic bread. I’ll also make a few snacks and, of course, there’s going to be a birthday cake.
[Tom]
That sounds delicious! And the cake—what flavor are you going with?
[Jenna]
I’m thinking chocolate. Alice is a huge fan of chocolate cakes, and I found this bakery nearby that makes the best ones.
[Tom]
Good call! I’m sure she’ll love it. Do you have a plan for how to get her to your place without ruining the surprise?
[Jenna]
Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that. I’ll ask her to come over to “hang out” like we usually do. Maybe tell her I need help with something at home, and once she’s here—surprise!
[Tom]
That’ll definitely work! How many people are you inviting?
[Jenna]
Just a small group—around 10 of her close friends. I don’t want to overwhelm her, but I want enough people to make it feel like a real celebration.
[Tom]
Sounds perfect. I can handle getting the invitations out. Should we go with paper invites, or just text everyone?
[Jenna]
Let’s keep it casual and text everyone. That way, it’s quick and easy to coordinate.
[Tom]
Alright, I’ll take care of that. Is there anything else I can help with?
[Jenna]
I think we’ve got it covered! Just show up early to help with the decorations, and we’ll be good to go. I’m so excited for Alice to see everyone. She’s going to be so surprised!
[Tom]
I’m excited too. It’s going to be a great party!
Answer Key
- b) At Jenna’s house
- b) Blue and silver
- b) Tom
- b) Italian food
- c) Chocolate
- b) 10
- a) She will ask her to come over to hang out
- b) Sending out the invitations
- b) By text message
- a) Keeping it a surprise for Alice
Difficult Words and Meanings
- Housewarming
- Meaning: A party to celebrate moving into a new home.
- Sentence: Jenna will be hosting the housewarming party this Saturday.
- Festive
- Meaning: Cheerful and celebratory, especially related to a holiday or event.
- Sentence: The blue and silver balloons created a festive atmosphere.
- Overwhelm
- Meaning: To cause someone to feel sudden strong emotion.
- Sentence: Jenna didn’t want to overwhelm Alice with too many guests.
- Coordinate
- Meaning: To organize people or activities to work together effectively.
- Sentence: Tom will help coordinate by sending out the invitations via text.
- Casual
- Meaning: Relaxed and informal.
- Sentence: Jenna chose to send casual text invitations instead of formal ones.