The Surprise Gift

B1 level listening exercise. Listen and answer the questions.
Updated September 2025
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Choose the correct option to complete the The Surprise Gift below.
1

Who was feeling stressed at work?

a.
Samantha
b.
Mark
c.
The boss
2

What did Samantha buy for her coworker?

a.
A book
b.
A coffee mug
c.
A cake
3

What was written on the coffee mug?

a.
“Good Job!”
b.
“You’ve got this!”
c.
“Happy Birthday!”
4

How did Mark feel when he saw the gift?

a.
He smiled
b.
He was angry
c.
He cried
5

What does the story show about small acts of kindness?

a.
They are not important
b.
They can make a big difference
c.
They are expensive
Samantha noticed that her coworker Mark had been feeling stressed for several days. He had been working overtime and looked tired. On Friday, Samantha bought him a small coffee mug with the words, “You’ve got this!” written on it. She left it on his desk with a note saying, “Thanks for your hard work.” When Mark arrived, he smiled for the first time that week. “This means a lot,” he said. Sometimes, small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Catherin VaitaCatherin Vaita
Chief Language Expert
Education
Ph.D. Applied Linguistics, Cambridge University
Experience
12+ years ESL curriculum design
Certifications
TESOL, CELTA, DELTA certified
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