English Refresher

EnglishRefresher
Find your level

Staying Safe Online

Two friends work through what went wrong for someone they know, and what each of them has changed since. Listen twice, answer fifteen questions that mark themselves, and open the script last.

0%
1
Listen

The Conversation

What to do: Listen straight through once and count the different risks Emma and Jake mention. Then listen a second time for the solutions, and for who suggests each one — several questions below depend on telling the two speakers apart.
AudioStaying Safe Online
Try all three question sets before you open the script. You will learn more from listening than from reading.

Emma: Did you hear about Tom? His social media account got hacked last week.

Jake: Seriously? That’s worrying. One thing to watch out for is using weak passwords. A lot of people still use the same one everywhere.

Emma: Exactly. And you should avoid clicking on links from unknown messages. That’s how hackers often get access.

Jake: True. I also think people don’t realize how much personal information they share online. Posting your location or holiday plans can be risky.

Emma: Yeah, especially if your profile is public. Maybe you could check your privacy settings and limit who can see your posts.

Jake: That’s a good idea. I’ve also started using two-step verification. It takes a bit more time, but it feels much safer.

Emma: Same here. Another solution is being careful when using public Wi-Fi. One thing to watch out for is logging into bank accounts or emails on open networks.

Jake: Good point. I guess the most practical thing is creating strong passwords and changing them regularly. It’s simple, but people forget to do it.

Emma: I agree. Small habits like that can make a big difference when it comes to online safety.

One word worth noticing. Jake says holiday plans. In American English you would hear vacation plans instead — a British "holiday" is an American "vacation". Both are correct, and the transcript matches the recording exactly so you can hear it for yourself. No question below depends on that word.
2
Multiple Choice

Who Said What?

What to do: Choose the best answer according to the conversation. Check the name in each question carefully — some answers are true of the other speaker.
1. What happened to Tom?
2. What does Jake say a lot of people still do?
3. Why does Emma say you should avoid links in unknown messages?
4. What has Jake started doing himself?
5. Which step does Jake call the most practical?
3
True or False

Is That What They Said?

What to do: Decide whether each sentence is true or false according to the conversation. Then tap Check Answers.
1. Tom's account was hacked more than a year ago.
2. Jake says two-step verification takes a little more time.
3. Emma says a public profile makes the risk worse.
4. Emma recommends using public Wi-Fi for banking.
5. Jake thinks strong passwords are complicated to create.
4
Complete the Notes

One or Two Words

What to do: Complete each sentence with one or two words from the conversation. Listen again if you need to. Then tap Check Answers. Spelling counts.
1. Jake says a lot of people still use the same password ______.
2. Clicking links in unknown messages is how hackers often get ______.
3. Jake says posting your ______ can be risky.
4. Emma suggests you limit who can see your ______.
5. Emma says small ______ can make a big difference.
5
Talk About It

Discussion

What to do: Discuss with a partner or write your own answers. There is no score, so give your real opinion. You do not have to say anything about your own accounts if you would rather not.

Questions

  • Emma and Jake name five risks between them. Which one do you think people ignore most often?
  • Jake says strong passwords are simple but people forget. Why do we skip the easy safety steps?
  • Two-step verification takes more time at every login. Is that a fair trade?
  • How much should someone be able to learn about you from your public posts?
  • Is it reasonable to expect people to avoid public Wi-Fi, or is that advice out of date?
  • What is one habit from this conversation you could start this week?

Tap to see your score on the three graded tasks, then show your teacher.

0%
Score

Your Result

Show this screen to your teacher.
← All listening lessons Reading lessons

This conversation is a script written for this lesson and performed for the recording. It is not a recording of real people, and no names or details in it refer to anyone in particular. It is a language lesson, not security advice — check current guidance before making decisions about your own accounts.