Talking to Clients: Blocked Drain – A2

Vocabulary

Study these words before doing the exercises.

blocked

not able to let water through because something is stuck inside

"The sink is blocked. Water will not go down."

drain

a pipe or hole that carries waste water away

"The drain under the sink is full of grease."

plunger

a rubber cup on a stick used to push a blockage through a pipe

"Try using the plunger first before calling a plumber."

debris

pieces of material such as food, hair or dirt that block a pipe

"The pipe was full of debris from the kitchen."

gurgling

a bubbling sound that water makes when a pipe is partly blocked

"The sink is making a gurgling noise when it drains."

slow

not draining quickly — a sign that a pipe may be partly blocked

"The water is slow to drain. It takes five minutes to empty."

overflow

when water rises above the top of a sink or drain because it cannot flow away

"The bath is starting to overflow because the drain is blocked."

clear

to remove a blockage so that water can flow freely again

"I will clear the blockage and then flush the pipe."

access

a point where you can enter or reach a pipe or drain to work on it

"There is an access point under the sink."

rod

a long flexible pole used to push through a drain and break up a blockage

"I will use the rod to clear the blockage further down the pipe."

manhole

a covered opening in the ground that gives access to underground drains

"Lift the manhole cover and check if the drain is clear."

camera

a small device pushed into a pipe to look for blockages or damage

"I will send a camera down the drain to find the cause."

cause

the reason why something has gone wrong

"The cause of the blockage is a build-up of grease."

unblock

to remove something that is stopping water from flowing

"I need to unblock the pipe before the water can drain."

flush

to push water through a pipe to clean it after clearing a blockage

"Flush the pipe with hot water after you clear the blockage."

Exercise 1 – True or False?

Read each sentence. Is it true or false?

Exercise 2 – Multiple Choice

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

Exercise 3 – Matching

Match each word (1–8) with the correct description (A–H).

Exercise 4 – Gap Fill

Type the correct word in each gap. The word is given in brackets.

Exercise 5 – Word Order

Put the words in the correct order to make a sentence.

Exercise 6 – Word Sort

Click a word to place it in the correct category.

💬 Describing the Problem

🔧 Tools and Actions

Exercise 7 – Complete the Conversation

Choose the correct word to complete the conversation.

Exercise 8 – Listening

Listen to the conversation, then answer the questions.

🎧 Listen to the conversation

Press Play to listen.

Client: Hello, my kitchen sink is blocked. The water will not go down at all.

Plumber: OK. Is the water slow to drain, or is it completely stopped?

Client: Completely stopped. And there is a gurgling sound when I run the tap.

Plumber: That is a sign of a blockage. Let me check the access point under the sink first.

Client: Of course. What do you think is the cause of the problem?

Plumber: Probably a build-up of debris — grease, food, and soap over time.

Plumber: I will start with the plunger and then use the rod if I need to go deeper.

Client: Great. How long will it take to unblock the pipe?

Plumber: About thirty minutes. I will flush the pipe with hot water at the end to make sure it is clear.

Part A – Comprehension Questions

Listen and choose the correct answer.

Part B – Listen and Fill the Gap

Each sentence is from the conversation. One word is missing. Listen and type it.

🏆 Your Scores

Exercise	Score	Out of
1 – True / False	–	8
2 – Multiple Choice	–	8
3 – Matching	–	8
4 – Gap Fill	–	8
5 – Word Order	–	8
6 – Word Sort	–	8
7 – Conversation	–	8
8a – Listening: Comprehension	–	5
8b – Listening: Gap Fill	–	5
Total	–	66

Complete all exercises to see your total score.