A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – School, Family & Fluffy Friends 1
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – School, Family & Fluffy Friends
Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The noisy parrot
Twelve-year-old Leo writes about a very funny day at school.
Twelve-year-old Leo loves animals and birds. Last week, his school had a special 'bring your pet to school' day. The students could bring their small animals into the biology lab for the whole morning. Leo was very excited because he wanted to share his beautiful, colourful pet parrot, Mango, with his classmates. He carefully carried the bird to school in a large metal cage.
At first, everything went perfectly. The biology teacher, Mr Harris, walked around the room and talked to the teenagers about all their different pets. Mango sat quietly inside his cage on Leo's desk and watched the other students. However, Mango is a very clever bird, and he loves copying loud sounds that he hears.
Suddenly, there was a funny problem in the middle of the lesson. Mango learned the exact sound of the school bell. He started making the loud ringing noise while Mr Harris was writing on the board. He made the noise again and again. The sound was so perfect that it was impossible to know if it was the real bell or just the parrot.
Because of the loud noise, all the students thought it was time for their morning break. They quickly closed their books and started packing their bags early. Mr Harris was surprised, but then he laughed loudly when he understood it was just Mango. He asked Leo to put a dark blanket over the cage to keep the bird quiet. Next year, Leo is planning to leave his noisy parrot at home and bring his sleepy pet turtle to school instead!
14 Why did Leo take Mango to the biology lab?
A He wanted his friends at school to see his bird.
B His teacher asked him to carry the metal cage there.
C He needed to learn more about small animals.
15 What was Mr Harris doing at the beginning of the lesson?
A watching the students sitting quietly at their desks
B trying to teach a clever bird how to copy sounds
C having conversations about the animals in the room
16 What problem did Mango cause?
A He created a noise that sounded exactly like the school bell.
B He flew around the room while the teacher was writing.
C He rang the real school bell again and again.
17 Why did the students start packing their bags?
A They believed that the lesson was finished.
B Mr Harris told them to close their books.
C They were afraid of the loud noise.
18 What is Leo planning to do next year?
A put a dark blanket over his pet turtle
B take a different animal to the special school day
C keep his noisy parrot in a cage at school
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, the text states Leo "wanted to share his beautiful, colourful pet parrot, Mango, with his classmates." Option A correctly paraphrases this. Option B uses wrong logic; Leo carried the cage because it was a special pet day, not because the teacher ordered him to. Option C is a wrong reference; the students brought pets for a special day, not to learn more about them.
15 C - Explanation: In the second paragraph, the text says Mr Harris "talked to the teenagers about all their different pets." Option C matches this meaning perfectly. Option A is a wrong reference; it was Mango who "sat quietly" and "watched the other students", not the teacher. Option B uses wrong logic; Mango naturally loves copying sounds, but the teacher wasn't trying to teach him how to do it.
16 A - Explanation: In the third paragraph, the text explains that Mango "learned the exact sound of the school bell" and "started making the loud ringing noise". Option A correctly paraphrases this event. Option B is a wrong reference; Mango made a noise while the teacher was writing, but the text never says he flew around the room. Option C is wrong logic; the parrot made a perfect copy of the sound, he didn't ring the real bell.
17 A - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, the text says the students "thought it was time for their morning break. They quickly closed their books and started packing their bags". Option A correctly paraphrases thinking it was time for a break as believing the lesson was finished. Option B is wrong logic; the students closed their books themselves because of the bell sound, Mr Harris didn't tell them to do it. Option C is a wrong reference; they packed their bags to leave for break, not because they were afraid.
18 B - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Leo says he is planning to "leave his noisy parrot at home and bring his sleepy pet turtle to school instead!" Option B is the correct answer because bringing a turtle instead of a parrot means taking a different animal. Option A uses wrong logic; he put a blanket over the bird's cage this year, he isn't planning to put one over the turtle next year. Option C is the opposite of the text; he is planning to leave his noisy parrot at home, not keep him at school.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The missing hamster
13-year-old Mia writes about taking care of a class pet.
My name is Mia and I am 13 years old. Last week, my science teacher asked me to do a very special job. We have a small class pet, a brown hamster. My teacher asked me to take the hamster to my house for the weekend. I had to give it fresh water, feed it, and clean its cage. I felt very proud to do this important job.
On Friday afternoon, I carried the hamster home and put the cage in our living room. Everything was fine until Saturday morning. I opened the small door of the cage because I wanted to clean the inside. But the hamster was very fast. It jumped out of the cage, fell onto the floor, and started running away!
I tried to catch it, but it ran under the large sofa in the middle of the room. The sofa was very heavy, so I couldn't move it. I lay on the floor and tried to reach the hamster with my hands, but my arms were too short. I started to feel very worried. I didn't want to lose the school pet!
Then, I had a good idea. I went to the kitchen and got a small piece of cheese. I put the food inside the open cage and sat down quietly to wait. After five minutes, the hungry hamster smelled the cheese and walked slowly back into its cage. I quickly closed the door and locked it carefully. I am going to look after the hamster again next month, but I will make sure all the doors in the room are closed first!
14 Why did Mia take the hamster home?
A She wanted to show her new pet to her family.
B She needed to look after it for a few days.
C She had to help her science teacher buy a cage.
15 What happened on Saturday morning?
A Mia dropped the hamster on the living room floor.
B The hamster ran out of the open living room door.
C The hamster got out when Mia opened the cage.
16 Why couldn't Mia get the hamster back immediately?
A She was too worried to try and catch it.
B The sofa was too heavy for her to move.
C Her arms were tired from moving the furniture.
17 How did Mia catch the hamster?
A She used some food to make it go back inside.
B She asked someone in the kitchen to help her.
C She picked it up quickly when it was sleeping.
18 What is Mia planning to do next month?
A shut the hamster in a different room
B buy a new piece of cheese for the hamster
C take care of the school pet again
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In Paragraph 1, Mia explains that her teacher asked her to take the hamster home for the weekend to "feed it, and clean its cage." Option B is a simple paraphrase of looking after it for the weekend. Option A is wrong logic; it is the class pet, not her own new pet. Option C is a wrong reference trap; the cage is mentioned, but she didn't have to buy one.
15 C - Explanation: In Paragraph 2, Mia says, "I opened the small door of the cage... It jumped out of the cage". Option C correctly matches this event. Option A is a partial truth trap; the hamster fell onto the floor, but Mia didn't drop it. Option B is a wrong reference trap; it ran out of the open cage, not the living room door.
16 B - Explanation: In Paragraph 3, Mia explains that the hamster ran under the large sofa and "The sofa was very heavy, so I couldn't move it." Option B captures this reason perfectly. Option A is a partial truth trap; she was worried, but she did try to catch it by lying on the floor. Option C is wrong logic; she couldn't move the furniture, so her arms weren't tired from moving it (her arms were just "too short").
17 A - Explanation: In Paragraph 4, Mia solves the problem by putting "a small piece of cheese" inside the open cage so the hamster "walked slowly back into its cage." Option A accurately summarizes this. Option B is a wrong reference trap; she went to the kitchen, but she didn't ask anyone there for help. Option C is wrong logic; she waited for it to walk back inside, she didn't pick it up while it was sleeping.
18 C - Explanation: This question tests the final detail of the narrative. At the end of Paragraph 4, Mia states her future plan: "I am going to look after the hamster again next month". Option C perfectly matches this detail. Option A is a partial truth trap; she says she will make sure the doors in the room are closed, but she doesn't plan to shut it in a different room. Option B is a wrong reference trap; she used cheese this time, but she doesn't mention planning to buy a new piece next month.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A night at school with Dad
14-year-old Noah writes about a very busy evening.
Hi, I'm Noah and I'm 14 years old. Last Thursday, my school had a 'Parents' Evening'. This is a special event when families come to the school building to talk to the teachers. My mum was busy at work, so I took my dad with me. It was a very busy and funny evening, and I want to tell everyone about my experience.
I really believe that Parents' Evening is a fantastic idea. It is a great chance for parents to visit your classroom and look at the interesting projects you do every day. For example, my dad felt very proud when my science teacher showed him my excellent test results. Hearing nice things about your hard work makes you feel brilliant.
However, there is one very big problem with the evening. Our school is a huge building, and there were hundreds of people walking around the long halls. The teachers gave everyone a paper map, but it was incredibly confusing to read. My dad couldn't understand the map at all. We got completely lost trying to find the history room, and we walked past the school library four times!
Because of this silly problem, I have some important advice for all students. You must never leave your parents alone on this busy night. I strongly advise you to walk with them to every single room. If you don't stay with them, they might walk into the wrong classroom and accidentally speak to the wrong teacher about a completely different student!
14 Why did Noah's dad go to the Parents' Evening?
A He wanted to ask the teachers for help.
B Noah's mother was unable to go.
C He needed to write a blog post about it.
15 How did Noah's dad feel during the meeting with the science teacher?
A pleased about Noah's schoolwork
B surprised to see Noah's daily projects
C tired from doing a lot of hard work
16 What was the problem with the paper map?
A The teachers forgot to give it to the parents.
B It sent Noah and his dad to the school library.
C It was too difficult for people to use.
17 What does Noah say students should do?
A Go to a different classroom from their parents.
B Stay with their parents all evening.
C Help their parents find the right student.
18 Why has Noah written this blog?
A to explain how teachers should organise an event
B to ask parents to help children with their homework
C to share an experience and give some advice
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: The text states "My mum was busy at work, so I took my dad with me," which means his mother was unable to go. Option A uses wrong logic; the families come "to talk to the teachers", but the text doesn't say his dad wanted to ask them for help. Option C is wrong reference; Noah is writing the blog post, not his dad.
15 A - Explanation: The text says his dad "felt very proud when my science teacher showed him my excellent test results," which matches feeling pleased about his schoolwork. Option B is a partial truth; parents can look at projects, but Dad wasn't surprised by them. Option C uses wrong reference; Noah did the hard work, Dad didn't feel tired from it.
16 C - Explanation: The text explains that the map was "incredibly confusing to read" and his dad "couldn't understand the map at all," which matches it being too difficult to use. Option A is wrong logic; the text says the teachers "gave everyone a paper map." Option B is a partial truth; they walked past the library because they were lost, but the map didn't send them there.
17 B - Explanation: The text says "You must never leave your parents alone... walk with them to every single room," which matches staying with them all evening. Option A is the opposite of what the text says; students must walk with them. Option C uses wrong logic; if parents go into the wrong room, they might speak about a different student, but Noah doesn't advise helping them find a student.
18 C - Explanation: In the blog, Noah tells a story about his experience at Parents' Evening and concludes by giving "some important advice for all students," making option C the correct global purpose. Option A is wrong logic; he talks about an event the school organised, he doesn't tell teachers how to do it. Option B is wrong logic; he mentions homework/projects, but he doesn't ask parents to help with them.