A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Teen Travel Trends 5
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Teen Travel Trends
Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A new friend in the dark
13-year-old Alex writes about a difficult first night at summer camp.
My name is Alex, and I am 13 years old. Last month, I travelled to another country for a special summer camp. I was very excited because I love playing sports and meeting new people. But when my parents left me at the camp and said goodbye, I suddenly felt very sad. I missed them immediately.
On the first evening, all the campers went to their bedrooms early. I shared a room with three other boys. When the lights went out, the room was completely dark and quiet. I lay in my bed and thought about my comfortable bedroom at home. I really wanted to catch a train and go back to my family.
I felt so unhappy that I started to cry. I didn't want the other boys to see me or hear me, so I pulled the blanket over my head. I cried very quietly in the dark. I was sure that this was going to be the worst summer holiday ever.
Suddenly, I heard a noise. The boy in the bed next to me got up and walked over. His name was Leo, and he was my new roommate. He didn't ask me why I was sad. Instead, he sat on the floor and told me a very funny joke about a monkey. It was so silly that I had to laugh.
After that, Leo and I stayed awake and talked about our favourite sports and video games. We talked for a long time until we finally fell asleep. The next morning, I wasn't sad anymore. I had a great time at the camp, and Leo is now my best friend. Next summer, I am going to ask my parents to send me to the same camp again!
14 How did Alex feel when his parents went away?
A He was happy to meet new people.
B He became very sad straight away.
C He wanted to play sports with them.
15 In bed on the first evening, Alex wanted to
A go to sleep as early as possible.
B return to his own house.
C talk to the three other boys.
16 Why did Alex put his blanket over his head?
A because the bedroom was too dark for him
B to hide his crying from his roommates
C so he could have the best summer holiday
17 What did Leo do when he got out of bed?
A He asked Alex why he was unhappy.
B He told a silly story to make Alex laugh.
C He sat on Alex's bed to go to sleep.
18 What is Alex planning to do in the future?
A go back to the summer camp next year
B visit Leo in another country very soon
C play video games with his best friend
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Alex says that when his parents said goodbye, "I suddenly felt very sad. I missed them immediately." This matches becoming very sad straight away (Option B). Option A is wrong logic; he was excited to meet new people before they left, not when they went away. Option C is wrong logic; he loves playing sports, but he didn't want to play sports with his parents at that moment.
15 B - Explanation: Paragraph 2 says Alex "thought about my comfortable bedroom at home. I really wanted to catch a train and go back to my family." This matches wanting to return to his own house (Option B). Option A is a partial truth trap; the campers went to their bedrooms early, but Alex wasn't trying to sleep early. Option C is wrong logic; he didn't want to talk, he was crying quietly so the other boys wouldn't hear him.
16 B - Explanation: In paragraph 3, Alex says, "I didn't want the other boys to see me or hear me, so I pulled the blanket over my head." This matches hiding his crying from his roommates (Option B). Option A is wrong logic; the room was dark, but he didn't hide because of the darkness. Option C is wrong logic; he thought it was going to be the worst holiday, not the best.
17 B - Explanation: Paragraph 4 says Leo "told me a very funny joke... It was so silly that I had to laugh." This matches telling a silly story to make Alex laugh (Option B). Option A is wrong logic; the text explicitly states "He didn't ask me why I was sad." Option C is a partial truth trap; Leo came over to Alex's bed, but he sat on the floor, not the bed.
18 A - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Alex says, "Next summer, I am going to ask my parents to send me to the same camp again!" This matches planning to go back to the camp next year (Option A). Option B is wrong logic; the camp was in another country, but he doesn't mention visiting Leo's country. Option C is a partial truth trap; they talked about video games that night, but this is not his stated plan for the future.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Holidays without phones
13-year-old Bella writes about a new rule on her family trip.
Hi, I’m Bella and I’m 13. I'm on a beach holiday with my family right now. Usually, I love our summer trips. But this year, my parents made a strict new rule before we left home. We cannot use our mobile phones at all during the holiday! They want us to spend more time together. I want to share my opinion about this idea.
In some ways, I think my parents are right. Without our phones, we actually talk to each other a lot more. In the evenings, instead of watching videos on the internet alone in our bedrooms, we all sit in the living room. We play board games and laugh a lot. It is really nice to spend so much time with my brother and my parents.
However, I still believe a complete ban on phones is a bad idea. When we visit beautiful places, I want to remember them. My phone has a fantastic camera, but I have to leave it in the hotel. My parents have their old cameras, but I don't have one. It feels unfair because I can't take any pictures of the amazing beach to show my friends back home.
So, what is the best thing for families to do? I think parents and teenagers need to agree on a better plan. A complete ban is too hard, but using phones all day is bad, too. I think parents should let their children use their phones for just thirty minutes every afternoon. Then, everyone can take their photos and still enjoy a great family holiday together!
14 What is the new rule for Bella's family holiday?
A They must spend all their time together at the beach.
B Nobody is allowed to use their mobile phone on the trip.
C Bella has to leave her mobile phone at home before they travel.
15 What does Bella like about the new rule?
A The family plays more games together in the evenings.
B She doesn't have to share a bedroom with her brother.
C Her brother is finally learning how to play board games.
16 Why does Bella feel the rule is unfair?
A Her parents bought a new camera for her brother.
B She doesn't want to show her friends the beach.
C She isn't able to use her phone to take photos.
17 What does Bella advise parents to do?
A Tell their teenagers to stop using their phones all day.
B Let teenagers have a short amount of time on their phones.
C Buy a completely new camera for the family holiday.
18 What would be the best title for Bella's blog?
A Why a short time on our phones is a better holiday rule
B How to have a great holiday without using any phones
C The best cameras to take on a family beach trip
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Bella says the strict new rule is "We cannot use our mobile phones at all during the holiday!", which matches B. Option A is a partial truth trap; they are on a beach holiday, but they don't have to spend all their time at the beach. Option C is a wrong logic trap; the rule was made "before we left home", but she didn't leave her phone at home (she says later that she leaves it in the hotel).
15 A - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Bella explains that without phones, "we all sit in the living room. We play board games and laugh a lot," matching A. Option B is a wrong logic trap; she mentions being "alone in our bedrooms", but this is about watching videos, not about who she shares a room with. Option C is a wrong reference trap; they play games with her brother, but the text doesn't say he is learning how to play them.
16 C - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Bella says it feels unfair "because I can't take any pictures of the amazing beach," matching C. Option A is a wrong reference trap; she mentions her parents have cameras, but they didn't buy a new one for her brother. Option B is a wrong logic trap; the text says the opposite—she wants to take pictures "to show my friends back home."
17 B - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Bella advises that parents should "let their children use their phones for just thirty minutes every afternoon," which matches B (a short amount of time). Option A is a partial truth trap; she says "using phones all day is bad, too", but her actual advice is to allow a short time, not completely stop them. Option C is a wrong logic trap; she talks about taking photos with phones, not buying new cameras.
18 A - Explanation: This is a global question. The entire text explores the pros and cons of banning phones, ending with Bella's opinion that a compromise (30 minutes a day) is the best idea, making A the perfect title. Option B is wrong because she specifically argues that a complete ban on phones is a bad idea. Option C is a partial truth trap; she mentions cameras, but the blog is about screen time rules, not reviewing cameras.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A thirsty bike ride
Thirteen-year-old Chris writes about a mistake he made on holiday.
Hi, I’m Chris and I am 13 years old. Last summer, I went on a special holiday with my family to a desert. It was a beautiful place, but the weather was incredibly hot and dry every day. One morning, I decided to go for a long bike ride to explore the area. My parents told me to be very careful in the sun.
For the first hour, the bike ride was fantastic. I cycled past huge red rocks and took some great photos with my phone. But because the sun was so strong, I soon felt very hot and tired. I really needed something cold to drink.
Luckily, I found a small shop next to the road. I went inside to buy a drink. Instead of choosing a bottle of water, I saw a large bottle of sweet cola. I love sweet drinks, so I bought it and drank it all very quickly. I thought it would make me feel much better.
However, that was a big mistake. When I got back on my bike, I felt terrible. My stomach started to hurt, and I suddenly felt much more thirsty than before. I didn't know that sweet drinks with lots of sugar can actually make you feel worse when you are hot. I felt so sick that I couldn't cycle, and I had to walk slowly back to our hotel.
I learned an important lesson that day about taking care of my body in the heat. Now, whenever I go out for a long bike ride, I always carry a large bottle of plain water in my bag. I will never drink cola during a sports activity again!
14 Why did Chris go for a bike ride?
A He wanted to see more of the desert.
B His parents asked him to go out in the sun.
C He needed to find a special type of rock.
15 How did Chris feel after riding for an hour?
A He was sad because he couldn't take good photos.
B He was angry because he lost his phone.
C He wanted to have a drink because he was hot.
16 What did Chris do at the small shop?
A He chose a sweet drink instead of water.
B He bought a bottle of water to take with him.
C He got some sweet food because he was hungry.
17 Why did Chris walk back to the hotel?
A His bike was broken on the road.
B The sweet cola made him feel ill.
C He wanted to drink more sugar.
18 What does Chris make sure he does now?
A He takes water with him when he rides his bike.
B He buys sweet drinks after he finishes a sport.
C He stays in the hotel when the weather is hot.
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Chris says he "decided to go for a long bike ride to explore the area." Option A perfectly paraphrases "explore the area" as wanting to see more of the desert. Option B is a wrong logic trap; his parents told him to be careful in the sun, but they didn't ask him to go out. Option C is a minor detail trap; he cycled past rocks, but he didn't go out to find a special one.
15 C - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Chris says that after an hour he "felt very hot and tired" and "really needed something cold to drink." Option C accurately matches this meaning. Option A is a wrong fact; the text says he actually "took some great photos." Option B is a wrong reference trap; he used his phone to take photos, but he never lost it.
16 A - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Chris explains, "Instead of choosing a bottle of water, I saw a large bottle of sweet cola... so I bought it". Option A correctly paraphrases this. Option B is the opposite of the text; he specifically did not choose water. Option C is a wrong reference trap; he bought a sweet drink, not sweet food.
17 B - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, Chris explains that after drinking the sugary cola, his stomach hurt and he "felt so sick that I couldn't cycle, and I had to walk slowly back". Option B correctly links the drink to feeling ill (sick). Option A is a wrong logic trap; he couldn't cycle because of his stomach, not because his bike was broken. Option C is wrong logic; the sugar made him feel worse, he didn't walk back to get more.
18 A - Explanation: Because this is a narrative story, the final question focuses on the end of the text. In the last paragraph, Chris states his future plan: "whenever I go out for a long bike ride, I always carry a large bottle of plain water in my bag." Option A perfectly paraphrases this. Option B is the opposite of the text, as he says he will "never drink cola during a sports activity again." Option C uses wrong logic; he still goes out for rides, he doesn't just stay in the hotel.