A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Active Adventures 1
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Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My first surfing lesson
15-year-old Alex writes about a water sports class on his family holiday.
My name is Alex and I am 15 years old. Last month, I went on a wonderful holiday to Hawaii with my parents and my younger sister. The weather was beautiful and the sea was very warm. I wanted to do something active because I needed to get fit, so I decided to take my first surfing lesson. I was really excited to try this famous water sport.
On the first morning, I met my surfing instructor, Ben. He gave me a large surfboard and showed me how to stand up on it on the sand. After that, we went into the water. We paddled out quite far from the beach to look for a good wave. At first, everything was fine and I felt very brave.
Then, I saw a really big wave coming towards us. Suddenly, I felt extremely scared. The water was moving very fast. I tried to stand up on my board, but I lost my balance. I fell off immediately and went under the water. It was completely dark, and I didn't know which way was up! Luckily, Ben quickly pulled me out.
Ben saw that I was frightened, so he took me back to the shallow water near the beach. The waves were much smaller and slower there. This time, when I tried to stand up, I didn't fall. I travelled all the way to the sand on my board! It was the best feeling in the world. Next year, I want to return to Hawaii and buy my own surfboard.
14 Why did Alex decide to take a surfing lesson in Hawaii?
A He wanted to improve his physical fitness.
B His family wanted to do an active water sport.
C He wanted to enjoy the warm sea water.
15 What did Alex and Ben do first?
A They looked for good waves far from the beach.
B They practised standing on the surfboard on the sand.
C They went into the water to paddle together.
16 When the big wave arrived, Alex
A asked Ben to help him get out of the water.
B stood up on his board successfully.
C fell into the sea immediately.
17 Why was it easier for Alex to surf near the beach?
A The waves there were not as big or fast.
B He could rest his feet on the dry sand.
C Ben held his surfboard for him in the shallow water.
18 What does Alex hope to do next year?
A travel back to Hawaii with his younger sister
B get his own surfboard for his next trip
C surf on the really big waves far from the beach
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Alex says he decided to take a lesson because he "needed to get fit". This matches Option A (improve his physical fitness). Option B is a wrong reference trap; Alex wanted to do something active, not his family. Option C is a partial truth trap; the text says the sea was warm, but that is not the reason he took the lesson.
15 B - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Alex says that Ben "showed me how to stand up on it on the sand" before they went into the water. This matches Option B. Options A and C are wrong timing traps; paddling and looking for good waves in the water happened after they practised on the beach.
16 C - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Alex says that when he tried to stand up on the big wave, "I lost my balance. I fell off immediately". This matches Option C. Option A is an invented detail; Ben pulled him out, but Alex didn't ask for help because he was confused in the dark water. Option B is a wrong logic trap; he tried to stand up, but he failed.
17 A - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, Alex explains that in the shallow water, "The waves were much smaller and slower there." This perfectly matches Option A. Option B is a wrong logic trap; he surfed to the sand, but he didn't rest his feet on it while surfing. Option C is an invented detail; Ben took him to the shallow water, but the text does not say he held the board.
18 B - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Alex says, "Next year, I want to return to Hawaii and buy my own surfboard." Buying his own surfboard matches Option B (get his own surfboard). Option A is a partial truth trap; his sister was on the first trip, but he doesn't mention taking her next year. Option C is a wrong logic trap; he liked the smaller waves, not the big ones.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Finding peace in India
16-year-old Bella writes about her trip to a yoga camp.
Hi, I’m Bella and I am 16 years old. Last month, I went on an amazing trip to India with my aunt. We stayed at a special yoga camp for two weeks. I wanted to learn how to meditate and relax my mind because I often feel stressed about my school exams. Today on my blog, I want to tell you about my experience and give you some useful advice if you want to go there.
The camp was in a beautiful, quiet forest. Every morning, we woke up very early to do yoga. The teacher was fantastic. He taught us lots of slow, relaxing stretches. At first, my arms and legs hurt a little bit because I don't usually do much exercise. But after a few days, I felt much stronger and more relaxed. It was great to be away from the busy city.
However, there was one big problem during my stay. In the evenings, we went to a large wooden room to practice meditation. It was very peaceful, but the room was full of mosquitoes! When I tried to close my eyes and sit quietly, the insects flew around my head and bit my arms. It was incredibly annoying! It was impossible to relax and enjoy the class.
Because of this, I have an important tip for anyone who wants to visit a yoga camp. You must definitely buy a good mosquito net before you travel! If you sleep and meditate under a net, the insects cannot bite you. Then, you will easily find true peace and enjoy your wonderful trip.
14 Why did Bella go to the yoga camp in India?
A She wanted to learn how to feel less worried about school.
B She wanted to enjoy a fun holiday with her best friends.
C She wanted to teach her aunt how to relax her mind.
15 How did Bella feel about the morning yoga classes?
A She felt some physical pain when she first started.
B She was angry because the teacher made her work too hard.
C She preferred doing her exercises in the busy city.
16 What was the problem in the meditation room?
A The wooden room was much too noisy for her.
B She had to keep her eyes closed for a long time.
C Some insects stopped her from having a quiet mind.
17 What is Bella's advice for other travellers?
A They should sleep in the forest instead of the camp.
B They should buy something to protect themselves from insects.
C They should practice their meditation before they travel to India.
18 What is the main purpose of Bella's blog post?
A to explain why young people shouldn't travel to India
B to describe her trip and share a helpful suggestion
C to tell readers the best place to buy a mosquito net
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In paragraph 1, Bella says she wanted to "relax my mind because I often feel stressed about my school exams." Option A correctly paraphrases this reason. Option B is a partial truth trap; she went on a holiday, but it was with her aunt, not her friends. Option C is a wrong logic trap; she went to learn how to relax her own mind, she didn't go to teach her aunt.
15 A - Explanation: In paragraph 2, Bella says that at first, her "arms and legs hurt a little bit". Option A accurately describes this physical pain. Option B is a wrong logic trap; the teacher was fantastic, and she hurt because she doesn't usually exercise, not because he made her work too hard. Option C is a wrong reference trap; the text says it was "great to be away from the busy city", not that she preferred it.
16 C - Explanation: In paragraph 3, Bella explains that mosquitoes flew around her head and bit her, making it "impossible to relax". Option C correctly summarises that the insects stopped her from having a quiet mind. Option A is a wrong logic trap; the text specifically says the room was "very peaceful", not noisy. Option B is a partial truth trap; she tried to close her eyes, but keeping them closed wasn't the actual problem she complained about.
17 B - Explanation: In paragraph 4, Bella's tip is to "buy a good mosquito net before you travel" so insects cannot bite you. Option B correctly paraphrases getting protection from insects. Option A is a wrong logic trap; she says the camp is in the forest, but she doesn't advise sleeping outside in the forest. Option C is a partial truth trap; she tells them to buy the net before they travel, but she doesn't say they should practice meditation before they go.
18 B - Explanation: This is a global question. The entire text is a review of her trip to the yoga camp, finishing with an important tip (buying a mosquito net). Option B perfectly captures this dual purpose. Option A is wrong logic; she says they can enjoy a wonderful trip, so she is not telling them not to go. Option C is a partial truth trap; she tells them to buy a net, but she never tells them where to buy it.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A pink mistake in the snow
Chris, 14, writes about a funny problem during his winter holiday.
Hi, I’m Chris, and I’m 14 years old. I love winter sports, and my favourite thing to do is skiing. Last month, I went on an amazing holiday with my family to the French Alps. I was very excited because the mountains there are excellent for fast skiing, and I have a lot of energy. We stayed in a beautiful little hotel near the ski slopes.
On the first morning, I put on my warm winter clothes and got my equipment ready. Before the trip, I saved my pocket money and bought some fantastic new ski goggles to protect my eyes from the bright sun and the snow. They were black and very expensive, and I was really proud of them.
After breakfast, I went to the ski lift with my friends. The lift takes you high up the mountain. While we were sitting on the chairlift, the sun felt very warm, so I took my black goggles off my face for a minute. Suddenly, they fell out of my hands! I watched them drop down into the deep, white snow far under the lift. They were gone, and I felt so annoyed with myself.
Because you can't ski safely without eye protection, I had to find a small sports shop on the mountain. Sadly, the only goggles they had left in the shop were bright pink! I didn't like the colour at all, but I had to buy them so I could finish my day on the snow.
When I went back to my friends, they thought my new look was incredibly funny and they couldn't stop laughing at me. Even though I looked a bit silly, the pink goggles worked perfectly. Next year, I am definitely going to buy a black pair again!
14 Why was Chris excited about his trip?
A The area was great for the type of skiing he likes.
B He found a beautiful hotel next to the ski slopes.
C He was going on his first winter holiday with his family.
15 What does Chris say about his first pair of goggles?
A He used his own money to pay for them.
B They helped to keep his face warm in the cold.
C His parents bought them for him before the trip.
16 What happened while Chris was on the ski lift?
A He took off his warm winter clothes because it was hot.
B He accidentally dropped his expensive goggles.
C He watched his friends jump down into the deep snow.
17 Why did Chris buy the pink goggles?
A He decided that he wanted to try a bright colour.
B They were the cheapest ones in the sports shop.
C He needed them to be able to continue skiing.
18 What is Chris planning to do in the future?
A go on a skiing holiday with some different friends
B buy some new eye protection before his next trip
C wear his pink goggles when he goes skiing next year
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Chris says he was excited "because the mountains there are excellent for fast skiing" (the type of skiing he likes). B is a partial truth trap; he stayed in a beautiful hotel, but this was not the reason he was excited before skiing. C is a wrong logic trap; he went with his family, but the text never says it was his first winter holiday.
15 A - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Chris says, "I saved my pocket money and bought some fantastic new ski goggles" (he used his own money). B is a wrong logic trap; he bought them to "protect my eyes from the bright sun and the snow", not to keep his face warm. C is a wrong reference trap; he bought them himself, his parents didn't buy them.
16 B - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Chris took his goggles off and "Suddenly, they fell out of my hands!" (accidentally dropped them). A is a wrong logic trap; the sun felt warm, but he took off his goggles, not his winter clothes. C is a wrong reference trap; he watched the goggles drop into the snow, not his friends.
17 C - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, Chris explains that "you can't ski safely without eye protection" and "I had to buy them so I could finish my day on the snow" (to be able to continue skiing). A is wrong logic; he explicitly states "I didn't like the colour at all". B is a partial truth trap; he bought them at the shop, but they were the only ones left, not the cheapest.
18 B - Explanation: This question focuses on the specific future plans mentioned in the final paragraph. Chris says, "Next year, I am definitely going to buy a black pair again!" (buy some new eye protection). A is a wrong logic trap; his friends laughed at him, but he doesn't say he wants to go with different friends next time. C is a wrong logic trap; the pink goggles worked perfectly, but he explicitly plans to buy a black pair instead of wearing the pink ones again.