A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Paws with a Purpose 3
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Paws with a Purpose
Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A home for the ducks
14-year-old Kelly writes about her weekend helping nature.
I am Kelly, and I am 14 years old. Last weekend, I decided to do something different. I went to the large pond near my house to help a local wildlife group. We wanted to build some small wooden houses for the wild ducks. In winter, the weather gets very cold, so the ducks need a safe, warm place to sleep. We worked hard all morning, cutting the wood and painting the new houses.
After lunch, it was time to put the houses on the water. The group leader told us to be careful. We had to push the floating wooden houses onto the pond and use strong rope to tie them to the large trees next to the water. I worked with my friend to tie our duck house. I felt very happy because it looked beautiful on the water.
Suddenly, I saw a big problem. One of the other volunteers didn't tie their rope very well. The wind started blowing, and their duck house moved away from the tree. It slowly started floating down the river that goes away from the pond. Some people shouted, but they couldn't reach it. I knew I had to do something quickly before it went too far away.
I ran down the path next to the river. Luckily, the water there wasn't very deep. I took off my shoes, stepped into the cold water, and caught the heavy house with my hands. I pulled it back to the land and tied it safely to a strong tree. Now, the ducks have a great place to stay. Next weekend, I am going to return to the pond to take some photos of the birds in their new homes.
14 Why did Kelly and the group build the houses?
A to give the birds somewhere warm to rest
B to stop the ducks from leaving the local pond
C to practice cutting and painting wood
15 What did Kelly have to do after lunch?
A attach the wooden houses to the trees
B cut some strong rope for the group leader
C climb the large trees next to the water
16 What happened to one of the duck houses?
A It began moving away down the river.
B The wind blew it out of the water onto the land.
C Another volunteer pulled it away from the tree.
17 How did Kelly get the duck house back?
A She used a strong tree branch to reach it.
B She walked into the river to catch it.
C She ran down the path to find her shoes.
18 What is Kelly planning to do next weekend?
A build more wooden homes for the birds
B go back to the pond to use her camera
C catch some birds to put in the houses
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, the text states, "the ducks need a safe, warm place to sleep." Option A correctly paraphrases this. Option B is wrong logic because the text never says they want to stop the birds from leaving. Option C is a partial truth trap; they did cut and paint wood, but they did this to build the houses for the ducks, not just to practice.
15 A - Explanation: In the second paragraph, the text says they had to "use strong rope to tie them to the large trees". Option A correctly paraphrases "tie" as "attach". Option B is wrong logic because they used the rope, but didn't cut it for the leader. Option C is a partial truth trap; the text mentions large trees, but they tied the houses to them, they didn't climb them.
16 A - Explanation: In the third paragraph, the text says the duck house "slowly started floating down the river". Option A correctly matches this meaning. Option B is wrong logic because the wind blew it down the river, not onto the land. Option C is a partial truth trap; another volunteer is mentioned, but they failed to tie it well; they didn't pull it away.
17 B - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, Kelly explains that "the water there wasn't very deep", so she "stepped into the cold water, and caught the heavy house with my hands." Option B correctly paraphrases this action. Option A is wrong logic because she tied the house to a tree, but didn't use a branch to reach it. Option C is a partial truth trap; she ran down the path and took off her shoes, but she wasn't looking for her shoes.
18 B - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Kelly states, "Next weekend, I am going to return to the pond to take some photos of the birds". Option B perfectly matches this future plan. Option A is wrong logic because the building is already finished. Option C is wrong logic; the ducks are wild and will use the houses themselves, she isn't going to catch them.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Working at the wildlife hospital
Fifteen-year-old Leo writes about his summer volunteer job.
This summer, I decided to do some volunteer work because I had a lot of free time. I got a job at our local wildlife hospital. My main job there was to prepare the daily meals for all the sick and hurt birds and animals. Now that the summer is ending, I want to share my thoughts about this amazing experience.
The best thing about working at the hospital is seeing the animals get better. When someone brings in a hurt bird or a sick rabbit, they often look very sad and weak. But after a few weeks of good food and careful rest, they become strong again. Helping them return to the wild makes me feel incredibly pleased and proud.
However, the job is sometimes quite difficult. Every morning, I have to read the special food charts for each animal. You cannot just give the same meal to everyone. If you make a mistake, it can be very dangerous for the animals. For example, one time a new volunteer almost gave a bowl of plant seeds to a large owl. Owls need to eat meat, not seeds, so the wrong food can make them very ill.
Overall, I definitely recommend volunteering at a wildlife hospital if you really love nature. It is a fantastic way to spend your summer and you learn a lot about different creatures. Just remember one very important rule: you must always check the medical charts twice before you serve any food! If you are careful, you will have a brilliant time helping the animals.
14 What was Leo's main job at the wildlife hospital?
A getting the animals' meals ready
B bringing hurt birds to the hospital
C planning the summer schedule for volunteers
15 What does Leo enjoy most about his work?
A seeing the sick animals get strong again
B catching wild rabbits in the forest
C eating good food with the other volunteers
16 What does Leo say about the food charts?
A They take a long time to write every morning.
B They show that every animal needs a different meal.
C They tell the volunteers what time they should eat.
17 What mistake did a new volunteer almost make?
A forgetting to give an owl its daily meal
B giving some bad meat to a sick animal
C offering the wrong kind of food to a bird
18 What is Leo doing in this text?
A complaining about the hard work at a hospital
B describing a volunteer job and giving some advice
C explaining how to keep a wild bird as a pet
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: The text says that Leo's "main job there was to prepare the daily meals for all the sick and hurt birds and animals." Option B is wrong logic; the text mentions that "someone brings in a hurt bird," but Leo doesn't do this himself. Option C is a partial truth trap; he had free time in the summer, but he didn't plan the schedule for the volunteers.
15 A - Explanation: The text states, "The best thing about working at the hospital is seeing the animals get better" and becoming "strong again." Option B is wrong logic; the hospital helps sick rabbits return to the wild, but Leo doesn't catch them in the forest. Option C uses a wrong reference; the text mentions "good food," but this is for the animals to eat, not the volunteers.
16 B - Explanation: The text explains that there are special charts for each animal because "You cannot just give the same meal to everyone." Option A is wrong logic; Leo has to read the charts every morning, not write them. Option C uses a wrong reference; the charts are about what the animals eat, not what time the volunteers should eat.
17 C - Explanation: The text says a volunteer "almost gave a bowl of plant seeds to a large owl" but owls "need to eat meat, not seeds". Because an owl is a bird, offering it seeds is the wrong kind of food. Option A is wrong logic; the volunteer didn't forget to feed the owl, they almost fed it the wrong thing. Option B is a wrong reference; they almost gave the owl seeds, not bad meat.
18 B - Explanation: In this review, Leo describes his summer job at the hospital and gives advice in the final paragraph ("Just remember one very important rule..."). Option A is a partial truth trap; he mentions the job is "sometimes quite difficult," but he highly recommends it and isn't complaining. Option C is wrong logic; he talks about returning birds to the wild, not keeping them as pets.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Reading to rescue dogs
Mia, 12, writes about her experience volunteering at an animal shelter.
My name is Mia, and I am 12 years old. I love animals, so this year I decided to volunteer at our local animal rescue centre. The centre has a special new program for young people. We sit outside the dogs' cages and read books aloud to them. Many of these rescue dogs feel very nervous and scared because they don't have a family. The manager told us that hearing a human voice can help them feel safe.
For my first day, I was very excited. I wanted to share my favourite book with the dogs. I love fast action stories about space and dangerous adventures. I took a very exciting book from my bedroom and walked to the rescue centre. I sat on a small chair next to a large brown dog and opened my book.
However, things didn't go very well at first. Because the story was full of action, I read the words very quickly and in a loud voice. Instead of becoming calm, the brown dog stood up and started barking loudly. Soon, the other dogs in the room were barking too. My fast reading made them feel more nervous!
I stopped and thought about what to do. I put the action book away and borrowed a simple fairy tale from the centre's library. I started reading again, but this time, I spoke very slowly and quietly. The change was amazing. The dogs stopped barking, and the large brown dog slowly lay down. After ten minutes, he was sleeping peacefully.
I felt so happy that I could help the dogs relax. Now, I understand how to do my job properly. I am going to bring quiet bedtime stories to the rescue centre every weekend!
14 Why do the young people read to the dogs?
A to teach the animals how to listen to stories
B to help the nervous dogs feel safe
C to help the manager find families for the dogs
15 What did Mia do on her first day?
A She brought a book from her own house.
B She read a story about a large brown dog.
C She wrote a new story about a space adventure.
16 Why did the dogs start barking?
A Mia's way of reading made them feel afraid.
B The dogs wanted Mia to read the story faster.
C Mia stopped reading the action story to them.
17 How did Mia fix the problem?
A She told the large brown dog to lie down.
B She got a different book from the centre.
C She put her action book in the centre's library.
18 What is Mia planning to do next?
A ask her family to keep the large brown dog
B get a job as a manager at the rescue centre
C return to the centre every week with relaxing books
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In the first paragraph, the text says the dogs feel nervous and "hearing a human voice can help them feel safe." Option B perfectly paraphrases this. Option A is wrong logic (they aren't being taught to listen). Option C is a partial truth trap (the text mentions they don't have a family, but reading isn't helping the manager find them one).
15 A - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Mia says, "I took a very exciting book from my bedroom and walked to the rescue centre." Option A correctly paraphrases taking a book from her bedroom. Option B is a partial truth (she sat next to a brown dog, but didn't read a story about one). Option C is wrong logic (she read an adventure story, she didn't write it).
16 A - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Mia explains she read "very quickly and in a loud voice" and that this "made them feel more nervous!" Option A correctly identifies that her way of reading frightened them. Option B is wrong logic (they barked because she read fast, not because they wanted her to read faster). Option C uses wrong logic (they barked while she was reading, not because she stopped).
17 B - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, Mia says, "I put the action book away and borrowed a simple fairy tale from the centre's library." Option B correctly describes getting a different book. Option A is wrong logic (the dog lay down by itself after she read quietly). Option C is a partial truth (she got a book from the library, she didn't put her book in it).
18 C - Explanation: This question focuses on the final paragraph. Mia states her future plan: "I am going to bring quiet bedtime stories to the rescue centre every weekend!" Option C matches this perfectly. Option A is not mentioned in the text. Option B is wrong logic (she mentions the manager earlier, but doesn't plan to become one).