A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Nature’s Canvas 1
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Nature's Canvas
Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Painting in the wind
14-year-old Lily writes about a day she painted outside.
I am Lily, and I am 14 years old. I love art, but I don't like drawing or painting inside my house. I always prefer to be outside in nature. Last Saturday, I decided to paint a picture of the beautiful green valley near my town. I walked to the top of a high hill and put my wooden easel on the grass. An easel is a special stand that artists use to hold their painting canvas.
At first, the weather was completely perfect. The sun was warm, and the sky was beautiful and blue. I started to look at the tall trees down in the valley and mixed my colours carefully. I felt very relaxed and happy to be there. I really wanted to make a fantastic painting to show my art teacher at school on Monday.
But after an hour, things suddenly changed. Dark clouds appeared in the sky, and a strong wind started to blow. I tried to hold my things, but it was too late. A huge wind pushed my wooden easel over. My beautiful picture fell straight down into the dirt! I was very upset. I thought my painting was ruined, and I just wanted to pack my bag and go home.
However, I decided not to give up. I picked up the canvas and carefully cleaned the brown dirt off the picture. Because I couldn't use the easel, I just sat on the grass and held the canvas in my lap. I stayed on the hill and finished my painting there. Yesterday, I entered my picture into a local art competition, and I actually won first prize! I am so pleased, and I am going to buy some new paints with the prize money.
14 Why did Lily go to the top of the hill?
A to paint a picture of the area below it
B to buy a special wooden stand for her canvas
C to draw a picture of the inside of her house
15 How did Lily feel when she first started her painting?
A pleased because the weather was lovely
B worried about showing her art teacher her picture
C surprised that the trees were so tall in the valley
16 What happened when the weather changed?
A Dark clouds made it too hard for her to see.
B The wind blew her painting onto the ground.
C She quickly packed her bag and walked home.
17 How did Lily finish her painting?
A She stood up to use her wooden easel.
B She cleaned the brown dirt off the grass.
C She rested the picture on her legs while she sat.
18 What is Lily planning to do next?
A enter her picture into a local competition
B get some new art things with her prize money
C practice painting pictures of brown dirt
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Lily states she went to the hill to "paint a picture of the beautiful green valley near my town". Option A correctly paraphrases this. Option B is wrong logic because she already owned the wooden stand (easel) and brought it with her; she didn't go there to buy it. Option C is wrong logic because she specifically says she doesn't like drawing inside her house.
15 A - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Lily explains the weather was "perfect" and she felt "very relaxed and happy". Option A matches this meaning. Option B is wrong logic because she wanted to show her teacher her painting, but she was not worried about it. Option C is a partial truth trap; the text mentions tall trees, but it never says Lily was surprised by them.
16 B - Explanation: In the third paragraph, the text states that "A huge wind pushed my wooden easel over. My beautiful picture fell straight down into the dirt!" Option B correctly paraphrases this event. Option A is a partial truth trap; dark clouds appeared, but the text doesn't say she couldn't see. Option C is wrong logic; she wanted to pack her bag and go home, but she didn't actually do it.
17 C - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, Lily says she "sat on the grass and held the canvas in my lap" to finish the painting. Option C correctly paraphrases this action. Option A is wrong logic because she couldn't use her easel after it fell. Option B is a partial truth trap; she cleaned the dirt off the picture, not off the grass.
18 B - Explanation: This question asks about Lily's future plans found in the final paragraph. She states, "I am going to buy some new paints with the prize money." Option B matches this perfectly. Option A is wrong logic because she already entered the competition "Yesterday". Option C is a partial truth trap; the text mentions dirt, but she isn't planning to paint pictures of it.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My little clay dog
Thirteen-year-old Mark writes about making a special present.
Thirteen-year-old Mark loves two things: his pet dog, Buster, and doing art. Last weekend, Mark decided to make a special present for his mother. He wanted to use some clay to make a model of Buster. Buster is a beautiful brown and white dog. Mark worked very hard because he wanted the clay dog to look exactly like the real animal. He spent three hours just making the body and the legs perfect.
When the shape was finished, Mark had to bake the clay in the hot oven to make it hard. But there was a problem. While he was carrying the heavy model to the kitchen, it hit the door. Suddenly, one of the clay ears fell onto the floor! Mark quickly tried to put the ear back on the dog's head, but the clay was already too dry.
Mark felt quite sad, but he put the model in the oven anyway. The next morning, it was ready to paint. Because the dog now had only one ear, Mark had a clever idea. He painted the model so it looked like the dog had one ear pointing up, and one ear falling down. It didn't look exactly like Buster anymore, but it looked incredibly cute.
When Mark gave the little dog to his mother, she completely loved it. She immediately put it on her desk in her bedroom. Mark feels very proud of his clever art project now. Because this was so much fun, he is planning to make a small clay cat for his best friend's birthday next month.
14 What did Mark want to do?
A make a clay animal that looked just like his pet
B buy a special present for his mother's bedroom
C draw a picture of a beautiful brown and white dog
15 How did the ear fall off the clay dog?
A It broke against a door while Mark was holding it.
B It fell off while Mark was baking it in the oven.
C It dropped because the clay was too dry.
16 What did Mark do the next morning?
A He tried to make the dog look exactly like Buster again.
B He used paint to make the dog look cute with only one ear.
C He put some more clay on the head to make a new ear.
17 What did Mark's mother do when she got the present?
A She asked Mark to make another little dog.
B She put it on a table in her room.
C She helped Mark to finish his art project.
18 What is Mark planning to do next month?
A give his mother another clever art project
B buy a small pet cat for his best friend
C create a clay cat for someone's birthday
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: The text says Mark wanted to "use some clay to make a model of Buster" and wanted it to "look exactly like the real animal". Option B is wrong logic because he wanted to make a present, not buy one. Option C is wrong because he was making a clay model, not drawing a picture.
15 A - Explanation: The text explains that "while he was carrying the heavy model to the kitchen, it hit the door" and the ear fell off. Option B is a partial truth trap; he was taking it to the oven to bake, but it didn't break inside the oven. Option C is wrong logic; the clay was too dry to stick the ear back on, but that is not the reason it fell off.
16 B - Explanation: The text states he "painted the model" so the dog looked like it had one ear falling down, which looked "incredibly cute". Option A is wrong because the text clearly says "It didn't look exactly like Buster anymore". Option C is wrong logic; he didn't make a new ear out of clay, he just painted the model with only one ear.
17 B - Explanation: The text says she "immediately put it on her desk in her bedroom" (a desk is a type of table). Option A is wrong logic; Mark plans to make another animal, but his mother didn't ask him to do this. Option C is wrong because Mark had already finished the project himself before he gave it to her.
18 C - Explanation: In the final paragraph, the text says Mark "is planning to make a small clay cat for his best friend's birthday". Option A is a wrong reference; his next project is for his friend, not his mother. Option B is a wrong logic trap; he is making a clay cat as an art project, he is not buying a real pet cat.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Knitting for your pet
15-year-old Nora shares a helpful guide about her favourite hobby.
My name is Nora, and I am 15 years old. In the winter, the weather gets very cold, and small pet dogs often need a little coat to stay warm outside. Because of this, I decided to write this guide to help you make your own dog sweaters. I started knitting last year, and I want to share some of my ideas with you.
Many people think knitting is difficult, but it is actually a wonderful and easy hobby. I usually sit in my quiet bedroom with a cup of hot chocolate and knit for an hour before I go to sleep. It is very relaxing after a busy day of studying at school. Making something beautiful and useful with your own hands is a fantastic feeling.
However, you have to be careful when you make clothes for animals. The most important thing is to measure your dog first. If you don't use a ruler to check the correct size of your pet, you can make a big mistake. On my first try, I didn't measure anything, and I made the sweater much too long. When I finally put it on my little dog, Max, the wool completely covered his back legs and he couldn't walk anywhere! He just sat on the floor.
But don't worry if this happens to you! There is an easy way to fix a long sweater without starting the whole project again. You can just fold the extra wool up at the front and sew it together with a needle. This turns the mistake into a thick, cozy collar around the dog's neck. It looks very stylish, and your best friend will stay nice and warm all winter!
14 Why is Nora writing this text?
A to ask for ideas about what to knit for her dog
B to help people create warm clothes for their pets
C to explain how she learned to knit last winter
15 What does Nora say about knitting?
A She likes doing it at the end of the day.
B It is a very difficult hobby to learn.
C She enjoys drinking hot chocolate while studying.
16 Why couldn't Max walk?
A Nora used the wrong ruler to measure his legs.
B He didn't want to get off the bedroom floor.
C The new sweater was much too big for him.
17 How can you fix a sweater that is too long?
A Cut the extra wool off the front of the sweater.
B Start the whole knitting project again.
C Fold the wool to make a warm collar for the dog.
18 What is the best title for this text?
A How to make a winter sweater for your pet
B The best winter coats to buy for your dog
C A funny story about my dog playing in the snow
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Nora says, "I decided to write this guide to help you make your own dog sweaters." Option B perfectly paraphrases this. Option A is wrong logic (she is giving ideas, not asking for them). Option C is a partial truth trap (she mentions starting to knit last year, but that is not her reason for writing the text).
15 A - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Nora explains that she knits "before I go to sleep" and "after a busy day". Option A correctly matches this time of day. Option B uses wrong logic (she says people think it is difficult, but it is actually "easy"). Option C is a partial truth (she drinks hot chocolate while knitting, not while studying).
16 C - Explanation: In the third paragraph, the text says Max couldn't walk because "I made the sweater much too long" and it "covered his back legs". Option C matches this meaning perfectly. Option A is a partial truth (the text mentions a ruler, but Nora didn't use one at all). Option B uses wrong logic (he sat on the floor because he couldn't walk, not because he just didn't want to).
17 C - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Nora advises that you can "fold the extra wool" which "turns the mistake into a thick, cozy collar". Option C correctly paraphrases this fix. Option A uses wrong logic (you fold and sew the wool, you don't cut it). Option B is wrong logic (she explicitly says you can fix it "without starting the whole project again").
18 A - Explanation: This is a global question. Throughout the text, Nora provides a guide on how to knit a sweater for a dog and how to fix a common sizing mistake. Option A is the best title for this informative post. Option B is wrong logic (the text is about making clothes, not buying them). Option C is a partial truth (it includes a slightly funny story about her dog, but he isn't playing in the snow).