A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Pocket Money Pros 4
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Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Fiona's Upcycled Fashion
Fifteen-year-old Fiona writes about her interesting weekend business.
Fifteen-year-old Fiona loves fashion and cares about the environment. Because of this, she started a small weekend business last year. She goes to local charity shops and buys big, cheap men's shirts. She takes them home and uses her mother's sewing machine. She carefully changes the old shirts into beautiful new dresses. Then, she sells the clothes on the internet to earn some pocket money. She loves making old things new again.
Last week, Fiona visited a charity shop and found a beautiful dark blue shirt. It was very large, but the material was fantastic. She wanted to make a special dress for the summer holidays. She washed the shirt carefully and started cutting the cloth. She worked very fast because she felt extremely excited about her new project.
However, suddenly, Fiona saw a big problem. Because she didn't look at her work carefully, she cut the material much too short! The dress was completely ruined. It was impossible for anyone to wear it because it was too small. Fiona felt very upset about her silly mistake. The blue cloth was so pretty, and she didn't want to throw it in the rubbish bin.
Fiona sat quietly in her bedroom and thought for a few minutes. Then she had a brilliant idea. She used the short blue cloth to make a cool summer bag instead of a dress. When it was finished, it looked amazing. She put a photo of the bag online, and a customer bought it immediately. Fiona was delighted because she actually got more money for the bag than for her dresses! Next month, Fiona is going to look for more old shirts to make a whole collection of summer bags.
14 What does Fiona do for her weekend business?
A She sells her old dresses to local charity shops.
B She creates new clothes from large shirts.
C She buys sewing machines from the internet.
15 Why did Fiona work very fast on the blue shirt?
A She had to finish it before the summer holidays.
B She felt very happy about making something new.
C She wanted to wash the beautiful material quickly.
16 What was the problem with the dress?
A Nobody could wear it because it wasn't long enough.
B Fiona accidentally put the pretty cloth in the bin.
C The shirt she bought was much too small for her.
17 How did Fiona fix her problem?
A She bought a different blue dress on the internet.
B She used the short cloth to create a new bag.
C She asked an online customer for a brilliant idea.
18 What is Fiona going to do next month?
A ask for more money for her summer dresses
B try to find old shirts to make into bags
C sell a collection of clothes to a charity shop
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In paragraph 1, the text says she takes big shirts and "changes the old shirts into beautiful new dresses", which means she creates new clothes from large shirts. Option A is the opposite of the truth (wrong logic); she buys shirts from charity shops, she doesn't sell her dresses to them. Option C uses wrong logic; she uses her mother's sewing machine and earns pocket money online, she doesn't buy machines on the internet.
15 B - Explanation: Paragraph 2 states that she worked very fast "because she felt extremely excited about her new project." Feeling happy about making something new is a simple paraphrase for feeling excited about her project. Option A is a partial truth trap; the text mentions summer holidays, but she wasn't rushing to finish it before the holidays. Option C uses wrong time logic; she had already washed the material before she started cutting it fast.
16 A - Explanation: In paragraph 3, the text says Fiona cut the material "much too short" and it was "impossible for anyone to wear it because it was too small." This matches nobody could wear it because it wasn't long enough. Option B is the opposite of the truth; she explicitly didn't want to throw the cloth in the rubbish bin. Option C is a wrong reference trap; the original shirt she bought was "very large", it was the dress she cut that became too small.
17 B - Explanation: Paragraph 4 says she "used the short blue cloth to make a cool summer bag instead of a dress." Option A uses wrong logic; she put a photo online to sell the bag, she didn't buy a dress. Option C is a wrong person trap; Fiona sat quietly and had the brilliant idea herself, she didn't ask an online customer for an idea.
18 B - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Fiona says she is "going to look for more old shirts to make a whole collection of summer bags," which matches trying to find old shirts to make into bags. Option A uses wrong logic; she got more money for the bag, but she isn't planning to ask for more money for her dresses. Option C is a wrong location trap; she buys from charity shops, but she sells her items on the internet.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Paying for my mistake
13-year-old George writes about a problem he had at home.
Hi, my name is George and I am 13 years old. A few weeks ago, I was playing in the garden with my friends. We were playing baseball. I hit the ball very hard, and it flew straight into our garage window. The glass broke into lots of pieces. My parents were quite angry, but they said I could pay for a new window if I did extra work at home for a month.
I agreed to do this, but it was really hard work. Every evening after dinner, my job was to wash all the dirty plates and cups. At first, I didn't mind it, but after a week, I started to hate this job. I just wanted to go to my bedroom and play video games with my friends online.
One evening, I felt extremely tired and I didn't want to wash anything. I looked at the dirty plates and decided to do something very silly. I quickly put them all inside the oven and closed the door. I thought I could wash them the next day before my parents woke up. I went upstairs to play my games and felt quite clever.
However, an hour later, my mum went into the kitchen to make a hot drink. She opened the oven and found all the dirty plates! When she asked me about it, I felt incredibly bad. I said sorry and immediately washed everything perfectly. Yesterday, I finally finished my month of work and paid for the window. I am very happy about that, but next time I play baseball, I am going to play in the park!
14 Why did George have to do extra work at home?
A He needed to earn money to fix something he broke.
B He wanted to buy some new baseball equipment.
C His parents asked him to clean the dirty garage.
15 How did George feel about washing the dishes later on?
A He didn't mind doing the work every evening.
B He really didn't like doing the job anymore.
C He wanted to play games instead of having dinner.
16 What did George do one evening?
A He washed the dirty plates before his parents woke up.
B He felt too tired to go upstairs to his bedroom.
C He hid the plates because he didn't want to wash them.
17 How did George's mum find the dirty plates?
A She was trying to cook a hot meal in the oven.
B She went into the kitchen to prepare a drink.
C She felt incredibly bad about the dirty kitchen.
18 What is George planning to do in the future?
A find a completely different sport to play with his friends
B go to a better place when he wants to play baseball
C spend the next month playing video games in the park
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: The text says that the glass broke and George's parents said he "could pay for a new window if I did extra work" (earn money to fix something he broke). Option B is a wrong logic trap: he was playing baseball, but he didn't work to buy baseball equipment. Option C is a partial truth trap: he broke the garage window, but they didn't ask him to clean the garage.
15 B - Explanation: The text states that "after a week, I started to hate this job" (didn't like doing the job anymore). Option A is a wrong timing trap: he didn't mind doing it "at first", but this changed. Option C is a wrong logic trap: he wanted to play games after dinner, he didn't want to skip his dinner.
16 C - Explanation: The text explains that George decided to do something silly and "quickly put them all inside the oven and closed the door" (hid the plates). Option A is a wrong logic trap: he thought he could wash them before his parents woke up, but he didn't actually do it. Option B is a wrong reference trap: he was extremely tired, but he still went upstairs to his bedroom to play games.
17 B - Explanation: The text says that "my mum went into the kitchen to make a hot drink" and opened the oven. Option A is a partial truth trap: she opened the oven, but she was making a drink, not cooking a hot meal. Option C is a wrong reference trap: it was George who felt incredibly bad, not his mum.
18 B - Explanation: In the final sentence, George says, "next time I play baseball, I am going to play in the park!" (go to a better place). Option A is a wrong logic trap: he is going to change where he plays, not find a different sport. Option C is a wrong reference trap: he just finished a month of work and he plans to play baseball in the park; he isn't planning to spend a month playing video games in the park.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Learning for free!
15-year-old Hannah blogs about trading skills instead of spending money.
Hi, I'm Hannah, and I'm 15 years old. Many teenagers want to learn new things, like playing an instrument or speaking a new language. But paying for lessons is often very expensive. I decided to write this blog to tell you about a different way to learn. You don't need to use your pocket money. You can just trade your skills with a friend!
Last month, I really wanted to learn how to play the guitar. My friend, Leo, is a fantastic guitar player, but he is not very good at science. I am top of our science class, so we made a simple plan. I teach him science twice a week, and he gives me free guitar lessons. It is a very smart idea, and we both get what we need without spending any cash.
However, sharing skills like this can sometimes be stressful. Because Leo is my friend, I really want him to do well at school. Last week, we had a big science test. I felt very worried because I knew he didn't study enough. I thought that if he fails his exam, I will feel terrible because I am his teacher! Luckily, he passed, but it showed me that teaching friends isn't always easy.
Because of this, my advice is to keep your learning times fun. When you teach a friend, do not act like a strict school teacher. You should play games and listen to music while you work. If you are both relaxed, you will enjoy the trade much more, and nobody will feel nervous. It is a wonderful way to learn!
14 Why did Hannah write this blog?
A to ask her friends to teach her how to play an instrument
B to explain how to learn something without paying for it
C to describe why school lessons are usually very expensive
15 How does Hannah pay for her guitar lessons?
A She gives Leo the pocket money she gets every week.
B She does all of Leo's science homework for him.
C She helps Leo understand one of his school subjects.
16 How did Hannah feel about Leo's recent science test?
A afraid that he might get a bad mark in it
B angry because he forgot to study for it
C pleased because he was the best in the class
17 What is Hannah's advice for teaching a friend?
A Listen to music instead of doing any work.
B Try to act like a real school teacher.
C Make the time you spend together enjoyable.
18 What is Hannah doing in this text?
A complaining that music lessons cost too much money
B sharing an idea about how to learn new skills with friends
C explaining how to get better marks in science exams
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In paragraph 1, Hannah says she wrote the blog to tell readers about a "different way to learn" where "You don't need to use your pocket money" (explain how to learn without paying). A is a wrong logic trap; she talks about learning an instrument, but she isn't asking her friends to teach her in this blog. C is a partial truth trap; she says paying for lessons is expensive, but she doesn't describe why school lessons cost a lot.
15 C - Explanation: In paragraph 2, Hannah explains her plan: "I teach him science twice a week, and he gives me free guitar lessons" (helps him understand a school subject). A is the opposite of the truth; she explicitly says they don't spend "any cash." B is a wrong logic trap; she teaches him science, she does not do his homework for him.
16 A - Explanation: In paragraph 3, Hannah says she "felt very worried" and thought that "if he fails his exam, I will feel terrible" (afraid he might get a bad mark). B is a wrong logic trap; she knew he didn't study enough, but she wasn't angry about it, she was worried. C is a wrong reference trap; he passed the test, but Hannah is the one who is "top of our science class," not Leo.
17 C - Explanation: In paragraph 4, Hannah's advice is to "keep your learning times fun" and "play games and listen to music while you work" (make the time enjoyable). A is a wrong logic trap; she says to listen to music while you work, not instead of working. B is the opposite of the text; she says, "do not act like a strict school teacher."
18 B - Explanation: Throughout the blog, Hannah explains her method of trading skills (tutoring for guitar lessons), the good and bad parts of doing it, and gives advice on how to make it work. A is a wrong logic trap; she mentions lessons are expensive at the start, but the text is about solving the problem, not complaining. C is a wrong logic trap; science is just one detail of her story, she isn't teaching the reader how to pass science exams.