A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Animal Behaviors & Outdoor Experiences 3
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Animal Behaviors & Outdoor Experiences
Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Pet Canaries
Canaries are small, beautiful birds that many people keep as pets. They are famous for their lovely voices, and most of them have bright yellow (19)…………… .
These birds love to make music. In fact, male canaries often (20)…………… a lot of time singing during the day. Because they are small, canaries usually live inside a metal cage in the house. However, the cage must be large (21)…………… for them to fly from side to side and get some exercise.
To keep a canary healthy, an owner must (22)…………… good care of it. Every day, you need to give the bird fresh water and special bird (23)…………… to eat. They also enjoy small pieces of apple. Because they are so easy to look after, a canary is the perfect (24)…………… for a child's first pet.
19 A feathers B hair C leaves
20 A keep B pass C spend
21 A enough B too C very
22 A take B make C give
23 A food B meal C dish
24 A choice B plan C way
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (feathers): 'Feathers' is the correct word for the soft covering on a bird's body. Birds do not have 'hair' (which is for mammals like cats, dogs, or humans), and 'leaves' belong to plants.
20 C (spend): 'Spend time' is the correct English collocation to describe using your time to do an activity. While in some languages you 'pass' time, this is not a natural collocation in English, and 'keep' does not fit here.
21 A (enough): 'Enough' correctly follows an adjective (large enough) to mean 'the right size for something'. 'Too' and 'very' must be placed before the adjective (too large, very large), so they do not fit the grammar of this sentence.
22 A (take): 'Take care of' is a fixed English collocation meaning to look after someone or something. We do not say 'make care' or 'give care' when describing looking after a pet.
23 A (food): 'Food' is the correct general word for what animals eat (bird food). A 'meal' refers to a specific eating event (like human breakfast or dinner), and a 'dish' is a plate or a specific recipe cooked by humans.
24 A (choice): 'Choice' fits the broader context of selecting the best animal to get as a pet. A bird cannot be a 'plan' (which is a thought or schedule) or a 'way' (which is a method).
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Keeping Pet Goldfish
Goldfish are very popular pets for children. They are beautiful to look at and they are easy to (19)…………… care of. When you get a goldfish, you must buy a glass bowl or a special tank for it to live (20)…………… . It is important to always use clean water.
Your goldfish will (21)…………… a lot of time swimming around. You need to give your fish the right (22)…………… of food. You can buy special fish food from a pet shop. You should only give them a little food every day. If you give them too much, they can get (23)…………… .
Also, remember to clean the glass every week. This helps your goldfish to (24)…………… healthy. Watching your fish swim can be a very relaxing way to spend the afternoon!
19 A take B make C keep
20 A in B at C on
21 A spend B take C pass
22 A kind B way C idea
23 A hungry B ill C tired
24 A stay B hold C make
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (take): "Take care of" is a fixed phrase in English that means to look after an animal or person. We do not use the verbs "make" or "keep" in this phrase.
20 A (in): We use the preposition "in" because a fish tank or bowl is a closed, three-dimensional space filled with water. We use "on" for flat surfaces and "at" for general locations.
21 A (spend): "Spend time" is a very common collocation used to talk about using time to do an activity (like swimming). "Take" does not fit the structure "take a lot of time doing something" here, and "pass time" is not used in this way.
22 A (kind): "Kind of" means a specific type of something (like a type of food). "Way" refers to a method of doing something, and "idea" is a thought in your head, which does not fit when talking about real food.
23 B (ill): The broader context tells us that giving a fish "too much" food is bad for it, causing it to become sick or "ill". If a fish eats a lot, it will not be "hungry", and "tired" does not make sense here.
24 A (stay): We use "stay" plus an adjective (stay healthy) to talk about keeping a good condition. "Make" would need an object here (make them healthy), and "hold" just means to carry something in your hands.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Building a Treehouse
Many children dream of having a treehouse in their garden. It is a fantastic place to read and play with friends. Before you start building, you need to find a strong tree with thick (19)…………… . These will hold the floor of the treehouse and keep everyone (20)…………… .
Next, you must collect your materials. Most treehouses are made of (21)…………… because it is natural and easy to cut. You will need tools, but it is a good (22)…………… to ask an adult to help you. A grown-up can make sure everything is built correctly.
When the house is finished, you need a way to get inside. Most people build a wooden ladder for (23)…………… up to the door. Having a treehouse is a wonderful way to (24)…………… your weekends outside in the fresh air.
19 A branches B leaves C plants
20 A safe B careful C sure
21 A wood B glass C stone
22 A idea B thing C job
23 A climbing B walking C standing
24 A spend B pass C keep
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (branches): "Branches" is the correct semantic fit, as they are the thick, strong arms of a tree that can hold a wooden floor. "Leaves" are too soft and small to hold any weight, and "plants" grow in the ground, not high up in the tree.
20 A (safe): "Keep everyone safe" correctly fits the broader context of building a strong structure so nobody falls or gets hurt. You cannot "keep everyone careful" (careful describes a person's own actions), and "sure" means certain.
21 A (wood): "Wood" is the correct natural material that comes from trees and is easy to cut and build with. "Glass" breaks easily, and "stone" is extremely heavy and difficult to cut for a simple treehouse.
22 A (idea): "A good idea to" is a standard English collocation used to describe a sensible plan or advice. We do not say "a good thing to ask" in this exact grammatical structure, and a "job" refers to work.
23 A (climbing): "Climbing" is the correct phrase-level action for moving vertically up a ladder. You "walk" horizontally on flat ground, and "stand" means to stay still in one place without moving.
24 A (spend): "Spend your weekends" (or spend time) is the correct English collocation for using your time to do an activity. Learners often incorrectly choose "pass" due to direct translation from their own languages, and "keep" does not fit the grammar of the sentence.
