A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Animal Behaviors & Outdoor Experiences 4
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Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Family Camping Trips
Camping in the woods is a very popular summer holiday for many families. When they arrive at the campsite, the first job is to put up the tent. It can (19)…………… a long time to do this, so everyone has to help.
In the evening, the woods get very dark and cold. Families often make a small fire to (20)…………… warm. They sit around the fire and (21)…………… stories or sing songs together. Cooking dinner outside over the fire is usually a lot of fun, but you must be (22)…………… because the fire is very hot.
When it is time to go to bed, it is important to have a good sleeping bag. You need a thick bag because the ground outside is often cold and (23)…………… . If you wake up in the night, you can look outside your tent and see millions of stars in the (24)…………… .
19 A take B spend C keep
20 A keep B make C hold
21 A tell B say C speak
22 A careful B safe C sure
23 A hard B heavy C strong
24 A sky B air C space
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (take): The phrase "take a long time" is the correct collocation when talking about an activity requiring time. We use "spend" when a person uses their time (e.g., people spend a long time), and "keep" does not collocate with time in this way.
20 A (keep): The phrase "keep warm" is a standard English collocation meaning to maintain your body heat. We cannot say "make warm" without an object (you can make yourself warm), and you cannot "hold" a temperature.
21 A (tell): The correct verb to use with stories is "tell" (tell stories). We use "say" for specific words (say hello) and "speak" for languages or general talking (speak English).
22 A (careful): This relies on the broader context of avoiding the danger of a hot fire. When warning someone to pay attention to danger, we tell them to "be careful". You can "stay safe", but "be safe" does not fit this specific warning context as naturally. "Sure" means feeling certain.
23 A (hard): The physical surface of the ground is solid, or "hard", which makes sleeping uncomfortable. "Heavy" describes the weight of an object you pick up, and "strong" describes muscles or building materials, not the dirt ground.
24 A (sky): When we look up from Earth at night to see the stars, we look at the "sky". "Air" is the invisible gas we breathe, and while stars exist in outer "space", the standard geographical view from a tent is the sky.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Hiking in the Mountains
Hiking in the mountains is a great way to spend a free day in nature. It is important to prepare carefully before you begin. First, you must wear strong boots to keep your feet comfortable.
It is also a good (19)…………… to carry a small backpack. Inside, you can put water, a map, and snacks. The weather high up can (20)…………… very quickly, so you should always bring a warm jacket, even in the summer.
When you walk, you must stay on the correct (21)…………… . This helps you find your way and protects the wild plants. A mountain walk often (22)…………… several hours, so you should start early in the morning. This means you can finish your trip before the sun goes down and it gets completely (23)…………… . Exploring the mountains is wonderful, but you must always (24)…………… attention to where you are walking.
19 A idea B plan C rule
20 A change B turn C move
21 A path B road C street
22 A takes B spends C makes
23 A dark B black C grey
24 A pay B give C make
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (idea): 'A good idea' is a very common English collocation used to give advice. A 'plan' refers to a scheduled event, and a 'rule' is a strict instruction; neither fits this fixed phrase.
20 A (change): 'Change' is the correct semantic fit to describe weather becoming different. Weather does not 'move' (in this general state) and it does not 'turn' without an adjective attached to it (like 'turn cold').
21 A (path): 'Path' is the correct semantic fit for a narrow walking track in nature. A 'road' is built for cars, and a 'street' is located in a town or city with buildings.
22 A (takes): 'It takes [time]' is a phrase-level structure used to describe the duration of an activity. A walk cannot 'spend' time (only people spend time), and 'makes' does not fit this grammatical time structure.
23 A (dark): In this broader context, the sun goes down and the natural environment loses its light, becoming 'dark'. 'Black' and 'grey' are specific colours, not words used to describe a lack of light in the environment.
24 A (pay): 'Pay attention' is a strong, fixed collocation meaning to watch carefully and focus on something. In natural English, we do not 'give' attention or 'make' attention.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Bird Watching
Bird watching is a popular hobby that you can enjoy almost anywhere. You do not have to travel far, because many interesting birds live in local (19)…………… and gardens.
To start bird watching, you only need a few simple things. It is a good idea to buy some binoculars. These will help you to (20)…………… the birds clearly when they are high up in the trees. You also need to wear warm clothes because you often have to sit outside for a long (21)…………… .
When you are looking for birds, it is very important to stay (22)…………… . If you make a loud noise, the birds will fly away quickly. Many people love this hobby because they can (23)…………… beautiful photos of the animals. It is also easy to (24)…………… a lot of fun learning about nature.
19 A parks B streets C rooms
20 A see B look C watch
21 A time B hour C way
22 A quiet B happy C busy
23 A take B make C catch
24 A have B do C make
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (parks): This tests semantic fit. Birds that live in nature are usually found in green spaces like gardens and "parks". "Streets" are for traffic, and "rooms" are inside buildings, so neither fits the context of looking for wildlife outdoors.
20 A (see): This tests semantic fit and verb patterns. We use "see" to describe having the physical ability to view something clearly. "Look" would need the preposition "at" (look at the birds), and "watch" focuses on observing an action for a period of time, rather than just bringing an object into clear focus.
21 A (time): This tests phrase-level meaning. The expression "for a long time" is a fixed phrase used to describe an extended period. We do not say "for a long hour", and a "way" relates to physical distance.
22 A (quiet): This tests broader context. The very next sentence warns that "a loud noise" will make the birds fly away. This context clue makes staying "quiet" the only logical choice. "Happy" and "busy" do not prevent you from making noise.
23 A (take): This tests a highly frequent collocation. In English, the correct verb to use with "photos" or "pictures" is always "take", never "make" or "catch".
24 A (have): This tests a very common A2 collocation. The fixed expression in English is to "have fun" (meaning to enjoy yourself). We never use the verbs "do" or "make" with the noun "fun" in this context.