A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – School Events & Competitions 6
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Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The School Poetry Competition
Many schools have a special poetry reading competition every year. It is a great way for students to show their love of reading. To prepare, children must choose a poem that has beautiful (19)…………… . They spend a lot of time practising at home.
During the competition, the students stand at the front of the hall. It is important to be very good at (20)…………… clearly so everyone can hear. The rest of the school must stay completely (21)…………… while they listen to the person at the front.
Poems are often about love, nature, or happiness. Reading them helps students to share their (22)…………… with the audience. Some students try to remember the whole poem. However, if they forget, they can always look at a piece of (23)…………… in their hand. At the end, the head teacher will (24)…………… a prize to the best reader.
19 A words B notes C letters
20 A speaking B saying C telling
21 A quiet B empty C safe
22 A feelings B thoughts C minds
23 A paper B glass C plastic
24 A give B make C take
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (words): This is a semantic fit. Poems are made up of 'words'. 'Notes' are used for music or short messages, and while words are made of 'letters', it is the words themselves that make a poem beautiful.
20 A (speaking): 'Speaking clearly' is a strong collocation. We use 'speaking' to describe the general action of using your voice. 'Saying' and 'telling' require a direct object (e.g., saying a word, telling a story).
21 A (quiet): This fits the phrase-level meaning of the sentence. To listen to someone performing, the audience must make no noise, so they stay 'quiet'. 'Empty' means there is no one there, and 'safe' means away from danger, which do not fit this context.
22 A (feelings): This tests broader context. The previous sentence mentions "love, nature, or happiness," which are emotions. When reading these poems, students share their 'feelings'. 'Thoughts' (ideas) and 'minds' do not link back to these specific emotional examples.
23 A (paper): This is a semantic fit. A poem can be written on a piece of 'paper' to hold in your hand. 'Glass' and 'plastic' are materials, but they are not used for printing or writing out a poem to read on stage.
24 A (give): 'Give a prize' is a fixed English collocation for presenting a reward to someone who wins. The students might 'take' the prize home, but the head teacher is the one who will 'give' it. Teachers do not 'make' a prize in this context.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The School Photography Competition
Every year, our school has a photography competition for all the students. It is a fantastic way for teenagers to show their creative skills. Many students use their digital (19)…………… to take amazing photos, but you can also use a mobile phone.
The teachers always choose a different subject for the event. This year, the theme is (20)…………… , so students are walking around local parks to photograph animals and trees. It is important to look carefully and (21)…………… lots of different photos before you choose your favourite one.
At the end of the month, the art teachers look at all the students' work. They have to decide which photograph is the (22)…………… in the whole school. The student who gets the first prize is always very excited about (23)…………… the competition. All the beautiful (24)…………… are then put on the walls in the school hall for everyone to enjoy.
19 A cameras B computers C televisions
20 A nature B history C sport
21 A take B make C do
22 A best B true C real
23 A winning B beating C passing
24 A pictures B letters C pages
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (cameras): 'Cameras' is the correct semantic fit for a digital object used to 'take amazing photos'. 'Computers' and 'televisions' are digital, but they are not used for taking photographs outdoors.
20 A (nature): 'Nature' fits the broader context of the paragraph, which explains that students are visiting 'local parks' to photograph 'animals and trees'. 'History' and 'sport' do not fit this specific outdoor theme.
21 A (take): 'Take photos' is the correct and fixed English collocation for using a camera. We do not use 'make' or 'do' with photos.
22 A (best): 'Best' correctly completes the phrase 'the best in the whole school', meaning the number one photograph. 'True' and 'real' do not make sense when judging the quality of art for a prize.
23 A (winning): 'Winning' is the correct collocation for a competition or a prize. You 'beat' a person or a team, and you 'pass' a test, but you do not beat or pass a competition.
24 A (pictures): 'Pictures' is the correct semantic fit for the physical artwork that teachers put 'on the walls'. 'Letters' and 'pages' are made of paper, but they are for reading, not for a photography exhibition.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A School Chess Tournament
Every year, many schools organise a chess tournament for their students. It is a very popular event for children who enjoy (19)…………… this clever board game. During a chess match, the room must be very (20)…………… so that everyone can concentrate.
Players sit opposite each other and look at the black and white board. They spend a lot of time (21)…………… carefully before they move anything. Each person has sixteen small (22)…………… to move across the board. The goal of the game is to take the other player's king.
At the end of the day, the teachers count the points to see which school is the best. All the students dream of (23)…………… the whole tournament for their school. Everyone gets a certificate, but only the top players get to (24)…………… a special gold cup home.
19 A playing B doing C making
20 A quiet B empty C clear
21 A thinking B guessing C waiting
22 A pieces B cards C blocks
23 A winning B beating C scoring
24 A take B make C do
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (playing): This forms the correct collocation. In English, we "play" a board game. We do not say "doing" or "making" a game.
20 A (quiet): This fits the phrase-level meaning and local context perfectly. Players need to concentrate, which requires a "quiet" room without noise. The room cannot be "empty" because the players are in it, and "clear" does not describe the noise level.
21 A (thinking): This fits the semantic meaning of the sentence. In a game of chess, players must "think" carefully to plan their next move. "Guessing" relies on luck rather than careful planning, and "waiting" does not describe the active mental effort needed before moving.
22 A (pieces): This is the correct word based on the broader context of the text. The items you move on a chessboard are called "pieces." You do not use "cards" or "blocks" to play chess.
23 A (winning): This fits the exact semantic context. You "win" a competition or a tournament. You "beat" an opponent or another team, and you "score" a point or a goal.
24 A (take): This forms the standard A2 collocation "take [something] home" (meaning to carry an item from the event to your house). We do not use the verbs "make" or "do" with carrying a physical object like a cup.