A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Student Life, Routines & Study Habits 10
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Student Life, Routines & Study Habits
Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Waiting for the Bell
The last few minutes of the school day always seem to pass very slowly. In classrooms everywhere, students sit at their desks and look at the (19)…………… on the wall. They are waiting for it to show the right time.
Many teenagers feel tired after studying and they just want to leave. Before the lesson ends, students are busy (20)…………… their work. Then, the teacher usually tells everyone to put their books away. Students (21)…………… time packing their pens and notebooks into their school (22)…………… .
When everyone is ready, they sit quietly and wait. Finally, the school bell rings loudly. The teenagers stand up quickly and walk into the corridor. They are always happy about (23)…………… home to rest. They know they will come back tomorrow, but right now, it is a great (24)…………… to relax.
19 A clock B watch C time
20 A finishing B closing C ending
21 A spend B pass C keep
22 A bags B boxes C pockets
23 A going B leaving C arriving
24 A moment B date C age
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (clock): 'Clock' fits the semantic meaning of an object placed on a wall that shows the time. A 'watch' is worn on a person's wrist, and you cannot physically look at 'time' as an object on a wall.
20 A (finishing): 'Finishing' is the correct semantic fit for completing schoolwork. You 'close' a book or a door, but you do not close work. 'Ending' is not naturally used for completing personal tasks or homework.
21 A (spend): 'Spend time' is a very common fixed English collocation meaning to use your time to do an activity. We do not use 'pass' or 'keep' with time in this everyday way when an action (packing) follows.
22 A (bags): 'Bags' fits the phrase-level meaning because it is the logical, everyday item students use to carry large notebooks and pens home. 'Boxes' are typically for long-term storage, and 'pockets' are too small for notebooks.
23 A (going): 'Going home' is the correct fixed collocation for travelling to your house. 'Leaving' home means departing from your house in the morning, and 'arriving' does not fit because they are just starting their journey from school.
24 A (moment): 'Moment' fits the broader context of the text, describing the specific, short point in time right after the bell rings. A 'date' refers to a calendar day (like July 4th), and an 'age' refers to how old someone or something is.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Helping a Classmate
At school, teachers give students homework to finish after their lessons. Sometimes, this extra work is not very (19)…………… , and a student might spend hours trying to find the right answers.
If you finish your homework quickly, it is a great idea to help a classmate who is (20)…………… a problem. You can sit at their desk and spend a few minutes (21)…………… how to do the activity. This helps your friend get a better (22)…………… of the new subject before the next class.
Teachers are always happy when they see students being (23)…………… to others. It is an important part of school life. When children decide to work (24)…………… , everyone learns more and has a much happier day!
19 A easy B light C slow
20 A having B making C doing
21 A explaining B speaking C telling
22 A understanding B meaning C thinking
23 A kind B safe C careful
24 A together B alone C away
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (easy): This is a semantic fit. The text says a student "might spend hours" on the work, which means it is hard, or not 'easy'. 'Light' is usually used for how much physical objects weigh, and 'slow' describes speed, not the difficulty of homework.
20 A (having): 'Have a problem' is a strong, everyday English collocation. When a person experiences a difficulty, they are 'having' a problem. We do not say someone is 'making' or 'doing' a problem in this context.
21 A (explaining): This fits the phrase-level meaning and grammar pattern. 'Explaining' means to make something clear to someone else. If you use 'speaking', you must add the preposition 'about' (speaking about how to), and 'telling' requires a direct object person (telling them how to).
22 A (understanding): This tests broader context. When a student learns and knows a subject well in their mind, they get a good 'understanding' of it. A 'meaning' is the definition of a specific word, and 'thinking' does not fit this noun pattern.
23 A (kind): This fits the semantic meaning. Helping another student shows you are a friendly and 'kind' person. Being 'safe' (away from danger) or 'careful' (avoiding mistakes) do not describe the personality trait of helping friends.
24 A (together): 'Work together' is a strong collocation for doing an activity with another person. 'Alone' means by yourself, which fails the broader context because the text is about helping someone else. 'Away' means in a different place.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Moving to a New School
Moving to a new school is a big change for any student. On the first day, everything looks very (19)…………… because you do not know the buildings or the teachers. The classrooms are often much (20)…………… than your old ones, and it is easy to get lost.
Many children start (21)…………… a bit worried before they walk into their new class. They worry about the lessons and the homework. However, teachers always spend time (22)…………… new pupils find their way around the building.
During the morning break, it is a good idea to talk to the other students. Everyone wants to make new (23)…………… and have fun playing games together. After a few days, the school starts to feel like a great (24)……………, and pupils usually have a brilliant time there.
19 A different B full C ready
20 A bigger B taller C louder
21 A feeling B doing C making
22 A helping B watching C catching
23 A friends B families C teams
24 A place B town C map
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (different): This fits the semantic meaning of the context. Because you do not know the buildings or teachers yet, things look "different." It does not make sense to say the school looks "full" or "ready" for this reason.
20 A (bigger): This fits the phrase-level grammar and meaning. "Bigger" works with "than" to describe the size of a room. "Taller" is used for people or whole buildings, and "louder" is used for noise, not the physical size of a classroom.
21 A (feeling): This forms the standard collocation "feeling worried." We use the verb "feel" with adjectives of emotion. We do not say "doing worried" or "making worried" in this context.
22 A (helping): This is the correct semantic fit. Teachers assist pupils who are lost by "helping" them find their way. "Watching" or "catching" do not fit the meaning of guiding new students.
23 A (friends): This forms the very common A2 collocation "make friends." In English, we do not use the verb "make" with "families" or "teams" in this social context.
24 A (place): This fits the broader context of the text. The school building and environment are described as a "place." It is not a whole "town," and you cannot physically be inside a "map."