A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Famous Places & Landmarks 7
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Famous Places & Landmarks
Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world. It covers a huge area across many countries in Northern Africa. Very little rain falls here, so the land is extremely (19)…………… . Instead of green trees and grass, you will see miles of golden (20)…………… stretching as far as you can look.
Because the weather is so (21)…………… during the day, it is difficult for many plants and animals to live there. However, some special animals have adapted to this environment. For example, people often ride (22)…………… across the desert because these animals can travel for days without drinking any water.
Today, tourists travel from all over the world to experience this environment. Many visitors enjoy (23)…………… at the huge open sky and watching the sunset over the quiet landscape. However, because the desert is mostly (24)…………… , you must always travel with an experienced guide who knows the way safely.
19 A wet B dry C cold
20 A sand B rock C dirt
21 A warm B hot C sunny
22 A horses B camels C elephants
23 A seeing B watching C looking
24 A empty B full C busy
Answer Key & Explanations
19 B (dry): This relies on the broader context of the sentence. The text notes that "very little rain falls here," which logically makes the land "dry". "Wet" is the exact opposite, and while deserts can be cold at night, the text previously identifies the Sahara as a "hot desert".
20 A (sand): This tests semantic fit. In a desert setting contrasted with "green trees and grass," "golden sand" is the standard landscape feature described. "Rock" and "dirt" do not naturally fit the "golden" description in this context.
21 B (hot): This tests phrase-level meaning and context. While "sunny" and "warm" describe pleasant weather, "hot" emphasizes the intense, difficult environment described in the rest of the sentence ("difficult for many plants and animals to live there").
22 B (camels): This relies on broader factual context. The text describes an animal that can "travel for days without drinking any water" in a desert environment, which specifically identifies "camels". Neither "horses" nor "elephants" have this physical adaptation.
23 C (looking): This tests grammar and collocation. The verb "looking" is the only option here that correctly collocates with the preposition "at" (looking at the sky). "Seeing" and "watching" take a direct object without "at".
24 A (empty): This tests semantic fit. The adjective "empty" describes a vast desert area with very few people or buildings, explaining why you need a guide who knows the way. "Full" and "busy" mean the opposite and contradict the "quiet landscape" mentioned previously.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Central Park
Central Park is a very famous place in the middle of New York. It is a large green area where people can go to get away from the busy (19)…………… . Millions of visitors come to the park every year because there is so much to see and do.
Inside the park, there are lakes, green fields, and thousands of tall (20)…………… . Many people enjoy (21)…………… along the quiet paths to look at the birds. If you want to travel faster, you can also (22)…………… a bicycle around the park.
Central Park is a great place for (23)…………… with your family or having a picnic on the grass. In the winter, you can even go ice-skating! Everyone who visits New York should (24)…………… some time in this wonderful space.
19 A city B building C street
20 A trees B flowers C bushes
21 A walking B standing C waiting
22 A ride B drive C sail
23 A relaxing B sleeping C resting
24 A spend B take C make
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (city): 'City' fits the broader context of New York. People visit the large green park to escape the whole busy city, not just one 'building' or 'street'.
20 A (trees): 'Trees' fits the semantic context because they are described as "tall". 'Flowers' and 'bushes' grow in parks, but they are not usually described as very tall.
21 A (walking): 'Walking' fits the phrase-level meaning with the preposition 'along' (walking along paths) which requires movement. 'Standing' and 'waiting' mean staying in one place.
22 A (ride): 'Ride' is the correct verb collocation for travelling on a bicycle. You 'drive' a car or a bus, and you 'sail' a boat on the water.
23 A (relaxing): 'Relaxing' fits the semantic context of enjoying free time and having fun with family. 'Sleeping' is usually done in bed at night, and 'resting' means stopping an activity because you are very tired.
24 A (spend): 'Spend time' is the correct English collocation for staying in a place for a while. We do not 'take' or 'make' time when we visit a place.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Amazon River
The Amazon River is one of the most famous rivers in the world. It flows through South America. Travelling down the whole river takes a very (19)…………… time because it is thousands of kilometres from start to finish. It also holds more (20)…………… than any other river on Earth.
The Amazon passes through a huge green (21)…………… . Many incredible birds and wild animals live in the trees there. The river itself is also very big. In fact, some parts are so (22)…………… that you cannot see the other side!
Because there are not many roads in the forest, people use small (23)…………… to travel from place to place. Visitors can also take trips on the river, but they must (24)…………… sure they listen to their guide to stay safe.
19 A long B big C slow
20 A ice B rain C water
21 A desert B jungle C island
22 A wide B deep C heavy
23 A cars B trains C boats
24 A get B make C do
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (long): 'A long time' is a fixed English collocation used to talk about how many hours or days an activity takes. We do not say 'a big time' or 'a slow time' in this context.
20 C (water): This is the correct semantic fit. A flowing river is naturally made of liquid water. 'Ice' is frozen solid, and 'rain' falls from the sky, so they do not fit the meaning of what the river "holds" in this way.
21 B (jungle): The broader context of the paragraph mentions 'green', 'trees', and 'wild animals'. This points logically to a jungle. A 'desert' is very dry with almost no trees, and an 'island' is a piece of land surrounded by the sea.
22 A (wide): This fits the phrase-level context of looking across a distance and not being able to 'see the other side'. 'Deep' refers to the distance down to the bottom of the river, and 'heavy' describes weight.
23 C (boats): This is the correct semantic fit for travelling on a river. You use a boat to move on water, whereas 'cars' and 'trains' are vehicles used for travelling on land.
24 B (make): 'Make sure' is a standard English collocation meaning to check that something happens safely or correctly. We do not use the verbs 'get' or 'do' to form this phrase.