A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Famous Places & Landmarks 8
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 Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a very famous salt lake in the Middle East. It is not really a sea, but a very large lake. The land around it is very (19)…………… , making it the lowest place on Earth.
The most interesting thing about this lake is the (20)…………… . It has a lot of salt in it. Because there is so much (21)…………… , fish and plants cannot live there. However, this is exactly what makes it popular with visitors.
When people go into the lake, they do not swim normally. The heavy water makes their bodies stay on top. People love (22)…………… on their backs under the hot sun. Some tourists even hold a book or a newspaper and enjoy (23)…………… while they are in the water. It is a great idea to take a (24)…………… to the Dead Sea if you ever travel to this part of the world.
19 A low B short C flat
20 A water B sand C weather
21 A salt B sugar C ice
22 A floating B flying C climbing
23 A reading B watching C looking
24 A trip B way C holiday
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (low): Semantically, "low" is the correct word to describe the elevation of land, especially when it is "the lowest place on Earth." "Short" describes the physical height of a person or object, and "flat" means smooth without hills.
20 A (water): Based on the broader context of the lake having salt in it and people going in to swim, "water" is the only logical choice. A lake is not famous for its "sand" or "weather" in this specific context.
21 A (salt): Semantically, "salt" is the correct word because it refers directly back to the previous sentence ("It has a lot of salt in it"). "Sugar" and "ice" do not make sense in a factual text about the Dead Sea.
22 A (floating): At a phrase level, "floating" means resting on top of the water without sinking, which matches the previous sentence ("makes their bodies stay on top"). You "fly" in the air and "climb" up rocks or trees.
23 A (reading): "Enjoy reading" is the correct natural collocation when using a "book or a newspaper." You "watch" television, and you must "look at" something (you cannot just "look a book").
24 A (trip): "Take a trip" is a correct and very common fixed collocation. You do not "take a way," and while you can go on a holiday, you usually say "take a trip to" rather than "take a holiday to" a specific place.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is a very famous building. In fact, it is the (19)…………… building in the whole world. The top of this amazing place goes very high up into the (20)…………… .
Builders used metal and (21)…………… to make the outside of the tower, so it shines brightly in the hot sun. When visitors go inside, they do not have to walk up thousands of stairs. Instead, they can take a special (22)…………… to the top floors.
This journey is very (23)…………… and only takes about one minute! When you finally arrive at the top, you can stand next to the huge windows. (24)…………… down at the tiny cars and streets below is a wonderful experience for every visitor.
19 A longest B tallest C largest
20 A air B space C sky
21 A glass B paper C wood
22 A machine B lift C bridge
23 A fast B early C soon
24 A Watching B Seeing C Looking
Answer Key & Explanations
19 B (tallest): "Tallest" is the correct semantic fit to describe the vertical height of a building. "Longest" describes horizontal distance (like a road or river), and "largest" refers to overall size or volume, not height.
20 C (sky): "Up into the sky" is a strong natural collocation for tall objects reaching high above the ground. You do not say a building goes into the "air" in this context, and it is not high enough to reach outer "space".
21 A (glass): This requires understanding the semantic fit. "Glass" is the correct material used for windows on a modern skyscraper. "Paper" and "wood" are not shiny, transparent materials used to build the outside of this kind of tower.
22 B (lift): This tests broader context comprehension. The previous sentence says visitors "do not have to walk up thousands of stairs." The logical transport to go up inside a building instead of stairs is a "lift". A "machine" is too general, and a "bridge" goes across water or roads.
23 A (fast): "Fast" is the correct semantic fit to describe the speed of the journey, explaining why it "only takes about one minute". "Early" and "soon" describe when something happens in time, not how quickly it moves.
24 C (Looking): "Looking down at" is the correct phrase-level verb pattern. You use your eyes for all three options, but you cannot use "watching" or "seeing" with the prepositions "down at" in this way.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a very famous place in Australia. It is the biggest natural reef in the world, and almost all of it is completely (19)…………… . Because of this, you always have to travel by boat to visit it.
When they arrive, many tourists put on special glasses and go (20)…………… in the warm sea. When you look down into the clear water, you can see thousands of amazing (21)…………… swimming past you.
They live inside the (22)…………… , which looks like colourful rocks but is actually a group of living animals. The reef is a very (23)…………… place, with bright colours everywhere you look.
However, the oceans are getting warmer today. We must all work hard to (24)…………… this special place safe for the future.
19 A underground B underwater C downstairs
20 A walking B sailing C swimming
21 A birds B fish C pets
22 A wood B sand C coral
23 A beautiful B handsome C kind
24 A stay B keep C hold
Answer Key & Explanations
19 B (underwater): This fits the broader context. The text discusses the sea, boats, and swimming, meaning the reef is below the surface of the water, which is 'underwater'. 'Underground' means below the dirt or earth, and 'downstairs' is only used for the lower level of a building.
20 C (swimming): This is a grammatical collocation. We use 'go swimming' to describe moving your body in the water. You cannot go 'walking' in the deep sea, and tourists do not go 'sailing' (driving a boat) while wearing special glasses in the water.
21 B (fish): This is a semantic fit. The animals that live and swim under the clear water of the sea are 'fish'. 'Birds' fly in the sky, and 'pets' are animals you keep at home, like a cat or a dog.
22 C (coral): This is a phrase-level fit. The text describes a natural material that 'looks like colourful rocks but is actually a group of living animals'. This is the exact definition of 'coral'. 'Wood' comes from trees, and 'sand' is the tiny yellow stones on a beach, neither of which are alive.
23 A (beautiful): This is a semantic fit. We use 'beautiful' to describe a place that is very nice to look at and has 'bright colours'. 'Handsome' is mostly used to describe a person's face (usually men), and 'kind' describes someone's friendly personality, not a place.
24 B (keep): This is a strong collocation. The fixed phrase for protecting something is to 'keep [something] safe'. We do not say 'hold safe', and while people can 'stay safe' themselves, they cannot 'stay a place safe'.