A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 5 Test – Social Graces: Apologies & Polite Declines 8
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 5 Test – Social Graces: Apologies & Polite Declines
Test 1
Questions 25-30
For each question, write the correct answer. Write one word for each gap.
From: Logan
To: Chloe
Hi Chloe,
I am really sorry! Your friend Sarah called our house yesterday afternoon. I answered the phone, but I completely forgot to give (25) ……………… the message! She said she wants to go to the new shopping centre (26) ……………… you. She also wants to invite you (27) ……………… her birthday party. She (28) ……………… going to buy the cinema tickets tomorrow morning. Please call her back as soon as possible. What time (29) ……………… you want to use the telephone today? I have a (30) ……………… of homework to finish, so I will be upstairs in my bedroom.
Love,
Logan
Answer Key & Explanations
25 you
– Why it's right: Logan is writing to his sister, so we need the object pronoun 'you' to show who he forgot to give the message to.
– Why not 'her': If we use 'her', it means Logan forgot to give the message to Sarah, which is incorrect because Sarah is the person who called.
26 with
– Why it's right: We use the preposition 'with' to say that people are doing an activity together, like going shopping.
– Why not 'for': We don't say 'go to the shopping centre for you' when we mean doing an activity together.
27 to
– Why it's right: We always use the preposition 'to' after the verb 'invite' when we talk about a location or an event (e.g., 'invite to a party').
– Why not 'at': You can be 'at' a party, but you always invite someone 'to' an event.
28 is
– Why it's right: We need the auxiliary verb 'is' to complete the future plan form 'is going to'. We use 'is' because the subject 'she' is singular.
– Why not 'are': We only use 'are' for plural subjects (like 'we' or 'they') or the pronoun 'you'.
29 do
– Why it's right: We need the auxiliary verb 'do' to make a present simple question with the subject pronoun 'you'.
– Why not 'are': We cannot use 'are' here because the main verb 'want' is in its base form, not the '-ing' form.
30 lot
– Why it's right: We need the word 'lot' to complete the common quantity phrase 'a lot of', which means 'many' or 'much'.
– Why not 'lots': We can say 'lots of' without an 'a', but because there is the article 'a' directly before the gap, the answer must be the singular 'lot'.
Test 2
Questions 25-30
For each question, write the correct answer. Write one word for each gap.
From: Evelyn
To: Maya
Hi Maya,
Thanks for your message. I know you want to know what Chloe told me yesterday, (25) ……………… I can't tell you. She shared a big secret (26) ……………… me and asked me not to say anything. I promised to keep (27) ……………… safe. I am sorry, but I really must keep my promise. She is a very good friend and I don't want (28) ……………… hurt her. Maybe you can ask her yourself when you see her (29) ……………… Monday? We can talk about something else. (30) ……………… you free to meet tomorrow?
See you,
Evelyn
Answer Key & Explanations
25 but
– Why it's right: We use but to connect two contrasting ideas. Evelyn knows Maya wants to know the secret, but she can't tell her.
– Why not 'because': Using because would mean the reason she can't tell her is that Maya wants to know, which does not make sense.
26 with
– Why it's right: When someone tells another person a secret or a story, we use the preposition with (share something with someone).
– Why not 'to': We do not say shared to me; the correct preposition after the verb share is always with.
27 it
– Why it's right: We use the pronoun it to replace a singular thing that was just mentioned in the previous sentence, like the secret.
– Why not 'them': We are talking about one secret, so we must use the singular pronoun it, not the plural them.
28 to
– Why it's right: After the verb want, we must use to plus the base form of the next verb (want to hurt).
– Why not 'for': We do not use for before a base verb to explain what someone wants to do.
29 on
– Why it's right: We always use the preposition on before days of the week, like Monday.
– Why not 'in': We use in for longer periods of time like months or years, but never for specific days.
30 Are
– Why it's right: We use the auxiliary verb Are to start a present tense question with the pronoun you and the adjective free.
– Why not 'Do': We do not use Do before an adjective like free; do is only used to ask questions with action verbs.
Test 3
Questions 25-30
For each question, write the correct answer. Write one word for each gap.
From: Michael
To: Mum and Dad
Hi Mum and Dad,
I (25) ……………… writing this note to say sorry. I know you are both very tired today. Last night, I was listening (26) ……………… my favourite band in my bedroom. I played the music really loudly (27) ……………… it is my favourite song.
I did not know that you (28) ……………… already sleeping. When you knocked on my door, I felt very bad (29) ……………… it. I promise I will not do it again.
Next time, I will use my headphones. I hope you can forgive (30) ……………… !
See you after school,
Michael
Answer Key & Explanations
25 am
– Why it's right: We need the helping verb "am" (or 'm) to form the present continuous tense (am + writing) with the subject "I".
– Why not 'was': Michael is writing the note right now in the present, so the past tense "was" is incorrect.
26 to
– Why it's right: We always use the preposition "to" after the verb "listen" when we mention the thing or person we are hearing.
– Why not 'at': We can look "at" something, but the correct English collocation for hearing is always "listen to".
27 because
– Why it's right: We use the conjunction "because" to explain the reason why he decided to play the music so loudly.
– Why not 'but': We use "but" to connect two opposite or surprising ideas, not to give a reason for an action.
28 were
– Why it's right: We need the past tense verb "were" to make the past continuous tense (were + sleeping) that matches the pronoun "you".
– Why not 'are': The action happened last night in the past, so we cannot use the present tense verb "are".
29 about
– Why it's right: When you feel sorry or guilty for an action, the correct adjective and preposition combination is to "feel bad about" it.
– Why not 'with': We use "with" to talk about being alongside someone or using an object, which does not make sense for a feeling.
30 me
– Why it's right: We must use the object pronoun "me" because Michael is the person receiving the action of being forgiven.
– Why not 'I': "I" is a subject pronoun that does an action, so it is grammatically incorrect to place it after the verb "forgive".