A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Active Escapes 2
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Active Escapes
Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A painful walk
Sometimes you learn a hard lesson on a trip!
Fifteen-year-old Wendy loves being outdoors. Last weekend, she decided to do something very difficult. She wanted to walk a famous twenty-kilometre hiking trail along the coast. Her uncle often goes walking, so he went with her. Wendy was very excited to see the beautiful ocean views.
Before the trip, Wendy went to a sports shop and bought some new hiking boots. They looked fantastic, but she didn't wear them at home first. On Saturday morning, the weather was sunny and warm. For the first ten kilometres, the walk was amazing, and Wendy took lots of photos of the sea.
But then, Wendy started to have a problem. Her new boots were very heavy and hard. Soon, she got a large, painful blister on her foot. It hurt every time she took a step. Wendy had to stop and sit down on a rock. She felt really sad because she thought she couldn't finish the long walk.
Luckily, her uncle was carrying a small medical bag with him. He had a special bandage for her foot. Wendy put it on and took off her heavy boots. She had her old, comfortable sports shoes in her backpack, so she put those on instead. Immediately, her foot felt much better.
With her old shoes on, Wendy easily finished the rest of the trail. When they arrived at the end, she felt very proud. Now, she knows you shouldn't wear new shoes for a long walk. Next month, she is going to walk a different trail in the forest, and she plans to wear her comfortable shoes right from the start!
14 What do we learn about the trip in the first paragraph?
A The walking path was next to the sea.
B Wendy's uncle planned the hiking route.
C Wendy chose it because it was an easy walk.
15 What did Wendy do before the trip started?
A She wore her new boots around her house.
B She got some new footwear from a shop.
C She took lots of photos of the beautiful sea.
16 Why did Wendy stop and sit on a rock?
A She wanted to take off her heavy backpack.
B She felt too sad to walk any further.
C She had a bad pain on her foot.
17 How did Wendy solve her problem?
A She borrowed some comfortable shoes from her uncle.
B She went to a shop to buy a special bandage.
C She put on a different pair of shoes.
18 What is Wendy planning to do next month?
A use her old shoes for a walk in the woods
B buy some comfortable boots for her next trip
C walk the coastal trail again with her uncle
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: The correct answer is A because the text says the hiking trail was "along the coast" (which means next to the sea). Option B is wrong logic; her uncle went with her, but Wendy is the one who "decided" and "wanted to walk" the trail. Option C is wrong logic; she chose it because she "decided to do something very difficult", not easy.
15 B - Explanation: The correct answer is B because before the trip, Wendy "went to a sports shop and bought some new hiking boots". Option A is wrong logic; the text states that she "didn't wear them at home first". Option C is a partial truth; she took photos of the sea, but this happened during the first ten kilometres, not before the trip.
16 C - Explanation: The correct answer is C because Wendy got a "painful blister on her foot" and "it hurt every time she took a step". Option A is wrong reference; the text mentions her boots were heavy, not her backpack. Option B is wrong logic; Wendy felt sad after she had to sit down because she thought she couldn't finish, not as the reason for stopping.
17 C - Explanation: The correct answer is C because Wendy took her old sports shoes out of her backpack and "put those on instead". Option A is a wrong reference; she used her own shoes from her backpack, not her uncle's. Option B is a partial truth; she used a special bandage, but her uncle already had it in his medical bag, so she didn't buy it.
18 A - Explanation: The correct answer is A because in the final paragraph, Wendy says she will walk a trail "in the forest" (woods) and plans to "wear her comfortable shoes right from the start". Option B is wrong logic; she plans to wear her old shoes, not buy new ones. Option C is a partial truth; she is planning another trip, but it is a "different trail", not the coastal one again.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The wrong ski boots
Fourteen-year-old Alex writes about a problem on a school sports trip.
Hi, I’m Alex and I’m 14 years old. Last week, my school took us on a skiing trip to the mountains. Some of my friends brought their own skis and boots from home. However, I don't go skiing very often, so I decided to get all my equipment from the rental shop when we arrived at the snow.
On the first morning, the rental shop was incredibly busy. There were so many people waiting that I just wanted to leave quickly. A man gave me a pair of heavy blue ski boots. I put them on my feet in a hurry and didn't really check how they felt. I was just so excited to get outside and start skiing with my classmates.
We took the ski lift up the mountain and started coming down the easiest slope. At first, it was brilliant! But after only one hour, my feet began to hurt. The pain in my toes was terrible. I suddenly understood that the boots were much too small for me. Every time I turned on the snow, my toes hit the front of the hard plastic boots. I had to stop and tell my teacher.
My teacher was very kind and walked back down to the shop with me. I explained the problem to the assistant, and he gave me a bigger size. When I put the new boots on, they felt warm and comfortable. I went back out and skied perfectly with my friends for the whole afternoon. Next year, I am definitely going to take more time to try on my boots before I leave the shop!
14 Why did Alex get his equipment from the rental shop?
A He left his own boots at home by mistake.
B He doesn't go skiing very many times a year.
C His friends told him the shop was very good.
15 Why didn't Alex check his boots carefully in the shop?
A The shop assistant told him to leave quickly.
B He felt too tired from waiting with so many people.
C He wanted to go out in the snow as soon as possible.
16 What problem did Alex have on the mountain?
A His toes were freezing cold in the snow.
B He fell over while skiing on a difficult slope.
C The boots he was wearing were the wrong size.
17 How did the teacher help Alex?
A She went back to the rental shop with him.
B She showed him how to turn perfectly on the snow.
C She asked the assistant to give him a warmer pair of boots.
18 What is Alex planning to do on his next ski trip?
A buy his own heavy ski boots to take with him
B spend longer making sure his boots fit properly
C ask his teacher to choose the right boots for him
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: The correct answer is B because Alex says, "I don't go skiing very often, so I decided to get all my equipment from the rental shop." Option A is wrong logic; he didn't forget his boots, he just doesn't ski often enough to have them. Option C is a partial truth mixed with wrong logic; his friends are mentioned, but they didn't recommend the shop (they brought their own boots).
15 C - Explanation: The correct answer is C because Alex says he put the boots on in a hurry because he was "just so excited to get outside and start skiing." Option A is a wrong reference; Alex wanted to leave quickly, but the shop assistant didn't tell him to do that. Option B is wrong logic; the shop was full of people, but he didn't say he was tired from waiting.
16 C - Explanation: The correct answer is C because the text states that Alex realized "the boots were much too small for me." Option A is wrong logic; his toes hurt because they hit the hard plastic, not because they were cold. Option B is wrong logic; he was skiing on the "easiest slope" and he didn't fall over.
17 A - Explanation: The correct answer is A because the text says his teacher "walked back down to the shop with me." Option B is a wrong reference; he skied perfectly later, but the teacher didn't show him how to turn. Option C is a wrong reference; the assistant gave him bigger boots, but the teacher didn't ask for warmer ones (Alex just says they felt warm when he put them on).
18 B - Explanation: The correct answer is B because in the final sentence, Alex states, "I am definitely going to take more time to try on my boots before I leave the shop!" Option A is wrong logic; he plans to try them on carefully in the shop, not buy his own boots. Option C is a wrong reference; the teacher helped him this time, but he doesn't plan to ask her to choose his boots next time.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My rock climbing adventure
Fourteen-year-old Bella writes about a special holiday in the mountains.
My name is Bella and I am 14 years old. Last month, my family and I went on an adventure holiday in the mountains. We did lots of amazing sports, but the activity I wanted to try most was rock climbing. I often climb on small indoor walls at my school, but I was excited to climb a real mountain for the first time.
On the day of our climb, we met our instructor, David. He gave us special hats and strong ropes to keep us safe. At first, the climbing was quite easy. The sun was shining, and I moved up the rock very quickly. I felt really pleased and strong because I was faster than my older brother.
But after about twenty minutes, things changed. I was very high up, and I made a big mistake. I looked down at the ground. Suddenly, the people and cars below looked so small. I felt very afraid. My arms and legs just stopped moving, and I couldn't go up or down. I held onto the rock and started to cry.
Then, David called up to me. He told me to stop looking at the ground. 'Only look at the rock in front of your face,' he said. 'Find the next place for your hands, and don't think about anything else.' I listened to his advice and slowly started to move again.
After another ten minutes, I finally reached the top of the rock. My parents were waiting there, and they were so proud of me. I felt amazing because I didn't give up. Next month, I am going to join a climbing club in my town so I can learn to climb even higher mountains.
14 What does Bella say about her holiday?
A She wanted to learn how to climb indoor walls.
B It was her first time climbing a real mountain.
C She went on an adventure trip without her parents.
15 How did Bella feel at the beginning of the climb?
A worried about using the strong ropes
B happy because she was quicker than her brother
C tired after moving up the rock so fast
16 Why did Bella suddenly stop moving?
A She saw how far away the ground was and felt scared.
B She hurt her arms and legs on the hard rock.
C She wanted to watch the small cars driving below.
17 What advice did the instructor give Bella?
A She should find a safe way to climb back down.
B She should think carefully about where her feet are.
C She should only look at the rock close to her.
18 What is Bella planning to do next?
A teach her parents how to climb up mountains
B become a member of a local climbing club
C start climbing on the small walls at her school
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Bella says "I was excited to climb a real mountain for the first time", matching Option B. Option A is wrong logic; she says she already climbs on indoor walls at school. Option C is a wrong reference trap; the text says she went with her family, not without them.
15 B - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Bella states "I felt really pleased... because I was faster than my older brother", which matches Option B ("happy" and "quicker"). Option A is wrong logic; the ropes kept her safe, she wasn't worried about them. Option C is a partial truth trap; she moved quickly, but she says she felt "strong", not tired.
16 A - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Bella explains that she "looked down at the ground" and "felt very afraid", causing her to stop moving. This matches Option A. Option B is a wrong reference trap; the text says her arms and legs stopped moving, but she did not hurt them. Option C is wrong logic; she saw the cars, but she didn't stop because she wanted to watch them—she stopped because the height terrified her.
17 C - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, David tells Bella to "Only look at the rock in front of your face", which matches Option C. Option A is wrong logic; he told her to stop looking at the ground, not to climb back down to it. Option B is a partial truth trap; he told her to find the next place for her hands, not her feet.
18 B - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Bella says, "Next month, I am going to join a climbing club in my town". "Join" means become a member, and "in my town" means local, making Option B correct. Option A is a wrong reference trap; her parents were at the top, but she doesn't mention teaching them anything. Option C is a chronological trap; she already climbs at her school, but her future plan is to join a town club to climb higher mountains.