A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Hobbies on Holiday 2
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Hobbies on Holiday
Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The dirty camera lens
14-year-old Zack writes about a photography tour on his holiday.
My name is Zack, and I am 14 years old. I love taking pictures. Last week, I went on holiday to a famous city with my family. While we were there, I decided to join a special walking photography tour. Our guide was going to show us how to take great pictures of the beautiful old city buildings.
The tour started in a quiet square. The guide explained how to use the light from the sun. Then, I saw a beautiful stone fountain. There was no water inside it, but it was full of dry dirt and leaves. I really wanted to get a close picture of it, so I walked near the edge.
Suddenly, the camera slipped from my hands and fell into the dusty fountain! I quickly picked it up. Luckily, it wasn't broken, but there was a big problem. The camera lens was completely covered in dirt. I couldn't take clear pictures anymore. I felt very upset because the tour was only half finished.
Our guide saw what happened and gave me a special soft cloth from his bag. I cleaned the lens carefully, but it was still a little bit dirty. I decided to take a photo of a tall building anyway. When I looked at the screen, I was surprised. The dirt made the photo look slightly blurred and wonderfully old!
I loved the unusual photos from that day. They looked like pictures from the past. When I go home, I am going to buy some cheap, old camera lenses. I want to see if I can make more interesting pictures like this!
14 What did Zack want to do on the photography tour?
A learn how to photograph historic buildings
B teach his family some new photography skills
C visit a famous city for his holiday
15 Why did Zack walk near the edge of the fountain?
A He wanted to take a photo of it from a short distance.
B He hoped to find some water inside it.
C He tried to use the light from the sun.
16 When Zack dropped his camera, he felt
A pleased because the machine wasn't broken.
B unhappy because he couldn't take clear pictures.
C angry because the tour guide finished the walk early.
17 After Zack cleaned his camera lens,
A there was still some dirt left on it.
B he decided to stop taking photos of buildings.
C the picture on his screen looked too modern.
18 What is Zack planning to do next?
A return to the city to take pictures of the past
B buy some different equipment for his hobby
C sell his unusual photos of the city online
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: The text states the guide was going to "show us how to take great pictures of the beautiful old city buildings", which means Zack wanted to learn to photograph historic buildings (Option A). Option B is wrong reference; Zack was learning, not teaching his family. Option C is a partial truth trap; he was on holiday in a famous city, but this wasn't his specific reason for joining the tour.
15 A - Explanation: Paragraph 2 says Zack "really wanted to get a close picture of it", so he walked near the edge. This matches wanting to take a photo from a short distance (Option A). Option B is wrong logic; he already knew there was "no water inside it". Option C is a partial truth trap; the guide explained how to use the sun's light earlier, but this wasn't why Zack walked up to the fountain.
16 B - Explanation: Paragraph 3 says, "I couldn't take clear pictures anymore. I felt very upset". This matches feeling unhappy because he couldn't take clear pictures (Option B). Option A is wrong logic; his camera wasn't broken, but he was upset, not pleased. Option C is wrong logic; he was upset because the tour was "only half finished", it didn't end early.
17 A - Explanation: Paragraph 4 says that after he cleaned the lens, "it was still a little bit dirty". This matches Option A. Option B is wrong logic; the text explicitly says he "decided to take a photo of a tall building anyway". Option C is wrong logic; the blurred photo looked "wonderfully old", not too modern.
18 B - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Zack says, "I am going to buy some cheap, old camera lenses" to make more interesting pictures. This means he plans to buy different equipment for his hobby (Option B). Option A is wrong logic; the pictures looked like they were from the past, but he doesn't plan to return to the city. Option C is wrong logic; he loved the photos, but there is no mention of selling them online.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A musical memory
13-year-old Amy writes about buying a special holiday souvenir.
Hi, I'm Amy and I'm 13 years old. I love travelling and music, so I want to talk about holiday souvenirs. When I went to Hawaii last year, I saved my pocket money for a long time. I didn't want to buy a boring t-shirt or a glass animal. Instead, I bought a real ukulele. A ukulele is a small, traditional guitar from Hawaii. I really believe it is the greatest souvenir you can get.
Many teenagers buy things on holiday and then put them in a box under their bed. They completely forget about them. But a musical instrument is different. You can actually use it every day. When I play my ukulele now, I always remember the beautiful beaches in Hawaii and my amazing trip. It is a souvenir that brings joy and makes lovely music.
However, there is something important you need to know before you buy one. When a wooden instrument is completely new, it is very hard to make it sound good. You have to 'tune' it so the strings make the right notes. For a beginner, this is incredibly confusing. I tried to tune my ukulele by myself in my hotel room, and it sounded terrible!
Because of this, I have some advice if you want to buy an instrument. Don't leave the shop immediately. You should ask the kind shop owner to fix the strings for you first. Also, ask them to teach you how to play three easy chords. If you do this, you can start playing real songs as soon as you get home!
14 What did Amy do in Hawaii?
A She used her saved money to get a traditional instrument.
B She bought a boring t-shirt and a small glass animal.
C She got a new job so she could earn some pocket money.
15 Why does Amy think an instrument is the best souvenir?
A You can take it to the beach with you every day.
B You can keep it safe in a box under your bed.
C You can use it often instead of forgetting about it.
16 What problem did Amy have with her ukulele?
A She bought an old wooden guitar that sounded terrible.
B She didn't understand how to make it sound correct.
C She broke the strings while she was in her hotel room.
17 What does Amy say you should do before leaving the shop?
A Play three easy songs for the kind shop owner.
B Ask the person who works there to help you.
C Go home immediately to start playing your music.
18 What is the best title for Amy's blog?
A The perfect musical souvenir to buy on holiday
B How to make a traditional guitar in Hawaii
C The best places to listen to music on the beach
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Amy says she "saved my pocket money" and "bought a real ukulele" (a traditional instrument from Hawaii), matching A. Option B is a wrong logic trap; the text explicitly says she didn't want to buy a t-shirt or a glass animal. Option C is a wrong logic trap; she saved her pocket money, she didn't get a job in Hawaii.
15 C - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Amy says that unlike things you forget about, with a musical instrument, "You can actually use it every day." This matches C. Option A is a partial truth trap; she remembers the beaches when she plays it, but she doesn't take it to the beach every day. Option B is a wrong logic trap; she says keeping things in a box under the bed is what people do when they forget their souvenirs.
16 B - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Amy explains that tuning the strings to make the right notes is "incredibly confusing" and when she tried to do it, "it sounded terrible". This matches B (didn't understand how to make it sound correct). Option A is a wrong detail trap; she says the problem happens when an instrument is "completely new," not old. Option C is a wrong logic trap; she tried to tune the strings, she didn't break them.
17 B - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Amy advises readers to "ask the kind shop owner to fix the strings for you... [and] teach you", which matches B (ask the person to help you). Option A is a wrong reference trap; the owner teaches you to play three chords, you don't play songs for the owner. Option C is a wrong logic trap; she explicitly tells readers "Don't leave the shop immediately."
18 A - Explanation: This is a global question. The entire text is an informative opinion blog about why a traditional ukulele is a great souvenir to buy and how to make sure it is ready to play, making A the best title. Option B is wrong because the text is about buying an instrument, not making one. Option C is a partial truth trap using words from the text (music, beach), but the text is not a guide to listening to music on the beach.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A surprising concert
Sometimes being late isn't a bad thing!
Sixteen-year-old Ben loves music. Last month, he and his two best friends went on an exciting trip. They travelled by bus to another country for the weekend. They wanted to see their favourite rock band play in a big concert. The boys talked about the music all the way there. They were very excited.
On Saturday afternoon, they arrived in the new city. First, they went to their cheap hotel to leave their bags. Then, they decided to get something to eat at a pizza restaurant. But the service was very slow, so they left the restaurant late. By the time they walked to the stadium, the concert was already starting.
The stadium was completely full. There was a huge crowd of teenagers and adults. Because Ben and his friends arrived late, they couldn't get close to the main stage. They had to stand at the very back of the room. Ben felt quite disappointed. He is not very tall, so it was difficult for him to see the singers. He could only listen to the loud music.
However, half an hour later, something amazing happened. The lights went down, and the band suddenly walked to a different, smaller stage. This new stage was right at the back of the stadium, exactly where Ben and his friends were standing! The band played some quiet songs with acoustic guitars.
Suddenly, Ben had the best view in the whole stadium. He could see his favourite band perfectly. He took lots of fantastic photos on his mobile phone. It was an unforgettable night. Next time the band plays in a different country, Ben is going to buy tickets again, but he promises he will eat his dinner early!
14 Why did Ben and his friends travel to another country?
A to buy some new music with his two best friends
B to meet some famous rock singers on a bus
C to watch their favourite band play
15 Why did the boys arrive late at the stadium?
A They had to wait a long time for their food.
B They decided to walk slowly to the concert.
C They couldn't find their cheap hotel.
16 What was Ben's problem at the start of the concert?
A He didn't want to stand near the older adults.
B He wasn't tall enough to look at the band.
C The loud rock music was hurting his ears.
17 What did the band do during the show?
A They asked Ben's friends to come to the front.
B They turned down the lights to play loud songs.
C They moved to a different place to play.
18 What is Ben planning to do next time?
A travel to another country to see a different band
B make sure he has his meal before it gets late
C take some photos of the band with a new phone
Answer Key & Explanations
14 C - Explanation: The correct answer is C because the text states they travelled "to see their favourite rock band play in a big concert". Option A is a partial truth trap; they talked about music, but didn't go to another country to buy it. Option B is wrong logic; they travelled by bus, but they didn't meet the singers on the bus.
15 A - Explanation: The correct answer is A because they ate at a pizza restaurant where "the service was very slow, so they left the restaurant late" (they waited a long time). Option B is wrong logic; the text says they walked to the stadium, but they didn't decide to walk slowly. Option C is wrong logic; they went to their hotel first, but the text doesn't say they got lost.
16 B - Explanation: The correct answer is B because Ben "is not very tall, so it was difficult for him to see the singers" (look at the band). Option A is a wrong reference trap; there were adults in the crowd, but standing near them wasn't his problem. Option C is wrong logic; he could only listen to the loud music, but the text doesn't say it hurt his ears.
17 C - Explanation: The correct answer is C because the band "suddenly walked to a different, smaller stage" (moved to a different place). Option A is wrong logic; the band came to the back where Ben was, they didn't invite him to the front. Option B is a partial truth trap; the lights went down, but they played "quiet songs", not loud ones.
18 B - Explanation: The correct answer is B because in the final paragraph, Ben says next time he goes, "he promises he will eat his dinner early!" (have his meal before it gets late). Option A is a wrong reference trap; he plans to see "the band" (the same one) in a different country, not a different band. Option C is a partial truth trap; he took photos with his phone, but he isn't planning to get a new phone.