A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Hobbies on Holiday 4
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 plastic coin
13-year-old Finn writes about looking for souvenirs on holiday.
My name is Finn, and I am 13 years old. I have a very interesting hobby. I love collecting foreign coins from different countries all over the world. Last week, I went on holiday to a famous old city in Europe with my parents. I was very excited because I really wanted to look for some special old coins to add to my collection at home.
On our first morning, we walked around a large outdoor market. There were lots of small stalls selling clothes, hot food, and old things. I looked carefully at everything. Soon, I saw a small table with some dark boxes on it. Inside one box, there was a large, shiny silver coin. The man at the stall told me it was very old and unusual, so I paid for it immediately.
I felt really happy and showed the coin to my dad when we went back to our hotel room. However, when my dad picked it up, he started to laugh. He told me that the coin was very light. Then, I looked closely and saw the problem. It wasn't made of silver at all. It was just a cheap plastic toy for young children! I felt very silly.
But the next day, things got much better. We walked down a quiet street and found a small antique shop. Inside, a friendly lady sold me a real coin. She explained that it was exactly fifty years old. I felt so pleased! When I go on my next holiday, I am going to buy coins from proper shops, not from outdoor markets.
14 Why was Finn excited about his holiday?
A He wanted to start a completely new hobby.
B He hoped to find some things for his collection.
C He planned to visit a famous city by himself.
15 What did Finn do at the outdoor market?
A He bought a silver coin from the man immediately.
B He tried some of the hot food from a small stall.
C He asked the man to show him some dark boxes.
16 When they were at the hotel, Finn's dad laughed because
A he gave Finn a cheap plastic toy to play with.
B he knew the object Finn bought wasn't real.
C he thought the picture on the silver coin was silly.
17 How did Finn get a real coin the next day?
A He found it on the ground in a quiet street.
B He bought it from a woman in an antique shop.
C He got it from a fifty-year-old lady in the market.
18 What is Finn planning to do in the future?
A get coins from proper shops instead of markets
B work in a small antique shop with a friendly lady
C travel to Europe without his parents next year
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: Paragraph 1 says Finn was excited because he "wanted to look for some special old coins to add to my collection". This matches hoping to find things for his collection (Option B). Option A is wrong logic; he already has a hobby and is adding to it, not starting a new one. Option C is wrong reference; he went with his parents, not by himself.
15 A - Explanation: Paragraph 2 says there was a shiny silver coin and "I paid for it immediately". This matches buying it immediately (Option A). Option B is a partial truth trap; the stalls were selling hot food, but Finn didn't buy or try it. Option C is wrong logic; he saw the dark boxes, but he didn't ask the man to show them to him.
16 B - Explanation: In paragraph 3, Finn's dad laughed, said the coin was very light, and then Finn saw "It wasn't made of silver at all." This means his dad knew it wasn't real (Option B). Option A is wrong reference; the dad didn't give Finn the toy, Finn bought it himself at the market. Option C is wrong logic; there is no mention of a silly picture on the coin.
17 B - Explanation: Paragraph 4 says they "found a small antique shop. Inside, a friendly lady sold me a real coin." This matches buying it from a woman in a shop (Option B). Option A is wrong logic; they walked down a quiet street, but he bought the coin inside a shop, he didn't find it on the ground. Option C is a partial truth trap; the lady wasn't fifty years old, the coin was exactly fifty years old.
18 A - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Finn says, "When I go on my next holiday, I am going to buy coins from proper shops, not from outdoor markets." This matches getting coins from shops instead of markets (Option A). Option B is wrong logic; he bought a coin from a friendly lady, but he doesn't plan to work there. Option C is wrong logic; he talks about his next holiday, but he doesn't say he will travel without his parents.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A wet and wonderful show
12-year-old Gina writes about a special evening on her holiday in Vietnam.
Hi, my name is Gina and I am 12 years old. Last month, I went on a wonderful holiday to Vietnam with my parents. We did a lot of amazing things, like visiting busy markets and taking boat trips. But I want to tell you about my favourite evening. We went to a famous theatre to watch a traditional water puppet show. It was a very unusual experience!
The show was really interesting. There was a large pool of water on the stage instead of a normal wooden floor. The actors stood behind a tall screen, so we couldn't see them at all. They used long sticks under the water to move the puppets around. The puppets were made of wood and painted in bright colours. They looked like beautiful birds, fish, and people from old stories. The music was great, too.
Before the show started, we found our seats. We were very lucky because our seats were in the front row, right next to the pool of water. I was very excited to be so close to the action. However, I didn't know that the wooden puppets make big waves when they move quickly. During the show, the water splashed everywhere and my parents and I got very wet!
If you ever visit Vietnam, you really must go to one of these shows. Just remember my advice! If you choose to sit in the front row, you should definitely wear a waterproof jacket to keep your clothes dry. But please don't worry about getting a little wet. The splashing water was actually the most fun part of the whole evening!
14 Why is Gina writing this blog?
A to tell people about something special she saw on holiday
B to describe a famous theatre in her own town
C to teach readers how to make traditional wooden puppets
15 What does Gina say about the actors in the show?
A They used bright colours to paint their faces.
B The people in the theatre could not look at them.
C They hit the water with long sticks to make music.
16 Why did Gina get wet during the performance?
A Her seat in the front row was already wet.
B She chose to swim in the pool of water.
C The fast movements of the puppets splashed water on her.
17 What advice does Gina give to her readers?
A Choose a seat at the back of the theatre so you stay completely dry.
B Take a very warm jacket with you because the water is cold.
C Put the right clothes on if you want to sit near the stage.
18 What is the best title for Gina's blog?
A How to build a large pool for water puppets
B An amazing and unusual theatre trip
C The best places to go swimming in Vietnam
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Gina says she went on a holiday to Vietnam and wants "to tell you about my favourite evening" watching a puppet show, which matches A. Option B is a wrong reference trap; the theatre was in Vietnam, not in her own town. Option C is a wrong logic trap; she writes about watching the puppets, not teaching people how to make them.
15 B - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Gina states that the actors "stood behind a tall screen, so we couldn't see them at all," matching B. Option A is a wrong reference trap; the puppets were painted in bright colours, not the actors' faces. Option C is a wrong logic trap; the actors used long sticks to move the puppets, not to hit the water to make music.
16 C - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Gina explains that the puppets "make big waves when they move quickly" and "the water splashed everywhere", matching C. Option A is a wrong logic trap; she sat in the front row, but the seat wasn't wet before the show started. Option B is a wrong logic trap; she sat right next to the pool, but she didn't choose to swim in it.
17 C - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Gina advises readers that if they sit in the front row, they should "definitely wear a waterproof jacket," which matches C (Put the right clothes on). Option A is a wrong logic trap; she gives advice about sitting in the front row and says getting wet is fun, so she doesn't tell people to sit at the back. Option B is a partial truth trap; she says to take a jacket, but to keep dry (waterproof), not because the water is cold.
18 B - Explanation: This is a global question. The entire text is a positive review of Gina's experience watching a unique water puppet show in a theatre, making B the best title. Option A is wrong because the text is about watching a show, not building a pool. Option C is a wrong logic trap; she talks about a pool of water getting her wet, but the blog is not about swimming.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A quiet place to write
Fifteen-year-old Harry writes about writing a poem on a trip.
Hi, I’m Harry, and I’m 15 years old. Last weekend, my family and I travelled to a famous botanical garden. It is a huge park with plants from all over the world. I love nature, and I also really enjoy writing poetry. So, I took my favourite notebook and a pen with me. I wanted to find a nice place to sit and write a poem about our trip.
After walking for an hour, I found a beautiful little pond. There were colourful fish in the water and bright flowers all around it. It was very quiet, so I sat down on the grass. I watched the water for a few minutes and felt very calm. Then, I opened my notebook and started to write the first few lines of my poem. It was going very well.
But suddenly, things changed. A large group of tourists arrived at the pond with a guide. They were talking loudly and laughing. A lot of people were shouting to their friends and taking photos of the flowers. Because of all the noise, I couldn't think clearly anymore. It was impossible to concentrate on my writing, and I felt quite frustrated.
I decided I couldn't stay there. I packed up my bag and walked away from the pond. Soon, I discovered a hidden wooden bench under a very large, old tree. There was nobody else around. I sat down, listened to the wind in the leaves, and finally finished my poem. I am really pleased with it. Next week, I am going to read it to my English class at school. I hope they like it!
14 Why did Harry take his notebook to the garden?
A to do his English homework for school
B to write something about his visit
C to draw pictures of the unusual plants
15 How did Harry feel when he first sat by the pond?
A surprised to see fish in the water
B bored of looking at the flowers
C relaxed and ready to write
16 What was Harry's problem at the pond?
A The noise stopped him from working.
B The tourists were standing in front of the flowers.
C He couldn't hear the tour guide speaking.
17 Where did Harry finish his poem?
A in a quiet place with some other people
B on the grass right next to the pond
C on a seat beneath a big tree
18 What is Harry planning to do next week?
A enter a poetry competition at his school
B share his writing with his classmates
C show his family his favourite tree
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Harry says he took his notebook because he "wanted to find a nice place to sit and write a poem about our trip." Option B correctly paraphrases this. Option A is a partial truth trap; he mentions his English class later in the text, but the poem was not homework. Option C is wrong logic; he likes nature, but he took the notebook to write, not to draw pictures.
15 C - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Harry explains that he "felt very calm" and then "started to write". Option C matches this meaning perfectly. Option A is a wrong logic trap; he saw the fish, but he doesn't say he was surprised by them. Option B is the opposite of the text, as he thought the flowers were bright and it was a beautiful place.
16 A - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Harry says that "Because of all the noise, I couldn't think clearly anymore. It was impossible to concentrate". Option A correctly paraphrases this. Option B is a partial truth trap; the tourists were taking photos of the flowers, but Harry's problem was their noise, not where they were standing. Option C is wrong logic; there was a tour guide, but Harry wasn't trying to listen to them.
17 C - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, Harry says he found a "wooden bench under a very large, old tree" and "finally finished my poem" there. Option C accurately paraphrases this (bench = seat, under = beneath). Option A is a wrong fact; he explicitly says there was "nobody else around." Option B is a wrong reference trap; he started his poem on the grass by the pond, but he didn't finish it there.
18 B - Explanation: Because this is a narrative story, the final question focuses on the end of the text. In the last paragraph, Harry says, "Next week, I am going to read it to my English class at school." Option B correctly paraphrases reading to his class as sharing his writing with classmates. Option A is a partial truth trap; he is taking it to school, but not for a competition. Option C is a wrong reference trap; his family is on the trip, but he doesn't plan to show them the tree.