A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Holiday Helpers 3
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Holiday Helpers
Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The young house-sitter
Fourteen-year-old George writes about his weekend job helping his neighbours.
Fourteen-year-old George loves being helpful. Last month, his friendly neighbours went on a long holiday to Spain. They asked George to look after their house while they were away. They decided to pay him a little pocket money for his time. George had to visit the house every evening to get the letters from the door and turn on the lights.
For the first few days, everything went perfectly. George walked to his neighbours' house every evening after dinner. He felt very proud of his new job. But on the fourth day, he had a difficult problem. After he finished his dinner, George walked into his own garden to look for the neighbours' house key in his pocket.
Suddenly, the small metal key fell out of his hand and went into the long grass. Because it was evening, the garden was quite dark. George looked everywhere, but he couldn't see the key at all. He felt really worried. He knew he had to open the neighbours' door to turn on the lights.
George quickly ran back inside his house and found a bright torch. He went back to the garden and shone the light on the grass. After a few minutes, he finally saw the key! He picked it up safely and went straight to the neighbours' house. He opened the door, turned on the lights, and put the letters on the table.
When the neighbours came back from Spain, the house was completely safe. They thanked George and gave him his money. George was very happy that he solved his problem. But next time he looks after a house, he is going to keep the key in a different place!
14 Why did the neighbours give George some money?
A He bought some new lights for their living room.
B He looked after their house while they travelled.
C He helped them to pack their bags for Spain.
15 What happened on the fourth day?
A George forgot to eat his dinner.
B George felt too tired to walk to the neighbours' house.
C George had some trouble before he went to the house.
16 Why was it difficult to find the key?
A There wasn't enough light in the garden.
B The key was too small to see inside the house.
C He dropped it from a very tall tree.
17 How did George solve his problem?
A He asked his parents to help him look.
B He found another key on the hall table.
C He used a bright light to search the grass.
18 What is George planning to do in the future?
A stop looking after his neighbours' house
B change where he puts the house keys
C ask for more pocket money for his work
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In paragraph 1, the text says his neighbours went on holiday and asked George "to look after their house while they were away," which is why they paid him. Option A uses wrong logic; he turned the lights on, he didn't buy new ones. Option C is a partial truth trap; the text mentions they went to Spain, but George didn't help them pack their bags.
15 C - Explanation: Paragraph 2 explains that on the fourth day, George "had a difficult problem" while he was still in his own garden looking for the key. This matches having trouble before going to the house. Option A uses wrong logic; the text says he went into the garden "After he finished his dinner," so he didn't forget to eat. Option B is wrong logic; he had a problem with the key, he wasn't too tired to walk.
16 A - Explanation: In paragraph 3, the text says "Because it was evening, the garden was quite dark," which means there wasn't enough light. Option B is a wrong reference trap; he lost the key in the garden, not inside the house. Option C uses wrong vocabulary; he dropped the key into the "long grass," not from a tall tree.
17 C - Explanation: Paragraph 4 states that George found "a bright torch" and "shone the light on the grass" to finally see the key. This matches using a bright light to search. Option A is a wrong person trap; he went back inside his house, but he didn't ask his parents for help. Option B is a partial truth trap; the text mentions putting the letters on the table later, but he didn't find a second key there.
18 B - Explanation: In the final paragraph, George says that next time "he is going to keep the key in a different place!" This is a direct paraphrase for changing where he puts the keys. Option A uses wrong logic; he was very happy he solved the problem and got paid, so he won't stop house-sitting. Option C is a wrong logic trap; there is no mention of him wanting to ask for more money.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Filming the mountains
16-year-old Hannah writes about a mistake she made at her weekend job.
Hi, I’m Hannah, and I’m 16 years old. I have a fantastic weekend job. A travel agency in my town pays me to make short videos. I go to the mountains near my home to film the beautiful trees and rivers. The agency puts my videos on their website to show tourists how lovely the area is. I usually use a big, expensive camera for my work.
Last Saturday, I went up the mountain again. I wanted to film some animals, so I walked for an hour to find a really quiet place. Suddenly, a very large, beautiful eagle flew across the sky. I was extremely excited because it is very unusual to see these birds so close.
I quickly picked up my big camera to film the eagle. But when I turned it on, the screen went black. The battery was completely empty! I felt very angry with myself because I forgot to charge it at home the night before. I thought I was going to miss the amazing bird.
Then, I had a quick idea. I took my smartphone out of my pocket and pointed it at the sky. I filmed the eagle for a minute before it flew away behind some trees. When I gave the video to the travel agency, they loved it. They said the smartphone video was very high quality and looked perfect.
Now, my eagle video is the most popular thing on the agency's website, and I feel very proud. I am going to buy a small second battery for my big camera next week. I want to make sure I am always ready to film things in the future!
14 What does Hannah do for her weekend job?
A She shows tourists around the mountains in her town.
B She makes nature films for a local business to use.
C She takes pictures of people for a travel website.
15 Why was Hannah excited on Saturday?
A She saw a rare bird in the sky.
B She found a quiet place to rest for an hour.
C She caught an animal on the mountain.
16 What problem did Hannah have with her big camera?
A She dropped it and the screen broke.
B She left it at home the night before.
C It had no power because she didn't charge it.
17 How did the travel agency feel about Hannah's video?
A They thought the video was too short.
B They were very happy with how it looked.
C They asked her to use a different camera next time.
18 What is Hannah planning to do next week?
A get another battery for her main camera
B put her favourite video on her own website
C buy a new smartphone to use in the mountains
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: The text says that a travel agency (local business) pays her to "make short videos" (make films) of the trees and rivers (nature). Option A is a wrong reference trap: the videos show the area to tourists, but Hannah doesn't show them around the mountains herself. Option C is a wrong logic trap: she makes videos for a website, but she films nature, not people.
15 A - Explanation: Hannah says she was "extremely excited because it is very unusual to see these birds so close" (rare bird). Option B is a partial truth trap: she did walk for an hour to find a quiet place, but she wasn't resting, and that wasn't why she was excited. Option C is a wrong logic trap: she wanted to film animals, but she didn't catch one.
16 C - Explanation: The text states the screen went black because "The battery was completely empty!" and she "forgot to charge it" (it had no power). Option A is a wrong logic trap: the screen went black, but the text never says she dropped it or broke it. Option B is a partial truth trap: she forgot to charge it at home, but she didn't leave the camera at home (she had it with her).
17 B - Explanation: The text explains that the agency "loved it" and said the video "was very high quality and looked perfect" (very happy with how it looked). Option A is a partial truth trap: she filmed for a minute, but the agency didn't think it was too short. Option C is a wrong logic trap: she used a smartphone (a different camera), but the agency loved it and didn't ask her to change.
18 A - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Hannah states, "I am going to buy a small second battery for my big camera next week" (get another battery). Option B is a partial truth trap: the video is popular on the agency's website, not her own website. Option C is a wrong reference trap: she used her smartphone to solve the problem, but she is buying a battery, not a new smartphone.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Working at a holiday resort
15-year-old Ian writes about his summer job selling food.
Hi, I'm Ian, and I'm 15 years old. This summer, I have a fantastic job. I work at a popular holiday resort near the beach. I don't work in a hotel or a restaurant. Instead, I sell ice cream from a small cart. I decided to write this blog to tell you what it is like to do this job during the busy summer holidays.
There are lots of great things about working at the resort. Because the weather is always hot, everyone wants to buy cold food. My favourite part of the day is giving ice cream to the children. When they see my cart, they always smile and run over to choose their favourite flavour. It feels wonderful to make people so happy while they are on their holidays.
However, the job is not always perfect, and you have to be very careful. Last week, I made a very silly mistake. I was giving a big ball of vanilla ice cream to a customer, but it fell out of my hand. It didn't fall on the ground. Instead, the sticky ice cream fell right onto my left shoe! It was completely disgusting, and my foot felt wet and cold for the rest of the day.
Because of that terrible experience, I have some good advice for anyone who wants to work at a food cart. You should never wear your nice, expensive shoes to work. Instead, you should always wear old trainers that are easy to wash in a machine. That way, if you drop any food, you won't have to worry about making your favourite clothes dirty!
14 Why did Ian write this blog?
A to describe his experience of a summer job
B to ask readers to visit the holiday resort
C to explain how to make good ice cream
15 What does Ian enjoy most about his work?
A eating cold food when the weather is hot
B making his young customers feel happy
C spending his holidays on the beach
16 What problem did Ian have last week?
A A customer dropped some food on the ground.
B He gave the wrong ice cream to a person.
C He made his own clothing dirty by accident.
17 What is Ian's advice for food cart workers?
A Wear expensive clothes when you serve food.
B Choose shoes that you can clean easily.
C Take a washing machine to work with you.
18 What is Ian doing in this text?
A explaining how to build an ice cream cart
B sharing the good and bad parts of his job
C asking readers to buy him some new trainers
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In paragraph 1, Ian says "I decided to write this blog to tell you what it is like to do this job" (describe his experience). B is a wrong logic trap; he works at a resort, but he isn't asking readers to visit. C is a wrong reference trap; he sells ice cream, but he doesn't explain how to make it.
15 B - Explanation: In paragraph 2, Ian says his "favourite part" is giving ice cream to children, and it feels wonderful to "make people so happy" (making his young customers feel happy). A is a partial truth trap; people want cold food because it's hot, but he doesn't say he eats it himself. C is a wrong reference trap; he works near the beach, but he isn't on holiday there.
16 C - Explanation: In paragraph 3, Ian explains that he dropped ice cream "right onto my left shoe" (made his own clothing dirty). A is a wrong reference trap; Ian dropped the ice cream, not the customer, and it didn't fall on the ground. B is a wrong logic trap; he dropped the ice cream, he didn't give them the wrong flavour.
17 B - Explanation: In paragraph 4, Ian advises workers to "always wear old trainers that are easy to wash" (choose shoes that you can clean easily). A is the opposite of the text; he says you should "never wear your nice, expensive shoes". C is a wrong logic trap; he says the trainers are easy to wash in a machine, but he doesn't tell people to take a machine to work.
18 B - Explanation: Throughout the blog, Ian talks about what his job is like, sharing things he loves (making children happy) and things that are difficult (dropping food). A is a wrong logic trap; he uses a cart, but he doesn't teach anyone how to build one. C is a wrong reference trap; he talks about trainers, but he isn't asking the readers to buy him new ones.