A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Nature’s Canvas 5
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Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
My garden documentary
13-year-old Yara writes about making a nature film at home.
Hi, I'm Yara and I'm 13 years old. Last weekend, I did a really fun project. I love watching nature programmes on TV, so I decided to make my own documentary about the little ants in my garden. I didn't have an expensive camera, so I just used my tablet. It was a great experience, and I want to share it with you.
Making the video was fantastic. Because my tablet is small, I could put it on the grass right next to the ants. I got some amazing close-up pictures of them carrying their food. It was very interesting to watch them work together. The video looked exactly like a real TV programme!
However, there was one big problem with my film. It was a bit windy outside on Saturday. When I watched the video later, I couldn't hear the lovely sounds of the garden. The tablet's microphone only recorded a loud, rushing noise from the wind. It sounded terrible, and I felt quite disappointed.
But I found a great way to fix this, and I have some advice for you. If you want to make a nature film, you should turn off the sound on your garden video completely. Then, sit in your quiet bedroom and record your own voice. You can talk seriously about the animals, just like they do on television. It will make your film perfect!
14 What equipment did Yara use to film the ants?
A an expensive camera she bought for the project
B a small computer that she already owned
C a television she brought out into the garden
15 What did Yara like about filming the insects?
A She was able to put her equipment very close to them.
B She learned how to feed them the right kinds of food.
C She caught some of them to keep in her bedroom.
16 Why was Yara disappointed with her first video?
A The wind made it hard for her tablet to take clear pictures.
B The microphone recorded a very unpleasant sound.
C The garden was too quiet for the microphone to hear anything.
17 What does Yara tell other young filmmakers to do?
A make sure their bedroom window is open for garden sounds
B turn up the sound on the original video to hear the animals
C add a recording of themselves speaking to the video
18 What is the best title for this blog?
A Why ants are the most interesting garden insects
B The best equipment for filming wild animals
C How to make a great nature video at home
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Yara says, "I didn't have an expensive camera, so I just used my tablet." Option B correctly paraphrases "tablet" as a "small computer" she already had. Option A is wrong logic because she explicitly says she didn't have an expensive camera. Option C is a partial truth trap; she mentions TV programmes, but she didn't put a television in the garden.
15 A - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Yara explains that because her tablet is small, she "could put it on the grass right next to the ants" to get close-up pictures. Option A matches this meaning. Option B is a partial truth trap; she saw them carrying food, but she didn't feed them herself. Option C is wrong logic; she filmed them outside, she didn't catch them.
16 B - Explanation: In the third paragraph, the text states that the "microphone only recorded a loud, rushing noise... It sounded terrible". Option B correctly paraphrases this as an "unpleasant sound". Option A is a partial truth trap; the wind was the problem, but it ruined the sound, not the pictures. Option C is wrong logic; the garden wasn't too quiet, the wind was just too loud.
17 C - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Yara advises readers to "turn off the sound on your garden video" and "record your own voice." Option C correctly paraphrases adding her own speaking to the video. Option A is wrong logic because she tells them to sit in a "quiet bedroom", not open a window to the outside. Option B is wrong logic because she advises turning the sound off, not up.
18 C - Explanation: This is a global question asking for the best title. The entire text is a review of Yara's experience making a garden documentary and giving tips on how to do it well. Option C perfectly captures this main idea. Option A is a partial truth trap; the blog mentions ants, but the focus is on the filmmaking process, not just the insects. Option B is wrong logic; she specifically used a basic tablet, not "the best" equipment.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Colouring my clothes
Fourteen-year-old Zack writes about a fun project with his old t-shirts.
Fourteen-year-old Zack loves art and fashion. Last weekend, he wanted to change the colour of some old white t-shirts. He read on the internet that you can use vegetables to make natural colours. So, he decided to try it. He took some red cabbage and some onion skins and boiled them in pots of hot water. The cabbage made purple water, and the onion skins made bright orange water.
Zack was very excited to start. He had one special white t-shirt that he liked more than the others. He wanted to make it look really cool. However, he made a big mistake. He didn't keep the colours separate. He poured the purple cabbage water and the orange onion water into the exact same bowl.
When Zack put his favourite t-shirt into the bowl, something bad happened. The two colours mixed together and made a terrible new colour. When he pulled the shirt out, it wasn't purple or orange. It was a dark, dirty brown. Zack felt incredibly sad because he thought his favourite shirt was completely ruined.
His mother saw the brown shirt and had a clever idea. She gave Zack some turmeric, a yellow powder that people use for cooking. They mixed the yellow powder with hot water and put the ugly brown shirt inside.
When it was dry, Zack couldn't believe it. The dark brown colour was gone, and the shirt was now a beautiful, bright yellow. It looked fantastic, and he wore it all weekend. Now, it is his favourite summer outfit. Because he had so much fun, Zack is going to invite his friends to his house next weekend to colour their old clothes together.
14 How did Zack make the coloured water?
A He bought some natural colours on the internet.
B He cooked some vegetables in hot water.
C He used special paint on his white t-shirts.
15 What mistake did Zack make?
A He forgot to use his favourite white t-shirt.
B He made the hot water too dark for the clothes.
C He put both of the colours into one bowl.
16 How did Zack feel when he took his shirt out of the bowl?
A upset because the shirt looked terrible
B angry because he dropped it in the dirt
C surprised because it was a beautiful purple
17 How did Zack's mother help him?
A She bought him a new bright yellow t-shirt.
B She washed the brown colour out of the shirt.
C She used something from the kitchen to fix it.
18 What is Zack planning to do next weekend?
A ask his friends to come over and dye clothes
B wear his favourite summer outfit to a party
C help his friends buy some new summer clothes
Answer Key & Explanations
14 B - Explanation: The text says that Zack "took some red cabbage and some onion skins and boiled them in pots of hot water." Cabbage and onions are vegetables. Option A is a partial truth trap; he read about the project on the internet, but he didn't buy the colours there. Option C uses wrong logic; he wanted to dye his clothes, he didn't use paint.
15 C - Explanation: The text states that Zack "poured the purple cabbage water and the orange onion water into the exact same bowl." Option A is wrong logic; he definitely used his favourite white t-shirt, which is why he was sad later. Option B is a wrong reference; the text says the colour was a mistake, not that the water was too hot or too dark.
16 A - Explanation: The text explains that the shirt "was a dark, dirty brown" and Zack "felt incredibly sad because he thought his favourite shirt was completely ruined." Option B is a partial truth trap; the shirt was a "dirty" brown colour, but he didn't drop it in the dirt. Option C is wrong logic; he wanted purple, but the shirt didn't turn purple.
17 C - Explanation: The text says that his mother gave him "turmeric, a yellow powder that people use for cooking" (in a kitchen). Option A is wrong logic; she didn't buy a new shirt, she helped him fix the old one. Option B is a partial truth trap; they put the shirt in hot water again, but they used the yellow powder to change the colour, not to wash the brown out.
18 A - Explanation: In the final paragraph, the text says that "Zack is going to invite his friends to his house next weekend to colour their old clothes together." Option B is a partial truth trap; it is his favourite summer outfit, but the text doesn't mention him going to a party. Option C is wrong logic; they are going to colour their old clothes, not buy new ones.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Writing poetry by the sea
15-year-old Quinn writes about finding ideas outdoors.
My name is Quinn, and I am 15 years old. In my free time, I really enjoy writing poetry. I usually write at the desk in my bedroom, but recently I decided to try something completely new. I wanted to write a beautiful poem about nature, so I took my notebook and went to sit on the local beach. I am writing this post to share my thoughts on looking for ideas outdoors.
The beach can be a very beautiful place for a writer. When I first sat down on the warm sand, I closed my eyes and just listened. The sound of the ocean waves was amazing. It is a slow, relaxing noise, and I think it is perfect for helping you concentrate. I quickly started writing down some great words for my new poem. I felt very calm and happy by the sea.
However, after half an hour, things suddenly changed. A large group of young children arrived at the beach with a volleyball. They started playing a very loud game right next to me. They were shouting, laughing, and running around in the sand. Quickly, the quiet, peaceful mood was completely gone. I couldn't think about my poetry at all because of the awful noise, and I felt quite angry.
Because of this problem, I have a simple piece of advice for anyone who wants to work outside. It is wonderful to sit and look at the beautiful water, but you should always put some soft earplugs in your ears. When you wear them, you won't hear other people playing loud sports. You can just focus on the nature in front of you and write your very best work. I will definitely remember my earplugs next time!
14 Why did Quinn go to the local beach?
A He wanted to find ideas for a poem about nature.
B He decided to practise his writing in his bedroom.
C He wanted to read a blog post about the outdoors.
15 What does Quinn say about the sound of the waves?
A It is excellent for helping writers to think.
B It is a bit too slow and makes him feel sleepy.
C It was hard to hear when he closed his eyes.
16 How did Quinn feel when the children arrived?
A happy because they invited him to play volleyball
B annoyed because they stopped him from working
C worried because they were running in the water
17 What is Quinn's advice for outdoor writers?
A Wear something to stop you hearing loud noises.
B Find a quiet beach where people never play sports.
C Look at the water when you want to learn a new word.
18 What is Quinn doing in this text?
A explaining how to work well when writing at the beach
B telling a story about learning to play a new beach sport
C asking readers to send him their best nature poems
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Quinn says, "I wanted to write a beautiful poem about nature, so I took my notebook and went to sit on the local beach." Option A correctly paraphrases this reason. Option B is wrong logic (he usually writes in his bedroom, but this time he went out). Option C is a partial truth trap (he is writing a post about the outdoors, not reading one).
15 A - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Quinn says the sound of the ocean is "perfect for helping you concentrate." Option A correctly matches "concentrate" with helping writers to think. Option B uses wrong logic (it is a slow noise, but it makes him relaxed, not sleepy). Option C is wrong logic (he closed his eyes and just listened; he didn't have a hard time hearing).
16 B - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Quinn explains that he "couldn't think about my poetry at all because of the awful noise, and I felt quite angry." Option B paraphrases feeling angry as being annoyed because he couldn't work. Option A is wrong logic (they played next to him, but didn't invite him to play). Option C is a partial truth (they were running, but in the sand, not the water).
17 A - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Quinn advises writers to "put some soft earplugs in your ears" so you "won't hear other people playing loud sports." Option A correctly describes wearing something to block out noise. Option B is wrong logic (he tells you to wear earplugs, not to change beaches). Option C is a partial truth (he mentions looking at the water and writing words, but not looking at water to learn new words).
18 A - Explanation: This is a global question. Throughout the text, Quinn shares his experience of trying to write poetry by the sea and gives advice on using earplugs to concentrate better. Option A best describes this informative purpose. Option B is wrong logic (the children played a sport, but Quinn didn't learn how to play it). Option C is not mentioned in the text at all.