A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Tastes & Traditions 1
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 3 Test – Tastes & Traditions
Test 1
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A meal on fire!
14-year-old Amy writes about trying local food on holiday.
My name is Amy, and I am 14 years old. Last month, I went on a wonderful holiday to Mexico with my family. I love eating different things, so I was very excited about the food there. On our first evening, we decided to visit a busy street market because I really wanted to try some real Mexican tacos.
When we arrived, the market was full of people and the food smelled fantastic. We found a popular small food stand and bought three large chicken tacos. Next to the stand, there was a big table with many different bowls of sauce. My dad told me to be careful, but I really wanted my meal to be exciting.
I took a big spoon and put a lot of bright red sauce all over my food. Then, I took a big bite of my taco. At first, it tasted delicious, but suddenly, my mouth felt like it was on fire! It was the spiciest thing I have ever eaten in my life. I couldn't even speak, and my eyes started to water.
My mum saw my red face and quickly ran to another shop. She bought a large glass of cold milk for me. I drank it as fast as I could, and soon my mouth felt much better. Even though the hot sauce was a big shock, I actually loved the amazing taste of the taco. Tomorrow, we are going back to the same market, but I am going to eat my food without any sauce!
14 Why did Amy go to the street market?
A to eat a specific kind of local food
B to cook a wonderful holiday meal
C to see the busy Mexican streets
15 What did Amy's dad do at the market?
A He found a table for the family to sit at.
B He told his daughter to watch out.
C He chose the bowls of sauce for her.
16 When Amy first ate her taco, she
A thought that the food was very tasty.
B wanted to add more bright red sauce.
C started crying because she felt sad.
17 How did Amy's mother help her?
A She took Amy to a different food shop.
B She got her something cold to drink.
C She told Amy to eat her food faster.
18 What is Amy planning to do tomorrow?
A drink a large glass of milk with her dinner
B try a completely different Mexican dish
C return to the market for a less spicy meal
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Amy says they visited the market because she "really wanted to try some real Mexican tacos." This matches eating a specific kind of local food (Option A). Option B is wrong logic; she went to eat, not to cook. Option C is a partial truth; it was a busy street market, but she went there specifically for the food, not just to see the streets.
15 B - Explanation: The second paragraph says, "My dad told me to be careful". This means he told her to watch out (Option B). Option A is wrong logic; there was a table for the sauce, but he didn't find one for them to sit at. Option C is wrong reference; Amy chose to put the sauce on her food herself, not her dad.
16 A - Explanation: Paragraph 3 says, "At first, it tasted delicious". This matches thinking the food was very tasty (Option A). Option B is wrong logic; she already put a lot of sauce on it and didn't want more. Option C is a partial truth trap; her eyes started to water because of the spice, not because she was crying or sad.
17 B - Explanation: Paragraph 4 says her mum "bought a large glass of cold milk for me." This matches getting her something cold to drink (Option B). Option A is wrong reference; her mum ran to another shop, but she didn't take Amy with her. Option C is wrong logic; Amy drank the milk as fast as she could, but her mum didn't tell her to eat faster.
18 C - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Amy says, "Tomorrow, we are going back to the same market, but I am going to eat my food without any sauce!" This matches returning for a less spicy meal (Option C). Option A is wrong logic; she drank milk today, but doesn't say she plans to do it tomorrow. Option B is wrong logic; she loved the taste of the taco, so she plans to eat it again, not a different dish.
Test 2
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Drawing the Colosseum
15-year-old Ben writes about a memorable day on his holiday in Italy.
Hi, I'm Ben and I'm 15 years old. Last week, I went on a wonderful holiday to Rome with my family. We visited lots of famous places. One morning, we went to see the Colosseum. It is a huge, old building. My parents and my sister immediately started taking hundreds of photos with their phones. But I didn't want to do that. I love art, so I decided to sit on a quiet wall and draw a picture of it.
I opened my bag and took out my favourite sketching pencil and a large piece of paper. The weather was beautiful and sunny, and I felt very relaxed. I looked at the old building carefully and started to draw the shape of it. For the first twenty minutes, everything went really well. My picture was looking great, and I was very happy with it.
Suddenly, a small dog ran past me and pushed my arm. I dropped my favourite pencil on the hard ground, and the end of it broke! I looked in my bag, but I didn't have a pencil sharpener with me. I couldn't finish my drawing without one. I felt so sad and upset. I thought I had to stop and throw my picture in the bin.
Just then, a kind street artist saw my problem. He was selling his own paintings near me. He walked over and lent me his sharpener. I thanked him and quickly fixed my pencil. Before he went back to his work, he looked at my picture. He smiled and said that I had a lot of talent. When I grow up, I want to be an artist just like him!
14 Why did Ben sit on the wall?
A He wanted to make a picture of the building.
B He needed to rest after a long walk.
C He wanted to use his phone to take photos.
15 How did Ben feel when he started drawing?
A pleased with the way his picture looked
B happy that the weather was getting warmer
C worried about getting the shape exactly right
16 Why did Ben have to stop drawing?
A A small dog ran away with his pencil.
B He didn't have the right tool to fix his pencil.
C He decided his drawing belonged in the bin.
17 How did the street artist help Ben?
A He sold Ben a beautiful new picture.
B He showed Ben how to finish the drawing.
C He let Ben use one of his things.
18 What does Ben want to do when he is older?
A work as an artist like the man he met
B travel back to Rome to draw the Colosseum again
C learn how to sell paintings in the street
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Ben says he loves art, so he "decided to sit on a quiet wall and draw a picture," which matches A. B is a wrong logic trap; the text doesn't say he was tired or needed to rest. C is a wrong reference trap; his family used their phones to take photos, but Ben "didn't want to do that."
15 A - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Ben says, "My picture was looking great, and I was very happy with it," which matches A. B is a partial truth trap; the weather was sunny, but the text doesn't say it was getting warmer. C is a wrong logic trap; he looked at the building to draw the shape, but he wasn't worried about it.
16 B - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Ben breaks his pencil and says, "I didn't have a pencil sharpener... I couldn't finish my drawing without one," matching B. A is a partial truth trap; a dog pushed his arm, but it didn't take the pencil away. C is a wrong logic trap; he thought he had to throw it in the bin because he couldn't fix his pencil, but that wasn't the reason he stopped drawing.
17 C - Explanation: In the fourth paragraph, the text says the artist "lent me his sharpener" so Ben could fix his pencil, which matches C. A is a wrong reference trap; the artist was selling his own paintings, but he didn't sell one to Ben. B is a wrong logic trap; the artist looked at the drawing, but he didn't show Ben how to draw it.
18 A - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Ben says, "When I grow up, I want to be an artist just like him!", which matches A. B is a wrong logic trap; he was in Rome, but he doesn't mention planning to go back. C is a partial truth trap; the man was selling paintings in the street, but Ben specifically says he wants to "be an artist", not just learn to sell things.
Test 3
Questions 14-18
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A fun day cooking in Italy
Sixteen-year-old Clara writes about a special class she took on holiday.
Hi, I'm Clara and I am 16 years old. Last month, I went on a wonderful summer holiday to Rome, in Italy, with my parents. We all love eating Italian food, so we decided to do something a little bit different. We booked a half-day cooking class to learn how to make fresh pasta. I was very excited because I love cooking at home, and I really wanted to learn from a real Italian chef.
The class was inside a beautiful old kitchen. The teacher was friendly and showed us exactly what to do. We used fresh eggs and flour to make our pasta. When it was ready, we cooked it and ate it at a big table with a lovely tomato sauce. The fresh food tasted delicious. I thought it was much better than the dry pasta we buy at the supermarket!
However, making your own pasta is not completely easy. There was one small problem for me when we were doing it. When you mix the water, the eggs, and the flour together, the dough becomes incredibly sticky. It catches all your fingers, and it is very hard to clean the wet mixture off your hands. I had to spend a long time washing my hands with soap in the sink before we could sit down and eat our meal!
So, what do I think about the pasta-making class? I highly recommend it to anyone who is planning to visit Rome. It is a brilliant way to spend an afternoon and learn something new about Italian culture. But if you decide to go, my advice is to make sure you wear some old clothes. You have to throw a lot of flour around, so you will definitely get it all over your t-shirt!
14 Why did Clara and her parents book the cooking class?
A They wanted to try an unusual holiday activity.
B They needed to learn how to cook for their family.
C They wanted to meet a famous Italian chef.
15 What did Clara think about the meal they made?
A It was hard to cook the pasta in the tomato sauce.
B It took too long to get the food ready for the table.
C It tasted nicer than the pasta she gets at home.
16 What was Clara's problem during the class?
A She didn't have enough soap to wash her hands.
B She found it difficult to get the sticky food off her fingers.
C She dropped the eggs and water into the sink.
17 What advice does Clara give to people taking the class?
A Bring some extra flour to make the pasta.
B Try to learn about Italian culture before you go.
C Don't wear your best things to the lesson.
18 What is Clara doing in this text?
A explaining how to cook a healthy Italian meal
B describing a holiday activity and giving her opinion
C telling a story about her favourite restaurant in Rome
Answer Key & Explanations
14 A - Explanation: In the first paragraph, Clara says her family decided to "do something a little bit different" on their holiday. Option A correctly paraphrases this as an unusual holiday activity. Option B is wrong logic; she loves cooking at home, but didn't take the class because she needed to cook for her family. Option C is a partial truth trap; she wanted to learn from a real chef, but she doesn't say the chef was famous or that meeting him was the main reason to book.
15 C - Explanation: In the second paragraph, Clara states that the fresh food tasted delicious and was "much better than the dry pasta we buy at the supermarket" in her town. Option C perfectly matches this. Option A is a wrong fact; she cooked it and ate it with tomato sauce, but she didn't say it was hard to cook. Option B is wrong logic; she mentions sitting at a big table, but doesn't say the food took too long to get ready.
16 B - Explanation: In the third paragraph, Clara says the dough becomes "incredibly sticky" and is "very hard to clean the wet mixture off your hands." Option B correctly paraphrases this. Option A is a wrong reference trap; she washed her hands with soap, but never says she didn't have enough of it. Option C uses wrong logic; she mentions eggs, water, and the sink, but she didn't drop the ingredients into the sink.
17 C - Explanation: In the final paragraph, Clara's advice is to "make sure you wear some old clothes" because you will get flour on your t-shirt. Option C paraphrases this accurately (not wearing your best things). Option A is a wrong fact; you throw flour around, but she doesn't say to bring your own. Option B is a partial truth trap; she says the class is a way to learn about Italian culture, but doesn't advise people to study it before they go.
18 B - Explanation: As an informative review blog, the best global answer reflects the purpose of the whole text. Clara writes about her experience making pasta on holiday (the activity) and then recommends it with a tip about clothing (her opinion). Option B summarizes this perfectly. Option A is a partial truth; she talks about cooking, but the text is not a recipe on how to make it. Option C is wrong logic; she cooked in a beautiful old kitchen, but the text is not a review of a restaurant.