A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Birds, Marine Life & Insects 5
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Birds, Marine Life & Insects
Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
How Octopuses Hide
Octopuses are amazing animals that live in the sea. They have eight long arms and a very soft body, so they are very good at (19)…………… in small spaces between rocks.
However, if a larger fish tries to (20)…………… an octopus, it has another special trick. The octopus can shoot a dark, black ink into the water. This ink looks exactly (21)…………… a big, dark cloud. The large fish cannot see anything through the water, so the octopus has enough (22)…………… to swim away quickly.
Octopuses can also change the colour of their skin. They can quickly match the rocks or sand around them. They usually (23)…………… this when they are resting. Because they are so clever, they are one of the most interesting (24)…………… to watch in the ocean.
19 A hiding B missing C losing
20 A catch B bring C hold
21 A like B as C from
22 A time B clock C hour
23 A do B make C have
24 A animals B members C teams
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (hiding): 'Hiding' fits the context of going into a small space on purpose so other sea animals cannot see it. 'Missing' and 'losing' mean you cannot find something by accident, which does not fit an animal protecting itself.
20 A (catch): 'Catch' fits the meaning of a larger fish hunting an octopus. We use 'bring' for carrying something to a place, and 'hold' means keeping something in your hands, which do not fit the fast action of hunting.
21 A (like): 'Look like' is a fixed English phrase used to describe how something appears or to compare two things. We do not say 'look as' or 'look from' when comparing appearance in this way.
22 A (time): 'Enough time' is a correct and common English collocation. We do not say 'enough clock', and an 'hour' is a specific measurement that is too long for a fast escape.
23 A (do): We use 'do' to refer back to a general action that was just mentioned (changing colour). We do not say 'make this' or 'have this' when talking about performing an action.
24 A (animals): 'Animals' correctly fits the broader context of the text, referring back to what octopuses are. 'Members' and 'teams' are used for people organized into groups or sports clubs, which does not make sense for sea creatures.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Seahorses in the Seaweed
Seahorses are very unusual fish that live in the warm oceans of the world. They are very (19)…………… , so they have to hide from bigger fish. To stay safe, they like to live in large sea plants called seaweed.
Because they are the same colour as the seaweed, other animals cannot easily (20)…………… them. Seahorses are not very fast swimmers and they do not like to travel far. A seahorse just uses its long tail to (21)…………… onto the seaweed. It stays there for a long time and waits for food to come near.
Seahorses eat very small sea animals. Because they do not have teeth, they must eat a (22)…………… of food every day to stay strong. Every morning, male and female seahorses come together to (23)…………… time with each other. They change colours and hold each other's tails. This is a beautiful (24)…………… to start the day!
19 A small B short C low
20 A meet B find C look
21 A take B put C hold
22 A lot B much C many
23 A spend B make C pass
24 A way B idea C plan
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (small): "Small" is the correct adjective to describe their general size, which directly contrasts with the "bigger" fish mentioned next. "Short" is only used for height or length, and "low" refers to a position close to the ground.
20 B (find): "Find" is the correct verb here, meaning to locate something that is hiding. "Meet" is used for people getting together, and "look" requires the preposition "for" or "at" (look for them / look at them).
21 C (hold): The phrasal verb "hold onto" means to grip something tightly so you do not move. If we use "take" or "put", we are talking about moving a separate object from one place to another.
22 A (lot): "A lot of" is the correct fixed grammatical phrase to describe a large amount. "Much" and "many" are never preceded by the article "a".
23 A (spend): "Spend time" is a very common fixed collocation used when talking about being with someone for a period of time. We do not say "make time" or "pass time" in this context.
24 A (way): "A beautiful way" is a phrase used to describe a nice method or style of doing something (like starting a day). "Idea" and "plan" do not work here because seahorses act on animal instinct, not by thinking of ideas or making plans.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are unusual animals that live in the sea. They do not look like other fish. In fact, they have no bones and they do not even have a (19)…………… to think with! Instead of swimming fast, they (20)…………… most of their time floating in the water. The sea carries them from one place to another.
Jellyfish bodies are almost all water, so they often (21)…………… like glass. Some jellyfish are very small, but others can grow to be very large.
You must be (22)…………… if you see one at the beach. Many jellyfish have long arms that hang down in the water. If you touch them, they can sting you. This is how they (23)…………… small fish to eat. Because of this, it is always a good idea to stay (24)…………… from them when you are swimming in the ocean.
19 A brain B heart C head
20 A spend B pass C keep
21 A look B see C show
22 A careful B safe C sure
23 A catch B collect C pick
24 A away B out C off
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (brain): This is the correct semantic fit. The phrase "to think with" clearly points to the brain. A "heart" is for pumping blood, and "head" refers to the whole body part, not specifically the organ used for thinking.
20 A (spend): "Spend time" is a very common English collocation. While learners often try to translate "pass time" directly from their own languages, "spend" is the correct verb to use here. "Keep" does not fit the meaning.
21 A (look): "Look like" is the correct collocation used to describe physical appearance (being clear like glass). Jellyfish do not "see" like glass (an action of the eyes), nor do they "show" like glass.
22 A (careful): This fits the broader context of the text, which is giving a warning about the animal's dangerous sting. You need to be "careful" to avoid getting hurt. "Safe" is the result of being careful, but does not fit the phrase "be _____ if you see one", and "sure" means certain.
23 A (catch): "Catch" is the correct semantic choice for hunting a moving animal for food. You "collect" objects (like stamps or coins) and you "pick" things that grow on plants (like fruit or flowers).
24 A (away): The phrase "stay away from" is a common combination that means to avoid something or keep your distance. "Stay out" is usually followed by "of" (stay out of the water), and "stay off" is used for surfaces (stay off the grass).