A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – History of Transport & Unusual Travel 10
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Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Ride in a Submersible
A submersible is a special kind of underwater boat. Most normal submarines are huge, but a submersible is usually quite (19)…………… . It only has enough space for two or three people to sit comfortably inside.
These amazing machines are built to travel very (20)…………… down into the ocean. At the bottom of the sea, the water is always cold and (21)…………… because the light from the sun cannot reach it. For this reason, every submersible has strong lights on the outside.
The people inside can spend hours (22)…………… out of the thick glass windows. They often see strange (23)…………… and other unusual sea animals that hide in the rocks. Today, many (24)…………… use submersibles for their work to learn more about the ocean environment. It is a fantastic way to explore a completely different world.
19 A low B small C short
20 A deep B tall C long
21 A dark B black C blind
22 A watching B seeing C looking
23 A birds B fish C cats
24 A farmers B mechanics C scientists
Answer Key & Explanations
19 B (small): "Small" is the correct semantic fit to describe the overall size of the boat, especially because it contrasts with the word "huge" earlier in the sentence. "Short" describes height or length, and "low" describes position, not the general size of a vehicle.
20 A (deep): This is the correct semantic fit for measuring distance straight down into water. You cannot use "tall" (which measures height up from the ground) or "long" (which measures horizontal distance) to describe travelling down into the ocean.
21 A (dark): This requires broader context comprehension. The text explains that "light from the sun cannot reach it", which means the water is "dark". "Black" is a specific paint colour, and "blind" describes a person or animal that cannot see, not the water itself.
22 C (looking): This tests a strong phrase-level verb pattern. When you direct your eyes through a window, you are "looking out of" it. You cannot use the preposition "out of" directly after the verbs "watching" or "seeing".
23 B (fish): This is a semantic fit based on the local context. The text mentions "other unusual sea animals". "Fish" live in the sea, whereas "birds" live in the sky and trees, and "cats" live on land as pets.
24 C (scientists): This requires broader context comprehension. The text states that these people use the machines "for their work to learn more about the ocean environment". People who study nature for their job are "scientists". "Farmers" grow food on land, and "mechanics" fix cars.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Funicular Railway
Many towns have a special train called a funicular railway. You usually find them in places where the hills are very (19)…………… . Normal trains cannot travel up these hills because they are too heavy. A funicular railway is different because it uses a strong cable for (20)…………… the passenger cars to the top.
Because the hill is so high, the journey is usually quite (21)…………… . This gives you a lot of time to enjoy the trip. People often build these railways in the (22)…………… to help tourists reach high places easily.
When you get near the top, the view is amazing. Most passengers love (23)…………… down at the trees and houses below them. It is also fun to (24)…………… some beautiful photos of the town before you go back down.
19 A deep B steep C tall
20 A driving B pulling C catching
21 A quick B late C slow
22 A mountains B forests C beaches
23 A watching B seeing C looking
24 A do B make C take
Answer Key & Explanations
19 B (steep): This tests semantic fit. "Steep" is the correct adjective to describe a hill that goes up very quickly. "Deep" is used for holes or water, and "tall" is used for standing objects like buildings or people.
20 B (pulling): This tests phrase-level meaning. A cable uses physical force to move the cars up the hill by "pulling" them. You are not "driving" the cars with a cable, and a cable does not work by "catching" the cars.
21 C (slow): This relies on the broader context of the paragraph. The next sentence says "This gives you a lot of time to enjoy the trip," which means the journey must be "slow". "Quick" means the opposite, and "late" refers to a schedule, not the speed of the ride.
22 A (mountains): This tests semantic fit. The text mentions "high places", which makes "mountains" the correct geographical feature for a funicular railway. "Forests" (trees) and "beaches" (by the sea) are not inherently high or steep places.
23 C (looking): This tests collocation and grammar. The verb "looking" is the only option that correctly matches the prepositions "down at". "Watching" and "seeing" are followed directly by the object without these prepositions (e.g., watching the trees).
24 C (take): This tests collocation. "Take photos" is the correct and highly common A2-level phrase. In natural English, you do not "make" or "do" photos.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Travelling with a Jetpack
A jetpack is an amazing machine that helps a person travel through the sky without an airplane. You wear it on your (19)……………, just like a heavy school bag. When you turn the machine on, it pushes you up so you can start (20)…………… high above the ground.
Right now, jetpacks cannot carry a lot of energy. Because of this, you can only stay up in the (21)…………… for a very (22)…………… time before you must come down to the ground again. They are also very noisy, and you have to (23)…………… a lot of money to buy one for yourself.
However, scientists and engineers want to improve them and make them cheaper. In the (24)……………, perhaps everyone will use a jetpack to travel to school or work!
19 A back B head C arm
20 A flying B sailing C driving
21 A air B space C weather
22 A short B small C slow
23 A spend B pay C keep
24 A future B past C history
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (back): 'Back' is the correct semantic fit because the text compares it to a "school bag". You wear a bag on your back, not on your head or your arm.
20 A (flying): 'Flying' is the correct semantic fit for travelling "high above the ground" through the sky. You go 'sailing' in a boat on the water, and you go 'driving' in a car on the road.
21 A (air): 'Air' fits the phrase-level meaning to describe the area just above the ground where birds and planes fly ("in the air"). Jetpacks cannot travel high enough to reach outer 'space', and 'weather' refers to rain or sunshine, not a physical place to stay.
22 A (short): 'Short' is the correct English collocation to describe a brief period of time ("a short time"). In English, we do not say a 'small time' or a 'slow time'.
23 A (spend): 'Spend' is the correct verb collocation to use with "a lot of money" when buying an item. You 'pay' for an item (it requires the preposition 'for'), and you cannot 'keep' money if you are using it to buy something.
24 A (future): 'Future' fits the broader context because the text looks ahead to what will happen next ("perhaps everyone will use"). 'Past' and 'history' talk about things that already happened long ago, which contradicts the word "will".