A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – History of Transport & Unusual Travel 8
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – History of Transport & Unusual Travel
Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Ride on a Monorail
A monorail is a very unusual type of transport that you can find in some parts of the world. Riding it is very similar to catching a normal (19)…………… , but the machine looks quite different. Instead of having lots of wheels, it only moves along one single metal (20)…………… . In many places, this strong structure is built high (21)…………… the ground.
Because of this position, the monorail is a fantastic way to travel around a busy (22)…………… . The vehicles do not have to stop for traffic jams or wait at red lights, so journeys are usually very (23)…………… . Millions of people use them every day to get to work. Tourists also love travelling on these amazing machines because they can take beautiful (24)…………… of the streets and buildings below.
19 A bus B train C boat
20 A track B road C path
21 A across B behind C above
22 A farm B city C village
23 A soon B early C fast
24 A paintings B notes C photos
Answer Key & Explanations
19 B (train): This tests collocation and broader context. In English, you can "catch a bus" or "catch a train". However, because a monorail moves along a metal line and does not drive on normal streets, it is compared to a "train", not a "bus" or a "boat".
20 A (track): This is a semantic fit. The specific metal rail that a train or monorail travels on is called a "track". Cars and buses drive on a "road", and people walk on a "path".
21 C (above): This tests phrase-level meaning. The text describes a structure built in the air, so it is "high above" the ground. "Across" means going from one side to another, and "behind" means at the back of something.
22 B (city): This requires broader context comprehension. The next sentence mentions "traffic jams", "red lights", and millions of people going to work. These are things you find in a busy "city", not on a quiet "farm" or in a small "village".
23 C (fast): This is the correct semantic fit. Because the monorail does not stop for traffic, it travels quickly, meaning journeys are "fast". "Early" and "soon" describe the time when an event happens, not the speed of a journey.
24 C (photos): This tests a very strong vocabulary collocation. When you use a camera to record beautiful views, you "take photos". While you can "take notes" in a classroom, it does not fit this context, and you use verbs like "paint" or "make" for paintings.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Walking with Snowshoes
In places with very cold winters, people sometimes use snowshoes to travel outside. Normal boots are fine for a little snow, but they are not good when the snow is very (19)…………… . If you step in it, your legs go down, and it is hard to move.
Snowshoes are special equipment that you wear on your (20)…………… . They are much wider and longer than normal winter boots. Because they are so (21)…………… , they stop you from sinking into the soft snow.
Today, many people enjoy (22)…………… through the forest with snowshoes for fun and exercise. It is a wonderful way to explore nature in winter. However, it is important to remember a few rules to stay (23)…………… during your trip. You must always wear a thick coat and carry a hot drink to keep you (24)…………… .
19 A tall B high C deep
20 A hands B feet C legs
21 A big B heavy C hard
22 A standing B walking C driving
23 A fine B safe C well
24 A dry B warm C clean
Answer Key & Explanations
19 C (deep): This tests collocation. "Deep snow" is the correct and natural phrase for snow that goes far down into the ground. "Tall" and "high" are used to measure standing objects like buildings or trees, not snow on the ground.
20 B (feet): This tests semantic fit. Snowshoes are a type of footwear, so you wear them on your "feet". You put gloves on your "hands" and trousers on your "legs".
21 A (big): This relies on the broader context of the paragraph. The previous sentence explains that snowshoes are "much wider and longer", which means they are "big". If they were "heavy", you would sink into the snow, and "hard" does not describe their size.
22 B (walking): This tests semantic fit. Snowshoes are used for moving on foot through a forest, which is "walking". "Standing" means you are not moving, and "driving" is for vehicles like cars.
23 B (safe): This tests collocation. "Stay safe" is a highly common A2-level phrase meaning to avoid danger by following rules. We do not say "stay fine" or "stay well" in this protective context.
24 B (warm): This tests phrase-level meaning. The purpose of wearing a "thick coat" and drinking a "hot drink" in winter is to keep your body "warm". A hot drink does not keep you "dry" from the snow or "clean".
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Riding an Ostrich
Ostriches are the largest birds in the world, and in some countries, people actually ride them! This is a very (19)…………… activity, but many tourists love trying it when they visit places like South Africa. Because an ostrich is a very (20)…………… bird, it can easily carry a person on its back.
To ride one, you have to climb on and sit behind its wings. There is no steering wheel, so (21)…………… onto the bird tightly with your hands is very important! Ostriches have very long legs and are excellent at (22)…………… . When they start to move, they can travel very (23)…………… across the dry ground.
You do not usually wear a special seat to ride an ostrich. It might (24)…………… a bit of practice to balance well, but it is definitely an exciting adventure!
19 A unusual B quiet C empty
20 A big B long C deep
21 A holding B keeping C staying
22 A running B flying C driving
23 A fast B soon C early
24 A take B make C do
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (unusual): 'Unusual' fits the broader context because riding a giant bird is not a normal, everyday activity for most people. An activity cannot be 'empty', and a 'quiet' activity does not fit the description of an exciting tourist adventure.
20 A (big): 'Big' is the correct semantic fit to describe a bird with a large size, which explains why it can "easily carry a person". 'Long' is used for legs or distance, and 'deep' is used for holes or water.
21 A (holding): 'Holding' is the correct English verb to use with the preposition 'onto' when keeping your hands tightly on something. You 'keep' something safe, and you 'stay' in a place, but neither verb is used with 'onto' and 'hands' in this way.
22 A (running): 'Running' fits the semantic context of an animal moving quickly on its legs across the ground. Ostriches cannot go 'flying' in the sky, and 'driving' is an action used for cars or machines, not birds.
23 A (fast): 'Fast' is the correct phrase-level choice because it describes the physical speed of the bird's travel. 'Soon' and 'early' describe time, not movement speed.
24 A (take): 'Take practice' is the correct English collocation meaning an activity requires you to try it many times to get good at it (similar to 'take time'). In English, we do not 'make' or 'do' practice in this specific sentence structure.