A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – History & Origins of Food 6
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – History & Origins of Food
Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The History of Noodles
Noodles are a popular food all over the world today, but they have a very interesting history. Many people think noodles came from Italy, but they actually started in (19)…………… China. Scientists found the oldest noodles there. They were under the ground and were over 4,000 years old!
To make noodles, you only need to mix water and (20)…………… . Then, you pull the mixture with your hands until it becomes very (21)…………… and thin. After that, you just cook them in (22)…………… water for a few minutes.
In the past, people usually ate them in simple soups. Today, you can go to restaurants and see people enjoying large (23)…………… of delicious noodles with meat and vegetables. They are very easy to prepare and taste great, (24)…………… they are a perfect meal for anyone.
19 A ancient B antique C aged
20 A flour B sugar C bread
21 A long B tall C high
22 A boiling B burning C cooking
23 A bowls B plates C glasses
24 A so B because C if
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (ancient): This relies on semantic fit and a strong collocation. 'Ancient' is the correct adjective to describe a very old civilization or time in history (Ancient China). 'Antique' is used for old objects like furniture, and 'aged' is used for people or food.
20 A (flour): This tests semantic fit. 'Flour' is the correct white powder made from grain that is used to make noodles. You do not make basic noodle dough by mixing water with 'sugar' or 'bread'.
21 A (long): This tests a collocation of dimensions (long and thin). 'Long' is the correct word to describe the horizontal length of noodles. 'Tall' and 'high' are used for vertical height (like trees, mountains, or buildings).
22 A (boiling): This tests a strong A2 collocation. 'Boiling water' is the fixed phrase for water that is heated until it bubbles to cook food. Water does not 'burn', and English speakers do not say 'cooking water' in this way.
23 A (bowls): This requires understanding the broader context. The text mentions people eating noodles in soups. Liquid meals like soup are eaten out of deep 'bowls', not flat 'plates' or 'glasses' (which are used only for drinks).
24 A (so): This tests phrase-level meaning. The conjunction 'so' is needed to introduce the result (they are a perfect meal) of the previous statement (they are easy to make and taste great). 'Because' introduces a reason, and 'if' is used for conditions.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Surprising Story of Ketchup
Ketchup is one of the most famous sauces in the world today. Most people know it as a red sauce made from (19)…………… , but it has a very surprising history.
Hundreds of years ago in China, people made a special (20)…………… of fish sauce. They called it 'kê-tsiap'. It did not look or taste like modern ketchup. When people from Europe tasted it, they loved it and took the idea home. Soon, people started (21)…………… the recipe by adding new things.
In the 19th century, people decided to add sugar. This made the sauce very (22)…………… and popular. They also stopped using fish. Today, companies make millions of glass and plastic (23)…………… of ketchup every year. People love to (24)…………… some on their chips and burgers when they eat dinner.
19 A tomatoes B apples C strawberries
20 A kind B part C piece
21 A changing B turning C moving
22 A sweet B cold C dry
23 A bottles B bowls C cups
24 A put B give C make
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (tomatoes): Semantically, ketchup is famously made from "tomatoes". While "apples" and "strawberries" are also red, they are not the correct ingredients used to make this standard sauce.
20 A (kind): "A kind of" is a correct and very common fixed collocation used to describe a specific type of something. A "part" or "piece" does not make sense when describing a whole liquid sauce.
21 A (changing): At a phrase level, "changing the recipe" makes logical sense because the text says they were "adding new things". You do not "move" or "turn" a recipe.
22 A (sweet): Based on the broader context of the previous sentence ("add sugar"), the sauce becomes "sweet". Sugar does not make food "cold" or "dry".
23 A (bottles): Semantically, companies produce and sell liquid ketchup in glass or plastic "bottles". "Bowls" and "cups" are open containers used for eating or drinking, not for storing sauces in shops.
24 A (put): "Put (something) on" is the correct natural collocation for adding sauce to your food. You do not "give" or "make" ketchup directly on your chips.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The History of Chewing Gum
Chewing gum is a very popular treat that people enjoy all over the world. But the history of gum started a very long time ago. Thousands of years ago, people found a special juice inside tall (19)…………… . They liked to put this natural material into their (20)…………… because it tasted good and cleaned their teeth.
In the 1800s, an American man started making gum to sell in shops. He added sugar to make it taste very (21)…………… . Later, another man invented a new kind of gum. This one was softer, so people enjoyed (22)…………… it for a long time.
With this new gum, people could also blow large, pink (23)…………… . Today, you can buy gum everywhere. However, it is always important to put it in a bin when you (24)…………… with it!
19 A flowers B forests C trees
20 A faces B heads C mouths
21 A sweet B cold C heavy
22 A eating B biting C chewing
23 A balloons B balls C bubbles
24 A finish B close C end
Answer Key & Explanations
19 C (trees): This is a semantic fit. The text describes a large, tall plant that produces a natural juice (sap) inside, which is a 'tree'. 'Flowers' are small and not tall, and 'forests' are large areas of land covered in trees, not a single object you find juice inside.
20 C (mouths): This is a phrase-level fit. The specific body part you put food into so you can taste it is your 'mouth'. You do not put food into your 'head' or your 'face' to taste it.
21 A (sweet): This is a semantic fit. The text states that the man added sugar, which gives the food a 'sweet' taste. Sugar does not make food 'cold' or 'heavy'.
22 C (chewing): This fits the broader context. Gum is kept in the mouth and moved with the teeth over a long period, which is 'chewing'. 'Eating' means you swallow the food into your stomach, and 'biting' is just closing your teeth once.
23 C (bubbles): This is a strong collocation. The correct English phrase for pushing air into gum to make a round, empty shape is to blow 'bubbles'. You blow up 'balloons' made of rubber for a party, and 'balls' are solid round objects used in sports.
24 A (finish): This is a grammatical collocation. We use the phrase "finish with [something]" when we are done using it. You 'close' a door or a book, and you 'end' an event or a story.