A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Young Athletes & Sports Stars 1
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Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Young Gymnastics Star
Lily Davis is a twelve-year-old girl from Canada, but she is already a national gymnastics champion. She started the sport when she was four years old. She loved moving her body and (19)…………… around the house. So, her parents decided to take her to a gym club.
Now, Lily spends twenty hours a week practising. Gymnastics is not an easy sport. You have to be strong and (20)…………… to do the movements safely. Lily listens carefully to her coach, and she often (21)…………… new friends at the gym. She also performs in (22)…………… of hundreds of people without feeling afraid.
Last month, Lily won first prize in a big national (23)…………… . When she heard the results, she had a huge smile on her face. One day, she hopes to (24)…………… part in the Olympic Games.
19 A jumping B climbing C running
20 A tall B flexible C heavy
21 A finds B gets C makes
22 A front B middle C back
23 A match B game C competition
24 A take B do C play
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (jumping): This is a semantic fit. While children run and climb, 'jumping' is the specific movement that naturally connects to a child's future in gymnastics.
20 B (flexible): This requires understanding the broader context of the text. Gymnasts need to be 'flexible' (able to bend easily) to perform movements safely. Being 'tall' or 'heavy' is not a requirement for the sport.
21 C (makes): This tests a standard English collocation. We use the verb 'make' to form the phrase 'make friends'. The verbs 'find' and 'get' do not collocate with friends in this context.
22 A (front): This tests phrase-level meaning. The correct fixed prepositional phrase is 'in front of', which means facing an audience. 'Middle' and 'back' do not fit grammatically without 'the' (e.g., in the middle of).
23 C (competition): This is a semantic fit. A 'competition' is an event where judges give scores, which is exactly how gymnastics works. A 'match' is typically for sports like tennis or football, and a 'game' is for team sports or fun activities.
24 A (take): This tests a strong collocation. The fixed expression is 'take part in', which means to participate in an event. We do not say 'do part' or 'play part' in this context.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Teenage Chess Champion
Leo Vance is a fourteen-year-old boy from Canada, but he is already a famous chess player. He learned to play chess when he was only five. His grandfather taught him how to move the different (19)…………… on the board.
Leo loved the game immediately. Now, he spends hours every day (20)…………… for big competitions. When Leo is in a match, he sits quietly and looks at the board. He is very good (21)…………… remembering all the different moves. Sometimes, a game can take all day, but Leo never feels tired. He always tries his best to (22)…………… the game.
Last month, Leo travelled to New York and took (23)…………… in a special chess event for teenagers. He played against some older boys and got the highest score. Leo hopes to become the world chess champion soon, (24)…………… he knows he still has a lot to learn.
19 A blocks B toys C pieces
20 A practising B studying C learning
21 A at B on C with
22 A beat B win C score
23 A place B care C part
24 A because B so C but
Answer Key & Explanations
19 C (pieces): In board games like chess, the objects you move are called 'pieces'. 'Blocks' and 'toys' do not fit this specific meaning.
20 A (practising): We use 'practising' when someone repeats an activity to prepare for a competition. 'Studying' and 'learning' are usually used for school subjects or acquiring new facts.
21 A (at): The correct phrase to describe being skilled at an activity is 'good at'. 'On' and 'with' are the wrong prepositions here.
22 B (win): You 'win' a game or competition. You 'beat' another person or team, and you 'score' points or goals.
23 C (part): The phrase 'take part in' means to participate. 'Take place' means to happen, and 'take care' means to look after something.
24 C (but): This conjunction is needed to show a contrast between his big hope of being a champion and the reality that he still needs to learn more.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Young Surfer
Leo Diaz is fourteen years old and lives near the sea in Australia. Every morning, he wakes up early and walks down to the beach with his surfboard.
To be a great surfer, you have to wait for the best (19)…………… . Leo always watches the water for a long time before he goes in. He has three different boards, and he chooses which one to use every day. He uses a small board to go fast, and a bigger one when he wants to (20)…………… new skills.
Surfing looks easy, but it is actually very hard work. When you stand up on the board, you have to keep your (21)…………… so you do not fall into the water. You also need to be very (22)…………… in your arms and legs. Last month, Leo was in a surfing competition. He did not win first prize, (23)…………… he was still very happy with his score. He believes that the most important thing is simply to have (24)…………… in the water.
19 A waves B winds C clouds
20 A study B read C practise
21 A balance B shape C form
22 A deep B strong C heavy
23 A but B so C because
24 A fun B joke C smile
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (waves): This is the correct word because surfers ride waves in the ocean. "Winds" and "clouds" are related to weather, but they are not what a surfer waits for in the water to surf on.
20 C (practise): This word fits the context of repeating a physical activity to get better at it. You "study" or "read" books and information, but you "practise" physical skills like surfing.
21 A (balance): "Keep your balance" is a common collocation that means staying upright without falling over, which fits perfectly with standing on a surfboard. "Shape" and "form" do not form this collocation.
22 B (strong): This adjective correctly describes the physical power needed in the arms and legs to surf. "Heavy" and "deep" do not make sense when describing human muscles in this context.
23 A (but): This conjunction is needed to show a contrast between two ideas: Leo did not win first prize, but (despite this) he was still happy. "So" shows a result, and "because" shows a reason, neither of which fits here.
24 A (fun): "Have fun" is a set collocation meaning to enjoy yourself. "Joke" and "smile" are related to being happy, but we do not say "have joke" or "have smile" in this way.