A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Young Inventors, Scientists & Helpers 2
Reading » A2 Reading Tests » A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Young Inventors, Scientists & Helpers
Test 1
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Young Scientist
Leo is a fifteen-year-old boy who loves studying science at school. Last year, his parents gave him a special chemistry kit for his birthday. He enjoys trying new experiments in his bedroom, but he likes to call it his personal (19)…………… .
Leo usually plays with his kit at the weekend. He spends a lot of time (20)…………… different coloured liquids together to see what happens. Before he starts, he always puts on special glasses to keep his eyes (21)…………… . He knows that science is a fun hobby, (22)…………… it is also important to follow the instructions carefully.
When he finishes, Leo always washes his tools. Science can be difficult sometimes, but he always tries to (23)…………… his best. Next year, he wants to (24)…………… part in a national science competition for young students.
19 A lab B office C factory
20 A mixing B joining C crossing
21 A safe B well C careful
22 A but B because C so
23 A do B make C have
24 A take B get C make
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (lab): 'Lab' (short for laboratory) is the specific room where a scientist does experiments. An 'office' is for doing desk work, and a 'factory' is a large building for making products, not for a boy doing experiments in his room.
20 A (mixing): 'Mixing' is the correct verb for putting different liquids together to make something new. 'Joining' is used for connecting solid objects, and 'crossing' means to go from one side to another.
21 A (safe): 'Keep safe' is a fixed phrase that means to protect something from danger (like his eyes). A person can be 'careful' or feel 'well', but you cannot 'keep your eyes careful' or 'keep your eyes well'.
22 A (but): 'But' is the correct conjunction to introduce a contrasting idea (science is fun, but there is a serious rule to be careful). 'Because' gives a reason, and 'so' gives a result.
23 A (do): 'Do your best' is a fixed verb-noun collocation in English that means to try as hard as possible. We do not use 'make' or 'have' in this phrase.
24 A (take): 'Take part in' is a fixed collocation that means to join or participate in an event like a competition. We do not say 'get part in' or 'make part in'.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Young Astronomer
Leo is a fifteen-year-old boy who loves studying the night sky. He first became interested in space when his parents gave him a large telescope for his birthday. Now, he spends hours outside in the dark, (19)…………… carefully at the moon.
Using his telescope is not always easy. Leo has to wait for a clear night when there are no clouds. Through the glass, he can see thousands of bright (20)…………… . He is also very good at finding different (21)…………… like Mars and Jupiter. Sometimes, he uses a map of the sky so he doesn't (22)…………… any mistakes.
Leo thinks that space is amazing. Next month, he wants to (23)…………… a special science club at his school. He hopes to meet other young people who share his hobby. In the future, Leo would like to (24)…………… a famous astronomer and discover something new in the universe.
19 A looking B seeing C watching
20 A stars B lights C clouds
21 A worlds B planets C countries
22 A make B have C do
23 A enter B join C go
24 A become B turn C grow
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (looking): "Looking at" is the correct English verb and preposition combination to describe focusing your eyes on something. We do not say "seeing at" or "watching at".
20 A (stars): "Stars" is the correct word for the bright objects in the night sky. "Lights" is too general (usually for streetlamps or houses), and the text already says he waits for a night with "no clouds".
21 B (planets): "Planets" is the exact scientific word used for objects like Mars and Jupiter. "Worlds" is too general, and "countries" are places on Earth, not in space.
22 A (make): "Make a mistake" is the correct fixed English collocation for doing something wrong. We do not say "have a mistake" or "do a mistake".
23 B (join): "Join" is the correct verb meaning to become a member of a group or club. "Enter" is used for walking into a room or building, and "go" would need the preposition "to" (go to a club).
24 A (become): "Become" is the correct verb used when talking about changing into a new profession in the future (like an astronomer). "Turn" would need the extra word "into", and "grow" means to get older or taller.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Teen charity worker
Tom Harris is a sixteen-year-old boy from London. A few years ago, he noticed that some (19)…………… in his city did not have a warm place to sleep or enough food to eat. He wanted to do something to (20)…………… them, so he started his own charity.
Now, Tom and his friends (21)…………… a lot of time collecting coats, blankets, and shoes from their neighbours. Every Saturday, they go to the city centre and (22)…………… these things to families who need them.
Running a charity is hard work, but Tom enjoys it. He often organises special events at his school to (23)…………… money for his project, too. With this (24)…………… , he buys hot food and drinks for the hungry in winter. Next year, he hopes to open a small charity shop to do even more.
19 A people B members C groups
20 A help B care C mind
21 A spend B pass C keep
22 A give B lend C return
23 A make B do C take
24 A money B price C cost
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (people): Semantic fit. 'People' is the correct general word for humans living in a city. 'Members' refers to individuals in a specific club or team, and 'groups' does not fit the natural phrasing here.
20 A (help): Broader context. The entire text is about providing assistance to those in need, making 'help' the logical choice. Grammatically, 'care' requires the preposition 'for' (care for them), and 'mind' means to look after temporarily, which doesn't fit the context.
21 A (spend): Collocation. The phrase 'spend time' is a highly frequent, fixed English collocation used when talking about doing an activity for a period of time. You do not 'pass' or 'keep' time in this specific way.
22 A (give): Phrase-level meaning. In the context of a charity, you 'give' items permanently to families. 'Lend' means they would have to give the items back, and 'return' means giving something back to its original owner, which is incorrect here.
23 A (make): Collocation. The phrase 'make money' is a fixed collocation meaning to earn or collect funds. The verbs 'do' and 'take' are incorrect word combinations with money in this context.
24 A (money): Semantic fit. 'Money' refers to the actual funds Tom collected at his school events. 'Price' and 'cost' refer to how much someone is asked to pay for an item in a shop, not the funds they possess to buy things.