A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Young Inventors, Scientists & Helpers 4
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 Chef
Sam is a fourteen-year-old boy who loves making meals for his family. Every evening after school, he (19)…………… a lot of time in the kitchen preparing dinner. He usually finds recipes on the internet, but sometimes he tries his own ideas.
Sam always has to (20)…………… sure that everything is clean before he starts cooking. He enjoys trying new things and (21)…………… different fresh vegetables together in a big bowl. While the food is hot, he eats a small amount to see how it (22)…………… . If it needs more salt, he puts some in.
His parents think his meals are always absolutely (23)…………… . Next month, Sam wants to enter a cooking competition for young people. He hopes to win first prize, (24)…………… he knows the other young chefs will also be very good. One day, he hopes to open his own restaurant.
19 A spends B uses C keeps
20 A make B do C get
21 A mixing B joining C adding
22 A tastes B feels C looks
23 A delicious B sweet C favourite
24 A but B so C because
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (spends): 'Spend time' is the correct collocation for using your hours to do an activity. We do not say 'use time' or 'keep time' when talking about passing time in English.
20 A (make): 'Make sure' is a fixed collocation that means to check that something is true, safe, or correct. You cannot 'do sure' or 'get sure'.
21 A (mixing): 'Mixing' is the correct verb for putting different ingredients or foods together to make a meal. 'Joining' is used for attaching solid objects together, and 'adding' means putting one thing into something else, which does not fit the word 'together' here.
22 A (tastes): 'Tastes' fits the context of eating a small amount of food to check its flavour. You do not eat food to see how it 'looks' or 'feels'.
23 A (delicious): 'Delicious' means tasting very good, which fits the parents' positive opinion of the meals. 'Sweet' only describes food with sugar in it, and the grammar 'absolutely favourite' is incorrect here.
24 A (but): 'But' connects two contrasting ideas: Sam hopes to win the competition, but he knows it will be difficult because the other chefs are good. 'Because' would introduce a reason, and 'so' would introduce a result, making the sentence illogical.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Young Weather Watcher
Toby is a thirteen-year-old boy who has a very interesting hobby. He loves studying the weather. Every morning, he goes into his garden to check his little weather station. He is very good at (19)…………… the temperature and checking if it is going to be sunny or cloudy.
Toby also has a special tool to show him how fast the (20)…………… is blowing. When the weather is bad, he likes to see how much water falls from the sky. Last week, there was a lot of (21)…………… rain, so his garden was very wet.
After Toby finishes outside, he always goes to his bedroom to (22)…………… down all the numbers. He keeps this important information in a small blue (23)…………… on his desk. Toby hopes to study science in the future. He wants to understand the sky and help people stay (24)…………… during bad weather.
19 A measuring B counting C weighing
20 A air B weather C wind
21 A heavy B strong C big
22 A write B make C keep
23 A notebook B diary C calendar
24 A well B true C safe
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (measuring): "Measuring" is the correct verb used to find the size, amount, or degree of something like temperature. You "count" separate objects (like apples) and "weigh" things to see how heavy they are.
20 C (wind): "Wind" is the correct word for the moving air outside that can blow fast or slow. "Air" is everywhere and what we breathe, while "weather" is the general word for outside conditions and does not "blow".
21 A (heavy): "Heavy rain" is the correct fixed English collocation to describe a lot of rain falling. We say "strong wind," but we do not say "strong rain" or "big rain."
22 A (write): "Write down" is the correct phrase meaning to record information or numbers on paper. We do not use the verbs "make" or "keep" with the preposition "down" in this context.
23 A (notebook): A "notebook" is the correct item with blank pages used for keeping facts and information. A "diary" is usually used for writing about personal feelings or daily private events, and a "calendar" shows days and months.
24 C (safe): "Stay safe" is the correct English collocation meaning to protect yourself from danger. "Well" usually describes someone's health, and "true" means a fact is correct, neither of which fit the context of protection.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
Teen geologist
Leo is a fourteen-year-old boy from Scotland, and he has an interesting hobby. He is a young geologist, which means he loves studying the earth. He spends his free time outside looking for different rocks and (19)…………… .
Leo often goes on long walks in the (20)…………… near his home. There, he can see many exciting things on the ground. When he finds a beautiful rock, he puts it in his bag. Sometimes, his bag becomes very (21)…………… because the rocks weigh a lot!
When Leo gets home, he always (22)…………… sure that his rocks are clean. He uses a small brush and some water to wash them. Then, he puts them on a special shelf in his bedroom. Some of his classmates think it is boring, but Leo thinks (23)…………… new rocks is a great adventure. Next year, he is going to join a science club. He hopes to (24)…………… a great time with other young people who love geology.
19 A stones B bricks C blocks
20 A mountains B streets C gardens
21 A heavy B strong C hard
22 A gets B makes C puts
23 A finding B meeting C catching
24 A spend B do C have
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (stones): Semantic fit. 'Stones' are natural pieces of rock found outside in nature. 'Bricks' and 'blocks' are man-made objects used for building houses or walls.
20 A (mountains): Broader context. The text describes a geologist going on long walks in nature to collect natural rocks. 'Mountains' provide the correct natural environment for this activity, whereas 'streets' and 'gardens' are man-made or cultivated areas in a town.
21 A (heavy): Phrase-level meaning. The phrase "because the rocks weigh a lot" logically explains why the bag feels 'heavy'. 'Hard' refers to how solid the rocks are, and 'strong' describes physical power, not weight.
22 B (makes): Collocation. The phrase 'make sure' is a highly frequent, fixed English collocation meaning to check or confirm that something is correct. The verbs 'gets' and 'puts' do not fit this collocation.
23 A (finding): Semantic fit. In English, you 'find' inanimate objects that are lying on the ground. You 'meet' people, and you 'catch' moving things like balls, fish, or insects.
24 C (have): Collocation. The phrase 'have a great time' is a fixed collocation meaning to enjoy yourself. The verbs 'spend' and 'do' are incorrect word combinations for this phrase.