A2 Key for Schools (KET) Reading & Writing Part 4 Test – Young Inventors, Scientists & Helpers 8
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 Botanist
Leo is a fourteen-year-old boy who loves studying plants and nature. He spends a lot of his free time in his large back garden. He enjoys seeing how different flowers and trees (19)…………… . Every weekend, he waters his plants and looks carefully at their (20)…………… to check they are healthy.
Leo wants to be a botanist when he is older. A botanist is a scientist who studies how plants live. Leo wants to help the environment and keep his town (21)…………… . He often reads books about rare plants and how they survive in cold weather.
Sometimes, Leo finds strange new plants in the forest near his house. When he brings them home, he tries to (22)…………… out their names using the internet. He knows that he still has a lot to (23)…………… about science. Next summer, he hopes to (24)…………… a special science club for young people.
19 A grow B build C make
20 A leaves B pieces C parts
21 A green B clean C safe
22 A find B look C search
23 A learn B study C know
24 A join B enter C meet
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (grow): 'Grow' is the correct verb to describe how living things like plants and trees get bigger. People 'build' houses or 'make' objects, but these verbs do not describe natural plant life.
20 A (leaves): 'Leaves' are the specific green flat parts of a plant that grow from the stem or branch. 'Pieces' and 'parts' are too general and do not correctly describe the biology of a plant.
21 A (green): 'Green' fits the broader context of the text, meaning to keep the town full of plants and good for the environment. While 'clean' and 'safe' are positive, they do not link back to Leo's specific interest in plants and botany.
22 A (find): 'Find out' is a correct phrasal verb collocation that means to discover information (like a plant's name). You can 'look' at something or 'search' for something, but you do not 'look out' or 'search out' facts in this way.
23 A (learn): 'Learn about' is a natural phrase that means to get new knowledge. You can 'study' a subject, but we do not say 'study about' in this context, and 'know' does not fit the idea of acquiring new information.
24 A (join): 'Join' is the correct verb collocation for becoming a member of a club or group. You can 'enter' a room or a competition, and you 'meet' people, but you do not use these verbs to describe becoming part of a club.
Test 2
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
A Young Game Programmer
Leo is a fifteen-year-old boy who loves computers. He doesn't just play video games; he makes them himself. He started writing his own computer programs two years ago.
When Leo is working on a new game, he spends a lot of time looking at his computer (19)…………… . He sits at his desk, (20)…………… instructions on his keyboard for hours. Sometimes, it is difficult to find a mistake, but he thinks that programming is always (21)…………… .
After finishing a game, Leo asks his friends to try it. They spend the whole weekend (22)…………… it to see if it works well. They always (23)…………… a great time together. Next year, Leo hopes to (24)…………… part in a large game design competition and show his work to the world.
19 A screen B board C page
20 A typing B writing C drawing
21 A fun B funny C glad
22 A playing B doing C making
23 A have B make C do
24 A take B get C play
Answer Key & Explanations
19 A (screen): "Screen" is the correct word for the flat part of a computer or television where you see pictures and words. A "board" is for writing on in a classroom, and a "page" is a piece of paper in a book.
20 A (typing): "Typing" is the exact verb used for pressing keys on a computer keyboard to create words or instructions. "Writing" is usually done with a pen or pencil, and "drawing" is making pictures.
21 A (fun): "Fun" is the correct word to describe an activity that is enjoyable and entertaining. "Funny" means something makes you laugh (like a joke), and "glad" describes a person's feeling, not an activity itself.
22 A (playing): "Playing" is the correct verb used with video games. Because the previous sentence mentions trying out his new game, they are "playing" it, not "doing" or "making" it.
23 A (have): "Have a great time" is the correct fixed English collocation meaning to enjoy yourself with friends. We do not say "make a great time" or "do a great time".
24 A (take): "Take part" is a fixed English phrase meaning to join or enter an event, like a competition. We do not say "get part" or "play part" in this context.
Test 3
Questions 19-24
For each question, choose the correct answer.
The Young Fundraiser
Leo Davis is a fifteen-year-old boy from Manchester, and he loves running. He started the sport when he was just nine years old. He always enjoyed running fast and being outside in the park.
Now, Leo uses his hobby to do something important. He runs in big events to collect (19)…………… for a local children's hospital. He decided to do this because he wants to help young people who are (20)…………… . Leo always (21)…………… sure that everyone in his town knows about his running, so they can give him more support.
Last weekend, Leo ran a ten-kilometre (22)…………… through the city centre. Lots of people stood by the road to cheer for him. Leo is very good (23)…………… finishing difficult runs without stopping. Next year, he hopes to (24)…………… part in a famous marathon in London.
19 A points B tickets C money
20 A sick B tired C bored
21 A gets B makes C does
22 A race B match C game
23 A in B at C on
24 A take B have C do
Answer Key & Explanations
19 C (money): This tests semantic fit. In the context of a fundraiser collecting things for a hospital, the correct word is 'money'. You can collect 'points' in a game or 'tickets' for a show, but these do not help a hospital.
20 A (sick): This requires understanding the broader context of the text. Leo is raising money for a "hospital", so he is helping people who are 'sick'. 'Tired' and 'bored' do not fit the context of needing a hospital.
21 B (makes): This tests a standard A2 collocation. The correct fixed phrase is 'make sure', which means to check that something happens. The verbs 'get' and 'do' do not form this phrase.
22 A (race): This is a semantic fit. A running event where people try to finish a distance quickly is a 'race'. A 'match' is used for sports like tennis or football, and a 'game' is for team sports or fun activities.
23 B (at): This tests phrase-level meaning. When talking about a person's skill or ability, the correct preposition to use after the adjective 'good' is 'at' (e.g., good at running, good at finishing). We do not say 'good in' or 'good on' for skills.
24 A (take): This tests a strong collocation. The fixed English expression is 'take part in', which means to participate in an event like a marathon. We do not use the verbs 'have' or 'do' to form this phrase.