A2 KET Test #3 - Reading & Writing

Bella

Bella loves acting and goes to a local theatre group every Saturday morning. The lessons are completely free, which is great for her parents. She usually performs in funny plays with other teenagers from her town. Bella’s older brother is very good at art, and he always helps her to make beautiful things to wear for the shows. There are usually lots of people watching the plays, but Bella never feels nervous on stage. Next year, she hopes to get a small part in a television programme.

Fiona

Fiona sings in a wonderful singing group that meets on Tuesday evenings. Because she has to pay five pounds for each lesson, she uses her pocket money. All the other members are her classmates. For their concerts, the singers must wear long black dresses, and they cannot choose their own clothes. Fiona always feels quite worried before the music starts, but she enjoys it later. One day, she wants to sing in a famous concert hall.

Hazel

Hazel plays the drums in a rock band with her two cousins, and they practice in her garage on Sunday afternoons. Her parents bought the expensive drums for her last birthday. The band doesn't have a special uniform, so Hazel just wears comfortable jeans and a T-shirt when they play. She feels extremely excited when people listen to their music. Hazel's dream is to become a singer and sing by herself in a big concert one day.

Young photographer: Sam Cooper

Sam Cooper is fourteen, and he lives in a house with a big garden. When he was ten, his grandfather gave him an old camera. There were not many children living near his home, so Sam spent his free time in the garden, taking photos of birds and other animals.

At first, Sam only showed his photos to his family. Then his mother put some of them on a web page, and people from other countries began to look at them. One photo of a cat in the snow was very popular.

Last year, Sam won a prize at school for a photo of two birds in a tree. He often sits very still in the cold garden. 'Some of my best photos took hours,' he says. 'You can't tell animals what to do, so you have to wait.'

Last month, Mrs Rossi, who has a café in the town centre, asked Sam for ten photos for her walls. 'I love your birds,' she told him, 'but there are already bird pictures on every wall.' Sam says he will begin this weekend.

Sam wants to keep taking photos when he is older. 'Right now it's my hobby,' he says, 'but one day I'd like to travel and take photos of animals around the world.' At the moment, he is just happy to share his pictures with people who enjoy them.

In the busy city of Barcelona in Spain, morning traffic is often heavy. However, hundreds of primary school children travel to class in a special way. Every Friday, these young students 19.1addinvitejoin an exciting project called the "bike bus". A bike bus is not a real bus with an engine, but a large group of cyclists.

Parents and teachers act as drivers, riding at the front and back to 19.2restkeepstay everyone safe. The group rides down main streets together, stopping at corners to collect more children. Before leaving, all students must 19.3taketurnput on a helmet and bright clothes. Cycling with friends is great exercise, and the children have lots of 19.4jokefunplay listening to music. When they finally 19.5arrivegetcome at the school gates, they are ready and happy. Teachers say these students are never late and easily 19.6beginbuildopen their morning lessons.