A2 KET Test #11 - Reading & Writing

Three teenagers talk about learning a new outdoor skill

Nina, 14

I started climbing because my older brother loves it, and now I go with him every Sunday. We practice at a sports centre near our house. I hate getting wet in the rain, so I only go climbing outside when it is sunny. I don't have my own climbing shoes yet, so I always borrow a pair from the centre. I usually listen to music on my phone while I wait for my turn. When we finish, my arms and legs hurt a lot, and I am really tired. I often come home and fall asleep on the sofa!

Taylor, 13

My school started a sailing club last month, and I go every Saturday. The lake is far from my town, so my dad drives me there, which takes nearly an hour. We go sailing even when the weather is bad. I often take pictures before getting on the boat. We rent boats from the club, and they give us the special clothes. After the sail, I always come home and eat a large dinner. I often sail all day long, but I never feel tired the next day.

May, 15

I love mountain biking in the forest because riding through the trees is exciting! I saved my pocket money and got a brilliant bike from a shop that sells old ones. I usually ride with a group of friends on Saturday mornings. My family never comes with us. The forest paths are beautiful, so I often stop my bike to take many pictures on the way. We ride fast, but the hills aren't very high, which means I don't get tired.

Read the following passage and choose the correct answer to each of the questions.

Two Weeks on a Small Island

Last summer, my cousin Nina spent two weeks on a very small island in the north of Scotland. Her aunt Kate teaches there at the only school on the island. Nina thought the trip would be boring because there were no cinemas, and she could not use her phone there. Her mother said it would be good for her, so she went.

The school had only six students, and they were all different ages. Nina’s first morning was strange. The youngest child was five and the oldest was twelve, and they all sat in one room. Nina helped the little ones with their reading while her aunt taught maths to the others.

After school, the children took Nina to the beach every afternoon. There were no toy shops on the island, so the children made their own games with things they found there. Nina made a small boat, and her new friends said it was the best one.

On the eighth day, the boat that brings food to the island could not come because of a storm. Everyone met at the school and shared what they had. Nina’s aunt cooked soup from fish and potatoes, and Nina felt surprised that nobody was worried. They sang songs until late in the evening.

Now Nina is back at home, and she writes letters to her friends on the island every week. She also goes to the beach near her house. Next summer, she wants to go back.

Thomas Edison was a very famous American who was born in 1847. As a young boy, he did not 19.1spendpasspay much time at school. Instead, his mother taught him at home, and he loved reading science books.

When he was older, Edison 19.2hopedstarteddecided working on many exciting new machines. He became famous around the world after creating a safe electric light. Before this, people usually used gas lights or oil lamps when it got 19.3darkblackgrey. Edison's wonderful new 19.4ideadesigninvention quickly changed life for millions of people.

During his long life, he made more than one thousand different things. He often worked in his office for many hours without going to sleep. Today, people 19.5believerememberthink him as one of the most important people in history.