A2 KET Test #15 - Reading & Writing

Three teenage girls talk about listening to podcasts

Alice, 14

Alice loves a brilliant podcast about wild animals, which she usually listens to on her modern smartphone. She always turns it on during her morning bus journey to school, because the trip takes half an hour. Her younger sister sits next to her, and they really enjoy hearing the interesting stories together. The programme is very useful, so Alice often uses the new facts in her science classes. She doesn't like comedy shows

Bella, 15

Bella prefers listening to comedy podcasts because hearing people tell jokes is fantastic. She hasn't got a mobile phone, so she uses her tablet in her bedroom. She never listens to podcasts during the day because she is usually too busy with her homework. Instead, she plays her favourite shows at night. This helps her relax before she goes to sleep. The next day, she always tells her school friends about the best stories.

Clara, 13

Clara listens to a great podcast about famous rock musicians. Although she uses her phone to listen to them, she never plays the shows inside the house. Every afternoon, she takes her big dog for a long walk in the park and enjoys the podcast at the same time. Clara usually listens alone. However, she sometimes talks to her dad about the bands, because he loves rock music too.

Nina’s Night at the Train Hotel

Last January, our train home from the mountains stopped in a small town because of the snow. We had to stay for the night, and Dad found the Train Hotel next to the station. It was made from six old trains! Sleeping in a train was new to me. Mum looked worried because the trains were so old, and my brother Tom laughed. But I wanted to try!

Tom and I shared a small room, and Tom did not like his flat, hard pillow. But it was warm, and I loved the round window above my bed. Mum and Dad stayed next door.

During the night, the wind was strong and I could not sleep. I knelt on my bed and looked out of the window. Snow was falling in the orange lights of the station. It was the most beautiful view of my life, and I stayed there for an hour.

The next morning, we could not find the restaurant. A man at the hotel desk took us across the platform to another old train. We had breakfast there while the sun came up over the mountains. Then the snow stopped, and our train took us home.

I forget most hotels quickly. But now I tell everybody about the Train Hotel, and two of my friends want to go there. Tom says he will bring his own pillow next time, and Mum is still worried, but I have already asked Dad if we can go back.

Kangaroos are some of the most interesting animals in Australia. An adult kangaroo is very large, but a new baby is only two 19.1degreeskilogrammescentimetres long! Inside this warm pocket, the young animal drinks milk and grows for several months. It only 19.2forgetsleavesmisses this safe place when it is ready to explore the outside world.

As kangaroos grow up, their heavy tail becomes one of their most 19.3usefulawfulcareful body parts. When moving slowly, a kangaroo uses its strong tail to 19.4pushcatchpull its body off the ground. Their large back legs also help them jump quickly and travel a long way without getting tired. Sometimes, two male kangaroos get 19.5hungryangryafraid and hit each other with their front legs. To win, an animal can stand only on its tail and 19.6kickswimclimb with both back legs!