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Cambridge A2 Key · Reading Part 4

All About Dinosaurs

Read a text about dinosaurs and choose the best word for each gap.

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Reading Part 4

Practise for A2 Key Reading Part 4 with this interactive exercise. Read a short factual text — about dinosaurs — and choose the best word for each of the six gaps. With the vocabulary and extension activities, it makes a full lesson and tests your grammar and vocabulary in context, as required in the Cambridge English A2 Key exam. It is perfect for elementary learners preparing for the test.

  • ⏱️ Takes about 20–30 minutes
  • 💡 Choose the best word for each of six gaps
  • 📶 A2 — elementary level

📄 Print version (PDF)

A2 Key Reading and Writing Part 4: Dinosaurs

dinosaurs

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Part 4
-6 questions-

Read the text about dinosaurs. Choose the best word for each space. Write one word from the three choices.

dinosaurs

 

1whenbeforethat
2livinglivelives
3thatasthan
4inaton
5ateeateats
6wherebecausethat

Nobody has ever seen a dinosaur. The last dinosaur died about 60 million years ago, a long time (1) there were any people on the earth. Nobody knows for sure why they all died. The nearest (2) relatives of dinosaurs are birds.

Dinosaurs didn't all look the same. There were more (3) 5000 kinds. Some were very small, but others were giants. The largest ones were bigger than any other animals ever lived (4) land.

The Brontosaurus, for example, was twenty metres long, and it (5) plants. The Tyrannosaurus Rex was not as big, but it was stronger. It had sharp teeth for eating meat, and it could also run fast (6) it had long back legs.

Your score is

Audio: listen to the text as you read.

Key Words

  • dinosaur — a very large animal that lived millions of years ago
  • giant — a very big person, animal or thing
  • relative — a member of the same family
  • sharp — having an edge or point that can cut (the opposite of blunt)
  • million — the number 1,000,000

Useful Language

About the text: millions of years ago · more than 5000 kinds · sharp teeth for eating meat

Words that often fill gaps: time words (when, before) · comparatives (than, as) · prepositions (on, in, at) · past verbs (ate, eat) · linking words (because)

Reading for grammar: “a long time before there were people” · “bigger than any other animal” · “lived on land” · “it ate plants” · “because it had long legs”

Exam Tip

Part 4 tests grammar and vocabulary. Read the whole sentence, not just the words next to the gap, then choose the word that fits both the meaning and the grammar. Watch the verb tense (the text is in the past) and comparative words like than.

Drag the words into the correct gaps to practise the key language from this lesson.

🗣️ Speaking practice

Talk about animals from the past.

  • 🦖 What is your favourite dinosaur? Why?
  • 🦴 Would you like to see a real dinosaur? Why, or why not?
  • ❓ Ask a partner about an animal they find amazing.

✍️ Writing practice

Write a short paragraph (25 words or more) about an animal you find interesting.

  • 📝 Say what it is and what it is like.
  • 🌟 Say why you find it interesting.

🔎 Vocabulary challenge

Write your own sentence for each word.

  • 🦕 dinosaur
  • 🦷 sharp
  • 👪 relative
  • 🗻 giant
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A2 Reading and Writing

We regularly add new reading and writing exercises to help you improve your English skills. Bookmark our site to easily return and practise anytime, anywhere — perfect for learners at all levels.

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A2 Listening and Speaking

We also include A2 Key listening and speaking practice exercises to help students prepare effectively for this part of the Cambridge English exam.

Part 1

Listen to conversations and choose the correct answer.

Part 2

Listen to a monologue and complete gaps in a page of notes.

Part 3

Listen to a conversation and choose the correct answer.

Part 4

Listen to conversations and choose the correct answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is A2 Key Reading Part 4?

In Part 4 of the Cambridge A2 Key (KET) Reading test, you read a short factual text with six gaps and choose the correct word (A, B or C) for each gap. This free exercise uses a text about dinosaurs.

How many questions are in this exercise?

There are six gaps. You read the text and choose the best word for each space from three options.

Is this A2 Key Reading practice free?

Yes. The Dinosaurs exercise is completely free, gives you instant answers, and includes a printable PDF version you can download.

What level is this exercise?

It is at CEFR A2 (elementary) level, for learners preparing for the Cambridge A2 Key for Schools (KET) exam.

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Links

Cambridge English exams are internationally recognised qualifications designed for learners of all levels, from the A2 Key (KET) exam for elementary English users to the B2 First exam for upper-intermediate learners. These exams provide reliable proof of English language ability and are widely accepted by employers, universities, and governments. Cambridge English qualifications test real-life communication skills, making them ideal for students who need English for work, study, or travel.