A2 Key (KET) Practice Paper 38

alice: Hi, I'm looking for a telescope for my nephew as a birthday present. He's never used one before. george: A beginner's telescope would be perfect then. This model here costs sixty-five pounds and is easy to set up. alice: That sounds good. Does it come with any instructions or a guide? george: Yes, it includes a simple guidebook and access to a free phone app for finding objects in the sky. alice: Wonderful. What's the best time of year to use it? george: Clear autumn and winter nights usually give the best views, since the sky is darker earlier. alice: That's helpful. Does it come with a case for storage? george: Yes, a protective case is included, along with a small tripod stand. alice: Perfect, I'll take this one, please.

Diego recently discovered a passion for astronomy after his uncle gave him a small telescope for his birthday. On clear nights, he sets up the telescope in his back garden and spends hours looking at the moon, planets, and distant stars. At first, Diego found it difficult to locate specific objects in the sky, since everything looked confusing through the small lens. He downloaded a free phone application that shows exactly where planets and constellations are located at any given time, which made things much easier. Last month, Diego was thrilled to see the rings of Saturn clearly for the first time, a moment he describes as unforgettable. He has since joined an online astronomy forum where he shares photos and asks more experienced members questions about the night sky.

Amateur astronomy ___1___ a rewarding hobby for people who enjoy learning about the night sky. My cousin Tomas ___2___ his first telescope two years ago after visiting a science museum with his school. He ___3___ frustrated during his early attempts to find planets, since the sky can seem very confusing without guidance. A more experienced member of his local astronomy club ___4___ him useful tips about which direction to look at different times of year. Since then, Tomas ___5___ many beautiful objects, including distant galaxies and colourful nebulae. He ___6___ that seeing Jupiter's moons for the first time was one of the most exciting moments of his life. Tomas now ___7___ his telescope to younger students at astronomy events in the local park. He ___8___ that anyone can enjoy astronomy, regardless of how much they know at the start.