Cloze tests reward a clear routine. This lesson gives you one.
This lesson covers skimming, parts of speech, fixed phrases, link words and elimination.
- Skim: Read first.
- Part of speech: Check both sides.
- Phrases: Know the pairs.
- Link words: Contrast or result.
- Eliminate: Cross out.
- Re-read: Check the whole.
What Is a Cloze Test?
What do you get?
You get a passage with numbered gaps. Each gap has four options.
You choose the word that fits grammar, meaning and flow.
What does it test?
It tests grammar, vocabulary and your sense of the whole passage.
A word that fits one sentence may still clash with the passage.
Example: Read the whole passage first
Take: The village had no road. ___, the farmers walked to town. The first sentence gives a problem.
The gap needs a result word, so Therefore fits and However does not.
Why this works: the passage tells you the logic, and the logic picks the word.
Check
A cloze test checks only vocabulary.
Skim the Whole Passage First
Why read before answering?
The first read gives you the topic and the tone.
Is the passage about a problem, a story or a description? That helps with every gap.
How long should it take?
Spend under a minute on the first read. Do not stop at the gaps.
Then return to gap one.
| Step | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skim the whole passage | Half a minute |
| 2 | Mark the gaps that look easy | Half a minute |
| 3 | Fill the easy gaps first | One minute |
| 4 | Return to the hard gaps | The rest |
Easy gaps first saves time for the hard ones.
Check
Start answering gap one before reading the passage.
Decide the Part of Speech
What kind of word is missing?
Look at the words just before and after the gap.
An article or adjective before the gap often means a noun comes next.
How does this narrow the options?
Often only one option has the right form.
The committee approved the proposal. Only the past tense fits.
Sources: Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries: approve.
| Clue before or after the gap | Part of speech needed | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the ___ house | Adjective | the old house |
| She ___ quickly | Verb | She walked quickly |
| very ___ | Adjective or adverb | very tall |
| in the ___ | Noun | in the garden |
Look at both sides of the gap.
Check
The words around the gap show what kind of word is missing.
Fixed Phrases and Prepositions
Why do these matter?
Many gaps test fixed pairs: good at, essential for, come into effect.
You cannot reason these out. You must know them.
Sources: Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries: essential; Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries: effect.
How do you learn them?
Keep a list of word and preposition pairs.
Review five of them a day.
Can you fix the fixed phrase?
Wrong: He took a decision on the matter and put the plan in practice.
Right: He took a decision on the matter and put the plan into practice.
Wrong: She is fond for sweets.
Right: She is fond of sweets.
Why this works: Fixed phrases cannot be reasoned out. Learn them as units.
Check
Fixed phrases can be reasoned out without learning them.
Link Words and Logic
What do link words signal?
However shows contrast. Therefore shows result. Moreover shows addition.
Read the sentence before the gap to see which link fits.
Sources: Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries: however.
What is the clue?
Ask whether the second idea agrees with or opposes the first.
A hard-working student who fails needs however.
| Link word | Signals | Example |
|---|---|---|
| However | Contrast | He tried. However, he failed. |
| Therefore | Result | It rained. Therefore, we stayed in. |
| Moreover | More of the same | It is cheap. Moreover, it is strong. |
| For example | An illustration | Fruit is healthy. For example, apples. |
The link word tells you how two ideas relate.
Check
“However” signals a contrast.
Eliminate and Check
How do you eliminate options?
Cross out options with the wrong form. Cross out those that clash in meaning.
Often two options remain.
How do you choose between two?
Read the full sentence with each one. Pick the smoother one.
Then check the sentences before and after the gap.
Example: Eliminate to find the answer
Take: The scientist made an important ___. The options are discovery, discover, discovering and discovered.
The word important is an adjective and needs a noun after it. Only discovery is a noun.
Why this works: you remove three options by grammar and the fourth is left.
Check
Eliminating wrong options raises your chance.
Solving One Step by Step
Can you see one solved?
Take: The speaker was ____ by the loud noise outside. The options are distracted, distract, distracting, distraction.
The word was shows a passive form, so a past participle is needed. Distracted fits.
Sources: Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries: distract.
Can you see a link-word gap solved?
Take: He worked hard; ____, he failed the exam. The options are however, therefore, moreover, besides.
Hard work should lead to success, but he failed. The result is surprising, so however fits.
What is the final step?
After the last gap, read the whole passage again with your answers.
Fix any gap that now sounds wrong.
Check
Re-reading the finished passage can catch errors.
A Simple Practice Plan
How do you build the habit?
Do one cloze passage a day. Note the clue that decided each gap.
Notice repeated clues: parts of speech, phrases and link words.
How do you review?
Do the quiz below. Re-read the clue for every miss.
Keep a notebook of phrases you missed.
What should you do under time pressure?
Answer the easy gaps first and mark the hard ones.
Return to the hard gaps at the end with fresh eyes.
Common mistakes in cloze tests
Wrong: Picking a word before reading the next sentence.
Right: Reading one sentence on before you choose.
Wrong: Choosing the longest and fanciest word.
Right: Choosing the word that fits the grammar and logic.
Why this works: The next sentence often holds the clue. A simple word that fits beats a fancy one that does not.
Check
Noting the clue behind each answer helps you improve.
Exam Traps
Skim the passage first.
Decide the part of speech.
Learn fixed phrases and prepositions.
Link words show the logic.
Eliminate wrong options.
Re-read the finished passage.
MCQ on Cloze Test Strategy
0 of 1 answered Question 1 of 1 0 of 1 answered Question 1 of 1 0 of 1 answered Question 1 of 1 0 of 1 answered Question 1 of 1 0 of 1 answered Question 1 of 1 0 of 1 answered Question 1 of 1 0 of 1 answered Question 1 of 1
Leave a Reply