Cloze Test - Rules and Examples | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) - CAT PDF Download

Introduction

Cloze reading test is an exercise where candidates are provided with a passage that has certain words missing. To ace such an assessment, candidates must have a strong command of the English language, along with a flair for grammar and a good vocabulary.

• More importantly, it is essential to understand the flow and context of the passage. While  'Cloze Test' is considered by many to be one of the toughest question types in the paper, there are some simple tips and tricks to solve these without needing to be a Ph.D. in English Grammar.

Example: Disregarding the news about impending bad weather, I decided to go out without a/an _______ and ended up getting wet. I resolved thereafter to always take note of the weather ______.
The correct answers in the above scenario would be ‘an umbrella’ or ‘a raincoat’ for the first blank and ‘report’ or ‘forecast’ for the second.

• Since many exams now administer the Cloze test to assess candidates’ English proficiency, it is imperative that if you are appearing for such an exam, you clearly understand how and what to prepare.

Here are some tips that could be of help:

1. Read Thoroughly: Read the passage very carefully to grasp the topic. Read slowly and understand the text. Once the theme is clear, your job becomes easier. You can think of the appropriate words for the blanks based on the situation described.

2. Link the Sentences Together: Remember the passage is made up of connected sentences. Don’t treat each sentence independently. Look for logical connections linking the sentences; this will help you fill the blanks accurately.

3. Identify the Type of Word to Fill In: Examine the blanks and determine the required part of speech—noun, pronoun, verb, preposition, conjunction, or article.
Example:
(i) A Noun:. forgot to carry my ____ to school. I had to share with my friend.
Logical answers: book or tiffin.
(ii) An Article: He ate ____ papaya and threw ___ seeds away.
Articles are usually easier: use ‘a’ or ‘an’ for general facts, ‘the’ for something specific. Correct answers: ‘the’ or ‘his’ in the first blank, and ‘the’ or ‘its’ in the second.
(iii) A Verb: _____ for half an hour left me breathless.
The meaning implies something strenuous, e.g., ‘exercising’ or ‘running’. Choose accordingly.

4. Eliminate Options: When multiple options seem correct, list them and try each. Select the one that fits best with both the sentence and overall passage context.

5. Go with Frequently Used Words: If unsure between options, pick the word most commonly used with surrounding words.
Example: Can I have a ____ word with you?
(a) swift
(b) quick
(c) prompt
Although these mean similar things, ‘quick word’ is a common phrase, so ‘quick’ is the correct answer.

6. Check Tone: Passages have specific tones—narrative, critical, humorous. Choose words that match the tone.
Example: Jonah ____ down the stairs, bumping along like a quarter in a tumbling dryer.
(a) tumbled
(b) fell
(c) dropped
Since the sentence is humorous, ‘tumbled’ fits best, evoking a funny image.

7. Build Your Language Skills: The more you read, the better you understand word usage. Regular reading improves vocabulary and helps you excel in the Cloze Test.

8. Practice Makes Perfect: Ultimately, hard work and consistent practice are vital. Attempt three to four passages daily to identify and improve on weak areas.

Question: Read the following paragraph and answer the five questions that follow. Choose the most appropriate option for each blank.
As a rule of thumb, a manned mission costs from fifty to a hundred times more than a comparable unmanned mission. Thus, for scientific exploration alone, ...(1)... missions, employing machine intelligence, are ...(2)... However, there may well be ...(3)... other than scientific for exploring ...(4)... social, economic, political, cultural or ...(5)...

Fill the blank with the most appropriate word.

1. Which of the following words most appropriately fits the blank labelled (1)?

A: Manned

B: Unmanned

C: Space

D: Lunar

Answer: B

Solution: ‘Unmanned’ is correct because the paragraph contrasts manned and unmanned missions, and ‘unmanned’ fits the context.

2. Which of the following words most appropriately fits the blank labelled (2)?

A: Liked

B: Wanted

C: Used

D: Preferred

Answer: D

Solution: ‘Preferred’ is correct as it shows that unmanned missions are usually chosen over manned ones for scientific exploration.

3. Which of the following words most appropriately fits the blank labelled (3)?

A: Reasons

B: Causes

C: Clues

D: Objects

Answer: A

Solution: ‘Reasons’ fits best as it refers to motivations beyond scientific exploration for undertaking missions.

4. Which of the following words most appropriately fits the blank labelled (4)?

A: Moon

B: Sun

C: Space

D: Mission

Answer: C

Solution: ‘Space’ is appropriate since it refers to the broad area of exploration mentioned.

5. Which of the following words most appropriately fits the blank labelled (5)?

A: Casual

B: Historic

C: Historical

D: Histrionic

Answer: C

Solution: ‘Historical’ is correct because it refers to past events or contexts relevant for exploring space from social, economic, political, or cultural angles.