Cloze Test Tips and Tricks for Government Exams

Theory

A Cloze test is an amalgamation of ‘comprehension’ and ‘fill in the blanks’ where your reading, analysing and vocabulary skills are all tested at once. A comprehension or a passage is given in the question which comprises blanks. Candidates need to choose the most appropriate word from the given options, which can most suitably be placed in the blank.

Tips

• Overview of the Passage: Take a quick glance at the passage to know what the topic deals with as this will help you apprehend which of the given options most suitably fits in the blank.
• Look for Contextually Correct Options: The options provided under cloze test may seem to be similar in meaning, which makes selecting the appropriate option even tougher. Thus, look for an option which aptly fits with the context of the passage.
• Eliminate Options in case confused: If you are unable to reach an answer, try eliminating the options which seem to be incorrect. This will lessen your options and may help to arrive at the correct answer easily.
• Link the Sentences while answering: The cloze test is a passage based on a particular topic. So, if you are unable to find the answer, try linking the sentences with each other to simplify the context of the passage.
• Understand the tone of the passage: Once a candidate understands the tone of the passage, selecting the appropriate option becomes easier.

Solved Examples