Solved Examples: Cloze Test | English Language & Comprehension for SSC CGL PDF Download

Read The Entire Passage Carefully

Carefully review the entire passage as questions in the Cloze Test Passage can be intricate. Each comprehension or paragraph maintains its own coherence and theme. Therefore, the primary approach in tackling cloze tests should always involve thoroughly examining the entire text or comprehension, at least once. Go through each line deliberately, avoiding haste, and form a cohesive understanding of the cloze test paragraph. Once you have a general grasp, it becomes simpler to identify the most appropriate choice for each blank.

Read The Options Thoroughly

Diligently examine the available options for the given blanks, usually ranging from 4 to 5 choices. It is crucial to scrutinize these options with attention. Despite similarities among options, selecting the correct one requires time and patience.

Choose the Right Word

Select the appropriate word by thoroughly comprehending the passage and considering potential words that could fill the blank space. Contemplate the suitable word that aligns with the context while reading slowly and understanding the meaning of each sentence. The answer could belong to any part of speech—noun, pronoun, verb, preposition, conjunction, adjective, or article.

Ensure Clarity in Expression

When answering cloze test paragraph questions, it's crucial to maintain the original integrity and tone of the text. Select an answer that seamlessly fits the passage while preserving its tone and intended meaning.

Assessing the Passage Tone

The cloze test passage encompasses various elements such as nouns, articles, pronouns, adjectives, and more. Identify the fundamental tone and pattern of the passage. Some prevalent tones include:

• Narrative
• Descriptive
• Humorous
• Critical...and so forth.

Avoiding Redundancy

Discarding irrelevant options that don't align with the context is essential to prevent redundancy. Although options might appear similar and perplexing, filtering them out is crucial for arriving at a definite answer.

Establishing Connections

Certain blanks may accommodate multiple fitting answers. To address this, attempt to link options with the sentence structure. Experimenting with suitable words within the sentence helps in determining the most appropriate answer. Connecting the words before and after the blank is beneficial.

Identifying Keywords

Scanning for specific keywords in the passage aids in deciphering the primary theme. This facilitates the selection of a more suitable word that aligns with or relates to the central theme without conflicting with it.

Understanding Common Jargon

Jargon denotes concepts related to specific fields, sometimes referred to as 'lingo.' For instance:

• Due diligence: In business, "due diligence" refers to the research conducted before crucial business decisions.

Reviewing Upon Completion

After answering the question, it's essential to re-read the entire passage to ensure comprehensive coherence in tone and context. Avoid skipping to the next question without proofreading the answer and passage.

Engaging in Regular Practice

Practice serves as a solution to every problem. Similar types of questions might appear in exams, workbooks, previous questionnaires, or online and offline quizzes. Consistent practice aids in understanding how to approach cloze tests flawlessly.

Solved Examples

Example 1: Directions to solve: Read and paragraphs given below and try to fill the blank with an answer which fits in the context.
As a rule of thumb, a … (1) … mission costs from fifty to a hundred times more than a comparable unmanned mission. Thus, for scientific exploration alone unmanned missions, employing machine … (2) …, are preferred. However, there may well be reasons other than scientific … (3) … exploring space, social, … (4) …, political, cultural or ... (5) ...

Solve as per directions given above
(a) Mission
(b) Intelligence
(c) Preference
(d) Space
Ans: (b)
Intelligence is the only work going with machine as well as fit in the context, others give irrelevant meanings.

Example 2: Directions to solve: Read and paragraphs given below and try to fill the blank with an answer that fits in the context.
As a rule of thumb, a … (1) … mission costs from fifty to a hundred times more than a comparable unmanned mission. Thus, for scientific exploration alone unmanned missions, employing machine … (2) …, are preferred. However, there may well be reasons other than scientific … (3) … exploring space, social, … (4) …, political, cultural or ... (5) ...

Solve as per directions given above
(a) Cultural
(b) Economic
(c) Mission
(d) Machine
Ans: (b)
Usually, the concerns are given as social, cultural and economic. Therefore, economic is the only relevant answer as mission and machine do not link here, and culture is already present in the sentence.

Example 3: Directions to solve: Read and paragraphs given below and try to fill the blank with an answer which fits in the context.
As a rule of thumb, a … (1) … mission costs from fifty to a hundred times more than a comparable unmanned mission. Thus, for scientific exploration alone unmanned missions, employing machine … (2) …, are preferred. However, there may well be reasons other than scientific … (3) … exploring space, social, … (4) …, political, cultural or ... (5) ...

Solve as per directions given above
(a) Manned
(b) Unmanned
(c) Space
(d) Intelligence
Ans: (a)
As unmanned mission given in the sentence acts as comparison acts like a hint, the correct option is manned.

Example 4: Directions to solve: Read and paragraphs given below and try to fill the blank with an answer which fits in the context.
As a rule of thumb, a … (1) … mission costs from fifty to a hundred times more than a comparable unmanned mission. Thus, for scientific exploration alone unmanned missions, employing machine … (2) …, are preferred. However, there may well be reasons other than scientific … (3) … exploring space, social, … (4) …, political, cultural or ... (5) ...

Solve as per directions given above
(a) That
(b) Or
(c) In
(d) For
Ans: (d)
For is the only available preposition fitting right in the sentence.

Example 5: Directions to solve: Read and paragraphs given below and try to fill the blank with an answer that fits in the context.
As a rule of thumb, a … (1) … mission costs from fifty to a hundred times more than a comparable unmanned mission. Thus, for scientific exploration alone unmanned missions, employing machine … (2) …, are preferred. However, there may well be reasons other than scientific … (3) … exploring space, social, … (4) …, political, cultural or ... (5) ...
Solve as per directions given above
(a) Historic
(b) Historical
(c) Histrionic
(d) Casual
Ans: (b)
To avoid parallel construction between historic and cultural, historical is chosen as a suitable answer.

Example 6: Directions to solve: Read and paragraphs given below and try to fill the blank with an answer that fits in the context.
Today most businessmen are very worried. To begin with, they are not used to competition. In the past ...(1)... sold whatever they produced at whatever prices they chose. But with ...(2)... competition, ...(3)... began to pick and choose. Imports suddenly became ...(4)... available and that too at cheaper ...(5)...

Solve as per directions given above
(a) Consumers
(b) People
(c) Media
(d) World
Ans: (a)
Consumers is the right choice as per the theme of the text; other options will make the sentence crude.

Example 7: Directions to solve: Read and paragraphs given below and try to fill the blank with an answer that fits in the context.
Today most businessmen are very worried. To begin with, they are not used to competition. In the past ...(1)... sold whatever they produced at whatever prices they chose. But with ...(2)... competition, ...(3)... began to pick and choose. Imports suddenly became ...(4)... available and that too at cheaper ...(5)...

Solve as per directions given above
(a) Income
(b) Loss
(c) Prices
(d) Coins
Ans: (c)
The whole context is about prices and it goes right with cheaper. Therefore, prices is the right answer.

Example 8: Directions to solve: Read and paragraphs given below and try to fill the blank with an answer that fits in the context.
Today most businessmen are very worried. To begin with, they are not used to competition. In the past ...(1)... sold whatever they produced at whatever prices they chose. But with ...(2)... competition, ...(3)... began to pick and choose. Imports suddenly became ...(4)... available and that too at cheaper ...(5)...
Solve as per directions given above
(a) Decreasing
(b) Increasing
(c) Upgrading
(d) Enthralling
Ans: (b)
The paragraph talks about the increase in prices. Therefore, increase is the correct option here.

Example 9: Directions to solve: Read and paragraphs given below and try to fill the blank with an answer that fits in the context.
Today most businessmen are very worried. To begin with, they are not used to competition. In the past ...(1)... sold whatever they produced at whatever prices they chose. But with ...(2)... competition, ...(3)... began to pick and choose. Imports suddenly became ...(4)... available and that too at cheaper ...(5)...

Solve as per directions given above
(a) Frequently
(b) Hardly
(c) Conveniently
(d) Easily
Ans: (d)
The availability of imports become easier. Therefore, easily is the best choice.