Introduction
A cloze test is a passage with words removed, and you must choose the right word for each gap. Sentence-completion items ask you to finish a single sentence with a suitable word or clause. Both test grammar, vocabulary and logic together.
How to solve a cloze test
- Read the whole passage first to understand its topic and tone, ignoring the gaps.
- Decide the part of speech that fits each gap: noun, verb, adjective, preposition or connector.
- Check grammar clues: tense, subject-verb agreement, articles and prepositions before and after the gap.
- Check logic clues: words such as but, although, therefore, because show the relation between ideas.
- Read the sentence again with your answer to confirm it sounds natural.
Types of clues
| Clue | What to look for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar | tense, agreement, verb pattern | Can is followed by V1. |
| Collocation | words that usually go together | make a decision, over time, heavy rain |
| Connector logic | contrast, cause, result, addition | Although shows contrast. |
| Parallelism | items in a list keep the same form | enriches, sharpens, exposes |
| Synonym or antonym clue | a nearby word repeats or opposes the meaning | rich in silt, therefore fertile |
Connectors at a glance
| Purpose | Connectors |
|---|---|
| Contrast | but, however, although, though, yet, nevertheless, whereas, while |
| Cause | because, since, as, for, due to, owing to |
| Result | so, therefore, thus, hence, as a result, consequently |
| Addition | and, also, besides, moreover, furthermore, in addition |
| Condition | if, unless, provided that, as long as, in case |
| Purpose | so that, in order that, lest, in order to |
| Time | when, while, before, after, until, as soon as, since |
Worked cloze passage
Reading is one of the best habits a student can (1) ____. It (2) ____ our vocabulary, sharpens our thinking and (3) ____ us to the ideas of great minds. (4) ____ many students spend hours on their phones, only a few spend even half an hour with a book. (5) ____ they read regularly, they would (6) ____ better writers and more confident speakers. A good reader is not made in a day; the habit is built (7) ____ time and practice.
Answers for the cloze passage
Note: these are practice questions written in the style of past NTRCA/BCS preliminary papers. Please cross-check with the official question bank.
Question 1. Blank (1)
- (a) develop
- (b) develops
- (c) developing
- (d) developed
Correct answer: (a) develop
Explanation: Can is followed by the bare infinitive, so develop.
Question 2. Blank (2)
- (a) enrich
- (b) enriches
- (c) enriching
- (d) enriched
Correct answer: (b) enriches
Explanation: The subject It is singular and the sentence is a general truth, so enriches.
Question 3. Blank (3)
- (a) exposes
- (b) exposing
- (c) expose
- (d) exposed
Correct answer: (a) exposes
Explanation: The three verbs (enriches, sharpens, exposes) must be parallel.
Question 4. Blank (4)
- (a) Although
- (b) Because
- (c) Unless
- (d) Since
Correct answer: (a) Although
Explanation: The two halves of the sentence contrast, so use Although.
Question 5. Blank (5)
- (a) If
- (b) Unless
- (c) Although
- (d) Because
Correct answer: (a) If
Explanation: If they read regularly, they would... is a Type 2 conditional.
Question 6. Blank (6)
- (a) became
- (b) become
- (c) becomes
- (d) becoming
Correct answer: (b) become
Explanation: Would is followed by the bare infinitive, so become.
Question 7. Blank (7)
- (a) over
- (b) at
- (c) on
- (d) with
Correct answer: (a) over
Explanation: Over time is the natural collocation.
Sentence completion practice
Note: these are practice questions written in the style of past NTRCA/BCS preliminary papers. Please cross-check with the official question bank.
Question 1. She was so tired ____ she fell asleep at once.
- (a) which
- (b) that
- (c) than
- (d) as
Correct answer: (b) that
Explanation: The pattern is so ... that.
Question 2. He worked hard; ____, he failed.
- (a) therefore
- (b) nevertheless
- (c) because
- (d) so
Correct answer: (b) nevertheless
Explanation: The result is unexpected, so a contrast word, nevertheless, is needed.
Question 3. ____ he was ill, he attended the class.
- (a) Because
- (b) Although
- (c) Unless
- (d) Since
Correct answer: (b) Although
Explanation: Being ill and attending are contrasting ideas.
Question 4. The teacher, ____ was very strict, praised the boy.
- (a) who
- (b) whom
- (c) whose
- (d) which
Correct answer: (a) who
Explanation: Who is the subject of was and refers to a person.
Question 5. Not only did he win the prize, ____ he also broke the record.
- (a) and
- (b) but
- (c) so
- (d) or
Correct answer: (b) but
Explanation: Not only ... but also is the fixed pair.
Question 6. Please speak loudly ____ everyone can hear you.
- (a) so that
- (b) because of
- (c) in spite of
- (d) unless
Correct answer: (a) so that
Explanation: So that shows purpose.
Question 7. You will not pass ____ you study seriously.
- (a) if
- (b) unless
- (c) although
- (d) when
Correct answer: (b) unless
Explanation: Unless means if not.
Question 8. He is neither rich ____ famous.
- (a) or
- (b) nor
- (c) and
- (d) but
Correct answer: (b) nor
Explanation: Neither pairs with nor.
Common exam traps
- Choosing a word that fits the meaning but breaks the grammar, such as develops after can.
- Ignoring the connector logic, so a contrast word is placed where a cause word is needed.
- Not reading the sentence again after choosing an option.
Memory tips
- Fill the easy gaps first. They often help with the harder ones.
- Look one sentence before and one after the gap.
- Prepositions follow fixed patterns. Learn them as pairs.
Key takeaways
- Read for meaning first, then check grammar and logic.
- Connectors show the relationship between ideas, so read them carefully.
- Verbs in a list must keep the same form.
- Always re-read the completed sentence.