Cloze Test Tips and Tricks
A cloze test (also cloze deletion test) is an exercise, test, or assessment consisting of a portion of text with certain words removed (cloze text), where the participant is asked to replace the missing words. Cloze tests require the ability to understand context and vocabulary in order to identify the correct words or type of words that belong in the deleted passages of a text. Cloze test is common on all Bank and SSC exams. They usually require you to choose the correct choice out of four possibilities.
How to Tackle a Cloze Test
Example:
A language teacher may give the following passage to students:
Today, I went to the ________ and bought some milk and eggs. I knew it was going to rain, but I forgot to take my ________, and ended up getting wet on the way ________.
Explanation:
Students would then be required to fill in the blanks with words that would best complete the passage. Context in language and content terms is essential in most, if not all, cloze tests. The first blank is preceded by “the”; therefore, a noun, an adjective or an adverb must follow. However, a conjunction follows the blank; the sentence would not be grammatically correct if anything other than a noun were in the blank. The words “milk and eggs” are important for deciding which noun to put in the blank; “market” is a possible answer; depending on the student, however, the first blank could either be store, supermarket, shop or market while umbrella or raincoat fit the second.
Example:
I saw a man lay his jacket on a puddle for a woman crossing the street. I thought that was very ______.
Explanation:
Given the above passage, students’ answers may then vary depending on their vocabulary skills and their personal opinions. However, the placement of the blank at the end of the sentence restricts the possible words that may complete the sentence; following an adverb and finishing the sentence, the word is most likely an adjective. Romantic, chivalrous or gallant may, for example, occupy the blank, as well as foolish or cheesy.
Tips to Tackle a Cloze Test
- Read the text through trying to understanding the general meaning.
- Look at each missing word gap and try to imagine what the correct word should be.
- Decide which part of speech (adjective, noun, gerund, etc.) needs to be used to fill each gap.
- Read the text again, trying to fill a gap as you come to it by imagining what the correct answer should be.
- Read the text another time, this time choose the correct answer from the five answers given.
- If you are unsure of any given answer, try reading the sentence with each of the possibilities.
- Try to eliminate the obvious false choices.
- Always think about the overall meaning of the text (i.e., whether the text is negative, positive, etc.) to make sure that your answer choice fits the context.
- Trust your intuition. If you feel a word is right instinctively, it probably is correct.
