CLOZE TEST

CLOZE TEST GENERAL ENGLISH

Introduction:

English holds some features unique to it besides being the core part of testing, the biggest problem with objective General English part is it doesn't follow a fixed syllabus. It also changes the pattern of questions from time to time. Even if it focuses on a particular area of testing, the level of question varies a lot much, when it is compared to any other part of evaluation. In clearer terms, the basic syllabus can be categorized like Vocabulary, Reading comprehension and Functional Grammar. These areas are very vast and they demand much time to have a clear understanding. One of such areas and a must-question type is 'cloze test'.

¤ What is a Cloze Test?

The word cloze means to complete a pattern. A cloze test consists of a portion of text with certain words removed (cloze text), where the candidate is asked to replace the missing words. It is also called a cloze deletion test. It requires the ability to understand the context and vocabulary in order to identify the correct words or type of words that belong in the deleted passages of a text. Just like the name suggests, the test taker is provided a passage with blanks which are serially numbered to be filled in. Below the passage five answer choices are supplied for each numbered blank to be opted out of which only one fits the best.

¤ How to crack these questions?

This question type is common on many competitive examinations. So every aspirant of a job needs to have a good skill to ace this zone of the test. It is recommended that one should learn what to look for in the cloze reading passage and how to supply the missing words. Once you learn what to look for, right answers will just pop into your head. If you ant to learn what to look

for, you must understand the expectation of the examiner from the examinee.

The cloze test evaluates the candidate's ability to use a variety of items including grammar, vocabulary, word order, collocations, verb forms, connectors etc...

These items are basically tested in two different ways. The first type aims at the sentence structure level and the other type covers the discourse level which means organization of the composition.

In the first level of questions, the expected answer is a word or phrase that suits to the context based on

1) Collocation (word combination)

2) Part of a verb form (tenses)

3) Word form (Parts of speech) etc....

In the other type of questions, the candidate's over all understanding of the passage is the primary concern. Here, it is very important to note a point which is dissimilar to the first type.

One cannot identify the answer to a blank just by considering the immediately after or before support. It should also be more prominent to go through the text entirely for the gist concept of the passage. In other words it tests the ability to use discourse markers such as first, firstly, however, later, etc...

The answers for these kinds of questions demand the candidate's vocabulary power and ability to use discourse markers and connectors which refer to the sequencing of the idea.

¤ STRATEGY

There are a few Dos and Don'ts to remember while solving these questions. These will definitely help you build accurate-answer picking strategies.

Step 1: Read the text through trying to understand the general meaning. (Skim through the passage)

Step 2: Read the second time trying to:

a) Fill the gaps with expected notions

b) Choose the right part of speech of the required sense indicating word.

c) Focus on even collocation.

d) Judge whether it is a sentence level or discourse level of question.

Step 3: Eliminate the answer choices that do not fit to your guessing.

Step 4: Read once again to confirm the expected thought is clearly displayed.

You should also bear in your mind the following tips, which can comfort you, while applying the strategy.

¤ Dos

* Always think about the overall meaning of the text to make sure that your answer choice fits the context.

* Try to gauge the thought whether it is positive or negative. (it will help you find answers easily)

* Always try to depend upon the helpers (like collocations, fixed expression, sign posts, clues of a sentence etc...)

* Decide which part of speech (adjective, noun, gerund, etc.) needs to be used to fill each gap.

* If you are unsure of any given answer, try reading the sentence with each of the five possibilities.

* Try to eliminate the obvious false answers (usually two/ three relatively false answers are given)

* When stuck between two answers, go with the one that sounds better.

* Check your watch every now and then to adjust your pace

* Trust your intuition. If you feel a word is right instinctively, it probably is correct.

* Always keep on open to the under current thought of the passage

¤ Don'ts

* Don't focus on the meaning of each and every word of the passage

* Never get bogged down at a particular blank

* Do not try to answer questions on your first reading.

* Don't try to translate into/ from your mother tongue

* Do not insist on completing each question before going to the next. By insisting on completing each question, you lose time and become nervous

Although he is no longer alive,____1__ his influence can be felt in the studio ___2___ he created cartoons and feature films which made him known and ___3___ across the word.  __4__ many people who work to create humor, he took it very seriously. He would sit sadly ___5__ the funniest cartoon concentrating or some way to improve it. Walt Disney __6__ the opinions of those working with him but the ___7___ judgment was always his own. He demanded a lot ___8___ people but he gave a lot too. When the economy was not doing well he gave everyone a ___9___ and though some__10__ of this, it gave his employees' morale a

1. 1) yet 2) even 3) and 4) till 5) besides

2. 1) from 2) where 3) which 4) while 5) that

3. 1) respect 2) seen 3) loved 4) entertained 5) laughed

Ans:

1.1 Here, it is only 'yet' because 'although' agrees with only 'yet' out of the given options. It is a matter of collocation.

2.2 Here, the description continues about 'the studio' and 'studio' is a place. Therefore, 'where' is the befitting word. The required word has to represent the place.

3.3 Here, 'loved' is the suitable expression because the word 'and' indicates the sense required. Since the expression before 'and' is positive the required expression should also be positive. Now let's take up each option and eliminate the ones that do not fit to the blank. Option1 'respect' doesn't fit because it is a noun form but here we need a verb third form (past participle). It is known to you if you observe the verb after 'made' i.e. 'known'. Option 2, though it is in past participle form, it doesn't fit because ...Observe the following expression:

The given sentence is _________ . His feature films made him known and _________

Here, plug in the remaining answer choices because all the options are in past participle form.

* known and seen/ known and loved / known and entertained/ known and laughed. You can easily eliminate 'laughed' because it gives a negative sense.

You can also eliminate 'entertained and seen' because feature films do not make their creator seen or entertained but loved by people.

4. 1) for 2) to 3) without 4)not 5) like

5. 1) on 2) until 3) front 4) through 5) in

Ans: 4.5 Here, the sentence is a comparison between the spoken of (character) and the other cartoonists. Therefore only 'like' fits but not any other word.

5.1 Here, it is a collocation. 'Sit on something/ a task' is the proper expression. Therefore 'on' is only option suitable.

6. 1) saw 2) concluded 3) discussed 4) discouraged 5) valued

7. 1) final 2) ultimately 3) important 4) hasty 5) lasting

Ans:

6.5 Here, you should consider both the two blanks of the sentence. Disney took the others opinion into consideration and always decide on his own. With the meaning 'take into consideration', there is only one option that is 'valued'. Therefore, that is the answer.

7.1 By answering the 6th blank you can easily guess the sense required. You can also eliminate 3rd, 4th, and 5th options as irrelevant. Since you are struck with two options let's see how to break the controversy. The immediate word after the blank is 'judgment' which is a noun. The options- 'final' is an adjective and 'ultimately' is an adverb. Noun takes an adjective but not an adverb. Therefore, the answer is 'final'.

8. 1) by 2) from 3) with 4) to 5) many

9. 1) advance 2) share 3) fee 4) raise 5) profit

10. 1) credit 2) disapproved 3) criticized 4) offended 5) paid

Ans: 8.2 It is a 'suitable preposition' testing question. The sentence is- He demanded something---------people.

Now, plug in the options, you can find the right answer easily. 'From people' is the only option fitting.

9.4 Here, the sentence is- He gave everyone a----------. If you plug in the options 2nd, 3rd, and 5th are eliminated because a boss doesn't give any of these to his employees. Lets break the controversy -the very before word of the blank is 'a' which takes a consonant sound but not a vowel sound after it. Therefore, the answer is 'raise'.

10.2 Here, 'though' functions as a trigger. It always carries two contradictory thoughts. The sense before the word 'though' is positive, so let's take up negative sense. Options 1st and 5th are eliminated. The remaining options are negative words but all of them can't be answers. If you observe the immediate word after the blank is a 'of'. It collocates with neither 'criticized', nor 'offended' but with 'disapproved'. Therefore, it is the answer.