Strategies for Taking Cloze Reading Tests

Many standardized tests for reading use the cloze method. This method gives an essay
or article or paragraph, then students have to fill in the correct word based on the
content of the writing piece.
Usually students are given four choices. One choice is the best answer. The second is
almost as good. The third is off the point. The fourth is the opposite of the correct
answer.
In order to pick the best answer students need to look for hints in the writing. The
following hints can help you when you take any kind of reading test.
lways read the title carefully. It almost always gives clues about the main idea.
Use conte!t clues. "ook for definitions in the writing. "ook for meaning or
definitions inside #uotes or dashes. $ometimes definitions of unknown words are
given to you.
%ead the sentences before and after the blank word very carefully.
"ook for words that suggest similarities like same, same as, similarly, also.
"ook for words that suggest opposites like however, on the other hand, but,
although, conversely, can&t be called.
'uess the meaning of sentences or words based on your own knowledge.
$kim or scan the reading before you begin answering #uestions.
"earn prefi!es, suffi!es and roots.
Try to think of the correct answer before you look at the possible choices. Then
read again, then look at the choices. Then pick the best answer.
If you see a noun that is repeated throughout the reading that word is usually part
of the main idea.
TIPS ON HOW TO COMPLETE CLOZE TESTS
( )irst, slowly read all the te!t without filling any of the gaps. %ead it two or three times
until you have a clear understanding of what the te!t is about.
( Then only complete the gaps you are absolutely sure of.
( *e!t try and find out what the missing words in the remaining gaps are. $ee which part
of speech may fit in each gap +article,, pronoun,, noun,, adverb,, ad-ective,,
preposition,, con-unction,, verb,. and pay special attention to the grammar around the
words in each gap.
Many of the gaps may include the following/
0 preposition following a noun, ad-ective or verb. +1!ample/ good at languages.
0 prepositional phrase. +1!ample/ in spite of .
0 adverb. ( 1!ample/ 2e moved to "ondon two years ago .
0 connector. +1!ample/ )irst, he arrives3 then he sits down3 finally, he leaves..
0 conjunction. +1!ample/ Although he is five, he can speak five languages.
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0 auxiliary verb . +1!ample/ 2e has won 5 matches.
0 an article or some other kind of determiner. +1!ample/ I have no time.
0 a relative . +1!ample/ 6ob, who I met two years ago, is my best friend.
0 a pronoun , either sub-ect or ob-ect. +1!ample : it is difficult to know.
0 is there a comparative or superlative involved, +1!ample/ she&s taller than me.
( $ome sentences may seem to be complete and contain gaps that appear to be
unnecessary. If you find gaps like this, you will probably need the following/
0 an adverb. +1!ample/ 2e is always late.
0 a modal verb . +1!ample/ They can swim very well.
0 a word to change the emphasis of the sentence/ $he&s good enough to be #ueen
0 The problems are too difficult
( few gaps may demand a vocabulary item consistent with the topic of the te!t3 or a
word which is part of an idiomatic e!pression +e!ample/ Good heavens7.3 or a word
which collocates with another one +e!ample/ do a -ob.3 or a word which is part of a
phrasal verb +e!ample/ I was held up by traffic..
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