📝 Cloze Test - Complete Theory

Master contextual word selection - vocabulary meets grammar!

🎯 What is Cloze Test?

Cloze Test is a passage with multiple blanks where you need to:

• Choose the most appropriate word for each blank
• Maintain contextual meaning
• Ensure grammatical correctness
• Keep passage coherent and logical

Example:

"The Reserve Bank plays a __(1)__ role in the economy.
It __(2)__ monetary policy to control inflation."

(1) A) crucial  B) minor  C) negative  D) temporary
(2) A) ignores  B) implements  C) destroys  D) questions

Answers: (1) A - crucial, (2) B - implements

Importance in IBPS:

• Prelims: 5 questions (1 passage)
• Mains: 5-10 questions (1-2 passages)
• Scoring: Can solve in 4-5 minutes with practice

📐 Types of Blanks

Type 1: Vocabulary-Based

What: Requires right word choice based on meaning

Example:

"The government's __(1)__ measures helped reduce poverty."

Options: A) harsh  B) effective  C) useless  D) random

Answer: B) effective
(Meaning: measures that worked/had positive impact)

Strategy: Understand context, choose word that fits meaning

Type 2: Grammar-Based

What: Requires correct grammatical form

Example:

"The bank has __(1)__ implementing new policies."

Options: A) begin  B) began  C) begun  D) beginning

Answer: C) begun
(Grammar: "has" + past participle = present perfect tense)

Strategy: Identify tense, subject-verb agreement, parts of speech

Type 3: Connector/Linker-Based

What: Requires appropriate connecting word

Example:

"He studied hard; __(1)__, he failed the exam."

Options: A) therefore  B) moreover  C) however  D) likewise

Answer: C) however
(Logic: contrast between studying hard and failing)

Strategy: Understand relationship between clauses

Type 4: Phrasal Verb/Idiom-Based

What: Requires knowledge of phrases and idioms

Example:

"The project was __(1)__ due to lack of funding."

Options: A) called off  B) called on  C) called at  D) called by

Answer: A) called off
(Phrasal verb: "called off" = cancelled)

Strategy: Know common phrasal verbs and their meanings

Type 5: Preposition-Based

What: Requires correct preposition

Example:

"He is good __(1)__ mathematics."

Options: A) in  B) at  C) on  D) for

Answer: B) at
(Usage: "good at" is correct collocation)

Strategy: Know common preposition collocations

⚡ Solving Strategy

Step-by-Step Approach

Step 1: Read the Entire Passage First (30 seconds)

Don't look at options yet!
Understand:
- Overall theme/topic
- Tone (positive/negative/neutral)
- Context of passage

Step 2: Identify Easy Blanks (1 minute)

Some blanks are obvious:
- Article blanks (a/an/the)
- Simple prepositions (in/on/at)
- Clear verb forms

Fill these first to build confidence and context

Step 3: Use Context Clues (2 minutes)

For each blank, read:
- Sentence before the blank
- Sentence with the blank
- Sentence after the blank

This gives complete context

Step 4: Eliminate Wrong Options (1 minute)

Remove options that:
- Don't fit grammatically
- Change meaning negatively
- Don't match tone
- Create awkward phrasing

Step 5: Verify Flow (30 seconds)

Read entire passage with chosen words
Check if it flows naturally
Make sure meaning is clear

Total Time: 4-5 minutes for 5 blanks

📊 Common Connectors & Their Usage

Showing Addition/Continuation

moreover, furthermore, additionally, besides, also, in addition

Example: "The economy is growing. Moreover, inflation is low."

Showing Contrast/Opposition

however, nevertheless, nonetheless, yet, although, though, but, whereas

Example: "He worked hard; however, he didn't succeed."

Showing Cause/Effect

therefore, thus, hence, consequently, as a result, so

Example: "It rained heavily; therefore, the match was cancelled."

Showing Example/Illustration

for example, for instance, such as, namely, specifically

Example: "Many fruits, such as apples and oranges, are rich in vitamins."

Showing Time Sequence

meanwhile, subsequently, thereafter, previously, finally, initially

Example: "He studied medicine. Subsequently, he became a doctor."

Showing Similarity

similarly, likewise, equally, in the same way

Example: "India is developing rapidly. Similarly, China is growing."

💡 Grammar Rules for Cloze Test

Rule 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

Singular subject → Singular verb
Plural subject → Plural verb

Correct: "The bank has implemented new rules."
Wrong: "The bank have implemented new rules." ✗

Correct: "The banks have implemented new rules."
Wrong: "The banks has implemented new rules." ✗

Rule 2: Tense Consistency

Keep tense consistent unless time changes

Passage in past: "The RBI announced... It implemented..."
Not: "The RBI announced... It implements..." ✗

Rule 3: Active vs Passive Voice

Active: Subject does action
"The government implemented the policy."

Passive: Action done to subject
"The policy was implemented by the government."

Choose based on context and flow

Rule 4: Articles (a/an/the)

"a/an" = First mention, non-specific
"The bank introduced a new scheme." (first mention)

"the" = Specific, already mentioned
"The scheme was well received." (mentioned before)

"a" before consonant sound: a book, a university (you- sound)
"an" before vowel sound: an apple, an hour (silent h)

Rule 5: Prepositions

Common fixed prepositions:
- good at (not in/on)
- interested in (not at/on)
- depend on (not in/at)
- different from (not than/with)
- capable of (not in/for)

🎯 Word Choice Strategies

Strategy 1: Positive vs Negative

Passage tone matters!

Positive passage:
"The reform was __(1)__ for the economy."
Options: beneficial ✓, harmful ✗, destructive ✗

Negative passage:
"The crisis __(1)__ the banking sector."
Options: strengthened ✗, improved ✗, damaged ✓

Strategy 2: Intensity Match

Choose word with right intensity level

Mild: "The growth was satisfactory."
Moderate: "The growth was good."
Strong: "The growth was excellent."
Extreme: "The growth was phenomenal."

Match intensity with passage context

Strategy 3: Formal vs Informal

Banking passages → Formal language

Formal: "The bank implemented the policy."
Informal: "The bank started the policy." ✗
Casual: "The bank kicked off the policy." ✗

Strategy 4: Synonyms Check

If multiple words seem correct, choose the one that:
- Fits grammatically
- Matches formality level
- Creates natural flow

Example: big, large, huge, enormous - all similar
But "substantial increase" is better than "big increase" in formal writing

💡 Solved Examples

Example 1: Basic Cloze

Passage:

"Digital payments have __(1)__ significantly in India.
The government has __(2)__ various initiatives to promote
cashless transactions. __(3)__ this trend, traditional banking
methods are __(4)__ losing relevance."

Options:
(1) A) decreased  B) increased  C) stopped  D) failed
(2) A) destroyed  B) ignored  C) launched  D) cancelled
(3) A) Despite  B) Due to  C) Although  D) Because
(4) A) rapidly  B) slowly  C) never  D) barely

Solution:

(1) B) increased

Context: "Digital payments" + positive development
"increased" fits positive growth context

(2) C) launched

Context: Government + initiatives + promote
"launched" (started) is appropriate for initiatives

(3) B) Due to

Context: Trend causing traditional methods to lose relevance
"Due to" shows cause-effect relationship

(4) A) rapidly

Context: Losing relevance (negative for traditional methods)
"rapidly" shows fast pace of change

Example 2: Grammar-Based

Passage:

"The Reserve Bank __(1)__ been monitoring inflation closely.
It __(2)__ implement measures if prices __(3)__ rising.
The bank's policies __(4)__ effective so far."

Options:
(1) A) have  B) has  C) had  D) having
(2) A) will  B) was  C) were  D) been
(3) A) keeps  B) keep  C) kept  D) keeping
(4) A) has been  B) have been  C) was  D) were

Solution:

(1) B) has

Grammar: "The Reserve Bank" (singular) + has + been (present perfect)
Correct: has been

(2) A) will

Grammar: Future condition ("if prices rise")
"will implement" = future tense

(3) B) keep

Grammar: "prices" (plural subject) + present tense
"keep rising" is correct

(4) B) have been

Grammar: "policies" (plural) + have + been
"have been effective" is correct

Example 3: Connector-Based

Passage:

"The economy was showing signs of recovery. __(1)__, experts
remained cautious. __(2)__, unemployment rates were still high.
__(3)__, the government announced new stimulus packages."

Options:
(1) A) Therefore  B) Moreover  C) However  D) Similarly
(2) A) For instance  B) Therefore  C) Similarly  D) However
(3) A) However  B) Consequently  C) Similarly  D) Although

Solution:

(1) C) However

Contrast: Recovery (positive) BUT experts cautious (negative)
"However" shows contrast

(2) A) For instance

Example: Giving specific example of why experts cautious
"For instance" introduces example (unemployment)

(3) B) Consequently

Result: High unemployment → Government action
"Consequently" (as a result) fits cause-effect

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Mistake 1: Ignoring Context

Wrong: Choosing word based on meaning alone ✗
Right: Choose word that fits entire passage context ✓

Example:
Blank: "The bank's performance was __(1)__"

Without context: "good", "excellent", "poor" all seem valid
With context: If passage discusses challenges faced,
"poor" or "satisfactory" fits better than "excellent"

❌ Mistake 2: Not Reading Full Passage

Wrong: Filling blanks one by one from start ✗
Right: Read entire passage first, then fill blanks ✓

Some blanks need context from later sentences!

❌ Mistake 3: Choosing Complicated Words

Wrong: Assuming difficult words are correct ✗
Right: Choose natural, fitting word ✓

Simple word that fits > Complex word that doesn't

❌ Mistake 4: Grammar Ignorance

Wrong: Choosing word that sounds right but is grammatically wrong ✗
Right: Verify grammar before selecting ✓

"The bank have" ✗ (sounds okay to some, but grammatically wrong)
"The bank has" ✓

❌ Mistake 5: Not Eliminating Options

Wrong: Choosing first option that seems correct ✗
Right: Eliminate clearly wrong options first ✓

Process of elimination increases accuracy!

📝 Practice Approach

Week 1-2: Grammar Focus

- Practice grammar-based cloze tests
- Review tenses, subject-verb agreement
- Learn articles, prepositions usage
- Target: 100% accuracy on grammar blanks

Week 3-4: Vocabulary Building

- Read 1 passage daily
- Note new words
- Learn synonyms, antonyms
- Practice connector usage

Week 5+: Mixed Practice

- Timed cloze tests (5 blanks in 4-5 minutes)
- Mix grammar and vocabulary
- Analyze mistakes

🎯 Exam Strategy

Time Allocation

IBPS Prelims: 4-5 minutes for 5 blanks
IBPS Mains: 8-10 minutes for 10 blanks

Per blank: 45-60 seconds maximum

Priority Order

1. Grammar-based blanks (30 seconds) - Most certain
2. Connector blanks (45 seconds) - Limited options
3. Vocabulary blanks (60 seconds) - Need context
4. Tricky blanks (skip if unsure, come back)

🔗 Related Topics

Uses Concepts From:

• Vocabulary - Word meanings
• Grammar rules (tenses, articles, prepositions)
• Reading Comprehension - Context understanding

Related English Topics:

• Fill in the Blanks - Single blank questions
• Sentence Improvement - Grammar application

Practice:

• Cloze Test Questions

Master Cloze Test - Context is king, grammar is queen! 📝