Master the art of filling blanks intelligently — using grammar rules, context clues, collocations and elimination strategies to score 10/10 every time in SSC CGL, CHSL and Bank exams.
1
Section 1 of 6
📖 What is a Cloze Test?
A cloze test (also called a fill-in-the-blanks passage) presents you with a paragraph of 150–250 words from which 10 words have been removed. Your job is to select the most appropriate word for each blank from the four options given. In SSC CGL, CHSL and Bank exams, each passage carries 10 marks and you typically face 2–5 passages per paper.
The 3-Step Reading Strategy
Step 1Read the full passage once without filling any blankUnderstand the topic, tone and direction
Step 2Fill easy blanks first — grammar-based (article, preposition, conjunction)These have definite correct answers
Step 3Use context + elimination for vocabulary blanksCheck tone: positive passage → positive word
What is TestedPrepositions, conjunctions, articles, vocabulary in context, verb forms, collocations, determiners, and register (formal vs informal).
Time Budget2 minutes per passage. 1 passage = 10 questions × 1 mark each. Practise reading 200-word passages in under 60 seconds.
Grammar Blanks~40–50% of blanks test grammar (preposition, article, conjunction, verb form). These are rule-based — one answer is definitively correct.
Vocabulary Blanks~50–60% test vocabulary and collocations. Use surrounding sentences as clues. Eliminate words that contradict the passage tone.
Pro tip: Always read the sentence before AND after the blank. The answer is almost never hidden in just the blank sentence — the surrounding context reveals the correct word. This single habit is responsible for 2–3 extra correct answers per passage.
📖Cloze Passage PracticeFill all 10 blanks, then check
Topic: Environment & Climate Change
Progress: 0/10 blanks filled
Climate change one of the most serious threats to human civilisation. Over the past century, average global temperatures have risen approximately 1.2°C, a shift that scientists attribute the burning of fossil fuels. Glaciers steadily the Industrial Revolution. The consequences include rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the loss of biodiversity. world leaders take decisive action now, irreversible damage to ecosystems will occur within decades. Renewable energy, solar and wind power, offer viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Public awareness also plays crucial role. individual must reduce their carbon footprint through choices like switching to electric vehicles or reducing meat consumption. The planet's future on the collective decisions we make today.
In a cloze test, a blank that tests conjunctions is filled by reading the between the two clauses.
The recommended first step when attempting a cloze passage is to to understand the topic and tone before attempting any blank.
Grammar-based blanks (articles, prepositions, conjunctions) should be attempted because they follow fixed rules and have one definitively correct answer.
📝Practice Questions
Q1The committee decided to postpone the meeting _____ next Monday.
Q2She has been working at this firm _____ five years.
Q3The new policy is _____ the interests of the workers.
