A Cloze Test presents a continuous paragraph with multiple blanks where key words have been removed. It evaluates your reading flow, contextual vocabulary, and grammatical alignment simultaneously.

Step 1: Read the Entire Passage First

Never fill in blanks on your very first read. Skim the entire passage from start to finish without looking at the options. This helps you identify the overall tone (positive, critical, analytical) and tense (past, present, speculative).

Step 2: Identify the Part of Speech Needed

Look at the words immediately before and after the blank:

• If preceded by an article (a, an, the) and followed by a verb, you need a Noun.
• If modifying a noun, you need an Adjective.
• If modifying a verb or adjective, you need an Adverb.
• Check for fixed prepositions: insist on, refrain from, capable of.

Step 3: Eliminate by Elimination Method

Often, 2 of the 4 options can be eliminated immediately because they don't match the grammatical tense or preposition that follows the blank.