Cloze Test
About 8 min · English Language · English
Time worked out from the lesson's 723 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.
A cloze test is a passage with several blanks where you must select the most appropriate word from given options. In SBI Clerk Prelims, you typically encounter one cloze passage with 5–6 blanks, each carrying one mark. This section tests your vocabulary, grammar awareness, and ability to understand context—all in a time-pressured environment.
Key ideas
- Context is king: The correct answer must fit grammatically AND make sense within the overall passage meaning. Never choose a word based on the blank sentence alone.
- Read the full passage first: Before attempting any blank, read the entire passage to grasp the central idea, tone (positive/negative/neutral), and flow of argument.
- Identify the part of speech needed: Determine whether the blank requires a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, or conjunction. This eliminates wrong options immediately.
- Look for contextual clues: Words like "however," "therefore," "although," and "moreover" signal the relationship between ideas. Use these to predict what kind of word fits the blank.
- Collocations matter: English has fixed word partnerships. We say "make a decision" not "do a decision," "heavy rain" not "strong rain."
Watch out for
- Choosing based on vocabulary alone → Fix: Always check if the word fits grammatically Students often pick a word because they know its meaning without checking if it's the right part of speech. A noun cannot fill a verb's position.
- Ignoring subject-verb agreement → Fix: Identify the subject before selecting verb forms "The list of items were" seems fine but is wrong. "List" is singular, so "was" is correct. Always trace back to the actual subject.
- Selecting the first option that seems right → Fix: Read all options before deciding Two or three options may seem correct initially. Compare them against the specific context to find the best fit.
Quick reference
- Read the full passage before filling any blank.
- Identify part of speech needed: noun, verb, adjective, preposition, or conjunction.
- Check subject-verb agreement for every verb blank.
- Use conjunctions as signposts: "however" = contrast, "therefore" = result, "moreover" = addition.
- Trust collocations: "pose a threat," "raise concerns," "draw conclusions."
Check yourself: 3 questions
1. Read the passage below and answer the question that follows. The government has announced a new policy to __(1)__ the promotion of renewable energy sources across the country. This initiative aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Solar and wind energy projects will receive financial __(2)__ from the state, making them more accessible to private investors. Experts believe that this move will not only help the environment but also create numerous job __(3)__ in the green energy sector. However, some critics argue that the __(4)__ required for such large-scale projects may strain the national budget. Despite these concerns, environmental groups have __(5)__ the policy as a significant step towards sustainable development. Which of the following words most appropriately fits in blank (1)?
2. Read the passage below and answer the question that follows. The government has announced a new policy to __(1)__ the promotion of renewable energy sources across the country. This initiative aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Solar and wind energy projects will receive financial __(2)__ from the state, making them more accessible to private investors. Experts believe that this move will not only help the environment but also create numerous job __(3)__ in the green energy sector. However, some critics argue that the __(4)__ required for such large-scale projects may strain the national budget. Despite these concerns, environmental groups have __(5)__ the policy as a significant step towards sustainable development. Which of the following words most appropriately fits in blank (2)?
3. Read the passage below and answer the question that follows. The government has announced a new policy to __(1)__ the promotion of renewable energy sources across the country. This initiative aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Solar and wind energy projects will receive financial __(2)__ from the state, making them more accessible to private investors. Experts believe that this move will not only help the environment but also create numerous job __(3)__ in the green energy sector. However, some critics argue that the __(4)__ required for such large-scale projects may strain the national budget. Despite these concerns, environmental groups have __(5)__ the policy as a significant step towards sustainable development. Which of the following words most appropriately fits in blank (3)?
This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 18 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.
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