English Language

Cloze Test

1,087 Questions
All Contextual Vocabulary 597 Confusable Words 121 Tense and Aspect 69 Collocations 62 Determiners and Quantifiers 53 Preposition Usage 51 Conjunctions and Connectors 38 Pronoun Reference 30 Subject-Verb Agreement 24 Phrasal Verbs 16 Modal Verbs 13 Idioms and Phrases 6

Cloze Test Questions

Multiple choice

Find out the appropriate word and fill blank (ii).

Directions: In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered.

In a ____(i)____ space event, Venus, the second closest planet from the sun, passed in front of the sun on 5 June 2012. The rare ____(ii)____ display began shortly after 2200 GMT on 5 June 2012 in ____(iii)____ of North America. Subsequently, it was ____(iv)____ in Central America, and the northern part of South America. The view at the time when Venus was ____(­v)____ the Sun was ____(vi)____, as a tiny black dot appeared on the solar _____(vii)_____. Venus is 100th of the _____(viii)_____ of the Sun, so while moving across from one side to the other, it was just a black spot placed over on the disc of the Sun. The celestial _____(ix)_____ which repeats itself after every 100 years, will now be rewitnessed only in 2117. The space phenomenon is _____(x)_____ on the Earth when the Venus passes between the Sun and the Earth.

  1. planetary

  2. substantial

  3. ocular

  4. molecular

  5. secular
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'The rare ____ display' requires an adjective describing the type of astronomical display. 'Planetary' is correct as the Venus transit involves a planet (Venus) passing in front of the Sun. Substantial means significant, ocular relates to vision, molecular relates to atoms, and secular means worldly/non-religious. The event is correctly termed a planetary display as it involves planetary motion.

Multiple choice

'Pre-industrial' means

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Our awareness of time has reached such a pitch of intensity that we suffer acutely whenever our travels take us in to some corner of the world where people are not interested in minute and seconds. The unpunctuality of the Orient, for example, is appalling to those who come freshly from a land of fixed meal-time and regular train service. For a modern American Englishman waiting is a psychological torture. An Indian accept the blank hours with resignation even with satisfaction. He has not lost the fine part of doing  nothing. Our notion of time as a collection of minutes, each of which must be filled with some business or amusement, wholly alien to the Oriental, just as it was wholly alien to the Greek. For the man who lives in a pre-industrial world, time moves at a slow and easy pace ; he does not care about each minute, for the good reason that he has not been made conscious of the existence of minutes.

  1. before the Industrial Revolution

  2. after the Industrial Revolution

  3. before there was a portfolio for industry in India

  4. before watches started being manufactured on a large scale
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Pre' as a prefix means 'before'. Here, 'pre-industrial' refers to the period before the industrial revolution.

Multiple choice

The opposite word for 'pre' is

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Our awareness of time has reached such a pitch of intensity that we suffer acutely whenever our travels take us in to some corner of the world where people are not interested in minute and seconds. The unpunctuality of the Orient, for example, is appalling to those who come freshly from a land of fixed meal-time and regular train service. For a modern American Englishman waiting is a psychological torture. An Indian accept the blank hours with resignation even with satisfaction. He has not lost the fine part of doing  nothing. Our notion of time as a collection of minutes, each of which must be filled with some business or amusement, wholly alien to the Oriental, just as it was wholly alien to the Greek. For the man who lives in a pre-industrial world, time moves at a slow and easy pace ; he does not care about each minute, for the good reason that he has not been made conscious of the existence of minutes.

  1. post

  2. past

  3. future

  4. late
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Post' as a prefix means 'after', (post the industrial revolution).

Multiple choice

The word 'appalling' means

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Our awareness of time has reached such a pitch of intensity that we suffer acutely whenever our travels take us in to some corner of the world where people are not interested in minute and seconds. The unpunctuality of the Orient, for example, is appalling to those who come freshly from a land of fixed meal-time and regular train service. For a modern American Englishman waiting is a psychological torture. An Indian accept the blank hours with resignation even with satisfaction. He has not lost the fine part of doing  nothing. Our notion of time as a collection of minutes, each of which must be filled with some business or amusement, wholly alien to the Oriental, just as it was wholly alien to the Greek. For the man who lives in a pre-industrial world, time moves at a slow and easy pace ; he does not care about each minute, for the good reason that he has not been made conscious of the existence of minutes.

  1. pitiable

  2. praiseworthy

  3. hateful

  4. horrible
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Here, 'appalling' means unacceptable or terrible.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (iii).

  1. avert

  2. revert

  3. convert

  4. averse

  5. reverse
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The disaster could not be prevented as the motorist saw the lorry too late. So, avert meaning prevent/deflect is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (i).

  1. incoming

  2. oncoming

  3. down coming

  4. off coming

  5. out coming
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Oncoming' means approaching. So, the motorist saw the approaching lorry too late. Other options do not fit.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (ii).

  1. much

  2. little

  3. soon

  4. late

  5. often
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

As the passage talks of an accident, no other option fits in. As the motorist did not see the lorry in time, there was an accident.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (iv).

  1. slight

  2. fatalistic

  3. fatal

  4. mild

  5. fantastic
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The use of words 'head on' indicates that the disaster could be fatal. Moreover later it is given 'lesser risk' was to leave the road. So, slight and mild are out of context with head on. Collision cannot be fantastic. Fatalistic means acceptance of events as fate and is out of context. Fatal means deadly or lethal. It fits the context and is correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (v).

  1. collision

  2. collusion

  3. collation

  4. collapse

  5. coalition
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Collision means a crash or impact. It is correct as it fits in the context.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (vi).

  1. bump

  2. collusion

  3. failure

  4. accident

  5. contingency
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

As the passage talks about a collision, accident is the correct answer. The motorist swerved the car and avoided a fatal accident.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (vii).

  1. wounds

  2. cuts

  3. incisions

  4. scars

  5. stabs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 With bruises, only cuts will be correct.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (x).

  1. intense

  2. gigantic

  3. pressing

  4. serious

  5. solemn
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Serious accident means 'having serious consequences'. So, it makes sense here.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (viii).

  1. damage

  2. wreck

  3. harm

  4. outrage

  5. injury
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage here talks of the damage to the bike. No other word is suitable in this context.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Probably the motorist saw the ____(i) lorry too _(ii) to be able to _(iii) a disaster. However, he realized that if he kept to the roadside, a probably __(iv) head on __(v) would be unavoidable. The only alternative was to take the lesser risk of leaving the road. With great care therefore, he turned sharply off the road and into the ditch by the roadside. The consequence was that, instead of being involved in a serious and probably fatal __(vi), the driver escaped with a few minor __(vii) and bruises, while the only __(viii) to his bike was a bent mud guard. By __(ix) into the roadside ditch to avoid what could have been a head on collision with the approaching lorry, he averted a ____(x) accident at the expense of a few injuries to himself and a slight damage to his bike.

Fill blank (ix).

  1. swerving

  2. jumping

  3. mowing

  4. ascending

  5. accelerating
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The motorist had changed the direction of the bike or turned aside sharply from the course he was on.

Multiple choice

Choose the correct option and fill blank (v).

Directions: The following passage has some blanks, each of which has been numbered.  

Since independence and from the beginning of our planned development, we have ____(i)____ increased production as ____(ii)____ to improved distribution of income. A high rate of growth of the gross national product by itself does not serve our purpose ____(iii)____ it is more equitably shared, benefiting all sections of the population. To be effective, increased production with better distribution depends largely ____(iv)____ to assess the productivity of the small man, whether he is ____(v)____ in agriculture or industry. In agriculture, the most critical inputs are water and credit ____(vi)____ with cultivable land. Our land reform legislation has aimed ____(vii)____ land to small owners. There are sometimes political obstacles; but it is not known generally how many cases are ____(viii)____ in courts. We must atleast ensure that small owners have access to other essential inputs. In industry, we have ____(ix)____ small scale and cottage industries. Greater availability of power along with assured market and credit arrangements can make ____(x)____ difference to productivity.

  1. engaged

  2. involved

  3. buried

  4. alternate

  5. busy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer is A. The blank (v) appears in the phrase 'whether he is ____ in agriculture or industry.' The context discusses the 'small man' (small-scale producer/worker), and 'engaged' is the most appropriate verb to describe someone who is involved in or working in a particular sector. 'Involved' is close but 'engaged in' is more idiomatic for describing occupational engagement. 'Buried', 'alternate', and 'busy' don't fit the formal economic context of the passage.