What is a Cloze Passage? Since the move to computer-based testing, "Cloze" passages have become huge. You get a text with blank spaces, and you have to choose the correct word from a dropdown menu. It looks easy, but it traps students who don't understand grammar and tone.
The "Forward and Back" Rule Never just look at the blank space. Look Back: Read the sentence before the blank. What is the subject? Is it plural or singular? (This tells you if you need "run" or "runs"). Look Forward: Read the sentence after the blank. Does the story change direction? If the next sentence starts with "However," you know the missing word probably sets up a contrast.
The "Positive/Negative" Test If you don't know the big fancy words in the options, guess the vibe. Sentence: "The storm was ______, destroying the entire village." Options: A) Mild, B) Catastrophic, C) Pleasant, D) Benevolent. Logic: The sentence is negative ("destroying"). Options A, C, and D are positive or weak. Option B is the only strong negative word. Choose B.