Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension / Language foundations

Sentence Completion and Cloze

Sentence Completion and Cloze: concepts, worked examples and practice.

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Start with the basics

Sentence Completion and Cloze, explained simply

Sentence completion uses grammar and meaning to choose words that make the whole sentence sensible.

Try a small example

“Although the climb was tiring, we felt ____ at the top.” Try “proud” or “sleepy”.

Show the steps

“Although” signals a contrast with the difficulty.
Reaching the top can bring a feeling of achievement.
“Proud” gives the clearer contrast in this example.

Remember: Read the completed sentence again instead of checking the blank alone.

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Sentence Completion

Predict the logical relationship and grammatical form needed by a blank. With multiple blanks, every filled word must fit the same sentence.

Worked example

"Although the task was difficult, she remained ___" requires a contrast, such as confident. Discouraged would normally reinforce difficulty rather than create the stated contrast.

Exam focus

MAT: Language Comprehension

Mix reading practice with grammar, vocabulary and paragraph connections; review errors by the rule missed.

CMAT: Language Comprehension

Combine comprehension with sentence-level grammar and vocabulary in context.

NMAT: Language Skills

Use compact reading and sentence drills. Check verb forms, prepositions and context before selecting a word.

XAT: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

Read diverse passages, including literary material. Distinguish a conclusion from its evidence and test assumptions.

SNAP: General English

Use short timed drills for grammar and word usage. Keep comprehension accurate even when questions are brief.

Check your understanding

Explain the idea in your own words before opening the answer. Then apply it to the example.

Sentence Completion

Explain the main rule in sentence completion, then apply it to a small example. State the assumption that makes your reasoning valid.

Review the note

Check your answer

Predict the logical relationship and grammatical form needed by a blank. With multiple blanks, every filled word must fit the same sentence.

Worked example: "Although the task was difficult, she remained ___" requires a contrast, such as confident. Discouraged would normally reinforce difficulty rather than create the stated contrast.

Cloze Tests

Explain the main rule in cloze tests, then apply it to a small example. State the assumption that makes your reasoning valid.

Review the note

Check your answer

A cloze passage has several connected blanks. Use sentence grammar and the passage's overall theme; later lines can clarify an earlier blank.

Worked example: If a passage explains why conserving water matters, a blank before "resources" may require limited rather than limitless. Check the nearby article and adjective order as well.

Practice questions

Bharatiya Pathshala

Opening preparation notes...

BEGINNER

Sentence Completion and Cloze: visual worked lesson

Core idea

Sentence completion uses grammar and meaning to choose words that make the whole sentence sensible.

Solving method

Predict the relationship before looking at choices. With two blanks, test both words together and reread the completed sentence.

Worked example

“Although the climb was tiring, we felt ____ at the top.” Try “proud” or “sleepy”. 1. “Although” signals a contrast with the difficulty. 2. Reaching the top can bring a feeling of achievement. 3. “Proud” gives the clearer contrast in this example.

Read the diagram

“Although” signals that the second part should contrast with the tiredness described first. “Proud” provides a clearer contrast than “sleepy” in the given options. A connector narrows the kind of idea expected; it does not prove that only one possible completion exists without the offered choices.

Exam-style application

"Although her proposal was ___, its implementation was ___ by limited funds." The second blank needs a verb meaning restricted, such as constrained. Although suggests contrast: a promising or ambitious proposal nevertheless faces a barrier. "Promising / constrained" fits both meaning and grammar. "Flawed / supported" changes the intended contrast; a correct first word alone cannot rescue a wrong second one.

Common mistakes

Read the completed sentence again instead of checking the blank alone. Contrast signals do not mechanically require opposite dictionary meanings; they contrast the ideas in context.

Use the connector to predict the missing idea. Predict a positive contrast, then check meaning and grammar. — Use the connector to predict the missing idea

Predict a positive contrast, then check meaning and grammar. — Use the connector to predict the missing idea

Source record: Bharatiya Pathshala — original illustrated lessons.

Sentence Completion and Cloze, explained simply

Try a small example

Sentence Completion

Worked example

MAT: Language Comprehension

CMAT: Language Comprehension

NMAT: Language Skills

XAT: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

SNAP: General English

Check your understanding

Sentence Completion

Cloze Tests

Sentence Completion and Cloze, explained simply

Try a small example

Sentence Completion and Cloze: visual worked lesson

Core idea

Solving method

Worked example

Read the diagram

Exam-style application

Common mistakes

Sentence Completion

Worked example

Cloze Tests

Worked example

Application and strategy

Worked application

Common traps and strategy

MAT: Language Comprehension

CMAT: Language Comprehension

NMAT: Language Skills

XAT: Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

SNAP: General English

Check your understanding

Sentence Completion

Cloze Tests

Sentence Completion and Cloze: visual worked lesson

Core idea

Solving method

Worked example

Read the diagram

Exam-style application

Common mistakes

Cloze Tests

Worked example

Application and strategy

Worked application

Common traps and strategy