The cloze passage is the 11th question on the OL English language paper. The question carries 7 marks (14 blanks; 1/2 mark for each).
Well, most students always grumble that the question consumes time and it is challenging. This means you lack practice in answering cloze passages. I also find that most English language teachers also are reluctant to expose children to cloze passages.
Attempting a cloze passage involves intense brain work. It requires a knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and related techniques. More than anything else , 'patience'. Really, a cloze passage put your 'patience' on test.
My students, you can practice cloze passages at home. You can do it for yourself. First, take it as a game.
Well, you can do it the way I mention below. Try it and comment if it works.
Step 01: Select a suitable passage depending on your language proficiency. Make sure that the passage is an appealing one to you. I recommend a short story at first. Write it on a paper or just photocopy it.
Step 02: Read the passage several times until you get some idea of the theme. You may use a dictionary if you find any new words.
Step 03: Leave the first one or two sentences and mark words after every four , five or six words. Then remove the words and write them down on a separate paper.
Step 04: Now jumble the words you have removed as you please.
Step 05: Now you have a cloze passage with you. Try to insert the words. Check your answers yourself with the list of words you took down in order at first.
Note: while attempting to insert the words try to associate the words with the words immediately around the blank.
e.g. If there is a blank with the article 'an' , your answer MUST be a word beginning with a VOWEL.
As you practice you will catch up your own techniques.
Well, you can inform me later.
Bye.
Sajendra Kumara
0777597875
Find scores of cloze passages among the pages of the two Steps to Brilliance Books with answers. The writer is a government teacher at a school in Nittambuwa.
