Cloze Sentences

In this lesson, you will learn how to tackle cloze sentence questions — one of the most common question types in the CEM 11+ exam. A cloze question gives you a sentence with a missing word, and you must choose the best word to fill the gap.

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What Is a Cloze Sentence?

A cloze sentence is a sentence where one word has been removed and replaced with a blank. You must select the word that best completes the sentence so that it makes sense grammatically and in meaning.

Example:

The explorers faced many ______ on their journey through the jungle.

A) celebrations B) dangers C) holidays D) colours

Answer: B) dangers — this is the only word that makes sense in context.

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Why Cloze Sentences Appear in CEM Exams

CEM exams test your verbal reasoning skills by mixing question types together. Cloze sentences test several skills at once:

• Vocabulary — do you know what each word means?
• Grammar — does the word fit the sentence structure?
• Comprehension — does the sentence make sense as a whole?

In the CEM exam, cloze questions may appear as single sentences or as part of a short passage with multiple gaps. The format can change from year to year, so you must be prepared for both.

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Step-by-Step Method

Follow these steps every time:

Step 1: Read the Whole Sentence First

Do not look at the options yet. Read the full sentence with the blank and try to predict what kind of word is needed.

Step 2: Decide the Word Type

Is the missing word a noun (thing), verb (action), adjective (describing word), or adverb (how something is done)?

Step 3: Predict a Word

Before looking at the options, think of a word that could fit. This stops you being tricked by distractors.

Step 4: Check Each Option

Now look at the options. Which one matches your prediction or makes the most sense?

Step 5: Re-read with Your Answer

Put your chosen word back into the sentence and read the whole thing. Does it sound right?

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Worked Example 1: Adjective Gap

Question: The ______ cat crept silently along the garden wall.

A) enormous B) stealthy C) cheerful D) colourful

Step-by-step:

1. Read the sentence — a cat is creeping silently.
2. The missing word describes the cat (adjective).
3. Predict: sneaky? quiet? careful?
4. Check options: B) stealthy means sneaky and quiet. Perfect match!
5. Re-read: "The stealthy cat crept silently along the garden wall." Yes, that works.

Answer: B) stealthy

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Worked Example 2: Verb Gap

Question: The audience ______ loudly when the performance ended.

A) whispered B) slept C) applauded D) vanished

Step-by-step:

1. Read the sentence — an audience responding to a performance.
2. The missing word is a verb (an action the audience did).
3. Predict: clapped? cheered?
4. Check options: C) applauded means clapped enthusiastically. That fits!
5. Re-read: "The audience applauded loudly when the performance ended." Correct!

Answer: C) applauded

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