Gateway to SBI Mains : English (Cloze Test)

Just go through the passage without filling any gaps and then try to observe the following things :

i. The tense in which the passage is

ii. Check for the sense and sarcasm in the passage because some times 

iii. Check the options for positive or negative options

Then only complete the gaps you are absolutely sure of. 

Next try and find out what the missing words in the remaining gaps. See which part of speech may fit in each gap (article?, pronoun?, noun?, adverb?, adjective?, preposition?, conjunction?, verb?) and pay special attention to the grammar around the words in each gap. 

Many of the gaps may include the following: 

• preposition following a noun, adjective or verb. (Example: good at languages) 
• prepositional phrase. (Example: in spite of ) 
• adverb. ( Example: He moved to London two years ago ) 
• connector. (Example: First, he arrives; then he sits down; finally, he leaves.) 
• conjunction. (Example: Although he is five, he can speak five languages. 
• auxiliary verb . (Example: He has won 2 matches) 
• an article or some other kind of determiner. (Example: I have no time) 
• a relative . (Example: Bob, who I met two years ago, is my best friend) 
• a pronoun , either subject or object. (Example : it is difficult to know) 
• is there a comparative or superlative involved? (Example: she's taller than me)

Some sentences may seem to be complete and contain gaps that appear to be unnecessary. If you find gaps like this, you will probably need the following: 

• an adverb. (Example: He is always late) 
• a modal verb . (Example: They can swim very well) 
• a word to change the emphasis of the sentence: She's good enough to be queen 
• The problems are too difficult

A few gaps may demand a vocabulary item consistent with the topic of the text; or a word which is part of an idiomatic expression (example: Good heavens!); or a word which collocates with another one (example: do a job); or a word which is part of a phrasal verb (example: I was held up by traffic). 

Directions (Q.1-10): In the following passage, some of the words have been left out, each of which is indicated by a number. Find the suitable word from the options given against each number and fill up the blanks with appropriate words to make the paragraph meaningfully complete.

Acid attacks, especially on women, are an issue of increasing (1). In order to (2) with such attacks, a threepronged (3) is currently under formulation. The first is providing (4) punishment to perpetrators, not only as proportionate punishment for their (5) but also to (6) potential offenders. The second approach is to (7) attacks by regulating (8) to acids. The third is constructing a compensation scheme for victims.

The Indian Penal Code did not have specific provisions to criminalise and punish acid attacks (9) earlier this year. If a person is convicted for (10) acid on another, and thereby causing temporary or permanent damage or deformity, a minimum imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment is now provided.

1.

1) value

2) welfare

3) gossip

4) concern

5) happening

2.

1) deal

2) do away

3) fight

4) solve

5) tussle

3.

1) dimension

2) solution

3) discussion

4) system

5) approach

4.

1) light

2) stringent

3) attractive

4) compulsory

5) serious

5.

1) performance

2) role

3) work

4) action

5) job

6.

1) defend

2) differ

3) deter

4) determine

5) dissociate

7.

1) prevent

2) facilitate

3) debar

4) examine

5) oversee

8.

1) approach

2) concede

3) knowledge

4) access

5) excess

9.

1) by

2) until

3) up to

4) before

5) prior

10.

1) supplying

2) giving

3) attacking

4) bringing

5) throwing

Answers
1. 4
2. 1
3. 5
4. 2
5. 4
6. 3
7. 1
8. 4
9. 2

10. 5