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Reading Comprehension & Cloze Test

English Comprehension · Reading Comprehension & Cloze

Useful for: SSC CGL

Overview

Comprehension tests understanding of a passage; the cloze test checks grammar and vocabulary by filling blanks in a passage.

Key points

Answer only from the passage, not from outside knowledge.
Main-idea questions: look at the first and last paragraphs.
Inference questions: the answer must be supported by the text, not just possible.
Cloze blanks are decided by grammar (part of speech, tense) and by the meaning of nearby sentences.
Tone words: critical, appreciative, neutral, sarcastic.

Explanation

Eliminate extreme options ("always", "never") unless the passage is extreme.
For vocabulary-in-context, replace the word and check the sentence still makes sense.
In cloze, a connector (however, therefore, although) depends on the logic of the two ideas.
Re-read the completed cloze passage once.

Step by step

Read questions.
Find the evidence.
Choose the supported option.

Examples

If a passage says "the scheme reduced dropouts in most districts", the claim "the scheme removed dropouts everywhere" is not supported.
Cloze: "She was tired; ____, she finished the report." → however (contrast).
Main idea: a passage describing several benefits of reading answers "the value of reading", not one benefit.

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Using outside knowledge.
Trap: Choosing an option that is true but not stated.
Trap: Picking connectors without checking the logic.

Quick revision

Evidence first.
Avoid extreme options.
Connectors follow logic.

Practice MCQs

Cloze: 'He is very good ___ mathematics.'
1. on
2. with
3. at
4. in
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Answer: (c) at. 'Good at' correct collocation hai (kisi skill/subject me acha).
Cloze: 'The sun ___ in the east.'
1. rising
2. rises
3. rise
4. rose
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Answer: (b) rises. Universal truth me simple present.
Para jumble: Which sentence should come FIRST? (P) He opened it. (Q) A letter came for him. (R) It was from his friend.
1. P
2. R
3. Cannot say
4. Q
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Answer: (d) Q. Q independent hai (introduces 'a letter').
Cloze: 'She has been working here ___ 2015.'
1. by
2. since
3. for
4. from
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Answer: (b) since. Point of time (2015) ke saath 'since'.
Choose the word that best fits: 'Despite his wealth, he leads a ___ life.'
1. luxurious
2. costly
3. grand
4. simple
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Answer: (d) simple. 'Despite' contrast dikhata hai — wealth hone ke bawajood → opposite expectation → 'simple'.
Cloze: 'Hardly had he arrived ___ it started raining.'
1. then
2. than
3. that
4. when
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Answer: (d) when. 'Hardly…when' fixed pair hai.
In RC, the main idea of a passage is usually found:
1. In footnotes
2. Nowhere
3. In the opening or concluding lines
4. Only in the middle
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Answer: (c) In the opening or concluding lines. Main idea aksar passage ke shuru ya ant me hota (topic sentence).
Cloze: 'Neither the teacher nor the students ___ present.'
1. is
2. has
3. were
4. was
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Answer: (c) were. 'Neither…nor' me verb nearest subject se agree karta hai.
Choose the correct word: 'The committee ___ divided in its opinion.'
1. are
2. have
3. was
4. were
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Answer: (c) was. Collective noun 'committee' as single unit → singular 'was' (aur 'its' bhi singular signal deta hai).
Para jumble: Best opening sentence? (P) Therefore, he passed. (Q) Ravi studied hard. (R) He revised daily.
1. Any
2. Q
3. P
4. R
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Answer: (b) Q. Q me subject 'Ravi' introduce hota (independent).

Notes and questions are written by Kundali IQ for practice. They are not official papers; always check the latest official notification for the syllabus and pattern.