The SBI Clerk exam is now just two weeks away, and this is the time to focus only on the topics that are most important and asked every year. Preparing everything is not possible now, so the smart way is to give more time to high-weightage topics. This will not only help you clear the paper but also boost your score. By now, you must have an idea about which section carries more marks. In English, one such topic is Cloze Test, which almost always has 5–7 questions in the exam. If you are still confused about what a Cloze Test is and how to prepare for it, don’t worry, read this blog, and all your doubts will be cleared. This blog is specially for you to clear all your doubts. Read the tips given here and start practicing regularly. If you follow them daily, the Cloze Test can become one of the easiest and most scoring parts of your paper.
A Cloze Test is a mix of reading comprehension or passage and fill in the blanks. In this, you get a passage with some missing words, and you have to choose the correct words from the given options. This checks your reading, grammar, and vocabulary skills together. The best part is that Cloze Tests can save time in the exam. If your grammar and vocabulary are strong, you can solve each blank in less than 30 seconds. That means this topic can quickly give you 5–7 marks and help you increase your overall score.
There are mainly two types of Cloze Test questions that are asked in exams.
1. Build Strong Reading Skills
To solve Cloze Test questions correctly, your reading skills and vocabulary must be very strong. Until you understand the overall flow of the passage, it will be difficult to choose the correct option for each blank. That’s why you should develop reading skills daily. A simple way is to read at least two editorials or articles every day. While reading, note down all the difficult words you come across. Write their synonyms and antonyms in a notebook and revise them daily. This will slowly improve your vocabulary and help you understand passages better.
2. Revise Basic Grammar Rules
The second important tip is to focus on basic grammar rules. You don’t need to read a full grammar book because time is less. Just clear your basics like tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, and connectors. You can even watch short YouTube videos to quickly revise these rules. Strong grammar will help you eliminate wrong options and choose the most suitable word.Refer to the 4th point as more you will practice more quickly you will learn the rules.
3. Learn to choose from the given options
Sometimes, while solving a Cloze Test, you may not immediately understand which word should come in the blank. In such cases, look at the options carefully. Usually, one or two words clearly do not fit the passage. Eliminate them first, then check which of the remaining options matches the tone and meaning of the passage.
Example:
The government has decided to _ new rules for digital payments to ensure safety.
Options – (a) implement, (b) dance, (c) observe, (d) cancel
Here, option (b) dance clearly doesn’t fit the passage, and (d) cancel gives the opposite meaning. Between (a) implement and (c) observe, the correct answer is implement, because it logically matches with ‘rules’.
4. Practice Daily With Topic Tests
If you want to master Cloze Tests, then you have to do practice, practice, and more practice. Attempt topic-wise tests, sectional tests, and mock tests as much as possible. This will help you identify how many out of 5–7 Cloze Test questions you can solve correctly in the exam. It’s not necessary to attempt all questions. With practice, you will develop the skill to decide which questions to attempt and which to skip. Over time, this practice will give you both confidence and accuracy.
Here are some important and expected questions of the Cloze Test for the SBI Clerk. Have a look:
Directions: In the following passage, some of the words have been left out and replaced by a blank represented by a letter. First read the passage and try to understand what it is about. Then fill in the blanks as per the questions given.
Stress wreaks havoc on our immune systems. Cortisol ___(A)___ in our bodies suppresses the immune system and inflammatory pathways, and we become more susceptible to infections and chronic inflammatory conditions. Our ability to fight off illness is ___(B)___. The musculoskeletal system is also affected. Our muscles tense up, which is the body’s natural way of ___(C)___ ourselves from injury and pain. Repeated muscle tension can cause bodily aches and pains, and when it ___(D)___ in the shoulders, neck and head it may ___(E)___ in tension headaches and migraines.
(A)
a) released
b) collected
c) omitted
d) inferred
e) believed
Ans: A
Solution: We need a past participle form verb to fit in the passive voice construction. RELEASED (ejected) will fit here as the sentence tells us how cortisol is ejected in our bodies. Thus, A is the right answer.
Collected – gathered. Omitted – overlooked. Inferred – concluded. Believed – held the opinion.
(B)
a) revealed
b) reduced
c) transferred
d) decorated
e) devoted
Ans: B
Solution: We need a past participle form verb to fit in the passive voice construction IS + VERB. REDUCED (decreased) will fit here as the sentence tells us stress decreases our ability to fight off disease. Thus, B is the right answer.
Revealed – disclosed. Transferred – carried. Decorated – adorned. Devoted – allocated.
(C)
a) serving
b) explaining
c) inducing
d) protecting
e) executing
Ans: D
Solution: We need a gerund here to form the object of the preposition OF. PROTECTING (securing) will fit here as the sentence tells us how the body has a natural way of securing ourselves from injury and pain. Thus, D is the right answer.
Serving – tending. Inducing – urging. Explaining – describing. Executing – carrying out; performing.
(D)
a) permits
b) switches
c) occurs
d) decides
e) acts
Ans: C
Solution: We need a singular verb here to agree with the singular pronoun IT. OCCURS (takes place) will fit here as the sentence tells us how repeated muscle tension in the shoulders, neck and head can cause headaches. Thus, C is the right answer.
Permits – allows. Switches – transforms. Decides – determines. Acts – performs.
(E)
a) rule
b) slay
c) fight
d) insult
e) result
Ans: E
Solution: We need a base form verb to follow the modal verb MAY. RESULT (cause) will fit here as the sentence tells us how repeated muscle tension in the shoulders, neck and head can cause headaches. Thus, E is the right answer.
Rule – reign. Slay – kill. Fight – oppose. Insult – offend.
Download the free PDF of Cloze Test questions for SBI Clerk and practice Cloze Test sets. These questions are based on the latest exam pattern to help you improve speed and accuracy. It helps make your preparation more productive for scoring well in the English section.
Here is what successful students say about practice mock. Have a look
| SBI Clerk Notification | SBI Clerk Exam Pattern |
| SBI Clerk Syllabus | SBI Clerk Salary |
| SBI Clerk Cut Off | SBI Clerk Previous Year Question Paper |
No, it’s moderate. With good grammar and vocabulary, you can easily score.
Focus on tenses, subject-verb agreement, prepositions, and connectors.
Remove grammatically wrong or contextually odd options and then pick the best option.
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