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Free SSC English lesson

SSC English Cloze Tests

Read the whole passage. Make each choice fit.

A cloze test is a connected passage with missing words. A choice must fit both the local grammar and the wider message. Read the complete passage before filling its gaps.

Foundation to intermediate12 original questions20–25 minutes suggested study time

Learn the methodGo to practice

Build the skill

What you will learn

  • Use the passage topic and sequence to narrow the choices.
  • Check word forms, common combinations and linking words.
  • Reread the completed passage for grammar and meaning.

Read without stopping

Get the topic and the direction of the passage before selecting words.

Look on both sides

Identify the subject, verb, preposition or connection around each gap.

Test all four choices

A familiar word still needs to fit this sentence and this passage.

Read it complete

Check that the completed passage keeps the same meaning throughout.

Understand before you answer

The rules and clues to remember

Meaning works across sentences

A reason, contrast or result may appear in the previous sentence. A gap cannot always be solved from the nearest word alone.

ContrastThe room was small, but it held everything we needed.
ResultThe label was missing, so we checked the contents.

Remember: Choose the connection actually expressed, rather than inserting a favourite linker.

Grammar narrows the possibilities

After a modal such as could, use the base form of the next verb. A singular present-tense subject usually needs the singular verb form.

ModalVisitors could borrow a map.
AgreementThe notice explains the route.

Remember: Read the whole verb group; do not judge a word in isolation.

Word combinations need meaning too

Common combinations such as take part in and keep a record help you read accurately. Confirm that the combination makes sense in the passage.

PatternSeveral residents took part in the survey.

Remember: A grammatical combination can still give the wrong message.

See the reasoning

Two worked examples

Example 1

Complete: The path was muddy, ___ we walked slowly. Options: so / although / unless / despite.

Answerso

Walking slowly is presented as a result of the muddy path. Although introduces contrast; unless introduces a condition. Despite cannot directly introduce we walked slowly in this structure.

Example 2

Complete: The guide could ___ three languages. Options: speaks / speaking / speak / spoken.

Answerspeak

Could is followed by the base form speak. Speaks is a finite present form; speaking is an -ing form; spoken is a past participle. None fits directly after could here.

Try it yourself

12 questions, with every choice explained

Each passage has six numbered gaps. Choose the best option for each gap using the whole passage. Questions 1–6 use Passage A; questions 7–12 use Passage B. These fictional passages are original ESS practice.

Write down A, B, C or D before opening each answer. Work at your own pace. These exercises use no exam timer or negative marking.

Passage A · Original fictional report

A book-repair project

A neighbourhood library set up a small book-repair station for damaged books. Instead (1) ___ throwing away every torn book, staff first checked whether it could be repaired. Volunteers followed written (2) ___ so that they used the same safe methods.

At first, only a few residents took part (3) ___ the project. The library displayed photographs of restored books, and more people offered to help. Each volunteer (4) ___ required to keep a short record of the work completed. These records helped staff estimate how much material to buy.

Some books were too badly damaged to repair, (5) ___ the project did not save every item. The librarian explained that the aim was to reduce waste, not to promise perfect results. By the end of the trial, the team had (6) ___ forty books to the shelves.

Go to Passage A questions ↓

Question 1 · Preposition

Passage A: choose the word for gap (1).

  1. A.from
  2. B.of
  3. C.with
  4. D.by
Show answer and explanations for question 1

Answer B: of

Evidence from the passageThe next clause gives an alternative: staff checked whether a book could be repaired.
  1. Not correct. Instead from is not the required combination.
  2. Correct. Instead of introduces the alternative to throwing books away.
  3. Not correct. With does not complete instead in this construction.
  4. Not correct. By does not complete the expression instead of.
Read Passage A again ↑Next question ↓

Question 2 · Meaning in context

Passage A: choose the word for gap (2).

  1. A.excuses
  2. B.rumours
  3. C.instructions
  4. D.interruptions
Show answer and explanations for question 2

Answer C: instructions

Evidence from the passageThe volunteers used the same safe methods because they followed written guidance.
  1. Not correct. Excuses explain or defend behaviour, rather than set out the safe methods to follow.
  2. Not correct. Rumours are unverified reports and do not provide reliable written methods here.
  3. Correct. Instructions tell volunteers how to work; the next clause explains the purpose of following them.
  4. Not correct. Interruptions stop an activity; they are not directions for using the same methods.
Read Passage A again ↑Next question ↓

Question 3 · Verb phrase

Passage A: choose the word for gap (3).

  1. A.in
  2. B.at
  3. C.on
  4. D.from
Show answer and explanations for question 3

Answer A: in

Evidence from the passageThe residents participated in the repair project.
  1. Correct. Take part in means participate in an activity.
  2. Not correct. Take part at is not the required participation phrase before the project.
  3. Not correct. Take part on is not the required combination here.
  4. Not correct. From does not connect took part to the activity.
Read Passage A again ↑Next question ↓

Question 4 · Agreement

Passage A: choose the word for gap (4).

  1. A.were
  2. B.being
  3. C.be
  4. D.was
Show answer and explanations for question 4

Answer D: was

Evidence from the passageEach volunteer is a singular subject in a past-tense account: each volunteer was required.
  1. Not correct. Were does not agree with singular each volunteer in this past-tense clause.
  2. Not correct. Being does not supply the finite verb needed before required here.
  3. Not correct. Be is the base form and cannot stand alone as the finite verb here.
  4. Correct. Was agrees with singular each volunteer and matches the past-tense account.
Read Passage A again ↑Next question ↓

Question 5 · Result

Passage A: choose the word for gap (5).

  1. A.unless
  2. B.so
  3. C.despite
  4. D.although
Show answer and explanations for question 5

Answer B: so

Evidence from the passageSome books were too badly damaged to repair; not every item could be saved.
  1. Not correct. Unless would make the failure to save every item a condition, which is not the stated relationship.
  2. Correct. So introduces the result: badly damaged books could not all be saved.
  3. Not correct. Despite cannot directly introduce this finite clause without a different structure.
  4. Not correct. Although would present a contrast, whereas failing to save every item follows from damage beyond repair.
Read Passage A again ↑Next question ↓

Question 6 · Word choice

Passage A: choose the word for gap (6).

  1. A.borrowed
  2. B.removed
  3. C.returned
  4. D.prevented
Show answer and explanations for question 6

Answer C: returned

Evidence from the passageThe project restored damaged books so that they could be used again.
  1. Not correct. Borrowed forty books to the shelves is not a valid construction for putting books back.
  2. Not correct. Removed would require from the shelves and would reverse the intended outcome.
  3. Correct. Returned books to the shelves means put the repaired books back into use.
  4. Not correct. Prevented does not describe putting books back and cannot take this to-phrase here.
Read Passage A again ↑Next question ↓

Passage B · Original fictional report

Making a map easier to use

A walking club asked new members to test its route map. The organisers wanted to find out (7) ___ the directions were clear. They gave each pair a map and asked them to note any confusing point.

Several pairs stopped at an unmarked junction. (8) ___ the map showed distances, it did not name the side road. The organisers added the missing name and made the arrows (9) ___ so that walkers could see them more easily.

They then invited a second group to try the revised map. The new walkers could (10) ___ the route without asking for help at that junction. The organisers compared the two groups’ notes before (11) ___ the final version. They kept the earlier notes as (12) ___ of the changes that had been made.

Go to Passage B questions ↓

Question 7 · Indirect yes/no question

Passage B: choose the word for gap (7).

  1. A.whether
  2. B.whose
  3. C.which
  4. D.what
Show answer and explanations for question 7

Answer A: whether

Evidence from the passageThe test asked a yes/no question: were the directions clear?
  1. Correct. Whether introduces the question of whether the directions were clear.
  2. Not correct. Whose expresses possession and does not introduce this complete clause.
  3. Not correct. Which needs a suitable selection structure; which the directions were clear is ungrammatical.
  4. Not correct. What cannot introduce the complete clause the directions were clear in this structure.
Read Passage B again ↑Next question ↓

Question 8 · Contrast

Passage B: choose the word for gap (8).

  1. A.Because
  2. B.Unless
  3. C.Therefore
  4. D.Although
Show answer and explanations for question 8

Answer D: Although

Evidence from the passageThe map included distances but omitted the side road’s name.
  1. Not correct. Because would present showing distances as the reason for not naming the road; the passage sets up a contrast instead.
  2. Not correct. Unless would make showing distances a condition, rather than state the contrast.
  3. Not correct. Therefore cannot introduce the first of these clauses in this sentence structure.
  4. Correct. Although contrasts information the map included with information it lacked.
Read Passage B again ↑Next question ↓

Question 9 · Comparative adjective

Passage B: choose the word for gap (9).

  1. A.more larger
  2. B.larger
  3. C.largest
  4. D.largely
Show answer and explanations for question 9

Answer B: larger

Evidence from the passageThe organisers changed the arrows to improve visibility; the comparison is with their earlier size.
  1. Not correct. More larger incorrectly marks the comparative twice; use larger.
  2. Correct. Larger expresses the increase in arrow size that made the revised map easier to see.
  3. Not correct. Largest is a superlative; no group is introduced in which these arrows are the largest.
  4. Not correct. Largely is an adverb meaning mainly, not an adjective describing the arrows’ size.
Read Passage B again ↑Next question ↓

Question 10 · Base form after a modal

Passage B: choose the word for gap (10).

  1. A.follows
  2. B.followed
  3. C.follow
  4. D.following
Show answer and explanations for question 10

Answer C: follow

Evidence from the passageCould is the modal before the gap; the route is the object of follow.
  1. Not correct. Follows is a finite present form and cannot follow could directly.
  2. Not correct. Followed is a past form or participle; could requires the base form here.
  3. Correct. Could follow uses the required base form after the modal.
  4. Not correct. Following is an -ing form and cannot follow could directly here.
Read Passage B again ↑Next question ↓

Question 11 · After a preposition

Passage B: choose the word for gap (11).

  1. A.printing
  2. B.printed
  3. C.prints
  4. D.to printing
Show answer and explanations for question 11

Answer A: printing

Evidence from the passageThey compared the notes first and printed the final version afterwards.
  1. Correct. Before printing uses an -ing form to name the activity following the comparison.
  2. Not correct. Before printed the final version lacks a subject and is not grammatical here.
  3. Not correct. Prints is a finite verb and cannot follow before without a subject in this structure.
  4. Not correct. Before to printing is not a valid construction.
Read Passage B again ↑Next question ↓

Question 12 · Meaning in context

Passage B: choose the word for gap (12).

  1. A.permission
  2. B.opposition
  3. C.decoration
  4. D.evidence
Show answer and explanations for question 12

Answer D: evidence

Evidence from the passageThe earlier notes documented the changes to the map.
  1. Not correct. Permission is authorisation; the notes record changes rather than grant approval.
  2. Not correct. Opposition means resistance and does not describe a record of the revisions.
  3. Not correct. Decoration concerns appearance and does not explain why earlier notes were retained.
  4. Correct. Evidence is information that supports an account of what changed.
Read Passage B again ↑Review your learning ↓

Read the completed passages

Try all the gaps before opening this review.

Show completed Passage A

A neighbourhood library set up a small book-repair station for damaged books. Instead of throwing away every torn book, staff first checked whether it could be repaired. Volunteers followed written instructions so that they used the same safe methods.

At first, only a few residents took part in the project. The library displayed photographs of restored books, and more people offered to help. Each volunteer was required to keep a short record of the work completed. These records helped staff estimate how much material to buy.

Some books were too badly damaged to repair, so the project did not save every item. The librarian explained that the aim was to reduce waste, not to promise perfect results. By the end of the trial, the team had returned forty books to the shelves.

Show completed Passage B

A walking club asked new members to test its route map. The organisers wanted to find out whether the directions were clear. They gave each pair a map and asked them to note any confusing point.

Several pairs stopped at an unmarked junction. Although the map showed distances, it did not name the side road. The organisers added the missing name and made the arrows larger so that walkers could see them more easily.

They then invited a second group to try the revised map. The new walkers could follow the route without asking for help at that junction. The organisers compared the two groups’ notes before printing the final version. They kept the earlier notes as evidence of the changes that had been made.

Make the learning stick

Review what changed your answer

  1. Fill the gaps in a copy and read each completed passage aloud.
  2. Label each mistake: grammar, word combination or passage meaning.
  3. Explain why a rejected choice fails in this exact sentence.

Keep a simple note: question number → your reason → the correct rule or evidence → one new example. A mistake is useful when you can explain the correction.

SSC English hub →SSC English Sentence Improvement →SSC English Synonyms and Antonyms →SSC English Cloze Tests →SSC English Synonyms and Antonyms →SSC English Cloze Tests →SSC English Sentence Improvement →Reading comprehension →Error spotting →One-word substitution →

Original ESS learning material. Not official SSC questions or a previous-year paper. ESS is independent of SSC. These are untimed skill lessons, not full exam simulations.

References and exam scope

Scope: CGL 2026 Tier-II, Paper-I, Section-II; CHSL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II English. These are topic lessons, not complete mocks. These topics are included in the linked SSC examination notices. The lesson wording, examples, passages and questions are original ESS teaching material. Check your exam’s current notice and subsequent corrections for its full syllabus, scoring and timing.

Sources reviewed: 3 November 2026. Study-time estimates are suggestions, not official exam limits.