Use of English

Gap Strategies

Success in a multiple-choice cloze does not depend solely on knowing difficult words. It also involves recognising what kind of language each gap is likely to (0) REQUIRE. Strong candidates rarely read the options first. Instead, they read the whole text to get a general idea, then look carefully at the words before and after each gap. This often allows them to (1) .......... whether the missing item is part of a fixed phrase, a phrasal verb, or a common collocation. Another useful technique is to ignore the options for a moment and think of your own word. If one of the choices (2) .......... your idea, that is usually a good sign. You should also pay attention to grammar, since a gap may need a preposition, an adverb, or a verb that is followed (3) .......... a particular structure. Even when two options seem similar in meaning, only one will sound natural in context. Good learners also resist the temptation to choose an answer too quickly and instead (4) .......... out alternatives carefully. In addition, it helps to notice linking words and references to earlier ideas, as these can (5) .......... light on the writer's meaning. With practice, you become more aware of recurring patterns and more confident about (6) .......... up unlikely answers. In the end, success depends less on luck than on a methodical approach and the ability to (7) .......... decisions on evidence. That is why experienced teachers often (8) .......... students to justify every answer they choose.