RATIONAL CLOZE Examination Tips & Practice

By : ABIDAH BT SARAJUL HAQ * English Language Master Teacher Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman , Ipoh , Perak

Questions 11- 18 in the PMR English Language Paper 1 , are based on a rational cloze passage. Questions 11- 18 in the PMR English Language Paper 1 are based on a rational cloze passage. The items tested are on your understanding of grammar and vocabulary. You will be given a passage with eight blanks. The short passage given is often a narrative , a formal or informal letter or a factual passage. But this can be in other forms too. You need to choose the best answer out of four given options.

Examination Tips

1. Read and understand the passage carefully. It is important for you to get the general idea of the whole passage. 2. Focus on the tenses used in the passage. 3. Look at the given options and go through them one by one carefully. 4. Use contextual clues to help you in getting the correct answer. This means that you need to read the sentence before and after each blank. 5. Sometimes the clues can be found in the earlier or later part of the passage. 6. Do not spend too much time on a question that you are unsure of answering . Go on to the next question and come back to it later. 7. Finally , check to see whether your answers are grammatically correct to suit the sentence.

Try out the PMR exercises below for further practice and then check your score.

PMR PRACTICE 1
The tea plant grows in tropical climate. The plant , ____(1)____evergreen , grows quickly at low altitudes when the air ____(2)____ warm. The plant grows ____(3)____ slowly in cool air. Tea plants have small, white, sweet- smelling flowers. Each flower _____(4)_____ three seeds that look like hazelnuts. In a tea _____(5)_____ or in a tea garden , where tea plants are grown commercially, the ____(6) ____ plant the seeds _____(7)_____ a nursery bed. Tea of a higher quality is generally produced from _____(8)_____ that have been hand- plucked.

A B C D

a an the which grow grows growing grown

A B C D A B C D

is are was were produced produces producing produce

3 A B C D

5 A plantation B estate C resort D site

A B C D

workers staff farmers officers

7 A B C D

at on in below

A B C D

branches stems leaves roots

PMR PRACTICE 2

Your pet cat is a member of the cat family. There are many different ____(1)____ of domestic cats. But this shows that they all _____(2)_____ to the same species. There are 37 species of cat including the big cats, such as the ______(3)______ which can be found in the jungle but when caught are usually kept in a _____(4)______. All wild cats are ____(5)______ as they are all likely to hunt for their prey. Cats hunt by ambushing their prey and ______(6)_____ make a short dash to kill. Most cats are able to run ______(7)_____ a fast speed to leap on their prey. Many cats hunt at night and have long , thick _____(8)_____ near their mouth to improve their sense of touch in the dark.

A B C D

breed breeding bread breeds elephant tiger crocodile yak

A belonging B belonged C belong D along A B C D zoo aquarium tank pool

3 A B C D

5 A B C D

hunters players jokers loners

A B C D

as then one cannot

7 A B C D

at by off against

A B C D

claws furs thorns whiskers 4

PMR PRACTICE 3

Football is a game played by two teams of eleven. They try to score by _____(1)____ or heading the ball into the other teams goal. Ten players cannot use their _______(2)______. The goalkeeper can handle the ball to stop it from going into the ______(3)_______. Games similar to football have been played for many centuries. In England, the FA or Football Association Cup was first ____(4)_____ in 1872. In the same year England played against Scotland in the first ______(5)______. Today the most important international competition is the World Cup , _____(6)_______ takes place every four years. Brazil and Italy have ____(7)______ won the World Cup three times. But American football is more like rugby _____(8)______ football.

A B C D

pulling kicking throwing pushing hole pole net goal

A B C D A B C D

feet chest head hands played playing play players

3 A B C D

5 A game B competition C contest D tournament

A B C D

who which whom whose

7 A B C D

one got each either

A B C D

then this than there

ANSWERS
PMR PRACTICE 1 1B 2 A 3B 4B 5A 6A 7C 8C PMR PRACTICE 2 1D 2 C 3B 4A 5A 6B 7A 8D PMR PRACTICE 3 1B 2 D 3D 4A 5A 6B 7C 8C