Cloze test questionsand answers for competitive exams
Direction: In the following passage, some of the words are missing. Find suitable words from the options given below these questions to make the paragraph meaningful.
Grooming the next Ronaldo or Lionel Messi has become a national project in China, where the country’s No. 1 fan, President Xi Jinping, is ___A___ on transforming the country into a great football power. It is a ___B___ for China, whose teams have ranked poor to middling in recent international competition. But the effort has already ___C___ a surge of spending and support for the game that has stunned fans and players around the world. In the past two weeks, the main Chinese league has ___D___ foreign stars from Europe and South America with contracts reported to be worth as much as $40 million a year, the highest pay for any football player in the world. A Chinese club offered the real Ronaldo $105 million a year, but he declined, his agent said last week. These ___E___ sums are shaking the landscape of football.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank A A. Curious B. Stubborn C. Reluctant D. Decided E. Bent
Correct answer: E. Bent
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “Bent”. Here’s why:
“Bent” means determined or committed to a specific goal, which fits well with the idea of President Xi Jinping being fully focused on transforming China into a football powerhouse.
Why the other options are not correct:
A. “Curious” suggests an interest or wonder, which doesn’t capture the level of determination implied in the sentence.
B. “Stubborn” implies an unwillingness to change or adapt, which does not match the context of a national project aimed at transformation.
C. “Reluctant” means unwilling or hesitant, which contradicts the idea of a determined effort to achieve something.
D. “Decided” suggests a conclusion or choice, but “bent” more precisely conveys a strong commitment or focus on a goal.
Thus, “bent” (option E) is the best choice, as it conveys President Xi Jinping’s determination in this project.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank B A. Wild goose chase B. moonshot C. fool’s errand D. white elephant E. tall talk
Correct answer: B. moonshot
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “moonshot”. Here’s why:
“Moonshot” refers to an ambitious, bold, and difficult goal, often associated with projects that require significant effort and investment. In this context, it reflects China’s ambitious and far-reaching aim of becoming a football powerhouse.
Why the other options are not correct:
A. “Wild goose chase” refers to a futile or hopeless pursuit, which doesn’t fit the context of China’s significant investment and national project.
C. “Fool’s errand” also suggests a pointless or hopeless task, which contradicts the determined national effort described.
D. “White elephant” refers to something expensive but impractical, which does not capture the sense of ambition or achievement tied to the project.
E. “Tall talk” refers to boastful or exaggerated speech, which doesn’t align with the serious and strategic nature of the football transformation project.
Thus, “moonshot” (option B) is the best choice, as it fits with the idea of a bold and challenging national project.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank C A. estimated B. abolished C. unleashed D. diverted E. demystified
Correct answer: C. unleashed
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “unleashed”. Here’s why:
“Unleashed” means to release or set free, which fits well in the context of a surge of spending and support being released or set in motion for the game, indicating a significant and powerful increase.
Why the other options are not correct:
A. “Estimated” refers to an approximation, which doesn’t fit the context of a surge or powerful increase in support.
B. “Abolished” means to officially end something, which contradicts the idea of a surge or growth in spending and support.
D. “Diverted” means redirected, which doesn’t align with the idea of a strong, unrestrained increase in spending and support.
E. “Demystified” means to clarify or explain something, which doesn’t make sense in this context.
Thus, “unleashed” (option C) is the best choice, as it conveys the idea of a powerful surge or release of support.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank D A. processed B. passed C. appointed D. plucked E. dared
Correct answer: D. plucked
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “plucked”. Here’s why:
“Plucked” fits the context of foreign stars being selected or brought to China, implying that they were chosen or picked from their respective regions (Europe and South America) to play in the Chinese league.
Why the other options are not correct:
A. “Processed” refers to something being prepared or handled in a certain way, which doesn’t match the idea of choosing or selecting foreign stars.
B. “Passed” refers to something being moved along or approved, but it doesn’t fit the context of recruiting or selecting players.
C. “Appointed” implies assigning a specific role or responsibility, which doesn’t align with the context of bringing in football stars from other countries.
E. “Dared” means to have the courage to do something, which doesn’t fit the context of attracting foreign players to the league.
Thus, “plucked” (option D) is the best choice, as it suggests the foreign stars were carefully selected or picked for the league.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank E A. giddying B. considering C. concerned D. extraordinarily E. yearning
Correct answer: A. giddying
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “giddying”. Here’s why:
“Giddying” refers to something that causes a feeling of dizziness or overwhelming excitement, which fits the context of describing the extraordinarily high sums of money involved in the football contracts. The amounts are so large that they could cause a sense of awe or excitement, shaking the football landscape.
Why the other options are not correct:
B. “Considering” implies thinking or pondering, which does not capture the sense of overwhelming impact that the large sums of money have.
C. “Concerned” suggests worry or anxiety, which doesn’t fit the context of describing something that is shaking up the football world in a more intense or awe-inspiring way.
D. “Extraordinarily” could fit but does not capture the sense of excitement and awe that “giddying” conveys about the large sums of money.
E. “Yearning” implies longing or desire, which doesn’t fit the context of discussing the effect of large sums of money.
Thus, “giddying” (option A) is the best choice, as it highlights the overwhelming effect of these.
Direction: In the following passage, some of the words are missing. Find suitable words from the options given below these questions to make the paragraph meaningful.
The blockade of the national highways leading to the Manipur valley, called by the United Naga Council (UNC), has been in place since November 1. This has severely affected life in the State, with shortages and ___A___costs of essential supplies such as fuel and food, even as demonetization has ___B___ problems. Blockades like this are not new to Manipur. In 2011, there was initially a hundred-day-plus blockade enforced by Kuki-led groups and countered later by Naga groups, which together had a ___C___ effect on life in Manipur. This time the blockade is in place to oppose the creation of new districts by the Okram Ibobi Singh government. On December 9 it issued a ___D___notification for the creation of seven new districts by bifurcating seven (of a total of nine) districts. This decision had as much to do with long-pending demands — in particular, for a new Kuki-majority district to be carved out of the larger Senapati hill district — as with easing administrative access to ___E___ areas from the district headquarters.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank A A. escalating B. upfront C. diminishing D. varying E. considerable
Correct answer: A. escalating
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “escalating”. Here’s why:
“Escalating” refers to something increasing or intensifying, which fits the context of rising costs of essential supplies due to the blockade. The ongoing blockade is likely to cause a gradual increase in costs over time, especially for basic needs like fuel and food.
Why the other options are not correct:
B. “Upfront” refers to something being straightforward or happening at the beginning, which doesn’t fit the context of rising costs over time.
C. “Diminishing” suggests a decrease, which contradicts the idea of costs increasing due to the blockade.
D. “Varying” means changing or fluctuating, but it doesn’t capture the intensifying nature of the rising costs due to the blockade.
E. “Considerable” implies something significant or substantial, but it doesn’t convey the idea of an increase in costs as well as “escalating” does.
Thus, “escalating” (option A) is the best choice, as it captures the increasing nature of the costs caused by the blockade.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank B A. exceeds B. pacified C. exacerbated D. vindicated E. exemplified
Correct answer: C. exacerbated
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “exacerbated”. Here’s why:
“Exacerbated” means to make a situation worse, which fits the context perfectly. The blockade has already caused issues in the State, and demonetization has likely worsened these problems, making life even more difficult for the people in the area.
Why the other options are not correct:
A. “Exceeds” means to go beyond something in quantity or degree, which doesn’t fit the idea of worsening or deepening the problems caused by the blockade.
B. “Pacified” means to calm or soothe, which is the opposite of what the situation describes, as demonetization is making things worse.
D. “Vindicated” means justified or proven right, which doesn’t align with the context of worsening problems.
E. “Exemplified” means to illustrate or show something as an example, which doesn’t fit the context of worsening the situation.
Thus, “exacerbated” (option C) is the best choice, as it appropriately describes the worsening of problems due to demonetization.
48. Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank C A. tasting B. counter C. mounting D. befitting E. debilitating
Correct answer: E. debilitating
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “debilitating”. Here’s why:
“Debilitating” means causing weakness or making something much harder to endure. It fits the context of the sentence, as the blockade has likely had a serious, weakening effect on life in Manipur, leading to severe shortages and difficulties in daily life.
Why the other options are not correct:
A. “Tasting” refers to the act of sampling or experiencing something, which doesn’t match the context of an ongoing, worsening situation.
B. “Counter” refers to something that works against or opposes, which doesn’t fit the context of describing the effect of the blockade.
C. “Mounting” refers to something increasing, but it doesn’t convey the level of harm or negative impact that “debilitating” does in this context.
D. “Befitting” means suitable or appropriate, which doesn’t describe the severe consequences of the blockade.
Thus, “debilitating” (option E) is the best choice, as it emphasizes the weakening, harmful impact of the blockade on life in Manipur.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank D A. special B. live C. gazette D. detail E. retentive
Correct answer: C. gazette
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “gazette”. Here’s why:
“Gazette” refers to an official publication, typically a government document or notification. The sentence refers to a government decision regarding the creation of new districts, which would be formally announced through a gazette notification.
Why the other options are not correct:
A. “Special” refers to something unique or distinct, but it doesn’t fit the context of an official publication or notification.
B. “Live” refers to something happening in real-time or being broadcast, which doesn’t align with the formal nature of government notifications.
D. “Detail” refers to specific information, but it does not match the context of a formal government notification.
E. “Retentive” means something that retains information well, which doesn’t fit in the context of a notification.
Thus, “gazette” (option C) is the best choice, as it specifically refers to an official government publication used for such announcements.
Select the most appropriate option to fill in the blank E A. offshore B. far-flung C. outskirts D. remotely E. secluded
Correct answer: B. far-flung
Explanation:
The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is “far-flung”. Here’s why:
“Far-flung” refers to something that is located at a great distance, often in an outlying or remote area. In this context, it fits the idea of making administrative access easier to areas that are geographically distant from the district headquarters.
Why the other options are not correct:
A. “Offshore” refers to areas located at sea, which doesn’t fit the context of a land-based administrative decision.
C. “Outskirts” refers to the outer areas of a city or town, which is not the same as distant or remote areas.
D. “Remotely” refers to something distant or isolated but is more commonly used as an adverb, not a noun or adjective in this context.
E. “Secluded” implies being isolated for reasons of privacy or exclusion, which doesn’t fit the context of administrative access.
Thus, “far-flung” (option B) is the best choice, as it emphasizes the great distance or remoteness of the areas being referenced.
