Go through the passage sentence by sentence. Attempt every blank. If you are stuck, put a small pencil mark next to the number and move on. Do not get stuck on one blank and lose your reading momentum. Often, the answer to a difficult blank in paragraph one will appear in paragraph three.
Now, return to the blanks you left empty. Look further afield for clues. Check the paragraph before and the paragraph after. Check the title (often an underutilized resource). conquer comprehension cloze techniques pdf
If the character is "sobbing," the blank describing their mood must be a negative word (e.g., "miserable," "distraught"). Go through the passage sentence by sentence
Read the completed passage in your head. If a sentence feels "clunky" or grammatically "off," the word choice likely needs adjustment. Spelling Check: Do not get stuck on one blank and lose your reading momentum
Recognizing words that show similarity (synonyms) or difference (antonyms) to help predict the tone and direction of a sentence. Cause and Effect:
: Never fill in blanks in isolation. Experts at Writers at Work emphasize reading the sentences before and after a blank to ensure your choice fits the overall flow, not just the immediate sentence.