Cloze and Sentence Completion Set 4
Cloze and Sentence Completion Set 4 continues these two 11+ question types with a focus on referential consistency in longer cloze passages, where a pronoun, connective or correlative word chosen in one gap constrains what can correctly go in a later gap, and on sentence completion using correlative pairs such as "not only...but also" and "either...or", plus questions that test whether a word suits a formal or informal register.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read the whole passage before writing anything, noting who or what each pronoun-heavy sentence refers to.
- When a gap needs a pronoun, check whether the noun it refers to is singular or plural, and male, female or a mixed/neutral group, so the agreement is correct.
- Remember that an early gap can constrain a later one: if an earlier gap introduces two people, a later pronoun gap must use "they" or "them", not "he" or "she".
- For sentence completion testing tone, decide first whether the sentence is formal, a report, a letter, a speech, or informal, a diary entry, dialogue, a casual note, then choose the option matching that register.
- Watch for correlative pairs such as "not only...but also" and "either...or": once one half is fixed by the sentence, the other half must match it and cannot be swapped for a different pairing, such as "neither...but".
- Reread the completed passage or sentence from the start, checking pronouns, tense and tone are consistent all the way through, not just correct gap by gap.
Worked example
Sentence completion using a correlative connective: complete the sentence with the correct word: "The manager announced that (1)_______ the printer nor the photocopier would be repaired before Monday." Choose: A) either B) neither C) both
- Identify the connective already present later in the sentence, "nor", which normally pairs with "neither", not "either" or "both".
- Check that "neither...nor" links two negative alternatives, the printer and the photocopier, matching the sentence's meaning that both machines will stay unrepaired.
- Rule out "either", which pairs with "or" rather than "nor", and rule out "both", which does not pair with "nor" at all.
- Confirm the sentence makes sense with "neither": "the manager announced that neither the printer nor the photocopier would be repaired before Monday" reads correctly.
- Final answer: B) neither.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Complete the sentence with the correct correlative word: "The soup was (1)_______ too salty but also far too thin." A) not only B) either C) neitherShow answer
Answer: A) not only
Q2Complete the gap with the correct pronoun: "Mr Ahmed and his daughter packed the car quietly, since (1)_______ of them wanted to wake the rest of the family." Choose: He, She, Neither, They.Show answer
Answer: Neither (it must agree with the following "of them" and the negative meaning that nobody wanted to wake the family).
Q3Complete the sentence for a formal letter: "I am writing to (1)_______ you of an important change to the timetable." Choose: A) tell B) inform C) blabShow answer
Answer: B) inform (a formal letter needs a formal register).
Q4Complete the sentence with the correct correlative word: "You may (1)_______ hand in your project on Friday, or bring it on Monday instead." Choose: A) either B) neither C) bothShow answer
Answer: A) either
Q5A cloze passage introduces "the pupils" in its first sentence. Which pronoun should a later gap use to refer back to them: "he", "she" or "they"?Show answer
Answer: They (it must stay plural to agree with "the pupils").
Q6Complete the sentence with the better word for a personal diary entry: "Today I (1)_______ my new book and could not put it down." Choose: A) commenced B) started C) initiatedShow answer
Answer: B) started (a diary is an informal, personal register; "commenced" and "initiated" are too formal).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Complete the passage using the word bank, keeping the pronouns consistent throughout (one word is used twice). Word bank: Neither, they. "Priya and her older brother spent Saturday morning tidying the shed. (1)_______ of them wanted to be the one stuck sorting old paint tins, so (2)_______ agreed to split the job in half. By lunchtime, (3)_______ had filled two whole bin bags between them." (5 marks)
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Explain why choosing a word or pronoun for one gap in a cloze passage can restrict which words are correct for a later gap in the same passage, using an example to support your answer. (3 marks)
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the cloze and sentence completion set 4 worksheet pack - 15 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 28 of 11+ English Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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