Cloze and Sentence Completion Set 6
Cloze and Sentence Completion Set 6 focuses on formal connecting words and phrases, "furthermore", "nevertheless", "consequently", "meanwhile", "in contrast", that show the logical relationship between two ideas: addition, contrast, cause and effect, or two things happening at the same time. These connectives appear constantly in non-fiction cloze passages and sentence completion questions, and choosing the wrong one can reverse the meaning of a whole sentence.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read both parts of the sentence, or both sentences joined by the gap, and decide what logical relationship holds between them before looking at the options.
- Learn the main categories: addition, furthermore, moreover, in addition; contrast, however, nevertheless, in contrast; cause and effect, therefore, consequently, as a result; and simultaneous time, meanwhile, while.
- Check whether the second idea agrees with, adds to, opposes, or is caused by the first, since this determines which category of connective is needed.
- Be alert to connectives that look similar but signal opposite relationships, "consequently", a result, versus "nevertheless", a contrast despite something, and do not confuse them.
- In a cloze passage, track the logical thread across several sentences, since a formal passage often alternates between building a point and complicating it with a contrast.
- After choosing, test the connective by mentally replacing it with a simple word from the same category, swapping "consequently" for "so" or "nevertheless" for "but", to check the relationship still makes sense.
Worked example
Complete the sentence with the correct connective: "The bridge had been closed for repairs for over a month; (1)_______, traffic in the town centre had become far heavier than usual." Choose: A) however B) consequently C) meanwhile
- Identify the relationship between the two clauses: the bridge closure is a cause, and heavier traffic is its result.
- Rule out "however", which signals contrast, since the second clause does not oppose or contradict the first.
- Rule out "meanwhile", which signals two things happening at the same time without one causing the other, whereas here the closure clearly causes the traffic.
- Confirm "consequently" fits, since it means "as a result", matching a cause-and-effect relationship exactly.
- Final answer: B) consequently.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Complete the sentence: "It rained heavily all week; (1)_______, the football pitch was unplayable." A) meanwhile B) as a result C) in additionShow answer
Answer: B) as a result
Q2Complete the sentence: "The hotel's rooms were spacious and comfortable; (1)_______, the food in the restaurant was disappointing." A) furthermore B) however C) thereforeShow answer
Answer: B) however
Q3Complete the sentence: "The choir rehearsed in the hall; (1)_______, the orchestra practised in a room upstairs." A) meanwhile B) consequently C) neverthelessShow answer
Answer: A) meanwhile
Q4Complete the sentence: "The museum's dinosaur exhibit was fascinating; (1)_______, its gift shop was surprisingly small." A) moreover B) in contrast C) thereforeShow answer
Answer: B) in contrast
Q5Explain the difference in meaning between "consequently" and "nevertheless" when joining two sentences.Show answer
Answer: "Consequently" shows the second idea is a result of the first (cause and effect), while "nevertheless" shows the second idea happens or is true despite the first (a contrast), not because of it.
Q6Complete the sentence: "The forecast predicted heavy snow; (1)_______, the school decided to close early." A) meanwhile B) in addition C) as a resultShow answer
Answer: C) as a result
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Complete the passage using the word bank, choosing the connective that matches the logical relationship in each gap. Word bank: Indeed, However, consequently. "The new library opened to great excitement last spring. (1)_______, within its first month, over two thousand books had been borrowed. (2)_______, several visitors complained that the car park was far too small. The council has (3)_______ announced plans to extend it before next year." (5 marks)
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 5 available
Explain why misreading the logical relationship between two clauses can lead to choosing the wrong connective, even if the chosen word is grammatically correct in the gap. (3 marks)
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the cloze and sentence completion set 6 worksheet pack - 17 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 33 of 11+ English Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on cloze and sentence completion set 6, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.