Directions:(1-5) In the following passage there are blanks each of which have been numbered. Against each number, there are five blanks one of which fills the blanks appropriately. Find the most suitable word in each case.

1.When disaster strikes, why does law and order ___(1)___ almost immediately? Whether it is a natural or man-made event, why do the people in the vicinity suddenly act as though laws don’t exist? During electricity failures some cities ___(2)___ looting. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina there was intimidation and shootings. Race and poverty-related riots occur ___(3)___ in major cities. One minute the citizens obey the laws and then something ___(4)___ the citizens to disregard the law. Could it be that laws are only tolerated and functional in a society when everything is peaceful and prosperous ? Is a large percentage of the population secretly desiring to steal and maim, but only act upon their ___(5)___ impulses when authorities are distracted and they are likely to avoid punishment ?

Ans:3
From the subsequent lines of the paragraph we can see that the law and order is not functional during disaster periods. Thus, a word similar to ‘fails’ is required. Breakdown means failure and is thus the right choice. Failure is incorrect because we need the plural form of it.

2.When disaster strikes, why does law and order ___(1)___ almost immediately? Whether it is a natural or man-made event, why do the people in the vicinity suddenly act as though laws don’t exist? During electricity failures some cities ___(2)___ looting. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina there was intimidation and shootings. Race and poverty-related riots occur ___(3)___ in major cities. One minute the citizens obey the laws and then something ___(4)___ the citizens to disregard the law. Could it be that laws are only tolerated and functional in a society when everything is peaceful and prosperous ? Is a large percentage of the population secretly desiring to steal and maim, but only act upon their ___(5)___ impulses when authorities are distracted and they are likely to avoid punishment ?

Ans:5
From the context of the passage we can infer that the sentence is used as an example to indicate humans violent behaviors during disasters. Thus, only the word “experience” would give appropriate meaning as per the context of the sentence in the passage. Thus, E is the right choice.

3.When disaster strikes, why does law and order ___(1)___ almost immediately? Whether it is a natural or man-made event, why do the people in the vicinity suddenly act as though laws don’t exist? During electricity failures some cities ___(2)___ looting. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina there was intimidation and shootings. Race and poverty-related riots occur ___(3)___ in major cities. One minute the citizens obey the laws and then something ___(4)___ the citizens to disregard the law. Could it be that laws are only tolerated and functional in a society when everything is peaceful and prosperous ? Is a large percentage of the population secretly desiring to steal and maim, but only act upon their ___(5)___ impulses when authorities are distracted and they are likely to avoid punishment ?

Ans:2
The sentence containing the blank is used as an example to indicate the abnormal and violent behavior of humans during disasters. Thus, a word having meaning similar to “several times” is apt in the context. Hence, option B – frequently is an apt word for the blank. Option D- regular which is an adjective is not apt for the blank which requires an adverb such as regulalry.

4.When disaster strikes, why does law and order ___(1)___ almost immediately? Whether it is a natural or man-made event, why do the people in the vicinity suddenly act as though laws don’t exist? During electricity failures some cities ___(2)___ looting. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina there was intimidation and shootings. Race and poverty-related riots occur ___(3)___ in major cities. One minute the citizens obey the laws and then something ___(4)___ the citizens to disregard the law. Could it be that laws are only tolerated and functional in a society when everything is peaceful and prosperous ? Is a large percentage of the population secretly desiring to steal and maim, but only act upon their ___(5)___ impulses when authorities are distracted and they are likely to avoid punishment ?

Ans:5
In the sentence containing the blank and in subsequent sentences the author is wondering the reason that has led the humans to behave abnormally. Thus, a word that means similar to ’causes’ will fit the blank suitably. Only the word ‘triggers’ is synonymous to ’causes’ from the options. Thus, E is the right choice.

5.When disaster strikes, why does law and order ___(1)___ almost immediately? Whether it is a natural or man-made event, why do the people in the vicinity suddenly act as though laws don’t exist? During electricity failures some cities ___(2)___ looting. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina there was intimidation and shootings. Race and poverty-related riots occur ___(3)___ in major cities. One minute the citizens obey the laws and then something ___(4)___ the citizens to disregard the law. Could it be that laws are only tolerated and functional in a society when everything is peaceful and prosperous ? Is a large percentage of the population secretly desiring to steal and maim, but only act upon their ___(5)___ impulses when authorities are distracted and they are likely to avoid punishment ?

Ans:1
Throughout the passage the author is talking about the double faced attitude of human who normally behave in a civil manner to go violent and crazy during disaster. Thus, the impulses that the author is referring to could be classified as “evil” or “corrupt”. The word “depraved” from the blanks means immoral or wicked and is thus suitable for the blank.

Directions:(6-10) For each blank in the passage, select the word from the options that makes the most sense.

6.Waste Management is the 6. ___________ world leader in nearly all facets of waste treatment, including low-level nuclear, chemical, and asbestos cleanup; and daily garbage removal, waste reduction, and recycling. Waste Management has expanded its operations both technically and geographically, acquiring a host of 7. ___________ suppliers of trash-to-energy plants, pollution control equipment, and recycling services, while signing contracts with municipalities from Buenos Aires to Hong Kong. The company has frequently been attacked by governmental agencies and environmental groups for a variety of alleged failings, but its 8.___________ growth and strenuous efforts in the recycling and pollution-control areas make it likely that in the future Waste Management will be perceived as a hero rather than a 9.___________ by the world’s increasingly polluted cities. Waste Management, it seems, is well on the way to becoming the planet’s garbage collector. It was an exceedingly good time to join the waste-treatment industry. Not only was the national economy at the peak of its postwar prosperity, but also the U.S. consumer was just then beginning to be inundated with a wave of new packaging and convenience items designed to be used once and thrown away. The nation’s production of garbage was growing much faster even than its population, and companies such as Ace Scavenger found themselves in great 10.___________.

Ans:4
“World leader” is a noun => The word in the blank must be an adjective as it is describing a noun.
The usage of the article “the” in front of the blank requires a strong word to be filled in the blank.
Also, the sentence means that Waste Management is the world leader.
So, options A, B and E can be eliminated.
‘Hopefully’ is irrelevant in the context.
Hence, option D is the answer.

7.Waste Management is the 6. ___________ world leader in nearly all facets of waste treatment, including low-level nuclear, chemical, and asbestos cleanup; and daily garbage removal, waste reduction, and recycling. Waste Management has expanded its operations both technically and geographically, acquiring a host of 7. ___________ suppliers of trash-to-energy plants, pollution control equipment, and recycling services, while signing contracts with municipalities from Buenos Aires to Hong Kong. The company has frequently been attacked by governmental agencies and environmental groups for a variety of alleged failings, but its 8.___________ growth and strenuous efforts in the recycling and pollution-control areas make it likely that in the future Waste Management will be perceived as a hero rather than a 9.___________ by the world’s increasingly polluted cities. Waste Management, it seems, is well on the way to becoming the planet’s garbage collector. It was an exceedingly good time to join the waste-treatment industry. Not only was the national economy at the peak of its postwar prosperity, but also the U.S. consumer was just then beginning to be inundated with a wave of new packaging and convenience items designed to be used once and thrown away. The nation’s production of garbage was growing much faster even than its population, and companies such as Ace Scavenger found themselves in great 10.___________.

Ans:1
“World leader” is a noun => The word in the blank must be an adjective as it is describing a noun.
The usage of the article “the” in front of the blank requires a strong word to be filled in the blank.
‘Suppliers’ is a noun => Word in the blank must be an adjective.
According to the sentence, the suppliers provide a lot of facilities.
So, ‘naive’ and ‘simple’ are not the words to describe such suppliers.
Similarly, ‘hard-working’ and ‘enthusiastic’ do not fit in the context.
Hence, ‘sophisticated’ is the word that fits in correctly.

8.Waste Management is the 6. ___________ world leader in nearly all facets of waste treatment, including low-level nuclear, chemical, and asbestos cleanup; and daily garbage removal, waste reduction, and recycling. Waste Management has expanded its operations both technically and geographically, acquiring a host of 7. ___________ suppliers of trash-to-energy plants, pollution control equipment, and recycling services, while signing contracts with municipalities from Buenos Aires to Hong Kong. The company has frequently been attacked by governmental agencies and environmental groups for a variety of alleged failings, but its 8.___________ growth and strenuous efforts in the recycling and pollution-control areas make it likely that in the future Waste Management will be perceived as a hero rather than a 9.___________ by the world’s increasingly polluted cities. Waste Management, it seems, is well on the way to becoming the planet’s garbage collector. It was an exceedingly good time to join the waste-treatment industry. Not only was the national economy at the peak of its postwar prosperity, but also the U.S. consumer was just then beginning to be inundated with a wave of new packaging and convenience items designed to be used once and thrown away. The nation’s production of garbage was growing much faster even than its population, and companies such as Ace Scavenger found themselves in great 10.___________.

Ans:5
‘growth’ is a noun => Word in the blank must be an adjective.
The word ‘strenuous’ must be complemented by a word that gives a hint of huge growth.
Hence, ‘common’ and ‘regular’ can be eliminated.
‘Expressive’ and ‘hard’ are not the words used to describe ‘growth’.
Hence, ‘phenomenal’ is the answer.

9.Waste Management is the 6. ___________ world leader in nearly all facets of waste treatment, including low-level nuclear, chemical, and asbestos cleanup; and daily garbage removal, waste reduction, and recycling. Waste Management has expanded its operations both technically and geographically, acquiring a host of 7. ___________ suppliers of trash-to-energy plants, pollution control equipment, and recycling services, while signing contracts with municipalities from Buenos Aires to Hong Kong. The company has frequently been attacked by governmental agencies and environmental groups for a variety of alleged failings, but its 8.___________ growth and strenuous efforts in the recycling and pollution-control areas make it likely that in the future Waste Management will be perceived as a hero rather than a 9.___________ by the world’s increasingly polluted cities. Waste Management, it seems, is well on the way to becoming the planet’s garbage collector. It was an exceedingly good time to join the waste-treatment industry. Not only was the national economy at the peak of its postwar prosperity, but also the U.S. consumer was just then beginning to be inundated with a wave of new packaging and convenience items designed to be used once and thrown away. The nation’s production of garbage was growing much faster even than its population, and companies such as Ace Scavenger found themselves in great 10.___________.

Ans:3
The word used in the blank must contrast the word ‘hero’.
Among the given options, the word that best complements the word ‘hero’ is ‘villain’.
Hence, option C is the answer.

10.Waste Management is the 6. ___________ world leader in nearly all facets of waste treatment, including low-level nuclear, chemical, and asbestos cleanup; and daily garbage removal, waste reduction, and recycling. Waste Management has expanded its operations both technically and geographically, acquiring a host of 7. ___________ suppliers of trash-to-energy plants, pollution control equipment, and recycling services, while signing contracts with municipalities from Buenos Aires to Hong Kong. The company has frequently been attacked by governmental agencies and environmental groups for a variety of alleged failings, but its 8.___________ growth and strenuous efforts in the recycling and pollution-control areas make it likely that in the future Waste Management will be perceived as a hero rather than a 9.___________ by the world’s increasingly polluted cities. Waste Management, it seems, is well on the way to becoming the planet’s garbage collector. It was an exceedingly good time to join the waste-treatment industry. Not only was the national economy at the peak of its postwar prosperity, but also the U.S. consumer was just then beginning to be inundated with a wave of new packaging and convenience items designed to be used once and thrown away. The nation’s production of garbage was growing much faster even than its population, and companies such as Ace Scavenger found themselves in great 10.___________.

Ans:2
The sentence gives a hint that the growth of garbage in the nation has a positive consequence for the company Ace Scavenger.
Hence, options A, D and E can be eliminated.
Between ‘demand’ and ‘advantage’, the former is a better fit as the it describes the advantage better.
Hence, option B is the answer.

1 thought on “Cloze Test in English For Competitive Exams”

  1. I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thanks , I will try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top