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.Speaking of the Malagasy a Catholic missionary tells us that in Madagascar nobody dies a natural death. With the possible exception of centenarians everybody is supposed to die the victim of the sorcerer’s diabolic art. If a relation of yours dies, the people ___(1)___ you by saying, “Cursed be the sorcerer who caused his death!” If your horse falls down a precipice and breaks its back, the ___(2)___ has been caused by the malicious look of a sorcerer. If your dog dies of hydrophobia or your horse of a carbuncle, the cause is still the same. If you catch a fever in a district where malaria ___(3)___, the malady is still ascribed to the art of the sorcerer, who has insinuated some deadly substances into your body. Again, speaking of the Sakalava, a tribe in Madagascar, an eminent French authority on the island observes: “They have such a faith in the power of talismans that they even ___(4)___ to them the power of killing their enemies. When they speak of poisoning, they do not allude, as many Europeans wrongly suppose, to death by vegetable or mineral poisons; the reference is to charms or spells. They often throw under the bed of an enemy an ahouli [talisman], praying it to kill him, and they are persuaded that sooner or later their wish will be accomplished. I have often been present at bloody vendettas which had no other ___(5)___ but this. The Sakalava think that a great part of the population dies of poison in this way. In their opinion, only old people who have attained the extreme limits of human longevity die a natural death.”

Ans:1
Comfort means to help in time of a grief or pain and is the most suitable word here. Thus, A is the right choice.

2.Speaking of the Malagasy a Catholic missionary tells us that in Madagascar nobody dies a natural death. With the possible exception of centenarians everybody is supposed to die the victim of the sorcerer’s diabolic art. If a relation of yours dies, the people ___(1)___ you by saying, “Cursed be the sorcerer who caused his death!” If your horse falls down a precipice and breaks its back, the ___(2)___ has been caused by the malicious look of a sorcerer. If your dog dies of hydrophobia or your horse of a carbuncle, the cause is still the same. If you catch a fever in a district where malaria ___(3)___, the malady is still ascribed to the art of the sorcerer, who has insinuated some deadly substances into your body. Again, speaking of the Sakalava, a tribe in Madagascar, an eminent French authority on the island observes: “They have such a faith in the power of talismans that they even ___(4)___ to them the power of killing their enemies. When they speak of poisoning, they do not allude, as many Europeans wrongly suppose, to death by vegetable or mineral poisons; the reference is to charms or spells. They often throw under the bed of an enemy an ahouli [talisman], praying it to kill him, and they are persuaded that sooner or later their wish will be accomplished. I have often been present at bloody vendettas which had no other ___(5)___ but this. The Sakalava think that a great part of the population dies of poison in this way. In their opinion, only old people who have attained the extreme limits of human longevity die a natural death.”

Ans:4
The event described before the blank is an unexpected event, thus the word accident fits the blank well

3.Speaking of the Malagasy a Catholic missionary tells us that in Madagascar nobody dies a natural death. With the possible exception of centenarians everybody is supposed to die the victim of the sorcerer’s diabolic art. If a relation of yours dies, the people ___(1)___ you by saying, “Cursed be the sorcerer who caused his death!” If your horse falls down a precipice and breaks its back, the ___(2)___ has been caused by the malicious look of a sorcerer. If your dog dies of hydrophobia or your horse of a carbuncle, the cause is still the same. If you catch a fever in a district where malaria ___(3)___, the malady is still ascribed to the art of the sorcerer, who has insinuated some deadly substances into your body. Again, speaking of the Sakalava, a tribe in Madagascar, an eminent French authority on the island observes: “They have such a faith in the power of talismans that they even ___(4)___ to them the power of killing their enemies. When they speak of poisoning, they do not allude, as many Europeans wrongly suppose, to death by vegetable or mineral poisons; the reference is to charms or spells. They often throw under the bed of an enemy an ahouli [talisman], praying it to kill him, and they are persuaded that sooner or later their wish will be accomplished. I have often been present at bloody vendettas which had no other ___(5)___ but this. The Sakalava think that a great part of the population dies of poison in this way. In their opinion, only old people who have attained the extreme limits of human longevity die a natural death.”

Ans:3
The blank requires a word that means “widespread or rampant”. Abounds means the same and is the right fit for the blank.

4.Speaking of the Malagasy a Catholic missionary tells us that in Madagascar nobody dies a natural death. With the possible exception of centenarians everybody is supposed to die the victim of the sorcerer’s diabolic art. If a relation of yours dies, the people ___(1)___ you by saying, “Cursed be the sorcerer who caused his death!” If your horse falls down a precipice and breaks its back, the ___(2)___ has been caused by the malicious look of a sorcerer. If your dog dies of hydrophobia or your horse of a carbuncle, the cause is still the same. If you catch a fever in a district where malaria ___(3)___, the malady is still ascribed to the art of the sorcerer, who has insinuated some deadly substances into your body. Again, speaking of the Sakalava, a tribe in Madagascar, an eminent French authority on the island observes: “They have such a faith in the power of talismans that they even ___(4)___ to them the power of killing their enemies. When they speak of poisoning, they do not allude, as many Europeans wrongly suppose, to death by vegetable or mineral poisons; the reference is to charms or spells. They often throw under the bed of an enemy an ahouli [talisman], praying it to kill him, and they are persuaded that sooner or later their wish will be accomplished. I have often been present at bloody vendettas which had no other ___(5)___ but this. The Sakalava think that a great part of the population dies of poison in this way. In their opinion, only old people who have attained the extreme limits of human longevity die a natural death.”

Ans:5
Ascribe means to attribute or credit to. It is suitable for the given blank, thus E is the right choice.

5.Speaking of the Malagasy a Catholic missionary tells us that in Madagascar nobody dies a natural death. With the possible exception of centenarians everybody is supposed to die the victim of the sorcerer’s diabolic art. If a relation of yours dies, the people ___(1)___ you by saying, “Cursed be the sorcerer who caused his death!” If your horse falls down a precipice and breaks its back, the ___(2)___ has been caused by the malicious look of a sorcerer. If your dog dies of hydrophobia or your horse of a carbuncle, the cause is still the same. If you catch a fever in a district where malaria ___(3)___, the malady is still ascribed to the art of the sorcerer, who has insinuated some deadly substances into your body. Again, speaking of the Sakalava, a tribe in Madagascar, an eminent French authority on the island observes: “They have such a faith in the power of talismans that they even ___(4)___ to them the power of killing their enemies. When they speak of poisoning, they do not allude, as many Europeans wrongly suppose, to death by vegetable or mineral poisons; the reference is to charms or spells. They often throw under the bed of an enemy an ahouli [talisman], praying it to kill him, and they are persuaded that sooner or later their wish will be accomplished. I have often been present at bloody vendettas which had no other ___(5)___ but this. The Sakalava think that a great part of the population dies of poison in this way. In their opinion, only old people who have attained the extreme limits of human longevity die a natural death.”

Ans:1
The blank requires a word that means similar to the word ‘source’. Origin is closest to it among the given options and thus is the most suitable word for the blank.

Directions:(6-10) In the following passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. Against each number, there are five blanks one of which fills the blanks appropriately. Find the most suitable word in each case.

6.The exercises with the Indian clubs are of a more recent date than those with dumb-bells. They were ___(6)____ into Europe by a military officer, who had seen the Persians exercise with them. These exercises are ___(7)___ alternately with the two hands, and sometimes simultaneously, with two instruments of a massive conical form, which in Persia are called nulo, and in India mugdaughs. They are very useful for increasing the muscular power of the arms and shoulders, opening the chest, and strengthening the hands and wrists. They have also the advantage of ___(8)___ the player with them _____(9)______, or two-handed; that is to say, of making the left hand as able and vigorous as the right, and enabling him to use one as readily as the other. As instruments of exercise they are as ____(10)____ for women and girls as for men and boys. Gracefully used, they give a good carriage and deportment, not always obtained by other means. Dumb-bell practice should precede the use of the Indian clubs. In beginning with the latter, take off your coat and cravat, loosen your braces and waistcoat, and put on a belt.

Ans:3
The blank requires a word that means the same as ‘to first bring’. Thus, ‘introduced’ is the apt word for the blank.

7.The exercises with the Indian clubs are of a more recent date than those with dumb-bells. They were ___(6)____ into Europe by a military officer, who had seen the Persians exercise with them. These exercises are ___(7)___ alternately with the two hands, and sometimes simultaneously, with two instruments of a massive conical form, which in Persia are called nulo, and in India mugdaughs. They are very useful for increasing the muscular power of the arms and shoulders, opening the chest, and strengthening the hands and wrists. They have also the advantage of ___(8)___ the player with them _____(9)______, or two-handed; that is to say, of making the left hand as able and vigorous as the right, and enabling him to use one as readily as the other. As instruments of exercise they are as ____(10)____ for women and girls as for men and boys. Gracefully used, they give a good carriage and deportment, not always obtained by other means. Dumb-bell practice should precede the use of the Indian clubs. In beginning with the latter, take off your coat and cravat, loosen your braces and waistcoat, and put on a belt.

Ans:1
The blank is suitably filled by a word that is similar to ‘do’. Perform means to do an action and is an apt word for the blank.

8.The exercises with the Indian clubs are of a more recent date than those with dumb-bells. They were ___(6)____ into Europe by a military officer, who had seen the Persians exercise with them. These exercises are ___(7)___ alternately with the two hands, and sometimes simultaneously, with two instruments of a massive conical form, which in Persia are called nulo, and in India mugdaughs. They are very useful for increasing the muscular power of the arms and shoulders, opening the chest, and strengthening the hands and wrists. They have also the advantage of ___(8)___ the player with them _____(9)______, or two-handed; that is to say, of making the left hand as able and vigorous as the right, and enabling him to use one as readily as the other. As instruments of exercise they are as ____(10)____ for women and girls as for men and boys. Gracefully used, they give a good carriage and deportment, not always obtained by other means. Dumb-bell practice should precede the use of the Indian clubs. In beginning with the latter, take off your coat and cravat, loosen your braces and waistcoat, and put on a belt.

Ans:4
The blank requires a word that means ‘to transform or change’. Rendering means to change something or someone in a specified condition. Thus, ‘rendering’ is apt for the blank.

9.The exercises with the Indian clubs are of a more recent date than those with dumb-bells. They were ___(6)____ into Europe by a military officer, who had seen the Persians exercise with them. These exercises are ___(7)___ alternately with the two hands, and sometimes simultaneously, with two instruments of a massive conical form, which in Persia are called nulo, and in India mugdaughs. They are very useful for increasing the muscular power of the arms and shoulders, opening the chest, and strengthening the hands and wrists. They have also the advantage of ___(8)___ the player with them _____(9)______, or two-handed; that is to say, of making the left hand as able and vigorous as the right, and enabling him to use one as readily as the other. As instruments of exercise they are as ____(10)____ for women and girls as for men and boys. Gracefully used, they give a good carriage and deportment, not always obtained by other means. Dumb-bell practice should precede the use of the Indian clubs. In beginning with the latter, take off your coat and cravat, loosen your braces and waistcoat, and put on a belt.

Ans:4
Since the blank is immediately succeeded by an ‘or’, it will have the similar meaning to the word after ‘or’ which is two-handed. From the options we can see that only ambidextrous means the capability to use both hands. Thus, D is the right choice.

10.The exercises with the Indian clubs are of a more recent date than those with dumb-bells. They were ___(6)____ into Europe by a military officer, who had seen the Persians exercise with them. These exercises are ___(7)___ alternately with the two hands, and sometimes simultaneously, with two instruments of a massive conical form, which in Persia are called nulo, and in India mugdaughs. They are very useful for increasing the muscular power of the arms and shoulders, opening the chest, and strengthening the hands and wrists. They have also the advantage of ___(8)___ the player with them _____(9)______, or two-handed; that is to say, of making the left hand as able and vigorous as the right, and enabling him to use one as readily as the other. As instruments of exercise they are as ____(10)____ for women and girls as for men and boys. Gracefully used, they give a good carriage and deportment, not always obtained by other means. Dumb-bell practice should precede the use of the Indian clubs. In beginning with the latter, take off your coat and cravat, loosen your braces and waistcoat, and put on a belt.

Ans:3
The blank requires a word that means ‘suitable’. Fit means the same, thus C is the right choice.

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

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