PRACTICE 1. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .  

Years ago, as a newly-qualified teacher, I was posted to a school in a small village. There was only one

coffee shop, ___1___ sundry shop and a bicycle repair shop. The village had piped water ___2___ no

electricity supply. There ___3___ no public transport at night. ___4___, the lack of amenities in the village

did not bother me much. The students ___5___ hardworking and eager to learn. There were no discipline

___6___. I had to ___7___ a set of living quarters with two others and we had to cook our own meals. In the

evenings and during weekends we went fishing or ___9___ round the many surrounds villages. At weddings

we and festivals, we were showered with food. ___9___ village folk respected ___10___ and made us feel

wanted. I'll never forget their warmth and kindness.

               1.  (A) a   6.  (A) problems

(B) an    (B) difficulties   (C) the      (C) challenges   (D) --      (D) attitudes               

2.  (A) and   7.  (A) live(B) but    (B) make

   (C) or      (C) share   (D) both      (D) divide               

3.  (A) is   8.  (A) cycle(B) are    (B) cycles

   (C) was      (C) cycled   (D) were      (D) cycling               

4.  (A) Moreover   9.  (A) A(B) Therefore    (B) An

   (C) Since      (C) The    (D) However      (D) --               

5.  (A) is   10.  (A) us   (B) are      (B) we   (C) was      (C) me   (D) were      (D) you

  PRACTICE 2. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .

 Students today have to sit for exam after exam. Studying for exams is ___1___ inevitable part of a ___2___

life. Some study regularly and systematically. ___3___ do it in fits and starts, finally cramming at the last

minute, ___4___ themselves unnecessary stress. When you study or read, write brief notes on ___5___

points in the margin. Write a summary of each chapter. Writing the notes in your own ___6___ means that

you have ___7___ what you have read or studied. Then there is no need to reread everything ___8___ the

exam. Looking ___9___ your notes or your summaries will help ___10___ remember or recall what you

have read as you can't memorize everything you read.

               1.  (A) a   6.  (A) words

(B) an    (B) ideas   (C) the      (C) way   (D) --      (D) writing               

2.  (A) student   7.  (A) understand(B) students    (B) understands

   (C) student's      (C) understood   (D) students'      (D) understanding               

3.  (A) Other   8.  (A) near(B) Others    (B) before

   (C) Any      (C) during   (D) Another      (D) prior               

4.  (A) cause   9.  (A) at(B) causes    (B) by

   (C) caused      (C) for   (D) causing      (D) after               

5.  (A) certain   10.  (A) one   (B) special      (B) us   (C) important      (C) you   (D) interesting      (D) them

  PRACTICE 3. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .

 Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are gathered here today to bid farewell to our beloved teacher, Mrs Lee. She ___1___ in our school

___2___ fifteen years. Before she came here, she ___3___ in Pontian and Kluang. Her teaching career has

spanned thirty years and now she ___4___. It is indeed a great loss to the school and the profession. Many

students past and present owe their good ___5___ of English to Mrs Lee. Our volleyball team is the district

champion because of her untiring ___6___. Students who have problems know that ___7___ can always talk

to her. She listens without prejudice and ___8___ us helpful advice. We shall all ___9___ her. On behalf

___10____ all the students and teachers of this school, I wish her all the best in her retirement.

1.  (A) teach   6.  (A) ability(B) teaches    (B) help

   (C) taught      (C) dedication   (D) has taught      (D) efforts               

2.  (A) for   7.  (A) he(B) since    (B) we

   (C) during      (C) they   (D) wile      (D) those               

3.  (A) serve   8.  (A) give(B) serves    (B) gives

   (C) served      (C) gave   (D) has served      (D) given

               4.  (A) retires   9.  (A) miss

(B) retired    (B) misses   (C) is retiring      (C) missed   (D) has retired      (D) missing               

5.  (A) fluency   10.  (A) at   (B) command      (B) by   (C) technique      (C) of   (D) method      (D) with

  PRACTICE 4. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .

 When I first worked in Muar in the sixties, the town was quiet and the pace of life unhurried. I shared a

rented room ___1___ a friend. Most people traveled by bicycle ___2___ trishaw as buses were few. I had

never ___3___ a bicycle before in my life ___4___ I was determined to learn as the alternative was to travel

___5___ trishaw if we wanted to go anywhere. I learned the hard way the first time I rode a bicycle. My

friend had explained where the brake ___6___ and how to use it. After riding a few meters in great

nervousness, I completely forgot about braking when I ___ 7___ a bus parked ahead. I rammed into it but

___8___ caused no injury to myself or ___9___ to the bicycle. By the time I left the following year. I was

___10____ to ride a bicycle reasonably well.

               1.  (A) by   6.  (A) is

(B) from    (B) are   (C) with      (C) was   (D) beside      (D) were               

2.  (A) or   7.  (A) see(B) and    (B) saw

   (C) as      (C) seen   (D) beside      (D) seeing               

3.  (A) ride   8.  (A) however(B) rode    (B) unluckily

   (C) riding      (C) instead   (D) ridden      (D) fortunately               

4.  (A) and   9.  (A) hurt(B) but    (B) injury

   (C) so      (C) damage   (D) until      (D) wound               

5.  (A) by   10.  (A) able   (B) on      (B) unable   (C) with      (C) happy   (D) through      (D) good

 

PRACTICE 5. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .  

What does the work of a nurse involve ? Many believe it is simply taking care of ___1___, making beds and

removing bedpans. There is ___2___ to it than that. Nurses are now doing some of the work formerly

___3___ by doctors. Nurses also work in the public health service, in hospices and old folks' homes. New

technology in medical science means nurses have to use new machines and learn new operating techniques

to keep ___4___ with changes. There is an increasing need ___5___ specialized care, so degree courses are

now available to enhance the ___6___ of health care. The ___7___ for nurses in private hospitals has

resulted in ___8___ shortage and many government hospitals are understaffed. This ___9___ the workload

of nurses. Few however ___10___ them. Many just take them for granted. Let's not forget that many nurses

work with patience and dedication.

               1.  (A) sick   6.  (A) nature

(B) patients    (B) quality   (C) invalids      (C) type   (D) people      (D) character               

2.  (A) more   7.  (A) need(B) much    (B) want

   (C) most      (C) desire   (D) many      (D) demand               

3.  (A) do   8.  (A) a(B) did    (B) an

   (C) doing      (C) the   (D) done      (D) --               

4.  (A) track   9.  (A) increase(B) abreast    (B) increases

   (C) moving      (C) increased   (D) knowledge      (D) has increased               

5.  (A) by   10.  (A) like   (B) to      (B) enjoy   (C) for      (C) appreciate   (D) of      (D) encourage

  PRACTICE 6. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .

 With recent advances in technology, more people are now able to work from home. Their homes ___1___

their offices. This is especially helpful to ___2___ who have young children. Working from home cuts down

time spent traveling to and ___3___ the office. Working from home does not mean you become less efficient

or productive. You should ___4___ your office from your private area. This means your children ___5___

not use your office phone or play games on your computer. Working ___6___ should be strictly defined.

___7___ shopping or doing housework when you should be working. ___8___ appropriately when working

in your office area. Getting into smarter clothes will ___9___ you psychologically for work even if you are

not ___10____ clients.

               1.  (A) become   6.  (A) hour

(B) becomes    (B) hours   (C) became      (C) day   (D) becoming      (D) period               

2.  (A) them   7.  (A) Avoid(B) they    (B) Don't

   (C) those      (C) Refrain   (D) theirs      (D) Prevent               

3.  (A) in   8.  (A) Wear(B) from    (B) Clothe

   (C) out      (C) Dress   (D) near      (D) Attire               

4.  (A) divide   9.  (A) help(B) remove    (B) prepare

   (C) detach      (C) treat   (D) separate      (D) get               

5.  (A) ought   10.  (A) expect   (B) should      (B) expects   (C) could      (C) expected   (D) might      (D) expecting

  PRACTICE 7. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .

 What is the difference between creative thinking and logical thinking ? In creative thinking, we try to

___1___ up with as many ideas as ___2___. We call this brainstorming. We keep ___3___ open mind about

the ideas for the time being, ___4___ the ideas are practical or not. No idea is considered ridiculous because

___5___ the most outlandish idea may work. This way we have a ___6___ of several possible solutions. In

logical thinking, we are looking for ___7___ right answer. Once we find a working solution, we stop looking

for ___8___, without realizing that there could be better solutions. Most problems have more than one

possible solution. Creative thinking ___9___ us to choose the best of them. Creative thinking and logical

thinking don't oppose ___10___ other but they complement each other in fact.

               1.  (A) come   6.  (A) choose

(B) think    (B) chose   (C) work      (C) chosen   (D) create      (D) choice               

2.  (A) can   7.  (A) a(B) likely    (B) an

   (C) reasonable      (C) the   (D) possible      (D) --               

3.  (A) a   8.  (A) solutions(B) an    (B) answers

   (C) the      (C) others   (D) --      (D) alternatives

               4.  (A) if   9.  (A) enable

(B) since    (B) enables   (C) whether      (C) enabled   (D) despite      (D) has enabled               

5.  (A) but   10.  (A) the    (B) despite      (B) one   (C) even      (C) each   (D) since      (D) some

  PRACTICE 8. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .

 My dog was a puppy when we first got him. My brother ___1___ him on a playing field and brought him

home. We ___2___ him Rudi. He growled at us and slunk into a corner ___3___ he got to know us. Then he

would jump into our laps and snuggle up to us. He is really intelligent. ___4___ morning he will run to the

gate to check whether it ___5___. If by some chance it is not, he will push the gate open and run out. He

returns in a few minutes but the sense of freedom it gives him appears to be important to him. When it is

time for food, he waits ___6___ at the kitchen door. If it is not ready ___7___ time, he barks at my mother.

He knows that he is not allowed inside the house. However after his weekly ___8___, he will wait at the

door, and if invited, he will come in ___9___ that he will not be chased ___10___ as he is clean.

               1.  (A) find   6.  (A) expect

(B) finds    (B) expecting   (C) found      (C) expectant   (D) was found      (D) expectantly               

2.  (A) name   7.  (A) in(B) named    (B) on

   (C) was named      (C) by   (D) had named      (D) at               

3.  (A) as   8.  (A) bath(B) when    (B) baths

   (C) while      (C) bathe   (D) until      (D) bathing               

4.  (A) Every   9.  (A) know(B) One    (B) knew

   (C) Some      (C) known   (D) Another      (D) knowing               

5.  (A) bolt   10.  (A) off   (B) bolts      (B) back   (C) bolted      (C) out   (D) is bolted      (D) away

 

PRACTICE 9. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .  

Forests are being sacrificed for high-rise buildings and golf courses, some say. At the same time, the

authorities ___1___ money on tree planting. While tree planting should be encourage, existing forests must

be ___2___. People need ___3___ from the pressure of urban living. It is ___4___ to maintain pockets of

green in the city to improve the quality of living. Trees help to filter pollutants, ___5___ noise pollution and

maintain a cooler atmosphere as they ___6___ solar radiation. Urban forests or green lungs in the city also

___7___ as bird sanctuaries. If these forests are cut ___8___ the cities are going to become hotter and

___9___ and unpleasant to live in. Even if developers try to reafforest areas they have developed, they

cannot ___10___ the biodiversity.

               1.  (A) spend   6.  (A) cut

(B) spent    (B) reduce   (C) is spending      (C) remove   (D) are spending      (D) hinder               

2.  (A) kept   7.  (A) serve(B) guarded    (B) provide

   (C) protected      (C) give   (D) preserved      (D) support               

3.  (A) rest   8.  (A) off(B) relief    (B) up

   (C) change      (C) down   (D) cure      (D) away               

4.  (A) good   9.  (A) dust(B) needed    (B) dusty

   (C) required      (C) dustier   (D) important      (D) duster               

5.  (A) less   10.  (A) save   (B) lesser      (B) return   (C) lessen      (C) replant   (D) least      (D) replace

 

PRACTICE 10. Choose the best answer from the options A , B , C and D .  

How can we prevent household poisoning ? First of all, lock ___1___ all potentially dangerous ___2___ like

medicine, pesticides and harmful chemicals. Put them ___3___ immediately after use or throw them away if

they are no longer needed. Never keep poisonous substances in food containers or beverage bottles. Keep

them in ___4___ original containers. Double check before ___5___ medicine. Don't mix different tablets or

capsules in one bottle. Do not self prescribe or give drugs to anybody. That is a ___6___ responsibility.

___7___ there is adequate ventilation when using cleaning fluids. Keep your eyes ___8___. Parents should

educate their children from an early ___9___ about the dangers ___10___ poisons.

               

1.  (A) in   6.  (A) doctor(B) up    (B) doctors

   (C) out      (C) doctor's   (D) away      (D) doctors'               

2.  (A) things   7.  (A) Sure(B) stuff    (B) Ensure

   (C) materials      (C) Assure   (D) substances      (D) Certain               

3.  (A) in   8.  (A) closed(B) out    (B) shut

   (C) up      (C) covered   (D) away      (D) protected               

4.  (A) them   9.  (A) age(B) they    (B) year

   (C) their      (C) time   (D) theirs      (D) period               

5.  (A) consume   10.  (A) in   (B) consumes      (B) by   (C) consumed      (C) of   (D) consuming      (D) over

 

RATIONAL CLOZE ( 10 PRACTICES & ANSWERS )PRACTICE 1

   Answers : 1A    2B    3C    4D    5D    6A    7C    8D    9C    10APRACTICE 2

   Answers : 1B    2C    3B    4D    5C    6A    7C    8B    9A   10CPRACTICE 3

   Answers : 1D    2A    3C    4C    5B    6D    7C    8B   9A   10CPRACTICE 4

   Answers : 1C    2A    3D    4B    5A    6C    7B    8D    9C    10APRACTICE 5

   Answers : 1B    2A    3D    4B    5C    6B    7D    8A    9D    10CPRACTICE 6

   Answers : 1A    2C    3B    4D    5B    6B    7A    8C    9B    10DPRACTICE 7

   Answers : 1A    2D    3B    4C    5C    6D    7C    8D    9B    10CPRACTICE 8

   Answers : 1C    2B    3D    4A    5D    6D    7B    8A    9D    10CPRACTICE 9

   Answers : 1D    2D    3B    4D    5C    6B    7A    8C    9C    10DPRACITICE 10

   Answers : 1B    2D    3D    4C    5D    6C    7B    8D    9A    10C