Cloze Test — Practice

Question 1

'Digital lending has grown rapidly, ___ concerns about consumer protection have grown with it.' Best fit:
(a) so  (b) but  (c) because  (d) therefore

Accepted Answer

Growth (positive) is set against rising concerns (negative) ⇒ contrast needed.

Answer: (b) but.

Question 2

'Regulators, ___ well-intentioned, have been slow to act.' Best fit:
(a) though  (b) and  (c) since  (d) hence

Accepted Answer

A concession before criticism ⇒ 'though/although'.

Answer: (a) though.

Question 3

'The new policy could ___ a serious threat to small lenders.' Best fit:
(a) make  (b) pose  (c) give  (d) do

Accepted Answer

The fixed collocation is 'pose a threat'.

Answer: (b) pose.

Question 4

'The committee has ___ decided to defer the merger.' Best fit:
(a) unanimous  (b) unanimously  (c) unanimity  (d) unanimousness

Accepted Answer

An adverb is needed to modify 'decided' ⇒ 'unanimously'.

Answer: (b) unanimously. Grammar eliminates the noun/adjective options instantly.

Question 5

'Although the scheme was popular, its ___ implementation frustrated many beneficiaries.' Best fit:
(a) smooth  (b) flawless  (c) uneven  (d) prompt

Accepted Answer

'Although popular … frustrated' signals a negative turn ⇒ a negative-implementation word.

Answer: (c) uneven.

Question 6

'The RBI sought to ___ inflation through tighter policy.' Best fit in a formal passage:
(a) kill  (b) curb  (c) squash  (d) knock out

Accepted Answer

'Curb' is the formal collocation with inflation; the others are colloquial.

Answer: (b) curb.

Practice — Cloze Test