Cloze Tests & Word Usage Practice Questions for XAT: 43+ Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions

    Solve 43+ Cloze Tests & Word Usage practice questions for XAT with answers and detailed solutions. Free sample questions below.

    Chapter Roadmap: Grammar-based Questions and Cloze Tests

    Your Journey Through This Chapter

    Step 1: Cloze Tests & Phrasal Verbs ← You are here
    Master context-based fill-ups and verb-preposition combinations
    Step 2: Error Spotting & Sentence Correction
    Identify grammatical mistakes and fix them
    Step 3: Sentence Completion & Para-jumbles
    Build logical flow and coherence
    Step 4: Idioms & Phrases
    Decode figurative language and fixed expressions

    What You Will Master:

    • Read passages and fill blanks using contextual logic
    • Recognize correct phrasal verb usage instantly
    • Spot grammatical errors in complex sentences
    • Rearrange jumbled sentences into coherent paragraphs
    • Understand and apply idiomatic expressions accurately

    Cloze Tests and Phrasal Verbs: The Core Idea

    Two Skills, One Goal: Contextual Understanding

    Cloze Tests
    Context-based fill-ups
    • Passage with blanks
    • Choose words that fit logically
    • Grammar and meaning must align
    • Surrounding text is your guide
    Phrasal Verbs
    Fixed verb combinations
    • Verb plus preposition or adverb
    • Creates a new, idiomatic meaning
    • Cannot be arbitrarily split or changed
    • Must be memorized as single units

    The Connection: Both test whether you can think beyond dictionary definitions and understand how words function in real usage. A cloze test blank might require a phrasal verb, and knowing phrasal verbs helps you eliminate wrong options faster.

    Cloze Tests & Word Usage: Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Explanations (5 Problems)

    Question 1 · Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) MCQ

    Read the following passage with three blanks. Which of the following combinations of phrasal verbs is IMPOSSIBLE to fit into the blanks while maintaining both grammatical correctness and the logical flow of the passage?

    "The initial public offering was highly anticipated, but the company decided to ____ it at the last minute due to market volatility. Analysts suggested that the management tried to ____ the poor financial health of the firm, but the leaked documents eventually ____ the truth, leading to a severe drop in investor confidence."

    1. A.

      put off, gloss over, bring out

    2. B.

      call off, brush aside, give away

    3. C.

      back out of, sweep under, let on

    4. D.

      hold over, play down, point out

    Correct Answer:

    C

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: This is a "which is impossible" cloze test question focusing on the strict idiomatic and syntactic constraints of phrasal verbs.

    Step 1: Analyze the first blank. The company decided to cancel or postpone the IPO. "Put off", "call off", "back out of", and "hold over" can all contextually fit, though "back out of it" is slightly less formal, it is grammatically acceptable.

    Step 2: Analyze the second blank. The management tried to minimize or hide the poor financial health. "Gloss over", "brush aside", "sweep under", and "play down" all carry this meaning.

    Step 3: Analyze the syntactic constraint of the second blank. "Sweep under" is part of the fixed idiom "sweep under the rug" or "sweep under the carpet". It cannot directly take an abstract object like "the poor financial health". You cannot "sweep under an issue"; you must "sweep an issue under the rug". This makes Option C grammatically impossible.

    Step 4: Analyze the third blank for Option C. "Let on" means to reveal a secret, but it is intransitive or used with "about" (e.g., "let on about the truth"). It cannot take a direct object like "the truth". This provides a second fatal grammatical flaw in Option C.

    Step 5: Verify other options. Option A ("put off", "gloss over", "bring out"), Option B ("call off", "brush aside", "give away"), and Option D ("hold over", "play down", "point out") all use phrasal verbs that correctly accept the objects provided in the passage.

    Answer: C

    Question 2 · Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) MSQ

    Which of the following sentences use the phrasal verb correctly in terms of both meaning and grammatical structure? (Select ALL that apply)

    A) The board decided to call the meeting off due to the sudden strike.

    B) The new regulations will cut down on unnecessary expenditures, but they cannot do away them entirely.

    C) She looks up to her mentor, but she does not look up to him when he gives impractical advice.

    D) After hours of negotiation, the two parties finally came around our point of view.

    E) The manager tried to brush the complaints aside, but the union refused to put up with such negligence.

    1. A.

      The board decided to call the meeting off due to the sudden strike.

    2. B.

      The new regulations will cut down on unnecessary expenditures, but they cannot do away them entirely.

    3. C.

      She looks up to her mentor, but she does not look up to him when he gives impractical advice.

    4. D.

      After hours of negotiation, the two parties finally came around our point of view.

    5. E.

      The manager tried to brush the complaints aside, but the union refused to put up with such negligence.

    Correct Answer:

    ["A","C","E"]

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: This is a multiple-select question testing the grammatical structure (separability and required prepositions) of phrasal verbs.

    Step 1: Analyze Option A. "Call off" is a separable transitive phrasal verb. "Call the meeting off" is grammatically correct.

    Step 2: Analyze Option B. "Do away with" is an inseparable phrasal verb requiring the preposition "with". "Do away them" is incorrect; it must be "do away with them".

    Step 3: Analyze Option C. "Look up to" is an inseparable transitive phrasal verb. "Look up to him" is correct. Splitting it or omitting "to" would be wrong.

    Step 4: Analyze Option D. "Come around" (or "come round") meaning to be persuaded requires the preposition "to" when followed by an object ("our point of view"). "Came around our point of view" is incorrect; it must be "came around to our point of view".

    Step 5: Analyze Option E. "Brush aside" is separable ("brush the complaints aside" is correct). "Put up with" is inseparable and correctly used ("put up with such negligence").

    Answer: A, C, E

    Question 3 · Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) MCQ

    According to the standard three-clue system for solving cloze tests, which three elements must align for a correct word choice?

    1. A.

      Word length, syllable count, and alphabetical order.

    2. B.

      Grammatical fit, semantic meaning, and logical flow.

    3. C.

      Literal translation, phonetic spelling, and historical origin.

    4. D.

      Subject-verb agreement, punctuation marks, and paragraph indentation.

    Correct Answer:

    B

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: The three-clue system for cloze tests requires checking grammatical fit, semantic meaning, and logical flow.

    Step 1: Recall the systematic approach to cloze tests. A correct option cannot just "sound right"; it must satisfy three distinct criteria.

    Step 2: Identify the criteria.

    • Grammatical fit: Does the word have the correct part of speech and tense?
    • Semantic meaning: Does the word make sense in the context of the sentence's topic?
    • Logical flow: Does the word maintain the coherence and transition between the preceding and succeeding ideas?

    Step 3: Match these criteria to the options. Option B lists exactly these three elements.

    Answer: Option B.

    Question 4 · Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) MCQ

    How many of the following phrasal verbs from the high-frequency list correctly match their standard idiomatic meaning?

    1. "Look after" means to care for.
    2. "Put off" means to postpone or delay.
    3. "Turn down" means to reject or refuse.
    4. "Take off" means to remove clothing.
    1. A.

      1

    2. B.

      2

    3. C.

      3

    4. D.

      4

    Correct Answer:

    D

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: High-frequency phrasal verbs have fixed idiomatic meanings that must be memorized as single units.

    Step 1: Evaluate Statement 1. "Look after" means to take care of someone or something. (True)

    Step 2: Evaluate Statement 2. "Put off" means to postpone or delay an event. (True)

    Step 3: Evaluate Statement 3. "Turn down" means to reject an offer or refuse a request. (True)

    Step 4: Evaluate Statement 4. "Take off" commonly means to remove clothing, or for an airplane to leave the ground. (True)

    Step 5: Count the correct statements. All 4 statements are correct.

    Answer: Option D (4).

    Question 5 · Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) MCQ

    According to the final exam strategy for cloze tests, if you encounter a blank where all four options are grammatically correct and semantically similar, what is the recommended immediate action?

    1. A.

      Choose the shortest word to save time.

    2. B.

      Skip the question and never return to it.

    3. C.

      Always select the first option provided.

    4. D.

      Read the broader context and the sentences immediately before and after to check for logical flow and tone.

    Correct Answer:

    D

    Step-by-Step Solution

    Key idea: When isolated evaluation fails to distinguish between options, the broader context acts as the ultimate tie-breaker.

    Step 1: Recognize the scenario. All options fit the immediate sentence grammatically and semantically.

    Step 2: Recall the exam strategy. In such cases, the distinction lies in collocation, tone, or logical flow dictated by the wider paragraph.

    Step 3: Identify the correct action. You must zoom out and read the surrounding sentences to find the specific contextual constraint that eliminates the wrong options.

    Answer: Option D.

    More practice questions in this unit

    chapter
    Cloze Tests & Word Usage Practice Questions for XAT: 43+ Solved Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions

    Solve 43+ Cloze Tests & Word Usage practice questions for XAT with answers and detailed solutions. Free sample questions below.

    A question from this chapter

    Question 1

    Read the following passage with three blanks. Which of the following combinations of phrasal verbs is IMPOSSIBLE to fit into the blanks while maintaining both grammatical correctness and the logical flow of the passage?

    "The initial public offering was highly anticipated, but the company decided to ____ it at the last minute due to market volatility. Analysts suggested that the management tried to ____ the poor financial health of the firm, but the leaked documents eventually ____ the truth, leading to a severe drop in investor confidence."

    Question 2

    Which of the following sentences use the phrasal verb correctly in terms of both meaning and grammatical structure? (Select ALL that apply)

    A) The board decided to call the meeting off due to the sudden strike.

    B) The new regulations will cut down on unnecessary expenditures, but they cannot do away them entirely.

    C) She looks up to her mentor, but she does not look up to him when he gives impractical advice.

    D) After hours of negotiation, the two parties finally came around our point of view.

    E) The manager tried to brush the complaints aside, but the union refused to put up with such negligence.

    Question 3

    According to the standard three-clue system for solving cloze tests, which three elements must align for a correct word choice?

    Question 4

    How many of the following phrasal verbs from the high-frequency list correctly match their standard idiomatic meaning?

    1. "Look after" means to care for.
    2. "Put off" means to postpone or delay.
    3. "Turn down" means to reject or refuse.
    4. "Take off" means to remove clothing.
    Question 5

    According to the final exam strategy for cloze tests, if you encounter a blank where all four options are grammatically correct and semantically similar, what is the recommended immediate action?

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