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Cloze Detective

ENGLISHInteractive
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A cloze passage has a word missing. To find the right word, you need to set three filters, like dials on a lock. Only when all three are correct does the answer reveal itself.

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1. Word class
Noun, verb, adjective or adverb?
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2. Register
Formal, neutral or informal?
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3. Tone
Positive, neutral or negative?
Introduction

Three locks, one key

Every cloze gap has three constraints: word class, register, and tone. Students who jump straight to guessing often pick a word that sounds right but breaks one of these rules. We will crack each lock one at a time.

ENGLISH

About the Cloze Detective lesson

A cloze question removes words from a passage and asks the child to fill the gaps. Many children choose a word that sounds right but breaks a rule. This lesson gives three filters to check each gap: word class, register and tone.

Word class asks whether the gap needs a noun, verb, adjective or adverb. Register asks whether the word is as formal or informal as the rest of the passage. Tone asks whether it is positive or negative, to match the sentence. The lesson then moves to longer passages with two gaps.

Worked example

Question: The scientist made a _____ discovery that changed our understanding of the universe. What does the gap need?

Answer: An adjective, because the word describes the noun discovery. The register is formal, and the tone is positive, so a word such as remarkable fits, while a slangy or negative word would not.

Who it suits

This lesson suits children aged 8 to 11 who read well but lose marks on cloze questions, and those who need a method for choosing between two good-looking words.

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