PREFACE N Level English Cloze Tests comprises 50 carefully tailored exercises to provide practice to pupils taking the N Level English Examination. Each passage simlulates the question in the actual examination (Paper 2 Section 1) which carries marks. Not only are pupils tested on their language and use of words, they will enjoy learning and finding out more about the various people, places, animals and social issues discussed in the passages. The suggested answers help in self-assessment and provide some good alternatives to the pupils own answers. Made suitable as homework and classroom discussion material, it is hoped that pupils and teachers will find this book an interesting as well as helpful resource. J Lee
CONTENTS 1 CLOZE TEST 1 The Grand Canyon... 2 CLOZE TEST 2 The puff adder... 3 CLOZE TEST 3 To celebrate the birthday... 4 CLOZE TEST 4 Anthropologists study... 5 CLOZE TEST 5 George Lucas... 6 CLOZE TEST 6 The Statue of Liberty... 7 CLOZE TEST 7 The girl stood in the... 8 CLOZE TEST 8 Dr Benjamin Sheares... 9 CLOZE TEST 9 Films like Jaws... 10 CLOZE TEST 10...victim of fashion... 11 CLOZE TEST 11 Travelling...pastime... 12 CLOZE TEST 12 At the mere...mafia... 13 CLOZE TEST 13 Krakatoa...island volcano... 14 CLOZE TEST 14...alarming...AIDS... CLOZE TEST Sepak Takraw... 16 CLOZE TEST 16 The deer... 17 CLOZE TEST 17...soldiers...to return... 18 CLOZE TEST 18 The life of a peddler... 19 CLOZE TEST 19 The Statue of Justice... 20 CLOZE TEST 20 Food is an art... 21 CLOZE TEST 21 stone tool...gobi Desert... 22 CLOZE TEST 22...tragedy...luxury liner... 23 CLOZE TEST 23 The wombat is a cute... 24 CLOZE TEST 24..veterinarians...pandas... 25 CLOZE TEST 25...king...marry princess 26 CLOZE TEST 26 Rashid and his sister... 27 CLOZE TEST 27 Eating outlets...singapore... 28 CLOZE TEST 28 The roller coaster is often... 29 CLOZE TEST 29 The aeroplane is one of... 30 CLOZE TEST 30 Martial arts has been... 31 CLOZE TEST 31 The wise man had always... 32 CLOZE TEST 32...fascinated by Akido... 33 CLOZE TEST 33 Jenny...Niagara Falls... 34 CLOZE TEST 34 Life in the Gobi Desert... 35 CLOZE TEST 35 Art is one of the many... 36 CLOZE TEST 36 Cheryl...chimpanzee... 37 CLOZE TEST 37 There was once a rat... 38 CLOZE TEST 38...visit the dentist... 39 CLOZE TEST 39 The Great Wall of China... 40 CLOZE TEST 40 Body language is a subtle... 41 CLOZE TEST 41...Man...hunting 42 CLOZE TEST 42...documentary on animals... 43 CLOZE TEST 43 The Honey Badger... 44 CLOZE TEST 44 The Model T... 45 CLOZE TEST 45...Anna Mackenzie... 46 CLOZE TEST 46 Spear fishing probably... 47 CLOZE TEST 47 Angkor Wat is a famous... 48 CLOZE TEST 48...about the Time Capsule... 49 CLOZE TEST 49...saving the tigers... 50 CLOZE TEST 50...the Sicilian family... 51 ANSWERS Suggested answers
CLOZE TEST 1 The Grand Canyon, a majestic natural feature in North America, was actually inhabited by humans more than ten thousand years ago. It was (1) many hunter-gatherers and later, farmers who (2) figurines of animals and wall carvings show how (3) to agriculture. Ancient animals were in the people s lives. The Anasazi, who had lived in the Grand Canyon then, (4) for deer, sheep and rabbits. They were also proficient in the (5) of basket making, (6) archaeologists to name them the Puebloan Basketmakers. (7), the people learnt more efficient ways of doing things. Their lifestyle evolved from a nomadic one to a sedentary one, where crops (8) corn and bean were grown. Using water from the Colorado River, they were (9) to irrigate their land. (10) few hundred years, new groups of hunter-gatherer tribes would (11) at the Grand Canyon to live there. They (12) up agricultural skills from the tribes that had already settled there. When disputes arose, the weaker tribe would have to (13) to the more aggressive one. Eventually, only the tribes who were able to (14) to these periodic changes and intrusions, and who took () of what the Grand Canyon had to offer were able to survive. 1
CLOZE TEST 2 The puff adder, the second largest of the dangerous vipers, is commonly found in the African Savanna. It has captured the (1) of many biologists and zoologists because of its unique characteristics. Most snakes will avoid (2) with humans but the puff adder just stands its (3). Snakes will always try to make a (4) getaway when they sense the presence of humans but (5) of gliding away, the puff adder stays and remains motionless. However, one should be careful not to go too (6) in case it strikes. Its bite can be (7) because its venom is highly poisonous. No matter where it is, the puff adder is able to (8) its surroundings. The colour of its skin (9) in well with because it depends on (10) it makes its home in the dry or moist parts of Africa. The puff adder is nocturnal, actively catching its (11) when it is dark. It eats mostly rats and is an excellent rat-catcher, never (12) to catch its target. However, whether it is day or night, (13) lurks whenever the puff adder is around. It likes to bask in the warm (14). It looks harmless as it lies on the rocks () it senses that someone has invaded its territory. 2
CLOZE TEST 3 To celebrate the birthday of their King, the people decided to put up an elaborate concert. It would be unlike the simple ones they usually had for other (1) occasions. Hundreds of people from all (2) of life prepared for months for this grand (3). That evening, catchy songs and graceful dancers dominated the concert. What was most interesting (4) the decorations: large props placed around the seating area, all replicas of the temples that could be (5) country. The replicas looked just like the (6) performers would playfully peek from (7) in their structures. The these replicas, calling out to the audience and (8) were many touching (9) would (10) carried on late into the (11) them to sing and dance to the music. There between performances, when performers congratulatory messages to their King. The concert, but no one showed any (12) of fatigue; even the little children were on their (13), singing and dancing. By the time the concert (14), it was almost dawn. It was certainly the () party of the year. 3
CLOZE TEST 4 Anthropologists study people and their cultures. They travel long (1) to live with tribal groups, and many have returned with fascinating stories and insights. For months, they live in environments that are completely (2) from their modern hometowns. While clean drinking water and the food they are used to are not readily (3), these scientists are surprised that these tribes are very self-sufficient. The forest (4) them with everything they need they use (5) from tree trunks, they grow crops on the land, they hunt for (6) weapons made in the forest or pick edible(7) from the plants. The tribal lifestyle is intriguing. Some have elaborate routines that (8) worshipping various gods and conducting rituals. Rituals are not necessarily religious; they are also performed to mark the important (9) in a person s life, such as when the children (10) puberty. This is to celebrate the (11) of adulthood. However, not all rituals are a (12) of celebration. A ritual is also conducted when it is believed that evil spirits have (13) a person. A tribe member, appointed as the priest, performs the exorcism, dancing about and (14) a strange language. The priest would then () to communicate with the evil spirits to persuade them to leave the person s body. 4
CLOZE TEST 5 George Lucas, well known for creating the Star Wars epic, had wanted to be a race car driver when he was (1). An accident that almost caused him to lose his (2) changed his mind. He eventually (3) his attention to cinema and television. George Lucas is one person (4) as he firmly (5) many look to for inspiration that an individual s imagination is (6). It is this belief that led to the creative use of special effects in his films when such techniques were almost (7) George Lucas gradually (8) of then. his business to include other (9) of filmmaking. He formed Industrial Light and Magic to (10) the special effects he needed for Star Wars and other films. He had foresight and continued to (11) this business. Today, Industrial Light and Magic has a computer graphics division business. (12) as Pixar Animation Studios, the team is most well-known for Toy Story. George Lucas (13) is clear how (14) the art of story-telling and filmmaking. It his stories are as they never lose their appeal over the years, delighting generations after generations. His films continue to () to both the young and old, English and non-english speaking communities. 5