Rational Cloze

For each practice, Question 1 8 are based on the following texts.

Practice 1
A poor farmer had three sons who did not want to work on his farm. They wanted to work in the city instead. The sons tried to
persuade _________(1) father to sell the land and divide the money among them.

Their father disagreed and said that he _________(2) give the land to only one son. The sons were angry and said, No, you
cant do that, Father. How will you know _________(3) should have it?

I will give the land to the one who is the best farmer. You may each ________(4) one field now. The son who earns the most
_______(5) his field will own the farm.

Each son wanted the farm to ________(6) as the land was valuable. They competed fiercely among themselves. At the end of
the first year, the sons earned the same amount of money from their fields. After the second year, the crop yield of each field
________(7). Their father persuaded ________(8) to buy more fields. Finally, each son had their own farm and soon, forgot about
working in the city.

1. A his C your 2. A can C would 3. A who C what

B our D their B might D should B why D which

4. A has C have 5. A of C from 6. A myself C herself

B had D having B over D through B himself D itself

7. A double C doubled 8 A us C him

B doubles D doubling B her D them

Practice 2
In a certain kingdom, it was the custom to choose a king by the will of heaven. Whenever the king died, a ______(1) bird known
as the Bird of Happiness would be sent forth. Whoevers head the bird rested on, he _______(2) the king.

Once, it came to pass that when the king died and the bird was sent forth, it rested _______(3) a slaves head. This slave used
to earn his keep playing the drum _______(4) dancing at weddings, dressed in a feather cap and a belt made of lamb hooves. Thus,
_______(5) the slaves was made king, he ordered a hut built near the palace. He kept his ________(6) possessions the feather cap,
the belt, drum and a mirror there.

His ministers wondered at ________(7) and asked the king to explain his strange behaviour. You have to guard your dignity,
even when you are alone, he said. I was a slave before. Thus, I want to remind _________(8) that I was once a slave. Only then, will I
not think myself greater than any man; only then mill I not feel proud.

1. A new C novel 2. A becoming C became 3. A in C of

B rare D weird B becomes D become B at D on

4. A or C and 5. A since C while 6. A fond C cherished

B but D although B when D where B loved D treasured

7. A this C these 8 A itself C myself

B that D those B herself D yourself

Practice 3
Mauritius is a country that lies in the Indian Ocean. It is made up of the island of Mauritius and several other islands. The island
of Mauritius, the largest _________(1) the islands, is actually a huge piece of black volcanic rock. Volcanoes left the land covered
_______(2) rocks and a thick layer of lava.

The countrys economy depends solely on sugar cane and its by-products, namely molasses and rum. Molasses _________(3)
a type of thick syrup used for cooking while rum is strong, alcoholic drink. When world sugar prices fell suddenly in the 1980s, new
industries such as tourism, textiles and fertilisers became _________(4) important.

The people of Mauritius are _________(5) from European settlers, Indian contract labourers and traders, Chinese traders and
African slaves. The French __________(6) in African slaves to work on the sugar cane plantations in the 1700s. ________(7) the British
abolished slavery, most of the freed slaves refused to continue working on the plantations, so the Indian labourers were imported.

Mauritius has been independent within _______(8) Commonwealth since 1968. It became a republic in 1992.

1. A new C novel 2. A becoming C became 3. A in C of

B rare D weird B becomes D become B at D on

4. A or C and 5. A since C while 6. A fond C cherished

B but D although B when D where B loved D treasured

7. A this C these 8 A itself C myself

B that D those B herself D yourself
Practice 4
Birmingham: Would you believe this? Duchess the cat can ate canned cat food, chapattis and chicken curry before she ballooned to 27
kg and could hardly waddle to her kitten litter!

Duchess is one of eight cats that ________(1) to the same owners. Each cat had its own bedroom and bed. All the cats were
overweight ________(2) Duchess was the biggest of them all and could barely lift her belly off the floor. That is ________(3) her wealthy
owners contacted Cats Protection League in Birmingham, 180 km northwest of London.

Diane Reynolds, warden of the Leagues cat pound, said, The owners _________(4) her about five tins of cat food each day.
On top of that, Duchess also has chicken briyani and chapattis. The owners didnt realise that _________(5) were being cruel by being
so kind. Before Duchess had been admitted to the cat pound, she was placed _______(6) a strict diet: canned cat food in the morning
and fried food before bedtime, and definitely no briyani, chapattis or curries.

As a result, her weight was ________(7) drastically to 13.5 kg. Duchess is much ________(8) now. She even surprised us
when she broke into a trot last week. Thats the first time she has ever broken into a run in a long time, Reynolds added.

1. A belong C belonged 2. A so C and 3. A who C when

B belongs D belonging B or D but B what D where

4. A feed C fed 5. A they C their 6. A in C on

B feeds D feeding B them D theirs B at D to

7. A fell C falls 8 A healthy C healthiest

B fall D fallen B healthier D the healthiest

Practice 5
Dear Faridah

How are you? I hope you are doing well. I have some wonderful news to tell you. Yesterday, while my mother and ________(1)
were heading to the market, we came across a cute little kitten. It was mewling ________(2) near a dumpster. My heart went _______(3)
to the little creature.

When I picked the kitten up, it just stared back at _______(4) with helpless eyes. At that moment, I realised that I wanted to
keep it. _________(5), my mother said that we should reunite the kitten with its mother. Thus, we searched everywhere, ________(6) to
find its mother but to no avail. Finally, my mother allowed me to take it home. I have named the kitten Putih ________(7) she has clean
white fur. I have also _________(8) pictures of Putih. You will surely like her!

Well, thats all for now. Do write to me soon. Bye!

Your friend
Pei Lin

1. A I C she 2. A badly C roughly 3. A in C of

B he D you B bitterly D pitifully B up D out

4. A us C her 5. A Despite C However 6. A hope C hoped

B me D him B Although D Moreover B hopes D hoping

7. A as C and 8 A enclose C enclosed

B but D until B encloses D enclosing

Practice 6
There is a big Baba community in Malacca. The Baba and Nyonya are the products of a marriage ________(1) ancient Chinese
males and Malay females. They are said to be Chinese in __________(2) and tradition but Malay in form. For example, ________(3) the
Marriage custom, they follow the Chinese ways. The marriage has to _________(4) agreed by the parents. Then, the bridegrooms
family _______(5) to send gifts to the brides family.

The bride wears the Nyonya wedding dress, which is an elaborately _________(6) gown. The Baba people have absorbed
________(7) aspects of the Chinese culture. In folklore and art, they are more __________(8) towards the Chinese. But on the language
side, they have absorbed more from the Malays.

1. A among C between 2. A art C pattern 3. A in C by

B through D towards B versions D thinking B at D on

4. A be C being 5. A has C have 6. A design C designed

B been D to be B had D having B designs D designing

7. A more C many 8 A incline C inclined

B most D much B inclines D inclining