PSLE Comprehension Cloze Practice 3: The Power Cut (with answers)
How to use this page: this one is exam-level, and some blanks need you to read the next sentence to be sure. Fill everything in first with the reveals closed, then check.
This is a shorter seven-blank warm-up. The real PSLE passage has fifteen blanks, but the skill it tests is identical.
The passage
It was a stormy evening when the lights suddenly went out. One moment we were watching television, and the next, the entire house was plunged into (1) _______. My little sister let out a frightened squeal, so I quickly reached for her hand to reassure her.
"Don't worry," said my father calmly, "it's (2) _______ a power cut. It will come back soon." He felt his way to the kitchen drawer and, (3) _______ a few minutes, returned with a box of candles. Soon, warm little flames flickered around the living room, (4) _______ the darkness into something almost magical.
Without our usual screens to distract us, we ended up talking and playing board games by candlelight. My sister, who had been so frightened (5) _______, was now laughing loudly as she won game after game. (6) _______ the power finally returned an hour later, we were almost disappointed. That unexpected evening reminded us that some of the best moments happen (7) _______ we least expect them.
Check your answers
Blank 1: reveal answer
Answer: darkness. The lights "went out", so the house is filled with darkness. The opposite of the lights being on is the clue.
Blank 2: reveal answer
Answer: only (or just). The father is reassuring, and "it's only/just a power cut" downplays it. His calm tone ("Don't worry") is the clue.
Blank 3: reveal answer
Answer: after (or within). A time expression before "a few minutes": he returns after a short while. The candles arriving later is the clue.
Blank 4: reveal answer
Answer: turning (or transforming). The candles change the darkness into something magical; a verb of changing fits, and "into" after the blank confirms it.
Blank 5: reveal answer
Answer: earlier (or before). Contrast with "now was laughing": she was frightened earlier but happy now. The time-shift is the clue.
Blank 6: reveal answer
Answer: When (or Although). Read on: "we were almost disappointed" when the power returned, so either a time word (when) or a contrast (although) fits the surprise.
Blank 7: reveal answer
Answer: when. "The best moments happen ___ we least expect them" is a fixed pattern meaning at the times that, so "when" fits.
Self-check on the tricky blanks
Blank (3): choose the word that fits: 'He felt his way to the kitchen drawer and, ___ a few minutes, returned with a box of candles.'
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) after
The correct answer is (B) 'after'. He returns with candles once a few minutes have passed: 'after a few minutes'. (A) 'during' would mean he returned in the middle of the minutes, which is odd with a completed action. (C) 'since' needs a starting point in time, not a length. (D) 'until' would mean he kept doing something up to that point, which does not fit 'returned'.
Blank (5): choose the word that fits: 'My sister, who had been so frightened ___, was now laughing loudly.'
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) earlier
The correct answer is (B) 'earlier'. It contrasts with 'was now laughing': frightened earlier, happy now. The time-shift is the clue. (A) 'already' does not create the past-versus-now contrast cleanly. (C) 'suddenly' describes how something happened, not when relative to 'now'. (D) 'soon' points to the future, but the fright was in the past.
Blank (6): choose the word that fits: '___ the power finally returned an hour later, we were almost disappointed.'
Show answer & explanation
Answer: (B) When
The correct answer is (B) 'When'. Reading on shows the surprise: at the moment the power returned, they felt disappointed rather than relieved. 'When' marks that time. (A) 'Because' would wrongly make the return the reason for disappointment. (C) 'Unless' means 'if not', which contradicts the power actually returning. (D) 'So' cannot open this clause here. ('Although' would also work by signalling contrast.)
The habit to take away
Blanks 5 and 6 can only be confirmed by reading the contrast with a later clause ("now was laughing", "almost disappointed"). The exam-level habit is: when a blank feels 50/50, read one clause further before committing. The word that makes the two halves make sense together is your answer.
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