PSLE Comprehension Cloze 3: The Power Cut
This passage is at exam level. For some blanks, you need to read the next sentence to be sure. Fill in every blank before you open any answers.
This is a short warm-up with 7 blanks. The real PSLE passage has 15 blanks, but it tests the same skill.
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 was dark.
Blank 2: reveal answer
Answer: only (or just). The father is calm and says "Don't worry". "It's only a power cut" makes it sound less serious.
Blank 3: reveal answer
Answer: after (or within). He comes back with candles once a few minutes have passed. You need a time word before "a few minutes".
Blank 4: reveal answer
Answer: turning (or transforming). The candles change the darkness into something magical. The word "into" after the blank confirms you need a word for changing.
Blank 5: reveal answer
Answer: earlier (or before). She was frightened earlier, but "now" she is laughing. The change in time is the clue.
Blank 6: reveal answer
Answer: When (or Although). Read on to "we were almost disappointed". A time word (when) or a contrast word (although) fits this surprise.
Blank 7: reveal answer
Answer: when. "The best moments happen when we least expect them" means they happen at the times we do not expect.
Check the harder 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 comes back with candles once a few minutes have passed: 'after a few minutes'. (A) 'during' would mean he came back in the middle of those minutes, which sounds odd. (C) 'since' needs a starting point in time, not a length of time. (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 sets up a contrast with 'was now laughing'. She was frightened earlier and happy now. (A) 'already' does not show the change from then to now clearly. (C) 'suddenly' tells you how something happened, not when. (D) 'soon' points to the future, but her 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'. Read on and you see the surprise. At the moment the power came back, they felt disappointed instead of relieved. 'When' marks that moment. (A) 'Because' would wrongly make the power coming back the reason they were disappointed. (C) 'Unless' means 'if not', but the power did come back. (D) 'So' cannot start this part of the sentence. ('Although' would also work, because it shows contrast.)
What to take away
You can only be sure of blanks 5 and 6 by reading further. The clues come later, in "was now laughing" and "almost disappointed".
If 2 words both seem to fit, read to the end of the next part of the sentence before you choose. Pick the word that makes both parts make sense together.
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