Rationale Cloze: PMR

Each question in the following texts refers to a numbered blank. For each question, choose the best options A, B, and C or A, B, C and D to fit the numbered blanks.

Practice 2:

Many retailers now offer online shopping. One advantage is that some of ______(1) let you return the merchandise you ordered to their store instead of shipping it back. If you want to ______(2) a purchase from a store you have never heard on before, do some research first. A good place to start is with the Better Business Bureau Online. _______(3) , make sure that the site lists a physical address and not just a post office box.

Many online merchants ______(4) rebates that can actually save you a bundle of money. ______(5) the discount, you have to enter the coupon code in the order form. It is _______(6) deducted from the total purchase price.

Be wary of deals that appear too good to be true. If you have any suspicions about _______(7) site, call the merchant and ask questions. If no phone number is listed on the site, do not have anything to do with it.

Payment for delivery is likely to make the purchase price more than ________(8) you would pay at a retail store. On the other and, some sites offer free or discounted shipping as a way to attract customers.

1.	A B	their us	C D	ourselves them	5.	A B	To get Get	C D	Gets Getting
2.	A B	have make	C	take	6.	A B	than after	C D	then later
3.	A B	Therefore In addition	C D	Moreover Also	7.	A B	an the	C	-
4.	A B	buy make	C D	offer present	8.	A B	why how	C D	which what

Rationale Cloze: PMR

Each question in the following texts refers to a numbered blank. For each question, choose the best options A, B, and C or A, B, C and D to fit the numbered blanks.

Practice 1:

These are some tips you may need when buying a computer. Get a monitor that _______(1) you control over the individual electron guns. His may take a bit of research on your part ______(2). It is essential to match the screen display with the printed output.

You may want a monitor______(3) a flat screen. It may cost a little _____(4) but it is well worth the extra expense. A flatter screen certainly means you will not be staring at distorted corners ______(5) you are working on your computer.

Yu have to consider ______(6) size too. Most people assume that the bigger the screen, the better it is. It is not ______(7) so. In fact, smaller monitors are significantly sharper than larger monitors. A seventeen-inch monitors offers the best compromise ______(8) sharpness and screen area. However, this size might be too small for your images and tool palettes you will need to work on them.

1.	A B	gives give	C	gave	5.	A B	along when	C D	though despite
2.	A B	or but	C D	and so	6.	A B	its it	C	their
3.	A B	with by	C D	at to	7.	A B	necessary need	C D	Unnecessarily necessarily
4.	A B	many much	C D	move several	8.	A B	among between	C D	Through against

Rationale Cloze: Exercise

Read the following passage and choose the best answer. Then, circle A,B, C or D on the question paper.

Earthquakes are terrible natural disasters. Often scientists are able to predict earthquakes _____(9) they happen. There are signs such as a bulge in the land, a rare gas called radon in the water, changes in the earth’s gravity and slight earth tremors that at first can only ______(10) detected by sensitive machines.

However, the most fascinating of all ________ (11) the animal behaviour. Animals seem to have the ability to sense the impending disaster _________ (12) before human beings can feel the tremors. Animals have been found to behave ________ (13) before an earthquake. Cattle, sheep and other farm animals create havoc in their pens or try to break free. Birds can be seen flying around with the eggs in their claws. Rats wander around busy streets and markets carrying their babies in their mouths and dogs start howling for ______ (14) apparent reason. All these abnormal acts indicate that the animals are _______ (15) of something and intended to save their lives from an imminent disaster.

9 A as B when C after D before
10 A first B be C to D have
11 A is B are C was D were
12 A long B much C still D ago
13 A strange B strangely C stranger D strangeness
14 A no B not C none D neither
15 A brave B terrified C clever D relieved

Rationale Cloze: Exercise

Researchers from the National University of Singapore plan to form a company that develops and markets drugs derived from snake venom.

According __________ (9) Professor R. Manjunatha from the Department of Biological Sciences, the anti-clotting protein derived from the venom of the rough-scaled snake ___________ (10) as long term ____________ (11) for patients suffering from coronary heart disease ___________ (12) stroke. The venom can effectively __________ (13) down the formation of thrombin – an enzyme that ___________ (14) blood to clot. To make drugs, the useful proteins in snake venom are identified and ___________ (15) from the toxic elements that bring harm to humans.

9. A. to B. by C. of D. from
10. A. are used B. was used C. can be used D. has been used
11. A. medication B. medicated C. medicine
12. A. or B. but C. and D. as well
13. A. slow B. slows C. slowed D. slowing
14. A. cause B. causes C. caused D. is causing
15. A. separate B. separated C. separating

Rationale Cloze 3

Read the following passage and then fill in the numbered blanks with the answer.

What makes a housing area attractive? A quiet, (1) and clean environment would be many residents' answer. The (2) of a housing area also depends to a large extent on the (3) found in it. Trees lining the roadsides (4) welcome shade from the hot sun. However, (5) the large-scale felling of the trees at the roadside is unavoidable. This is done when there is a need to (6) roads. Knowing the value of trees in preserving the environment, Municipal Boards have made it necessary for residents to obtain permission before trees with a diameter of more than 0.3 metres can be cut down.

Another factor which spoils the beauty of housing estate is development. With setting up of more businesses, the tranquillityof the housing estate is badly affected (7) traffic increases. With this, comes noise and air pollution.

1. A. good-planned B. well-planned C. nice-planned D. best-planned
2. A. attractiveness B. attraction C. attractive D. attracted
3. A. green B. grass C. greens D. greenery
4. A. provide B. provides C. providing D. will provide
5. A. many times B. much time C. sometimes D. anytime
6. A. broaded B. enlarge C. expand D. widen
7. A. while B. when C. with D. as

Rationale Cloze 2

Read the following passage and then fill in the numbered blanks with the correct answer.

Career planning serves several purposes. First, planning prevents sidetracking: it (1) against external influences which may cause a lost of focus and (2). Parents' expectations and wrong advice from people unfamiliar (3) the subject matter can cause confusion. So planning helps to get focus off the external pressure and back on the right track.

Planning allows students to recognise and (4) present opportunities. Many teenagers (5) think that they are at the beginning of their career paths only when they come to the end of their schooling days. Actually, they have been preparing for their career paths because (6) school studies and recreational activities, they are heading towards their intersts.

Therefore, the subjects they select, the sports they play and the activities they participate in all contribute towars (7) for the chosen career. Lack of planning results in a failure to develop decision-making skills acquired through these experiences.

1. A. safeguards B. prevents C. protects D. secures
2. A. direct B. direction C. directing D. to direct
3. A. in B. to C. at D. with
4. A. maximise B. socialise C. organise D. utilise
5. A. mistake B. mistook C. mistaken D. mistakenly
6. A. through B. by C. in D. at
7. A. choice B. situation C. guidance D. preparation

Rationale Cloze 1

Read the following passage and then fill in the numbered blanks with the best answer.

Many social problems today involve young people. These problems (1) addiction to drugs, illegal car or motor-bike racing, extortion and bullying. It would be useful to analyse why youths are running to criminal activities.

Several factors explain this situation. Apparently, the way they were (2) has a lot to do with it. This means that parents are responsible (3) most of the social problems their children now involved in.

In the past, the cane was used as a (4) measure. Today, canes have become a rare sight. Parents believe in (5) their children to form opinions and make decisions on their own. What they fail to realise is that, (6) their characters are formed, children need rules and guidelines. It is true one can learn through one's own (7) and mistakes. However, this principle cannot be applied to children and all ages. A child below seven is most certainly not in any position to form his or her own views and make wise decisions.

1. A. concern B. concerned C. are concerning D. have concerned
2. A. bring B. brings up C. brought up D. bringing up
3. A. experience B. for C. to D. in
4. A. disciplining B. disciplinary C. disciplined D. discipline
5. A. allow B. allows C. allowed D. allowing
6. A. unless B. before C. since D. until
7. A. experience B. experiences C. experienced D. experiencing