Cloze Test — Set 3
Questions 21–30 of 160
The athlete's _____ (A) determination helped overcome every obstacle. Her _____ (B) schedule never deterred her from training. Coaches appreciated her _____ (C) commitment. Success seemed _____ (D) given her _____ (E) work ethic. Blank A:
Correct Answer: A. unwavering
'Unwavering' means steady and resolute, fitting an athlete who overcomes obstacles. 'Doubtful', 'hesitant', and 'uncertain' suggest weakness. Unwavering captures steadfast determination needed for athletic success.
Her _____ (B) schedule never deterred her from training. Coaches appreciated her steadfast commitment. Blank B:
Correct Answer: A. grueling
'Grueling' means extremely demanding and tiring, explaining why deterrence might occur yet training continues. 'Leisurely', 'relaxed', and 'casual' suggest easiness. Grueling emphasizes the difficulty overcome through determination.
Coaches appreciated her _____ (C) commitment. Success seemed inevitable given her exemplary work ethic. Blank C:
Correct Answer: A. unwavering
'Unwavering' means consistent and steadfast, appreciated by coaches for reliable commitment. 'Inconsistent', 'variable', and 'sporadic' suggest unreliability. Unwavering reflects the steady dedication coaches value.
Success seemed _____ (D) given her unwavering work ethic. The athlete's future appeared bright. Blank D:
Correct Answer: A. inevitable
'Inevitable' means certain to happen, matching an athlete with unwavering determination and work ethic. 'Doubtful', 'unlikely', and 'uncertain' contradict the positive setup. Inevitable logically follows from steadfast commitment.
The athlete felt _____ (E) by past achievements and motivated for future victories. Blank E:
Correct Answer: A. emboldened
'Emboldened' means strengthened in confidence, fitting an athlete motivated by past success. 'Discouraged', 'weakened', and 'diminished' suggest negative emotions. Emboldened captures how past achievements fuel future motivation.
The manager _____ (A) to office late every morning. His employees _____ (B) patience with his _____ (C) behavior. Soon, they _____ (D) a complaint to HR. The manager's _____ (E) were questioned. Blank A:
Correct Answer: A. comes
'Comes' is the correct simple present tense form for a singular subject (manager). The sentence describes a habitual action ('every morning'). Present tense is appropriate for regular, repeated behavior. Other forms are incorrect tenses.
His employees _____ (B) patience with his repeated behavior. Soon, they filed a complaint to HR. Blank B:
Correct Answer: D. lost
'Lost' is past tense, indicating they previously had patience but no longer do. The context suggests their tolerance decreased over time. Present perfect ('have lost') is also acceptable, but 'lost' clearly shows the change occurred. Other forms don't fit the timeline.
Soon, they filed a complaint _____ (C) HR about his tardiness. Blank C:
Correct Answer: A. to
'To' is the correct preposition for 'file a complaint to' (an authority). We file complaints to appropriate organizations. 'With' means to have or possess, 'at' suggests location, and 'in' indicates containment. 'To' is the idiomatic choice.
Soon, they filed a complaint to HR. The manager's _____ (D) were questioned by senior management. Blank D:
Correct Answer: B. practices
'Practices' is the correct plural noun form meaning habitual actions or procedures. The subject is plural (manager's practices). 'Practice' is singular, 'practiced' is past participle. The sentence refers to multiple problematic behaviors/practices.
The student has been working _____ (A) the assignment since morning. She _____ (B) to complete _____ (C) by evening. Her dedication _____ (D) admirable. _____ (E) her efforts, she succeeded. Blank A:
Correct Answer: A. on
'On' is the correct preposition for 'working on' (a task or project). We work on assignments, projects, and tasks. 'At' suggests location, 'in' indicates containment, and 'for' suggests duration. 'On' is the idiomatic preposition.