Fillers & Cloze Test

Learning Objectives

• Master grammar-based fillers — articles, prepositions, conjunctions, and verb tenses
• Build vocabulary for contextual word choice, collocations, and fixed expressions
• Develop cloze test strategies using grammar clues, context clues, and transition words
• Practice with 10+ SSC CGL-level filler and cloze test questions

1. Grammar-based Fillers

Grammar is the bedrock of filler questions. In SSC CGL, roughly 40% of filler questions test grammatical concepts. Always determine the part of speech needed for the blank before considering meaning. This alone eliminates 2–3 wrong options instantly.

Articles

Articles (a, an, the) are among the most frequently tested grammar items in SSC CGL fillers. Errors commonly arise with words that begin with a vowel letter but a consonant sound, and vice versa.

Definite vs Indefinite Articles

Use a before consonant sounds, an before vowel sounds. Use the for specific, previously mentioned, or unique references. Superlatives, ordinal numbers, and nouns made definite by context always take the.

Word	Sound	Article	Reason
honest	vowel (/ɒ/)	an	'h' is silent
university	consonant (/juː/)	a	begins with /j/ sound
hour	vowel (/aʊə/)	an	'h' is silent
one-eyed	consonant (/wʌ/)	a	begins with /w/ sound
European	consonant (/jʊə/)	a	begins with /j/ sound
MBA	vowel (/em/)	an	pronounced with initial /e/

Omission of Articles

Articles are omitted before proper nouns (names of people, countries, cities), uncountable nouns used in a general sense, plural countable nouns used generally, and in certain fixed expressions. SSC CGL tests omission in phrases like 'by bus', 'at night', 'in bed', 'go to school', 'at home'.

Prepositions

Preposition-based fillers test your knowledge of relationships between words — time, place, direction, and manner. SSC CGL often pairs prepositions with commonly confused options (e.g., in/at/on, since/for, between/among).

Prepositions of Time and Place

In — months, years, cities, countries; At — specific times, points, addresses; On — days, dates, surfaces. Since marks a starting point; For marks a duration.

Preposition	Time Usage	Place Usage	Example
in	months, years, centuries	cities, countries, large areas	in March, in India
at	specific times, festivals	specific points, addresses	at 5 pm, at the door
on	days, dates	surfaces, streets	on Monday, on the table
since	from a past point	—	since 2015
for	duration of time	—	for three years
between	two points in time	two objects/people	between 2 and 3 pm
among	—	more than two	among friends

Prepositions of Direction and Manner

Direction prepositions (to, towards, into, onto, across, through, along, around) indicate movement. Manner prepositions (with, by, like, as) describe how something is done. SSC CGL frequently tests 'by' for method ('by train'), 'with' for tools ('with a knife'), and 'like' for similarity ('like a professional').

Conjunctions

Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses. SSC CGL filler questions test both coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, with special emphasis on correlative pairs.

Coordinating Conjunctions

FANBOYS — For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. These connect elements of equal grammatical rank.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Although, because, since, unless, if, when, while, whereas, though, even though. These introduce dependent clauses.

Correlative Conjunctions

Either...or, Neither...nor, Not only...but also, Both...and, Whether...or. These always appear in pairs.

Conjunction Type	Examples	Usage
Coordinating	for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so	Connect equal elements: 'I like tea but not coffee.'
Subordinating	although, because, since, unless, when, while	Connect dependent + independent clause: 'Although it rained, we went out.'
Correlative	either...or, neither...nor, both...and	Paired conjunctions: 'Neither the CEO nor the directors were present.'
Conjunctive Adverbs	however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless	Connect independent clauses: 'He was tired; nevertheless, he continued working.'

Verbs & Tenses

Verb-form fillers test subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and conditional structures. These are high-weightage topics in SSC CGL English.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs. Watch for intervening prepositional phrases, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns.

Tense Consistency

Unless a time shift is indicated, maintain the same tense throughout a sentence or passage. In conditional sentences, follow the standard patterns (Type 0/1/2/3).

Active vs Passive Voice in Fillers

SSC CGL fillers frequently test whether the blank requires an active or passive verb form. The clue is whether the subject performs the action (active) or receives the action (passive). Look for the auxiliary verb — 'is/are/was/were/has been/have been' + past participle signals passive voice.

Tense Sequence — Detailed Reference

When a sentence has multiple clauses, the tense in each clause must follow logical sequence rules. The table below shows the most common tense sequence patterns tested in SSC CGL.

Main Clause Tense	Subordinate Clause Tense	Example
Present Tense	Any tense as required by meaning	He knows that she arrived yesterday.
Past Tense	Past tense (usually past or past perfect)	He knew that she had arrived.
Future Tense	Present tense (NOT future)	He will call when he reaches home.
Present Perfect	Present or past as needed	He has confirmed that she is coming.
If + present (Type 1)	will + base verb	If it rains, we will stay home.
If + past (Type 2)	would + base verb	If I were rich, I would travel.
If + past perfect (Type 3)	would have + past participle	If I had known, I would have come.

2. Vocabulary-based Fillers

Vocabulary fillers test your knowledge of word meanings, collocations, and fixed expressions. Unlike grammar fillers, these require familiarity with standard English usage rather than rules.

Contextual Word Choice

The correct word must not only fit grammatically but also match the tone, register, and meaning of the sentence. SSC CGL options often include synonyms where only one fits the specific context.

Collocations

Collocations are word pairs that naturally occur together in English. Native speakers use them instinctively; non-native speakers must memorise them. SSC CGL routinely tests adjective-noun and verb-noun collocations.

Type	Examples	SSC CGL Favourite
Adjective + Noun	strong tea, heavy rain, bright future	heavy traffic, strong evidence, fast food
Verb + Noun	commit a crime, make a decision, take a break	draw a conclusion, give a speech, make an effort
Adverb + Adjective	highly successful, bitterly cold, deeply concerned	widely accepted, strongly opposed, closely related
Verb + Preposition	depend on, belong to, consist of	comply with, adhere to, prevail upon
Noun + Preposition	cause of, reason for, solution to	impact on, approach to, attitude towards

Fixed Expressions

Fixed expressions (also called idiomatic phrases) are multi-word units whose meaning cannot be deduced from individual words. SSC CGL tests these both in fillers and in cloze tests.

Expression	Meaning	SSC CGL Example Context
in the wake of	following / as a result of	In the wake of the economic crisis, new regulations were introduced.
on the verge of	very close to	The company is on the verge of bankruptcy.
with a view to	with the intention of	They invested heavily with a view to expanding market share.
in lieu of	instead of	Employees were given bonus in lieu of a salary hike.
by virtue of	because of	She got the position by virtue of her experience.
on account of	because of	The match was cancelled on account of rain.
in the event of	if something happens	In the event of an emergency, follow the evacuation procedure.
in accordance with	according to	The policy was drafted in accordance with international standards.

Word Replacement / Phrase Replacement

A variation of fillers tested in SSC CGL is word replacement — where a word or phrase in a sentence is underlined and you must choose the best replacement. This combines filler skills with error detection. The same grammar and vocabulary principles apply, but you first identify what is wrong with the underlined portion.

Double Fillers — Advanced Strategy

Double filler questions (two blanks in a single sentence) are a staple of SSC CGL Tier 2. The key is to handle each blank independently while ensuring both words fit together coherently.

The Elimination Grid Method

Draw a mental 2x2 grid. Check blank 1 against all four options — mark which options work for blank 1 (usually 2 out of 4). Then check blank 2 independently. The correct answer is the option where BOTH blanks fit. This method prevents you from being misled by an option that works for one blank but fails the other.

3. Cloze Test Strategy

The cloze test is a passage (usually 150–300 words from a newspaper editorial or informative article) with blanks at regular intervals — typically every 5th to 7th word. SSC CGL Tier 1 includes 1–2 cloze passages with 5–10 blanks total.

Approach & Method

A systematic approach is essential for cloze tests. Rushing to fill blanks individually leads to errors because context from later sentences is missed.

Step 1 — Read the Passage First

Read the entire passage without filling any blanks. This gives you the theme, tone, and logical flow. Most cloze passages are argumentative or informative — understanding the author's stance is critical.

Step 2 — Determine Part of Speech

For each blank, identify what part of speech is needed (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction). This immediately eliminates options that are grammatically wrong.

Step 3 — Eliminate Strategically

Cross out options that are clearly wrong first. Often you can eliminate 2–3 options per blank just from grammar or basic meaning, leaving 1–2 choices. Then use context to select the best fit.

Step 4 — Verify Consistency

After filling all blanks, re-read the passage with your chosen words to verify that the passage is coherent, grammatically sound, and consistent in tone and tense.

Grammar Clues

Grammar clues are the most reliable guide in cloze tests. Articles, prepositions, auxiliary verbs, and conjunctions around a blank give strong signals about the required word.

Transition Word	Function	Example
however, nevertheless, nonetheless	contrast / concession	The results were positive; however, further testing is needed.
therefore, consequently, thus, hence	cause and effect	He missed the deadline; therefore, his application was rejected.
furthermore, moreover, in addition	addition / support	The policy is cost-effective. Furthermore, it is environmentally sustainable.
meanwhile, simultaneously, subsequently	time / sequence	The first phase was completed. Subsequently, phase two began.
on the contrary, in contrast, conversely	direct opposition	Some favour deregulation. In contrast, others advocate stricter controls.
for instance, for example, such as	illustration / example	Several countries, for instance, Japan and Germany, have adopted this model.

Context Clues

Context clues come from surrounding words, sentences, and the overall passage theme. The tone (positive/negative), the time frame (past/present/future), and logical relationships all provide context.

Transition Words

Transition words signal the logical relationship between sentences. In cloze tests, a blank between two sentences almost always tests knowledge of transition words. Recognising the relationship (contrast, cause-effect, addition, sequence) is the key.

Cloze Test Sample Walkthrough

Let us walk through a typical SSC CGL cloze question step by step to demonstrate the full strategy in action.

Vocabulary Clues in Cloze Tests

Vocabulary clues involve recognising word families (root words, prefixes, suffixes), synonyms and antonyms, and word form (noun, verb, adjective, adverb). SSC CGL cloze passages are often adapted from editorials that use sophisticated vocabulary. Understanding word roots can help decode unfamiliar words.

Using Word Roots and Affixes

Prefixes like 'un-', 'dis-', 'mis-', 'pre-', 'post-' change the meaning of base words. Suffixes like '-tion', '-ment', '-ity' form nouns; '-ate', '-ify', '-ise' form verbs; '-ous', '-al', '-ive' form adjectives. When you encounter an unfamiliar word in options, break it into prefix + root + suffix to guess its meaning.

SSC CGL Tier 1 vs Tier 2 — Strategy Differences

Tier 1 (Preliminary)

Tier 1 has 25 English questions in 15 minutes. Typically 3–4 filler questions and 1 cloze test with 5 blanks. Focus on grammar fillers (articles, prepositions, subject-verb agreement) as they are quick and reliable. For cloze, use the POS method aggressively — Tier 1 options are designed to test basic grammar more than vocabulary.

Tier 2 (Mains)

Tier 2 has more time but higher difficulty. Expect 5–8 filler questions (including double fillers and word replacement) and 2 cloze passages with 5–10 blanks each. Vocabulary, collocations, and advanced grammar are tested more heavily. Tier 2 cloze passages are longer (250–350 words) with more sophisticated vocabulary from economic and political editorials.

4. Practice Passages

Apply everything you have learned to these SSC CGL-style cloze passages and filler questions. Each passage is followed by a detailed solution explaining the reasoning for every blank. Attempt each passage under timed conditions — 6 minutes per cloze passage and 45 seconds per filler question. This will simulate actual exam pressure and help you build speed.

Note: The passages are adapted from topics commonly used in SSC CGL — digital economy, climate change, healthcare, and education reform. These are the four most frequent thematic areas for cloze tests in recent exams.

Cloze Passage 1 — Digital Transformation

Read the following passage and choose the most appropriate word for each blank.

Cloze Passage 2 — Climate Policy

Read the following passage and choose the most appropriate word for each blank.

Cloze Passage 3 — Healthcare Reforms

Read the following passage and choose the most appropriate word for each blank.

Cloze Passage 4 — Education Reforms

Read the following passage and choose the most appropriate word for each blank.

Common Mistakes in Fillers & Cloze Test

SSC CGL aspirants commonly lose marks due to recurring mistakes. Being aware of these pitfalls can dramatically improve your accuracy.

Mistake	Wrong Approach	Correct Approach	Example
Ignoring collocation	Choosing any synonym	Pick the word that naturally pairs	'Strong coffee' not 'powerful coffee'
Sound vs letter confusion	Using 'a' before vowel letters	Check the sound, not the letter	'An honest' (sound-based), 'a university'
Subject-verb mismatch	Verb agrees with nearest noun	Verb agrees with the subject head	'The team of players is...' not 'are'
Cloze: filling as you read	Filling blanks on first pass	Read entire passage first	Context from later sentences matters
Tense inconsistency	Mixing tenses in a sentence	Maintain one tense unless shifted	'He said that he was coming' not 'is'
Ignoring transition logic	Picking any transition word	Identify contrast vs cause vs addition	'However' for contrast, 'therefore' for result

Revision Summary — Quick Reference Table

Topic	Key Rule	SSC CGL Frequency
Articles	'a' before consonant sounds, 'an' before vowel sounds, 'the' for specific/superlative	Very High
Prepositions	'since' + point, 'for' + duration, 'in' for months/years, 'at' for specific times	High
Conjunctions	'neither...nor', 'either...or', 'both...and' — verb agrees with nearer subject	Moderate
Subject-Verb Agreement	Collective nouns (team, committee) are singular; each/every + singular verb	Very High
Tense Consistency	Maintain tense in a sentence; Type 3 conditional: if + had + would have	High
Collocations	'heavy rain', 'strong evidence', 'make a decision', 'draw a conclusion'	High
Fixed Expressions	'in accordance with', 'with regard to', 'in the wake of', 'on account of'	Moderate
Cloze Strategy	Read first, identify POS, eliminate, verify — in that order	Very High

Previous Year SSC CGL Filler Questions — Solved

Here are filler questions from recent SSC CGL exams with detailed solutions to help you understand the exam pattern.

Recommended Resources for Further Practice

To further strengthen your filler and cloze test skills, use these resources: (1) Previous year SSC CGL question papers — analyse the pattern of filler questions asked in the last 5 years. (2) Editorial sections of The Hindu and Indian Express — read daily and try to predict missing words. (3) Standard grammar books like Wren & Martin for rules and SP Bakshi for objective English practice. (4) Online mock tests — take at least one full-length English section test every week to build speed and accuracy.

Key Takeaways

• For single fillers, predict your own word before looking at options — this prevents you from being misled
• For double fillers, check the easier blank first and use it to eliminate options
• For cloze tests, always read the entire passage before attempting any blank — context is king
• Use the POS method: identify the part of speech needed for each blank to eliminate grammatically wrong options
• Memorise high-frequency collocations, fixed expressions, and transition words — they are the most tested items
• Maintain an error log of every wrong answer — categorise errors and focus revision on weak areas
• Practice 3 cloze tests and 10 filler questions daily in the month before the exam

SSC CGL Practice Questions

Attempt these 12 interactive SSC CGL-style filler questions covering all topics. Click an option to check your answer.