Comprehension Can Be Fun

Comprehension can be fun

Comprehension Can Be Fun

This exercise proves that we can enjoy comprehension.  The essential reading skill does not have to be dull to learn, made up of boring question and answer sentences.  The exercise below is called a ‘Cloze comprehension.’  It requires the reader to find missing words which fit with the meaning and grammar of the piece.  It is an extremely effective method to improve comprehension, open ended and great fun to do.

A cloze comprehension uses regular missing words – the one below has every tenth word deleted.  By reading the text we select a word which fits the gap.  Because the deleted words are regular, some are straightforward connecting words, others are much harder.  The aim is not to find the same words the author used (although these are printed at the end, as a help) – indeed in some cases this will be almost impossible to do.  The aim is to find words which ensures the passage makes sense.  When it comes to adjectives, be exciting and brave since the extract is from a work of fiction, where the intention is to entertain.  However, sometimes only an ‘ordinary’ word will do.

Cloze is best tackled in twos or small groups, so the best answer can be reached through discussion. When we begin to discuss the merits of one word over another, we are really tackling English at the highest level.  However, it is an exercise we can do on our own.  Once all the gaps have been filled, read through the completed passage to ensure it makes sense.  Please note, we are not allowed to change printed words in order to make our own choices fit!

The best way to do the exercise is to print out the extract below, but it is possible to simply produce a list of the missing words.  Remember, there is usually a number of alternatives which will fit into the gap.  If it works, it’s right.

Have fun!

‘Get that child out of here’ spat through clenched _________, hands firmly planted on the table, hard enough so _________ rocked as he leant forward.

‘Get that child out _________ here!’  This time, bellowed, deep and low.  Blaize could _________ the spittle dribbling down the left-hand side of his _________, foamy and runny.

He wanted to obey, to take _________ away from this scene.

‘So, you can do what?  _________What?’  the stick in his defender’s hand was stout, _________ the much larger man was unfazed, and slowly his _________ moved towards Blaize.

‘If you want to see blood, _________ you want to see something that will wake you _________ screaming in the night, then stay.  But, boy, I _________ what I would do.’

‘I…I don’t know…’ Blaize’s stammered _________ was cut short.

‘Out!’ and the large man lunged, _________ Blaize, over Blaize and through Blaize towards the other _________.

The one who just a few minutes before had _________ kindly to the boy in the urchin’s costume who _________ in the stinking, manic, nauseating street and looked around _________ with utter confusion.

The Defender raise his club in _________ of his face, but with a wild sweep it _________ blown from his hand, and clattered, rattling, onto the _________ until, with a small, final wobble it stopped under _________ different, dusty table.

The large man grabbed, and threw _________Defender spinning between the furniture where a bench left _________ leg out to bring the victim tumbling downwards.

‘Go, _________, I didn’t know he’d be here.  Go’

The large _________ reached over and lifted the Defender once again, so _________ was eye level with Blaize, the appeal on his _________ unclear.

With a thrust, the boy felt the man _________ him, and with a hollow beat, their heads met.

‘_________ off.’ Blaize could feel the weight of his defender _________ him and could feel the greasiness of his hair _________ his face.

Could see the strange eyes, one of _________, the other blue.

The pressure lessened and, from his _________ point pinned to the floor, he saw the club _________ towards his rescuer, hit and explode into a red _________ which fell, warm and clinging, onto his face. 

The _________ man rose, and with a nod of satisfaction headed _________ the door.

Blaize was aware of others now, moving _________ him, lifting his arm and dragging him, and of _________ around the man who had, just minutes previously, whispered _________ name.

He shrugged off the helping hands and, shakily, _________ with anger boiling in his blood, stepped outside.

The _________ was busy, with people pushing carts, and talking loudly, _________ though in a mobile marketplace.

He looked, but there _________ too many, and beyond, but close, despite the lower _________, punctuated by just the odd spire and recognisable rooftop, _________, crawling, oozing, lay the unmistakeable outline of the Thames.

This extract is taken from Blaize, by Alan Peters.  The book is available from Amazon using the button below.  Alan has also produced a guided reading version of the novel for home study.  This includes a hundred questions, tasks and challenges build around the themes of the book and offers an excellent way to home teach English during the lockdown.  It too can be found using the button below, or by searching the ‘Books’ section of this website.

Original Answers (remember, any word which fits is correct!):

‘Get that child out of here’ spat through clenched teeth, hands firmly planted on the table, hard enough so it rocked as he leant forward.

‘Get that child out of here!’  This time, bellowed, deep and low.  Blaize could see the spittle dribbling down the left-hand side of his chin, foamy and runny.

He wanted to obey, to take himself away from this scene.

‘So, you can do what?  Eh? What?’  the stick in his defender’s hand was stout, but the much larger man was unfazed, and slowly his eyes moved towards Blaize.

‘If you want to see blood, if you want to see something that will wake you up screaming in the night, then stay.  But, boy, I know what I would do.’

‘I…I don’t know…’ Blaize’s stammered sentence was cut short.

‘Out!’ and the large man lunged, towards Blaize, over Blaize and through Blaize towards the other one.

The one who just a few minutes before had spoken kindly to the boy in the urchin’s costume who crouched in the stinking, manic, nauseating street and looked around him with utter confusion.

The Defender raise his club in protection of his face, but with a wild sweep it was blown from his hand, and clattered, rattling, onto the floor until, with a small, final wobble it stopped under a different, dusty table.

The large man grabbed, and threw the Defender spinning between the furniture where a bench left its leg out to bring the victim tumbling downwards.

‘Go, boy, I didn’t know he’d be here.  Go’

The large man reached over and lifted the Defender once again, so he was eye level with Blaize, the appeal on his face unclear.

With a thrust, the boy felt the man hit him, and with a hollow beat, their heads met.

‘Get off.’ Blaize could feel the weight of his defender upon him and could feel the greasiness of his hair on his face.

Could see the strange eyes, one of brown, the other blue.

The pressure lessened and, from his vantage point pinned to the floor, he saw the club truncheon towards his rescuer, hit and explode into a red mist which fell, warm and clinging, onto his face. 

The large man rose, and with a nod of satisfaction headed towards the door.

Blaize was aware of others now, moving towards him, lifting his arm and dragging him, and of more around the man who had, just minutes previously, whispered his name.

He shrugged off the helping hands and, shakily, but with anger boiling in his blood, stepped outside.

The street was busy, with people pushing carts, and talking loudly, as though in a mobile marketplace.

He looked, but there were too many, and beyond, but close, despite the lower skyline, punctuated by just the odd spire and recognisable rooftop, stinking, crawling, oozing, lay the unmistakeable outline of the Thames.