Sentence completion

NUST NET English · English · Sentence completion. The idea in plain words, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid and a worked example, written and checked by Mega Lecture.

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The idea

Every sentence completion carries its own clue. The words around the blank tell you what the missing word must mean, and a signal word tells you the direction: the blank either agrees with the clue or goes against it.

Read the whole sentence, find the clue and the signal word, and predict a simple word of your own for the blank. Only then look at the options and choose the one nearest to your prediction.

With two blanks, start with the blank you find easier. Cross out every option whose word fails there, then test the other blank on what is left. Both words must fit: an option with one perfect word and one poor word is wrong.

Rules to remember

Contrast signals (blank opposes the clue): although, though, but, yet, however, despite, far from, rather than, surprisingly.
Same-direction signals (blank agrees with the clue): and, because, since, so, therefore, indeed, moreover.
A colon or semicolon usually introduces an explanation or example of the blank.
'So ______ that …' means the result after 'that' defines the blank.
Predict your own word first; decide at least whether the blank is positive or negative.
Two blanks: work out whether the two words agree or oppose each other, then eliminate one blank at a time.
Read the finished sentence once in full. Choose by the logic of the sentence, not by the most impressive word.

Common mistake

Students miss a contrast word such as 'although' or 'far from' and choose a word that agrees with the clue when it should oppose it. Circle the signal word before you predict.

Worked example

Choose the words that best complete the sentence.
Although the instructions looked at first, they proved quite once the teacher had worked through an example, and every group finished early.
A. simple … easy
B. confusing … straightforward
C. complicated … baffling
D. clear … puzzling

'Although' is a contrast signal, so the two blanks must have opposite senses. This removes A and C, where both words point the same way.
Clue for the second blank: after one example, 'every group finished early', so the instructions turned out to be easy.
The second blank is positive and the first is negative. D has them the wrong way round.
B fits both: looked confusing at first, proved straightforward in the end.

Answer: B. confusing … straightforward

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