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CAT 2025 Lesson : Fill in the Blanks - Introduction
Fill in the Blank (FIB) questions will ask you to fill the blanks in a sentence/passage with appropriate word(s) or phrase(s). The blanks might be filled by single words, phrases or parts of a sentence. There are multiple variants of FIB questions that come up across many entrance tests, though these are not part of the CAT exam.
These questions test your vocabulary and grammar. Some questions will also test your logical reasoning ability, requiring you to select the correct option based on your understanding of the sentence/paragraph.
FIB questions will have one or more blanks. Typical questions include:
(1) One or two one-word blanks in 1 or many sentences
(2) One blank, to be filled by a sentence or part of a sentence
(3) A paragraph with multiple blanks (Cloze passages)
To solve FIB questions, you must be proficient in the correct usage of words, including:
- Vocabulary (you can have difficult words among the options)
- Idiomatic phrases (e.g. once in a blue moon, the last straw)
- Correct grammatical usage (e.g. advice vs. advise, prepositions, singular/plural, verbs in different tenses)
- Suitable spelling (e.g. rhythm vs. rhytm, pneumonia vs. neumonia, the second word being misspelled in both examples)
- Typical context or tone of a word (e.g. both unique and peculiar mean one of a kind, but unique is typically used in a positive context, whereas peculiar is used in a negative context)
- Degree of a word (e.g. wealthy vs. affluent, warm vs. searing hot)
Cloze Passages are a type of FIB questions, having one or more paragraphs with multiple blanks. These questions are a little easier than Fill in the Blanks, because we have at least one paragraph. This helps us to select the appropriate word from the context of the paragraph(s). You need to read through the entire paragraph by understanding the author's key message to select the appropriate words for the blanks. These questions usually require verbal and logical reasoning skills.
These questions test your vocabulary and grammar. Some questions will also test your logical reasoning ability, requiring you to select the correct option based on your understanding of the sentence/paragraph.
FIB questions will have one or more blanks. Typical questions include:
(1) One or two one-word blanks in 1 or many sentences
(2) One blank, to be filled by a sentence or part of a sentence
(3) A paragraph with multiple blanks (Cloze passages)
To solve FIB questions, you must be proficient in the correct usage of words, including:
- Vocabulary (you can have difficult words among the options)
- Idiomatic phrases (e.g. once in a blue moon, the last straw)
- Correct grammatical usage (e.g. advice vs. advise, prepositions, singular/plural, verbs in different tenses)
- Suitable spelling (e.g. rhythm vs. rhytm, pneumonia vs. neumonia, the second word being misspelled in both examples)
- Typical context or tone of a word (e.g. both unique and peculiar mean one of a kind, but unique is typically used in a positive context, whereas peculiar is used in a negative context)
- Degree of a word (e.g. wealthy vs. affluent, warm vs. searing hot)
Cloze Passages are a type of FIB questions, having one or more paragraphs with multiple blanks. These questions are a little easier than Fill in the Blanks, because we have at least one paragraph. This helps us to select the appropriate word from the context of the paragraph(s). You need to read through the entire paragraph by understanding the author's key message to select the appropriate words for the blanks. These questions usually require verbal and logical reasoning skills.
Example 1
The following sentence has two blanks. Given below the question are five pairs of words. Choose the pair that best completes the sentence.
[CAT 2008]
As navigators, calendar makers, and other ________ of the night sky accumulated evidence to the contrary, ancient astronomers were forced to ________ that certain bodies might move in circles about points, which in turn moved in circles about the earth.
(1) scrutinizers; believe
(2) observers; agree
(3) scrutinizers; suggest
(4) observers; concede
(5) students; conclude
Similarly, we can select the correct option for the second blank based on the usage of forced to ahead of it. One can be forced to agree or concede. Concede is more suitable semantically (based on the meaning), as it means agree after denying. Since the words forced to precede the blank, we should include the word which necessitates force – concede implies that the astronomers were denying the circular movement. Hence, they were forced to concede. We can also eliminate believe and suggest based on this logic.
Answer: (4) observers; concede
[CAT 2008]
As navigators, calendar makers, and other ________ of the night sky accumulated evidence to the contrary, ancient astronomers were forced to ________ that certain bodies might move in circles about points, which in turn moved in circles about the earth.
(1) scrutinizers; believe
(2) observers; agree
(3) scrutinizers; suggest
(4) observers; concede
(5) students; conclude
Solution
The use of other before the first blank implies that the blank should be a word similar to navigators and calendar makers. Both scrutinizers and observers are suitable, with observers being preferable.Similarly, we can select the correct option for the second blank based on the usage of forced to ahead of it. One can be forced to agree or concede. Concede is more suitable semantically (based on the meaning), as it means agree after denying. Since the words forced to precede the blank, we should include the word which necessitates force – concede implies that the astronomers were denying the circular movement. Hence, they were forced to concede. We can also eliminate believe and suggest based on this logic.
Answer: (4) observers; concede
Example 2
Choose the correct option to fill the blank for correct grammatical use.
[SNAP 2009]
She is a close friend of ____________.
(1) my (2) I (3) me (4) mine
I and me are used to refer to oneself, my and mine are used to refer to things/people belonging to or associated with oneself.
In this case, the writer is referring to his/her friend, and hence, we can eliminate I and me.
We select mine as friend of mine is the correct usage. My is a determiner, and should precede friend. The correct usage would have been she is my close friend.
Answer: (4) mine
[SNAP 2009]
She is a close friend of ____________.
(1) my (2) I (3) me (4) mine
Solution
We can select option (4) immediately as the correct usage is friend of mine.I and me are used to refer to oneself, my and mine are used to refer to things/people belonging to or associated with oneself.
In this case, the writer is referring to his/her friend, and hence, we can eliminate I and me.
We select mine as friend of mine is the correct usage. My is a determiner, and should precede friend. The correct usage would have been she is my close friend.
Answer: (4) mine
Example 3
Fill the blanks in the passage below with the most appropriate word from the options given for each. The right words are the ones used by the author. Be guided by the author's overall style and meaning when you choose the answers.
[CAT 2002]
Von Neumann and Morgenstern assume a decision framework in which all options are thoroughly considered, each option being independent of the others, with a numerical value derived for the utility of each possible outcome (these outcomes reflecting, in turn, all possible combinations of choices). The decision is then made to maximize the expected utility.
________A________ such a model reflects major simplifications of the way decisions are made in the real world. Humans are not to process information as quickly and effectively as the model assumes; they tend not to think ________B________ as easily as the model calls for; they often deal with a particular option without really assessing its ________C________ and when they do assess alternatives, they may be externally nebulous about their criteria of evaluation.
Blank A:
(1) Regrettably
(2) Firstly
(3) Obviously
(4) Apparently
Blank B:
(1) quantitatively
(2) systematically
(3) scientifically
(4) analytically
Blank C:
(1) implications
(2) disadvantages
(3) utility
(4) alternatives
Blank A:
From the first paragraph, we learn that Von Neumann and Morgenstern have assumed that decisions are made after objectively considering all alternatives mathematically. The writer then lists the issues with this assumption - that people do not process information quickly, they do not always think mathematically and they often select an option without assessing all the alternatives.
Therefore, the issues make us infer that blank A should be filled by regrettably, owing to the negatives following it. None of the other options have a negative connotation, and hence, can be eliminated, given the context.
Blank B:
The word filled in blank B should mean mathematically (based on the usage of numeric in the previous paragraph). Therefore, we can choose from quantitatively and analytically. Quantitatively is more suitable in meaning as the author is describing a mathematical calculation of utility.
We can also logically eliminate analytically - humans can be analytical, yet might find it difficult to quantitatively calculate the impact of each decision.
Blank C
Blank C is to be filled by alternatives, the very word which is used again in the sentence. The paragraph makes logical sense, telling us that humans often select an option without thinking of all the alternatives. The other terms would not make sense, given the usage of when they do assess alternatives after it. The word do implies that.
Answer: (1) Regrettably (1) quantitatively (4) alternatives
[CAT 2002]
Von Neumann and Morgenstern assume a decision framework in which all options are thoroughly considered, each option being independent of the others, with a numerical value derived for the utility of each possible outcome (these outcomes reflecting, in turn, all possible combinations of choices). The decision is then made to maximize the expected utility.
________A________ such a model reflects major simplifications of the way decisions are made in the real world. Humans are not to process information as quickly and effectively as the model assumes; they tend not to think ________B________ as easily as the model calls for; they often deal with a particular option without really assessing its ________C________ and when they do assess alternatives, they may be externally nebulous about their criteria of evaluation.
Blank A:
(1) Regrettably
(2) Firstly
(3) Obviously
(4) Apparently
Blank B:
(1) quantitatively
(2) systematically
(3) scientifically
(4) analytically
Blank C:
(1) implications
(2) disadvantages
(3) utility
(4) alternatives
Solution
This is an example of a Cloze passage. Let us look at each blank.Blank A:
From the first paragraph, we learn that Von Neumann and Morgenstern have assumed that decisions are made after objectively considering all alternatives mathematically. The writer then lists the issues with this assumption - that people do not process information quickly, they do not always think mathematically and they often select an option without assessing all the alternatives.
Therefore, the issues make us infer that blank A should be filled by regrettably, owing to the negatives following it. None of the other options have a negative connotation, and hence, can be eliminated, given the context.
Blank B:
The word filled in blank B should mean mathematically (based on the usage of numeric in the previous paragraph). Therefore, we can choose from quantitatively and analytically. Quantitatively is more suitable in meaning as the author is describing a mathematical calculation of utility.
We can also logically eliminate analytically - humans can be analytical, yet might find it difficult to quantitatively calculate the impact of each decision.
Blank C
Blank C is to be filled by alternatives, the very word which is used again in the sentence. The paragraph makes logical sense, telling us that humans often select an option without thinking of all the alternatives. The other terms would not make sense, given the usage of when they do assess alternatives after it. The word do implies that.
Answer: (1) Regrettably (1) quantitatively (4) alternatives
Example 4
In the question below, there are five sentences. Each sentence has a pair of words that are highlighted. From the highlighted words, select the most appropriate words (A or B) to form correct sentences. The sentences are followed by options that indicate the words, which may be selected to correctly complete the set of sentences. From the options given, choose the most appropriate one.
[CAT 2008]
We were not successful in defusing(A)/diffusing(B) the Guru’s ideas.
The students baited(A)/bated(B) the instructor with irrelevant questions.
The hoard(A)/horde(B) rushed into the campus.
The prisoner’s interment(A)/internment(B) came to an end with his early release.
The hockey team could not deal with his unsociable(A)/unsocial(B) tendencies.
(1) BABBA
(2) BBABB
(3) BABAA
(4) ABBAB
(5) AABBA
Baited (deliberately annoy) is suitable for the second blank semantically. Bated is typically used as with bated breath and means in great suspense, anxiously. This is not suitable semantically.
A horde is a large group of people, whereas a hoard is a large stash of valuable items. Since only people can rush into a campus, we can select horde.
Interment means burial, whereas internment means imprisonment. Cleary, the prisoner's burial cannot be ended with early release, only his imprisonment can be ended.
Both unsociable and unsocial mean unfriendly. As either word can be used, we can select option (1) based on the earlier choices of BABB.
Answer: (1) BABBA
[CAT 2008]
We were not successful in defusing(A)/diffusing(B) the Guru’s ideas.
The students baited(A)/bated(B) the instructor with irrelevant questions.
The hoard(A)/horde(B) rushed into the campus.
The prisoner’s interment(A)/internment(B) came to an end with his early release.
The hockey team could not deal with his unsociable(A)/unsocial(B) tendencies.
(1) BABBA
(2) BBABB
(3) BABAA
(4) ABBAB
(5) AABBA
Solution
Defuse means reduce, whereas diffuse means spread. As we can infer, diffuse is more suitable for ideas (we can spread ideas, not reduce them).Baited (deliberately annoy) is suitable for the second blank semantically. Bated is typically used as with bated breath and means in great suspense, anxiously. This is not suitable semantically.
A horde is a large group of people, whereas a hoard is a large stash of valuable items. Since only people can rush into a campus, we can select horde.
Interment means burial, whereas internment means imprisonment. Cleary, the prisoner's burial cannot be ended with early release, only his imprisonment can be ended.
Both unsociable and unsocial mean unfriendly. As either word can be used, we can select option (1) based on the earlier choices of BABB.
Answer: (1) BABBA
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