Gaokao Exam English 'Cloze' Test 3 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: In a Gaokao cloze test, the blank reads: 'The team's success was largely _____ to their excellent teamwork and dedication.' Which option is correct?

attributed (Correct answer)
contributed
distributed
substituted

Correct answer: attributed

'Attributed to' means credited to or caused by — 'the success was attributed to teamwork' is the correct collocation. 'Contribute to' means help produce, not the same structure.

'Attributed to' (归因于/归功于) is the correct collocation: 'success was attributed to teamwork' means the success is credited to or caused by teamwork. 'Contributed to' means 'helped cause' but uses an active subject structure (teamwork contributed to success, not the other way). 'Distributed' means spread out. 'Substituted' means replaced. Mastering verb-preposition collocations like 'attribute to,' 'contribute to,' and 'devote to' is essential for the Gaokao English section.

Question 2: Fill in the blank with the correct form: 'By the time the guests arrived, she _____ the dinner.'

had prepared (Correct answer)
prepared
was preparing
prepares

Correct answer: had prepared

The past perfect tense 'had prepared' is required because the dinner preparation was completed before the guests' arrival — an earlier past action before another past event.

The past perfect tense (had + past participle) is used to show that one action was completed before another action in the past. In this sentence, 'by the time the guests arrived' establishes the reference point in the past (the arrival), and the dinner preparation happened before that — so it uses past perfect: 'had prepared.' Using simple past 'prepared' would suggest they happened simultaneously. Past perfect is a key grammar point for the Gaokao English section, especially in time-sequence sentences with 'by the time,' 'before,' or 'when.'

Question 3: Choose the best option for the cloze: 'Although the weather was bad, the outdoor concert _____ as planned.'

went ahead (Correct answer)
went off
went through
went over

Correct answer: went ahead

'Went ahead' means proceeded as scheduled despite obstacles. It correctly captures that the concert continued despite bad weather.

'Go ahead' (继续进行) means to proceed with a plan, often despite obstacles or hesitations — perfect for describing a concert that continued despite bad weather. 'Go off' means to happen (often used for events that go well: 'the event went off without a hitch') but can suggest an unexpected outcome. 'Go through' means to experience something difficult or to pass through. 'Go over' means to review or exceed a limit. Phrasal verbs are a key part of the Gaokao English vocabulary section and are tested in cloze passages.

Question 4: The blank in this Gaokao English sentence: 'It was not until she left home _____ she realized how much she loved her family.'

that (Correct answer)
when
which
where

Correct answer: that

The 'It was not until... that...' is a fixed emphatic cleft sentence structure. 'That' is grammatically required in this pattern.

The structure 'It was not until... that...' (直到…才…) is an emphatic cleft construction in English used to highlight the time at which something happened. The pattern is fixed: 'It was not until + time/event + that + main clause.' For example: 'It was not until midnight that he fell asleep.' This contrasts with the non-emphatic form: 'She did not realize until she left home.' The emphatic version uses 'that,' making 'when,' 'which,' and 'where' incorrect here.

Question 5: Choose the word that fits: 'The documentary _____ a powerful message about the importance of environmental protection.'

conveyed (Correct answer)
invented
requested
demanded

Correct answer: conveyed

'Conveyed' means communicated or expressed — 'conveyed a message' is the correct collocation for expressing the content of a documentary.

'Convey a message' (传达/表达信息) is a standard English collocation meaning to communicate or express a meaning, idea, or feeling. Documentaries, speeches, and artworks commonly 'convey messages.' 'Invented' means created something new (not suitable for a message). 'Requested' and 'demanded' imply asking for something, which doesn't fit the structure '_____ a message about.' Collocation knowledge — knowing which verbs pair naturally with which nouns — is essential for both the cloze test and reading comprehension sections of the Gaokao.

Question 6: In a Gaokao cloze passage about online learning, the blank reads: 'Students can access course materials _____ and study at their own pace.' Which adverb fits best?

anytime (Correct answer)
nowhere
seldom
barely

Correct answer: anytime

'Anytime' means at any time of one's choosing, which fits the context of flexible online learning that allows self-paced study.

'Anytime' (随时) means at any time of one's choosing, which perfectly describes the flexibility of online learning platforms that allow students to access materials at their convenience and study at their own pace. 'Nowhere' (无处) means at no place, which is illogical. 'Seldom' means rarely, which contradicts the idea of convenient access. 'Barely' means hardly at all, also contradicting the benefit. Online and digital technology topics are common in Gaokao English reading and cloze passages, reflecting contemporary educational contexts.

Gaokao Exam English 'Cloze' Test 3

In a Gaokao cloze test, the blank reads: 'The team's success was largely _____ to their excellent teamwork and dedication.' Which option is correct?