Cloze Test
🔒 Log in to trackConnector blanks: contrast, cause, result, addition
🔒 Log in to trackA connector blank is a logic question. The connector must name the exact link between the clause before it and the clause after it. Decide the direction first: opposite, cause, result, addition or time. Then choose the word.
What a connector blank tests
A connector joins two clauses. Your job is to find the direction between them. The connector is logic written as one word.
Rule: Split the sentence at the blank. Ask how clause B behaves toward clause A.
Step 1: find the two clauses
Give each side a sign. Use + for a good point and - for a bad point.
- The walk costs nothing (+), ___ very few continue it (-). The signs are opposite, so this is contrast.
- It rained heavily, ___ the match was cancelled. B is the outcome of A, so this is result.
- Prices rose, ___ wages stayed flat. B adds a parallel point, so this is addition.
- She finished her homework, ___ the lights went out. One event follows the other, so this is time.
Step 2: pick the family, then the word
| Relation | Connectors | Mini-test |
|---|---|---|
| Contrast | but, yet, however, although, whereas, still, while | The clauses pull in opposite directions |
| Cause | because, since, as, for | B explains why A is true |
| Result | so, therefore, hence, thus, consequently | B is the outcome of A |
| Addition | moreover, besides, also, and, furthermore | B adds a parallel point |
| Condition | if, unless, provided | One clause depends on the other |
| Time | when, while, before, after, until | One clause fixes when the other happens |
Tip: The most common exam item is praise followed by a limit. The walk costs nothing and needs no equipment, ___ very few people continue it. The blank needs yet or but.
Step 3: use the punctuation clue
- After a full stop or a semicolon, a linking word plus a comma is used: however, moreover, therefore, otherwise. Example: Business has not suffered; moreover, some customers order a second cup.
- A single comma joining two clauses takes but, yet, so, for, and.
- A blank at the start of a second sentence often looks back at the whole first sentence.
Pairs and confusions
Some connectors come in pairs: not only ... but also, either ... or, neither ... nor, both ... and, no sooner ... than, hardly ... when, lest ... should. If you see one half outside the blank, only its partner fits.
- but or so: The shop is small, ___ it is always full. Use but. The road was cleared, ___ traffic flowed again. Use so.
- because or although: ___ it rained, the match went on. Use Although, because the result is surprising. ___ it rained, the match was cancelled. Use Because.
- while has two meanings: time (read while the tea cools) and contrast (cities grew rich, while villages lagged).
- until shows an action running up to a point: He waited until morning.
Watch: However and therefore need commas around them. Yet, but and so join clauses directly after a comma.
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
Contrast connector (but, yet, although, whereas)
One clause is good and the other is bad, or one is expected and the other is surprising.
Give each clause a + or - sign.
If the signs are opposite, choose a contrast word.
Check that the word fits the punctuation.
Opposite signs mean the second clause pulls against the first.
The walk costs nothing, ___ very few people continue it. Options: yet / so / because / and.
Show solutionHide solution
The first clause is good (+).
The second is a limit (-).
Only yet shows contrast.
yet
Reason connector (because, since, as)
The second clause explains why the first clause is true.
Ask: does one clause explain the other?
The explaining clause follows because.
Read both clauses with your choice.
A reason connector links an event to its cause.
The match was cancelled ___ it rained heavily. Options: because / although / but / so.
Show solutionHide solution
Rain is the reason for the cancellation.
Because introduces the reason.
because
Addition connector (moreover, furthermore, besides)
The second sentence adds one more point in the same direction.
Check that both clauses have the same sign.
Pick an addition word.
Use the punctuation: semicolon, word, comma.
The writer is building up one point, not turning against it.
Business has not suffered; ___, some customers now order a second cup. Options: moreover / otherwise / unless / until.
Show solutionHide solution
Both parts are good news.
The second adds to the first.
Moreover adds a point.
moreover
Time connector (while, until, before, after, when)
One clause tells when or for how long the other happens.
Find the two events.
Decide their order: before, after, together or up to a point.
Choose the time word for that order.
Time words place two events on one timeline.
Please wait here ___ the doctor arrives. Options: until / unless / although / because.
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Waiting continues up to the doctor's arrival.
Until shows this.
until
Result connector (so, therefore, hence)
The second clause is the outcome of the first.
Ask: did the first clause cause the second?
Choose so or therefore.
Check the punctuation.
A result connector shows what followed from a cause.
The road was cleared, ___ traffic flowed again. Options: so / but / because / although.
Show solutionHide solution
Clearing the road caused the flow.
The second clause is the result.
so
Pair connector (not only ... but also)
One half of a pair, such as not only, either or neither, is outside the blank.
Spot the half that is already there.
Recall its partner.
Choose it.
Correlative pairs always come as a set.
He is not only honest ___ also hardworking. Options: but / and / or / nor.
Show solutionHide solution
Not only is already in the sentence.
Its partner is but also.
but
Linking word after a full stop
The blank starts a new sentence and a comma follows it.
Read the sentence before the blank.
Decide how the new sentence relates to it.
Choose the linking adverb.
Sentence-starting connectors look back at the whole earlier sentence.
The plan looked perfect. ___, it failed on the first day. Options: However / Because / So / Unless.
Show solutionHide solution
The plan looked good.
It failed, which is the opposite.
However shows contrast.
However
Shortcuts that save time
Give each clause a + or - sign. Same signs point to addition or result. Opposite signs point to contrast.
The walk costs nothing and demands no equipment (+), ___ very few people continue it (-).
Show solutionHide solution
The signs are + then -.
Opposite signs need a contrast word.
yet / but
Scan the sentence for the other half of a pair. If you see not only, the blank must be but also. No further thinking is needed.
A pattern like clause, ___ clause with a one-word slot wants yet, but, so, for or and. Options like however and therefore fit the pattern clause. ___, clause instead.
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Mixing up result (so) and cause (because).
Ask which clause explains which. The reason follows because. The outcome follows so.
Using although where a plain but is needed.
Although starts a subordinate clause. It cannot join two full clauses as but does.
Choosing a connector that fits the sentence but reverses the paragraph's argument.
Check the choice against the flow of the whole passage.
Marking and as always safe.
In a contrast context, and destroys the writer's point.
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
A connector shows the direction between two clauses. Find both clauses first.
Contrast: but, yet, however, although, whereas.
Result: so, therefore, hence. Reason: because, since, as.
Addition: moreover, besides. Time: when, while, until, before.
Full stop or semicolon + comma: however, moreover, therefore, otherwise.
because = normal result. although = surprising result.
Read the full joined sentence aloud to test your choice.
Practice: 12 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 12 questions
Suggested time 8 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.