Read the whole text first and skip the gaps; if there is a little word, find what it points back to and which way it turns; if not, follow the meaning and the argument; check the extra option last.
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Gap-Fill: Reference and Connectives
Methods in this video
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- 1
Fit both sides
When to use it: An option fits the sentence before the gap, but the sentence after it does not follow; or a small word points back correctly and you still have to check what comes next.
- After placing a sentence, read the sentence before, the gap sentence and the sentence after.
- It must follow the sentence before, and the sentence after must follow it.
- Fitting only one side does not count.
- 2
Linking words show the way
When to use it: An option contains a linking word such as But, However, Yet, also or Thus, or the sentence after the gap begins with one such as However.
- But, However and Yet turn back: what comes before must go the other way.
- Also and As well as add more: what comes before should be the same kind of thing.
- Thus and Hence give a result: what comes before should be the cause.
- 3
Find what it points back to
When to use it: A sentence option contains a small word such as This, That, it, here or such, and you have to decide which gap it fits.
- When you see This, That or it, look back first for what it points to.
- If you can find it before the gap, the sentence can go there.
- If nothing before the gap can be pointed to, rule that gap out.
Practise exam-style questions with these methods
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