Choosing the word that fits for 11 plus English

A gap question is a meaning question. Read the whole sentence first, and say blank where the gap is. The clue is often after the gap. Then predict: think of your own word before you look at the choices. Then check, and read the sentence back. Predict, then check.

The whole sentence. The sea was blank that morning, so the fishing boats stayed in the harbour. The clue comes after the gap. Why would boats stay in? Bad weather. My word: stormy. Now the choices. Rough is closest. Read it back: the sea was rough, so the boats stayed in. It works.

The trap is calm. The sea was calm that morning sounds lovely, and it fits the gap. But a calm sea sends boats out, not in. Calm fits the gap and not the sentence.

• 6.2The right form for the gapKind first, then form
• 6.3Linking wordsName the link, then choose the word
• 6.4One mistake or noneOne check at a time: None can be the answer
• 6.5Missing letters and shuffled sentencesMeaning first, then letters

Every 11 plus English topic