Gapped texts and how texts hold together
What this chapter covers
- I can describe Paper 1 Part 5 of the UASA: eight gaps, sentences A to D for gaps 33 to 36 and E to H for gaps 37 to 40, no extra sentences, and one sentence for each gap (9.1)
- I can find what reference words such as it, they, this, he and she point back to, and use them to match a sentence to a gap (9.2)
- I can use linking words such as however, so, also, then and for example to see how a sentence joins the one before it (9.3)
- I can tell what a paragraph is about from its topic sentence and choose a sentence that stays on that topic (9.4)
- I can check that sentences follow a logical order, such as time order or cause and result (9.5)
- I can follow a six-step method to complete a gapped text in about 20 minutes (9.6)
- I can rule out sentences that do not fit, and check my answers by reading the whole paragraph again (9.7)
In Paper 1 Part 5 eight sentences have been taken out of a text, and you put them back in the right places. To do this well, you need to see how a text holds together: the small words that point back, the linking words that join ideas, and the order of events. This unit shows you these clues and gives you a method you can use every time.
9.1What Part 5 looks like
| Part 5 at a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 8 (Questions 33 to 40 in the real paper), 1 mark each, 8 marks in all |
| Time | about 20 minutes |
| Text | a story, a diary, a recount or a short article about a sport, an animal or a person's day. The instruction says the text, but in the 2022/2023 papers the eight gaps sit in two short parts, each with its own title (for example Life As A Teacher and My First Camping Trip), with four gaps in each. |
| Gaps | eight gaps: Questions 33 to 36 first, then Questions 37 to 40 |
| Sentences | A to D for gaps 33 to 36, and E to H for gaps 37 to 40. Exactly four sentences for four gaps: there is no extra sentence. |
| Answer | blacken one letter on the answer sheet for each gap |
Read the text below. Eight sentences have been removed from the text.
For 33 to 36, choose from the sentences (A - D) to fit each gap.
For 37 to 40, choose from the sentences (E - H) to fit each gap.
Life As A Teacher ... gaps (33) to (36) ...
A ... B ... C ... D ...
My First Camping Trip ... gaps (37) to (40) ...
E ... F ... G ... H ...
[8 marks]
A gapped text is a text with sentences missing. In the real UASA paper, gaps 33 to 36 have exactly four sentences (A to D) and gaps 37 to 40 have exactly four sentences (E to H). Each gap has one right sentence, and every sentence is used once. A sentence that fits one gap is no longer free for the others, so every answer you are sure of makes the next one easier. A sentence from A to D never goes into gaps 37 to 40, and E to H never go into gaps 33 to 36.
| Clue | Question to ask | See |
|---|---|---|
| Reference words | What does it, they, this or she point back to? | 9.2 |
| Linking words | Does however, so, also or then join the two ideas in the right way? | 9.3 |
| Topic sentences | Does the sentence stay on the topic of the paragraph? | 9.4 |
| Logical order | Does it come at the right time, in the right tense? | 9.5 |
9.2Reference words: it, they, this
Writers do not repeat the same noun again and again. They use a reference word that points back to something already said. When a sentence starts with a reference word, the thing it points to must be just before the gap.
| Reference word | Points back to | Example |
|---|---|---|
| he / him / his | one male person | Encik Rashid is our coach. He trains us every Friday. |
| she / her | one female person | My sister Aina loves cats. She has three of them. |
| it / its | one thing, animal or place | We visited Taman Negara. It is the oldest rainforest in Malaysia. |
| they / them / their | two or more people or things | Ali and Ben missed the bus. They walked to school. |
| this / that | one thing, or a whole idea or action in the sentence before | Lina forgot her homework again. This made her teacher unhappy. |
| these / those | two or more things just named | I bought some keropok. These are from Terengganu. |
| there | a place just named | We went to Pasar Payang. There, we bought batik. |
| then | a time just named | The bus came at 7.00. Then we all got on. |
| one / ones | another of the same kind of thing | My pen is broken. Can I borrow one? |
How to use reference words in Part 5
- Circle every reference word in the sentences (A to D, or E to H), especially at the start.
- Ask: is it one or many? Male or female? A person, a thing or an idea?
- Find a gap where the sentence just before names a matching noun.
- Also look after the gap. If the sentence after the gap starts with They, the gap sentence may be the one that names those people or things.
My uncle has a durian orchard in Raub. (gap) They are famous for their sweet, creamy taste.
A He sells them at a stall in town.
B Its durians are ready to pick in June and July.
Look before the gap. The sentence names one orchard and my uncle. A starts with He (the uncle, fine), but them needs a plural noun before it, and there is none. B starts with Its, which points to the orchard. Now look after the gap: They are famous for their taste needs a plural noun, and B gives one: durians. B works on both sides, so the answer is B.
"Puan Leela opened a small kedai runcit near our flat. (a) It sells rice, eggs and bread. (b) Her sons help her after school. (c) They are very polite. Last week, the shop was closed for two days. (d) This worried many neighbours."
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(b) Puan Leela's
(c) her sons (Puan Leela's sons)
(d) the fact that the shop was closed for two days
9.3Linking words: however, so, also, then
A linking word (also called a connector) shows how two ideas join. When a sentence starts with a linking word, the sentence before the gap must match that job.
| Job | Linking words | Example | What comes before the gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adding (more of the same) | also, too, besides, in addition, moreover | The hotel has a pool. It also has a games room. | another good point (or bad point) of the same kind |
| Contrast (the opposite) | but, however, although, on the other hand | The test was hard. However, most of us passed. | an idea that goes the other way |
| Result | so, as a result, because of this, therefore | It rained all morning. As a result, the match was cancelled. | a cause |
| Reason | because, since, as | We stayed inside because it was very hot. | a result (the reason comes after) |
| Time order | first, next, then, after that, later, finally, at last | First, we set up the tent. Then we cooked dinner. | an earlier step or event |
| Example | for example, for instance, such as | Many fruits grow here, such as rambutan and mangosteen. | a general idea (the examples follow) |
Our school canteen is clean and bright. (gap)
A However, the food is quite expensive.
B As a result, the food is quite expensive.
A clean canteen does not cause expensive food, so B is wrong. "Clean and bright" is a good point and "expensive" is a bad point. They go opposite ways, so the contrast word However works. The answer is A.
(a) Tapirs eat plants. ______, they like young leaves and fruit.
(b) The road was flooded. ______ we stayed at Grandma's house.
(c) Ah Meng is short. ______, he is the best basketball player in our class.
(d) We washed our hands. ______ we started eating.
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9.4Topic sentences: what is the paragraph about?
A paragraph is about one main idea. The topic sentence tells you that idea. It is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. The other sentences give details, examples or reasons about it.
| Where is the gap? | What kind of sentence usually fits | Example |
|---|---|---|
| At the start of a paragraph | a topic sentence: a general idea that the next sentences explain | Jumping events are also popular. Students can try the long jump and the high jump. |
| In the middle | a detail, an example or a reason that links to the sentence before and after | The long jump is easy to learn. You just run and jump into the sand. Many young children enjoy it. |
| At the end of a paragraph | a result, a feeling or a short ending (conclusion) | We collected RM800 for the flood victims. We felt very proud of ourselves. |
| At the end of the whole text | an ending: a hope, a lesson, an opinion or "the end of the day" | I hope I can go camping again next year. |
(gap) You can see colourful wau, kites shaped like birds and even a giant dragon. Families come from all over Kelantan to watch.
A The kite festival in Pasir Mas is held every year in June.
B My brother bought me a kite for my birthday.
The sentences after the gap talk about many kites that people watch, so the topic is a festival, not one present. A is the topic sentence. B is about the topic of kites, but it does not lead to "you can see ... families come to watch".
"(gap) She wakes up at 5.30 a.m. to cook breakfast. Then she sends my brother and me to school before she goes to work at the clinic."
A My mother has a very busy morning. B The clinic opens at 8.00 a.m. C My brother is in Year 4.
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9.5Logical order: time, cause and tense
Ideas in a text come in a logical order: an order that makes sense. Check that the gap sentence comes at the right point.
| Kind of order | Where you find it | Clues to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Time order | stories, diaries, recounts, a person's day, recipes | times (6.30 a.m.), days, first / then / after that / finally, before / after |
| Cause, then result | stories and articles | because, so, as a result; feelings after events |
| General, then details | articles and reports | a big idea first, then for example / such as |
| Problem, then answer | stories, emails asking for help | a question or worry, then what someone did |
Check the tense
The gap sentence normally uses the same tense as the sentences around it. A story in the past needs a past sentence. A text about a daily routine or facts uses the present simple.
| Text | Fits | Does not fit |
|---|---|---|
| Last Sunday, we went to Port Dickson. (gap) | We swam in the sea all morning. | We swim in the sea every weekend. |
| Bees live in large groups. (gap) | Each group has one queen bee. | Each group had one queen bee. |
P After that, she put the cake in the oven.
Q Mira wanted to bake a cake for her father's birthday.
R First, she mixed flour, eggs, sugar and butter.
S Finally, she decorated it with strawberries.
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9.6The six-step method
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Skim the text | Read the title and the first part of the text (gaps 33 to 36) quickly, skipping the gaps. Who? Where? When? Is it a story or facts? | You know the topic and the tense. |
| 2. Read the options | Read sentences A to D. Circle reference words (it, they, this, she) and linking words (however, so, then). | These are your clues. |
| 3. Look both ways | For each gap, read the sentence before and the sentence after. Underline the nouns and time words. | The right sentence joins both sides. |
| 4. Match the easy ones first | Choose the sentence with the strongest clue first, such as a name, a they that needs a plural, or Finally. | Each sentence is used once, so every match makes the rest easier. |
| 5. Cross out and continue | Cross out each sentence you have used. Do the harder gaps with the sentences left. | Fewer choices, fewer mistakes. |
| 6. Read it all again | Read each paragraph with your sentence in it. Does it sound natural? Do the pointers and linking words work? | You catch a swap between two gaps. |
Then do the same six steps for gaps 37 to 40 with sentences E to H. Spend about 10 minutes on each set of four gaps.
Read the text below. Eight sentences have been removed from the text.
For 33 to 36, choose from the sentences (A - D) to fit each gap.
For 37 to 40, choose from the sentences (E - H) to fit each gap.
Our Trip to Kuala Selangor
Last month, the students of 1 Bestari went on a trip to Kuala Selangor Nature Park. We left school by bus at 7.00 a.m. (33) ______ When we arrived, our guide, Encik Hafiz, was waiting for us at the gate.
First, Encik Hafiz took us for a walk through the mangrove forest. (34) ______ Some of them were catching small crabs in the mud. We also saw a group of silvered leaf monkeys in the trees.
(35) ______ We went to Kampung Kuantan by boat to watch the fireflies. They looked like tiny lights on the trees along the river.
The trip was tiring, but we learnt a lot about nature. (36) ______
A I hope we can go there again next year.
B The best part of the day came after dark.
C The journey took about one and a half hours.
D He showed us many birds, such as herons and kingfishers.
Baby Turtles
Every year, green turtles swim to the beaches of Terengganu and Pahang to lay their eggs. (37) ______ Each turtle digs a deep hole in the sand with her back flippers and lays about one hundred eggs in it.
Many of these eggs never hatch. (38) ______ Because of this, wildlife officers collect the eggs and take them to a hatchery near the beach.
At the hatchery, the eggs are buried again in the sand behind a fence. (39) ______ When the babies come out, the officers carry them to the sea at night.
Visitors can watch the baby turtles crawl into the sea. (40) ______ Bright lights confuse the babies, and they may crawl the wrong way.
E Most of them arrive late at night, when the beach is dark and quiet.
F Some are dug up by dogs and monitor lizards, and others are taken by people.
G After about two months, the baby turtles hatch.
H However, they must not use torches or take photos with a flash.
Gaps 33 to 36 (sentences A to D)
| Gap | Clues before and after | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| (34) | Strongest clue first. After the gap, Some of them were catching crabs needs a plural group of animals. D names birds, and He in D points back to Encik Hafiz. | D |
| (36) | The last gap of this text needs an ending. A gives a hope for the future, and there points to Kuala Selangor. | A |
| (33) | Time order: between We left school at 7.00 a.m. and When we arrived. C is about the journey in between. | C |
| (35) | Start of a paragraph: needs a topic sentence. Fireflies come out at night, so after dark fits. B is the only sentence left, and it works. | B |
Gaps 37 to 40 (sentences E to H): start again with four fresh sentences.
| Gap | Clues before and after | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| (40) | Strongest clue first. After the gap, Bright lights confuse the babies explains a rule about light. H has torches and flash, they points back to the visitors, and However turns can watch into a limit. | H |
| (38) | Many of these eggs never hatch before the gap, and Because of this after it. The gap needs the reason: F tells what happens to the eggs. Some points back to the eggs. | F |
| (39) | Time order: the eggs are buried, then (gap), then When the babies come out. G gives the time in between and names the baby turtles. | G |
| (37) | them in E points back to the green turtles, and arriving comes before digging a hole. E is the only sentence left, and it fits. | E |
Step 6: read both texts again with the sentences in them. The pointers (He, them, there, Some, they) and the time order work, so the answers are 33 C, 34 D, 35 B, 36 A, 37 E, 38 F, 39 G, 40 H. Every sentence was used once, and none was left over: that is how the real paper works.
9.7Ruling out distractors
When two sentences seem to fit, test each one against these checks. A sentence that fails one check is a distractor for that gap.
| Check | The sentence is wrong if ... | Example of a wrong choice |
|---|---|---|
| Pointer | its reference word does not match (one/many, he/she, person/thing) | "They were delicious." after "Mum made a chocolate cake." |
| Link | its linking word does the wrong job | "So, we won the game." after "Our best player was sick." |
| Topic | it is about the topic of a different paragraph | a sentence about lunch in a paragraph about the morning walk |
| Order and tense | it happens too early or too late, or the tense is different | "We go home happily." in a story in the past |
| Repeat | it says again what the text already says | "We left at 7.00." when the text already gives the time |
| Contradiction | it does not agree with the sentence after the gap | "It was very easy." before "I tried five times before I got it right." |
Kavitha joined the school choir in January. (gap) Now she is not afraid of singing on stage any more.
E At first, she was very shy and sang softly.
F She has always loved singing in front of people.
Both are about Kavitha and singing. But the sentence after the gap says "Now she is not afraid any more". That means she was afraid before. E (At first ... shy) gives the "before" picture. F contradicts it: if she always loved singing in front of people, she was never afraid. The answer is E.
"Every Saturday, Haziq helps his grandfather at the pasar tani. (a) ______ It sells bananas, papayas and pineapples from their farm. The stall is very busy in the morning. (b) ______ By noon, most of the fruit is sold, so they pack up and go home."
E Many customers come early to get the freshest fruit.
F It is in a car park near the mosque.
G His grandfather has a small fruit stall there.
H He sells vegetables and fish too.
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(b) E: it explains why the stall is busy in the morning.
F and H are extra. If F filled gap (a), It sells bananas would mean the car park sells fruit. H does not fit either gap: too needs something sold before it, and the text says they sell fruit from their farm.
Summary
- Part 5 (the real format): one task with eight gaps, 33 to 36 with sentences A to D and 37 to 40 with sentences E to H; 8 marks, about 20 minutes. There are no extra sentences: each gap has one right sentence and every sentence is used once.
- Reference words (he, she, it, they, this, these, there, then) must point back to a matching noun just before the gap: one or many, male or female, person or thing.
- Linking words show the job: adding (also, besides), contrast (however, but), result (so, as a result), time (first, then, finally), example (for example, such as).
- A gap at the start of a paragraph usually needs a topic sentence; a gap at the end of the text usually needs an ending, a feeling or a hope.
- Check the logical order and the tense: not too early, not too late, same tense as the text.
- Six steps: skim the text, read the options and circle clues, look both ways, match the easy ones first, cross out and continue, read it all again.
- When two sentences seem to fit (or in practice exercises with extra sentences), rule out the one that fails a check: wrong pointer, wrong link, wrong topic, wrong order or tense, a repeat, or a contradiction.