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2008.8.6 World CALL Poster Session Handout / Poster / Sample passage (PDF Download)

Cloze Generator

Last updated on Dec. 7, 2008

Kenji Kitao (Doshisha University)
kkitao [at] mail.doshisha.ac.jp

Kenichi Kamiya (Osaka Institute of Technology)
kamiya [at] ip.oit.ac.jp

Overview

Cloze Generator (CG) makes cloze exercises from (i.e., insert blanks in) English passages you provide, which can then be used for a test or an exercise. And remember, it’s FREE!

You can make blanks for every n-th word automatically, or make blanks of specific words manually. You can also specify the vocabulary difficulty levels for blanks based on JACET 8000 (8 levels) or make blanks of specified parts of speech.

CG makes blanks in the passage, provide alternative answers in random order following the text using the words deleted from the text, and provide the correct answers on the bottom of the page in the order of the blanks.

You can also export an html file compatible with anaume.js, a web-based e-learning exercises program script provided by the presenters.

Download Software (2008.11.1 Updated!)

Cloze Generator for Windows XP/Vista

Installer

http://www.oit.ac.jp/ip/~kamiya/mwb/mwb_tool_081101_win.exe

Zipped

http://www.oit.ac.jp/ip/~kamiya/mwb/mwb_tool_081101_win.zip

Cloze Generator for Mac OS X

http://www.oit.ac.jp/ip/~kamiya/mwb/mwb_tool_081101_mac.zip

Script and Style sheet for E-learning *

http://www.oit.ac.jp/ip/~kamiya/mwb/anaume.js

http://www.oit.ac.jp/ip/~kamiya/mwb/main.css

* These two files are needed to be uploaded together with an exported html file you made.

To see how it works, visit http://kkitao.e-learning-server.com/javaS/blank/cloze/index.html

When installed using Cloze Generator for Windows XP/Vista (Installer), these files will be located in C:\Program Files\E-learning, and a shortcut file for this folder will be shown on your desktop.

How to Use Cloze Generator

This software is largely self-explanatory. Cloze Generator for Windows XP/Vista is provided by an installer application. When you are done with installation, start the program by opening the shortcut Cloze Generator on your desktop.

(If you cannot use the installer application for security reasons, please use the zipped file. Extract the file and you will find mwb_tool.exe in the folder.)

Cloze Generator for Mac OS X is provided by a zip file. Extract and open the file. To start the program, open Cloze Generator.app.

Ordinary procedures to make blanks

On the main screen, click "Basic Close automatic n-th / manual." Then, copy and paste your passage into the box.

  1. For making each n-th word blank automatically, set configuration in the auto n-th section. (lower left)

a. Specify Index number (n), for example, 6 or 7. The default is 8.

b. You can choose whether you make blanks in the first sentence or not.

c. Click “Preview” to see what the cloze looks like. Words deleted-to-be are shown with @.
  1. For making blanks with the specific words you want manually, set configuration in the manual section. (lower right)

a. To enlarge the font size, in order to work adding @ smoothly, select the size and click the next “Change font size” button.

b. Add @ without any space in front of the words you want to make blanks.*

c. You can specify a certain word, which will be replaced by blanks throughout the passage. Click “Choose words.”

d. To erase all the @ from the passage, click “Reset.”
  1. Click “Send.” The result is shown on another window shortly.
  2. Choose “Text file” or “HTML format.” To get the file, click “Export” and save it with the extension of “.txt” or “.html” 　

Considering vocabulary difficulty levels

  1. On the main screen, click “Cloze Vocabulary level.”
  2. Copy and paste your passage into the box. Check all levels (level 1 to level 8) and click “send” below the box.
  3. After a few-second processing, click one of “Import the result.”
  4. Choose “Low Level Threshold” (to indicate the lowest level you want) and “High Level Threshold” (to indicate the highest level you want) and the Index number (n).
  5. Click “Send.”

Considering parts of speech

  1. On the main screen, click “Cloze Part of Speech.”
  2. Copy and paste your passage into the box. Click “Submit.”
  3. After a few-second processing, click “Import the result.”
  4. Choose POS, then click “Generate POS Tag List.” The tags of chosen POS are shown in the box below.
  5. Specify Index number (n) and click “Send.”

　　

* In languages which do not have spaces between words, such as Japanese, you need to put a space before @ in front of the parts you want to make a blank, and a space right after the parts.