Cloze Test

A reading comprehension assessment method in which words are systematically deleted from a text and the reader must fill in the missing words based on context. Developed by Wilson Taylor in 1953, cloze tests measure how well a reader understands the language patterns and meaning of a passage. In accessibility research, cloze tests are used alongside multiple-choice questions and reading time measurements to evaluate the comprehensibility of texts, including simplified or Easy Language materials. The technique provides an objective measure of text difficulty relative to a reader's ability, making it useful for validating whether content written for people with reading difficulties is truly accessible.