Back in the day I sometimes used a website called Hot Potatoes to create simple tests that I could then upload to the school’s intranet. Well, I’m delighted to say that the program is still available. It has six components, these being Cloze, Quiz, Cross(word), Match, Mix (not too sure what that is) and Masher, which allows you to create a series of linked exercises.
In order to test it I created a simple cloze exercise, which you can find below. It is interactive, so you will be able to get clues if you wish, and check your answers — but only if you happen to do so on my computer. Nothing here works, but I haven’t bothered to fix it because I just wanted to quickly test the program and give you an idea of what it looks like.
Although the version I installed was updated in 2022, it still looks like something out of the ark. (Well, 1997 to be exact.)
This was fun (I have a strange idea of “fun”, but what can I do?). However, it is very labour intensive. Unless you install a dedicated AI app, I don’t think that’s avoidable, and even then you would want to spend time customising it.
I asked Perplexity.ai to tell me how to create a cloze exercise. Its answers are under the quiz below. Why not have a go yourself?
Terry's Quiz
Gap-fill exercise
Perplexity’s answer:
Prompt: create an interactive cloze exercise
Creating an interactive cloze exercise is a fantastic way to engage learners and test their knowledge. Below is an example of how you can structure an interactive cloze exercise, followed by instructions on how to implement it in various tools.
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### Example: Cloze Exercise on Climate Change
**Instructions:** Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the options provided.
1. The process by which the Earth's atmosphere traps heat is called the _______ effect.
a) Greenhouse
b) Photosynthesis
c) Reflection
2. Carbon _______ is one of the primary greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.
a) Monoxide
b) Dioxide
c) Trioxide
3. Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, help reduce _______ emissions.
a) Carbon
b) Oxygen
c) Nitrogen
4. The melting of polar ice caps contributes to rising _______ levels.
a) Sea
b) Air
c) Ground
5. Planting more trees can help absorb excess _______ from the atmosphere.
a) Methane
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Hydrogen
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### How to Make it Interactive
#### 1. **Google Forms**
- Create a new Google Form.
- Add each question as a multiple-choice question.
- Enable "Quiz" mode to provide instant feedback on correct or incorrect answers.
#### 2. **Learning Management Systems (LMS)**
- Platforms like Moodle or Canvas allow you to create cloze exercises with dropdowns or fill-in-the-blank questions.
- Use their built-in quiz tools to make it interactive and track scores.
#### 3. **H5P (Interactive Content Tool)**
- Use the "Fill in the Blanks" content type in H5P.
- Enter your text and define which words should be blanks.
- Learners can type their answers directly into the blanks, and H5P will automatically check them.
#### 4. **PowerPoint or Google Slides**
- Add text with blanks and use hyperlinks or animations to reveal correct answers when learners click on them.
#### 5. **Printable Version**
If you prefer a non-digital version, print out the exercise and provide an answer key for self-assessment.
Would you like me to customize this exercise for a specific topic or tool? Let me know!
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Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share