To an Unborn Pauper Child
Thomas Hardy
1840 to 1928
How to Play Cloze Games
A cloze game is a reading comprehension activity where certain words are removed from a text and you need to fill in the blanks with the correct words. This helps improve vocabulary, reading comprehension, and understanding of context.
Type In Mode
In this mode, you can:
- Type your answers directly into the blank spaces
- Get instant feedback as you type - correct answers show green, incorrect show red
- Use the keyboard for faster input and navigation
- Submit answers to check your overall progress
Drag & Drop Mode
Switch to Drag & Drop mode to:
- Drag words from the word bank and drop them into blank spaces
- Click on words in the bank to automatically fill blanks
- Click on blanks to select or clear them
Game Features
- Word Skip Selector: Choose how frequently words are removed (every 4th, 5th, 6th word, etc.)
- Progress Bar: Shows your completion percentage
- Color Feedback: Green for correct answers, red for incorrect ones
- Audio Player: Listen to the musical arrangement while you play
- Show Missing Words: View all the correct answers if you need help
- Reset Game: Start over with the same poem
- New Game: Get a different random poem
- Print Poem: Print the poem with blanks for offline practice
Winning
When you fill all the blanks correctly, you'll see a congratulations message and confetti animation! The progress bar will show 100% completion.
Tips
- Read the entire poem first to understand the context
- Look for grammatical clues (verb tense, articles, etc.)
- Use the audio player to hear the rhythm and flow
- Start with easier word skip settings (like every 8th word) and work your way up
- Don't be afraid to use "Show Missing Words" if you get stuck!
- Try both Type In and Drag & Drop modes to see which you prefer
Missing Words
Breathe not, hid Heart: cease silently,
And though thy birth-hour beckons thee,
Sleep the long sleep:
The Doomsters heap
and teens around us here,
And Time-Wraiths turn our to fear.
Hark, how the peoples surge and sigh,
laughters fail, and greetings die;
Hopes dwindle; yea,
Faiths away,
Affections and enthusiasms numb:
Thou canst not mend things if thou dost come.
Had I the ear wombed souls
Ere their terrestrial chart unrolls,
And thou free
To cease, or be,
Then would I tell all I know,
And put it to thee: Wilt take Life so?
Vain vow! No hint of mine hence
To theeward fly: to thy locked sense
Explain can
Life's pending plan:
Thou wilt thy ignorant entry
Though skies spout fire and blood and nations quake.
would I, dear, find some shut plot
Of earth's wold for thee, where not
One tear, one qualm,
break the calm.
But I am weak as thou bare;
No man can change the common lot to rare.
Must come and bide. And such are we-
Unreasoning, sanguine, visionary-
That I can hope
Health, love, friends, scope
full for thee; can dream thou'lt find
Joys seldom attained by humankind!
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