The cloze test has been used to measure reading comprehension, but it is equally appropriate for use as a teaching tool to improve comprehension skills. Teachers may adapt passages to specific students, purposes, content areas, vocabulary or concepts, as long as the words in the passage are part of the child's spoken vocabulary. The pattern of deletions used will tend to assist the pupil in acquiring specific comprehension skills. The "zip" procedure is one technique for introducing the cloze passage, in which the passage is transferred to an overhead projector transparency with the deleted words covered with masking tape. When the alternatives suggested by the pupils have been considered, the masking tape is "zipped" off the concealed word. Additional discussion should follow to permit students to indicate why they feel the words they provided may be better. Generally, the procedure will require practice sessions at least twice a week and should extend over one semester. Less frequent use appears to lack the impact needed for improving comprehension skills. (HTH)