A bank of words is printed at the top, labelled A to F, and each sentence below has a gap marked （ ）. You choose the word that completes each sentence.
The part tests usage rather than meaning alone: a measure word, a verb that takes the object in the sentence, an adverb in the right position. The words in the bank are of different kinds, so working out which kind of word the gap needs narrows it down quickly.
The instruction on the paper
选词填空。
xuǎn cí tián kòng 。
Choose the word that fills each blank.
HSK 1 Reading Part 4 sample questions with answers
5 questions from our practice bank, in the format of the real paper. Try each one before opening the answer.
Sample 15 questions
A 会 (huì)
B 坐 (zuò)
C 几 (jǐ)
D 没关系 (méi guān xì)
E 前面 (qián miàn)
我们（ ）飞机去。
wǒ men （ ） fēi jī qù 。
We go by plane.
Show the answer
B 坐 (zuò)
医院在学校（ ）。
yī yuàn zài xué xiào （ ）。
The hospital is in front of the school.
Show the answer
E 前面 (qián miàn)
女：对不起。
男：（ ）。
nǚ ： duì bù qǐ 。
nán ：（ ）。
W: Sorry. M: It does not matter.
Show the answer
D 没关系 (méi guān xì)
我（ ）说一点儿汉语。
wǒ （ ） shuō yì diǎn ér hàn yǔ 。
I can speak a little Chinese.
Show the answer
A 会 (huì)
你家有（ ）个人？
nǐ jiā yǒu （ ） gè rén ？
How many people are in your family?
Show the answer
C 几 (jǐ)
How to approach it
Before reading the sentences, note what each bank word is: verb, noun, measure word, adverb.
For each gap, decide from the words around it what kind of word it needs.
Try the likely word in the gap and read the whole sentence.
Fill the certain gaps first, then the rest from what is left.
Common mistakes
Choosing a word whose meaning fits but whose grammar does not — a noun where a verb is needed.
Using the word already taken by the example.
Working strictly in order and getting stuck on a hard gap.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in HSK 1 Reading Part 4?
5. It is part 4 of 4 in the HSK 1 Reading section, which has 20 questions and lasts about 17 minutes, for 100 points.
How is HSK 1 Reading Part 4 marked?
Automatically. Every question has one correct answer and all carry the same weight. A wrong answer costs nothing more than a blank one, so never leave a question empty.
Is pinyin printed at HSK 1?
Yes. At HSK 1 the printed words and sentences carry pinyin, so you can read the paper before you know every character. It is still worth learning the characters — the pinyin is gone from HSK 3.
Is each word used once?
Yes. Each word fills one gap, and one is used in the example or left spare.
How do I prepare for this part?
Learn words in short phrases — 坐飞机, 一本书, 很喜欢 — rather than alone. The gaps test exactly those combinations.
Can I practise HSK 1 Reading Part 4 online?
Yes. HSK Test has practice sets for this part, built like the real paper. Create a free account to start; your answers and scores are saved, so you can see how you are improving.