SSC CGL Tier 1 2012 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The error lies in the use of the plural verb have been with a singular subject. In sentences starting with there, the verb must agree with the actual subject that follows it. In this sentence, the subject is a painstaking forging, which is a singular noun phrase. Therefore, the plural auxiliary verb have been should be replaced by the singular has been to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

The error in part (c) is the use of the word invented in relation to a landmass. The verb invent refers to the creation or design of something entirely new that did not exist before, such as a machine, a process, or a device. In contrast, the verb discover is used when someone finds or becomes aware of a place, object, or fact that already existed but was previously unknown to them. Since America was a pre-existing geographic entity, the sentence should correctly use discovered instead of invented.

Explanation

The phrase fifty acre contains a grammatical error regarding noun-number agreement. When a numeral greater than one is used as a quantifier for a countable noun like acre, the noun must be in its plural form. Therefore, fifty should be followed by acres to correctly indicate the total measurement of the land owned.

Explanation

The verb consider is categorised as a factitive verb, which typically takes an object followed directly by a complement (a noun or an adjective) without the requirement of an intervening infinitive. In formal English usage and standard competitive examinations, the use of to be after the verb consider is regarded as redundant and grammatically unnecessary. The sentence achieves the same meaning more accurately by omitting the infinitive, resulting in the structure Belgian chocolate is considered by many finer than... instead of using the phrase to be finer. This adherence to conciseness is the preferred stylistic and grammatical standard for this verb.

Explanation

The adjective inferior is a Latin comparative that must be followed by the preposition to rather than the conjunction than when making a comparison. Other similar adjectives that follow this rule include superior, junior, senior, prior, anterior, and posterior. Therefore, the phrase inferior than is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced with inferior to to maintain standard idiomatic usage. Unlike standard English comparatives that use than, these specific Latinate terms always require the preposition to.

Explanation

The verb expect means to regard something as likely to happen or to anticipate a specific outcome. In the context of the sentence, the speakers are expressing their surprise that the event turned out much better than they had anticipated. The grammatical construction expect something to be something is a standard usage where the verb is followed by a direct object and an infinitive phrase, accurately conveying that the level of success was unforeseen.

Explanation

The verb seize means to take hold of something suddenly or to grasp an opportunity eagerly and decisively. In this context, it refers to the proactive action of taking advantage of favorable circumstances as soon as they become available. The expression seize the opportunity is a common English idiom used to encourage quick and decisive action to benefit from a situation before it passes.

Explanation

In standard English usage, the verb specifically collocated with students appearing for a test is "take." While a teacher or an institution "gives" an examination to evaluate others, the students "take" or "sit for" the examination. This distinction is a common rule in English grammar where the roles of the examiner and the examinee are differentiated by these specific verbs. Thus, to indicate that students are not ready to appear for their test, the phrase "to take" must be used.

Explanation

In administrative and governance contexts, the term launched is the standard and most appropriate verb used to describe the formal initiation or introduction of government programs, policies, or schemes. The sentence describes a proactive strategic move by the Bihar government to improve the state's economic landscape, and launching schemes signifies the official commencement of these developmental projects aimed at enhancing infrastructure to attract potential investors.

Explanation

The term illusions refers to false ideas or beliefs that a person holds about themselves or a situation. In the context of the sentence, the phrase I suffer from no illusions is a common idiomatic expression meaning that the speaker has a clear, realistic, and objective understanding of their own strengths and limitations. It implies the absence of self-deception or unrealistic expectations regarding their capabilities, signifying a pragmatic and honest self-assessment.

Explanation

The word inadvertent is derived from the Latin roots in- meaning not and advertere meaning to turn towards or pay attention. It is used to describe an action that happens without intention, deliberate planning, or oversight. Because it refers specifically to things done by accident or through a lack of focus rather than by design, unintentional is the direct synonym that best expresses its meaning.

Explanation

Fortitude refers to the mental and emotional strength that enables an individual to face adversity, danger, or hardship with resilience and bravery. It is the quality of having the inner resolve to endure difficult situations or pain without losing one's spirit or yielding to fear. Derived from the Latin word fortitudo, meaning strength, the term specifically highlights the virtue of being steadfast and brave during challenging times.

Explanation

Duplicity refers to the quality or state of being double-dealing or deceitful in speech or conduct. It involves the intentional use of deceptive practices or contradictory behavior to hide one's true intentions and mislead others. The term originates from the Latin word duplicitas, meaning doubleness, which reflects the act of presenting one persona or set of facts while concealing another. It is fundamentally characterized by dishonesty and the breach of trust through fraudulent representation.

Explanation

The word vanguard refers to the group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas, which is synonymous with pioneer. While a flag bearer might literally be at the front, vanguard represents the intellectual or tactical forefront of a movement or field.

Explanation

The word taciturn refers to a person who is habitually reserved, quiet, or uncommunicative in speech. Since the objective is to find the word opposite in meaning, talkative is the correct choice as it describes a person who speaks a great deal or is fond of conversation. These two terms represent polar opposites regarding an individual's communicative tendencies.

Explanation

The word artisan refers to a worker who is highly skilled in a manual trade or craft, such as carpentry, pottery, or weaving, often producing items by hand with specialized expertise. Consequently, the opposite of an artisan is an unskilled labourer, who performs manual tasks that do not require specialized training, craft-based knowledge, or technical expertise. While an artisan is defined by their proficiency and mastery over a specific craft, unskilled labour represents the absence of such vocational skills.

Explanation

The word amicable is an adjective used to describe a spirit of friendliness and goodwill, typically characterizing relations or agreements that are peaceable and free from discord. It originates from the Latin word amicus, meaning friend. The word hostile serves as its direct antonym, as it describes a state of active ill will, antagonism, or opposition. While an amicable interaction is cooperative and pleasant, a hostile one is marked by enmity and conflict.

Explanation

Mitigate means to make something less severe, serious, or painful, such as reducing the intensity of a problem or suffering. Aggravate means to make a problem, injury, or offense worse or more serious. Since mitigate involves lessening the severity of a situation and aggravate involves increasing it, the two words are direct antonyms.

Explanation

The word aversion is defined as a strong feeling of dislike, repugnance, or an instinctive desire to avoid something. It represents a negative emotional response or a psychological withdrawal from a particular object or situation. Conversely, liking signifies a feeling of fondness, attraction, or a positive preference for something. Because aversion denotes a state of rejection and antipathy, its direct antonym is the state of being well-disposed or attracted to something, which is the definition of liking.

Explanation

The idiom out of spirits describes a person who is feeling depressed, sad, or discouraged. It is synonymous with being in low spirits or feeling downhearted, which corresponds to the state of being gloomy. This emotional state often follows a disappointment or setback, such as the defeat mentioned in the sentence.

Explanation

The idiom to smell a rat means to suspect that something is wrong, dishonest, or that a trick or deception is being played. In the context of the sentence, the suspicious behavior of neighbors leaving secretly at midnight triggers a sense that something illegal or unethical is occurring, leading the observer to suspect a trick or foul play. This expression originates from the ability of a dog to sense a rat by its scent even if it cannot see it, symbolizing the intuition that something is amiss before any concrete evidence is presented.

Explanation

The word backbone is used idiomatically to denote the core strength, firmness of resolve, or the main structural support that allows an entity to remain stable and upright. In a figurative sense, it represents the internal power and fortitude necessary to sustain an effort or resist pressure. When a movement is described as having no backbone, it means it lacks the fundamental strength or willpower required to endure, leading to its inevitable and rapid collapse when faced with challenges.

Explanation

The idiom on one's toes signifies being in a state of readiness, vigilance, and active attention. It describes someone who is prepared to react quickly to any situation or challenge that may arise. In the context of law enforcement, being on their toes implies that the officers are maintaining a high level of watchfulness and are fully concentrated on their duties, which is the definition of being alert.

Explanation

The phrasal verb look into means to investigate, study, or scrutinize a matter closely to discover facts or reach a conclusion. In the context of administrative or official responses to demands, it signifies a commitment to examine the details and feasibility of the requests before making a decision.

Explanation

The adjective prolific is used to describe a person, typically a writer, artist, or composer, who produces a large number of works. In the context of the sentence, the fact that the writer's work is published every year indicates a high and consistent level of productivity. This makes prolific the most appropriate and precise word to describe the writer's output, and therefore the sentence requires no improvement.

Explanation

The adjective liable requires the preposition to followed by a passive infinitive when expressing the likelihood or legal necessity of undergoing a specific action. In this context, those plucking flowers are the recipients of the action, making to be punished the grammatically correct choice. The construction liable for typically precedes a noun representing a responsibility or debt, and it cannot be used with the adjective punishable. Therefore, using the passive infinitive form ensures the sentence follows standard English syntax for legal consequences.

Explanation

The expression lust for power is a standard English idiom used to describe an insatiable and obsessive ambition for authority or control. While the word lust is frequently associated with sexual desire, its broader definition encompasses any intense, overwhelming, or driven craving that dominates a person's behavior. In literary and formal contexts, this specific phrase is the most evocative way to characterize the type of extreme ambition that leads to a person's ruin or downfall. Because the original phrasing is grammatically correct, idiomatically sound, and contextually precise, it requires no improvement.

Explanation

The sentence is a direct quote from Thomas Campbell's famous poem 'Lord Ullin's Daughter'. In the original text, the word 'raging' is used to describe the violence of the storm, making it both grammatically correct as a gerund and contextually perfect.

Explanation

The sentence describes a completed action in the past, as indicated by the verbs were and was in the main clause. To maintain tense consistency throughout the sentence, the introductory clause must also use the past tense. The simple past form saw aligns with the main clause to indicate that the act of seeing the smoke and the feeling of certainty occurred at the same time in the past. Present tense usage in see creates a grammatical mismatch with the established past context of the narrative.

Explanation

Oligarchy is derived from the Greek roots oligos, meaning few, and arkhein, meaning to rule or to command. It defines a system of government or power structure where decision-making authority and political control are concentrated in the hands of a small, elite segment of society. This dominant group may be distinguished by specific characteristics such as wealth, social status, family lineage, corporate interests, or military strength. In such a system, the small group of individuals wields absolute or near-absolute power over the state and its citizens, often prioritizing their own collective interests over the general welfare of the population.

Explanation

A Philistine is a term used to describe an individual who is indifferent, or even hostile, to culture, the arts, and intellectual pursuits. Such a person lacks appreciation for aesthetic values and is often characterized by a narrow-minded focus on material interests rather than literature, music, or fine arts. The term gained its modern cultural significance in the 19th century, notably through the works of Matthew Arnold, who used it to label those he considered devoid of spiritual and cultural refinement. In contemporary English, it serves as a standard one-word substitution for someone who does not value or understand the importance of art and literature.

Explanation

The word vulnerable is derived from the Latin root vulnerare, which means to wound. It is used to describe someone or something that is susceptible to physical or emotional attack, harm, or damage. In a linguistic and situational context, it specifically refers to being in a state where one is exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or through verbal censure and criticism.

Explanation

The term numismatist refers to an individual who engages in the study or collection of currency, which encompasses coins, tokens, medals, paper money, and related objects. This practice, known as numismatics, involves the systematic collection and analysis of these items to understand their historical, economic, and artistic significance. The word is derived from the Latin numisma, meaning a coin.

Explanation

An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two much larger landmasses and is typically bordered by water on two sides. It serves as a natural land bridge, such as the Isthmus of Panama connecting North and South America or the Isthmus of Suez linking Africa and Asia. These geographical features are strategically significant for travel and trade, often becoming the sites for canals to facilitate maritime passage between the bodies of water they separate.

Explanation

The word beneficial is the correct spelling of the adjective used to describe something that is helpful or advantageous. It originates from the Latin word beneficium, combining the prefix bene, meaning well, with the root fic, meaning to do or make. The correct sequence of letters is b-e-n-e-f-i-c-i-a-l, which adheres to standard English orthography for words derived from this Latin root.

Explanation

The word avaricious is an adjective derived from the noun avarice, which refers to an extreme greed for wealth or material gain. It originates from the Latin word avaritia, which comes from avarus, meaning greedy. In English spelling, adjectives derived from nouns ending in -ice often utilize the suffix -icious, as seen in words like malicious or capricious. Therefore, the spelling follows the root of avarice by keeping the letters a-v-a-r-i and adding the suffix -cious.

Explanation

The word uniquely is an adverb derived from the adjective unique. The spelling follows the standard English rule for forming adverbs from adjectives ending in a silent e, which dictates that the e is preserved before the suffix -ly is attached. Following this rule, the correct sequence of letters is u-n-i-q-u-e-l-y. It is used to indicate that something happens in a manner that is the only one of its kind or is particularly distinctive. The word originates from the Latin unicus, meaning single or sole, and adding the suffix does not require any deletion or modification of the base word's terminal vowels.

Explanation

The word affectionately is an adverb used to convey fondness or tenderness. It is derived from the noun affection, which originates from the Latin word affectio. To form the adverb, the suffix ate is appended to the root to create the adjective affectionate, and then the suffix ly is added. The correct spelling requires the double consonant f and follows the standard pattern for adding these suffixes without altering the base spelling of affection.

Explanation

Apprehension is the correct spelling of the noun derived from the verb apprehend, which originates from the Latin word apprehendere, meaning to seize or grasp. In English, it is used to describe a feeling of anxiety or fear about a future event, as well as the legal act of arresting or taking someone into custody. The spelling follows the standard pattern of using the prefix ad- (which becomes ap- before a p) followed by prehend and the noun-forming suffix ion.

Explanation

The passage characterizes literature as a very complex art, implying that it possesses intricate layers and nuances that are not easily navigated. By stating that reading a book as it should be read requires the rarest qualities of imagination, insight, and judgment, the author suggests that the act of comprehension is a demanding task. This complexity leads to the conclusion that literature is difficult to understand fully, as it necessitates a level of intellectual and emotional engagement that goes beyond superficial reading.

Explanation

The word conclude means to bring something to an end, to finish a process, or to arrive at a final judgment after considering facts or arguments. In the context of the passage, it refers to reaching a final decision or opinion regarding the complexity of literature. The word commence serves as the direct antonym because it means to begin, start, or initiate a process or action. While concluding represents the final stage of an activity or thought, commencing represents the very first step.

Explanation

The author asserts that reading a book correctly requires rare qualities such as imagination, insight, and judgement. Given the inherent complexity of literature as an art form, the passage suggests it is highly improbable for an average reader to offer a significant contribution to literary criticism, even after a lifetime of engagement with books. Consequently, the author concludes that most individuals will remain solely in the role of readers and will not achieve the distinct status of a critic.

Explanation

The author suggests that the act of reading a book correctly requires exceptional qualities such as imagination, insight, and judgement. Because literature is such a complex art, the text implies that most individuals, despite a lifetime of reading, will likely fail to make a significant contribution to its criticism. The passage specifically states that we shall not achieve the further glory attributed to those rare beings who are also critics, indicating that the greatness associated with professional criticism is beyond the reach of the average reader.

Explanation

The passage explicitly states that reading a book in the manner it should be read necessitates specific high-level mental faculties. According to the text, the process calls for the rarest qualities of imagination, insight, and judgement. These three attributes are presented as the essential requirements for a reader to engage deeply with literature and move beyond a superficial understanding of the text.

Explanation

The passage explicitly describes marine planning and zoning as a revolutionary remedy that world leaders are beginning to prescribe to address the deteriorating health of the oceans. This approach is characterized as a natural extension of management policies used for cities and landscapes, aimed at replacing the current hodgepodge of disconnected rules with a structured system. By designating specific watery spaces for particular purposes such as fishing, drilling, or total protection, it serves as a comprehensive strategy to manage and protect coastal ecosystems.

Explanation

The opening sentence of the passage states that these days not even many politicians deny that the oceans are ill. The phrase not even many politicians deny serves as a double negative which implies that the vast majority of politicians acknowledge the problem. By stating that the number of those who deny the issue is very small, the text indicates that a large consensus exists, meaning most of the politicians agree that the oceans are not in good health.

Explanation

The phrase hodgepodge of rules refers to the fragmented and uncoordinated regulatory environment governing the oceans. According to the passage, while land-based activities are managed through clear maps and zoning policies, the marine realm is subject to various regulations issued by a multitude of different agencies. Each of these agencies manages only a single use or symptom in isolation. This multiplicity of authorities leads to a lack of a single, consistent, or integrated legal framework. By describing the current state as a hodgepodge, the author emphasizes that there is no centralized or uniform set of laws to guide ocean development and conservation, contrasting it with the systematic planning found in urban and landscape management.

Explanation

The passage defines marine planning and zoning as a management strategy where every watery space on the planet is designated for a particular purpose. This approach creates a mosaic of regional maps to regulate human activities, ensuring that specific actions like drilling, mining, and fishing are confined to certain areas while protecting threatened zones. By extending land-use management principles to the ocean, sea zoning aims to replace the existing fragmented system of uncoordinated rules with a structured framework that divides the marine environment into specific functional zones.

Explanation

A conservationist is an individual who advocates for or works toward the protection and preservation of the environment and wildlife. In the context of the passage, conservationists promote marine planning and zoning as a remedy to the ill state of the oceans. Their goal is to safeguard the health of coastal waters and ensure that critically threatened areas are protected from harmful human activities, thereby preventing the degradation and destruction of marine ecosystems. The essence of conservation lies in the careful management of natural resources to ensure they remain intact and healthy for the future.

Explanation

The sentence is grammatically sound and follows standard English syntax. The adverb hardly, which denotes a near-negative sense meaning almost not, is correctly placed between the auxiliary modal verb could and the principal verb believe. There is also perfect tense consistency within the sentence, as the past tense modal could aligns with the past tense verb said in the noun clause functioning as the object. Since all components, including word order and tense agreement, are accurate, there is no error in the sentence.