SSC CGL Tier 1 2013 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The error lies in the incorrect verb form casted. The verb cast is an irregular verb that does not change its form in the past tense or the past participle. The correct sequence for the verb is cast, cast, and cast. Therefore, the use of casted is grammatically incorrect in standard English, and it should be replaced with cast to properly convey that these social issues have influenced or darkened the nature of the elections.

Explanation

The sentence uses the adverb yesterday, which refers to a specific point in time that is completely in the past. In English grammar, the Present Perfect tense (have got) cannot be used with expressions that denote a finished period of time. Instead, the Simple Past tense must be used. To correct the error, the auxiliary verb have should be removed, leaving the simple past verb got to correspond correctly with the past time reference.

Explanation

The error lies in the use of the present continuous tense for an action that began in the past and continues into the present. The phrase for the past five years indicates a duration of time, which necessitates the use of the Present Perfect Continuous tense. In English grammar, the construction subject + has/have + been + verb-ing is used to describe actions that started at a point in the past and are still ongoing. Therefore, Sam is working must be corrected to Sam has been working to accurately reflect the time frame established later in the sentence.

Explanation

The error is in the use of the redundant preposition up in the phrase cope up with. The correct idiomatic expression is cope with, which means to deal effectively with something difficult. While the phrase keep up with exists and means to stay at the same level as something or someone, cope is an intransitive verb that only requires the preposition with to connect to its object. Therefore, the word up should be removed to make the sentence grammatically correct.

Explanation

The context requires the word audible to describe a voice that can be heard over the shouting and screaming of a market. Audible refers to sound that is loud enough for the human ear to perceive. In this situation, the primary challenge is the physical perception of the spoken words due to the high volume of environmental noise, making a term related to auditory volume the necessary descriptor.

Explanation

The sentence follows the grammatical pattern too + adjective + to-infinitive. In this structure, the adverb too indicates an excessive degree of a quality that leads to a certain result, often implying a negative consequence or an inability to complete the action following it. Here, the use of too before the adjective angry signifies that his level of anger was so great that it made him unable to speak. This construction is a standard way of expressing cause and effect where the cause is an extreme state or quality.

Explanation

The sentence expresses a hypothetical wish or a condition contrary to fact, which requires the use of the subjunctive mood. In English grammar, when using the verb wish to express a present or future desire that is unlikely or impossible, the past subjunctive form were is used for all persons and subjects. Even though the subject I is singular, the subjunctive were is the standard form used to indicate that the situation is imaginary or unreal rather than a statement of fact.

Explanation

The conjunction lest is used to express a negative purpose or to convey a warning, meaning for fear that or to avoid the risk of. In standard English grammar, lest is traditionally followed by the auxiliary verb should or a verb in the subjunctive mood. In the given sentence, the presence of should in the second clause indicates that lest is the grammatically correct choice to connect the advice regarding health with the potential future consequence of regret. This specific pairing of lest and should is a classic grammatical rule used to signal a precautionary warning.

Explanation

The phrase Every year indicates a habitual action or a recurring event that happens on a regular basis. In English grammar, the Simple Present tense is used to describe such habitual actions, general truths, or routines. Since the subject millions of tourists is plural, the base form of the verb visit is required to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

The word repeated refers to the action of saying, doing, or occurring again. The term reiterated is its direct synonym, specifically used when a person says something multiple times, often to emphasize a point or ensure clarity. Both words convey the concept of recurrence or duplication of an action or statement.

Explanation

The word revere is a verb that means to feel deep respect or admiration for someone or something. It signifies treating someone with great honor or devotion, often because of their age, position, or character. In English vocabulary, it is synonymous with venerate or admire, making respect the most accurate choice to express its meaning.

Explanation

The word erudite is derived from the Latin term eruditus, which means to instruct or polish by removing roughness. It describes an individual who possesses extensive knowledge acquired through diligent study, research, and reading. Scholarly is the most appropriate synonym as it pertains to the qualities of a scholar, specifically someone who demonstrates a high degree of academic learning and intellectual depth. Both terms are used to characterize people who are deeply educated and well-versed in complex subjects.

Explanation

The word grating is used to describe a sound that is harsh, discordant, and irritating to the ear, often lacking any rhythm or melody. In contrast, the word musical refers to sounds that are melodious, harmonious, and pleasant to listen to. Because musical denotes a quality of sound that is tuneful and agreeable, it serves as the direct antonym to the jarring and unpleasant nature of a grating sound.

Explanation

Capricious describes a person or thing that is subject to sudden, unpredictable changes in mood or behavior, often acting on whims rather than logic or necessity. Reasonable refers to being based on or using good judgment, sound sense, and logic, which implies a consistent and predictable nature. Because capricious denotes impulsiveness and lack of stability while reasonable denotes being guided by rational thought and fairness, the two words are opposites in meaning.

Explanation

Lassitude refers to a state of physical or mental weariness, characterized by a lack of energy, interest, or vitality. It is often associated with fatigue or a listless indifference that prevents active engagement. Enthusiasm represents the opposite state, defined by intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval. It signifies a high level of energy, passion, and mental vigor, directly contrasting with the sluggishness and lack of motivation inherent in lassitude.

Explanation

The idiom back to square one signifies a situation where an individual or group is forced to return to the very beginning of a process or project. This usually occurs because a previous attempt has failed, a plan has been rejected, or progress has been completely undone, necessitating a total restart from the initial stage. In the given context, although the legal system had seemingly resolved the issues, the subsequent developments invalidated that progress, resulting in a return to the original starting point where the dispute first began.

Explanation

The idiom blowing one's own trumpet refers to the act of talking boastfully about one's own achievements, abilities, or successes. It describes a situation where an individual promotes themselves or their accomplishments in a self-important manner rather than waiting for others to recognize or praise them. In the context of the sentence, it signifies that politicians frequently engage in self-praise to highlight their perceived merits and successes to the public.

Explanation

The idiom in apple pie order is used to describe a state of extreme neatness, organization, and precision. It signifies that everything is arranged perfectly and is in its proper place. The phrase likely originated from the meticulous way apples were sliced and layered in traditional pies or potentially from the French phrase nappe-pliée, referring to neatly folded linen. In general usage, it refers to any situation or set of items that is kept in perfect condition and systematic order.

Explanation

The idiom closed book refers to a person or thing that is difficult to understand or about which very little is known. It signifies something that remains a mystery or is completely hidden from comprehension. In the context of the sentence, describing scientific knowledge as no longer a closed book indicates that it is no longer a mystery or an incomprehensible subject, as information and understanding have become accessible in the 21st century.

Explanation

The idiom a month of Sundays refers to a very long period of time. It is a hyperbolic expression used to suggest that a duration is excessively lengthy or tedious. The phrase originates from the traditional view of Sunday as a day of rest and religious observance when work and entertainment were restricted, making the day feel much slower than a typical weekday. Since a standard month contains only four or five Sundays, a month consisting of thirty or thirty-one Sundays would actually span more than seven months of calendar time. Consequently, the phrase effectively conveys the concept of an elongated and wearying span of time.

Explanation

The original sentence is grammatically sound and effectively communicates the intended meaning. The phrase just when serves as a temporal conjunction that emphasizes the precise coincidence of two events. In this structure, the past simple tense reached correctly denotes a completed action that occurred at the exact moment described by the background action in the past continuous tense was setting. The placement of the adverb just directly before the conjunction when is the standard way to indicate that the arrival occurred at the very moment of the sunset.

Explanation

The verb evade belongs to a specific category of transitive verbs that must be followed by a gerund (the -ing form of a verb) rather than an infinitive (the to + verb form). Similar to verbs like avoid, escape, and postpone, evade requires its object to take the gerund form to maintain grammatical accuracy. Consequently, the correct construction for the sentence is evaded paying income tax.

Explanation

The sentence uses the time expression a few days ago, which indicates a specific completed action at a definite time in the past. In English grammar, the Simple Past tense must be used when a sentence contains a specific past time marker such as ago, yesterday, or last year. The Past Perfect tense is reserved for actions that occurred before another action in the past, which is not the case here. Therefore, the verb had left should be replaced with the Simple Past form left to correctly correspond with the adverbial phrase of time.

Explanation

The sentence is improved by organizing the descriptors into a grammatically correct list of coordinate adjectives. The addition of the coordinating conjunction and before the final adjective bright ensures the series is structurally complete and flows naturally. Furthermore, the term bright is a more appropriate and positive descriptor for a residential property than tinted, which typically refers to specific window treatments rather than the house as a whole. This combination of adjectives provides a clear and comprehensive description of the house's age, size, and overall appearance.

Explanation

The term sites is the most appropriate and idiomatic choice in the context of construction. A building site or construction site specifically refers to the designated area or plot of land where a building, bridge, or other structure is being erected. It is the standard technical expression used to describe the physical location of ongoing development and manual labor in the building industry.

Explanation

The word legitimate is used correctly in this context to signify that Indian English is recognized as a valid, authentic, and standard variety of the English language. The expression has come of age implies that Indian English has reached a stage of maturity and established status where it is no longer regarded as a collection of errors, but as a recognized linguistic category with its own systematic rules and identity. In the study of World Englishes, the term legitimate is standard for describing varieties that have gained global acceptance and academic recognition. Therefore, the original phrasing accurately conveys the intended meaning of formal recognition and validity.

Explanation

The sentence follows the structure of the Third Conditional, which is used to describe hypothetical situations in the past and their imagined results. The grammatical formula for this construction is: If + Subject + Past Perfect (had + past participle), Subject + would have + past participle. Since the result clause of the sentence is "would not have decided," the conditional clause must be in the Past Perfect tense to maintain structural balance. Consequently, the phrase "were knowing" is replaced by "had known." Additionally, the verb "know" is a stative verb, which signifies a state of being or a mental process rather than a physical action, and is typically not used in the continuous (ing) form.

Explanation

The adverb "only" should be placed immediately before the word or phrase it modifies, which is "a shrewd man" in this context. Additionally, the phrasal verb "see through" means to detect a deception, whereas "see something through" means to finish a task, making option B the most logically and grammatically correct choice.

Explanation

The original sentence is grammatically correct and logically sound. The conjunction as soon as is used to denote that one event happens immediately after another. In this construction, the past simple tense is used in both the subordinate clause (as soon as I reached my house) and the main clause (I opened my cupboard) to describe a sequence of completed actions in the past. The sentence correctly places the arrival at the house as the first action and the opening of the cupboard as the subsequent action. Since the structure follows standard English usage for expressing immediate succession, no improvement is required.

Explanation

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context. Sociology, while related, focuses specifically on the study of society, social institutions, and social relationships.

Explanation

The term trilogy originates from the Greek prefix tri-, meaning three, and logos, meaning word or discourse. It refers specifically to a group of three related literary or artistic works, such as novels, plays, or films, that are connected by a shared theme, setting, or chronological sequence and produced by the same author. This structure is common in both classical drama and modern fiction to develop a complex narrative over three distinct parts.

Explanation

Choreography is the art or practice of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies in which motion, form, or both are specified. Derived from the Greek words khoreia, meaning dance, and graphein, meaning to write, it specifically refers to the composition and arrangement of dances. This includes the creation of patterns and steps for ballet and other theatrical dance forms, where the creator, known as a choreographer, determines the specific movements to be performed by the dancers.

Explanation

The term succulent is used to describe plants or plant parts that are fleshy, thick, and juicy, typically because they have developed specialized tissues for storing water. This physiological adaptation allows them to survive in arid climates or soil conditions where water is scarce. Derived from the Latin word succus, which means juice or sap, the term also more broadly refers to anything that is full of juice or highly interesting and rich.

Explanation

A stoic is an individual who practices the philosophy of stoicism, which teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. Such a person remains indifferent to the external vicissitudes of life, maintaining a state of equanimity. By focusing on inner virtue and logic, a stoic accepts both pleasure and pain with equal calmness, believing that neither should disturb their mental peace or moral character.

Explanation

The term egotist refers to an individual who is excessively conceited and absorbed in their own importance. Derived from the Latin word ego, it specifically describes a person who has an overdeveloped sense of self and a persistent tendency to speak or think about themselves in a boastful manner. This trait manifests as a preoccupation with one's own achievements and a constant desire for self-advancement or recognition, often resulting in conversations dominated by personal narratives and self-praise.

Explanation

The term facsimile is derived from the Latin phrase fac simile, which literally means make alike. It refers to an exact reproduction or representation of an original piece of handwriting, a document, a manuscript, or a picture. In technical and historical contexts, a facsimile is produced to be as identical to the source as possible, capturing every detail of the original. This is also the origin of the word fax, describing the machine-assisted process of scanning and transmitting an exact image of a document over a distance.

Explanation

The word campaigns is the plural form of campaign, which refers to a series of coordinated activities or military operations intended to achieve a specific social, political, or strategic objective. The spelling is derived from the French word campagne and the Latin campania, meaning open country. In English, it follows the specific convention of including a silent g before the n, and the plural is formed by simply adding an s to the end of the base word.

Explanation

The word rhythm is correctly spelled as r-h-y-t-h-m. It refers to a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound, particularly in music, poetry, or dance. Derived from the Greek word rhythmos, which translates to measured motion, the spelling is characterized by the use of y as the vowel sound and the inclusion of the letter h after both the r and the t. This specific arrangement of letters has been the standard form in English since its adoption from Old French and Latin roots.

Explanation

The Great Pyramid of Giza is located in the Giza region of northern Egypt, as specified in the passage. In Egyptian geography, northern Egypt corresponds to Lower Egypt, where the Nile Delta meets the Mediterranean, while southern Egypt refers to Upper Egypt, which is further upstream to the south. Because the pyramid is situated in the north, it is geographically distinct from southern Egypt.

Explanation

The provided text explicitly states that the Great Pyramid of Giza contains over two million stone blocks. These individual blocks represent the primary building material of the structure, with most weighing between two and three tons, though some are as heavy as 80 tons. The sheer volume of these blocks accounts for the massive scale of the pyramid, which covers 13 acres and stood as the tallest structure in the world for more than 3,800 years. This architectural feat required the labor of tens of thousands of workers over a twenty-year period to assemble the millions of stones into the final monument ordered by the Pharaoh Khufu.

Explanation

The passage specifies that the Great Pyramid of Giza contains over two million stone blocks used in its construction. In detailing the physical characteristics of these materials, the text explicitly mentions that although some of the blocks weigh as much as 80 tons, the majority of them—described as most of the blocks—weigh approximately two or three tons.

Explanation

In the context of the passage, the word complex refers to a collection of related architectural structures situated in the same location. The text describes Khufu's pyramid as being part of a larger assembly that includes the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaura, various smaller pyramids, and the Great Sphinx. This grouping of multiple distinct monuments and buildings into a single functional and geographical unit defines the word complex as a group.

Explanation

The provided text states that the Great Pyramid of Giza was ordered to be built by the Pharaoh Khufu and identifies Hemon as his vizier and the architect of the structure. Therefore, the statement claiming Khufu was Hemon's vizier and architect is false because it reverses their actual roles. In the hierarchy of ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh was the supreme ruler, while the vizier served as the highest-ranking advisor and official under the Pharaoh's authority.

Explanation

The passage explicitly identifies the primary cause of the damage to the American Navy's Third Fleet Task Force 38 as the weather. It clarifies that the losses on 17 December 1944 were not the result of enemy action but were caused by a savage atmospheric disturbance in the Philippine Sea. The description of the ships being caught in a giant washing machine, rolling between heaving cliffs of water, and being tossed like helpless shuttlecocks by sledge hammer waves underscores the overwhelming power of the typhoon. This extreme meteorological event overpowered the fleet's 50,000 horsepower engines and led to uncontrollable collisions and severe damage across the destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers.

Explanation

The word replenishing in the passage refers to the process of restoring or filling up a stock that has been depleted. In the context of the Third Fleet Task Force 38, the ships were meeting with support vessels to restore their supplies of food, fuel, and ammunition. This logistical action of taking on new materials to replace what was used is the definition of refilling. The verb replenish is derived from the Old French word repleniss-, meaning to fill up again, which perfectly matches the requirement of the question.

Explanation

The word rendezvous is defined as a meeting at an agreed time and place, which in this context refers to the Third Fleet meeting with support ships to replenish supplies. While the ships were sailing, the specific term used denotes the meeting itself rather than the act of sailing.

Explanation

The term sledge hammer refers to a large, heavy tool designed to deliver powerful, crushing blows. In the context of the passage, sledge hammer waves is a metaphor used to describe the immense physical force and destructive power of the sea during the typhoon. It signifies that the waves were striking the ships with the same violent impact and weight as a heavy hammer, emphasizing the vulnerability of the vessels against the overwhelming strength of the water.

Explanation

The passage describes the extreme intensity of the weather event in the Philippine Sea, noting that the ships were caught in a vice of wind and sea that rendered their powerful engines helpless. To vividly convey the lack of control and the erratic tossing of the vessels by the waves, the author employs a simile, stating that the fleet had bobbed like helpless shuttlecocks. This literary comparison illustrates how the massive warships were moved involuntarily by the force of the storm, much like the lightweight projectiles used in a game of badminton are batted through the air.

Explanation

In indirect speech, when a reporting verb like asked is followed by a question word such as how, what, when, where, or why, the conjunction that is not used. The interrogative word itself acts as the connector between the reporting clause and the reported clause. Using both that and how long creates a redundancy error known as a double conjunction. The sentence should correctly read as My sister asked me how long I would stay there.

Explanation

In English grammar, when two subjects are connected by phrases such as as well as, along with, together with, or in addition to, the verb must agree with the first subject mentioned. In this sentence, the first subject is The teacher, which is singular. Therefore, the auxiliary verb have should be replaced with the singular form has to ensure proper subject-verb agreement. The presence of the plural noun students within the parenthetical phrase does not change the number of the main subject.