SSC CGL Tier 1 2017 English Comprehension Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The passage specifies that Queen Victoria served as the Monarch of Great Britain from 1837 until 1901. By calculating the difference between the end of her reign and the beginning, 1901 - 1837 = 64 years. This aligns with historical records, as Queen Victoria ascended to the throne on 20 June 1837 and remained the sovereign until her death on 22 January 1901. Her reign of approximately 64 years defined the Victorian Era, a period of extensive social and industrial transformation for the British Empire.

Explanation

The statue of Queen Victoria in Cubbon Park was unveiled in 1906 by the Prince of Wales, George Frederick Ernest Albert, and the Princess of Wales, Mary of Teck. During their royal tour of the Indian subcontinent, the royal couple jointly officiated the ceremony to honor the late monarch. While the text focuses on the Prince's full name and titles, historical records confirm that two people, the Prince and his consort, participated in the unveiling.

Explanation

The passage explicitly states that despite the statue's significant history and imposing presence, the busy residents of Bengaluru would likely perceive it simply as just another landmark. This characterization highlights the contrast between the artistic and historical importance of the monument and the routine perspective of the city's inhabitants as they go about their daily lives.

Explanation

The passage describes the physical and personality traits of Queen Victoria as depicted in the marble statue sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock. According to the text, the statue portrays her as a rather proud and stern person with pronounced features. While the text mentions these specific characteristics to highlight her imposing personality and the statue's grandeur, it contains no reference to her being generous. Therefore, generosity is the trait not supported by the provided description.

Explanation

The provided text explicitly mentions in the first sentence that the flora and fauna of Cubbon Park capture the attention of visitors before they notice the statue. It further concludes by stating that life continues as usual in the Park (referring back to Cubbon Park). While the statue is a monument to Queen Victoria, the geographical location identified in the passage is Cubbon Park in Bengaluru, making the statement that it stands in Queen Victoria park incorrect.

Explanation

The error lies in the second part of the sentence where the word cross is used instead of the preposition across. In this context, across is required to indicate movement from one side of the face to the other. While cross can function as a verb, noun, or adjective, across is the correct preposition to describe the path or direction of the smile as it spreads over the surface of the face. The idiomatic structure for describing such movement is to work one's way across a surface.

Explanation

The error lies in the third part of the sentence where the preposition among is used incorrectly. The word among is typically used when referring to a position or relationship involving more than two people or things in a group. When describing thoughts, processes, or activities happening within a person's mind, the correct preposition to use is in. The standard idiomatic expression is going on in one's head, which signifies internal mental activity. Therefore, the phrase should be corrected to on in his head.

Explanation

The term numerous means great in number or many. In the context of school discipline, a student is typically referred to the principal's office after a repeated pattern of misbehavior and multiple failed attempts at correction. Because the noun warnings is in its plural form, it requires a modifier that denotes a high quantity or frequency. Using numerous logically completes the sentence by indicating that the final disciplinary action was the result of a cumulative series of prior notifications.

Explanation

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposing terms to create a paradoxical effect. In the phrase "pretty ugly," the word "pretty" (which usually suggests attractiveness) is placed directly next to "ugly" (which means unattractive). This juxtaposition of antonyms serves to illustrate the coexistence of conflicting qualities within a single expression, fitting the definition of an oxymoron perfectly.

Explanation

Cynicism refers to an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest and a general distrust of human sincerity or integrity. This perspective often manifests as a deep-seated feeling of bitterness, as the individual harbor's resentment or a sour disposition toward the world and the perceived motives of others. Both terms describe an acerbic and negative outlook on life resulting from disillusionment or perceived unfairness.

Explanation

Pinnacle refers to the highest point or the most successful stage of something, often representing the peak of achievement or development. Culmination similarly denotes the highest or climactic point of a process or sequence of events, typically reached after a significant period of time or effort. Both words convey the concept of reaching a summit or the ultimate conclusion of an endeavor.

Explanation

Befuddle means to make someone unable to think clearly or to confuse and muddle a situation. The word explicate is its opposite, as it means to analyze and develop an idea or principle in detail, or to make something plain and clear by explaining it thoroughly. While befuddling results in a lack of clarity, explicating involves the systematic process of clarifying and providing understanding.

Explanation

Supplant means to replace or take the place of someone or something, typically by force, strategy, or through displacement. It involves an active process of pushing another out of their position to occupy it oneself. Surrender acts as the opposite in meaning, as it signifies the act of yielding, giving up, or relinquishing power, possession, or control to another. While the original word describes taking over a role or position, the correct antonym describes the act of submitting or letting go of that position.

Explanation

The idiom get the message means to infer or comprehend a suggestion, hint, or intended meaning that is not explicitly stated. It involves reading between the lines to recognize the underlying implication of a person's behavior, remarks, or a specific situation. For instance, if someone is repeatedly ignored when trying to join a conversation, they might eventually get the message that their presence is not desired. This expression highlights the process of grasping an indirect communication or a subtle social cue that serves as a warning or a piece of information.

Explanation

The idiom keep at bay originates from hunting terminology, describing a situation where a cornered animal is forced to turn and face its pursuers, keeping them at a distance to prevent an attack. In common usage, it means to successfully control or restrain something threatening or unpleasant, such as an illness, an enemy, or a problem, to ensure it does not approach near enough to cause harm or distress. It implies maintaining a safe distance or a level of control that prevents a situation from worsening or affecting one's immediate circumstances.

Explanation

The sentence requires a perfect infinitive construction to describe an action or state that occurred prior to the time of the main verb "pretended". The perfect infinitive is formed using the structure "to have + past participle". In this case, "have" is the base form required to follow the infinitive marker "to", and "changed" is the past participle form of the verb. This structure accurately completes the negative infinitive "to not have changed", providing the necessary temporal relationship between the pretending and the state of the subject.

Explanation

The modal verb must is followed by the base form of the auxiliary verb have to express a logical deduction about a past action. In the construction of perfect modals, the auxiliary have does not change to has regardless of the subject being singular or plural. Furthermore, the main verb must be in its past participle form changed to complete the perfective aspect. Therefore, the structure must have changed is grammatically correct to indicate that the speaker is certain about an event that occurred in the past.

Explanation

Sadistic describes a person who experiences gratification or delight from being cruel or inflicting pain, suffering, and humiliation on others. The term is derived from the Marquis de Sade, a French nobleman whose literary works detailed such behaviors. It is commonly used in both clinical psychology and everyday language to characterize individuals who find enjoyment in the distress of others.

Explanation

A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability and masterly skill in a particular field, most frequently in the realm of music. Derived from the Italian word for skilled or learned, the term describes a performer who has reached the highest level of proficiency and artistry on an instrument or in vocal performance. It implies a superlative level of talent and execution that distinguishes the person as an expert in their craft.

Explanation

The word palatable is derived from the noun palate, which refers to the roof of the mouth and, by extension, the sense of taste. The adjective is formed by adding the suffix -able to the root word palate. According to standard English spelling rules, when a suffix starting with a vowel is added to a word ending in a silent e, the e is typically dropped. Therefore, palate becomes palatable. The term is used to describe food or drink that is pleasant to taste, or figuratively, an idea or suggestion that is acceptable or satisfactory.

Explanation

The word unnerving is the present participle form of the verb unnerve, which means to cause someone to lose courage or confidence. It is constructed by adding the prefix un-, meaning to reverse or deprive of, to the root word nerve. When a suffix beginning with a vowel, such as -ing, is added to a word ending in a silent e, the e is dropped before the suffix is attached. Therefore, unnerve becomes unnerving. The double n is preserved because the first n is the final letter of the prefix and the second n is the initial letter of the root word.

Explanation

The sentence structure follows a logical narrative sequence. After the introductory temporal phrase "At length, about an hour later, we", segment X provides the essential subject-verb-object structure "spied a little pile of boulders rising". Segment Z follows immediately to complete the prepositional phrase describing the origin of the boulders "out of the plain" and introduces the conjunction and preposition "and to". Finally, segment Y completes the sentence by using the demonstrative pronoun "this" to refer back to the boulders and concluding with the action "we dragged ourselves". The full coherent sentence reads: At length, about an hour later, we spied a little pile of boulders rising out of the plain, and to this we dragged ourselves.

Explanation

The adjective consistent is typically followed by the preposition with to indicate agreement or compatibility. Therefore, the phrase consistent with human experience that in segment X follows the introductory text perfectly. The conjunction that introduces a noun clause, which requires a subject and a verb. Segment Z provides the subject land and the predicate should rise gradually in some. This description is then logically completed by segment Y, which provides the noun places and adds the contrasting parallel phrase and be depressed in others. The resulting coherent sentence is: Secondly, it is consistent with human experience that land should rise gradually in some places and be depressed in others.

Explanation

The sentence is in the Simple Past tense, following the structure: Subject + V2 + Object. To convert this into Passive voice, the object becomes the new subject, and the verb form changes to: was/were + V3 (past participle) + by + agent. Since the object "The entire stretch of the road" is singular, it is paired with the auxiliary verb "was" and the past participle "paved" to correctly reflect the completed action in the past.

Explanation

When converting an interrogative sentence from direct to indirect speech, the reporting verb said is changed to asked or inquired. In the case of Yes/No questions starting with an auxiliary verb such as is, the conjunction whether or if is used to link the reporting part to the reported part. The sentence structure must change from interrogative to assertive, meaning the subject my mother must come before the verb was. Since the reporting verb is in the past tense, the present tense is backshifts to the past tense was. Furthermore, the verb asked is a transitive verb that directly takes an object like me without the preposition to.

Explanation

The writer explicitly mentions the need to cleanse her social media feed to manage her weaknesses, specifically highlighting how seeing food-related posts led her to abandon her fitness training for a high-calorie meal. To prevent such distractions, she unfollows specific food-centric platforms like Buzzfeed Tasty and TasteMade, as well as individuals who post about eating large quantities of food. By removing these food-related temptations, she aims to maintain the accountability required for her gym challenges and health goals.

Explanation

The author explicitly states in the second paragraph that they challenged themselves to attend the gym for thirty classes straight. By using the phrase and I did it, the writer confirms the successful completion of this specific fitness goal. This achievement marked a transition in the writer's journey from being sedentary to becoming someone who regularly engages in intense physical training, such as deadlifting and performing back squats, while using social media for accountability.

Explanation

The passage explicitly states that the author considers dark chocolate to be healthy and consequently continues to follow specific social media pages or brands associated with it. Earth Loaf is specifically mentioned by the author in the context of dark chocolate, alongside other brands like Pascati and Mason | Co.

Explanation

The writer explicitly identifies the Couch to 5K training program as the regimen they attempted to start on their first day of fitness. This program is a widely recognized fitness plan intended to help individuals move from a sedentary lifestyle to being able to run five kilometers, often used for weight management and physical conditioning. The writer references this specific program to illustrate the contrast between their fitness goals and the temptation of social media food advertisements that led them to stay on the couch instead.

Explanation

The author explicitly states that sharing her workouts and videos of herself performing exercises like deadlifts and back squats on social media provided her with a sense of responsibility. She notes that this public sharing gave her accountability, which in turn motivated her to successfully complete a self-imposed challenge of attending thirty consecutive gym classes.

Explanation

The error lies in the third part of the sentence where the preposition round is used instead of around. In standard English, the preposition around is the appropriate term to describe being on every side of something or in the area surrounding a person. The phrase the world around us is a standard idiomatic expression referring to our environment and surroundings. While round can occasionally function as a preposition in British English, around is preferred in this context to indicate spatial distribution on all sides.

Explanation

The error lies in the incorrect use of the preposition onto in the second part of the sentence. In English grammar, the idiomatic expression used to indicate that someone is traveling toward a specific destination is on one's way. The preposition onto is typically used to describe movement to a position on a surface or to indicate becoming aware of something. Since the sentence describes the children in the process of going to school, the preposition on must be used instead of onto to form the correct phrase on their way.

Explanation

The sentence requires an adverb to modify the verb laughed, describing the manner or intensity of the action. Hysterically is an adverb that means in an extremely emotional or uncontrolled way, which perfectly suits the context of a family finding a comedy routine extremely funny and laughing intensely with a crowd.

Explanation

To bluff means to deceive or trick someone by making them believe one has more power, knowledge, or evidence than is actually the case. In the context of criminal investigation, a detective often uses bluffing as a psychological tactic, such as pretending to have a witness or forensic evidence that does not exist. This strategy creates a sense of vulnerability and fear in suspects, leading them to believe that their guilt is already proven and thus prompting them to provide a confession.

Explanation

Belligerent is an adjective derived from the Latin roots bellum, meaning war, and gerere, meaning to wage. It characterizes an individual, group, or nation that is hostile, aggressive, or actively engaged in a conflict. Similarly, antagonistic describes a state of active opposition or hostility toward someone or something. Both terms convey a sense of being combative or ready to fight, making them synonymous in contexts involving conflict or unfriendly behavior.

Explanation

The word indiscreet refers to a person or action that lacks caution, prudence, or good judgment, especially in speech or behavior. It describes a tendency to reveal things that should remain private or a failure to consider the potential consequences of one's actions. Careless is a synonym because it signifies a lack of sufficient attention, precision, or thought, leading to mistakes or the unintended disclosure of information. Both terms describe a failure to exercise the necessary level of wariness or concern in a given situation.

Explanation

An incentive refers to a motivating factor, reward, or encouragement that stimulates action, growth, or increased effort. Conversely, a hindrance represents an obstruction, barrier, or impediment that slows down, prevents, or makes progress difficult. While an incentive acts as a catalyst for movement and achievement, a hindrance serves as a resistance that counteracts or halts such advancement, making it the semantic opposite.

Explanation

Benediction is derived from the Latin roots bene meaning well and dicere meaning to speak. It refers to a formal blessing or the utterance of good wishes, typically at the end of a religious service. Criticism serves as the opposite because it involves the expression of disapproval or the act of judging someone or something based on perceived faults and mistakes. While a benediction provides favor and approval, criticism provides negative feedback and censure.

Explanation

The idiom to go off the air refers to the cessation of a radio or television broadcast. In broadcasting terminology, being on the air means that a program is currently being transmitted via radio waves or signal. Therefore, when a program or a station stops its transmission, either temporarily for a break or permanently because the show has been cancelled or the station is closing, it is described as going off the air.

Explanation

The idiom to make a fuss about refers to the act of showing unnecessary or excessive excitement, worry, or interest in something, often when the matter is relatively trivial. It describes a situation where an individual creates a lot of unnecessary activity or commotion, or provides an exaggerated amount of attention to a person or a specific detail. This behavior typically involves an overreaction that results in a state of agitated concern or a public display of busy-mindedness that exceeds what the situation actually requires.

Explanation

The modal verb should must always be followed by the base form of a verb. The auxiliary has is a conjugated third-person singular form and is grammatically incompatible when placed immediately after a modal. Replacing the bracketed part with have been satisfies the rule that modals require the base form, in this case have, followed by the past participle been to form the modal perfect construction. This structure is used to express an obligation, expectation, or a state that was intended.

Explanation

The sentence requires the passive voice construction following the modal verb must. Standard English grammar dictates that modal verbs like must, can, should, and will are followed by the bare infinitive, which is the base form of the verb without the particle to. In a passive construction, the modal verb is followed by be and the past participle of the main verb. Consequently, the phrase must not to be left is grammatically incorrect because of the inclusion of to. The correct structure is must not be left, where be functions as the bare infinitive and left is the past participle of leave.

Explanation

Tranquil is an adjective used to describe a state or environment that is peaceful, calm, and free from any form of disturbance, noise, or agitation. It originates from the Latin word tranquillus, meaning quiet or still, and is typically applied to serene landscapes or a composed state of mind where there is an absence of emotional or physical turmoil.

Explanation

A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs, or various materials that is constructed to form a circle. This specific circular arrangement is traditionally used as a symbol of respect and remembrance, commonly placed on graves or at memorials to honor the deceased during funeral services and commemorative ceremonies.

Explanation

The word murmuring is the present participle form of the verb murmur, which means to speak or make a low, continuous sound. According to standard English spelling rules, when a multi-syllable verb ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern and the stress is placed on the first syllable, as in MUR-mur, the final consonant is not doubled before adding the suffix -ing. Since the emphasis in murmur falls on the first syllable rather than the final one, the single r is maintained when forming murmuring.

Explanation

The sentence structure follows a logical grammatical progression beginning with the infinitive phrase and concluding with a prepositional description of the environment. The introductory phrase "There was no need to" requires a base verb to complete the predicate, which is provided by X "set a watch". The conjunction "for" in X then introduces the reason, ending with the pronoun "nothing". This pronoun is followed by the infinitive in Y "to fear", creating the standard "nothing to fear" construction. Finally, the coordinating conjunction "or" at the end of Y connects the two objects of fear, "anybody" and Z "anything", while providing the spatial context of "that vast unentangled plain". This arrangement ensures that each segment flows into the next without grammatical interruption.

Explanation

The sentence follows a logical syntactic progression where each fragment naturally completes the preceding one. Fragment X completes the idiomatic expression "at first appear" and introduces the main predicate "is quite in accordance". This predicate requires the preposition "with" to form the phrase "in accordance with", which is provided in fragment Y. Additionally, fragment Y contains the parenthetical phrase "as before stated", which is correctly initiated by the conjunction "as" at the end of fragment X. Finally, fragment Z serves as a participial phrase modifying the noun "changes" at the end of fragment Y, explaining that these changes are "now going on in certain regions of the globe". The sequence XYZ thus maintains the necessary grammatical dependencies and semantic flow of the complete thought.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the Simple Past tense, following the structure Subject + V₂ + Object. When converting from Active to Passive voice in the Simple Past tense, the formula used is: Object + was/were + V₃ (past participle) + by + Subject. Here, the object his application for a new job becomes the subject of the passive sentence. Since the subject is singular, it is followed by was mailed, which is the passive construction of the verb mailed.

Explanation

The direct sentence is an exclamation expressing disgust, indicated by the interjection Ooh. In indirect speech, the reporting verb said is changed to exclaimed disgustedly to reflect this tone. The exclamatory structure what a dirty child is converted into an assertive sentence using the conjunction that. Following the rules of sequence of tenses, since the reporting verb is in the past tense, the implied present tense of the exclamation shifts to the past tense, resulting in the child was very dirty. The intensifier very is used to replace the exclamatory word what to maintain the original emphasis of the sentence.

Explanation

The passage explicitly identifies genetic variation as the cornerstone of evolution. It states that without genetic variation, there can be no natural selection, which is the primary mechanism driving evolutionary change. The text further emphasizes that genetic diversity is essential for the ability of a species to survive and reproduce. By maintaining a variety of genetic lineages, a species retains the capacity to adapt to environmental changes and avoid the detrimental effects of genetic erosion described in the case of the black rhinoceros.